I do not own nor do I make profit off of Twilight. All rights belong to it's author Stephanie Meyer.
I know I missed last week, and that's because new month, new goals, and my goal for February is to post three times, so I took a break from last week and am back and ready to go!
Reviews:
Boxessssss-HELLO! Haha gotcha, it's not a redo a much as a part two, but I kinda liked the name so I stuck with it, sorry for the deceitful nature and DONT FEEL DUMB! That is not allowed here! I'm glad you like Dr. Grady, he's growing on me too. Campbells soup is a big staple in the states and figured Washington had to have it! I have to admit Campbells soup has the best commercials. I've never heard of Watties so I'm guessing we're from very different regions and I LOVE THAT! Thank you for leaving yet another review, I get so excited and happy when I se your name pop up, it always makes me smile and I always hope you like the new chapters when they go live! Thank you for being so sweet and just AMAZING!
Gretchenia- HELLO! Oh my goodness girlfriend we have a ton to get through. First let me start by saying that it seem by the fact that you've left multiple reviews that fan fiction isn't logging you out YAYYYYYYYYY! OH MY GOSH THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY FOR YOU! No worries that you're behind, theirs plenty of time to play catch up and I really hope you computer get's fixed or replaced soon! I love that your seeing Edward in a more brotherly way! I love that chapter 19 is your favorite chapter so far, that one was really fun to write, and I also love that I'm almost reliving the story though your reviews. I read them and go, "Oh my goodness, I remember writing that" or "I remember googling if that was a thing lol" So thank you so much for giving me the pleasure of reading your reviews and reminding myself why I'm writing this story in the first place. Because it was stuck in my head and I wanted to get it out, because people read it and feel something from it, because it makes me happy that other people like my writing! You words of kindness and encouragment mean the absolutle world to me and even though your behind I hope your reading this and realizing that it's acutally your kind reviews that mean the world to me and get me through the day! I honestly can go on and on, but let me stop and keep it short and simple with a HUGE THANK YOU! It means the absolute world to me to see your name pop up and read your amazing and kind reviews!
DemonWolf25-OHHHH my goodness I'm soooo sorry, i understand now. Yes that is me over there, I planned on moving over there as soon as I caught up on posting chapters due to being messed up, but all issues have seemingly resolved and I went back to posting on here! I do need to desperately catch up over there and plan to post a coiple new chapters next week when I have some free time. I'm so sorry to confuse you!
xoxoxo8123- I honestly don't have any food allergies either lol, but I did know someone who found out they were allergic to pine nuts in a very similar situation that I wrote about and after, it was really apparent that they were afraid to eat anything after their attack, so I pulled pretty heavily from their experience. I wish I cud tell yu everything is going to be okay and Mare is going to catch a break but...well let me put it this way, it's eventually GOING to get better I promise lol. I really hope you keep reading even after everything I've told you lol! I'm so glad to see you again and can't thank you enough for stopping by and leaving a review! It's makes my day and love responding to you!
Ooshnish- OMG thank you! I love writing brotherly comfort chapters and I love putting Edward in big brother mode, since I feel like her would have been a really great one! I'm so excited for you to get to some really exciting future chapters, *wink, wink* Thank you so much for the review on the last couple chapters, I was really nervous about them and reading your review made me really happy. As I keep writing chapters I get nervous that they don't go together or flow as well as the earlier chapters. I hung on to those for a long time before finding the courage to post so I feel that those ones are better than these ones as I'm kinda writing, editing and posting. I can't thank you enough for the kind words about my writing honestly I felt soooooo giddy after reading them, and it gives me the confidence to not only keep writing this story, but to keep writing in general as I've been working on my own personal writings behind the scenes! You are much to kind to me and my little heart can't take it...okay it can, but YOUR TOOO NICE TO ME! As for your comment about not knowing the geographical location on where I live...thank you I honestly took tht as a compliment as I try to be as worldly as possible. I will let you know this, I know two languages, grew up on both American and British TV (horrible histories and SpongeBob were my favorites) my favorite desert is baklava and cannolis, I hate beans, Love a good high tea and I post these chapters at 4 in the morning;)
TranquillitysSecret210-I have a feeling you're right on all accounts my friend lol! I love that you also love big brother Edward over miserable brooding Edward because I do too and you might just be right...as long as Mare sticks around that is ;) Don't worry I have a feeling everything with Rose will work out in the end in fact I promise you! I really truly am a Rosalie fan and I wish more people were, her story is just so complex and the layers to her character make her one of my favorites! Thank you for always leaving the best reviews and being soooo kind, it honestly makes my day and I find myself smiling like a crazy women all day long and I love it! You also seem to always be right on whats coming next and I have to give you a large round of applause my smart little cookie! You are much to sweet to me and I honestly can't thank you enough, it makes my heart soar and I'm still waiting for the day when I can give it back to you! I'm always checking to see when you will finally upload, but please don't let me push you into something you're not ready for! Lastly you absolutely don't have to thank me, without you and others I am literally nothing and probably would have stopped this story a long time ago, you and everyone else gives me the encouragement and motivation to continue and for that you should always be thanked and understand that I appreciate you! You deserve to know how awesome and amazing you are!
Guest- OMG...theirs like almost over 100,000 word on this story..my friend you've read a whole novel! I bow to you, you are absolutely AMAZING! As for my posting, it changes each month, in December and January it was ever Sunday and now that it's February my only goal was to post three times this month. I skipped last Sunday so expect a new chapter every Sunday until March! Thank you for your review! I LOVED IT!
cfp33pfc-Welcome my friend! I'm so happy that you're here! I love that you like Cody! The reasons I didn't use Angela was because she's a year older than Mare and I also didn't want to have Mare and Bella cross to much when she finally arrives. The other reason is I did want to give Mare a live away from the Cullens and introducing her own established group of human friends over a group that would eventually become Bella's human friends just seemed like a good way to give Mare more of a balance and your right it gives her more flexibility!. Thank you for checking me out and thank you for leaving a review, it made me so very happy to read!
Blitheringidol-THank you soo much! Thank you for reading and thank you for stopping by and leaving a review!
Safe Foods
"You've been sleeping a lot lately." I roll my eyes, pulling my new Seattle sweatshirt over my chin,
"And?" Edward shrugs from the driver's side,
"It's just something I've noticed." I maneuver the seat belt behind me, getting more comfortable. It's something I've noticed too,
"How much longer?"
"30 minutes, we're going to past the last McDonald's soon, you want something?" I feel my stomach jump at this. Other than the can of chicken noodle soup last night, I haven't eaten anything and I'm starving. Edward tried to get me to go out this morning, but I said no and after some arguing, he finally just agreed and started packing. If I can't watch it being made I don't want it, the hives still lingering on my body remind me of Friday night and I instantly lose my appetite, but McDonald's? That's safe, I've eaten thousands of happy meals over my life and nothing bad has ever happened.
"Happy meal, chicken nuggets, barbecue sauce, apple slices, fries instead of yogurt, small sprite." Edward lifts an eyebrow,
"Is that it?" I nod, "You didn't have breakfast, do you want an extra fry or something." I think about it,
"Ya, okay."
"Anything else? " I shake my head, "Bet you're excited for Esme to get back, she can do better than just heat up a can of soup on the stove." I glance over at Edward, I know what he's doing. I don't like it.
"Just let it go," I whisper so quietly only a vampire could hear it. Edward's fingers tighten on the steering wheel for a second, then gently relax,
"Happy meal, got it."
…
Honking, screeching, shouting, red, PAIN!
…
I'm jostled awake when the car pulls into the garage, usually, Edwards turns are smoother than this so, I know he's done it on purpose.
"Hey, sleeping beauty," Edward smirks turning off the engine. I stretch before opening the car door,
"She's the worst Disney princess." I yawn watching Edward get out of the car and grab both bags,
"I disagree." I smile,
"You would." He motions towards the door and I take the lead, heading in first and going up the stairs.
Walking on my injured leg all day yesterday left it a bit sore however I'm not limping like I did yesterday or Friday, and the red welting pain feels more like pulled skin. Overall I find it to be a win and take the stairs at a normal pace however the house feels still, as if theirs no one here, Rose Emmett, Kate, Tanya, and Irina. Did they all leave? I reach the top of the stairs and stop, both Carlisle and Esme are in the living room. My body moves before I even have time to think, and when my mind finally does catch up, Esme has me in a hug so fierce it hurts. She lets go pulling me back to look me over. This morning when I looked in the mirror the hives on my face were almost nonexistent thanks to the cream Edward picked up before we left, but the ones on my chest, stomach, and arms which were redder and itchier are still dark and easy to see.
"Oh, Marceline." Her hands come up to cup both my cheeks, "How are you feeling?" she reaches forward to pull the bottom of my hoody up,
"I'm fine." I pull her hands away,
"I wanna see." She stresses, "Oh, and let me see your leg."
"Esme," I step away from her only to be pulled back,
"Don't argue." I look to Carlisle for help, usually he smiles at his wife's over-baring antics, but today he's frowning,
"Darling," He reaches forward grabbing Esme's wondering hand,
"Carlisle." She turns to look at him, her voice stern,
"I agree," He tells her gently, "I think we should move to my office before we go undressing her in the middle of the living room." I frown, I don't want to do that either.
"I'm actually tired-"
"Have you eaten?" Esme turns back towards me, I nod, and I'm suddenly grateful, that Edward stopped at the fast food joint.
"I ate," I tell her carefully, in her panic it seems this is the one comfort I can give her. I think she notices the slight worry on my face because suddenly she softens and her hand comes to gently rest on the side of my head,
"I'm so sorry sweetheart." She carefully pulls me in for another hug, "I've been so worried, I'm letting my emotions get the better of me." I reach around and hug her taking in her scent, Tea, and Jasmine.
"I missed you," I whisper into her cardigan.
"I'm never leaving again." She whispers back,
"Promise?" She laughs at this, it's quiet and breathy, but it's a laugh nonetheless.
"I'm going to put the bags away," Edward calls out behind me,
"I'll talk to you soon, son," Carlisle calls back, his hand coming to rest right behind my head, Esme pulls me back, there is a smile on her lips,
"Will you please let me look?" I wrinkle my nose,
"It's gross." Carlisle's arm comes to rest behind me,
"It's not." He reassures, "And she won't stop until she sees it." Now I wrinkle my nose at him,
"Can't you talk her out of it?" He purses his lips,
"Let me rephrase it, she won't stop until we both see it." I groan, "I'll take that as a yes."
…
"Not bad, at least he's got them nice and straight." I shiver as Carlisle's cold fingers run softly up and down the stitches on my leg,
"That's reassuring?" I huff, fighting the little voice in my head telling me to get up and run. Carlisle has me laid down on his large mahogany desk, my yoga pants rolled up to my knee on my right leg. I rest my hands on my stomach, resisting the urge to rub my bare arms, my Seattle sweatshirt draped over Carlisle's office chair,
"Honestly I thought he would make them a bit crooked on purpose." Carlisle jokes with a slight smile on his lips. Esme who's kept a reassuring hand on my knee reaches up to smack him with the other,
"George would do no such thing." She scolds and Carlisle chuckles,
"Sorry Mia Amour." He pats her arm and reaches for something in his bag, "Did you remember the antibiotic ointment?" Carlisle frowns at my silence, "Marceline."
"There were other things on my mind," I admit. Edward picked up the cream, I just forgot to apply it, too busy applying the steroid cream all over my chest, arms, and face to get rid of the hives. Carlisle squirts something from a tube onto his fingers and rubs it gently on my leg,
"No more of that, the wound is quite red, so I'll be making sure, you're applying morning and night, understood."
"Yes sir." I salute the ceiling. Carlisle smirks capping the tube and setting it down on the table,
"Alright, I'm going to lift your top just to peek at the skin on your abdomen alright?" I shrug, moving my hands down to the table. Carlisle rubs his hands together furiously before gently lifting the bottom of the white ribbed tank top I'm wearing up just above my belly button. His fingers are cold although not as icy, they run along the pattered rash along my skin,
"Applying the steroid cream I see?" Carlisle smirks, his hand moving down to lift my arm to examine the rash there too,
"I want them gone before Monday." Carlisle's fingers move to run along my chest right below my clavicle. Esme hovers behind him the whole time, watching his fingers run along every red patch of skin.
"George said you mentioned your mother was also allergic to shellfish." Carlisle holds out his hand, I grasp it letting him pull me up, his other hand resting on my back.
"Please don't mention it." I groan,
"I know Dr. Grady told you that allergies such as these can be passed down in families, your shellfish allergy does lay on the severe side and as it is, you didn't know about it, so Grady and I agree that you need to be seen by an allergist and the sooner the better."
"A what?"
"An allergist specializes in allergies, both severe and mild, you've already been referred, so you and I will be going tomorrow at 2." I let my mouth fall open,
"What?"
"I've referred many to Shelia, she's very good at her job and has a way of making people feel comfortable. I do not doubt that you'll be fine."
"I don't think it's necessary," I tell him carefully, only for Esme to step forward,
"You stopped breathing, you're going." She chides, and I close my mouth. I have no problem arguing with Carlisle...but Esme...absolutely not.
"Speaking." Carlisle says gently moving Esme to the side to grab something from his bag, "I picked up your Epi pens today."
"Plural?" Carlisle pulls three orange Epi's from his bag and holds one out,
"One that needs to be on you at all times when you go out, in a backpack, purse, or deeper pocket. Keep it in your nightstand drawer when you're at home." I let him put it in my hand and watch as he holds up another one, "One for the school nurse, I'll drop it off tomorrow on our way to your appointment, and this one will stay with me in my office, in this drawer." He places one of the pens in his bag and another in the first large drawer on his desk. I look down at the Epi pen in my hand,
"What are you thinking?" Esme asks gently, I look up at her and blink.
"My mom had one, but it was expired...she never replaced it." I hold up the pen, "You know these are like 700 dollars right?"
"And they're worth every penny." Esme places her hands over mine pushing them to my chest,"Their life-saving." She reminds me, but that doesn't make me forget the price,
They can afford this
They want to do it
It's okay to feel the way I do
Learning to accept these things takes time
"Speaking, Edward says you've been tired this weekend." Carlisle raises a brow and suddenly I feel guilty, as if I've been caught stealing ice cream at 3 in the morning, and then I remind myself, that being tired isn't a crime...it's not even an illness,
"Edward doesn't know what calculates saying something and what doesn't."
"What do you mean by that?" Carlisle asks studying my face,
"Theirs nothing wrong with being tired,"
"No, but it can be an underlying medical condition or a symptom of something bigger going on inside the body," I roll my eyes and look to Esme, who has her serious face on.
"Are you ever not a doctor?" Carlisle laughs at that, grabbing my knees to swivel around to face him,
"I'm sorry sweetheart," Esme grabs my sweatshirt coming up behind me to hold it out. I slip my hands into each armhole and let her pull it up to my shoulders, "Edward said you did a lot yesterday, how about a nap and then something to eat?" Carlisle asks grabbing the zipper on my sweatshirt and zipping it up before resting the back of his hand on my cheek. Theirs something so paternal about it, so caring. I resist the urge to turn away from him,
"Have you talked to Rose?" He drops his hand opting to put it in the pocket of his khakis,
"Rose and Emmett are out, but they'll be back later."
"And you want me to take a nap so you can talk to them."
"I want you to take a nap because you look exhausted." Carlisle holds his arm out, I take it and jump off the desk,
"Fair enough." I tell him, following Esme to the door,
"Mare?" I turn, "Where are you putting that?" He points to my hand, and I resist the urge to tell him something rude,
"Bedside table." He winks,
"Good girl." I give him the finger guns for nothing but to be annoying, but when he smiles I know it failed, and turn to walk out the door with Esme, letting her close it behind me. When I hear the click, I'm suddenly wrapped him ice cold arms,
"Esme?" I reach up and hug her back, she takes a moment and then pulls back, her hands coming up once again to grab my cheeks and inspect my face, "Esme I promise I'm okay."
"I hated not being here." she reaches forward planting a kiss on my forehead,
"Maybe if you were here Rose wouldn't be mad." I feel a lump in my throat and swallow it down,
"Mare she's not mad." She moves her hands down to rub my arms, "I promise it's alright, but Carlisle's right, you do look tired, up to bed." She turns and lightly pushes me in the direction of my room, and I have no problem following her orders.
…
Bright lights, screaming, red everywhere. Cold hands grabbing at my arms and legs. Fingers pushing my eyelids back, bright lights, frantic voices, someone calling my name over and over, trying to gain my attention. It sounds so far away and I'm so tired, my blood feels like it's been replaced with lead and I can't move. Painful pricks all over my body, a burning sensation in my throat, it's all too much, I can't breathe, I can't scream...what's happening to me?!
…
"Mare," Esme's voice is stern and demanding and I sit up quickly, her cold hands grab my cheeks, "Sweetheart?" I open my eyes, finding her worried ones right in front of me.
"I'm sorry," I breathe out, realizing I'm breathing heavily,
"Were you having a nightmare?" She asks pulling me close, she's sitting on the bed and I carefully find myself settling into her embrace and then letting her lay me down and rest my head on her lap,
"I don't know," I confess, feeling her fingers begin to massage my scalp and play with my hair,
"What do you remember?" She questions gently. I sigh relaxing, putting my full weight on Esme's lap, if she notices she doesn't move or say anything she doesn't even let on to any fact that she's uncomfortable,
"I don't think I could move...my skin hurt." Esme's fingernails carefully scratch my scalp,
"I'm sorry sweetheart."
"It wasn't scary."
"No?"
"It felt more like being trapped in a body you can't move...it felt more confusing than anything." Esme pushes my bangs back, before resting her hand on my forehead,
"You feel warm." She muses,
"I feel fine." She cards her hand through my hair again,
"Nonetheless, maybe something light tonight," I feel my stomach lurch,
"I'm not hungry."
"It's been five hours since you got home,"
"I had a big lunch." Esme sighs and I am reminded of when I first got here. How I was never hungry and fought her on everything she placed in front of me. It's different now, I'm not, not hungry...I'm just...
"How about I let you pick what you want." I swallow,
"Chicken soup," I say after a second,
"I can make that happen, maybe some bread too."
"Campbell's." Esme's hand stalls in my hair for just a second.
"I have the ingredients including some bone broth, it shouldn't take me long-"
"Please." I could just punch myself with how pathetic I sound...almost scared, but I'm not scared. I just prefer the canned stuff, Esme makes great soup, but...it's just what I want...yes, that's what it is. Esme's fingers start moving again,
"Alright, I'll have Edward run to town and pick up a few cans, okay." I nod,
"I'm only letting you get your way because you had a hard weekend." She chides, her fingers running through my hair,
"Thank you."
…
It's only an hour later when I'm sitting at the kitchen Island when Esme pushes a hot bowl of soup in front of me and I quickly realize...this isn't the same soup I had in Seattle. The chunks of chicken are bigger, the noodles spiral, and there's celery and carrots in it. I look up to Esme,
"I'm sorry sweetheart, Edward said there wasn't any Campbells left, this was the only chicken noodle they had." She apologizes placing two large crusty pieces of buttered bread down, I feel my stomach rumble, hungry, but...
"I'm not hungry." I look up at her with an apologetic look,
"Maybe just try it." She turns to open the fridge and grabs a pitcher of lemonade. I look down at the bowl...I don't want it, I don't want to try it and bite my cheeks looking for an excuse,
"How about we take a bite hmm?" Carlisle says appearing at my left. He has a gentle smile on his face and reaches forward grabbing my spoon and holding it out for me, I don't take it.
"If you ask me I think this one is better than the Campbells anyway," Esme adds pouring the lemonade into a glass and pushing it toward me. I don't move to take anything,
"Marceline." Carlisle grabs my attention with the use of my full name. "Sweet girl this is safe, we wouldn't serve it to you if it wasn't. There's no shellfish in it." I swallow,
"I know, I'm just not hungry,"
"I know that's not true." Carlisle holds the spoon out. Slowly I grab it. I get the spoon in the bowl and up to my mouth, before I drop it and push myself off the stool and scramble back, Carlisle's cold arms carefully wraps around me, keeping me from collapsing,
"Breathe, you're okay, you're okay." Carlisle, gently lowers us to the floor, all while keeping his arms tightly around me,
"Marceline?" Esme's voice is gentle as she appears in front of me, she lowers herself to the floor to match Carlisle and me,
"Take a breath, honey," Carlisle rubs my back, and I realize I've been holding air in my lungs as a hostage, "That's it, you're alright,"
"I'm sorry," I rush out, also realizing in my haste to get away, I've knocked over both the glass of lemonade and the bowl of soup,
"It's only a spill," Esme promises. I struggle taking air in my lungs,
"Slow and steady, up through the bottoms of your feet, feel it travel and let it out. You are very safe here and both Esme and I are with you. Do you feel my arms?" I nod furiously,
"Yes." I force out,
"Feel how steady I am?" I nod, "Because everything is okay, now take a deep breath for me." This time when I take a breath I feel it, the pressure in my head begins to ebb away, "That a girl, very nice, now another." I take breath after breath until my breathing evens out,
"I'm so sorry." I swallow,
"It's okay Mare, no one's mad," Esme quickly turns reaching up on the counter to grab the napkin she always places my silverware on and gently wipes my cheeks. I'm crying...I didn't realize I was crying and feel heat rush to my cheeks,
"Marceline, Honey." Carlisle gently turns me to face him, "Is it correct to assume that you are having a hard time eating foods you don't recognize as safe." I look down, biting my cheeks to keep more tears from falling,
"Mare," Esme whispers,
"Oh, baby girl." Carlisle pulls me close, resting my head on his shoulder, "It's okay to be afraid, what you went through was incredibly scary and you have every right to be afraid. No one is angry at you and I promise you we only want to help, do you understand?" He gently pulls me back to look him in the eye. I nod not trusting my voice. "Alright, unfortunately, the store was out of your safe option, what other things do you feel safe eating in this moment right now?" I reach up wiping my cheeks, and look Carlisle in the eyes. He doesn't look mad, his eyes are gentle and his smile soft, I can't help but think of my mom, how would she react?! Would she be angry? Would she be worried? Would she be understanding, I think she would be. I take another breath before listing off pre-packaged things I know are safe.
…
It's an hour later, The mess has been cleaned up and Edward has just come back from the store, I'm halfway through a baloney sandwich, something I'm used to eating back home, as it's cheap and one of the few things I can make. Along with it is a small bag of baby carrots with ranch, a bottle of water, and a granola bar. Carlisle and Esme sat with me the entire time, Carlisle telling me my feelings were normal, and Esme reassuring me that she wasn't mad. Now I'm alone in the kitchen with my safe foods, still feeling kinda low when I hear someone clear their throat. I look up expecting Edward, but instead find the one person I didn't think wanted to see me for a while
"Rose?"