✔️Compulsive (Carlisle Cullen)

one hundred & twenty six

Coming home after being along for so long was something similar to breathing for the first time after holding your breath. It was so inviting to see the mansion perched on the hillside- though it was different now, it was colder now with the threat that loomed on the horizon. As the car rolled to a stop, Carlisle was quick to hop out and greet his son who stood on the porch stairs with a tight smile at their return. Though Quinn turned to the nomad in the backseat.

"Alistair" she breathed out, seeing his look of pure displeasure at the sight of the house on the hill. She didn't need her powers to see that the man didn't want to be there- he was standing by there side, at least for now because he thought that he owed it to Carlisle to do so. Carlisle Cullen was the only friend of sorts that the nomad had ever known. But Alistair's red eyes were unpredictable as they darted back and forth to assess the house.

"O'Connell" in their introductions, it would seem that only her surname was held in the man's head and vaguely she considered if it was his way of remaining distant from people. Quinn herself had once acted in the same way, only ever calling people by their given name- that was why she had called Bella 'Isabella' for so long- she was afraid of getting too close to people and instantly put up mechanisms to stop that from happening.

"This place has a pretty decent sized attic- In case you decided on some alone time" she breathed before stepping out, aware that his red eyes remained on her as he followed her to stand in the shadow of the large house.

"How many came?" Carlisle questioned Edward who was too busy smiling at Quinn for a moment, to truly consider what he had been asked.

"Twenty" was his final answer and Quinn couldn't help but look up at Carlisle questioningly- Would that be enough? His face was unreadable. "You have some good friends."

"And Alice? Jasper?" Quinn questioned hopefully- only to be met with a shake of the head from Bella. It was like a punch in the gut all over again. The feeling of abandonment was something that Quinn would never truly accept- it had happened all too often for her, she had almost grown to accept it. But not from them, not from her family. Bella pulled Quinn into a tight hug as if having read her mind despite her blank expression and Quinn returned the favour intensely. Bella and Quinn were the only friends the other had brought with them from their human lives- and that would always bind them, no matter how distant they grew.

"Well, we'll all be on Aro's list now" Alistair chipped in from where he loitered at the back of the car and Quinn sighed as she looked over at him, catching him wink at her with his smirk. There was something about Quinn that unnerved him- Perhaps it was the way she could so easily control him if given the chance, but it was thrilling also- to know that she understood why he was the way that he was- without even questioning. "Centuries on the run, that's what you've brought me. Some friend, Carlisle"

"Alistair, come meet everyone" the doctor tried.

"I've already told you, if it comes to a fight, I won't stand against the Volturi"

"It won't come to a fight" the man tried reassuringly but Alistair didn't want to hear it.

"I'll be in the attic" he decided. "Send the blonde one if you need me- She's the least annoying" and he vanished, leaving Quinn to smile at his, half- compliment. Carlisle only chuckled tensely at her expression, nudging her slightly.

"He's not a people person" Quinn explained when she saw Bellas confused face and Carlisle smiled again.

"I'm glad your back" Edward informed to them both and they nodded as they slowly made their way back inside the house once more, the mind-reader nudging his friend slightly as they walked up the front steps. Looking up, they exchanged a tight smile and that was all that was needed. Esme was the first to bring Carlisle and Quinn into a tight hug as they stepped over the threshold and the pair of them laughed out in slight shock as she did.

"Thank goodness you are both back safely, you had me worried. You should have phoned more" she persisted, taking Quinn's cheeks as if talking to her and Carlisle seemed to get off scot-free as he sidestepped his best friend and ventured deeper into the house, giving Quinn a cheeky smirk when he realised that he had abandoned her to the mercy of Esme.

"Yes, the four phone calls a day weren't enough" Jack beamed and Esme glared at him, hitting him lightly in the chest though she smiled as the youngest male vampire hugged the blonde girl warmly for a short pause.

"My Dear Darling pyromaniac!" Emmett boomed, seeming to catch the attention of many of the vampires in the house as he danced into the entrance hall to grab Quinn in his arms, spinning her around. "How I have missed you!"

"That was one time, Emmett" she reminded though couldn't help but laugh as he eventually put her down.

"Hello, Emmett, nice to see you too" Carlisle teased as he rejoined his fiance's side and the burly vampire winked, patting Carlisle awkwardly on the back.

"Good to see you, Doc"

"Quinn" Rosalie squealed lightly, pulling the equally blonde girl into a tight hug and she responded with intensity. "I missed you"

"I missed you too Rosie"

"Hi Carlisle" Rosalie beamed, seeing his teasing sombre expression and he chuckled as he accepted her hug.

"Grandpa!" a sweet voice cheered and Carlisle's grin seemed to somehow grow impossibly in intensity as he caught the bundle of joy that threw herself into his arms.

"Hello, Sunshine" he beamed and she giggled as she hugged him tightly.

"Auntie Quinny"

"Hi, Princess. Look how tall you've gotten. You're almost as tall as me!" Quinn joked and Renesmee grinned in childish pride from her gradfather's arms.

"It's funny 'cuz it's true" Jacob chortled and Quinn glared at him as he joined their reunion in the entrance hall. His comment earned him a few chuckles. "Carlisle, Q." the wolf nodded.