They had been searching eighty-five years for her, Mary Alice Brandon. Though when they finally found her; they found much more than they ever expected. Hero had always had an aversion to doctors... Until she fell in love with one.
Carlisle Cullen X...
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FORKS WASHINGTON, 2005
In the garage of the Cullen residence, Hero sifted through one of the many drawers as all around her, the family prepared for what was to come next.
"I've had to fight our kind before" Jasper reminded them all strongly as he pulled on the coat Hero handed him. "They're not easy to kill."
"But not impossible" Simon gritted out as he shoved the bats and ball into one of the many cupboards. Hero, on the other hand, handed two passports to Alice who was already waiting with her bag open in the trunk of Carlisle's Mercedes. Alice had already seen the plan.
"We'll tear them apart and burn the pieces" Emmet returned.
"I don't relish the thought of killing another creature, even a sadistic one like James" Carlisle breathed and Hero smiled tensely at him, placing her hand soothingly on her upper arm for a split-second before they were all at work again.
"What if he kills one of us first?" Rosalie reminded as Hero threw a collection of things to Alice who was already waiting with her backpack open.
"I'm going to run Bella south" Edward decided, completely ignoring his sister who was none-too-impressed with his behaviour as she watched the panic of her family under the dim lighting of the garage. "Can you lead the tracker away from here?"
"No, Edward" Carlisle decided, stopping what he was doing to turn to his son. "James knows you would never leave Bella. He'll follow you."
"I'll go with Bella" Alice piped up, telling them what she had already seen and the mind-reader glared at whatever thoughts flashed through her mind, not like any of them noticed. "Jasper and I will drive her south... I'll keep her safe Edward."
"Can you keep your thoughts to yourself?"
"Yes," the raven-haired vampire rolled her eyes before she glanced between Hero and Simon once and slid into the passenger seat of Carlisle's car where Jasper was already waiting.
"Rosalie, Esme" Edward started, "Could you put these on so the tracker will pick up Bella's scent?" he asked, handing them some clothes and the mother instantly obliged while Rosalie just stared at him.
"Why? What is she to me?" the blonde persisted and there was a resounding sigh of exasperation between all of them.
"Rosalie, Bella is with Edward. She's a part of this family now... And we protect our family." the blond doctor reminded calmly and Hero stepped forward instead.
"I'll do it" she took the coat right out of the mind-readers hand. "Rosalie, you and Emmett can go and keep an eye on Charlie? Once the tracker realises Bella isn't there, he won't hang around for long so you won't be in any danger" her voice was soft and the beautiful blonde stared at her for a long second before looking over at her husband- and then nodding in agreement as Hero slid the coat over her slender body, pushing the sleeves back when she found it to be a little bit too big- though not by much.
"Ready?" Carlisle breathed, finally being able to take a moment to place his hands soothingly on his girlfriend's shoulders and she smiled as her forehead pressed against his in a brief moment of affection before they were on their way once more.
"I'm ready, this is my family now" she assured and he pressed a kiss to her forehead warmly.
"It certainly is" he encouraged before Edward was at their side once more, ushering them all along and Simon was glued close to Esme's side as they ventured through the pristine beauty of the living room which seemed so inviting now that they couldn't sit and enjoy it.
"There's nine of us and two of them" Simon assured Edward. "We'll be fine" and then the door cracked open and they were off racing into the forest, Carlisle and Hero took one direction while Edward, Esme and Simon took the other. Racing next to Carlisle through the trees had once been such an enjoyable task, and now it was terrifying- it felt like they were running for their lives even though nobody was currently chasing them. When Hero stopped to mark a tree, Carlisle sent her a soothing smile.
For the first time since the family had completed itself, it felt like they were at risk of being torn apart. They may just have been two people but they were lethal, older and wiser to the world than Hero was, though likely not Carlisle. The doctor grabbed her hand soothingly and dragged her on faster, sending them along a different course and her unbeating heart nearly flew from her chest when she saw movement in the trees before them- though she was soothed when she found that it was only the other half of the running party. Edward nodded tensely when they joined them and ushered all five of them to race further through the trees. They didn't have time for idle chit-chat now because they were being followed.
"Hero didn't know whether to be horrified that they were being chased- or glad because it meant that their plan was working, she opted for nervous as she leapt easily over a boulder with her brother at her side.
"Hero, tree" Edward encouraged and she listened, leaning back into the bark before they were off again. The sky above them was slowly pooling with a murky light which undoubtedly indicated that day was drawing nearer. They didn't get much further, on the other hand, as Edward soon ground to a halt and they all stumbled to follow his movement, turning to his horrified face. "He's figured it out."
