Rochester, New York 1970

Teaching a newborn wasn't so easy a task, and though Estelle had expected it to be difficult, she had not thought to question how she would manage if Thomas was gifted on top of it.

With a gift that made her much more easily persuaded by him, she was having a harder time than she would ever dare admit.

Allowing him a mix of diet, of human and animal alike, helped keep the thirst at bay better than she had originally thought. Traveling with him would prove to be an arduous task, getting him to Europe seemed near impossible, and Estelle wanted the situation to be more steady before she made the call to her maman for eventual assistance.

With Thomas steady for the moment, a full week has passed since waking from his change and emotions seeming settled after coming to terms with what had been one of him, Estelle slipped out after receiving the promise that he would remain here.

She had told Vera, after stealing away with her grandson, that she would let her know of the outcome. If her dear boy had survived.

While she did not approve of the fact that the human woman knew of their existence, she was old with not long left of her life.

She spent beyond the reach of the industrial complex until she reached a downtown area. She turned out of an alleyway in a light misting rain, taking advantage of the cloud coverage during the day, until she found an acceptable phone booth to place her call.

Vera answered upon the first ring, as though she was sat waiting next to it for news. "Hello?"

"Hello, Vera," Estelle murmurs. "How are you?"

The elder woman draws a shaky breath. "Tell me plainly, dear. Thomas?"

Estelle hums a laugh, a smile pinching at the corner of her lips. "He makes an exquisite immortal."

"Oh! Oh, thank god!" She cries, full of relief and a hint of tears. "How is he? Tell me everything, please!"

"There is not much to tell, truly. He was confused upon waking, certainly, but he took the news well. He was not violent so much with the change. It is taking him a moment to adapt to the diet, but he appears to be in good spirits," Estelle shares. "Thomas is gifted, Vera. A charming, persuasive quality to him that seems to put those around him into good spirits."

She pauses, for a moment, considering how it is she wants to say what is needed.

"Vera, you must understand, I'm afraid, that this is the last you could ever speak to us, now. Since you know, and even more so with Thomas, it's imperative that no attention is led back to us with his sudden disappearance," Estelle says softly, as gently as she was able to manage. "But Thomas, he knew I was to make this call eventually. He wanted me to tell you that he loves you dearly, that you were the best grandmother in the world, and that he wants you to always know that he will never forget you. Thomas wants you to understand that he will carry your memory everywhere he goes and hope that you can greet his parents for him again one day."

The other end is quiet, if not for the sound of the aged woman's sobs. "Thank you, Estelle. Thank you and your family for everything. We've lived a good life because of you all and now my Thomas will too."

The line drops abruptly, the dial tone beeping in her ear, and Estelle takes great care to move at a human pace to return hand it on the receiver, and exit the booth slowly. She walks the length of the street, finds the alleyway once more, and runs her way back to Thomas.

She does not dwell on the nature of her reply to Vera, or the creative liberties she took in her language. Thomas had not nearly been so graceful when Estelle had explained that he could no longer speak to his one remaining family member or any of his old friends. He had raged something beautiful, his anger palpable and fierce in the wake of his grief and denial.

Estelle felt an echo of kinship in the motion, a reminder of her own desperation to stay with her family all those years ago.

The situation would not turn out the same.

With his sentiments in mind, she had used those words to paint a lovely goodbye for a woman who deserved it.

When Estelle returned to Thomas, he was much the same as she had left him. Perched statuesque on the lip of a window with a knee drawn up in the mimicry of human comfort.

She wonders if it would have been better for him had he forgotten those human years instead.

"I think," he breathes, "that I'm ready to leave now."

"Leave?"

His eyes flit to her. "You're European? French? Gran always spoke about your mother and uncle and how great they were. I think I'm ready to go, now."

Estelle considers him for a moment, mind racing through the possibilities and potential problems. She didn't know yet how to get him there or how he was going to react around so many humans.

She sighs through her nose. "Then let us."

Somewhere in New Orleans, 1970

The solution came in the form of Carlisle. Of the man who had not spoken to her in more than a handful of years. He was an old and dear friend once before the bought of unfortunateness with Rosalie.

The thing she loathed the most about coming to him for his help was the fact that she would be seeing her once more.

For her maman she had fought to have this woman changed, and for her maman she was now determined to despise her forever.

Forever was a very long time.

The fallout between the Cullen and Dupuis families was born from that one night years ago and the decision that Estelle had made. It was the spark that drew them apart, that had forged the distance.

They spoke in letters, fleeting and sparse, as immortals are like to do when they have trouble keeping in touch. It commenced with Carlisle, his hesitance to write back when they had seen each other so recently at that.

As Rosalie did not return Marion's original missive, her maman did not write the woman again. They moved too often enough for a time that letters never found them.

Carlisle took great issue with this. And as they had not spoken in a number of years, it did take some time to track the family down to somewhere in New Orleans. Running there, she pieced together the pieces based on snippets Marion was able to gather from others in the community. Finally, it was the Denali sisters who pointed them in the right direction.

The home they came upon was a categorically odd choice for a sedentary coven. There was more sun than would be safe, but they were rather isolated in a sprawling manner at home.

It was not a Cullen that she knew who answered the door. A tiny, petite thing who did not even appear to be taller than 4 feet. Her hair was styled spiky, cropped short, and her outfit seemed to be the height of American fashion.

"You must be Estelle and Thomas."

"Did my maman let you know that we were coming?"

She giggles, stepping aside to let them in. "I'm Alice. I saw you coming. Carlisle and Esme are waiting for you both."

They're led into an open sitting room with a minimalist design. Carlisle stood for their approach, ready to welcome them. Esme is at his shoulder and she could sense Edward lingering not far off the room. The broody vamp was that sort of nosy when he didn't even need to be when one could hear the thoughts of others.

"It's been a long time," Carlisle greets. He comes to her side, envolopping her in a stiff hug. Had she been feelikng more welcome than she actually was, it would be nice to see him again. "Introduce us to your companion?"

"This is my new brother, Thomas." She goes to explain to least that she needed for him to understand the situation without going to reveal who his family was. She knew he would approve of their keeping in touch with Vera from so long ago, even if Thomas was changed on the style of how Carlisle preferred.

He was the sort that's was interresting like that. One of their kind who did not wish to waste human life.

Estelle should have realize that even his compassion would be limited at the knowledge of how willfully she was allowing him to feed from humans. It was the sort of disappointed fatherly expression only he would dare to show to her. She wasn't quelled by the expression.

"Are you certain you'd be able t handle such a task as caring for him?" He asks in that soft tone of voice, the one she remembers from when she was a child. "Thomas, you are welcome to stay with us until you get yourself settled properly."

He shifts, bright red eyes focusing on the blond vampire. "Settled?"

"I assure you, he is more than capable of being settled with our family, Carlisle," Estelle grinds out. "Maman is awaiting our return. We have simply come to ask if you are able to ease our journey."

There's a rush from the front door, a flit of steps that has her tensing at Rosalie's arrival.

Estelle raises her gaze slowly, catching sight of the topaz eyes first before anything else. It seems, she thinks, that Rosalie had adapted well in the end, despite her utter disgust at her being the last they had met.

"Estelle Dupuis," Rosalie's voice is tight, "how great it is to see you."

"Yes, it's been quite a while," Estelle does not ask after the other woman. "We are not here for long."

Her eyes track to Thomas at her side. She looks, for a brief moment, curious as though she recognizes something about him. "Is this your mate?"

"This is Thomas. My new brother, for all intents and purposes."

The blonde hums. "It's lovely to see your family is growing, at last."

Estelle deadpans. "Of course."

Esme clears her throat politely. "We have grown our family as well. You've met Alice at the door. We have also invited Jasper and Emmett. Both should be returning any moment. They've gone hunting."

"We will likely go ourselves once we leave," Thomas says, unwinding himself from his tight stance, relaxing.

It was hard for a newborn to meet so many of their kind so quickly. It was overwhelming to the senses, set you on edge for a fight.

"You must stay long enough to meet the others," Esme insists. "Let me give you the tour for now. Perhaps you could be persuaded to invite the rest of your family for a visit."

It all seemed to fall apart from there.

The tension between herself and Rosalie rocketed, the quiet disagreement between herself and Carlisle began to boil over in a manner that was ridiculously over polite, and while they stood to the side observing, the last of the Cullen's seemed to return.

And Estelle met Emmett.

Like no other man she had met, Estelle was drawn to the sheer size of him. To the build of his shoulders and open awe of his expression, to the soft curl in his hair and dimpled smile.

Emmett called her angel. Emmett stole her away for minutes at a time, distracting her from the importance of what she needed to do.

He called her angel and she fell for the look in his eyes each time until a gentle press at her elbow from Thomas reminded her to mind her head.

And while Edward looked smug and Alice slightly pleased, she continue to bicker with Carlisle and Rosalie as much as she could while staying polite.

Or as polite as she wanted to be.

The last straw was when Emmett spoke rashly. "Just stay for a while, who cares about Marion right now."

The things said after were harsh, power bubbling just beneath the surface of her skin. Estelle and Thomas left swiftly. The argument staying fresh on her mind for many years to come.

It was the softest fallout any groups of vampires would ever see.

Unedited.