FRANKENSTEIN
41 | Brandy, you're a fine girl.

"AND there's a girl, in this harbor town, and she works layin' whiskey down. They say, Brandy, fetch another round, she serves them whiskey and wine." Jolene sang from the passenger's seat of her brother's car.

Maverick laughed at his youngest sister, while he drove his new car. In the back seat Hadlee and Donica sat laughing along with their brother. The four were currently on their way to the local Dairy Queen, in order to get ice cream - just like they did every Sunday. Every week they switched off on who's car to take, this week being the one and only Maverick.

However, this scene was different from the rest. Yes, they were all the same people, but they were older. The eldest, Donica, being twenty-three, Hadlee the second eldest twenty-one, Maverick being nineteen, and Jolene the age of seventeen. At seventeen years of age Jolene had grown into a wonderfully beautiful young woman, along with her sisters - and the handsome Maverick.

Though, this beauty was a very familiar type of beauty. One that is seen every single day. Jolene's seventeen-year-old form was the exact same as Frankie's, everything about her was a replica, all the way down the almost invisible freckle on her shoulder.

"The sailor say's Brandy, you're a fine girl! What a good wife you would be, yeah, your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea!" Jolene was joined in the chorus by the rest of her siblings.

Jolene and Hadlee were no doubt the best of the four, Maverick and Donica having the upper hand when it came to the artsy stuff.

"What did mom say she wanted again?" Maverick yelled over the loud 70's song.

"Her and dad wanted to share a banana split!" Donica paused her singing, yelling back.

Despite the sibling's differences when it came to drawing and singing, they all had one common talent. Dancing.

"Hadlee do you mind keeping the ice cream cold once we get it?" Jolene turned to face her older sister, with 'puppy dog eyes'.

Hadlee looked at Jolene, unable to say no at the face she was pulling. They all knew how much their parents hated it when they used their gifts outside the house. Apparently 'mutants' were not very accepted to the laws of society, so they were forced to remain in the dark about their power's.

"Sure." Hadlee sighed giving in.

Donica looked to her younger sister's with a large smile, she loved her family. Maverick only shook his head from the driver's seat, letting out a snicker.

"I swear, I'll marry a beautiful girl named Brandy one day!" Maverick said to Jolene.

"Good luck with that." Jolene snorted, not believing her brother would be that lucky when it came to the marriage department.

"You know uncle Patrick's going to want one too?" Donica stated, knowing how her uncle was about the frozen treat.

"That's true, what should we get him?" Hadlee turned to look at Donica.

"I think the smart move would be to go for a blizzard, everyone loves a good Dairy Queen blizzard." Maverick pitched in, seeing the local Dairy Queen chain coming up.

"I completely agree with that statement." Jolene added, before her voice rose into a tuneful melody once again.

There they all were, the Carson siblings. Children of Anthony and Michelle Carson, nieces and nephew of Patrick Carson.

"Did you guy's hear, uncle Patrick almost has his death serum perfected?" Donica rose a brow.

"Really?" Maverick looked astonished at this.

"I don't think it'll work." Jolene hotly said, earning a snicker from Hadlee.

"And why not?" Donica challenged raising a brow at the young medium.

"Because, death would never allow it."

~

The first thing I felt when I came to was warm water, and then I realized I was wet. In fact I was soaking wet, the water was all around me. I could feel my clothes sticking to me, as well as my leaking shoes. I was sitting against something cold and hard though. It was odd to feel the contrast between the nice warm water, and the chillingly cold object.

It was then I understood this 'object' was Aro, I was sitting against Aro. He was still in his clothes too, I could feel them rubbing against me - but alike to my own they were sopping wet. Water sloshed around us and the sound of a faucet running could be heard.

In milliseconds my eyes flew open, and I was sitting up coughing violently - confused as to what was happening. Aro gently used his right hand to pat my back, and his left wrapped diligently around my waist.

"Oh my dear, sweet, girl." Aro soothed as he patted my back. "Whatever were you thinking? You could've injured yourself." Aro worriedly crooned.

"I wasn't about to let some wannabe take your life." I told him, my coughing fit coming to an end.

Taking a short look around, I realized we were in the bathtub. I turned to Aro, confused at our area of surrounding. "Why are we in the bathtub?" I asked him.

He gave me a small smile, before whispering the words. "You would not wake I was terribly worried, and figured water would be the best option." Aro explained.

My thoughts took a turn to what happened. Frantically, I looked him in the eyes pleadingly. "What happened? Is Alexander alright?"

"Yes, we took Alexander to his room and tended to his wounds. The guard arrived just a few minutes ago, apparently the reckless vampires fled the scene before their arrival. We were able to kill one of the leaders, Vladimir, as you know. However, Stefan is still out there with the other half of his army - we're going to locate them later." Aro softly told me.

"How long was I out?" I asked in him, thinking over his explanation.

"About forty-five minutes, my sweet." Aro rubbed my arms, his suit sticking to him.

"After we change, can we visit Alexander?" I questioned, hopefully.

Aro let out a small laugh, nodding his head. Quickly, the two of us changed into dry clothing, and then I practically dragged Aro down the corridors. A sudden thought occurred to me as we walked, and my eyes lit up.

With no words I let go of Aro's arm and jumped on his back. My legs wrapped themselves around his waist tightly and I buried my face in the crook of his neck.

"May I ask what exactly it is you are doing?" Aro questioned, amused by my actions.

Pulling my face out of his neck, I began in a sweet voice. "Well, I figured you running would probably be a lot faster." I innocently shrugged, giving him a kiss on the cheek placing my face back in his neck.

Aro shook his head, letting out a chuckle. In a quick blur of motion the world passed by us, then suddenly we were outside Miranda and Alexander's door. Aro popped me down, giving my shoulder a comforting rub.

With a small sigh, I knocked on the door - hoping I wasn't disturbing them. In an instant the door flew open, revealing a red eyed Miranda. She sniffled lightly, her eyes spilling with tears. My heart clenched how terrible she must've been feeling over Alexander.

A loud sob left her as she pulled me into a tight hug. "Thank you." She cried out. "Thank you so much, he would be de-dead without you and Athenodora!" Miranda's voice cracked, tears pooling out of her eyes.

I hugged her back, it was odd seeing her into such a state. She was always always so carefree and happy. Aro was thinking the same thing, as he placed a comforting hand on her shaking form. After I released her, Aro surprised us both by pulling her into a tight soothing hug, shushing her cries.

She grabbed onto him, her sobs deafening. I gave her a sad look, before walking into the bedroom allowing for Aro and her to have a moment. Alexander's form rested on the bed, his body asleep. Luckily, he looked way better than he did in the throne room. I estimated within two day's he'd be back and healed up.

Demetri sat by his bed side on a chair, worriedly looking over his son. His gaze locked onto mine as I made my way over. "We shouldn't have all left." Demetri muttered shaking his head in a guilty fashion. "Thank the gods you and Athenodora weren't captured. I fear things would have gone a lot differently had you two not been there." Demetri stated. "Thank you, Frankie." He finished, looking into my eyes an honest expression.

I set my hand on his shoulder rubbing it comfortingly. "You are all my family, and family protects each other." I told him, looking to Alexander's sleeping form.

Demetri gave me a smile in return, a far off look in his eye. "Can I confide to you about something?" He questioned.

I nodded, patting his shoulder reassuringly.

"I miss my young boy. The boy who would walk the streets of Volterra in broad daylight, teasing me about not being able to follow him out. The boy who secretly loved to take bubble baths, and would only ever allow me to bathe him. The boy who had the biggest crush on Miranda, and would come to me for advice. The little boy, who would wake in the night weeping for a mother he never knew, and would only fall back asleep in my arms. I miss my little son, and I wish that he aged normally - so I could have had more time to appreciate those moments." Demetri wistfully exhaled, his eyes shining with sadness. "And now look, he is all grown up and married, and he is his own man with no need of a father anymore."

I looked at him for a seconds, allowing there to be a few moments of silence between us. I shook my head biting my lip at his theatrics.

"You're right, Alexander is no longer a boy. He is a strong, brave man. Where do you think he learned that from? Those special memories the two of you made, will forever be special. You act as if you've lost Alexander forever; yes, you may not be able to pick him up and send him to sleep anymore, but you can always talk with him and share secrets only the two of you will know. He will always need a father. It may not seem like it, but he will always need to have the man he know's will never judge him, the man he know's would never betray him, the man he know's would kill for him, and the man he know's would die for him. A father is a son's greatest hero, and Alexander will always need you by his side, Demetri." I finished smiling at Demetri who looked at me with a large smile.

I could see him trying to blink back the teary eyes, but wasn't able to. Neither of us could respond as Miranda came barreling through the doors, her body landing next to Alexander's sleeping form before I could even blink. Aro stood in the doorway looking to Alexander sadly, before he tilted his head in my direction.

"I must go and meet with my brother's to discuss a plan of attack on Stefan and his remaining alliances. Would you like to accompany me, Frankie?" Aro said in a slick voice.

"Actually, I was hoping I could just go back to our room? I just want to think a little before a plan of attack is put to action." I muttered, pleadingly looking at him.

Aro gave me a silent nod, walking over and placing a kiss to my temple. "I will back within an hour's time." He told me, before speeding off to I presume the throne room.

With a small goodbye, I was off to Aro's chambers.

~

As soon as I walked in, I noticed my phone buzzing from the dresser. Quickly, I got to it and answered Carlisle's incoming call before it ended.

"Hey Carlisle." I breathed out, relieved that I got to the phone in time.

"Hello, Frankie. I've discussed what you were telling me with Patrick and he is persistent in speaking with you immediately." Carlisle explained as I heard shuffling in the background.

"Hello Frankie, how are you?" Dr. Carson's voice came through.

"Hello Dr. Carson!" I said happily, excited to hear his voice after so long.

"These dreams-hallucinations, you said they were centered around a girl and her family? And that you've been seeing yourself?" His voice questioned, holding a slight undertone of panic.

"Yeah, it's really weird. Like I had one just an hour ago when I was asleep. It was the same girl with her four siblings, they were driving. The one I'm usually centered around looked like me. Actually, now that I think about it they referred to you. Not only that, but they have power's as odd as that is." I frowned at my own voice, deciphering how crazy it sounded.

"What?" Dr. Carson wheezed out. "Do you know what any of their names are, the people you've been dreaming about?" He frantically blurted.

"Um... yeah, The father - his name is Anthony, the mother is Michelle, the oldest daughter is Donica, the second oldest daughter is named Hadlee, the only son is Maverick, and the girl I've been centered around - her name is Jolene." Dr. Carson let out a panicked breath.

"Listen to me, Frankie. I do not want you mentioning this to anyone other than Carlisle or myself. I am going to check on your chip from my computer, if worst comes to worst we may need to bring you back. Answer when I call, okay." Dr. Carson told me sternly.

"Okay." I said, frowning at the fact he may try to bring me back. I didn't want that.

"Frankie, before you go can you tell me the power's each on e of them had."

"Yeah. The dad wasn't gifted, but he did have this really cool metal suit. The mother is able to stretch farther than any normal person I've seen. Donica can shift into any person or turn invisible. Hadlee, she freezes thing and has a sonic scream. Maverick can electrocute people and teleport. Jolene, well, as far as I'm concerned she can do all sorts of tricks with the dead. Interact with them mainly, but I feel like there's more." I told him, earning an almost inaudible gasp.

"I do not want this mentioned to anyone, do you understand. If they even hear a peep about this in Italy, I will drag you straight back." Dr. Carson reprimanded, warning me.

I understood loud and clear. If I told anyone, even my own soul-mate, I had to leave. I didn't want to leave.