Warm chatter filled the room accompanied with the smooth music that played from the record player. The scent of food and blood mixing in the air dangerously and it made her head dizzy like the sweet wine and hard liquor that the humans sipped from fancy glasses.

The room was full, bodies rubbing together and heat rising. She could see the flush that rose on their faces, the sweat that collected in their hairlines, and she smiled upon seeing them laugh and smile.

Bustling to and thro, Marion shot her daughter a brother a look upon their various behaviours while she carried platters of food. Hugo was boisterous and lively while he entertained guest- too much so that he slipped into French constantly and danced around the room. Estelle was acting very received and distant, saying little to mothing and taking to no one despite the many people that approached her.

With the trays of food balanced in her hands, she smiled kindly to all those that she passed - sharing a few words with those that called out to her. She glided easily into to living room as she danced around the bodies that occupied her home and placed the trays on a table - people automatically flocking to her sides as she presented them with new food.

Gathered around the wall humans filled through her record collection. Various records sat organized by artist and song - she had multiple versions of the same album, though many different sleeve artworks. It was a hobby of hers that she picked up over time, collectables being something that she used to pass her long days.

It was interesting to watch as the people of Rochester, New York fawned over the items in her home as though they were new and exotic. Woman praised her food and homemaking, men praised her alcohol and wealth - the family name.

The Dupuis name was old, just as old as the family that they threw the party to find. The Cullen's had yet to attend the party though she knew they would come at one time or another because Carlisle was a good man, a man with good intentions and a long history with the family. He would feel this sense of duty to attend, it was only a matter of time.

Drinking in the sight of her guest, the leader of her small coven searched the party - listening to every conversation and looking to find the one that interested her most. She had time to spare before she inevitably had to return to playing host - serving the crowd that devoured each item that she lay out.

Near the entry stood a well dressed elderly couple and another, much younger couple. Behind them, standing shyly was Vera and her little Henry - husband at her side.

Smiling widely, she moved towards them with a pip in her step. She called to them, arms held out for the little boy. The baby squirmed in his mother's arms, low giggles coming from him as she grew closer. He was dressed well, fitted perfectly in an outfit that Marion had bought for him. He was a handsome boy in pale blue.

"How cute! I knew this would be his colour, look at how it brings out those eyes!" the woman gushed, snuggling Henry close to her chest and peppering kisses to his cheeks. The party of people laughed, Vera glowing with pride at her son. "And you, ma belle, I see that you wore the dress that I sent for you. I thought you and the little one should match."

A rosy blushed fluttered over Vera's cheeks, the scent growing as it mixed with the other party goers. Marion breathed deeply, memorizing it so she could differentiate it from the others in the room. Her sense of smell was greater even than Hugo and Estelle - a talent that she is not overly thrilled of receiving.

"Enjoy yourselves, all of you!" Marion exclaimed, balancing Henry on one arm and gesturing towards the party to the others. "I will take this one with me, please, do take some refreshments."

Spinning away before the young mother could argue, the vampire slipped through her guest and to the other end of the room. She made idle talk, chattering animatedly with a few men and woman from the bank about Europe.

"France is much different than here, I believe. America is very revolutionary - always moving forward. France was rich in history. There are may old buildings that line the cities and many green hills in the country," She explained, watching as the people became entranced by the description of her home land.

"France is pretty and full of life, but not nearly as pretty as New York! The people here are simply so interesting!" the booming voice of her brother coming up behind her caused the woman to roll her eyes. She elbowed him in the side, hushing him as the men glared at their giggling wives or daughters.

"Hugo, they know what is New York, they do not know France."

The male huffed, slinging an arm around his sister and shaking her around lovingly - boisterous laughter sounding at her disgruntled expression. "If you are speaking of France, then you must tell them of Belgium!"

From across the room, Estelle hissed and sneered at her uncle. Her expression closed off, nose turned up as she payed no attention to the people before her. The mother caught the girls eye, a brow raising in question but she received no response.

"Tell them of the joys of Belgium then brother," she sighed. Escaping the arm around her, Marion pushed herself to her toes and leaned close to Hugo's ear. "Reste ici, je vais parler avec Estelle."

Estelle looked to her mother, leaving the company of a few young girls she met Marion half way. Instantly the girl leaned into her mother, resting a head on her shoulder and releasing a soft groan. Henry babbled, reaching with chubby fingers for Estelle's blonde hair and getting it tangled in his fingers.

"Who is this?" Estelle questioned in their mother tongue - the French rapid and unintelligible to the people nearest them.

"Henry, he is Vera's son. Do you remember the young woman from the park that I told you about?" she replied, her voice just as smooth as her daughters, accent thick in speech.

Around them, they could see the guest sparring them quick glances as they interacted. The interest was evident as they observed the foreign woman.

"He is beautiful," Estelle spoke in English she took the child from her mother, cradling the tiny life in her arms and cooing lovingly.

Marion could imagine another time, one far away from her grasp when Estelle could have had children of her own. A time where they could have both been human together and growing old, living in grand houses or poor would not have mattered because they would have had an eternal legacy.

Now their legacy was reduced to another name of nobility that disappeared during what they called the French Revolution. A time where the people killed the elite based on grudges and false evidence.

"You can come with me to speak with his mother then," Marion brushed her daughter's hair back into place. "I took Henry without much of a word and left them on their own. I did not even introduce myself to their friends."

"Mais maman, where are your manners?" Estelle teased, topaz eyes twinkling with mischief as she bounced the child on her hip.

"Lost in the wind, my love. Come with me, we will go meet them ensemble." Talking her daughter by the hand, she dragged her through the people and towards the kitchen.

Passing the time with Estelle, the mother had learned early on that her daughter was very peculiar about many things. Estelle was the type to hate the company of others unless she liked them very much - more so, she hated new environments, they made her feel very trapped.

It took many years for Marion to pull her daughter from the harsh views she held concerning humans. The blonde hated having to watch her mother hide away and act as though she did not exist. She had to, over time, pretend that Marion was her sister instead of her mother. They would have had to separate, cut ties when Estelle was still human before anyone suspected the pair. Estelle had learnt to hate humans and it took much coaxing to pull her from that mindset.

It made sense to the mother, the odd behaviour - though it did not mean she condoned it.

Finding the scent of the mother was easy, the sharpness of her sense of smell aiding her in the simple task. The kitchen was easy to get close to, though the mother was not expecting the firm hand that gripped onto her elbow.

Tensing, she twisted around quickly to find herself faced with familiar kind eyes that shone the same colour as her own. He was different from how she had last seen him - still dressed well, but he seemed much happier, glowing as a woman stuck close to his left side.

Unable to prevent the happy laughter that bubbled from her chest, Marion threw her arms around the doctor - hair flying in front around them and he swayed her gently in his arms. It had been years since she had seen him, the man that had saved her all those years ago.

"You no longer wear your hair in a ponytail," Marion laughed. "It looks much better like this!"

Carlisle chucked, placing her back to her feet - he held her at arms length. He kept a hand placed on her waste as he smiled at her, eyes twinkling in mirth.

A choked cry mixed with a laugh sounded from Estelle and the girl placed the young Henry in her mother's arms and jumped at Carlisle, knocking the man back a few steps.

"Uncle Carlisle!" she exclaimed, Estelle's arms were wrapped around the man tightly, refusing to let him go despite the stares that the guest were giving them. She clung to him the same way she did as a young child. "It's been so long! Maman said that you would come but I did not believe her!"

"You should always listen to your mother," he scolded playfully - letting the girl squeeze him tightly.

"I know," Estelle huffed, a groan falling past her lips.

Smiling at the childish banter between the pair, Marion balanced the happy baby easily and leaned close to the woman she could only assume to be Carlisle's mate.

The woman had a heart shaped face with caramel hair. She was slender, tiny, and similar in size to Marion. She was very beautiful, even with her figure tense and eyes alert. She could see how much of a perfect match the woman was for her old friend.

Marion extended a hand, laying it on the clothed arm of the woman slowly and she leaned in. She was unsure of how long the woman had to adapt to this lifestyle and was wary of her self control - giving the newest vampire a chance to react to Marion's movements.

"It is wonderful to meet you, it is truly a gift to see how happy Carlisle is," Marion spoke, placing a delicate kiss to her smooth pale cheek.

"I'm Esme," the woman sounded kind, a lulling lullaby that matched the velvety voice of her mate. Gesturing to Carlisle's other side, Esme pulled forward a man of around her physical age. He was the tall and brooding type - his hair an auburn under the shine of the soothing lights and his eyes calculating. "This is Edward, our son."

Stepping forward, he allowed Marion to place a small hand in his and he pressed a kiss to her knuckles - avoiding the family crests and wedding band that were pressed onto her fingers. He did not hesitate, the action chaste in a way that could only be described as gentlemanly.

"It's a pleasure," Edward mumbled, his mouth barely moving as he spoke. In lieu, his eyes drifted to Estelle as she chattered animatedly with Carlisle, he squinted in confusion as he watched every move she made.

"Edward is gifted," Esme whispered, the woman's lips grazing against the skin of Marion's ear. "He can read the thoughts of others - it's very distracting to him at times."

She nodded in understanding, turning to focus her attention on Esme at her side "Gifts can be quite hard to manage at times. Carlisle helped me in the beginning with mine. My dear Estelle still struggles with her own. He will learn to control it in time."

Edward eyes flickered to her momentarily but Marion did not acknowledge it. She kept to her conversation with Esme, keeping a close watch on her as she fawned over Henry with extreme gentleness. It briefly occurred to the French woman that the other vampire might have difficult with adapting to her abilities.

From the corner of her eye, she could spot Hugo making his way over - his usual excitement glowing on his face as he made way towards the small gathering of vampires. Her brother was normally genuinely happy about everything and anything.

Behind him was a blonde woman, a woman with her hair pulled back in a sophisticated bun and an expensive dress wrapped around her body. Upon further inspection, she noticed that blonde did not describe it - no, it was gold, shimmering. Her eyes were a peculiar shade, blue with a hint of violet surrounded by thick lashes that brushed against the roses of her cheeks as she blinked. Beautiful was not an appropriate word when the woman before her resembled the goddess Venus with a body drank like opera wine.

Closer. With each step closer her chest tightened, an ache where her heart sat and it was a pain of how her heart would have beat against her chest violently if it could. Alluring - the woman was a vision of a goddess but proved to be sinful in the way her hips swayed with each step.

Burning. Marion could feel the burning in her throat grow into a fire with the rise and fall of the goddess's chest. A smell so captivating that an ache grew in her mouth, anticipation seizing her body at the thought of sweet nectar on her tongue.

Yearning. It was as though a snap in her chest, pieces falling together as everything snapped into place. A hole, one that she had no idea existed, seemed to fill and suddenly she was complete. A yearning tugged at her, begging for Marion to step forward and press her cold lips against warm ones.

"Her name's Rosalie Hale," Edward mumbled, a hand curling around her shoulder forcefully while the others looked on in confusion. Estelle made a move to remove his hand from her mother - a glare working itself onto her face.

"Rosalie Hale," Marion repeated, the name causing unexpected butterflies to swirl in her chest. Estelle halted in her actions - head titling inquisitively. "She's absolutely prefect."

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Guess who finally updated? Guess who doesn't know how good this is but is in love with the ending? I put less French in this chapter because some people had trouble with it last time.

ma belle: my beautiful/my beauty (an endearment of sorts that sounds better in French tbh)
Reste ici, je vais parler avec Estelle: Stay here, I am going to go speak with Estelle
J'avais pris : I took
Ensemble : together

unedited. 

2018-03-03