False Dalliance |C. CULLEN|

| viii ~ secrets |

For several years Carlisle's first wife and biological child had remained with them. They were currently with the Denali coven, taking a break from civilisation as they knew it. Eventually, with their help they had successfully settled Mary and Christopher on the vegetarian diet. After six months of painful moaning and aching withdrawls, their red orbs diffused into a slightly darkened amber that would grow lighter over time.

Once the process had ended, did Carlisle see the immense contrast between her red hair and paler eyes. It unsettled him that their shade was opposite from what they were, that pale blue that almost mimicked the sun streaming through a cloudy sky. Once in a while he would drown in his imagination and no matter what he did, after she grew comfortable with animal blood, he never saw her eyes any other shade than an enchanting grey.

With Mary's quiet and calming disposition, he realised she had barely changed. The rest thought she was a great balance considering the intensity of their family.

•

Tanya was currently out with Carmen and Kate. Therefore, some of the Cullens were left with Garret and Eleazar. However, they were not seen as they enjoyed their own company while the women were away. Edward had continued to teach his daughter the piano in another room and Bella had been dragged by Alice along with Rosalie and Esme to do 'girl stuff'. Alice had concluded that if the female vampires of the Denali coven could have a girls day out, they could too. But, Mary was left to her own devices. She wasn't a person to grow sentimental over little things such as clothing and she hadn't quite grown fond of Alice's hyper-active persona. She was a minimalist, she favoured her own space.

She sat on the brown leather sofa of the Denali's living room while her golden orbs flickered from one side of her folded book to the other. Meanwhile, Carlisle and Christopher were bewitched by a tense game of chess as Jasper observed from the side lines. She didn't have to be a mind reader to know he was internally stratgising for each side. Every once in a while his eyes would flinch when (what she assumed), to be a sudden change of plans. She had to admit she found it oddly amusing to watch.

"Who's winning?" Mary questioned, peering up from the script before her sights.

"I was, until our son obtained the advantage" Carlisle moaned, causing Mary to chuckle while he grasped his chin in his hand. he was deep in thought, when the red head marked her page and sat closely to her ex-husband.

She had to get used of thinking of him that way. If she wanted to remain in the household, that had to become her first priority. She had to get used to Esme being with Carlisle, touching him and doing things they used to do. Mary had to admit, she muffled her dry sobs into her pillows in the darkest of nights, while her son would rub her back in a comforting manner. They both experienced times like those for a century. However, they had eventually ceased. But, after tagging along with the Cullens, it all came crashing back. Christopher only found it was harder to watch when he saw his father with his new wife. Her son understood her pain then. Especially, when he was with his adopted children.

As Carlisle and Christopher continued their game. Mary couldn't help but desire him once again. The feelings that lingered had been turned a blind eye to. She didn't want to ruin what she had, and she refused to ruin Christopher's chance at having a father. Mary couldn't be selfish.

Once Christopher and Carlisle had finished their chess game, Jasper decided to hunt. Already you could see black stain the amber of the young vampire's eyes. With the new diet came a hunger Christopher was not yet used to, but with frequent hunts he grew able. Therefore, he left Mary and her Carlisle alone. Thankfully, she was handling the transition from human to animal blood quiet well.

Silence had drowned them both when the certain two remained. With it, came memories. Flashes of blood, fear-stirring screams and a baby's crying. It rang out in the red heads ears like it was happening just that second. All over again she could feel her life force escape her and her eyelids grow heavy.

"What I miss most about being human, is dreaming" she announces, breaking the quiet as well as the visions while she curled up on the sofa.

Carlisle was still stretched out across the carpet when Mary spoke, his back upright with his head just where she could reach. She was tempted to rake her nimble fingers through the platinum blonde strands. However, she refrained from doing so, much to her dismay.

"What about you?" Mary questioned.

He turned his head slightly, capturing her stunning beauty at only a sideways glance.

"The sun... Walking in the morning" He answered. And she swore for a moment, a smile curled at the edges of his lips.

He would deny it if anyone was to ask. But, if he could, he would take back visiting London where he eventually got bitten. He would take the lay-in his wife offered and miss what he thought to be an opportunity. Though, soon enough he would be turned with her. But, then did he think that would've been far better.

"Yes, being out at day where civilisation is sounds appealing" Mary hummed in response.

"As I recall parties let alone being part of civilisation, wasn't exactly you thing",

"Like you... That's what made us perfect" she chuckled.

While they felt like they were isolated from the world, the soundless company of each other became comforting. Also, she ultimately found the courage to touch him. At first, he stiffened, not knowing how to react. However, he soon released an unneeded breath and fell into Mary's warm touch.

She drew random squiggles on the nape of his neck, his scalp and intertwined his golden hair in-between her fingers. This was barely what they felt translated into touch. A lust so raw and innate sat behind their calm personas. Where Carlisle normally had impeccable control, he was just about holding on. Honestly, he wanted to pin Mary beneath him and take her, like he did when he was human, when they were married. Instead, they soaked in the orange light of the fire place and they stayed as is leaving their desires to burn out.