#poly twilight

It had been four months and seventeen days since they vanished, not that you were counting.

One crisp January evening, Carlisle had gathered everyone in the living room of their sprawling house. His golden eyes were filled with regret as he spoke: Victoria was circling, the Volturi were watching too closely after James’s death, and the risk to you— a fragile human they all loved— was too great. Alice's vision of the Volturi's investigations had tipped the scales; they were leaving “for your own good”, and the house was being put up for sale.

You had begged; you had cried; you had screamed at them that this wasn’t protection, it was abandonment. Rosalie had looked away, jaw tight, gripping Emmett's tree-trunk like arm as though to stop herself springing forward; Jasper had sent waves of calm that you didn’t want, that felt saccharine and artificial.

Esme had embraced you and kissed your forehead with trembling hands, whispering, "I'm sorry... Please don't hate us."

You remember it so clearly: the moment they filed out of the door, Edward held back and whispered through gritted teeth: “We love you too much to watch you die because of us, Y/N.”

And in a blur of movement, he was gone. They were all gone.

The first month was agony: you barely ate; you skipped school. Your friends worried themselves sick, and then gave up on asking you to come out: they knew you weren't coming. You slept in the hoodie Carlisle had left behind, imbued with the scent of the whole family— soap from Esme, patchouli from Alice, smoke from Jasper, earth from Emmett, old books from Edward, and that sweet note that was distinctly Rosalie — until the scent was gone and the hoodie just smelled like you again: tired, sweaty, depressed.

You wrote letters that you never sent. You drove past their empty house until the For Sale sign went up. You told yourself every day that it was time to move on, and that they weren’t coming back— until they did.

It was a grey Tuesday in late April when you saw a silver Volvo parked on your driveway. You were pulling into the driveway after school when you saw seven familiar silhouettes. Your foot slammed down onto the break as you panicked to get out of the car. As you exited, the familiar purr of the engine cut through the rain like déja vu.

You froze, unable even to pull your hood up against the rain. All seven of them stood there beside the car, unchanged and still impossibly beautiful; Carlisle, in his navy coat, eyes apologetic, gave you a small smile. Everyone looked wrecked, seven pairs of golden eyes locked on you like you were the only thing in their universe, and like they didn't expect you to forgive them.

"You're back," you spoke as though you couldn't believe your own eyes.

Carlisle stepped forward toward you first, purposefully walking slowly so as not to startle you. He stopped arm's length away from you, voice low. “Y/N..."

You couldn’t speak and your hand flew to your mouth as you trembled. Four months of hollow silence, of convincing yourself they had really gone and life was going back to normal, crashed down all at once. Your head was spinning and you felt your knees buckle. Of course, before you hit the ground, a small but muscular arm wrapped around your waist: Edward, caution to the wind, had run to catch you.

"Y/N? Are you ok?" He steadied you on your own two feet, panicked. You stood there, eyes darting between all of them, for what felt like an eternity: they were patient, and waited for you to speak.

"Are you really here?"

Emmett couldn't hold back anymore: he took two enormous strides toward you and pulled you into his chest with bone-crushing (but still reserved) strength. "Missed you so much, baby. Every single day.”

"Jesus, Emmett, give her some room," Rosalie rolled her eyes as he released his embrace, though she herself looked like she was holding back from grabbing you.

Your clothes were now soaked through, leaving you trembling both in surprise and cold. Esmé, maternal as ever, spoke up: "Y/N, we know you must be angry and confused...but please, can we talk inside?"

You nodded tentatively. "Right, yeah. Nobody's home." You blinked, suddenly aware of how normal it used to be for them all to gather in your front room when everyone was out— it felt bizarre, now.

Alice appeared suddenly at your side, guiding you toward your front door with furrowed eyebrows. “I saw you every night in my visions. I hated every second we were gone. You were so sad. I'm so sorry.”

Jasper hung back slightly, but you felt the gentle wave of love he sent, his eyes full of quiet apology: you were, for once, grateful for his interference.

Alice guided you to the sofa, sitting you down and then backing up to give you some space; the rest of them stayed standing, eyeing you cautiously. Carlisle emerged from your kitchen moments later with a cup of tea in his hands, handing it to you.

"It's sweet tea... for the shock."

"You remember where everything is," you said.

He just gave you a soft, sympathetic smile. "Of course."

Esme gently sat down next to you on the sofa, pushing your wet hair out of your face. “Sweetheart, we understand if you hate us. If you want us all to leave—” she looked at the rest of the coven, "then we will. We just didn't want to come back without explaining ourselves."

Edward spoke at last: he looked like he hadn’t hunted in weeks. “Alice's visions were right: the Volturi came to find us, hoping to see us with an unchanged human and to.. .the plans they were had in their heads—" he stopped, tensing his jaw. He stepped forward, crossing his arms over his chest. "We thought that leaving would keep you safe; that not promising you we'd be back would give you the chance to move on."

You finally found your voice, cracked and raw, sounding nothing like yourself. “You left me. I thought… I thought you got bored, or wanted out.”

Carlisle sat down on the other side of you, looking uncharacteristically worried. He pulled your small hands gently into his, cradling them like you were a child: relative to him, you supposed, you were a child.

“That's not possible, sweetheart," he began, "I don't know how we can make you see that it was out of love for you that we left."

You looked at each of them— your Cullens, your bizarre chosen family—and searched for a way to reverse the feelings of abandonment. As you looked in their regretful, golden eyes, you started to feel the broken pieces inside of your chest start to knit back together.

“I missed you,” you whispered, burrowing your face into Esmé's shoulder to hide your crying. “God, I missed all of you so much.”

Emmett grinned, relief flooding his face.

Carlisle tilted your chin up, thumb brushing away a tear. “We’re never leaving without you. And never without your permission.”

“Your love has truly made my life a living hell.”

“Wait what?” Edward said, confused by your words. The two of you had been walking in the woods in silence because you just needed a break from.. Everything.

“Not just you, Alice, Emmett, and the rest.” You sighed as you stepped on an orange leaf that looked like the perfect crunchy fall leaf. Just for it to not crunch. If you weren’t already irritated you were now. 

“A living hell huh?” Edward questioned back to himself but you knew he expected an answer from you.

“I want things I didn’t before. Like the other week, Alice took Rose, Esme and I to France to go shopping and just like that every Tuesday that’s all I want to do.” You spoke with the sound of tears in the back of your throat.

The moment those words came out of your mouth the walking next to you paused. Confused, you turned around to see Edward standing a few steps behind you with a dumbfounded look on his face that only turned into a sly smirk when you tilted your head to question why he stopped.

“Any other reason you feel like we’ve made your life a living hell?” He questioned. Blinking at him you nodded.

“Go ahead. Tell me.” He smiled.

“Fine. You and Jasper for example you guys took me out at night a few weeks ago to see this beautiful waterfall out of state and now everynight before I go to sleep I yearn to fall asleep to the sounds of that very waterfall.” You finished with a pout. 

Edwarded hummed in response as he walked closer to you. You turned around thinking you both were about to resume your walk but Edward had different plans. Grabbing you from behind Edward sweeps you off your feet making you squeal in shock. Squeezing your eyes shut and before you knew it you were back on your feet. Wobbling you put both hands on your head in attempts to stop the spinning and dropped to a fetal position.

And softly you whispered.

“I am sick of you cold brick hoes throwing my equilibrium off.”

“Heyy I thought you liked the cold.” You heard no one but the one and only Emmett say. 

“Why are we back here?” You whispered trying to keep yourself from throwing up. You had already been mentally trying to deal with the fact that you feel like you're peeing on yourself with no control. And the cramps that came every five minutes like contractions. Now this.

“I want you to tell everyone else what you just told me outside.” Edward said and soon after you heard more footsteps come into the room.

“That I want to sleep by a waterfall?” You questioned wincing as a cramp came through like a lightning strike. 

“I booked the flights already.” Alice spoke to which you could only hear still having your eyes closed.

“That’s not the first part baby.” Edward spoke softly with a smile in his voice.

“That y’all make my life a living hell?” You answered.

“Yeah that one.”

“Us?!” You could only assume Rose shouted.

“Yes y'all! And can you lower your voice? It's loud in here.” You requested.

“Are we the vampires or is she?” Jasper snickered.

“The heightened senses are for another reason Jasper.” The supernatural doctor voiced. 

“Smell her.” 

“Ew.” You frowned.

“She smells the sa-. Ohh..” 

“Oh my god.” You rolled over to just lay face first on the floor. This was the most embarrassing thing ever. You can just smell me and be like oh yeah she’s bleeding that’s cool. You thought to yourself.

“That’s why she’s been moody all day. I thought she was still mad at me from yesterday.” Emmett laughed out.

“Oh I didn’t forget! I’m still mad!” You yelled out sitting up forgetting about any dizziness to defend yourself.

“It's been more than 24 hours!” He yelled back. 

“You're not even human and yet you ate all my snacks?! How does that even make sense to you?! Someone explain it to me please!” You yelled still mad Emmett ate your favorite snack. After a long day of well.. Living all you wanted to do was lay in bed with your love’s and eat the snack you had been craving since you woke up but had saved for later. If you knew big back here was going to devour them you would’ve eaten all of them at 5 am that morning. 

“I was hungry!” He yelled back making the rest of the room snicker.

“You were just eating to eat fatty!” You yelled throwing the closest thing to you which was an empty candy wrapper at him. 

“Hey! No need to body shame, this is all muscle baby.” Emmett smirked. Making you roll your eyes.

“See. Hell.” You stated to Edward pointing to Emmett making him laugh.

“What do you mean by hell though?” Rose questioned brushing a piece of her hair behind her ear. You knew she genuinely wanted an answer. 

“By hell I mean you do so many nice things for me it.. It makes me expect them. Sometimes I find myself expecting these things from you guys and when it doesn’t happen I can sometimes get disappointed that you can’t read my mind.” You finished snickering at the same time as Edward.

“So we make your life a living hell because we treat you the way you deserve to be?” Carlisle asked.

“Yes A living hell because I want it all the time.” You nodded.

“By living hell do you mean you want a little extra more love today?” Esme asked.

“I mean.. Hell doesn’t always have to be hot you know?”

With those words you were set for the night.

Laying in the big california king sized bed your loves had bought so you all could lay in bed together and it not be.. So difficult. It’s still difficult, you can’t even lie. But that’s what always brings a smile to your face. Hearing Emmett and Alice fuss over whose foot is on whose and Rose just straight up kicking Edwards leg off of her to which he says..

“Rose, I wasn't even touching you.” 

“It was close enough.” Rose bites rolling her eyes.

“I can’t find that one show we’ve been watching.” Jasper whispers to himself as he clicked through the Hulu acc to find the show you all have been watching together.

“It’s on Netflix Jasper.” Esme says to which Jasper nodded in response. 

You let out a soft hum as Carlisle laid your head on his chest gently stroking your hair. Your eyes slowly fluttered close. 

“You deserve all the love in the world beautiful. You deserve even more than what we give you, understand?” He spoke softly, making you nod in response. 

“We love you so much and even if you feel like it’s too much to ask just know we feel it’s not enough. We wish to give a thousand times more than what we do now.” Carlisle continued Softly kissing your forehead. 

“Is that even possible?” You questioned.

“We attend to show you that it is for the rest of our lives pretty.” Jasper answered kissing your hand that he only held previously. 

The night was full of soft touches, belly rubs, snacks and movies. 

The Cullens were a close knit group.

The leader Carlisle had found and turned his soulmate years ago. Now he lived in bliss with his wife and soulmate Esme.

Alice had come searching for Rosalie when she was first turned. Having visions of a golden haired Angel. It lead her to find Carlisle and the rest of his ever growing clan. She too found her mate.

Edward, the first turned off the coven, hadn’t found his in his century of eternal life.

Later additions to the coven included Emmet and Jasper. Both mateless too.

While it wasn’t ideal to watch half of the coven happily mated, they dealt with it. If anything it made the three grow closer as brothers.

Yet when you come along they’re all shocked.

It’s practically unheard of for a vampire to have a human mate.

More than that for you to be mates to three of them.

At first they don’t behave very brotherly towards each other.

At school they act civil, but at home tensions run high.

The three of them are desperate for your attention. But they aren’t alone.

Being the new student everyone wants to talk to you. Leading you to be occupied a lot of then time.

They don’t want to crowd you or scare you. So they try to keep their distance.

While they keep their distance at school and in public, they all secretly stalk watch you from afar.

Edward was probably the first to start this. Visiting you while you slept, going through your bedroom. Examining all your trinkets and decorations.

Occasionally, he’ll take things from your room. Maybe it’s a piece of clothing, jewellery, a well loved book. He wants to feel close to you, to try and understand you.

Jasper shares a couple of his classes with you. He uses the class to watch you, not just stare but intently study. He studies how you talk, how you take notes, your posture, how you do your hair. He becomes an expert.

His gift is how he feels close to you. He uses it to feel your emotions. It gives him a deeper insight into what you truly like and dislike and how you feel on the inside.

While Emmet doesn’t have a gift, he doesn’t let it stop him. His brothers may be keeping their distance but he tends to break these rules.

Maybe one day you drop your books. He helps you pick them up then offers to carry them to class for you.

You both realise you share your next class, leading you to sit next to him. From here you get talking more. You grow close to Emmet, both as a friend and romantically.

To say Edward and Jasper are jealous is a grand understatement. While they like keeping their distance they decide it’s time to introduce themselves properly.

Edward makes his introduction in a class you share. Having practiced the previous night to not mess up, it goes well.

Jasper makes his introduction in the Libary. Striking up a conversation about the work you’re doing or the book you’re reading.

After they’ve all introduced themselves and are talking to you separately, Jasper notes to the other two that you’re feeling overwhelmed.

It’s here they decide they need to work together more. In the end you’ll be with the three of them anyway. They’ve had enough arguments and fights about it.

At first Edward was against turning you. Wanting to save your soul from eternal damnation.

Yet as time with you passes by, he realises he doesn’t want to lose you.

When they work together they decide to ask Alice and Rosalie to befriend you. Thinking that if you had different people to talk to that weren’t them, you wouldn’t be so overwhelmed.

While they are extremely possessive of you, having you become friends with Alice and Rosalie isn’t a problem. They trust them as sisters and know they have no romantic interest in you.

The friendship leads to you being invited over to the Cullen residence frequently. During your time there it makes it easier for them to interact with you and watch you.

Sometimes you don’t even notice their longing glances.

At some point they all become frustrated. They want more from you but are restricted. By school, by your friends, by your family.

So they start to plan. With the help from Alice and Rosalie over the course of your final year at school, they convince you to apply to a university in Alaska. One that they themselves will be attending.

After you graduate they’ll make their move.

While everyone just assumes you’ve gone of to university, they know different.

They take you deep into the mountains, away from everyone else. Just the three of them for you.

In a little wooden house you’ll live. Watched 24/7 by the three of them. They tell you about you being their soulmate and them being vampires. At some point they have to show you because you don’t believe them.

You’re undoubtedly scared at first. But being isolated, you develop Stockholm syndrome quickly.

When they turn you (which you don’t have much choice in) you’ll be dependent on them.

Emmet’s strength comes in handy if you think you can get the upper hand and escape.

Jasper uses his powers to influence how you feel about them.

Edward uses his powers to monitor your thoughts. Any that could be a problem are shared with the others quickly.

Life with the three of them means you have no privacy.