Eleanor curled up to Carlisle's side, pulling the thick blanket she was using closer to her chin as she watched him type away at his computer. Even though it was the beginning of September, Eleanor had already pulled out most of her blankets for the year.

Over the summer, she had appreciated how cold Carlisle's body was but now that it was getting colder, she began to change her mind. She got cold too easily as it was and it didn't help that her mate was a literal icebox. Carlisle had laughed at her when she first pulled the blankets out of her closet, but when he realized how easily she got cold, he bought some for his house as well.

Eleanor and Jessica had turned eighteen on June eighth, nearly three months ago now. Alice had put a together a small party, only inviting the Cullen familyand Bella. It was the most enjoyable birthday she had had in years. Usually the Stanley twins and their school friends would just get together and go to dinner and a movie.

Jess had found out she was hanging out with the Cullens' when Eleanor said she had to reschedule their annual birthdaynight. Needless to say, she wasn't very happy that Eleanor didn't tell her but she was more upset that she'd postponed their traditional birthday celebration.

El made sure to make it up to her sister.

Eleanor grinned widely when Bella walked into the living room. The girl sat on the sofa across from Carlisle and Eleanor and waited for Edward to sit down before curling into him. "Are you excited for your birthday tomorrow?"

Bella wrinkled her nose at the question, ducking her head down. "Don't remind me."

"Bells, you're gonna be eighteen!" Eleanor said, laughing incredulously at her friend. "It's not a bad thing that you're aging."

Bella didn't reply, instead choosing to turn her attention back towards Edward. The girl had been dead set on turning into a vampire ever since the incident with James. She claimed it was because she wanted to be able to protect Edward like he protected her though, with the way she was acting towards to her birthday coming up, Eleanor suspected there were other reasons.

Realizing that the conversation was now over, Eleanor nudged Carlisle's side. He peered over at her and, upon seeing her raised brows, shut his computer screen. El smiled and stood up behind Carlisle, shooting a smile to the two on the other sofa. "See you later."

Eleanor and Carlisle headed towards his office, walking hand in hand. Carlisle pushed the door open for her and Eleanor stepped in front of him, instantly heading towards his leather chair. She plopped down, heavily. "I can't believe she's complaining about her birthday."

Carlisle huffed a laugh as he slid in front of her, bracing his hands back on hisdesk. "She doesn't want to wait any longer."

"She can't just turn right now, though." Eleanor didn't mean to be rude towards her friend, but the girl was being selfish. "She has Charlie and her mom to think about. They'd be heartbroken if she suddenly just 'died' and she doesn't seem to care at all."

Carlisle shifted his weight before reaching forward to grip Eleanor's hands. His thumb gently ran back and forth along the back of her hands. "Edward doesn't plan on turning Bella anytime soon, no matter how adamant she might be."

Eleanor couldn't help but think of her own family when she thought about turning. She had thought about becoming a vampire quite a lot since the attack in Phoenix but she knew she wouldn't be ready to turn anytime soon.

"I know." Eleanor sighed before pushing herself up and out of the chair. She turned to press a kiss to Carlisle's cheek. "I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow at the party."

"Happy birthday Bella!" Eleanor rushed to the side of her friend, swinging an arm around her shoulder as she did. She made sure to keep her voice down, well aware that Bella didn't want anyone else to know that it was her birthday.

Bella thanked her quietly as they approached their friends. Jessimmediately greeted the girls, sliding next to her twin. "Today's the big day, Bella!"

Bella only looked slightly panicked as she looked to Jess. El's twin raised a brow. "Uh, the R&J essay is due?"

"Wherefore art thou, Bella?" Mike joked loudly as he joined them and Eleanor grimaced at his attempt of an Italian accent.

"Oh right." Bella's shoulders visibly sunk in relief. El watched as Bella turned topoke through her bag. She was surprised to see her pull out a camera. "I want to take a picture of you guys. My mom wants me to put together like, a scrapbook for my senior year."

"Oh, cool!" Eleanor grinned, moving away from Bella to grab at Jess and Angela. She pulled them into her sides, wrapping her arms around each of their shoulders.

"I take them, I'm not in them." Angela began to pull away from Eleanor before the girl stopped her.

Eleanor shot her friend an amused look before turning back to Bella andsmiling widely. "It's just one picture, Ang."

"You'll photoshop it so my nose won't look huge, right?" Jess called out once the flash went off.

"Don't worry, sister." Eleanor let go of the girls as she turned to Jess. She flicked her sister's nose. "I'm in the picture, so no one will be paying attention to you."

Jess' glare was playful as she tucked herself into Mike's side. Mike curled his arm around her, his eyes locked on the man approaching them. "Cullen's here."

Bella tore herself away from the group, leaving Eleanor with her friends. The group began to walk inside to get ready for class, but when El saw Alice and Jasper, she began to break away herself. "Jess, I'll meet you in class."

Jessica peeked behind her sister and, once she saw the two Cullens', she sent her sister a tight smile. Eleanor still felt bad for not telling her sister sooner, but the feeling went away as she approached her friends.

"Hey." Eleanor greeted them brightly, thanking Jasper with a nod. She wasn't oblivious of when he used his abilities.

"Hi, El." Alice smiled at her, curling her hand around Jasper's as she did. "Are you still coming to the party tonight?"

"Yeah, since I don't have anything better to do." The girl teased and Alice poked her in her side with her free hand.

Eleanor's mood faltered only slightly when she saw Bella and Edward walking towards them. She hated feeling like this around her friend but lately all that Bella talked about what turning.

Eleanor watched as Alice greeted the two. She reached into her bag and grabbed out a small box before thrusting it into Bella's hands. "Happy birthday!"

"Shh!" Bella hushed as quickly as she could as she gripped the wrapped box. Bella looked over the box once before giving Alice a pointed look. "I thought I told you guys no presents."

"I listened to you." Eleanor grinned cheekily and Bella huffed a laugh.

"I've already seen you open it and guess what? You love it!" Alice said, completely ignoring Bella's complaint. "You're going to wear it tonight, our house."

The vampire laughed at Bella's fallen face. "Come on, please? It'll be fun."

After a moment, Bella groaned. "All right, fine."

Pleased, Alice turned, leaving Eleanor and Jasper to follow after her. They didn't get very far before Bella was calling out for them. "Jasper, no fair with the mood control thing!"

A smirk slid onto the blonde's face. "Sorry Bella. Happy- never mind."

Eleanor laughed loudly at the two and slid her arm into Alice's as they walked to their first class together.

Eleanor arrived at the Cullen house a few hours before the party, since she was supposed to help Alice set up. She also hoped to get some time with Carlisle before Bella arrived.

Eleanor jogged up the stairs to the porch and let herself in, looking around as she stepped into the house. She frowned, noticing how quiet and empty the house seemed. "Hello?"

When no one answered, she huffed and made her way to Carlisle's office, figuring she'd just wait for someone to come back. She felt strange being in the house by herself. It was too quiet.

On her way to his office, she caught a picture from the corner of her eye and stopped short. Eleanor had seen the painting before but had never really stopped to look at it.

The painting consisted of three men standing on a large, stone balcony. The man in the middle had short black hair and pale skin. His skin was nearly white, his eyes a dark red - Eleanor thought he resembled a rat. He was obviously the leader of the men, judging by the way he stood in the front.

The man to the right had bright blonde hair that just stopped just short of his chin. His face was twisted into a scowl as he glared at whoever was under the balcony.

Finally, she moved her focus to the man on the left. His hair was longer than the middle man's but slightly lighter. His face was pulled into a sad grimace and Eleanor wondered why he seemed so miserable.

She leaned forward, studying the painting at a closer angle. As she took in the background, a gasp escaped her lips and her eyes widened at the man standing behind the kings. Though it was clearly Carlisle, she noted how different he looked standing behind the men.

He was the only other vampire standing on the balcony with the men and Eleanor wondered what this painting was. He was dressed in older clothing but Eleanor couldn't pinpoint the exact era. His hands were crossed behind his back and his face, usually full of emotion, was completely blank.

"The kings of Volterra." Eleanor nearly jumped out of her skin when Carlisle's lips brushed her ear. She leaned into his chest after taking a moment to catch her breath. "Aro, Marcus, and Caius. They're a very old and powerful family. Royalty in the vampire world."

Eleanor frowned, pointing at Carlisle in the picture. "What'd you do for them?"

"Nothing really." He shrugged simply. "I lived with them while I was studying in Italy. They were very reserved with little respect for human life."

She hummed as she turned away from the painting. Her eyes connected with Carlisle's and he smiled down at her as he wrapped two cold arms around her waist. "What're you doing here so early?"

"Well, I did come to help Alice put up decorations but I'm sure she could manage without me." Carlisle chuckled before unwrapping himself from her and holding out his hand.

"Follow me then."

He began to walk and Eleanor frowned when the pair walked past his office. He led them down a hall that Eleanor hadn't been down before but her confusion faded when he opened a door. As she looked around, it didn't take long for her to realize it was Carlisle's bedroom.

It was nothing special, looking much like his office. There was a couch and a few bookshelves squeezed together in a corner. The only difference was the bed that was pressed next to the window. "You don't sleep?"

"It's for you. I bought it once we got back from Phoenix." The blonde explained, pulling Eleanor behind him as he sat on the blankets.

Carlisle opened his arms, smiling softly when El fell into him. She closed her eyes, sighing contently as Carlisle pulled a blanket around the two of them. "So much for helping Alice."

"Yeah, well." Carlisle tightened his arms around his mate. "She'll manage without you."