Hello there. I am enjoying your story, but I've been wondering for some time now. I don't understand Carlisle's disappointment with Edward having made a human friend.  Earlier in the book wasn't he encouraging interacting with the kids at school?  And they enrolled him as a 15 year old sophomore.  Did they not think he would need to be partnered, with a human (gasp!) for school projects?  Rosalie and Emmett have each other, making it easier for them, but Edward's all alone, and being a loner is a sure-fire way of drawing people's attention.

It's like they put Edward in a room full of books for months, expected him to know each of the titles, but also expected him not to crack open any and read them.  Then when he did, they're piling all this disappointment, and in Rosalie's case, vitriol on him.

I don't know... I'm having a hard time with Rosalie, and hearing Carlisle's disappointed thoughts.  Yet I am still reading the story... I am intrigued!

:o)

Author's Response:

First, thank you for reading my story.  Not a lot of people have, and I'm grateful for everyone who does.  And I'll admit the story has it's issues.  It was one the of the first Twilight stories I started writing, and I was doing what I could with the canon as it was.  I'm much better at AU or All Human, which most of my others are.

That's not to say that I don't love this story.  It's like one of my babies that grew exactly the way I wanted, and it ended the way I wanted.  I only hope I complete the series I have planned, but it might be a long time.

I hope you finish it and see where the disappointment will eventually turn into pride, like it should when adults are dealing with teenagers.

Again, thanks for reading and reviewing.

Jo

  '"Don't be silly," she said. "There's plenty for both of you. Now, I won't take no for an answer. Go bring Emmett inside, and we'll sit down to eat."        She turned and left before I could respond.'        To attend dinner...  Oh, well, all part of the game, right?        :-P 

  'Fisher on the other hand was already taking classes and seeing the school's counselor about his transcripts to start applying as soon as he started his senior year in nine months.(...)  The real surprise was that he planned on leaving Washington State as soon as he graduated, and he wanted to travel to the East Coast to live away from his parents.'        Fisher has an independent streak, I see.  If he does that, he will become very scarce in the story.  And, maybe, Abigail too.        :-|

  'I realized now that he'd been thinking the same thing two days earlier when Keira had been hurt, but honestly, the idea of her being a vampire at fifteen had never crossed my mind. The thought of having her with me for all eternity was appealing, of course, but her body had begun to heal before I could even contemplate following through with such a notion.(...)        "No. And it might not even be an option anymore."        At least, he doesn't seem disgusted by the idea.  And what does he mean, not an option?  Is it as in not necessary, or not possible?  Does he think she might be immune?

  Hmm...  We never heard what Keira thought about this option.  Bella, for example, wanted very much to be Edward's equal, and be able to be with him forever.  Of course, she didn't have the option of being with him forever without being like him, like Keira maybe does...

  'I'd known it for the last several weeks since Keira and I had gone on our first date. I'd probably known it when we went to the Fall Dance together. The way I felt about her was even more obvious now than it had been when I'd asked her to go with me.        There was truly only one thing that could cause a permanent change in a vampire.        "I love her."'        Gee, and it took him only 24 chapters to say it out loud.        :-P

  Just to be clear, Edward did go to Ephrain just for advice, right?  They didn't make an arrangement too subtle for me to get, did they?  By the way, I like your Ephrain a lot.  He is very fair, unbiased.        :)

  I personally hope you aren't really considering not posting a sequel to this story.  The best part seems to be ahead.  One of the many things I'm curious about is Bella.  I think you mentioned that, if the story goes far enough, she would eventually show up.  I just wonder what would be her role in this scenario.

  Whatever the case, Dark Angel was lovely, Alexa.  Thanks.        ;)

Author's Response:

You blow me away every time I get a review from you!  And this is no different.   I really don't know what to say except that I plan very much on writing more, and I feel so good knowing you'll be here to read it when I get around to posting it.

You're amazing, and I love you!

Thanks for reading and reviewing.

 

Oh, and don't worry.  Keira won't be turned into a vampire.  I plan on doing something much cooler and unexpected.

    'Abigail(...)  She couldn’t know about this . . . ability I apparently possessed now, but I hoped with time I would be able to not only tell her, but show her the way I’d shown Ephraim.'        She will tell Abigail?  Quite a talk this will be.        :)

     “I could wait, and I probably should.  But if I wait, I’ll forget so much.  I’ll forget what it feels like to want this.  Today will become tomorrow, and then a week will have gone by.  Before you know it, too much time will have passed for this to be as urgent as it should be.  I need to know what’s happening to me.  And right now, it’s more important than adjusting or coming to terms with it.”        Heh, she have an interesting way of thinking.  And so determined.        :)

    'Curiously, I gazed up at him — really looking at him as he stepped back to sit in the chair across from me.  An image of him the first time I’d seen him flickered through my mind, and I was intrigued.  He looked so different now — happier and lighter, even after the last two days.  Was I really the cause of this change?  Was this how I looked to him?  Was I different because he was in my life now?'        ^_^

    '“Our grandmother talked about her family all the time.  She had a way of talking about them like they were — some of them were still alive.  She talked about her mother, Rachel, like I would meet her any day, but I never did.  There were others.  I always thought she meant they were alive in her memories, but now . . .”(...)  If Carlisle could find out more after he went back to the hospital, what would he find?  Would I eventually die the way I was meant to?  Or did this mean I couldn’t die?  Was it supposed to be this way?'        Hmm, extremely promising!  Ah, if this proves true, they will be such an interesting couple...

    “Carlisle’s father wrote of an Angeline who came to his church when she was 18,” he said to me.  “He wrote that she had a gift and wanted God to take it back.”        Angeline.  I knew she would be related to Keira when Carlisle showed Edward his father's records.  Well, suspected, at least.  Ugh!  My skin crawls when I think what Carlisle's father must have done to her...        :-{

    “I’ve always been able to remember what she told me.  Along with anything else I thought was important.”        Edward laughed, squeezing me gently.  “So that’s why it took you so long to learn French?”        Heheheh!        X-)

    'It wasn’t easy to differentiate the times she’d tried to teach me about our family and the ways she would treat me like I was somehow more important than Fisher or Kyle.  They were her grandchildren as much as I was.  For all I knew, they possessed this ability just as I did but hadn’t done anything so drastic to make it work for them the way it now worked for me.'        And, nonetheless, her focus was on her.  A girl-only thing?

    They made more progress than I thought they would, this chapter.  The amount of things her grandma was withholding...  Those journals will be an interesting reading, for sure.  About next part...  They will have to face Piper and Connor, I imagine, whatever their plans are.  And, possibly, we will see how they fare through the next years, decades...  And I don't wanna think about the end.  Surprise us.        :-)

Author's Response:

Well, in accordance to your request for a surprise, I won't divulge anything just yet.  Many things are planned and will take place over an extended period of time.  But to answer a couple of questions, yes, she will tell Abigail.  What kind of girl would she be if she kept something like this from her best friend?  And as far as the girl-only thing, that will be explain and shown in the next part.

I'm really glad you're enjoying reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it.  And I'm also very glad that you'll be sticking around.

 

    'I looked over my shoulder at Edward and Rosalie, seeing similar expressions of concern over their faces — Edward’s much more intense than Rosalie’s though hers was extremely noticeable.'        It's good to see her warming towards Keira.  Very nice.

    '“Would you like anything else?” Esme asked softly.        I thought maybe I could read until I got sleepy again, and Edward rose without saying anything.  He returned with a handful of books, doing nothing to mask his actions as he stepped closer to the bed.'        Hmm, this was a slip.  The boys may notice she didn't answer out loud.  Well, Fisher may.        :-]

    '“While her body is still, it won’t exert as much energy, and therefore it can focus on the most pressing matter it’s facing — her injury.  The instant she wakes, every molecule in her body working to heal her begins moving to other parts of her system to keep her alert and on her feet.”  He glanced behind him at the open door, and I knew he wanted to close us into the bedroom so he could say what he really wanted to say.'        A sound argument.  I just wonder what is it he really wanted to say.

    'For a few minutes, nothing happened.  I continued to bleed, and I became dizzy the way I should have from losing even the smallest amount of blood.  I leaned into Edward for stability feeling lightheaded and wishing I’d asked to sit down.  Then something amazing happened.  I had to strain to see it, but slowly, the two ends of my new cut began to close.'        Cool!  Very Claire Bennett.        :)

    “That’s enough, Levi.”  Ephraim looked at me as Edward now held me in his arms, and then he looked at Carlisle.  “It’s clear this has surprised them as much as it has surprised us.  And we’ll need to be kept updated on this situation, but for now, I’m satisfied that none of this was the doing of a vampire.  As long as they keep up their part of the treaty, so will we.”        Levi reminds me more of Paul than Sam, but Ephraim seems to be a very reasonable fella.

    'Nine months earlier, when our grandmother had passed away, I’d honestly believed that no place I ever went afterward would ever be a good place without her.(...)  I still missed her, but now, I knew everything was going to be all right.  Her place in my heart was still there, but a newer, happier place had been created by Edward’s presence — along with Carlisle, Esme, Emmett and even Rosalie.  They were as much my family as my parents and my brothers.  And I wouldn’t want it any other way.'        Good chapter, Alexa.  Things are progressing in a good way.  Can't wait to see how Keira's gift will affect the rest of the story.

  What about Piper and Connor?  They are absent for so long...  That usually means they are about to crash in and ruin the party.        :-/

Author's Response:

All I can say is that anything Edward does now will all begin to make sense in the next story.  He's relaxed around Keira to the point that certain reactions of his are involuntary.  But Fisher will eventually notice what's going on with Edward, if not more than just notice, and that's way more than I should say.

Piper and Connor haven't left the area, per se, but they won't become a real problem until the next story, and again, that's too much for me to even mention.  But you're one of my favorite readers, so I feel comfortable telling you.

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing.  I always look forward to your comments!

hi, ive just started reading your story. its a pretty good idea, with good writing and detail. the one and only problem i have with it though, is the character name 'Keira', which you mention is irish. whilst the name is irish, its actually spelt 'Ciara', as theres no 'k' in the irish language. sorry for being so critical, but i really felt i needed to point it out, and i really am enjoying your story so far :)

Author's Response:

It's okay to be critical.  And I know the history of the name, but it's a family name, so that's why it's spelled the way it is.

Thanks for reading!  I really appreciate it.

    '“I can’t be for certain, but for a small second, it felt as though her wound was shrinking.”(...)        Almost as soon as I applied pressure to her wound, the most amazing thing happened as she burst back to life beneath my hand with the loudest, most beautiful gasp I’d ever heard in my entire life.'        What the heck...?!?

  'Rosalie jumped to her feet within a split second, and Esme followed her.'        HAHAHAHAH!!  Two powerful vampires taking a fright.  Priceless!!        X-D 

  “There’s been some documentation among circles of the medical community that claimed they’d seen random people develop the ability for their body to heal like this.  The human body can heal itself already, but these random people were able to heal their bodies at an alarming rate, sometimes within days, but sometimes within hours and seconds, depending on the severity of their injuries.”        Veeeeery intesting...

  'I bowed my head then, listening to Keira’s heartbeat and her lungs, and Esme stepped into the room with a set of clothes in her arms along with a pitcher of water and a washcloth.  I didn’t need her to say anything to me — not even the notion that any of this wasn’t my fault.  I knew it was all my fault.  I knew Keira had never really been safe around me.'        Uh-oh, there he goes again...        :-/

  '“I don’t want to leave her, but I need more supplies than I have here, and the hospital — ”        “I’ll go.”        Emmett’s voice startled me as he appeared at the door more determined than I’d seen in a long time.(...)        “Tell me what you need,” Emmett pleaded.  “I’ll get it for you if it means you can stay here where she needs you.”(...)        It became obvious to me then that she was just as important a figure in his life as she was in mine.  I couldn’t have asked for a more precious gift than that.'        Ah, the good old Emmet.  If you get into his good graces, you get into his good graces.        :)

  Ah, Alexa, you really blinsided me.  I'm liking this!  Wolverine and Claire, huh?  Hmm...  Logan is reported to be extremely long-lived.  In Heroes, regenerators like Claire are immortal.  If you follow this guideline, there would be no real need to change Keira...  It could really work!!  That assuming both Keira and Edward would want it this way, of course.        ^_^

  Theories?  So many possibilities...  Pure genetics?  Supernatural factor?  Oh, hey, her family could be descendant from a hybrid, like Nessie, and from time to time an enhanced ability like this appears!  Will it happen with someone else in her family?  Or, maybe, already happened?  Wouldn't it be interesting if Grandma was still alive?        ;)

  Moooooreeeee...

Author's Response:

More is on the way, I promise.  And I've got this whole history of her family, along with the members who've developed this ability, planned out.

I can say much because I'm still working through it, but thank you for reading and being open to the idea!

Next update should be soon, in addition to a few new insights.

And don't worry.  It's all in the works for Keira and Edward.  ;-)

  '“There are so many wonderful things ahead of you, and if you ever need to talk about anything, you can talk to me.  You know that, don’t you?”        My boyfriend is a vampire who was born in 1901, which makes him nearly as old as my father, but he still looks 17 because the man he calls his own father saved him from dying of Spanish Influenza.        Yes.  That would come out perfectly.'        Yeah, right before her parents committed to the sanatorium.        P-)

  'It looked like they were all so at ease with each other, and I realized this was something I’d wanted since before Thanksgiving.  If things between Edward and I were going to be so entwined, it only made sense that our families got along.  Maybe eventually, Rosalie would feel the same way Emmett and Edward did.'        Maybe.  But not even Edward would hold his breath for it.        ;)

  “I don’t mean to frighten you,” he insisted, leaning away to look at me.  “As a vampire, I simply feel things more intensely than I did when I was human.  I never believed something like this would happen to me, but I can’t deny that it has.  I feel something for you I’ve never experienced — even though I know what it feels like because I’ve been around Carlisle and Esme and Rosalie and Emmett so long.”        Awwww...

    'The last thing I saw, before I felt the sharp pain in my back and then my chest, was Edward landing on the ground several feet away.  The pain was immediate and confusing. I could still breathe, and I could still move.  Something wet and warm filled my mouth, and I realized it was my own blood.  I was bleeding inside my own body, and there was nothing I could do about it.  I was hanging there with what felt like a jagged spear puncturing my back and sticking out of my chest, and I was going to die.'        I know you asked us not to, but I can't help it.  WHAT!?!???        <8-O

  Damn, their date was going so well...  Didn't see that coming.  About what is happening next...  Well, if the wound is as grisly as Keira made it sound, I think she will experience a change in diet.        ;)

  I was expecting something like it in the future, just with a lot more of free choice involved.  But this scenario will be very interesting, too.  Can't wait to see how they will deal with the Joneses.

  Presuming, of course, I'm right.

  Don't leave us hanging, Alexa.  Pretty please?        :-}

Author's Response:

Well, I don't want to give too much away, but you might be glad to know that Keira won't be experiencing a change in her diet.  Remember, this is labeled AU.  Yes, the way a human changes into a vampire is the same, but who's to say there aren't other supernatural "things" out there as well.

I always love reading your comments, and I hope you're not disappointed with the next chapter which should be ready in a few days.

Try not to be too worried.  Interesting things are about to happen.

Thanks for reading!

This is great and I Luver this chapter! Though I have no idea how Edward let her fall, maybe he'll chane her to a vamp? Idk but I love this story keep writing and PLEASE UPDATE FAST!!!! :)

Author's Response:

I'm going as fast as I can.  Thanks for reading!  And reviewing!

That was all pretty nice. Homey, cozy.

 

That chaperone thing. Man, how annoying!

Author's Response:

I'm glad you liked it.  Thanks for reading!

  'The last time any member of my family had been in the presence of more than one human, Emmett had nearly killed an entire family and succeeded in killing one innocent girl.  We hadn’t risked that kind of exposure until Keira had come into my life.'        But they have practice going to school and all.  Can't be that hard these days.

  'He scoffed, unimpressed.  “Oh, it better be all you want,” he cautioned.  “Because if I find out otherwise, no one will be able to stop me the way Fish and Mr. Jennings stopped you.”'        Hah!  I would love to see him try.        P-)

  'The very edges of his mind were filled with disdain, overconfidence and excuses for his rude behavior, but beneath all of that, I discovered a horribly terrified eighteen-year-old boy who was still grieving for the grandmother he wished he’d spent more time with before she died.'        Hmm...  Still hard to pity him.  He manages to be so obnoxious...

  'Esme cooked to her heart’s content three days straight, poring over cookbooks and making dishes she thought would be most appropriate.  I graciously agreed to be her taste-tester despite the food not tasting nearly as good as it would to Keira or her family.'        He can taste food?  I remember the pizza he shared with Bella in the cafeteria tasted like cardboard.  Ugh!        :-P

  '“My mother really likes you,” Keira teased poking me in my side gently.        Surprise flickered through my torso as her touch left a mark on me.'        You mean, a real mark?  On his skin?!? 

  'Heat from her face permeated mine as I leaned in closer.  It would be so easy to kiss her now, even though the moment was passing so quickly.(...)        The familiar crunch of gravel beneath Emmett’s car signaled that I’d run out of time, and I lifted my lips to her forehead as I glanced out at the front yard a moment before the hood of Emmett’s car became visible.'        Damn!

  “You know he has . . . suspicions about me and my family.  They grow the longer you’re around me.  Exposing your family to us is one thing — a one-time thing.  But allowing another human to know of us —    It’s not safe.  I can’t —    I couldn’t do that to your family.”        I know Kyle doesn't like Edward.  But I didn't realize he was suspicious of something odd with the Cullens.  Is it very bad?        :-|

  “Okay.   Then I’ll just have to convince you that it will be all right.”        *chuckles*  She have my sympathy.        ;)

  Well, Thanksgiving was a success, all in all.  Let's see how the date goes, and if she convinces him about Christmas.

Author's Response:

Remember that rule about humans not knowing about vampires?  Still a very big deal.  And Kyle will come around.  I promise.  Most of this story is in the same universe, but it is AU, so some things will be different.  And when she touches him, remember, he's a block of ice.  Few things would leave an impression on him, but he's softening up to her.  And it's actually Fisher who has the suspicions about Edward and his family.  I don't think Kyle would care. 

You are one of my absolute favorite reviewer even though I love everyone who reads and reviews my stories.  I love all your comments, and I wish more of my reviewers were like you!  Thanks so much for taking the time!

      'How had I missed the fact that another gifted vampire had been in my midst?  Was I no good at protecting my family?  Keira?  Her family?'        Always hard with himself.  But, I have to admit, leave Keira unsupervised with Connor and Piper around, gifted or not, wasn't wise.

    'She laughed softly, grasping onto my arm.  “You can stop giving me every compliment you happen to know,” she pleaded.  “You don’t have to pretend, you know.”'        Pretend?  I maybe am being a little slow here, but what is his pretense?  Isn't she really stunning?        :-]

  '“Keira,” Abigail said after another minute, “will you come to the ladies’ room with me?”            Keira smiled at me, rising with Abigail.  “Of course,” she laughed.'        Heh!  Girls and their collective trips to the rest room...        :-P

  'She’d never been to a dance like this before, and I wanted the experience to be one she would remember for the rest of her life — and I was swearing to myself that she would live a long and full life, with or without me.(...)        “I feel like I could be more than your friend.  I feel more than just merely protective of you.  And it’s not that I don’t want to protect you anymore.  I never want to be away from you at all.”'        Yes!!!  Atta my boy!  Your Edward is way less troubled.  Thumbs up for you, Alexa!        ^_^

    'I couldn’t identify what I was writing, but after a few pages of music were in front of me, I found myself playing what I’d written softly.  I didn’t know what to call it, and I had no way of figuring out where it had come from.'        Yeah, me neither.  No idea of who...  Mean, what inspired him.        X-}

    'He softened his expression, lifting his hands to my face.  “Of course I want that, son,” he reassured me.  “And I’m sorry I haven’t been more supportive.  I’ll do better.  I promise.”'        That's better.  I know his worries are fair.  But still, a supportive Carlisle is better.        :)

   Edward tripping with words while asking Walter permission to date with Keira.  There is always a first, isn't there?        P-)

  Thank you, Alexa.  I was waiting for them to reach this point for quite some time.  Well,  in truth, what I'm waiting for is still ahead, but this is the beginning.  Nice!        ^_^

Author's Response:

As far as pretending, no, Edward wasn't pretending she was stunning.  He was pretending to act normal - because of Connor or Piper.  And being with Keira so long have permeated Edward's existence - including his creativeness.  So he'll sit up all night at a piano and naturally start thinking of her.

Thanks for reading!  Your comments are brilliant as always.  The best stuff is yet to come.

Heck! My review didn't go through, so I'll try again.

So, Edward can "read" Keira better when he's touching her?

 

I wonder if Connor will show up at the dance? Will Emmett and Rosalie be somewhere nearby?

 

Awaiting your next update!

 

Author's Response:

Not only that, but her memories were tampered with, so he has to concentrate.  Don't want to disappoint or spoil, but Connor's gone for a while.  But don't worry.  There are a few more surprises on the way.

Thanks for reading and reviewing!