The Cullens see more than Iris think they did.

It was late Sunday night; the night before they had school the very next day, not that it mattered. They had no need of sleep and by now the monotony of a high school education had sunk into them; meaning they had no need to try. They were straight A students who never failed a test, never missed an essay. They always had an answer when called upon, and though some students and even teachers resented them – it was enough for them to breeze through it relatively unbothered.

But apparently that would all change. Several pairs of golden eyes followed the smallest Cullen as she paced the length of the living room. The Denali's had been called and placed on speaker; being told only that it was important, but even the family could not offer them more.

Only Alice, (and Edward by proxy) knew what this meeting was about; and so, they waited. Alice rubbed her temples, dark black eyes unseeing the present as she studied the future. Edward sat forward in his chair, his elbows resting on his knees as he tried to make sense of what Alice was seeing.

"It's too fast, Alice…" He mumbled.

"I can't see…" Alice whined, a little snappier than her usual tone.

"Wait, go back, slow it down." Edward continued to push.

Golden eyes followed the conversation, that had been going on for the last few hours, like a tennis match.

"I can't see, Edward!" Alice hissed, glaring at the mind-reader. "I can no longer see… What I saw is what I saw and all I know now is that everything depends on tomorrow. Everything depends on Emmett and Rosalie."

"No pressure?" Emmett joked, but they could see the nervousness in his eyes as he glanced at his cautious wife; Rosalie for her part, looked suspicious. Narrowed golden eyes flicking from Edward to Alice and back again.

"No, Emmett." Edward sighed. "I assure you there is, indeed, pressure."

"And what, pray tell, are my husband and I expected to do, exactly?" Rosalie questioned.

"For lack of better wording…" Alice trailed off with a shrug. "Woo the new girl."

"Like… 'woo' woo?" Emmett asked his eyebrows wiggling suggestively with a smirk.

Rosalie rolled her eyes and slapped him on the arm, but looked toward Alice with a raised brow for an answer.

"No!" Both Edward and Alice screamed simultaneously.

"Get your head far from the Gutter Emmett, it is not what you think – AT ALL!" Edward emphasized looking thoroughly amused and equally disturbed.

"Why don't we start at the beginning and work our way toward why you think Rose and Emmett have too, uh, 'woo' the new girl." Carlisle suggested, eyes alight in both curiosity and caution.

"Yeah, and answer the important questions, like is she hot?" Kate proposed, earing hisses of indignance from Edward and Alice.

"It isn't like that. I assure you." Alice sighed, "Okay, tomorrow we are getting two new girls –"

"- Chief Swan's daughters." Edward supplied, "It's all anyone can think about." He added when they looked at him in confusion.

"Charlie is actually going to call in 30 seconds; it's about Iris." Alice explained as she is pulled into a vision. "The call will help explain just why Emmett and Kate are so far off in their assumptions. Though, I'll admit she is absolutely gorgeous."

Edward hummed in agreement. "She really is." At their surprised looks, he shrugged. "She could pass for a vampire, though we already know that she's human."

"A potential mate?" Esme asked him, slowly but hopefully; carefully hiding her disappointment when Edward shook his head.

"Not for me, at least." Edward replied cryptically, but the phone started to ring before anyone could ask.

Carlisle flitted to his office; answering the phone before it could ring more than once. "Dr. Carlisle Cullen, speaking."

"Carlisle..." Chief Swan himself, sighed in relief. "It's Charlie – uh, Swan. Chief Swan."

Carlisle muffled his chuckle. "Yes, Charlie; what can I do for you this evening?"

"I don't know if you've heard but my girls are starting school tomorrow. My youngest, Iris – " at the mention of her name every vampire both present and over the phone paid close attention. " – She's different; special. I know that since you and your family have moved here, your kids know what its' like to be different in a small town…."

"In other words, how unaccepting and judgmental small towns and small minds can be." Carlisle hummed.

"Yes." Charlie grunted, with another sigh. "And, I was wondering, if your kids wouldn't mind looking out for her while she's there? Making sure no one picks on her or – or makes her feel left out."

"I don't mean to sound insensitive here, Charlie, but can you tell me how Iris is special exactly? Does she have special education requirements or…?"

Charlie snorted. "No, No. Nothing of the sort. Iris is my little genius; had a 145 IQ since she was 2. But uh – well, she's four."

Surprised golden eyes flicked to Alice and Edward who both nodded once to assure them they had heard that correctly.

"Four?" Carlisle asked slowly... "And she'll be at the high school tomorrow?"

"She's tested out of kindergarten to tenth grade." Charlie explained. "To be honest, I think she might be too smart for high school at all. She's already got four scholarship offers; She wants to attend Harvard Medical School. Become a Doctor. She doesn't see anything wrong with being different, Carlisle and – and I'm not saying there is… I'm just saying that the world isn't a kind place to those that are different. She's so proud of who she is; and she's not only smart! She's funny, witty, and I don't think she has a mean bone in her body. But I'm a sheriff and you're a doctor and we both know what can happen to a beautiful young girl whose headstrong."

Carlisle heard the arm of a chair snap and winced. Yes, indeed he could imagine – his eldest daughter was a prime example of what could happen to someone like that. Several low growls sounded throughout the room and he knew his family was thinking along the same lines as himself. Especially Rosalie and Esme; who have soft spots for children. "Emmett and I will personally escort her around school." Rosalie's voice was hard, determined and left absolutely no room for argument.

"Damn right, we will." Emmett added with a voice just as hard.

"My eldest daughter, Rosalie. She loves children. Even if you hadn't called there is no way she would have left your daughter on her own. Her and my son Emmett would be happy to look out for her. They could even sit with her at lunch."

"You let them know, I'd be more appreciative than I can explain. They find themselves speeding through town; I'll gladly look the other way."

======================

"Okay, so… why do we have to 'woo' her?" Emmett asked when Carlisle returned to the living room.

"She's important; she's so very important, Em." Alice squeezed her eyes shut. "She's… I can't exactly say she's like me; because I don't know for sure, but she can see visions of the future just like I can."

"And she saw… us?" Rosalie asked, her voice nothing more than a whisper.

"Are you positive, Alice?" Eleazar spoke up, "That's such a rare gift. In fact, I've never met one aside yourself that possesses such a thing."

"I'm positive… and yes she knows what we are; but that's not the problem!" She hurried to explain before anyone could worry about the potential of a broken law. "The problem is she saw us; something in our future that left her absolutely horrified."

"Do you know what she saw?" Tanya questioned, voice tense and cautious.

"No…" Alice hesitated, "And Yes. I saw her so clearly as if she was right in front of me. For ten minutes she came in clearly - Only ten and then she was gone! Charlie is right to be concerned; she could be mistaken for an immortal child at first glance; if it weren't for the huge blue eyes."

"Alice, can we get back on track, Darlin'." Jasper shot a look at his wife that was both fond and exasperated. "What did she see?"

"Right…" She cleared her throat smiling sheepishly. "I saw her; she was stuck in a series of visions. She was shaking and tears were falling down her face." Alice looked subdued as she spoke and Edward flinched at whatever he saw in her mind. "When she was finished; when she came out of it, she was gasping for air. She ran across her bedroom to a notepad filled with... what looked to be ideas and notes and she wrote….

'It's the age-old moral question that no one seems to be able to answer. If you could go back in time and kill a baby Hitler..., would you? Could you sacrifice one infant to save the lives of millions? Make a small child pay for actions he has not yet taken, punish him for a future that has yet to pass? Would that make you morally and ethically, right? Or would you still be a murderer, no matter how you try to justify it? I've always thought the question was more complicated than they tried to make it sound – it isn't about whether you could or couldn't! I like to think of it more as … could you live with yourself either way?

I have my own morals being called into question… The Cullens, The Denali's, The Reservation Wolves. A small town filled with supernatural … ends in a slaughter; unfairly and unjustly. Or is it? Do I let the Olympic Coven suffer knowing that others are caught in the crossfire? Can I sit by and let the five responsible be rightfully punished … but in the process allow Rose, Em, Jazzy, and Esme to suffer? Do the Denali's deserve to die because they chose the wrong allies; allies who betray the trust that has been placed in their hands?

I couldn't control the visions this time; they came on their own as soon as Renee announced we would be going to Forks to live with daddy. Were they trying to warn me… or were they trying to tell me something? Am I meant to help? Am I meant to save them?

Seven years of visions… seven years of knowledge I didn't have before. I care for them; I think I love them, at least most of them and I resent that. I have never met them; none of the things I've seen have happened. How is it fair that I can care for their well-being when just hours ago they were strangers? Myths and Legends not meant to exist and yet miraculously, do. I suppose I have no room to talk; I've never been what one would consider normal.

Can I save them? Warn them? Most importantly… should I? Would I be able to live with myself if I don't? I can't be blinded by emotion; I have to judge them for myself. Keep an open mind. Be objective. The future is so fickle… what if I intervene and daddy is caught in the crossfire? I don't think I'd ever forgive myself for that and I'd never forgive them, either.'"

"What else did you see, Alice?" Esme asked softly after a very long and somber silence.

"I saw her with us. I saw her at school with Emmett and Rosalie." Alice sniffed; her eyes watery with tears she can't cry. "Rosalie lets her sit on her lap at lunch and Emmett likes to give her piggyback rides in between classes because she's so small and has such little legs. Rosalie likes to brush her hair and on the rare occasions when she acts like a child instead of a miniature adult; Rosalie reads her lullabies and sings her to sleep. Jasper teaches her self-defense and she's fascinated by all the historical inaccuracies he can point out in the history books. Esme bakes with her and they bond over episodes of HGTV; she loves home design as much as Esme does. Kate can't beat her in a video game so she usually makes them play on teams and Irina mothers' her almost as much as Rosalie does. Carmen spoils her to death and can't resist her giant puppy eyes. Eleazar is fascinated by her; and though it takes time, she'll let him read what gifts' she possesses. I don't know what they are but I know she has more than one – "

" – Impossible." Eleazar whispers in awe.

"You say the same thing after you see it." Alice chuckles, a small sound. "But that leads to something else; She doesn't like Edward, Carlisle, or myself. I think… I think whatever she saw doesn't paint us in a flattering light. I think we are part of the 'five' she blames for whatever is meant to happen."

"And Tanya?" Irina asked curiously…with worry in her voice. "You never mentioned her."

"Tanya is the reason I think she got the visions to begin with." Alice pointed out. "I'm about 96% sure that she is Tanya's mate."

"What?!" Several shocked exclamations; followed by a plethora of questions all at the same time.

"I can't see," Alice stressed. "I saw her so clearly, just for a little while; and then it was like … like she was erased, blocked or maybe protected from me. I can see around her, but I can't see her. I can look into our futures and I know she's there but she's invisible. There are futures that are cemented; like the first day with Rose and Em. There are blurry decisions that show she hasn't officially signed off on them…its why tomorrow is so important. Rosalie and Emmett have to show her that the love she saw in those visions; in my visions – that it isn't fabricated, that we are worth it."

"Alice…" Tanya whispered breathlessly... "My mate, Alice?"

"I see you two meeting; I can see the awe, the adoration, the relief, and the surprise on your face as you look at her for the first time. Your smile is nothing but warmth and devotion when she shyly smiles at you – I can't see her, mind you but Kate teases her for being bashful and receives a slap to the back of the head, and two elbows courtesy of Carmen, you, and Irina. And while I can't see her, I can hear her giggle and see the way you light up at the sound." Alice explains gently with a smile.

"What else do you see?" Kate asked excitedly.

"Most things are blurry, as I've mentioned. She's made no definite decisions – but as long as this week goes well, as long as Friday rolls around and she's made the decision to love us and tell us about her visions; she'll visit Carlisle at the hospital right after school. She'll give him a sealed envelope. And he swears he won't open it until he's around all of us."

"And then?" Tanya pressed.

"She'll visit Alaska on Saturday. You won't be home; you'll be hunting with Kate and Irina. She'll meet Carmen. She'll ask for Tanya – "

"I thought you couldn't see her." Emmett questioned.

" – I can't but I can see Carmen; and she says - 'I'm sorry, miel. Tanya isn't home right now.' Iris must deflate because Carmen looks devastated by whatever emotion or look crosses her face. Carmen insists Iris come inside and wait until Tanya arrives because it won't be long and seeing as Iris is on her own – "

"How did she get to Alaska on her own?!" Rosalie hissed, in outrage; filled with obvious worry and concern.

"I don't know but as I was saying. Then I see Carmen in the Kitchen offering her a glass of apple juice; Carmen laughs and says, 'On the Rocks' and where did you hear such a thing, little one?'

"Oh no. We have to go to the store." Carmen panic whispers. "We don't keep juice here."

"We'll stock up on kid friendly ingredients, Carmen." Tanya assures.

"Tanya, Kate, and Irina arrive home while Iris is eating Dino Nuggies; as Kate calls them. I know because Kate literally yells, 'Dude, when did we get Dino Nuggies?!' and she looks so proud of herself when little laughter peels in the background. Then that leads into the part where Tanya realizes that Iris is her mate."

"I'm totally gonna be her favorite." Kate boasts, sounding incredibly smug.

"I get to her first!" Emmett refutes, in mock outrage. "I'll be her favorite."

"Bet!"

"Bet!"

"Bet, Bitch!"

"No, you better bet, Bitch!"

"Alright, Children. Language!" Esme and Carmen rebuke at the same exact time; causing snorts to sound on either side of the phone.

"Continue, Alice." Carmen spoke sweetly but her voice gave away her excitement at meeting Iris.

"She gives Tanya an envelope similar to the one she gives Carlisle and then … well, she'll let us all know if she wants us to stay away from her or if she doesn't mind being part of our lives. I've seen both sides; one where Tanya looks so relieved and one where she looks utterly destroyed."

Even through the phone they could hear Tanya gulp. "I'll respect her wishes either way." Though they could hear the pain in her voice at just the thought.

"So, Rosalie and Emmett really do have to 'woo' Tanya's mate." Kate teased cheekily, trying to get the tension down. It sorta worked; Tanya managed to growl playfully at her sisters' choice of words.

"And if they fail then we all lose someone we will come to love." Irina threw in... unhelpfully. "But if they don't fail, we'll not only have much more interesting lives from this point out, but we'll be warned of some sort of danger coming in the future."

"Involving the mutts." Emmett added. "I thought they had all gone, though?"

"Billy Black never mentioned any wolves when we asked to move back." Carlisle mused.

Alice broke into another one of her all seeing; but not seeing vacant stares. "It's our fault they come back..." She whispered when she came out of it.

"I wonder if it's true or just what they tell them." Edward pondered.

"Care to fill the rest of us in?" Rosalie snarked, it was no secret most hated these one-sided conversations between the mind reader and the precog.

"Iris isn't pulling any punches." Alice rubs her forehead as if she had a migraine. "She isn't hiding the fact that she knows what we are. That she knows things she shouldn't or that she is - "

" - special." Edward added in when Alice struggled to find the correct word. "Charlie is right; she's very headstrong and isn't ashamed in the least about who she is."

"No Emmett! I still can't see her." Alice snapped when Emmett opened his mouth... he slowly closed it. "But I can see you two and Emmett says... 'The wolves are convinced that the presence of vampires causes the change, really? Because last time we moved here they were wolves already. So, something isn't adding up.' and Rosalie scoffs and says, 'they make them subservient slaves with no free will and then blame us for that. How original.'"

"There is something else..." Edward growls in apparent frustration. "I don't understand. It makes no sense. Unless it's another one of her gifts."

"What are you talking about?" Tanya asks curiously. This is her mate, after all.

"Iris makes Rosalie and Emmett, lunch." Alice explains.

"Oh come on!" Emmett whines. "She knows we're vampires, what the hell!"

"And you will eat every bite." Esme warns, "You will not hurt her feelings by spitting it out or anything of the sort."

"He won't have too." Edward interrupts whatever Emmett was going to whine about next; and Rosalie's grimace.

"What do you mean?" Carlisle asks.

"She somehow made it so that Rosalie and Emmett can eat the food she makes. They aren't forcing themselves to eat it; they are genuinely enjoying a human lunch." Edward answered his spoken and unspoken thoughts.

"And loving it from what we can see. She made a relative feast." Alice giggled. "Apparently, according to both of you; she's an excellent cook and she made cookies for you to bring home to the family. Chocolate chip and strawberry white chip.... as long as Emmett doesn't eat them all before school ends."

When multiples pairs of eyes look at him, Emmett shrinks in his seat. "I won't." he mumbles childishly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"How is this possible?" Eleazar questions, at the same time Carlisle says. "I really must speak with her."

"No." Alice refuted. "Rosalie and Emmett. Jasper will have history with her. Somewhere along the line, Esme could come into the picture, maybe if they bring her to the house or something; but no one else. The Denali's will meet her Saturday; the rest of us will have to wait until we can convince her we aren't the bad guys she thinks we are."

"Edward, I can understand. Really, He's..." Kate trailed off, "Well, Edward." They could hear the smirk in her voice. "But since when do people not like Alice or Carlisle?"

"And since when do people choose Rosalie over Alice?" Irina chuckled, hearing Rosalie's sniff of indignance. "No offense, but you're ice, Rose and Alice is, quite literally, sunshine and rainbows."

"Clearly my little star has substance." Tanya commented mirthfully, resulting in a look of approval she couldn't see from the blonde herself.

"What Tanya said." Rosalie flipped her hair, smirking smugly.

"I resent that." Alice scoffed. "I'll change her mind... one day."

"I could always ..." Edward tried but was cut off by Alice, immediately.

"No, Edward. You can't charm her; you can't manipulate her. It's more you than Carlisle and me. At least with us she's civil and polite, with you she doesn't even try to hide her dislike. You won't be doing us or yourself any favors."

"Stay away from her, Edward." Tanya warned, her voice a command with all the weight of a dangerous thousand-year-old vampire. "You will respect her decision. I cannot see her until Saturday but do not think that means I won't show just to keep you away."

"And until she arrives, I have no problem dragging you away." Rosalie also threatened, her eyes darkening as they moved to stare Edward down. "You won't take that choice from her. You aren't entitled to her."

"And you are?" Edward snapped, defensively.

"She is choosing to spend her time with Rose and me. We aren't forcing her hand." Emmett bared his teeth at his brother, wrapping his arm around his wife to restrain her. "If she wants to be around you; she'll ask."

"It's her decision, Edward." Esme interrupted because she didn't need to have visions of the future to know that her son was treading a dangerous line. "You can't take it from her."

"Esme, is right, son. Iris is allowed to make that choice on her own and I'd hate for Chief Swan to suddenly become an issue if she tells her father that you won't leave her be." Carlisle warned.

Edward shot him a look of betrayal before he fled from the room; only the sound of his bedroom door slamming in his wake.