( outfit for
chapter above )

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chapter two
motive.

        "Stay at our place this weekend."

Christina laughed as Alice continued to follow her around the hospital hallways. The pixie vampire was determined to get the mother to agree; and it was starting to make her suspicious.

"Why?" Christina asked as she turned on her foot. She faced Alice with crossed arms and a raised brow.

Alice smiled, not phased by the mother's look. "It's going to be a girl's weekend. The boys are going hunting, and I already went— so I'm staying behind."

Christina tapped her fingers against her arm. She wasn't sure if it was just that Alice was a good liar— or if she was actually telling the truth.

"So, Bella going away this weekend is just coincidence?" Christina asked as she continued her walk down the hallway. By the light taps next to her, she knew Alice was following. "Because it seems like you're trying to hide us."

Alice shrugged her thin shoulders. "Guess you're just going to have to come to the sleepover and find out," she sang. She twirled in front of Christina before continuing her skip down the hall.

Christina paused as she watched the pixie vampire leave her to her thoughts. She shook her head lightly. She knew that the Cullens were hiding something from herself and Bella. They were acting too strange the past couple of days. It seemed like there was always one Cullen around at all times.

Christina's never felt more protected— but afraid.

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        "You came!" Alice exclaimed as the mother and daughter walked up the front steps. Annie skipped up to Alice in excitement, the two greeting each other.

"I don't know how I'm going to deal with both of your energies this weekend," Christina joked as she walked passed the two jumping up and down.

"Don't worry, it's not as hard as you think," Carlisle mused as he met her halfway in the foyer. He easily grabbed her bags with a smirk before disappearing back upstairs.

Christina's lips twitched before looking back at Alice as both her and Annie made their way inside. "I thought everyone was going hunting?"

"They're not leaving until tonight," Alice answered. "Rosalie and Emmett were to Port Angeles to shop— so, they're waiting on them to return."

Christina shifted her eyes outside as she stared right at the familiar red BMW. She bit her tongue as she followed Alice upstairs; giving the pixie the benefit of the doubt. They could have taken Emmett's Jeep.

"I have so many outfits you have to try on!" Alice exclaimed.

Christina plopped herself onto the couch in the living room with a sigh. "Alice—"

"No buts." The pixie shook her head. She stood in front of Christina with hands on her hips. The position made Christina's lips twitch in amusement. "They don't fit Rosalie or I, so you'll have to try them on."

Christina narrowed her eyes, still amused. "Alice, you're a soothsayer vampire... how did you get the sizes wrong?"

Alice just winked in response.

"Figures," she scoffed.

She barely blinked as Carlisle was suddenly next to her on the couch with his arm behind her head. "Let's not torture the poor girl," Carlisle teased.

Christina nudged his stomach with her elbow, making him chuckle.

Annie took the opportunity to hop onto Carlisle's lap with an excited grin. "Are you playing dress up, too?"

Christina chuckled as she got up from the couch. Her heart clenched tightly at the small affection between Carlisle and her daughter. She didn't pay attention to Carlisle's answer as she stepped into the kitchen.

She stepped up to the cabinet and reached to grab a platter to fill with snacks that the Cullens has stocked up on for the humans. Her fingers grazed the edge lightly, but it wasn't enough to grip onto it. She sighed heavily as she landed on her heels.

"Need help?"

Christina glanced over her shoulder to see Carlisle standing in the doorway. She lightly nodded her head, before backing up to the counter. She silently watched as Carlisle easily gripped the platter before placing it on the island; a small crooked smile rested on his face.

"Show off," she scoffed lightly. His answering chuckle sent shivers down her spine as she searched the fridge for fruits that Annie liked.

She sucked on her front teeth as she gripped onto the watermelon. "Are you going to tell me the real reason why Annie and I are staying over this weekend?"

"We're going hunting—"

"Your eyes are golden," Christina interrupted. She raised her green eyes to meet his golden hues with certainty. She raised an eyebrow before looking back down at the watermelon and cut a slice off. "Try again."

"I forgot how perceptive you are," he sighed. He leaned against the island, silently watching as she cut up the watermelon in cubes. "I don't want you to worry."

She sighed in response. She placed the pieces of watermelon on the platter before dropping the knife and meeting eye contact with Carlisle again. "I'm a big girl. I think I can make those decisions by myself."

His lips twitched lightly before he nodded his head. "I agree." His smile dropped behind Christina's back as she placed the watermelon back into the fridge. He continued to watch her careful movements as she grabbed more fruit. As soon as she placed the fruit onto the island he spoke up, "Alice had a vision of Victoria making an appearance tonight."

The apple fell from Christina's hand, as well as the knife she picked up. She cursed lowly as her hand started bleeding. She grabbed the dish towel next to her before covering it and keeping pressure.

Carlisle was quick to replace her hands with his own. "Are you okay?"

"Victoria," Christina muttered. "She's—"

"Not getting anywhere near you two," he interrupted. He pulled back the cloth as he walked her towards the sink. He turned on the facet before placing her hand underneath, letting the water clear up the area to get a good look. "It's not that deep."

"It's just a surface cut," she muttered back.

He pursed his lips as he placed the cloth back over her hand. "Stay here. I'll go get my medical kit."

She didn't get to answer as he left the room in the blink of an eye. She bit into her lip hard, partly from the pain in her hand, and partly for the anxiety running through her veins.

The young mother knew that Victoria was still lurking around— but she hoped that the redhead would have left once the Cullens returned. It has been two months since anyone had seen or heard from the rogue vampire. It only made Christina worry more. Victoria had two months time to make a plan to try and get through the Cullens and get to her family.

"You're worrying," Carlisle muttered as he returned into the kitchen. The anxious look on her face made his undead heart clench. "I shouldn't have said anything—"

"No," Christina snapped. "I'm glad you did." She sighed heavily as she sat on the stood on the island, uncovering her wound as he stepped closer with bandage. "You can't keep me in the dark," she muttered quietly. "I rather know so I can take precautions."

He shook his head. "It's not your responsibility to have to take precautions, it's ours." He wrapped the bandage snuggly around her hand.

"It's why Edward pushed for Bella to go to Florida, right?" Christina asked, looking up into his downcast eyes.

He nodded his head.

"Does she know?"

He shook his head this time.

Christina rolled her eyes as Carlisle stepped away, her palm neatly wrapped. She flexed her fingers, noticing the correct tightness to the bandage before getting up from the stool. "He needs to realize it only makes situations worse by lying to Bella." The young mother gave the immortal father a pointed look.

"My apologies," he answered back, knowing her look immediately. "It wasn't my intention to lie."

She poked him in the chest. "If you expect me back in your life, you need to start earning trust." She crosses her arms against her chest. "How can I trust that you won't leave again, like you say you won't, if I can't even trust you to tell me what's going on with Victoria?"

"You're right." He stepped forward, gripping her uninjured hand in his. "Forgive me for my mistake."

Christina melted under his golden hues. "Unfair," she muttered, pulling her hand away. A ghost of a smile lingered on her lips as she walked around him back into the living room.

"What's unfair?" He chuckled, following directly behind her.

"You," she answered calmly. Her eyes rested on her daughter, dancing around the living room in a new dress Alice bought her. "I can't stay mad at you." Green eyes turned upwards and met golden.

His lips twitched up into a crooked smile, but he didn't answer. He stayed silent as he turned his eyes back towards the young six year old.

Christina huffed out a sigh before gently pushing his shoulder— even though she knew her strength couldn't move him an inch. He amused her, and let her push him away jokingly; making a giggle come out of her mouth at his dramatics.

All the while, Annie stopped her dancing to watch her mother and Carlisle joke around with a joyful glint in her eye.

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I love them sm :,)