AUTHOR'S NOTE: this is going to be the part where I introduce another oc of mine who is part of the Cullen family. She has her own elaborate backstory but I wanted to give Emily a best friend, so their meeting and bonding is important for the rest of the series, which is why I felt it necessary to write it in here. I hope you enjoy Luna because she has a special place in my heart as well, and if you want to read her story in full you can find it over in Empire, which is a very rough work in progress but also being worked on at the moment. 

****

Emily didn't know how much time had passed by the time they finally reached their destination, and as they pulled into the driveway, it was by far the nicest house she had ever seen, the kind that usually only existed in tv and magazines. She was glad they were there, because she wasn't sure how much longer she could stand sitting in the car. They had made one other stop at the gas station so she could stretch her legs and go to the bathroom, and this time she hadn't felt like running away. So, progress.

As they pulled into the driveway, the house before her was nothing short of spectacular. A massive stone façade covered the front, with tall, arched windows reflecting the soft glow of the porch lights. The driveway stretched wide and immaculate, surrounded by perfectly manicured hedges and the soft sway of tall trees. The kind of place that looked like it belonged to someone who was untouchably wealthy.

It was strange to be standing in front of something so pristine, so perfect. Her house used to be warm and lived in, with messy floors that they struggled to keep up with and doing the same chores every day just to keep it picked up. Despite having magical abilities, her parents had believed in living modestly. They often said that using magic for personal gain was a form of spiritual sin, and that they ought to live as they would without it to balance out the order of nature. Truth be told, she didn't know if she would keep living with those ideals now they were gone, but that didn't matter so much right now. 

As she marveled at the place, she couldn't believe this was where she would be staying. It was like going to a resort without having to leave, and to be honest, the thought freaked her out. She had a feeling this wasn't the kind of place that would have constant dishes to do. Emily hesitated for a moment, still uncertain about the whole situation. What had she gotten herself into?

Finally, the engine cut in front of the large double doors, and the silence that followed was almost deafening. 

"Well, here we are," Alice said, her voice breaking the silence. She opened the door to step out, and Jasper followed suit. Jasper said nothing as he opened her door, and she gave him a small, nervous smile. She straightened herself out as she took another look at her unseal surroundings. 

"Really?" she asked, with a hint of disbelief. She looked over it again, and then them. She felt so out of place. How was she meant to stay here? 

"Really," Alice replied with a soft smile, as if she could sense Emily's unease, but she seemed so calm about the matter, as if they weren't letting a stranger into their house. Jasper, too, seemed at ease, his expression calm and unreadable as he stood by the open door. She was starting to realize that he didn't say much, but his presence was still soothing. 

Emily lingered a longer, just taking in the enormity of the place. The house loomed ahead like something from a dream or a fairy tale. She swallowed hard, feeling the tension coil in her chest. Something about this seemed too good to be true, and she refused to let her guard down. They were taking her into their lair so they could kill her... 

Stop it, Emily. They're nice people who have allowed you to be a guest, don't be rude. 

Even as she tried to convince herself otherwise, she wasn't ready for this. How could she be? It had been days—maybe even hours, still—that felt like years since everything in her life had been turned upside down, and now she was standing here, at the threshold of something that felt far beyond her understanding. She just wanted to be home with her family, but that was never going to happen again. This was as good as it was going to get for a while, and it was better than ending up homeless. 

"I know it's a lot to take in," Alice said, her voice soft, yet knowing. She almost seemed nervous, as if wondering what she was thinking without wanting to be too overbearing. They seemed s confident about everything else, it hadn't really occurred to her that she might be insecure in some ways. She thought about it before continuing, "But this is where things are going to change for you. We'll help you figure it out and you won't have to be alone."

The words were comforting, but they didn't fully reach Emily. Her mind was still reeling. Help me figure it out? Not alone? She was always going to be alone now, it was her against the world. How could they possibly help when she had no idea where to start? There were too many things to consider, too many questions that had no clear answers. It gave her a headache, one she didn't want to deal with right now. 

"Okay," she said with a hint of uncertainty, still not entirely convinced.

"The others might be a bit curious," Alice added gently, and Emily followed her as she led her. She didn't know where they were going, but she would let her take the lead. Alice seemed to be picking her words carefully before she continued. "And if they're overwhelming, just let me know. We all mean well but we can be a little intense when we're... excited."

Emily nodded, though the knot in her stomach didn't loosen. Curious? Overwhelming? That was one way to put it. God, this was already stressful enough. The idea of facing even more people who would ask questions made her stomach twist.

"Right. I'll keep that in mind," she muttered, forcing herself to look around again. Her mind felt a bit hazy, the way it did when she was stressed. It was like she was there but constantly reminding herself to focus on the present. 

Jasper's presence was steady beside her as they walked through the entrance. His silence was calming in a way, though it only made Emily more aware of her own racing thoughts. She was trying to process everything, but she couldn't keep up with the constant swirl of emotions—fear, resentment, confusion, and maybe a hint of curiosity. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad, she kept telling herself, but she wasn't so sure. Not yet, anyway. 

Like the outside of it, the interior of the house was just as magnificent as the outside. The foyer was large, with high ceilings that seemed to echo her footsteps as she followed Alice and Jasper deeper inside. The floors were polished wood, gleaming with warmth that seemed out of place in her current state of mind. Everything about this place screamed luxury, yet there was an unsettling coldness in the air, as if it had been untouched for a long time—or perhaps just too well-maintained to feel truly inviting.

"This is incredible," she said as she looked around. She felt bad for being a guest with nothing to offer in return. Would they expect her to pay rent? She had no money. "But I don't think I can stay here." 

"Of course you can," Alice insisted. She seemed to debate something, picking her words carefully, before going on. "We may not have seen each other often, but Marilyn was one of my closest friends. I had promised her if anything were to ever happen I would be there for her children, and as much as I hate that I have to live up to that promise--I am now. You don't owe us anything, Emily. We just want you to be safe and as happy as can be." 

Emily's breath caught as Alice mentioned her mother's name. Hearing it out loud made her chest tighten, the reality of her situation pressing down on her. Marilyn. She had only ever been mom to her, and hearing someone else talk about her made it worse. It sounded so final, so far away. For a moment, she couldn't bring herself to meet Alice's eyes. She feared if she did she would cry, but she forced it down, clenching her fists tightly at her sides.

"Thank you," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. She wanted to say more—to explain that she wasn't used to people being so kind without expecting something in return, that she felt like an intruder in this polished, perfect world—but her words seemed stuck. She couldn't even begin to argue how the idea of being happy sounded absurd, but she would let it slide for now. She was just trying to be kind. 

Before she could say anything else about the matter, she was distracted when a third voice chimed in. "Auntie Alice!" a girl with auburn hair said as she came down the stairs, her steps less than graceful for a house of this elegance. "I smell a human." 

She seemed to be no older than her, and her eyes sparkled with an intense curiosity. 

Emily tensed, eyeing the girl warily Auntie? That word alone felt odd, not what she was expecting from a family of vampires. She couldn't tell if she was human or not, but something about the gleam in her eyes told her something wasn't quite right. From the context of it, she probably wasn't. The way she stared at Emily was both innocent and intense, as if she were trying to solve some complex puzzle.

"Luna, what did we talk about?" Alice said, giving Emily an apologetic look. 

Luna pouted, glancing at Alice. "I didn't mean to scare her," she said, though there was a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I just wanted to say hi--we don't get many visitors."

No kidding, Emily thought. Her heart was still racing from the surprise, but she forced herself to stand a little straighter. "Uh... hi," she replied awkwardly, feeling painfully out of place.

Alice stepped forward, a calming smile on her face. "Emily, this is Luna. She's... curious, but she's harmless, and if anything goes wrong you can report it to Rosalie and Emmett. And, Luna, Emily's going to be staying with us for a while. So, please, let's make her feel welcome."

Luna's expression softened, and she tilted her head, studying Emily with interest, then back to Alice as she feigned innocence. "What could possibly go wrong? Everyone loves me."

Emily couldn't help but give a faint, awkward smile. Luna's confidence was almost charming, if a bit unsettling. Something told her that Luna wasn't kidding about everyone loving her, and that maybe there was more to her charm than just an inviting smile. Still, she wasn't entirely convinced that "harmless" was the right word for her.

"Right... everyone loves you," Emily said, trying to match Luna's lightheartedness, though her voice was still a bit shaky. "I wonder what that's like." 

"It's great, you should try it some time," Luna said, and Emily said nothing in return, unsure if she was joking or not.

Luna seemed to sense Emily's uncertainty and let out a little laugh, nudging her gently. "I'm kidding... mostly." Her eyes sparkled with mischief, but there was also a hint of kindness beneath it. "I know this must be weird for you. But we're going to be friends, you'll see."

Emily felt a strangely reassured by Luna's words, even if they were a bit forward. It had been a long time since someone had spoken to her with such easy confidence, like they already trusted her without question. The idea felt strange, but maybe it was exactly what she needed.

"Luna, if Emily is up to it, why don't you show her around? I'm sure she'll appreciate a break from me and Jasper," Alice said gently. 

"I'm actually a little tired," Emily said as she looked between them apologetically. She didn't want to be rude, but she felt as if she could collapse right now. She could probably sleep for a week if no one interrupted her.  "Is there anywhere I can lay down for a while? I'd be happy to have a tour later, but after everything that's been happening I'm a bit exhausted." 

Luna immediately softened, her playful energy giving way to a more understanding expression. "Oh, absolutely. You must be exhausted—what you've been through is a lot. The tour is less important - you should get some rest."  

"We have a guest room set up for you before we get your actual room set up," Alice told her. "I thought you might like to pick where you move into for good, and we can get that sorted out later." 

Emily nodded, feeling touched by their thoughtfulness. "That sounds perfect. Thank you, both of you."

Alice led her down a quiet hallway, Luna trailing behind at a respectful distance—it reminded reminded her a lot of her old cat, Simon, who used to want to be near but not too close. The house had an eerie calm about it, with soft light filtering through the windows and casting everything in a warm, muted glow. Despite the quiet, Emily sensed an energy in the house, something alive and waiting beneath the surface—perhaps it was the family itself, or maybe just the life she was walking into. Either way, she was started to accept maybe it would be okay. 

Alice opened the door to a cozy, softly-lit space that looked more like a sanctuary than a guest room. "Here we are," she said, gesturing for Emily to step inside. "Take all the time you need. If you need anything, just call out. Someone will be nearby."

Emily walked in, noticing the elegant touches—a plush bed with pale linens, a warm throw blanket folded at the foot, and a small bouquet of wildflowers on the dresser. It was unexpectedly thoughtful, and for the first time since arriving, Emily felt herself relax.

**** 

Once she was alone, Emily sighed as she settled into the new bed, one that was temporarily hers. She had changed into a pair of soft pajamas, and she thought to herself how unusual it was that they had all this stuff ready for anyone at any given moment. It was a guest bedroom, and soon she would have her own room here, but the idea of it was still odd. 

She didn't like the thought of accepting it, of surrendering fully to this new life she was thrown into, but she was too tired to resist it any longer. She snuggled up against the sheets, feeling comforted by the warmth. There was a digital fireplace under the ebony tv stand, and she was grateful for it as she turned it on with the remote on her endstand. The fake flames flickered to life, and she could hear the crackling of the flames mix in with her own breathing. 

She considered watching tv, but she was too tired to even sit up and scroll through the channels. Not that there was anything worth watching, anyway. She didn't really like tv to begin with, she would much rather read books. In a house like this, maybe they had a library she could explore later. 

For now, she let herself relax, sinking into the soft mattress and letting the warmth from the digital fire wash over her. She closed her eyes, trying to let go of the tension that still lingered. Her mind was restless, though, racing over everything that had happened since she'd stumbled into this strange, hidden world.

The quiet crackling filled the room, and for the first time in days, she felt a semblance of peace. But as the minutes drifted by, her thoughts turned to her parents—how they would have handled this, what they would have told her. She turned onto her side, staring at the flickering flames and feeling the weight of loss settle over her. A part of her still ached to run, to escape this life entirely and find some normalcy again. But another part of her was exhausted from running—from constantly looking over her shoulder, waiting for the next threat.

With a long, deep breath, Emily let her eyes drift shut. Maybe, just for tonight, she could let herself rest—or at least as restful as possible until she began to dream about Aro Volturi.