Visions of Our Destiny by @ForksPixie

Visions of Our Destiny by ForksPixie

Official Summary:
Jasper has been waiting 60 years for Alice's vision of his vampire soul-mate. What happens when she knocks on the Cullen door escorted by the Volturi Guard. Vamp Story /AU
 
Review:
I want to first start off by saying that Forks is an amazing author that has an ability to take an idea and develop an amazing little plot bunny. This fic is no different.
 
I started reading this fic, in part because of my wife. She loves Forks’ writing and talked about it all time, so I decided to give it a try. Also, Forks reads my works, so like any good author, we return the favor and I am so glad that I did.

First this is NOT a cannon story. Edward is not Bella’s love interest, so if you don’t do non-cannon, turn and run now! However, I beg each of you reading this POW to give it a try. You will not be surprised.

This story starts with Bella packing to return to Italy, The University of Florance, for her school semester, but she is back in Forks for her father’s funeral. Charlie had been killed by a robber the week prior.  She had not seen her father since she was a girl, as she lived in Miami with her mother and Phil.

My mother, Phil and I returned to Forks for my father's funeral. It seemed as though the whole town was in attendance, including the entire Quileute reservation from La Push. This was my mother's first time back since she left my father when I was a baby.

After the funeral, she leaves for Italy.

I arranged for an apartment on campus and I couldn't wait to see all the places from the books and tourist guides I had diligently read as soon as I knew I was headed for Italy. I looked forward to visiting the artistic sites such as the Pitti Palace, the Uffizi Museum, Michelangelo's famous sculpture of David, and the Ponte Vecchio Bridge which was the oldest of its kind in Florence.

She arrives in Italy and settles into her apartment. She decides to go one night. Here is where she meets, as Forks puts it, “the person that would change my life forever,” Heidi.

She walked up to me, breathed me in and said, "You smell lovely."
I hadn't noticed her walk up to me. I didn't hear her foot steps. She was pale with purple eyes. I pulled slightly away from her and raised my eyebrows at her. What a strange thing to say to someone. "Thank you. I guess," I said.
"Please excuse my forwardness," she apologized with a smile that dazzled. "My name is Heidi. From your accent I assume you are American. I too am American and miss the aromas of home."
"Oh…sorry for my reaction," I said with a chuckle. "It just sounded like you wanted to eat me."
"Have you been in Italy long?" she asked as we began to walk slowly through the square.
"No I just arrived and was taking a walk."
"Are you here on a family vacation?"
"No. I am here for a semester at the university. I don't know anyone yet and was hoping to make friends and learn my way around."

Heidi takes her to the castle, Volterra.

Jasper’s POV (The Major) has been waiting for his beauty for 60 years. Alice told him that he had a perfect mate and he just had to be patient.  Her visions of his mate had always been obscure, then all of the sudden she could see her perfectly. Jasper’s coven is the Cullen’s, led by the one and only, Carlisle.

Emmett was already opening the doors to the back-porch before Edward had even finished his response. We all stood to follow him when Alice cried out, "NO!" Edward was immediately at her side. The horrors of Alice's vision clear on his face.
"What is it?" I asked, hoping that we had time to prepare for whatever was coming.
"She's alone. She's changing all alone," Alice whispered, still lost in her vision.
"Who? Who is changing?" I could not help the growl in my voice as I asked for more information.
Alice turned to look at me, her eyes filled with the venomous tears she could never release. "Your mate."

Bella Arrives at the castle, Heidi was leading to her death. Bella tries to get away, but Heidi holds her tight, as vampires drink the rest of the tourists that arrived with them on the bus.

Heidi put her hand to my chin and turned my face to expose my neck. "I am sorry, dear. But you must know that you exist to sustain us." She licked her lips and opened her mouth, exposing her sharp, glistening teeth. The shriek that had been lodged in my throat was ready to escape when I heard a man call out in an assertive voice. "Heidi, release her! That one is mine."

Aro, takes Bella,

The robed, monstrous man placed his hard cold hands on my upper arms and lifted me, my feet dangling off the floor. "Why run my dear? It will do you no good."
I could feel my teeth begin to chatter as my body shook uncontrollably. I was staring death in the eyes and I had no way to escape. The monster before me had perfect features. His white skin had a glowing appearance. Smooth and thin, almost translucent – it contradicted the blackness of his long hair that framed his face and his piercing eyes were black as night.
He placed me on the floor and his right arm snaked around my waist, pulling me flush against his stone-like body. He raised his other hand to brush my hair aside before grabbing the back of my head to expose my neck. I closed my eyes and braced myself for the pain of his teeth sinking into my flesh, but it did not come. I opened my eyes to see that he was looking at me with furrowed eyebrows. It was a look I could only describe as confused.
"So very interesting," he said in a low voice calling for someone by name. "Jane, dear?"
In an instant a small cloaked girl was standing by his side. "Yes, Master Aro?"

Here, Aro allows Jane to try too torture Bella. Nothing happened, and Aro was truly excited. He decided to give Bella the gift of immortality. Bella tried too resist, but Aro sank his teeth into her anyway.

Aro then gives Bella to Felix to take to a room, to assist and wait for the change to happen.

Once Bella awakens from her change, she meets with the brothers Aro, Caius, and Marcus. Instantly they can see that Bella is different, special even.  She shows that she has not desire to feed the way the Volturi. Realizing that he can not train her, Aro decides to call his old friend, Carlisle to see if his coven would be willing to take Bella under their wings.  The connection between Bella and Jasper is immediate.

How will this story continue, as I will NOT spoil anymore. I will tell you that Jasper in this story is one of my favorites, as his love for Bella is so intense, only to be coupled by Forks’ ability to describe with such fluidity in her writing.

This is a story littered with love, humor and yes a little angst along the way. I hope that you will give this story a try, as I could probably tell you the entire story but I will leave the experience to you.

Also, leave this author a review, as she always responds! I hope you enjoy, Visions of Our Destiny, as I know I have.

Thanks,

TwiFicDatabase
@jaydogrut

[Ed. Note: Please excuse any formatting or linking errors. Blogger is being a huge tool. These will be fixed ASAP (a.k.a. when our webmaster is fully awake in the morning,)]

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Miracles and Mischief by Esme Mom Cullen

Miracles and Mischief

Miracles and Mischief was voted not only the overall fan favorite in our Fornicatin' Father's Day Contest, but also a judge's pick and the Best Lemon. As the overall winner, not only does Esme Mom Cullen get banners and eternal bragging rights, but a full review of her story. We thought it was great and decided to make it our Pick of the Week this week.

Summary: What if Carlisle and Esme were granted the wish that was always out of reach? On Father's Day, Carlisle has a new reason to celebrate and revels in the delights of the changes in his wife.

Review:

I was more than a bit surprised (pleasantly!) that we got more than one canon entry in our Contest, and then extra thrilled that everything wasn't Bella and Edward. I do love our original OTP, but I have grown to appreciate (and sometimes favor) other pairings just for a change. Believe it or not, this is actually a canon oneshot wherein Esme and Carlisle become parents.

There's a lot of extra/new mythology in this story dealing with Nahuel and his familiy and the other South American vamps, along with a pretty incredible vampire gift, that leads to the miracle of Esme's pregnancy. One of my favorite bits of the story happens before they even discover she is pregnant:

Edward was tinkering at the piano, when he started laughing.

"What's so funny?" Bella called out in Portuguese before I could ask the question.

"I'm sorry. It's Esme. Her mind is wandering in a very strange fashion." He looked over at me. "Has she said anything about trying her hand at caricatures?"

"No, although I'm sure she would be very good at it."

"She's thinking about animated versions of the family. It's quite peculiar, and she seems to be focused on that and nothing else."

Carlisle goes upstairs to discover Esme isn't just thinking about caricatures - she's actually fallen asleep and is dreaming about them. The sleeping is the first of many symptoms that alert the rest of the Cullen clan that something isn't quite right. Carlisle seems to experience the epitome of utter befuddlement for a thankfully short period of time before a relative of Nahuel's, Khalida, shows up to explain. I won't give away the explanation because that's half the beauty of the story.

The other half is the absolutely reverent way in which Carlisle worships Esme in celebration of their first Father's Day together. It's sweet and endearing and comfortable, the way a couple should be after 60+ years together. At the same time, it's still refreshingly new.

I slid off the bed to start removing my clothes. As I began to unbutton my shirt, she sat up a little and called to me sweetly, "Do you want some help with that?"

"No, my love. Just relax." She required rest now. She couldn't make love for hours on end like before. Honestly, before we never had to stop, and there were times on her island when we had marathon sessions that lasted for days. I could never get enough of her, but now our time had to be limited. Her energy needed to be reserved. "Save your strength," I teased with a wink as I finished undressing.

She rolled her eyes at me, crossed her arms, bent her knees and pulled them up, and attempted to suppress a smirk. In a complete state of undress, I crawled from the end of the bed toward her knees and rested my chin on them and looked at her adorable face. She pressed her lips together, trying to suppress a laugh. Her attempt to look put out was very charming. I kissed both her knee caps, which must have been the secret password, because she slowly began to separate them. As her legs moved apart I trailed kisses down in between them until I reached those purple panties.

Be sure to check out our Interview with Esme Mom Cullen and then go give the story a read!

As always, thanks for reading!

@TwiFicDataBase staff

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The Feeder by @Lindsay520

The Feeder by lindsay520

Right off the bat I suppose I should issue a warning. This is a very AU story: there's blood-drinking and violence. That said, that's exactly why this fic works and exactly why I picked it.  It's new and different and I've never read a fic like it.

Edward and his family are blood-drinkers, but are still concerned with taking human lives. Their solution is to have what they call "feeders." One human who they feed off of, drinking only a little bit each time, for weeks to months at a time. This minimizes the number of humans who die at their hands. The major drawback to this is that they have to feed daily. So Edward keeps Bella handcuffed to his bed in a remote cabin in the woods so that she can't even try to escape and so that he can drink from her regularly.

It sounds pretty macabre, and I suppose it is, but it's also really compelling. 

One night, three weeks after Edward found (kidnapped) Bella, he comes home to feed. He allows her to get up from the bed, where she's been for hours it seems, to use the bathroom and move around for a minute. Then she does something even more self-sacrificing than canon Bella - she basically offers herself to him. She doesn't fight, doesn't even protest. She gets comfortable back on the bed and asks if Edward is ready.

Things progress from there - the bloodlust leads to good ol' fashioned regular lust and they end up making passionate love. It might start as needy, blood-fueled fucking, but the emotional impact it has on both of them, but especially Edward, is immense.

Their relationship changes and grows after that. Despite the fact that Bella is still Edward's feeder, she becomes much, much more. He gives a name to his feelings for her when she almost gets taken from him by another vampire.

There's probably a bit of Stockholm syndrome going on here, since Bella quickly and obviously develops feelings for Edward as well, but lindsay520 does a great job of explaining why Bella is attracted to Edward (aside from his vampire perfectness) so it's still believable.

One of the things I really enjoy about this story is that it is incredibly different from canon (for obvious reasons) but it manages to keep some canon themes and elements throughout. Believe it or not, Edward does struggle to keep Bella safe and alive even while he's feeding. Then there's the almost inevitable debate, once he recognizes his feelings, of what to do with Bella - let her grow old as a human or change her into a vampire. There's also the third option of keeping her as a feeder for longer; the danger there is that he could accidentally take too much and cause her death.

I have to say, as much as I love the canon and slightly AU stories, I really love it when an author takes Meyer's world and turns it on its end. This is exactly that kind of story and I can't recommend it enough.

Final warning: there is passing mention of Bella being raped, but it's never explicitly detailed and nor is it by Edward. It plays in to describing her character and how she got to be where she is, but it isn't a major plot theme. Just be aware that it's there if this is a trigger of yours.

And a note: Normally I'd include quotes or excerpts from the story in a review. This time, I honestly just couldn't decide what to include because it was either too much awesome or a spoiler. So just go read the story and find the quotes for yourself. :)

Thanks for reading!
TFDB Staff
@sapphirescribe 

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Resurrection by TwilightMomofTwo

Resurrection by TwilightMomofTwo

Official Summary:
This is an AU story, based on a 'what if' suggestion handed to me by one of my readers, Kzintikiller.

After the kiss at the tent, Edward's heart is already cracked, though his love for Bella leaves him no other choice than to forgive her for it. What if the 'Night of Tears' was too much for Edward to handle? What if that night had convinced Edward to be noble and put his heart's deepest desire aside to let Bella be happy with Jacob?

In this story, Edward leaves once more. He becomes a nomad, roaming the wilderness, lonely and broken, having given up his one and only love. This is a story of growth, of adversity, of forgiveness and of the resurrection of a once-in-a-lifetime love.

Review:
This is a very different story. I find most stories end very predictable and leave us all with a “fluffy” feeling. I say, what is a story without a little angst?

Well, here is a little taste of what could have been. How would Twiaddicts have reacted if Edward left a second time? This time to allow Bella to be with Jacob because Edward believed that Bella was staying with him not out of love but out of gratitude.

If you have ever wondered this, I know I have, then this is the story for you.

The prologue is a simple yet emotional roller coaster where Edward tells Bella that he is leaving. It starts with a letter from Edward to Bella after Victoria’s death when Bella tells Jacob that she is choosing Edward.

I deeply apologize for breaking my promise to never leave again, but it is unbearable to know that I am the cause of so much pain. Your tears last night broke my long-dead heart, knowing I was the reason you cried so desperately.

But through them and in them, I have found the strength to do what I should have done so long ago.

I cannot let you give up your happiness for me. I cannot justify claiming you for myself when giving up Jacob brings you so much anguish.

The tears that follow are why Edward believes that Bella truly wants to be with Jacob.

She had cried for hours while I held her pressed against me, my arms gently supporting her body, as she lay in my lap. I had driven her home after finding her in her truck on her way back from her visit with her friend, who'd been badly hurt fighting the newborn army.

The mongrel. The bane of my existence. The thorn in my side, the roadblock to my happiness. The teenage wolf-boy who's only intent was to take Bella away from me.

In the letter he tells Bella to please remain in contact with his family as they love her as much as he does.

The story then shifts - Edward goes home and tells his family about his decision. Edward arrives in his bedroom and destroys the entire room; the bed that he and Bella slept in included.

It was a fickle fate that had put me in Bella's path eighteen months ago, a malicious hag of chance, of happenstance. Though I should have known better from the start, it had made me believe, truly believe that with Bella was where I was meant to be. I'd fought for her, reached out and taken her for myself, believed that she would be mine. I'd allowed her to change me in ways I'd never thought I could be changed; she had resurrected the human in me, buried so long ago.

Alice tries to tell Edward that he is wrong and that she can see Bella still loves him. Edward, however, is too blinded by his emotions to truly listen to Alice.

Edward’s family each has a different reaction to the news that he is leaving. Ultimately, each of Cullens tell him that Bella is still in love with him. Carlisle challenges Edward’s motives, seeing them as childish, but in classic Edward style he responds,

“I'm afraid that she'll forgo her own happiness because she thinks she has to stick with me, in gratitude of what we've all done for her, when we risked our lives, fought the newborns, eliminated the threats to her life. I don't want her to stay with me because of some misguided sense of obligation. I want her to want me. I want her to marry me because she loves me, because she can't live without me, because even contemplating a future without each other is painful misery. And right now, I don't feel that she wants me that way."

Edward’s sincere reaction pacifies Carlisle enough to tell Edward that he is always going to be welcome back.

Edward however believes: Life, love, meaning – over.

Bella awakes in the morning totally clueless to what has just occurred. Like the typical Bella, she leans on Edward to comfort her as she deals with her emotions. However, Edward is not there.

I had cried for hours after leaving Jacob's house, but letting go of him, the pain in my chest, along the fissure line of my heart, was finally bearable. I was so grateful that Edward had stayed with me last night, holding me quietly, offering comfort and letting my tears fall where they may without complaint.

I stretched languidly on the bed, my hand reaching towards the hard body I expected next to me. Usually, by now, he'd have pulled me into his arms for a kiss. I rolled to my side and opened one eye to peek, but didn't see him beside me.

Unknown to Edward were her true feelings.

I knew now more than ever that with Edward was where I wanted to be, needed to spend the rest of eternity. There had never really been a choice. I was his from the moment we had met. We were soul-mates in the truest sense of the word.

As Bella reads the letter that Edward had left for her, her entire world begins to fall apart - all over again. Guilt over her letting her emotions cripple her as she reads his words threatens to overtake her sanity. Edward had no idea how she truly felt about Jacob.

I had used Jacob as my personal sun to light up the darkness without Edward in my life. I had started to spend time with Jake as a means to an end.

Amongst a confrontation with Charlie, almost everything that Bella had been hiding from him came to light and Charlie called Jacob to come to the rescue.

Jacob is angry that Edward left again and tries to explain to Bella that he is there because he isn’t going to let her fall apart like before. Bella however will have nothing to do with Jacob. Her guilt over her reaction over their kiss spurred instant anger when Jacob tried to ask why Edward was leaving again.

Apparently, he was that stupid. His face contorted in rage. "I don't understand you, Bella. He's gone – don't you get it? He left you. He doesn't want you. I almost bought the little lies in the tent, when he pretended how much he loved you, telling me all about that shit he pulled last fall, leaving you because he thought that was best for you. He was right, you know... he should have just stayed away. Too damn bad he can't get it right." He was sneering in my face. "Filthy bloodsucker. He leaves, he comes back, he leaves again. Make up your mind, why don't you." He leaned down towards me and his arm flew out to grab me by the waist, pulling me to him, crushing me against him. My braced hand pushed powerlessly against his chest.

Jacob was so angry that he phased into a wolf in front of Charlie. Now they had to explain the entire Wolf story to Charlie; which in turn led to the reveal of the existence of “blood suckers”.

Seth glanced at Jacob who glanced at me. The unspoken question hung in the room. What do we do now?

"Well, Charlie," Jacob said finally, with a heavy voice and sorrow in his tone. "There's a reason for us to change into wolves. It's to protect our people from the... cold ones."

"What are the cold ones?" Charlie asked immediately. I held my breath.

"Vampires," Jacob breathed.

Charlie let out a laugh. "Oh, come on, Jake. Vampires? Is this some kind of joke?" He looked at me, and I was unable to hide the truth in my eyes. He noticed it instantly, and I saw the comprehension wash over his face. "Bella? Is this true?"

I didn't move. I couldn't move. Seth sighed helplessly next to me. Jacob looked at me, an apology in his eyes.

So this little review will leave you wondering about several things.

1. Where did Edward go?
2. What was Charlie's reaction to the revelations I just discussed?
3. Did Bella and Jacob end up trying to have a relationship?
4. And for a little extra: Alice...what part will she play in this fic?

I am evil I know, but this fic is truly worth you reading and reviewing. The author has responded to everyone of my reviews in a very positive and friendly way.

If you like a little angst in your life, this is one fic that you should read. Enjoy!

Author Interview
How did you come up with the Title of your Fic?
The whole story line centers around the mess Bella and Edward have made of their relationship, with his leaving in NM and her unwillingness to consider Edward's feelings in the aftermath when she kept running after Jacob. After Edward leaves again, and they are reunited at the end of the first arc, they have both come to a better understanding not only of each other but also of themselves. They've been given a chance to resurrect what they had in Twilight and build on that foundation. So - the title was actually quite an easy decision.

Do you have any writing rituals? What is your writing ‘process’?
I wish. No, I write when I have time and when inspiration strikes. I have a loose outline of what points I want to bring across, but oftentimes, the characters run away with that outline and do what they want. I write what I feel, trying to think like the character and imagine myself in that situation. Edward's voice is louder than Bella's and I think that especially in the early days of my FF "career", his character spoke to me more than any other. Writing is also cathartic for me. There's something to be said about getting lost in these characters and in the story I'm trying to create and leave RL behind for just a while.

What made you want to write this story, what inspired you?
The original prompt came from someone who'd been following one of my other stories. He and I had some long PM and email discussions about Eclipse and Bella's coddling of Jacob and the detriment that caused to her relationship with Edward. He and I both abhor the dog for the manipulative, juvenile way Jacob tries to win Bella for himself and for her inability to see him clearly and her neglect in realizing what hurt she is inflicting on Edward. The fact is that Edward doesn't have a choice - the mating bond is in full force and his nature doesn't allow him to NOT love Bella. He's bound to her for all eternity and completely at her mercy. My friend provided the prompt - What if Edward drew the wrong conclusion during the night of tears? What if that was what broke the camel's back? It didn't take me very long to jot down an outline for this story after that. He's credited in the prologue and one of the biggest supporters that I am honored to have. He's my sounding board when I'm stuck and he's reviewed every single chapter. Edward needed to have a voice. There was so much damage done in Eclipse, none of which was fully resolved or ever discussed afterwards. This story gives him that voice, or so I think.

What was your main inspiration for your lead characters?
I think my characters are fairly canon. I draw a lot on Midnight Sun when I portray Edward but I've also allowed him to 'grow' a little emotionally. When we first meet him in Twilight, he's somewhat stunted - a typical teenager, stuck in his ways, despite the wealth of book knowledge he has amassed and the multitude of minds he has listened to over the decades. He's always on the outside looking in, never fully included in his family, melancholy and self-loathing to a fault. When he meets Bella, he's railroaded by her scent, to the point where he does not realize that he has found his mate. Despite opinions to the contrary, I fully believe in the vampire mating bond as instantaneous, involuntary and irrevocable. The fact that Edward feels protective towards Bella before even having met or spoken to her on her first day when she sits beside Jessica is to me a clear indication of the instantaneous nature of the mating bond. Her scent railroads him into ignoring the pull, and then fighting it, even after he saves her from Tyler's van. My story builds on that belief. As for Bella, she needed a good dose of reality. Her low self-esteem, as evidenced throughout Twilight to the beginning of NM when she immediately believes Edward's lies, only follows her into Eclipse. From the start, she refuses to allow Edward to give her anything of value, thinking that she has nothing to give back, when all Edward wants is to make her happy. I also think that part of why she acts so callously in Eclipse is because she still harbors the belief that he might leave again, that he is not fully committed to her. A part of her also subconsciously wants to punish him for leaving her. All these points are brought up in the story and are part of the character development.

Which fanfic authors inspire you the most?
Sareliz and her story DESS (we share the fundamental idea of the vampire mating bond), Bookishqua and Cullenary Coupling (though her snark is much better than mine) and Drotuno (Angel series). I also have a very close relationship with Bella's Executioner and ConfettiRainfall, both of which I consider very good friends, and who have been a great sounding board for this story and others.

What Fics do you reread often?
Drotuno's Angel series. I cannot get enough of that Edward.

If you could pick a Fic universe to live in, which one would you chose?
I'd like to be Bella in the Angel series. She kicks ass and that particular Edward is my all time favorite. Lolashoes' LYLS and ALE universe is a close second.

When Fic diving what do you look for; Humor, Angst, Slash, Canon?
I don't usually dive. Most of the new fics I start come from Twitter recs, often from sites like this one. I also use the TwiFicDataBase quite a bit when in need of something new to read. I normally prefer E/B AU vamp/human stories to AH but there are tons of awesome AH stories available, a lot of which have made it onto my faves. Most of the stories I read are canon couples, though occasionally, I indulge in a little E/Jas slash or the M/F/M variety. I like stories with good character development, believable characterizations and somewhat realistic background settings. Angst is good if it's not used without reason, and I love snarky characters that speak their mind and have a sense of humor.

When you aren't writing which fics are you reading right now?
That's a long list. There are a few stories I drop everything for. She gives me Religion, Secret and Lies, A Thousand Leaves, Dear Mr. Masen, anything written by Windchymes and SydneyAlice. There are stories I've been following for over two years, ever since I stumbled over fanfiction and never looked back.

Are you in the closet or do your RL friends and family know about your love and obsession with all things Twilight?
I'm pretty much in the closet, with a few toes peeking out. Outside of my husband, not a lot of RL people know what I do in my spare time. I like it that way. It's a very personal journey for me and I often prefer the anonymity of the penname. That's not to say that I shy back from inviting like-minded folks I meet online into my RL, or that I portray my personality differently. What you 'see' is what you get. I don't pretend to be anyone else, I just tend to keep my obsession to myself in RL. It blends on occasion though. ConfettiRainfall lives just a few hours away and has a standing invitation at my house which she uses at least once every three months. There are a few people in RL that know I'm "one of those Twilight-obsessed" people, but they do not know how much time I spent with Edward and Bella. And that's okay for now.

How were you introduced to the fandom? Do you remember which story was the first you read?
After reading the books over and over again, and finally stumbling into fanfiction, the first story I remember reading was Crescents by One Deranged Scribbler. It's still posted though not finished. It obviously snow-balled from there. :)

If you were stranded on Isle Esme, which two Twilight Saga Characters would you want with you?
Edward and Jasper, assuming that I'd be a vampire too. If I were human, Edward and Carlisle.

Do you have anyone that you'd like to thank for helping and supporting you through this fic?
Bella's Executioner, ConfettiRainfall and Kzintikiller for their support and encouragement. Caius09 for jumping in to preread when I need a 2nd opinion. IcarusToSun for being my biggest cheerleader/pimp. Love those gals. And really, anyone who's giving my story a chance by reading and reviewing, rec'ing it to others and sites like this one that give us authors the opportunity to promote ourselves.

Do you have any other projects going on? Any planned for the future?
I have two more WIPs. Transcendence, which is a retelling of Eclipse in EPOV and currently on hiatus until I find his voice again, and Back To You, an AH story collab with ConfettiRainfall that came out of a contest submission on TWCS (which we won) and has since expanded into a full story. We write our chapters sitting next to each other so progress is slow. I have also written but not yet publically posted a new story called Runaway Train, which is a NM AU. The first chapter was my contribution to the Fandom4Tsunami compilation and I'm working on the 2nd chapter for the Fandom4Storms compilation. Neither will post until after those comps groups give the go-ahead, and the time I devote to it will be minimal until after I finish Resurrection. It's my outlet when I feel the need to write heavy angst which doesn't really fit anymore into Resurrection at this point.

Is there any information that you would like to share that was not already covered?
I'm on Goodreads - please feel free to friend me. I love playing WwF - invite me to a game. :)

Any additional information you would like posted?
Thank you so much for the opportunity - it is very much appreciated! Happy Independence Day!!

THANK YOU!!!!

Thanks for reading,
Jason @jaydogrut
TFDB Staff

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The Inadvertent Voyeur by FFReaderRW

The Inadvertent Voyeur by FFReaderRW

Official Summary
Although tortured by guilt, Carlisle cannot stop watching Edward from his kitchen window. He feels an indescribable connection to him that takes him years to comprehend. AU Vamp slash. WARNING: Some child abuse is briefly mentioned.

Review
For those of you who don’t know me, in addition to working as part of the TwiFicDataBase staff, I’m one of the lucky women behind the Vampslash blog/contest. (Shamless plug, I know. It couldn’t be avoided.) So when FFReaderRW submited The Inadvertent Voyeur as a Pick of the Week candidate, I was all over it!

This story features a vamp Dr. Carlisle Cullen and Edward Masen as a human teen. As their next door neighbor, Carlisle is afforded the opportunity to watch Edward quite closely. Half the time Carlisle doesn’t even realize he is watching Edward, he gets so caught up in the young man’s actions that he is unaware of his own.

His heightened senses also allow him to pick up on goings on in the Masen household to which no one else is privy. We get a brief glimpse into a slightly darker Carlisle than we generally imagine when he overhears Mr. Masen’s form of discipline.

“I began monitoring the house from my kitchen window when I was home from work. Two days later I heard the distinct slapping of a strap and a child's pitiful cries begging for forgiveness. It took every ounce of restraint to keep from rushing into their house. I had never felt such hatred for any living creature.

I began planning that animal's demise. I waited patiently until he was alone before confronting him. It was late and he had gone outside that evening to smoke a cigarette. His eyes widened in horror when I suddenly appeared in front of him, growling out his name. With my right arm, I grasped him by the throat and lifted him high off the ground.”

After the not-so-unfortunate demise of Edward Masen Sr., Carlisle becomes a more active participant in young Edward’s life, encouraging his intellect and artistic abilities. Carlisle’s feelings for Edward are chaste and paternal in the beginning. He only wants Edward to be comfortable, safe and happy - it is all he has ever wanted.

Eventually, as Edward grows to physical maturity, Carlisle recognizes that it is not just his favorite human’s mind to which he is attracted... Edward’s subtle flirtations also do not go unnoticed by the good doctor.

An unexpected heartbreak is what finally brings these two together. Carlisle is Edward’s only companion in his deepest time of need.

"She's dead, isn't she?" His voice is rough. His eyes are glassy.

He has made it easy for me. I simply nod. I sit on the table in front of him and take his hands in both of mine. I need to comfort him in some way. My hands are abnormally cold, but he is so numb right now that he doesn't seem to notice. He stares at the waiting room door blankly, as though he expects [her] to walk in any moment. [...]

For several minutes we sit together and he cries unabated. I try soothing him by stroking his back. I have never had to deal with something like this and I'm at a loss as to what to do. His arms are wrapped so tightly around me that if I were human, I would be in physical pain. [...] His face is buried in my neck and I can feel his hot tears rolling down over my collarbone and down my abdomen.

The Inadvertent Voyeur is a beautiful story - a tale of love and loss and bone-deep need. If you’ve never read slash, or you love slash but have been wary of a Carlisle/Edward pairing, please don’t let that stop you from reading this little oneshot. You’ll be amazed at how naturally this pair fits together.

Author’s Interview

What gave you the idea for this story?

We have a young, handsome pool guy come around once a week to clean our pool. He lets himself into the backyard through the gate and one day I watched him as he worked. He had his earbuds in and seemed totally oblivious to anything going on around him.

Are there any fanfic authors that inspire you?

Yes there are many, but for C/E stories I have to say that Pace is the trick (idylchild) is my favorite. Her vision of all things Carlisle is truly amazing. Like her, I cannot believe that after being alone for more than 200 years, Carlisle would choose to change a human male for purely platonic companionship. Two other Carlisle writers that are favorites are giselle-lx and EliseShaw.

What was your main inspiration for your lead characters?

I can’t think of anything in particular that inspired their personalities in this story. It’s simply the way I’ve always imagined those two.

What do you think it takes to make a fic special and stand out to a reader?

The emotions have to speak to the reader. The story can be completely far-fetched, but the emotions the characters feel have to be realistic.

What did/do you find the hardest about writing this story?

I didn’t want Carlisle to sound like a pervert. He would have to be human for that. I wanted readers to see that as a vampire his attraction to Edward was instinctual. Edward was his mate.

Why do you think people should read this story?

I think the story is warm and sweet and, if a reader likes that sort of thing, they will enjoy it.

What cliches do you feel authors should avoid while writing fanfic?

I haven’t been a writer long enough to feel comfortable giving other writers advice.

Do your RL friends and family know about your love and obsession with all things Twilight?

My husband is a Twilight fanfic reader. He understandably doesn’t care for slash, but is completely obsessed with Bella/Edward stories. This is one little family secret that we share. However, none of our other family knows. It’s fun having a secret from them.

Have you got any other projects going on? Any planned for the future?

I am completely committed to finishing my Edward/Jasper WIP first, but I want to write another C/E story afterwards. It will probably be a sequel to this story.

Do you have anyone that you'd like to thank for helping and supporting you through this fic?

Bbeyedgirl has been the best pre-reader and beta ever.

When you aren't writing which fics are you reading right now?

I am reading a lot of stories right now, but I drop everything when Errors and Omissions or Mergers and Acquisitions post new chapters.

How were you introduced to the fandom? Do you remember which story was the first you read?

Like most everyone, I was obsessed with Stephenie Meyers’ books. I read a copy of Midnight Sun on her website and that got me hooked on Edward’s point of view. Surfing the internet for more information on the books, I accidently came across fanfiction. At the beginning, I read the usual Edward/Bella stories. I don’t remember which story was the first one I read. However, I do remember the first slash story that caught my attention shortly after I started reading fanfiction. It was Over The Top by starfish422. I never went back to het stories after that.

Is there any information that you would like to share that was not already covered?
THANK YOU!!!!

Thanks for reading!
TwiFicDataBase Staff
@sapphirescribe

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The Foreign Papers by javamomma0921

The Foreign Papers by javamomma0921

Official Summary
AU - Bella Swan is an expert in antique documents. When the paper trail she is following leads overseas and she finds herself enamored with an enigmatic man named Edward Masen, will her training be enough to help her solve the mystery surrounding him?

Review
I was swept up in The Foreign Papers immediately. The writing in this story is captivating and fluid and draws you into another world so completely that you forget the actual world around you.
Dr. Isabella Swan is a document verification expert. It is her life’s work and her passion. And she’s not only good at it, she’s confident in her skills. (It’s always refreshing to read a confident, self-assured Bella, rather than the insecure teenager of canon.) Edward Masen, though we don’t know it right from the start, is a 500+ year old vampire searching for his missing family. It’s Bella’s job to go through 300+ years of Cullen history to solve a mystery, but she doesn’t even know what the mystery is.

She gets hints of the mystery in the content of the letters she must authenticate, but with little guidance from Edward she’s left to put the story together herself. Bella quickly realizes that the mystery in the letters will help her to discover the mystery of Edward himself.

"What did you find?" Edward asked, coming up close behind her and making her shiver at the chill of his breath on her neck.

"I've never heard of this term before," she said, pointing to two words in the middle of the document. "Stregoni Benefici. Literally translated, I think it means 'Wizard's Benefit,' but that doesn't make any sense. And here it says that the words relate to ancient vampiro leggende."
Bella looked up at Edward expectantly.

"Vampire legends," he said softly.

"I know," she replied quietly, her eyes traveling over his features quickly and then darting back to the document. "It isn't – unusual for people of this time period to be – superstitious."
She was stuttering, tripping over her words as her mind raced through the information. Edward appeared cautious, unnaturally hesitant, as he relayed the translation. Vampire legends? she thought and shuddered involuntarily.Ridiculous, Isabella. You're simply letting the late hour addle your brain. Vampires aren't real.

"You consider it a silly superstition then?" Edward murmured.

"You don't?" she asked, her eyes meeting his, weighing his reaction.

"Clearly, the writer of these documents didn't think so," he answered.

The Foreign Papers is a really smart story. For example, I know absolutely nothing about antique documents or the process of verifying their authenticity, but javamomma weaves the details of the documents and Bella’s examination of them seamlessly into the story. You never feel like you’re being told the nuts and bolts of the process, but by the time the scene or the chapter is over, you understand exactly how the whole process happens.

The details provided enhance the story, rather than distract from it. The descriptions of the clean room and its setup, as well as the process for document verification help to guide us to what is important rather than force-feeding us the details. And the way she describes everything makes you feel as though you are physically in the room with them, a part of the process.

Another refreshing part of this story is that Bella and Edward actually act like adults. So often in AU fics, I find that we’re stuck with some of the worst canon characteristics - Bella’s insecurity, Edward’s controlling nature, a general lack of communication, etc. But in The Foreign Papers, even though Edward has to keep his vampire nature a secret, the pair still manages to have adult conversations about their feelings and their quick-progressing relationship. It is so easy to get swept up in the romance of it all and fall in love with the characters as they fall in love with each other.

"My feelings for you frighten me," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "When you held me last night, and again early this morning, I felt relief as though a part of me that had been missing was suddenly back in place. I've never felt anything like that before, and I'm afraid that if I give into that feeling, and you walk away … I might never be whole again."

She had closed her eyes as she spoke, unable to look him in the eye as she made such a bold declaration of her feelings. It was cowardly, perhaps, but she was afraid to see either fear or rejection in his face. When she opened her eyes, he was kneeling before her, his golden eyes bright with the smile that was on his face.

Edward raised his hands and held them around her face, barely touching her. She held her breath and couldn't tear her eyes away from his.

"Would you believe that I feel the same way?"

What I wouldn’t give for canon Edward and Bella to be so open with their feelings and actually have these conversations before they go through all their drama!

In all, I cannot recommend The Foreign Papers enough. We’re at a really pivotal point in the story now and I devour every chapter as soon as the alert appears in my inbox. It’s unique, so well written, and is genuinely interesting all the way through. It is well worth the read, and as soon as I finish this review, I plan on devouring the rest of javamomma0921’s posted stories!

Author’s Interview
What gave you the idea for this story?
I really enjoyed Elizabeth Kostova's book The Historian. In it, a woman follows documents, books, and other clues around Europe looking for the tomb of Dracula. I just really liked the concept of turning research into an adventure. When I was doing the Wit Fits for Fictionista workshop in September, I started this little mystery thread that the readers referred to as 'Pond.' It was popular, but in the rush of FGB obligations etc, I got away from writing it. Finally, my girl Swimom7 convinced me to go back to it and turn it into a real story. It's been SO fun to write, really being able to develop the mystery more fully and play with vampire legends a little bit more because this is AU. :)

Are their any FF authors that inspire you?
Anyone who is brave enough to write their own words and put them out there for others to read and critique has my admiration. There are some authors who have really amazed me. Most recently, I was blown away by the braveness that Katinki showed when she posted her one shot, A Voice in the Darkness. It took major gumption to put something so taboo out there, and I applaud her for having both the talent and the guts to do it. Swimom7 is an author who has consistently blown me away with her ability to capture the humanity of these characters and really bring readers into the world she creates. Her stories are always so richly layered.

What was your main inspiration for your lead characters?
Bella has a little bit of me in her -- that's her quirky inner voice that we sometimes hear. She also has a healthy dose of Dr. Temperance Brennan, or Bones, from the series Bones. She's insanely intelligent and analytical, which really factors into the way she handles all of Edward's secrets. Edward is really fairly canon, except he's older (both physically and immortally). He's less hindered by rules and expectations than canon Edward is though. In general, he's the Edward I often wished I saw when I was reading Twilight.

What do you think it takes to make a fic special and stand out to a reader?
It has to a strike a chord with readers. And there's really no formula for that. I mean, if there was a formula we could all stop writing fic and make millions writing best sellers, right? lol I think to write a good story you have to dig deep down into yourself and find something amazing that only you can tell others about. For me, it's turning centuries old documents into rare and sexy snippets of Edward's mysterious past. I think if you find that one thing that only you can tell, there will be readers out there who fall in love with your story.

What do you find the hardest about writing this story?
Plot holes. I'm writing a mystery, and the key to writing a good mystery is leaving little breadcrumbs throughout the story so that a careful reader will be able to follow along and possibly solve the problem before the end. It's exhausting trying to keep track of all of those tiny breadcrumbs and make sure I don't eff up in the end. lol

Why do you think people should read this story?
I actually think it's fairly different. In a fandom with well over 100,000 different stories, that's a ballsy claim. However, I think this story is unique in a couple of ways. First of all, both Bella and Edward are older, in their late 20s. They are both very well educated and are both pretty snarky people. They banter with each other and really compliment each other well. The other thing that really sets this story apart is both the setting and Bella's profession. Bella is an antique documents specialist. She dates documents, verifies their authenticity, and tries to extract details from them sort of like a crime scene investigator might extract clues from a crime scene. The fic is set in Oxford, England, which makes things interesting in a few surprising ways. ;)

What cliches do you feel authors should avoid while writing fanfic?
There are some cliches that have been done so often that they are tiresome. Bella's deep chocolately brown orbs or Edward's enormous ... hands *snort*. I think using those devices actually pulls your readers out of the story because it's kind of jarring to be reminded of the fifty other stories you read that used those same cliches. On the other hand, I think it's cool to weave some of canon into your writing in unique and interesting ways. I sometimes like to throw lines from the books or movies into my fics in odd or unexpected ways. It's a nod to something familiar in a different way.

Do your RL friends and family know about your love and obsession with all things Twilight?
They know I write fanfic; they have no idea how involved I am in this world. If they did, they might actually seek to commit me. ;)

Have you got any other projects going on? Any planned for the future?
I'm working on finishing up my other WIP, All That Jazz. I'm also contributing to three charities this Spring that are very near and dear to my heart. I'll be contributing an outtake of TFP to the Fandom for Tsunami Relief and another outtake to the Fandom Fights Mental Illness Fundraiser. I'll also be contributing a very special EPOV outtake of All That Jazz to the Fandom for Sexual Abuse Awareness.

Do you have anyone that you'd like to thank for helping and supporting you through this fic?
My betas are amazing: DeJean Smith, Swimom7, Shasta53, and SparklyBabs. Most especially, I need to thank Swimom7 for prodding me to write this story. Because I never thought anyone would read it outside of the wit fit forum and she convinced me. :)

When you aren't writing which fics are you reading right now?
I'm embarrassed to say that I'm not reading much right now. I'm desperately trying to finish all of my obligations right now. But I have a few that I'm saving up for a rainy day. DeJean Smith's Evermore Experience is such a new and different take on AU. Bella Flan is writing an amazing horror AU titled Shadow of my Heart. Also, I love everything by Cosmo and Marvar and I hear they have a new story out. So excited for MFEO. :)

How were you introduced to the fandom? Do you remember which FanFic was your first to read?
I found Fan Fic through SM's web page. I finished the Saga and was looking for more. A friend sent me to SM's website for Midnight Sun. While there, I looked through her links. Found FF, fell in and never came up for air. One of the first stories that I remember reading was Wide Awake. Cliche, I know, but it totally wowed me. One thing many people don't know about me is that I wrote Twilight FF before I read. I got inspired and started writing an EPOV of Breaking Dawn before I even knew there was a place to post it. So when I found it, the first thing I did was post a few chapter of my story. It was very canon, not much deviation at all. After reading Wide Awake, I realized that I could play with these characters a lot. I found a lot of freedom after that to do lots of fun things with Edward and Bella. :)

Is there any information that you would like to share that was not already covered?
I'm currently working on several original short stories and an original novel that I hope to publish some day. I don't believe in pulling and publishing FF, so you won't see any of my stories in print, but I do hope that you'll eventually see some of my original characters in a book someday. :)

Thank you for reading!

The TwiFicDataBase Staff

@sapphirescribe

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