The room settled into a quieter tension after Mame spoke.
"I think we should talk."
Edward Cullen met his gaze without looking away.
"Yes," he said calmly.
"I think we should."
For a moment no one else moved.
Then Esme Cullen stepped forward slightly, her voice gentle but careful.
"Mame," she said, "is everything alright?"
Beside her, Carlisle Cullen watched quietly, studying Mame with the same thoughtful expression he used with patients.
Mame glanced between them.
Then shrugged.
"That depends."
The room went quiet again.
Carlisle tilted his head slightly.
"Depends on what?"
Mame looked directly at Edward.
"…Depends on Edward."
Emmett Cullen immediately leaned forward from the wall.
"Oh this is going to be good."
Mame gestured lightly toward the room.
"I'm perfectly fine talking here."
His eyes flicked back to Edward.
"But if he'd rather talk somewhere else…"
He paused.
"…like alone."
The tone of his voice remained calm.
Almost polite.
"…in case he's scared."
Emmett burst out laughing.
A loud, unrestrained laugh that echoed through the room.
"Oh man!"
He wiped his eyes.
"Did you just call Edward scared?"
Across the room, Alice Cullen covered her mouth quickly, trying to hide a laugh.
Jasper Hale turned slightly away, shoulders shaking faintly as he attempted to remain composed.
Rosalie looked between them with mild irritation.
Edward did not laugh.
He watched Mame calmly.
"I'm not scared," he said.
Mame nodded.
"Good."
Then he gestured toward the room again.
"Because I'd prefer witnesses."
Emmett grinned.
"See? I like this guy."
Carlisle raised a hand gently, bringing the room back under control.
"If there's a misunderstanding," he said calmly, "we can address it here."
Mame nodded.
"Works for me."
His eyes returned to Edward again.
"So."
He folded his arms.
"Let's start simple."
The room quieted again.
Mame spoke calmly.
"…Why were you standing outside Bella's house at two in the morning?"
The room went completely silent after Mame's question.
"…Why were you standing outside Bella's house at two in the morning?"
Every Cullen in the room looked toward Edward Cullen.
Edward didn't answer immediately.
He simply watched Mame.
Calm.
Still.
Across the room, Carlisle Cullen's expression tightened slightly.
Esme Cullen looked confused.
"…Outside Bella's house?" she repeated gently.
Mame nodded.
"Yeah."
He leaned slightly against the back of the couch.
"Backyard."
His eyes stayed on Edward.
"Near her window."
The tension in the room thickened.
Emmett's grin slowly faded.
Alice and Jasper exchanged a quick glance.
Edward still hadn't moved.
Mame exhaled through his nose.
"Look," he said calmly, "maybe I'm wrong."
He lifted a hand slightly.
"Maybe you were just coincidentally standing in the woods behind my house at two in the morning."
He tilted his head.
"Maybe you were just going for a run."
The room stayed silent.
Mame scratched the back of his neck.
"Except when I came downstairs to check…"
He gestured toward Edward.
"You ran."
Emmett muttered quietly.
"…Oh boy."
Mame continued.
"And you ran so fast it looked like you were—"
He stopped himself.
He glanced briefly toward Esme.
"…about to say something rude."
Esme gave him a polite, patient smile.
Mame cleared his throat.
"…Like a little bi—"
He stopped again.
Another glance at Esme.
"…Scaredy cat."
Emmett immediately lost it again.
"Oh my—"
He doubled over laughing.
Rosalie covered her face.
Alice was visibly shaking trying not to laugh.
Jasper turned away again, clearly losing the battle to stay composed.
Mame shrugged.
"Look, I'm just saying."
He looked back at Edward.
"If you're going to tell me you were coincidentally jogging through the Swan backyard at two in the morning…"
He folded his arms.
"…then you ran away like a scaredy cat for no reason."
The room waited.
Edward finally spoke.
Calm.
Measured.
"…You're observant."
Mame nodded.
"Yeah."
Edward studied him carefully.
"…And you're very protective of Bella."
Mame's expression didn't change.
"Yeah."
Carlisle's voice entered the conversation carefully.
"Edward," he said quietly, "perhaps you should explain."
The tension in the room lingered after Carlisle spoke.
"Edward," Carlisle Cullen said calmly, "perhaps you should explain."
Before Edward could answer—
Esme Cullen spoke.
"Well," she said gently, stepping forward with a warm smile, "maybe this conversation can wait until after dinner."
The room paused.
Esme gestured toward the dining area.
"I've prepared a meal for our guest."
Mame blinked.
"…You did?"
Emmett muttered under his breath.
"Oh man."
Mame rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"You really didn't have to do that," he said sincerely. "Sorry for any inconvenience."
Esme shook her head immediately.
"Oh, no, not at all."
Her smile softened.
"We rarely have guests."
She looked pleased.
"And I've been wanting to use my new cookware."
Mame hesitated.
"…Okay then."
Alice clapped her hands lightly.
"Well! Dinner!"
Emmett leaned toward Mame as they began moving toward the dining table.
"You just got saved by cookware."
Rosalie rolled her eyes as she followed.
A few minutes later, everyone had gathered around the table.
The spread Esme had prepared was impressive.
Several dishes.
Fresh bread.
Vegetables.
More food than one human could reasonably eat.
Mame stared at it.
"…Wow."
Esme smiled happily.
"I hope you're hungry."
"Very," Mame admitted.
As he sat down, his heartbeat had finally slowed to something closer to normal.
Still faster than usual.
But calmer.
Across the table, the Cullen siblings quietly leaned closer together.
Their voices were low enough that Mame couldn't hear.
But they could hear each other easily.
Emmett whispered first.
"She's good."
Alice nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Emmett glanced toward Mame.
"That heartbeat was getting loud."
Jasper spoke quietly beside them.
"His anger was building."
His eyes flicked toward Mame briefly.
"I haven't seen a human reach that level before without losing control."
Alice tilted her head thoughtfully.
"But he kept it together."
Emmett grinned.
"Barely."
Jasper nodded.
"Esme changed the emotional flow of the room."
He glanced toward the kitchen where Esme had returned briefly.
"That calmed him."
Edward remained silent beside them.
Emmett leaned closer to him.
"And you," he whispered.
Edward didn't look at him.
"…What?"
Emmett smirked.
"You might want to get your story together."
Jasper nodded slightly.
"Soon."
Alice added quietly,
"Because when dinner ends…"
She glanced toward Mame, who was now politely thanking Esme again for the food.
"…he's going to ask again."
Edward said nothing.
But he knew they were right.
Across the table, Mame picked up a piece of bread and looked around the room.
"So," he said casually.
"Who should I compliment first?"
Emmett grinned.
"Definitely Esme."
Mame nodded immediately.
"Good choice."
And for the moment—
Dinner began.
Mame looked over the table again.
The food smelled incredible.
Fresh bread.
Roasted vegetables.
A perfectly cooked steak.
He glanced at Esme Cullen again.
"You really went all out."
Esme smiled warmly.
"I'm glad you like it."
"Well," Mame said as he reached for the bread, "I definitely will."
He started serving himself.
A little steak.
Some vegetables.
Another piece of bread.
He noticed something after a moment.
None of the others were moving.
He glanced up briefly.
Alice Cullen sat politely with her hands folded.
Jasper Hale looked calm.
Rosalie Hale leaned slightly back in her chair.
Emmett Cullen rested his chin on his hand.
Edward Cullen simply watched quietly.
Mame paused mid-bite.
"…Huh."
He took a bite anyway.
Maybe they were just letting the guest start first.
He continued eating.
The food was excellent.
"Okay," he said after a moment, pointing lightly at the steak. "This is really good."
Esme's smile widened slightly.
"Thank you."
A few more minutes passed.
Mame finished most of what was on his plate.
He finally looked up again.
Everyone was still sitting there.
Not eating.
Just watching him.
Mame slowly set his fork down.
"…Alright."
He looked around the table.
"Are you guys gonna eat or what?"
Emmett coughed to hide a laugh.
Esme answered smoothly.
"Oh," she said gently, "we're on a special diet."
Mame blinked.
"…Special diet."
"Yes."
She gestured lightly to the food.
"We can't eat this late."
Mame looked at the clock on the wall.
"…It's like six."
Emmett's shoulders started shaking again.
Mame looked back around the table.
"So…"
He pointed at himself with his thumb.
"You guys are just gonna watch me eat?"
Emmett finally cracked.
"Oh man."
Rosalie pinched the bridge of her nose.
Alice bit her lip trying not to laugh.
Jasper calmly looked down at the table like the wood grain had suddenly become very interesting.
Edward remained perfectly still.
Esme, however, kept her warm expression.
"We enjoy the company."
Mame stared at them.
"…This is weird."
Emmett nodded.
"Fair."
Mame sighed and picked his fork back up.
"Well."
He cut another piece of steak.
"Too late now."
He took another bite.
"But I'm warning you."
He pointed the fork toward Edward.
"When I'm done eating…"
He chewed calmly.
"…we're finishing that conversation."
The table went quiet again.
Edward met his gaze.
"I expected nothing less."
At first, the Cullens simply watched politely.
Mame continued eating.
And eating.
And eating.
A second plate.
Then a third.
The steak disappeared first.
Then the bread.
Then the vegetables.
Esme Cullen had expected him to eat a healthy amount.
She had not expected this.
Her eyes widened slightly the first time he cleared his plate.
Then she smiled.
Then she quietly stood and brought out another dish.
Mame didn't even notice.
"Thanks," he said casually, already reaching for more.
A few minutes later another plate was empty.
Esme blinked again.
Then she laughed softly to herself.
"Oh my."
She returned to the kitchen.
Another dish appeared.
Then another.
By the fourth refill, Esme wasn't surprised anymore.
She looked delighted.
Someone was truly enjoying the food she had cooked.
Across the table, the other Cullens were now watching in open fascination.
Emmett Cullen leaned back in his chair, whispering.
"…How."
Alice Cullen tilted her head.
"Where is he putting it?"
Jasper Hale nodded toward Mame's frame.
"He doesn't even look full."
Mame continued eating happily.
Another plate vanished.
Rosalie stared at the empty dishes.
"…He's eaten enough for five people."
Emmett corrected quietly.
"Six."
Alice blinked.
"And he's still going."
Meanwhile, Mame had completely disappeared into the experience of good food.
The world no longer existed.
Conversation? Gone.
Tension? Forgotten.
Suspicious vampires across the table? Irrelevant.
Good food was good food.
He didn't even hear the whispering.
At the head of the table, Carlisle Cullen watched with growing curiosity.
Finally he spoke quietly.
"Well… some humans can eat large amounts occasionally."
Emmett gestured toward Mame, who had just finished another full plate.
"He's eaten almost an entire family dinner."
Carlisle studied Mame's posture carefully.
"True."
He adjusted his glasses slightly.
"But with his body type… he should already be at his limit."
Another plate vanished.
Carlisle blinked.
"…Yet look at him go."
A small amused laugh escaped him.
"Medically speaking…"
He leaned forward slightly, fascinated.
"…this is quite remarkable."
Across the table, Edward watched silently.
Mame wiped his mouth, looked at the remaining food, and said casually—
"…Is there more bread?"
Mame looked at the table again.
Most of the dishes were empty now.
Completely empty.
He glanced around hopefully.
"…Is there more bread?"
Esme Cullen immediately brightened.
"Of course!"
She stood and moved quickly back toward the kitchen.
"I made more earlier."
Emmett slowly leaned back in his chair, watching her go.
"…She's encouraging him now."
Alice Cullen whispered back,
"She's happy."
"Very happy," Jasper added quietly.
A minute later Esme returned with another basket of fresh bread.
Still warm.
Mame's eyes lit up.
"Oh wow."
"Please," Esme said warmly. "Help yourself."
He did.
And a few minutes later—
The bread was gone too.
Finally, after what could only be described as enough food to keep a family of five fed for several days…
Mame leaned back in his chair.
"…Okay."
He exhaled deeply.
"That."
He rubbed his stomach.
"…was the best food I've ever had."
Esme looked genuinely pleased.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Mame looked around at the table again.
Then rubbed the back of his neck slightly.
"Sorry if I ate too much."
Emmett snorted.
Alice kicked him under the table.
Esme shook her head immediately.
"Oh, no worries at all."
Her smile was warm and sincere.
"I'm just happy someone enjoys my cooking."
Mame nodded gratefully.
"Well, mission accomplished."
He wiped his hands on a napkin and leaned back slightly.
The moment of calm lasted about three seconds.
Then he looked across the table again.
Directly at Edward Cullen.
The table went quiet the moment Mame spoke again.
"…Alright."
Everyone in the room knew what was coming next.
Mame leaned back in his chair for a second, letting the meal settle.
Then he looked across the table directly at Edward Cullen.
"…About that two-in-the-morning backyard visit."
The tension that had briefly disappeared during dinner returned immediately.
Esme Cullen's smile softened slightly.
Carlisle Cullen folded his hands together calmly.
Across the table, Emmett Cullen slowly grinned again.
Mame stretched his arms once, rolling his shoulders slightly.
"…Actually," he added.
He glanced toward the large glass wall looking out over the dark forest.
"Maybe we should take this conversation outside."
Edward's eyes narrowed slightly.
Mame continued casually.
"On the lawn."
He stood up from the table.
"That way…"
He patted his stomach once.
"…if I need to exercise a little after that incredible meal…"
Emmett immediately started laughing again.
"Oh this is gonna be great."
Mame looked back at Edward.
"…we've got plenty of space."
Edward rose slowly from his chair.
Calm.
Controlled.
"Very well."
Alice Cullen watched both of them carefully.
Jasper's gaze shifted between the two men, already sensing the emotional currents starting to rise again.
Rosalie leaned back slightly, clearly curious how this would go.
Carlisle spoke calmly.
"Let's keep things civil."
Mame nodded immediately.
"Of course."
Then he gestured toward the door.
"After you."
Edward didn't move.
Instead he gestured toward the back exit.
"Guests first."
Mame smiled faintly.
"Fair."
He started walking toward the door leading out to the wide lawn behind the Cullen house.
Behind him, Emmett pushed his chair back.
"Oh I am absolutely watching this."
Alice sighed.
Jasper followed quietly.
Esme glanced at Carlisle with mild concern.
Carlisle only nodded once.
Outside, the night air was cool.
The forest was silent.
And the conversation that had been building all evening was finally about to happen.