A/N: Welcome to the sunny land of California, where all your dreams can come true. At least, that's what Luna thinks! But sometimes, even the she-wolf can be wrong!

If you haven't read Hidden Aces, I advise you do.

Read, enjoy and drop me a review... The green button is healthy for you! :D

The California Dairies!

Day 1: Luna's Point of View

I wasn't sure how long I rode for, but I was sure I took over a week to get home. The Ducati was a gorgeous bike, and the ride was smooth the whole time. I had to remember to thank Edward for the loan when I saw him next, which I hoped was sooner rather than later. But I guessed it wouldn't really matter seeing as I was going to be young forever.

I called Quil a few days after I left, just to tell him I was surviving. He gave me some news, but our conversation was cut short by the sound of wolves. Apparently Jake had left La Push a few days after I had, so Sam had set up a search party and was out looking for him. On the other hand, I was almost forgotten by my own pack.

I sped through Washington State and cruised through Oregon. I stopped and slept when I was tired, ate when I was hungry, but I never phased into wolf form. I figured if I phased for ten seconds once a month, I would always be a wolf. The only problem would be who was phased in when I turned into a wolf. Paul and Jared would be fine, but if it was Jake...

I took my time, clearing my head of Jacob and La Push before I finally decided to head back home to California. I knew I had reached my goal when I saw the clear blues skies and the rolling hills of home. The sun was brightly, welcoming me back.

"Mom!" I called, shrugging off my leather jacket as I walked into the house. "Dad? I'm home."

The Ducati was parked outside in the drive. I dropped my bag on the floor as I breezed into my old home, my aim being to find my parents. It was about eight at night, so I figured they should be here somewhere.

"You listen to me!" My mom yelled. "We're over!"

Her words made my stomach twist. It brought back memories of the last time I saw Jake as well as bringing me back to the reality of home. My parent's marriage had never been perfect, but I had never thought they would ever be over. I swallowed, squelching all my thoughts before going to find them.

"Fine!" My dad said in reply. "I was going to leave you anyway."

"What the hell?" I said, walking into the room where they fought verbally. "What the hell is going on here?"

"Luna?" My dad said, almost shocked. "What are you doing here?"

"I came back. Figured you would know." I said. "Quil said his dad called you."

My mom looked at me, something clicking in her eyes. She was suddenly at my side.

"I want the kid!" She said, her arms going around me.

I moved away from her touch like she had slapped me. I was now taller than her, so she didn't try to challenge me.

"I'm not the kid!" I spat at her. "Do you even know my name anymore?"

In a few seconds I that I was home, I had become the bargaining chip again. My dad came and stood next to me.

"Luna, I'm happy that you are home." He said. "Here, go out for a while."

He thrust some money at me and tried to lead me out of the room.

"No!" I said. "I'm going up to my room."

I ran into the hall and picked up my bag before heading up stairs to my room.

My room still looked the same as it did when I left for La Push. My posters of hot celebrities still hung in the same places. My bed was still the huge, black, canopy bed I had slept in for years. The black stereo was still in it's place and the walls were still a pale purple, matching the curtains. My windows were huge with no bars over them, making it easy for me to sneak out at night. I threw open my black cupboard doors, taking in the large walk-in closet full of my clothes.

Downstairs, I could hear my parents resume their argument. I shrugged it off and turned on my iPod as I placed the headphones in my ear. The soft piano music from Debussy seemed to drown out the sounds of the rest of the world. I lay down on my bed and closed my eyes.

Man, it was good to be home.


"Did you hear that Luna's back?"

"I heard she got kicked out of La Push because of some drug shit."

"No, man. She left because the place is a dump."

"I heard she got pregnant with some guys kid."

"Wouldn't surprise me."

"Did you hear?"

"No, what?"

"Oh my higher powers! For cereal?"

"I wonder where Luna will be clubbing tonight. That is, if she is really back!"

"I don't know. But who is the hot new girl?"

I tapped into my wolf powers, listening carefully to snippets of conversations that were floating around. It was Monday morning, and the school yard was filled with the normal, dull chatter and gossip. Eyes were focused on me as I walked around, looking for people I knew. I was aware that I was being referred to as the new girl as I passed.

Today was my first day back at school, and it looked like it would be anything but easy. I ignored the glances I was getting as I walked up to Scar.

"Shit!" Scar said, looking me over. "The rumors are true."

"That's right." I grinned. "Is that really how you welcome your friend back home?"

Scar ran the last few steps towards me and gave me a crushing hug. All the chatter around us seemed to die, like everyone was listening to what we were going to say.

"Oh my higher powers!" She squealed. "You look so different! Man, Luna. It's like every time I see you now, you look older and hotter. Love the hair by the way."

I giggled. Last time Scar had seen me was a few months ago in La Push. My hair had been short at the time, but I had begun to grow it out again. I was lost in my thoughts as the chatter and rumors began to grow and fly around us.

"So what happened to Cami?" I asked Scar.

She snorted. "Sorry to hear about your 'rents."

"Stop avoiding the topic." I said.

"Cami is over at the dark side." Scar said, nodding her head towards the area Candy hung. "Seems Candy stole her away."

"You let that happen." I accused.

"Yeah, well. There was no point in ruling the school without you around." Scar said, turning around.

I caught her arm and spun her so she faced me. "This is not happening!"

"Luna, we didn't know if you were coming back!" Scar yelled at me.

I clenched my hands into fists, aware that they were shaking. I took a few, deep breaths, trying to calm myself. It wouldn't help to turn into a wolf in the middle of a bunch of school kids.

"Fine." I hissed through my teeth. "We don't have to let Candy run this place. We're going to take back what is rightfully ours."

Jake's Point of View

She's safe.

Quil's words brought me back to the human world.

What did you say? I asked.

Luna is fine. She called from California. Quil replied. She sounds... like Luna. She asked me to say something to you.

I'm not coming back.

It's fine, Jake. She doesn't really care about that. Luna figures if you want to be a wolf, then be a wolf.

Great. Then what did she want?

Quil smiled. She wants you to be happy.

Quil phased out and I was left alone. Her words echoed in my head, even though they weren't quiet her words.

I snorted and turned around, running back to La Push. Something told me that Luna would be coming home one day, and I needed to be there when she did.