She watched the sky darken as night approached. Her dark hair hid her face as she turned away from the sunlight. She shifted on the branch of the massive pine, searching for some semblance of comfort. The musky scent of the tree was somehow soothing. It reminded her of the one, somewhat normal, Christmas she had experienced. Perhaps she would be able to sleep tonight. Once upon a time, she had adored the night. Darkness was the play time of her childhood, the only time she and her father could truly be themselves. He couldn't be seen in the sunlight. She had detested the sunrise. The moment the sky began it's ascent into light, that early pre-dawn gray filling the horizon, she and her father had to hide away again.

"We're not like them," He had whispered, while they crouched in a copse of trees, observing children and parents at a suburban playground, "They wouldn't understand our kind. They are afraid of us, as they should be. They must NEVER learn of our existence."

It was the one rule of their kind; he had impressed it upon her time and again. "Trust no one. No one may know what you are, Bella."

They made the mistake of entrusting her secret with one person, and now her father was gone.

Now, the night haunted her. She was alone.

Silence.

Blissful, peaceful silence. Silence was certainly a rarity; the last ninety-five years of his endless existence had taught him the treasure moments like this. Sweet silence, a nearly religious experience for Edward. Much preferable to the constant irritating drone of other voices in his head. Voices that didn't belong there, thinking terribly mundane human thoughts. Or worse yet, and far more typical in his home, irritating, terribly mundane lewd mated vampire thoughts. Edward had never been more thankful for Rosalie's insane need for repeated weddings and, more specifically, destination honeymoons that took her and her perverted husband far from Edward's abilities.

Carlisle was suffering through another late night at the hospital. The seasonal flu and an early fall had combined to terrorize the population of Forks. Although not deadly for most, Carlisle had picked up extra shifts in the geriatric unit. The patients there were more susceptible, and they had lost one little old lady already. Esme was delivering baked goods to the overworked nurses, and would probably sneak by the nursery, even though she knew it would hurt to see those sweet babies.

Alice and Jasper had gone for late night "hunt". Edward was no fool, he was fully aware that Alice was simply pursuing their activities elsewhere in order to leave Edward with some peace. He didn't have to read her mind to realize the plot, and she didn't need her visions to understand the depths of his gratitude. In one of their simple trademark silent conversations, he gave her a single nod, she smile, grabbed her husband, and darted out the door. Finally, Edward could be alone. If only for a few hours.

Crouching, hidden in the boughs of a large sycamore, Alice peered at the forest beneath her. She had drained a handful of deer and disposed of the bodies already. Now, she was hiding about a quarter mile from the place she had agreed to meet Jasper. She was downwind. Hopefully, he would follow the trail she left for him, the one that led directly underneath this tree…

"Boo."

In spite of herself, Alice jumped and spun. Jasper lounged casually one branch above her, draped over the side, his upside-down face was just behind her. She couldn't contain the giggles. Still, after all these years, he was the only one who could get around her gift and surprise her.

"You would be a terrible soldier, I could smell that trap from- oh, I don't know- about a quarter mile away?" His teasing drawl and sexy grin did wonderful things to her girly bits, and sensing the change in her mood, Jasper smirked. He caught her lips in a heated, if not a bit awkward, Spiderman kiss. The thought of that scene from the movie caused her to laugh again. Jasper chuckled with her, Alice's giddy mood affecting him in spite of his confusion as to the cause of her mirth.

"Oh Alice," he murmured, "I love you." Staring into her butterscotch eyes made him feel as if his unbeating heart might start pounding again. She gave him life, purpose. She made him feel almost human.

"Of course you do silly. What's not to love?" Alice grinned, her bright eyes and beaming face close to blinding him, "I love you so much Jasper."

The moment was shattered by a sharp gasp, Alice and Jasper both leapt to the ground, startled by the surprise intruder neither had sensed approaching. They stared at the girl before them. Her slight figure trembled in fear as her large brown eyes peered at them from behind a curtain of dark tangled hair. "Mary Alice?" She whispered. Alice's eyes shot back to the girl's face, she had been examining her visions. Or, more accurately, her lack of visions concerning this girl.

The girl stumbled back, shock paling her features as she stared at Alice scrutinizing her every feature. "I- it can't be." The desperation in her eyes, the fear on her face touched Alice, her expression pled for help. Alice didn't even have a chance to consider the poor girl, as the delicate brunette turned, vanishing in the blink of an eye.