Author's Note: While I am not well versed in the Twilight Saga, I find myself thinking that I would appreciate it all the more if the characters had more depth than a mere obsession with Bella and her drama. While Twilight cannot truly happen without her, I think that we overlook other character growth and other stories that need to be told. I own no one but Thomas and Tess. I know that this had been beaten to death, but I want to make my own spin on this and really make this grow. The pairings will be Leah/OC and Jacob/OC simply because I think they got the short end of the stick. Especially Leah. I'm not yet sure how much of Bella, Edward and others I will be incorporating into this story since I want to concentrate more on the Quileute Tribe and Thomas and Tess. Please don't forget to review and tell me any suggestions you might have.

Chapter One: Moving to Forks

"The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection" - George Orwell

As the trees blurred together and the gloomy skies began to darken even further, Tess could not see herself living in a place like this. "The City of Forks Welcomes You", she rolled her eyes at the sign. This was not the place she wanted to move to, but she had little choice. At fifteen, her seemingly perfect life changed as a crack began to form in the family. The seemingly doting and happy parents began embittered as business began to get shaky. Her father began traveling more, and soon enough it began to feel as if Tess was being raised in a single parent's home. Her mother never said anything, but the looks and lies that grew more and more complicated said it for her. Tess wasn't stupid; she knew that things were beginning to crumble.

Her brothers weren't any help; Julian had moved to London from the scholarship he was lucky to receive. He went off to study international business and soon made his family there and never returned. At thirty, he had nothing to return to. Next was Thomas; he had moved at eighteen to go to college as well; he chose History as his major surprising his parents, and he merely moved to study Native American history up north in Washington. At twenty-three he found himself a home, amidst the rainy city of Forks. Both boys had become men and made something out of themselves. All that was left was Tess, to make something out of herself and be able to leave the nest as well.

She didn't have to wait as long as she thought. Their parent's acting days were over when they began to fight; their screams weren't muffled any longer and Tess had had no choice but to sit there and wait for it to be over. Huddled in her room, the only companion was her little dog who licked her cheeks hoping to distract her. After that they told her another lie; they wanted to work on their marriage so they thought it'd be good for her to live with one of her brothers until everything was solved. She saw it as them wanting to get rid of her, but she didn't blame them. She hoped that this way they could simply just divorce and end it. She was keeping them together and she hated it.

Julian immediately said that the move from California to London would be too much for his sister and that she wouldn't like it. She knew that was an excuse; he was always the one that was hungry for success and he didn't need another mouth to feed. Thomas was blunt about it; he didn't have a lot to offer but a small house and she could move in if she wanted. He understood if better and knew she wanted to get away. And while it wasn't London, it was a place to get away from the farce that was her life in Los Angeles.

So there she was, leaning her head against the window, her eyes shut as she felt the cool glass against her cheek. This wasn't where she wanted to be but it was her only place now. She would be lying if she said she didn't miss her home. Despite the fighting and worse, the acting, she had friends that would help her out at least emotionally. She feared the idea of being someplace new. She wished she was more outgoing like her brothers, but it wasn't her way.

"-you know? You'll get used to the weather I promise" Was the only part of Thomas' speech that she caught.
"Opening her eyes lazily, her chestnut colored eyes trailed towards her brother who was driving. She noticed that his fingers tapped the wheel nervously. She knew that as much as he loved her, he was stuck taking care of a teenager.

"Hey Tom…have you inscribed me in school yet?" she asked curiously.

"Not yet! Just as soon as I research how to I'll do it"

Tess knew this was her chance and smiled. "It's fine…if it's all the same to you, I'd prefer getting my GED instead of going to high school."

"Can I ask mom first?"

She snorted and nodded. Turning her head let to see outside her window, she saw that the city had it's charm she supposed; if she could call it a city. Despite the cloudiness, the trees were beautiful, not something she was used to seeing. Surrounded by forests seemed so different and somewhat refreshing: A new start.

"What made you move here Tom?" she asked curiously as they finally began to move her things into the house. Her corgi-chihuahua mix ran around the "yard" taking everything new for her. Tess shook her head and patted Thomas' pitbull terrier mix before walking into the house.

"Thomas put the last box down and signaled her to follow him. Huffing she followed him, rubbing her back tiredly. He signaled the portraits and began to explain as best he could.

"You know how history is usually written by the victors? You know, those that win the fights? Take the territories? Well I want to study the other side, the parts seemed uninteresting. For me, the Quileute stories and folklore were what interested me. Imagine the idea of using animals, the only means of protection to protect their lands and then slowly become one? It's fascinating what you read in books. I've been trying to learn more through talking to them but…"

"But?" Tess' eyes brightened with curiosity.

"They're so private" Thomas shrugged. "I don't blame them, so I find myself doing research on my own. From folklore to journals, anything I can. I've slowly talked into maybe getting to talk to the members, so long as I'm respectful and have the right questions."

She made a noise of agreement as her brother began to ramble. Looking at her brother, she could see that this was definitely a passion for him and she couldn't help but smile. Who knew that the big dork that was her best friend for the longest time would grow up to be a bigger taller dork that was excited about history. As he talked his green eyes brightened and his hand moved making his words all the more expressed. His brown wavy hair was already getting out of his usual slicked back professional look, and his boring dad sweater made him scream "I'm trying to be a grown up here". She loved him dearly and she wasn't one to judge. She too loved history and following his footsteps wouldn't be too bad.

"Isn't it great?!" he finished.

"Hmm…you're a big dork" she said laughing.

"He rolled his eyes and shoved her lightly only making her laugh harder. She missed laughing that was for sure, and he knew it'd been a while since she'd been so relaxed.

"What do you think about the house?" he asked curiously.

""It's…a house?" she replied shrugging. "I'm glad I have a room and no one fighting below it"

"She trailed off and he merely pulled her into a hug letting her know that he got it. He had been lucky to leave before the whole thing exploded around them.
""I'm sorry" he murmured.

She ignored his apology, instead she simply held him tight. In this moment she felt like talking would spoil everything. She was good at that. Closing her eyes she smiled softly as he rocked her. He wasn't the most responsible sibling, but he loved her, and that in itself was enough. He murmured something about going to show her the room he'd been fixing up and she followed him. As they reached the top of the stairs, he turned left and opened the simply white door. As she took everything in she smiled softly as her eyes fell on the painting of the ocean on the wall. The sand looked so real and she moved forward, her hand placed over the sand and moved up to trace the waves that encompassed Los Angeles so well. She knew he'd had someone paint it so her bed could face it.

"I know you miss the beach the most. And well we have them here just...a bit chillier?" Tess shook her head at her brother's comment. "But you can lay in bed and just look at it if you want. Or you can take a view of the forest."

"Turning to look at him she smiled softly. This big dork got her.

""You're a good brother"

"He had the decency to blush and threw her plushy to make it a lighter atmosphere. Her dog walked in and made herself at home at the new bed making Tess think that this wasn't so bad.

"I'm gonna get started in dinner" he said as he walked out.

"Dinner? You cook?" she asked

"I can put a frozen lasagna in the oven?" Thomas said sheepishly.

"Tess rolled her eyes and smirked.

As she heard him doing downstairs, she climbed onto her bed and sighed. It was different here; calmer. The mist was most welcoming she supposed, but she couldn't help but think that nothing can ever go smoothly. Rolling off her bed, she opened the window and popped her head out. Taking a deep breath she hummed softly. She was by no means that most nature loving person, but no one could deny this was a spectacular view. And how many people in LA could say that their backyard lead to the woods? Placing her elbows on the window frame she rested her head on her arm taking in the area./p

'I could get used to this' She thought smiling

"That is until she heard a howl. She shivered despite herself. That was enough nature for one day she supposed. Closing the window immediately she decided that maybe she needed to figure out just what was lurking in the woods. Thomas would know. Running downstairs, she had no clue that that was no mere wolf, but a folklore becoming reality