Ok, so I'm updating again. Yay! Oh, and I lied, I have way too much interest in this one to update the other one first. I hope you all enjoy this... It takes me a while to figure out how to word these things. I know I can pick up on an author's tone, but when it's a non-canon pairing that has no kind of OC involved, it takes me longer to figure things out. I think I've pretty much mastered it, though. If you see something way off, just go ahead and tell me. Oh, and I hate to sound like one of those people who begs for review, but if I'm going to stay up all night writing these things, than I think I have the right to ask for just a little review¾anything as simple as "I really liked this" or "update soon". I'm not going to be one of those "I want 12 review before updating" but I want to know someone reads these. And I don't understand how that hit monitor thing on your account works. Enjoy the story. ~Star

Mom and dad got home, and I was extra careful to keep my thoughts to a bare minimum. I had sat in the lake for a long while to wash Alec's scent off of me, and then I had showered. I shouldn't smell like anything but my strawberry and mango shampoos. Of course, dad knows I'm hiding something; worst comes to worst he finds out. Mom and dad must have expected me to be getting a boyfriend sometime around now, I mean I do have the mind of, like, an eighteen year old or something. I'm sure neither ever thought I would fall for a member of the Volturi¾they wanted me dead before I had ever met them. But they'll learn to accept it; so will Jane, especially if it makes her brother happy. Of course, I cannot help that he is what he is.

About a week, dad appears at the door to my room. "Nessie, can I speak with you?"

"Of course, daddy, come on in." I smile.

"Where were you earlier? Rose and Alice said that you had taken off from your hunting trip." He was accusing me, and he was combing through my thoughts (and I wonder why he waited a week to ask about this).

"I had caught scent of a particularly good-smelling mountain lion. I chased him through the forest and past the river." In my head, I clearly pictured this: the mouthwatering scent of the vicious animal, the prolonged chase through the woods, and the dunk into the river. His body relaxes.

"Ok, that's fine then. Jacob's gone out for a visit to La Push; they're way overdue to see everyone back there. He should be back in a few days."

I smiled, "Cool. When do these Volturi jerks leave? I'm sick of all the wolves sulking in the attic, it makes life so boring."

"They'll be here for about another month." He scowls. "Carlisle hasn't the heart to kick them out... and he doesn't want to make Aro mad." He walked out, downstairs before the door was even half closed.

I relaxed, but only just. I wanted to get out of here; what I needed was to see Jacob again, to talk to him. He would give me the advice I needed, and if I asked, I would be able to get him to keep it between us, as he did everything else. But he was a county away (literally) and when daddy says "a few days", he probably means a week or two. I would jump onto a plane right now, if it would help anything. But it won't. I opened my door to go to the bathroom, but when it cracked open, I heard a rather odd phone conversation.

"… Jacob, please. They're here for her. If she just ships off to Forks, they'll either track her down or tell Aro we have something to hide."

It was hard to make out Jake's words, but I think I got most of them. "We can't initiate her into the family without the entire family present. It would compromise every ritual we have, and believe me, it would be a very bad thing to do that."

"Jake, can't we wait until Jane and Alec leave? It can't be that much longer, and I'm sure you can wait until then." Mom was pleading; that hardly ever happened with Jake.

"Look, you and I both know it can't. Can I come and, uh, explain the situation to her? It would make things a hell of a lot easier, and then… well, you've seen what's gone on, and I know you've learned to accept it. Please, please Bella. I'll be there in, like, two days." The line cut off.

Mom grunted and called my name. I ran down the stairs and saw her frazzled look. "Jacob will be here soon, we have to get rid of Jane and Alec. Like, soon, there will be some… odd questions that are going to be asked if they're not."

"There's something you and dad are keeping from me, right? I hate it when you do that. You tried it so much when I was young, and now there's something big. I want to know what." I raised an eyebrow at her, and sat on the couch.

"That's why Jake's coming, sweetie; he's going to explain some things. Ok?"

"Fine; I have to go to the bathroom, and then I'm going out." I didn't let her respond, and I just went straight upstairs. Oh well, I'll get my answer in a few days. I hope. After finishing up in the bathroom, I walked into the garage and climbed into my car (it was the same Volvo model as my dad's, except glossy black) and drove away from my house¾as far away as I could stand to go.

It was a couple of hours later, and I was sitting alone on top of a roof when he approached. His scent wafted my way, and it was as sweet as candy. His eyes were and almost-glowing scarlet; he had clearly just been hunting.

"I did not think we would ever get another moment alone." He smiled.

"Don't come closer; there isn't anything I can cleanse my scent with, and I want to avoid my father's awkward questions." I warned.

He shrugged. "Jane and I are going to be here for another, uh, month. Aro wanted us to observe you in your natural habitat, and you guys seem to be only just unthawing. Jane is in another city somewhere…"

"Meet me at the same clearing tonight at midnight. Mom and dad have a few things to take care of; Carlisle, Esme, Rose, and Alice are all out working; and the others are hunting way north in the mountains, something about bears…?"

He nodded, then dropped off the side of the roof. Time to get back, I suppose.

Tonight was ten times better than the first time. He was almost through with undressing me, before I thought about what mom had told me earlier: Jake's getting here at eleven in the morning. I pulled away, and smiled at him. Carefully, I collected my things, jumped into the river, and went back home. I showered and pulled on the same nightclothes mom had seen me in earlier. I had one hell of a day tomorrow, and I should get a good night's sleep before that.

Short chapter, I'm completely away. But believe me, the next chapter is going to be full of suspense, betrayal, and anger. Oh, and Jacob's telling Nessie about the Imprint, and I can't do anything with that here.