The ringing of a cellphone shattered the thoughtful moment, and Bella blushed sheepishly as she reached into her pocket, heading for the kitchen as she answered.

"Hey, Charlie...no, no, I'm still at the Cullen's...yeah, we're all just hanging out...no, Jess and Angela are over here too...yeah, it just turned out to be one big barbeque...I know it's getting...no, we're just cleaning up...don't worry, I'll be home soon. With food...yeah, okay...okay...see you in a bit...yeah, bye." She wandered back into the group, shrugging her shoulders. "Charlie wants me home," she said. "Sorry, guys. Guess the I've gotta head out." Edward rose smoothly to his feet while Esme darted into the kitchen. Jess and Angela looked at each other, getting up from their seats as well.

"We should probably be getting home, too. It's been an awesome night!" the blond said cheerfully. The quiet brunette just nodded, turning to Caralla.

"It's been a pleasure to meet you," she said softly. The Ancient One smiled, walking over to the two girls.

"I'm very glad to have met you as well. I'd really like a chance to talk to you both soon. Perhaps we can all get together again sometime."

"I'd like that too," Angela said shyly, still a bit in awe over the woman before her as well as the revelations she'd had that night. Jess just smiled and nodded, not saying anything. Caralla hugged each of them before walking over to Bella. In a motion completely casual she walked with the girl to the front door. Her reasons were obvious as she began speaking once they were out of mortal earshot.

"Bella, your friend Angela is...very perceptive," the older woman said. "She knows what the Cullens are, she knows I'm not human either, and I believe she's realized that your shifter friend isn't quite what he's pretending to be, either."

"Shit!" Bella gasped, but the other woman shook her head.

"It's okay. In fact, I believe the next time we all gather, we should do so with full disclosure. Jessica will need to know as well, especially if this Luc and Lili are what I think they are. We're going to need to gather them to us as well, and soon. Would there be some valid reason you or one of the others might have for inviting them here? I don't wish to be seen by too many people in this town quite yet." Bella thought for a moment, knowing not to ask Caralla's reasons for her wishes. After a bit, she nodded.

"Alice was supposed to be throwing a party this weekend, but with the explosion at the school I don't know if she still wanted to go through with it."

"Very well. I'll speak to her once you've all left. That might be the best idea, actually, as you can be sure that a family such as the Cullens would wish to welcome new townsfolk graciously. It would be a very reasonable thing to invite the new folk to a soiree."

"Caralla...what do you think they are? Do you really think Lili is an angel, like Carlisle does?" Caralla just shook her head.

"Something tells me this is not nearly as cut-and-dried as all that. But we'll see. At any rate, I think it's about time for you to head back to your father's house." By that point they'd reached the door, and Bella could hear voices as Angie, Jess, and Jake all wandered in talking amongst themselves. She turned towards them to see Esme walking in as well, four large containers full of leftovers in her hands. She handed one to each of them, smiling gently as everyone thanked her.

"Nonsense," she murmured, hugging each of them in turn – Bella struggling not to grin at the expression on Jake's face. "There was way too much food for all of us to finish," she continued. Angela just smiled, a small twitch of her lips, and muttered 'no, really?' under her breath. Edward walked up then as well, followed by the rest of the family, and goodbyes were effusive, genuinely fond, and tinged with a bit of amazement on the parts of the two mortal girls that were still not used to being surrounded by so much beauty...and the shapeshifter who was not accustomed to being on pleasant grounds with a bunch of bloodsuckers. Eventually, though, Bella was sliding into the Volvo, waving at Angie and Jess as they – still flustered – got into the back seat of the Mercedes. Esme was riding along with Carlisle to take them home, and Bella chuckled to herself knowing that her friends would likely be tongue-tied the entire way, though she knew the Cullen matriarch would do her best to make them feel at ease. Then they were pulling out of the driveway and heading down the road and she relaxed into the seat, reaching out with one hand to twine her fingers with Edward's.

"So Caralla wants to have the party," he murmured. She just nodded, having known her family would be able to hear the conversation she'd had. "I wonder how many people will still be willing to show up? After the debacle at the school and with the news of Newton's death, most of the town is really shaken."

"I don't know," she shrugged. "But I think we should trust Caralla. She still seems to know more than she's told us, and if she says she needs to meet the two new people, I think she should meet them."

"Oh, I wasn't suggesting arguing with her," he said with a wry grin. "I just wonder how it will work out." There was a pause before he continued, somewhat hesitantly. "Alice is worried. She can hardly see what tomorrow brings now, even with just us. She says there's something like a shroud over it – fuzzy, like a gauze curtain. She says it's like being able to make out shapes, perhaps hints of colors, but not being able to actually see anything. It's got her freaked out – aside from the werewolves, she's not used to being...blind, I suppose." He was concerned, and Bella was too, but as there was nothing either of them could do or say, conversation lapsed. They were still silent when he pulled up in front of Charlie's house. She plastered a smile on her face, seeing him do the same, and they walked arm-in-arm up the stairs. She knew her father would have been watching out the window, and she didn't want to give him any reason to believe the night had been anything less than great. Really, it had been amazing, but not in any sense she wanted him to know about. He just...wasn't ready to handle it. At the door Edward kissed her goodnight, murmured a 'see you soon,' and headed back to his car. She watched until it was out of sight and then turned and walked in. Sure enough, her father was sitting innocently on the couch, remote in hand. She just chuckled and shook her head.

"I'm home!" she said. "I think Esme sent enough leftovers to feed Serbia – hope you're hungry." He looked up, feigning surprise, and wandered into the kitchen.

"So, did you have fun?" he asked, watching avidly as she began to dip out a plate of food for him, tossing it in the microwave for a minute while she put the rest in the fridge. He sat down at the table and gestured for her to join him, and as much as she just wanted to go upstairs and cuddle with her mate she decided it would be in her best interests to acquiesce for the moment. Pulling out a chair, she set his plate in front of him and took a seat across from him, watching with a smile as he dug in.

"It was awesome. Alice and I decided to invite Angie and Jess over, and Jake came as well, so we all just sat out and grilled and then went inside and hung out for a while." That was about as general as she could make it, but it seemed to satisfy him, for the most part.

"Jacob?" he asked around a mouthful of food. "I thought he didn't like the Cullens." She just chuckled.

"It's not so much that he didn't like the Cullens, but that he didn't like Edward." She saw that sink in and he nodded, being as unwilling to pursue the subject of his daughter as an object of male interest as she was to discuss it at all.

"Well, as long as you had a good day," he mumbled.

"It was a good day," she affirmed. "Good, but long." She didn't have to fake the yawn that came out then, but she couldn't have asked for better timing. "I think I'm gonna head to bed." He nodded, swallowing before speaking.

"I've got to head to work early tomorrow, and I probably won't be home until late. This whole mess..." he trailed off and she nodded her understanding.

"That's okay. I was planning on just hanging around here tomorrow anyway. Might invite Angie or Jess over to watch tv or whatever."

"That's fine," he assented and she stood up, heading for the stairs. His voice stopped her.

"Hey, Bella?" She turned back to him. "Thanks. You know, for...staying close to home and all. I know it's got to be cramping your style...or...whatever." He looked a bit sheepish and she just shrugged.

"This whole thing with the explosion and with...with Mike – well, it has everyone upset. I don't mind."

"Well, thanks anyway. Gives me one less thing to worry about." He made a shooing motion with his hand. "Now go get some sleep." He returned to his meal and she smiled and headed to bed.

Edward was there, as she knew he would be. After changing into her nightclothes she wriggled up against him, arranging herself comfortably. But rather than talking quietly as she'd planned, the events of the entire day seemed to crash down on her, leaving her tired and mentally worn, and within the space of a few mortal heartbeats she was sleeping soundly in the arms of her immortal love.

At the girls' request the Cullen parents dropped them both off at Jess' house. The trip had been a bit less...overwhelming...with Esme in the car, but both humans breathed a sigh of relief once they were inside and away from the mind-boggling intensity of the Cullen family. In unison they flopped down on the overstuffed couch, leaning their heads back against the cushions. Jess turned her head towards Angie, a wry grin on her face.

"I'm so glad I'm not the only one affected by them," she muttered with a chuckle. "This way I know it's not just hormones." The brunette shook her head.

"No...that is one seriously impressive family." It seemed she might have said something further, but she changed her mind and the subject at the same time.

"So – about Luc." She saw Jess snap to attention, and the worry she felt was mirrored in the other girl's eyes, though she'd bet they weren't worried about the same things.

"What about him?" Jess asked hesitantly.

"Caralla thinks he and his sister might be part of...all this. Whatever 'this' is." The blond stayed silent. "Jess, I'm worried."

"About what?" her friend asked.

"About you. And him. You seem to be...fixated on him." Angie tried to keep her voice even, so as not to make the other girl defensive.

"Ang, it's just...well, I...oh hell, I don't know. Maybe you're right. I can't seem to get him out of my mind lately." She paused, eyes fluttering shut with a sigh. "He smells like cinnamon."

"What?" Angie blinked a couple of times, shifting on the couch until she was leaning against the arm and facing her best friend.

"He does. It's a warm cinnamon smell...kind of smooth and tangy at the same time." Jess' voice took on a dreamy quality, and Angela just watched as she began to ramble. "And he's so tall...I just feel tiny next to him. But not in a bad way – he makes me feel, I don't know, safe. Protected. Like he'd tear apart anything or anyone that tried to hurt me. He's got the strongest arms I've ever felt. And those eyes. I could just drown in them. He's..." she seemed to snap out of it and looked at the brunette sheepishly. "I guess you might be right. I can't seem to stop thinking about him."

"I'm not so sure that's a good thing. What do you really know about him?"

"I know he's a gentleman. I know he's kind, that he has a very strong sense of morals in his own way. And I know I..." she trailed off, face flushing a bright red. "Never mind." The blond waved her hand as though to brush aside what she had been about to say, but Angie wasn't having any of it.

"You know you what?"

"Nothing. Forget I said anything."

"Jessica Stanley. When have we ever kept secrets?" Angela's voice was reproachful, and her friend just sighed.

"I know, I know. But I...I just don't have everything straight in my own mind yet."

"Well, talk to me. Maybe I can help." At the earnest look on the brunette's face, Jess sighed again.

"I don't...I don't know, Angie. I don't know anything." She took a deep breath and leaned her head back again, looking at the ceiling but not really noticing it. "After Mike...well, after everything, I feel like, like I'm not good enough. Like it was somehow my fault." She held up a hand to forestall the argument she knew was about to explode from the other girl's mouth. "My mind knows I'm wrong, that I'm not to blame, but it's...Angie, it's so hard. To not feel guilty. Dirty. Bad. Like I'm so soiled I don't want the rest of the world to touch me because I'm afraid it will rub off and make everything else dirty too.

"But Luc...when I'm with him, I don't feel that way at all. I feel like I'm important. Cared for. Like I'm someone worthwhile again. It's...it's a wonderful feeling. Just by being there he has this calming effect, this way of looking at me, of treating me, and it makes all the negativity I've felt for so long just...fade away, almost. Like – well, not like it never happened, but like it's something I shouldn't worry about. I just feel so at peace when I'm around him. It's not a feeling I've had a lot of lately." She laughed, low and melancholy. "And when we almost kissed, it was like everything in my world was suddenly becoming right again. Everything that's felt so wrong, so disconnected – so painful and out-of-place – it all just faded and settled and I felt like I'd...like I'd come home." She looked at the other girl then, a self-deprecating smile on her face. "And now you're going to think that I'm just having mood swings or something."

Angie was quiet for a moment, letting her mind wander over everything she'd learned that night, trying to see where the pieces fit together, but it was like she was only seeing half of the puzzle. She sighed and leaned over, resting her hand on her friend's.

"I don't think that. Really. I'm just worried. Everything that's been happening, and all the feelings I've been getting...something tells me your baby is a key part to this. And not knowing Luc – really, not even knowing Lili though I've at least met her – it makes me nervous that you're so connected to him. What if it's all wrong? What if what Caralla told us is actually true? How do we trust anyone or anything new? Jess, I just don't want you to get hurt again. I wasn't able to see it the first time – I'll always feel guilty for not realizing what was going on."

"It wasn't your fault, Ang!" the blond protested.

"I know it wasn't, but I knew something was wrong. I should have pushed. I should have said something. Maybe...maybe it wouldn't have gone as far as it did." There was quiet, but then Jess shook her head, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"If we're going to choose to believe Caralla, then we've got to trust your gut instinct as well, that my baby is part of all of this. Which means that for whatever reason this was bound to happen. I'm not happy, and I would never wish this one anyone, ever. But if it's important then maybe...maybe this is how it's supposed to play out." The two girls sat in contemplative silence, minds reeling with thoughts and feelings and fears as they tried to make sense out of any of it.