Trials of Real Love

Quileute Border

Jacob had the pack, much to their discomfort, stay on two legs. By the time Edward and Edie arrived, everyone was there and staring each other down. For the most part, Jacob didn't seem to have the same disdain for them like the rest of the wolves, but he still had his nose scrunched up.

'Your family stinks Leech,' Jacob thought to Edward.

'Not as much as yours Puppy,' he responded and joined his family.

Edie saw that each group was looking at her expectantly. It was as if they were urging her to join their side, so she ended up standing aside next to a boulder.

"Hello, I am Carlisle Cullen and this is my family. My wife Esme, my sons Emmett and Jasper, their mates Rosalie and Alice, and my first sire, Edward."

Jacob stepped over the border and extended his hand over to Carlisle. "Hi. I'm Jacob Black, Ephraim Black's heir, and the alpha of the pack. My friend Sam is my beta and the others behind me are Jared, Paul, Embry, and Quil." Then Jacob started to tremble a bit. "I'm also Edward's mate," Jacob blurted. Silence then the rustling of grass and a hand slipped into his. This was Edward's response, confirmation, and announcement to everyone. They held onto each other waiting for the backlash.

"Little Eddie got an alpha, good for you," Emmett commented.

Alice raced to hug Jacob. "He's cute. Gotta do something about that smell though."

"Speak for yourself she-vamp," Jacob responded without disdain.

"It's not the worst thing I guess," Jared commented and the rest hummed in agreement.

Sam walked up to the couple and stuck his hand out to Edward. "Welcome to the pack Edward Cullen."

"Thank you, Sam., The same goes to you and the rest of the pack," answered Edward.

"I hate to interrupt this really nice moment," Edie interjected "but right now we need to discuss Victoria."

"I'm afraid Edie is right," Carlisle relented. "Alice go ahead."

"Shorty here can see the future," Jacob explained to the pack.

"Yes. Thank you, Jake," Alice replied. "From what I can tell, she's coming to Forks. Soon."

"Is she the one that's been leaving all the corpses?"

"No, but that brings me to another point. She's creating newborns or she's having someone create them to build an army."

"And you need us to help because we can actually take them down," he replied in cockiness.

"Yes actually, we do. In my vision, my view was almost completely obscured. That means you are involved."

"Do we win?"

Everyone waited for her to confirm their fears or joy. "I don't know."

"Jacob," Carlisle spoke up. "How would you all feel about joining us in training for the newborns?"

"Sam, what do you think," Jacob asked his beta.

"We have no idea what we're dealing with," Sam grudgingly admitted. Then he peered his gaze to Edie, remembering her strength and wondering whether these newborns would be just as bad or worse. Of course, Edward could hear everything and pondered on her power as well and then he zoned back in to hear Sam's input. "What's your experience with these things," Sam turned to Carlisle.

"I have little to none, but Jasper does. He's fought many newborns in his time," Carlisle answered.

"Fine."

"How about the rest of you," Jacob turned to the rest of the pack. The guys were pretty much decided; they would follow Jacob no matter what. "Great we'll set up training days and Shorty will keep us posted about when they'll be here."

When the meeting at the border was over, everyone went to their respective homes. Edie needed to coordinate the next part of the mission; it was time to train them, but she wondered if she could do it without hurting them, all of them. She pictured Edward and Jacob when she thought this. Their relationship, strong though it may be, was still young and her information about the not too distant future would frighten them or make them paranoid. That was something to be sure of.

Quileute Reservation

The week passed and it came with the arrival of two more wolves: Leah and Seth. The guys had to get used to another she-wolf in their pack and Leah for the most part got some closure and a new boyfriend. It was a shock of sorts when she imprinted on Embry; at the very least it helped her move on from Sam. Seth was more fascinated with Edie than being a wolf. He was really excited to meet the Olympic Coven. Leah on the other hand, was less enthused and more cautious.

Everyone was supposed to meet in the forest behind the Cullen mansion. During the week that passed, Edward and Jacob met each other's families and things for them so far were going well. There were a few bumps with Rosalie's dog jokes, but Jacob gave as much as he got. Dinner with the Cullens and dinner with Billy were more alike than the couple thought; both were interrogations and Billy was on his best behavior with his son's new boyfriend. They talked about the basics of the relationship. Meanwhile, Edie was facing obstacles, though they were more like annoyances according to her, separate from the rest of her family.

She was at the reservation earlier than Jacob had told her to be there because the council summoned her. For what? She didn't know, but isn't that almost always the situation in these types of stories. The stranger is called upon and is "persuaded" to give them answers. Whether the stranger is alive in the end didn't really matter. Edie entered the council room and stood in front of the round table that contained only five members.

"Have you guessed why you are here," Old Quil inquired.

"You want answers and I'll give them to you, but I might not answer them completely if they endanger my family," Edie responded. "Though I do wonder when you will stop manipulating them."

"Excuse me?"

"By not having Jacob and Sam here while you interrogate me, you are withholding knowledge and thus manipulating them into believing they know the whole story. Bring them and then I'll answer what you want."

"Why should we do as you say half-breed," asked John Littlesea, a tribe elder.

"Because Jacob deserves our respect as the alpha," Billy answered for Edie. "I'll call him right away."

"Thank you," Edie bowed in respect. It took only five more minutes for Jacob and Sam to come in the room. Both had the standard "what's going on" faces.

"Thank you for joining us."

"May I ask why we're here," Jacob wondered. He saw that Edie was standing on the other side of the room. "Is there something wrong?"

"The half-breed was about to expose her plans to us," said Elder Littlesea.

"Be careful what you say to her, Elder or I might not be in control of my actions," the atmosphere became tense at Jacob's words.

"It's been nearly four months and we don't know much about the woman declaring herself to be Edie Ward. This meeting of the council has been brought together to get answers from her," Old Quil announced. "My first question to you, young lady, is this: Is Edie Ward your complete name?"

"No, it is not. Edie is a nickname," she answered truthfully.

"What is your true purpose for coming to our tribe?"

"I cannot tell you, but I can say that a few of my goals has come to fruition."

"And what goals are those," Jacob pondered.

"To see Jacob Black become Alpha, to make sure my family survives, and to keep Jacob smiling; I hope I accomplished those."

"There are only three families from which you can obtain the gene," Sam speculated. "Which one is yours?"

Edie responded with an adamant tone, "I cannot tell you. It would endanger my family and I cannot allow that."

"You would save your precious parasites before the tribe; how like a monster," John Littlesea sneered.

"Elder Littlesea, I will not warn you again–" Jacob began.

"My family is the tribe and the coven," she responded patiently. "I am a monster John Littlesea," Edie interrupted. "I can kill you in half the time it takes to get your neurons to comprehend this sentence. In other words, consider yourself lucky that I'm restraining myself, but one more outburst, one more disdainful word about my family, and I will personally see to it that you become a quadriplegic of the worst kind because to kill you would be too humane." Edie's low voice paralyzed the rude and hateful elder. "Now then," Edie said in a normal voice volume to the rest of the council "are we done? Because if the pack is late, it will reflect badly on us and a lady is never late," she curtsied "Thank you for inviting me. I'm sorry if I scared you."

Everyone was still. The only sounds came from the heels of Edie's boots as she walked away. Then, Jacob started to laugh, it was infectious too because soon Billy was laughing too and everyone else was staring at them bewilderingly. "Why are you laughing Dad?"

"Me? What about you," Billy wiped a stray tear.

"Oh, come on. She's all badass threatening Littlesea. I mean look at him; he's catatonic," Jacob let out a loud wolfy laugh. "And then," he tried to catch his breath "and then she goes 'a lady is never late,'" he mimicked her. Jacob let out a few more giggles and then cleared his throat.

Billy, having already calmed down, explained "The way she did it reminded me of my Sarah whenever she was pissed at me. Remember Sue?"

"Now that I think about it, you're right," she affirmed. "Sarah was always a strong person."

"It's when she smiles that she reminds me of Mom," Jacob stated. "Either way, she's right. We need to get going. Come on Sam." The two wolves met the rest of the pack in the forest. Leah was of course sitting on Embry's lap whispering in his ear. The rest were leaning against trees. Paul and Jared were of course thinking of their imprints, Edie was sniffing out the meat Emily just bought for the bonfire tonight, and Quil was staring at Edie.

"Okay guys," Sam announced. "Time to get going."

"All right gentlemen and Leah, hand them over." Edie held out her arms for their clothes.

"Isn't watching us strip against your 'how to be a lady' code," Leah pondered.

"Truth is I only dress like a lady and I act like one barely ten percent of the time. That includes when I meet new people, when I'm pissed, when I'm around my grandma, and well when… well, Leah knows," she grinned suggestively. Leah got the message and winked. Everyone tossed their clothes to her.

"Are you sure you don't want to phase," Jacob inquired.

"Yeah I'm cool. I'm gonna go ahead of you guys." Jacob phased as soon as she left.

'Jake, we need to talk.' Sam advised.

'About Edie,' Jacob surmised.

'Yes.'

'She hasn't phased since you joined the pack,' Jared pointed out.

'Why?' Jacob asked

'We don't know,' Sam admitted.

Cullen Residence

The Cullen family had a similar conversation a few miles away. "I can't wait for them to get here," Alice squealed.

"Why? It's not like you can see them," Rosalie pointed out. "How would you know things are going to go fine?"

"Don't be such a blonde Rose. I'm excited because we finally get to see Edie's wolf!" Alice, like all the other times she's had her visions, had a blank look. Edward was in it and he was standing next to a huge russet wolf. There was a blob in front of them saying something she couldn't make out. The voice was distorted and the person, assuming it was one, didn't have an exact shape.

"That was strange," Edward noted. "Since when can you see the wolves?"

"I guess since now?"

"What did you see," asked Jasper.

"I saw Edward and…"

"Jacob. It was Jacob's wolf," Edward confirmed.

"They were talking to this shapeless figure and I didn't understand what it was saying."

"Saying what," Edie pondered as she arrived.

"You're not a wolf," Alice whined.

"Sorry to disappoint." Edie then sniffed the air, "The pack should be here in 3…2…1." The wolves arrive punctually. The sheer mass of the front was tremendous with the largest wolf, Jacob, in the middle.

Edward, without reading his mind, could tell something was really weighing on his wolf. 'Is it something you want to talk about now?'

'I don't know. Maybe,' Jacob responded. He saw Edie staring at both him and Edward. He kept wondering what was going on in her head. 'Why would she stop phasing?'

"Edie why did you stop phasing," Edward asked her on behalf of his mate.

"I haven't," she denied.

"Is it because of what happened a couple weeks ago?"

"Edie," Carlisle spoke out. "Sweetheart I promise that we're okay. You didn't hurt us."

"It's not that. I just haven't phased."

"All right people," Jasper spoke aloud. He sensed Edie's feelings and felt it was best to change the subject before things got too sticky. After all, today he's going to do something he hadn't done in a while; train cadets. "When going after newborns you must remember two things or you will lose, first, never let them get their limbs around you, they'll crush you instantly. Second, never go for the obvious kill, they'll be expecting that."

"They want to know what the difference is between us and the newborns," Edward spoke for the wolves.

"None of us are more powerful than we are the first few months of our existence." Jasper continued by pitting Emmett against him and so on, but towards the end, he felt like this would drone on if they kept attacking each other. They were matured vampires after all and fighting against each other would be redundant.

"Lieutenant Whitlock," Edie asked him when it was her turn to face him "why don't you spar with the wolves? They need their field time too."

"I was just about to suggest the same thing," he smirked. "We'll go one-on-one. Carlisle goes first."

'Sam, go for it.' Jacob encouraged. The onyx wolf stepped into the arena of sorts. "Carlisle, this is Sam," the mind-reader translated.

"A pleasure," Carlisle responded. Jasper gave the signal and they began their duel.

"Remember Carlisle, don't treat him like a patient. He's a ruthless killing machine," Edie projected. "Sam, and this goes for the rest of you too, stop thinking your genes will automatically help you. He has centuries under his belt; enough that he can kill you in a matter of minutes."

"Don't you mean seconds," Jasper questioned.

"No. Carlisle is way too soft. Which is great for his personality, but terrible for a soldier at war."

Jasper silently agreed. "How do you know about all of this? Battle strategies and fighting newborns."

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Even I did, you wouldn't like it.

Jasper decided to leave it at that. "Next!" It was Jared versus Alice. Alice was totally owning him by means of her powers, she had a clearer picture of them since her last vision. Then Jared took her down, he licked Alice, something that he had done on instinct, therefore, unpredictable by Alice's clairvoyance. He used the minor distraction to press his paw on her chest. "Next! I really thought Monster had it."

"She used her powers on someone she couldn't predict," Edie whispered. "Great job Jared!" He yipped at her approval. It was now Paul versus Emmett, who, of course, use their brawn instead of their brains. Jasper and Edie had to stop the fight before they knocked down any more trees. The next fight was Leah and Rosalie who had their share of a cat-fight, so to speak. "Technique ladies! Technique." Embry face off with Jasper, seeing the rest of his family, the ex-Confederate soldier wanted to join in on the fight. Jasper was the victor of course. Edie went over to Embry and pet his snout. "It's okay dude. You really didn't stand a chance. He can make you feel whatever he wants you to feel, but you had great focus. Keep doing that and next time you may have a more even match." Embry went over to the rest of the pack where Leah was ready to console him. It was Seth's turn to spar with Esme and both were reluctant to fight the other, so their fight was stale.

"Jacob and Edward are next."

"I can't wait to see this. Don't go easy. Kick his ass!"

"Ready? Go!" Jasper signaled the couple.

Jacob rammed Edward, but Edward dodged. Edward almost tripped Jacob, but he was too quick for his imprint. Instead the mind-reader used his strength to pin Jacob down. The alpha, in his infinite wisdom, decided to send some images Edward's way. 'Ah. Edward. There please. Oh yes! My cock aches for you, my vampire. Mm feels sooo good.' Jacob had sweat rolling off his abdominal muscles and he was biting his lips and his hands were…his hands were. Jacob took the opportunity and slammed Edward therefore claiming victory. He licked Edward. Translation: "I win."

Everyone else was dumbfounded (Jacob's lessons with Edie enabled him to hide certain thoughts from the pack), except Jasper. Poor Jasper. "AHHHH! Stop it please!"

"Sorry brother," Edward awkwardly coughed. 'I'll get you for this Puppy.'

'Any time, any place, Bloodsucker.' Jacob cocked his head. He signaled the pack to the trees so they could phase back. 'Come on guys.'

"Wait. Don't change yet. We're missing someone in our little one-on-one matches. Let's go Quil, you and Edie," said Edward

'Are you sure? We can stop here,' Quil timidly responded.

"You have to learn just like everyone else. You won't hurt me I promise. She has experience fighting newborns."

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Edie reluctantly agreed.

'Maybe I should spar with you instead,' Jacob insisted.

"I am not going to fight you Jacob," her voice was steady. "Quil let's go."

"How are you able to understand them," Edward inquired.

"It's in my blood. Jasper do you mind?"

"Ready, set, go." Edie had beat Quil six times and was not the least bit exhausted.

They ended their match with Edie pining his front paws over his head and his back ones with her legs. With her on top of him, it inspired less than gentlemanly thoughts from Quil. "I think we should stop here don't you think?" She got off him.

'Ye-Yeah,' Quil gulped.

"If I had been a newborn, you would have been dead many times over. In that aspect, you need to trust your wolf to make the attack."

'I'll do that,' Quil responded. Edward was growling at him in a low volume and Jacob wasn't any better.

'Keep it in your pants Quil,' Jacob warned.

"Now that that is over," Edward piped. "It's my turn against Edie."

'Mine too.'

"Aren't you tired?"

"I don't tire easily."

'Not really. I only had one match and I won that.'

"Well I am. Let's call it a day."

"No, you're not. You hardly tried when you sparred with Quil."

'I wanna see how you do against an Alpha.'

"Just ask Sam."

'You know I'm tougher than Sam ever was. No offense Sam.'

'None taken.'

"And I'm the smartest fighter in the family. Why not go against us? You'd be battling brawn and brains," Edward pointed out. "Or do believe your skills to be so above ours, you don't deem us worthy. Are you that proud?"

'It's not arrogance!' "Four legs or two," she spoke through her teeth. The wolves were going crazy; they were howling and hollering. It didn't take a genius know what their vote was.

"Four. Don't go easy on us."

Edie started taking off her clothes behind a large oak tree. She came out in panties and a spaghetti strap tee. "Ok. Step back." The transformation was instantaneous. Before her family, she stood nearly as tall as Jacob and at that moment, the clouds parted just enough for Edie's white fur to sparkle. 'Come at me.' The couple signaled each other before they attacked. Edie jumped into the air instantly, did a front flip and pinned the two teenagers with her paws. 'We're done.' She went out of sight and changed back into her humanoid form. "You had your sparring session. Are you satisfied?"

By this time, Jake and the others have transformed back too. "That was amazing. You took us down so fast, man," the alpha exclaimed. "You're really strong."

"Thanks Jacob."

"You were holding back."

"You're wrong. It took all my self-control not to…Can we talk about this later? Maybe tonight at the bonfire, can they come Jacob?"

"Um…Sure. If they want to. There's gonna a lot of people there. Will that be a problem?"

"We'll manage. This is an invitation for all of us correct," Carlisle asked.

"Of course."

"Don't you need to ask your elders," Rosalie gave a hard look.

"Not really. It was one of my conditions after I took the job. Edward can come over whenever he wants, and the rest of you can come as long as you have a pack member with you."

"We should get there early. Let's go Jazzy! You won't hurt them, I promise." Alice climbed on her mate's back.

While the rest of them were hashing out the details, Edie was taking a whiff of the air. 'Well that'll be fun.' She took off immediately to the reservation to find the source of that scent. Edward was curious about that "fun" Edie was thinking about.

It was Embry who said something first, "Where's Edie?"

"She left to the reservation a second ago."

"Why did you let her leave?!" Embry shook the mind-reader. "You've doomed us all," he cried, a manly cry, for anyone who asks.

"Calm down Em," placated Jacob. "You can't wolf out again. Those are your last clean clothes."

"How else am I supposed to get there –What the hell are you doing," Emmett has hoisted him up on his back.

"What does it look like? You want to get there fast don't you?"

"That looks like fun," Alice zoomed and picked Quil up. "I call Quil. He's the cleanest."

"I get Jared," said Jasper.

"I get Mama-Vamp! If that's okay with her," Seth hollered and then gave his signature puppy eyes.

Esme responded by picking him up. "No problem Sweetheart."

"I'll pick She-Wolf, she annoys me the least," sneered Rosalie.

"Ditto," Leah answered in kind.

Edward and Jacob were giving each other a knowing look. "And I'll take my own vamp. Who's left?"

"I'll take Sam," Carlisle responded, already having Sam in his arms piggy-back style like the rest. "That leaves Paul."

"I'll take him too," replied Emmett.

Paul shrugged his shoulders and climbed the heap that was Emmett and Embry. Paul gipped his arms around Embry, "Let's go already. She's gonna eat all of it before we get there."

"Ladies and gentlemen," Edward began, "wolves and vampires. We will race to the border from here by way of the forest because really, it would be no fun otherwise. There are no rules in this game. Do whatever it takes to get your passenger or passengers to La Push. Are we ready? Set. Go!" There was tripping, hitting, rocks thrown, foot to face action, face to floor action, shoving, and in a surprising twist by Esme, elbowing of the ribs to Jasper.

Sam and Carlisle were currently in the lead after tripping up Edward and Jacob. Esme caught up to them and sent a sensual wave through their mate bond to her husband. Sam observed this and felt his ride slow down. "Come on Cullen, eye on the prize! You can tap that later." Sam slapped him a little to regain his attention.

Quileute Border

"So long losers!" Emmett sped through. Embry and Paul were whooping louder as they approached the finish line. Esme was catching up and using her vampiric powers of observation located his weakest point and hit it. Edward and Jacob narrowly avoided their pile, but Jasper and Rosalie didn't. Eventually momentum took its course and everyone except Esme and Seth came tumbling down. Even Alice and Quil who had barely arrived to the clearing.

"Whoooo! We win," Seth screamed and gave Esme the biggest bear hug he could.

"How did that happen," commented Paul.

"Our mother plays dirty," Jasper answered pulling his wife from the pile. The rest were trying to get out of the heap with what was left of their dignity.

"It's not dirty, it's hot," Carlisle retorted.

"Oh shush you two," Esme chastised mildly, "he wanted to win, so we won." She hugged Seth back as much as she could without breaking his bones.

"Edie's wondering what took you all so long," said Emily. She brought along the rest of the non-supernatural imprints.

"We had a race. Seth won," Sam answered and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Really? I almost forgot. Edie's waiting for you Quil."

"She is," he responded with a question and a little bit excited too. "Where is she?"

"By the beach with the little kids building sandcastles."

"Just keep your hands to yourself," Edward growled. "We wouldn't want any accidents." Then Quil started stuttering and the rest of the pack became defensive and the coven was pensive.

"Why don't you guys go ahead? We'll catch up," Jacob interfered. As soon as the rest were further away he started scolding Edward. "What the hell was that? You realize that your family being here is a privilege with the council. You want to blow that? What the fuck?"

"I couldn't…I couldn't help myself."

"You can't do that on this land. We're trying to bring these people together not push them further away."

"I know dammit! I don't know why I lost control, but it was for a split second."

They sat down on the grass and took a deep breath; it took them each a minute to settle their nerves. Jacob gave in and asked, "It was innocent. Guys think that way all the time."

"I know, but it's different."

"Because it's Edie," Jacob grinned. "Believe me, I get it. When I heard those things from Quil, I wanted to beat him so hard, that he couldn't move. I wanted to kick his ass for doing what I used to do," he laughed. "Well, I still do it it's just I only do it with you now." He tucked his head under Edward's chin.

"You better," the vampire wrapped his arm around Jacob's waist. "Whenever I see her or think about her, I– she's like…"

"Sunshine," they both said. Then Jacob continued in song, "on a cloudy day…Hehe. We should go. Is it wrong that I don't want to?"

"No, but I need to apologize to Quil." He grabbed his mate by the waist and flitted them to the beach. When they arrived, everyone and their imprint or mate were sitting around a campfire except for Quil and Edie.

La Push Beach

"Where's Quil?"

"And Edie."

"You guys haven't been gone long," Sam answered. "We just got here; he's barely heading over there in case your boyfriend wants to follow through on his choice words."

"He won't. I straightened him out," Jacob half-joked. "Let's eat or did Edie take care of that for us?"

"Nope. Lucky for us, she left it all untouched. Emily said when she came here her attention was on her little cousin and then they went to the shore."

Quil arrived at the beach and identified Edie among the many little Quileute children. "Quil," she called out to him.

"Emily said you were waiting for me. Did you want to say something or…?"

"Um. I wanted to show you something. Someone. Claire-Bear can you come over here please?" A toddler wearing a pink tutu was running to Edie and then held her hand. "Remember what I told you a little while ago? About the special boy?"

"My pwince," Claire responded as best she could.

"Yes baby, your prince. This is him," Edie turned her to face Quil. "Quil, this is Claire Young."

Confused, Quil bent down to introduce himself, but then everything went away and what was left was the little girl in front of him calling him her "pwince". "Hi Princess. It's nice to meet you. I'm Quil."

"Hi~"

"Aren't you adorable?"

"Thank you~ Can I have a hug?" Claire blushed at the compliment.

"Of course, my Claire." He picked her up and tucked her head on his shoulder. "How did–"

"Call it a hunch. Come on you guys," she urged the kids. "Let's get back to the bonfire." All the little kids grabbed onto her like she was Mickey Mouse and they were in Disney Land. "Hold on tight guys. Are you ready?"

"YES!" the children responded enthusiastically.

"Let's go!" Edie takes the kids with her easily as she and Quil walk side by side to the rest. Everyone was surrounding the campfire. Billy and Carlisle were discussing Ephraim in his youth, what was true and what wasn't true. Emily, Sue, and Esme were exchanging recipes. Leah and Embry were in their own little world. Sam, Paul, and Emmett were arm-wrestling, or trying to at least. Jasper was re-telling war stories with Jared, Old Quil, and Seth while Alice and Rosalie were exchanging fashion eras and trends with Kim and Rachel. Edward and Jacob were approaching Edie, Quil, and their hoard of Quileute munchkins. All the kids minus Claire left to their older siblings or their parents.

"Where were you two," Jacob asked. "I was surprised to see all the meat was untouched."

"I didn't really have an appetite and Quil really needed to see this."

"See what," Edward probed their minds. "Someone imprinted. Did you and Quil…?"

"No. I mean yes. I mean well…"

Quil intervened. "Someone did imprint. That someone was me and I imprinted on this little princess. Say hi Claire."

"Hi~"

"Hello Claire," Edward responded. 'She looks so young. Can an imprint happen this early?'

'Depends on the wolf, I guess,' Jacob pondered. "Hi Claire. How old are you?"

"She's four," Emily answered and approached them in a quiet haste. "What's this I hear about you imprinting on my little cousin, Quil? She's a baby!"

"No, I'm not! I'm a big girl."

"Yes Claire-Bear you are. I'm sorry. Do you want to come and help me cook?"

"No! I wanna stay with Qwil. He's my pwince." Claire hid her pout on Quil's shoulder and Emily tried to placate her.

'Let's leave these guys to their own drama,' Edie proposed. The trio made their own way to the rest. "I saw what happened with Quil. I even heard what he thought, but he was just being a guy, you know?"

"Jacob reprimanded me about that earlier. I went overboard, Sunshine."

"Sunshine?"

"Yeah, you're our Sunshine," added Jacob.

"Like the Johnny Cash song?"

"No! Absolutely not. No country," Edward insisted. Jacob chuckled at this.

"We were thinking more like The Temptations."

"Who?"

"You must have lived underground to not know The Temptations," Edward scoffed. "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day," he sang.

"When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May," Jacob continued harmoniously.

"I guess you'd say."

"What can make me feel this way?"

"My girl."

"My girl, my girl."

"Talkin' 'bout my girl."

"My girl."

"Okay, okay I get it," Edie interrupted in laughter. The boys were pushing her playfully during the song and twirling her around. The Cullen family and the pack observed their actions in awe.

They were mesmerized and wanted to know why they felt at peace, but they could've felt that way because of Jasper. Jasper was feeling everything. Melancholy, joy, patience, love, temperance; it was the temperance that was overwhelming. It was like Edie was restraining herself from showing how she felt. It was as if her temperance was trying to hide what she felt for Edward and Jacob. Jasper figured out that he wasn't the only one invested in this ritual. He sent out a peaceful and content wave to everyone, leaving the rest of the emotions for himself. 'Why is there so much mystique with this child?'

Vampires as a race, are mysterious creatures; it is in the species description to have an unbelievable story by human standards. The Olympic Coven was no different, but Jasper has never seen or heard a story as incomplete as Edie's. He would believe what she said because everyone has things they wouldn't want mentioned and he would have left it alone. Except, because of his gift, he experiences things in another light. In the time that he has known the hybrid he has made four discoveries, first, she is immeasurably strong and can control how much strength is emitted. Second, her past consists of vague sentences and each day she gives a new clue to the truth. Third, she always seems to have the answer for everything, like she's seen it before. Lastly, her emotions, though mildly shown, are most erratic with Edward and Jacob.

Sam wasn't doing much better either. He noticed right away that something was different from her wolf than what he has seen before. It wasn't her size or her glistening fur. He wondered if the rest of the pack saw it too, maybe Embry or Quil could see it; despite her color and extra features, Edie was almost an exact copy of Jacob, or rather his wolf. Then Sam remembered that she did not want to reveal her lineage at the meeting earlier. He recalled the threat made to John Littlesea after he insulted the Cullens. 'Who is this girl?'

Edward and Jacob could sense nothing outside the bubble they were in with Edie. It was like a sense of completeness; similar to when they found each other, but different at the same time. It was like there was an addition to their bond. Not romantic. No, definitely not that. Edward and Jacob by themselves are the moon up above and Edie was the starry sky. Separately they are magnificent, but together, the picture is complete.

Swan Residence

Edie dropped her back-pack on the bed and changed into sweats. The disappearances have grown. Training was upgraded to every two weeks because Alice's visions had become more frequent and the number of newborns kept fluctuating. School was a chore; Alice, Edward, and Edie were attending now and the rumors were still running wild. The one that seemed to be the most popular was about Edie's "love affair" with Charlie and the other was about Edward and Edie's. Though that one was quickly shot down when Jacob dropped Edie off at school one day and met up with his boyfriend to put on a little show.

She plopped herself on the couch and began channel surfing. It had been five –nearly six months, since she had arrived in this time. Edie had learned about a life foreign from the one she had. The life she had with Alec and Marcus. She stares at her necklace and rings and clutches them close to her heart. She hears the door open.

"Edie, are you home," it was Charlie coming home from the station.

"In the living room."

He changed out of his uniform and joined her. "What's on?"

"I settled on The Simpsons."

"Classic. Wanna tell me what's wrong?"

"Things aren't progressing as fast as I want them too. I'm happy about that in a way, but it also upsets me because it means that this is all wasted time and it makes me more anxious to see Marcus."

"I've been meaning to ask; how are you two even together?"

"The imprint had a lot to do with it at first."

"Still, to be forced to love a guy who killed your family?"

"Marcus had nothing to do with that. If anything, he was a bystander and I was not forced to love him. The imprint doesn't do that."

"I thought you said it about finding your soulmate."

"It is, but okay," Edie sat up, crossed her legs, and faced Charlie. "The imprint is basically the Spirits –or whatever you believe in, telling you that that person is the one that will be the most important in your life. It can be misunderstood as love at first sight, but that love must come from a place that was already there. For example, Quil and Claire. She's four years old and he's sixteen, there is no way that they'll have a relationship like Sam and Emily have. He'll be her big brother, her friend, whatever she needs."

"And that's what it was like for you two."

"In a way, it was. Marcus and I needed someone who could bring out our true selves, but that was only one aspect. If that hadn't been it, then the imprint would have found some other way to keep us together until we fell in love. He had his apprehensions because he had spent most of his life mourning his wife who made him the happiest he had ever been and I had mine because even though he didn't issue the order, he didn't do anything to stop it."

"How long was it until you fell in love?"

"Five years and it took five more for us to get married."

"And Alec? Was he a bystander too?"

"No. He actually did participate in the slaughter and my capture, but by using my gift, I learned that he was only following orders. He had no ill-will towards them. Still, I didn't forgive him until I got to know him when we were in the guard together and we each knew a secret that neither of us wanted Aro to know. Over time, we became friends. We needed each other too, but we weren't imprints."

"I get it." Edie snuggled closer to Charlie while he contemplated over what she had said. He thought mostly on the aspects of imprinting.