Alrighty. I've put up the next chapter early because you won't be hearing from for a week.

Chapter 9

Points-of-View

Emmett waited for Sparrow as she left the house, he knew that Jacob was at his own school by now and wouldn't be around, he made sure of it. She was about to get into the car when she heard her name said softly and seductively, and when Sparrow turned, there stood Emmett.

"Oh, Emmett, hi…did you need something?"

"I was wondering if we could talk more privately," he was trying very hard to be suave, like Edward. This worked for Bella, didn't it?

"Um, of course," she led him to a little patch of wood away from the house. "What is it?"

"This is…um….kind of hard to say…"

"Did I do something?" Sparrow thought maybe she had done something to offend the Cullens.

"No! No….you've done nothing. I just want to know, what…what do you think of me?"

"What do I think of you? As in…?"

"As a male, do you think I'm handsome?"

"Yes. What's this about, did you and Rosalie get into a fight or something? It'll be fine, you know how girls are," she chirped.

She was so sweet, he smiled, getting closer. Sparrow suddenly uncomfortable at the way he was looking at her and backed away slightly, he only followed, "no, I mean, do you personally think I'm handsome…do I attract you?"

It suddenly hit her what he was asking, "oh! You mean…do I think you're handsome...on a personal level?" Was it wise to hurt a vampire's feelings?

"Yes," he was almost exasperated.

"I think empirically, yes, you are…"

"Empirically," he frowned.

"Yes," she said it as if she was answering a question on a game show.

"But I mean…," he started sternly.

"I know what you mean," Sparrow started to panic and walk away, he followed.

"I want you, Sparrow," Emmett stopped when she stopped.

"You shouldn't say things you don't mean…you love Rosalie."

"I loved Rosalie and now…I'm not sure."

"You're just confused, you're just having some troubles, that's all…I'm not the remedy for them. In fact, it will just be more trouble for you," she closed her eyes as he came up quickly behind her and breathed on her neck.

"I can live without turning you…I can be gentle in every area you need, despite what you might think of us vampires."

"I…I love Jacob," she finally breathed, her eyes closed shut when she heard Emmett hiss.

"That mongrel has no idea how to take care of you; he doesn't have enough money or experience to love you like I could!"

She finally turned and looked up at Emmett, "I love him, Emmett. Please, respect that."

"You realize I can tear him to pieces," he threatened. "He's a pup compared to me."

"But you won't…"

"Really?" Emmett tore a tree from its roots. "That could be him!"

He was bringing tears to her eyes, the one thing he didn't want to do, "please, don't…think of all you would risk. Just think of Rosalie, she would be so sad now…I know she loves you."

"She can't love like you. I see it…how tender you are, she's cold."

"She's had good reason, have you tried to tell her what you need, I'm sure she'd give it to you?"

But Emmett just stood there seething and he was gone in an instant and Sparrow immediately got into her car. As she started it and tried to drive off, something was stopping it and the harder she hit the gas peddle, only smoke came from the tires. She looked back to find Emmett holding the car in place by its back bumper. Her foot let it go and he dropped the car, causing it to bounce slightly, and the next thing she knew she was grabbed from the car and forced up against it, nearly knocking the wind out of her. Emmett had her pinned, his teeth near her throat and hissing…and then he was gone.

Sparrow's hands shook, slowly taking the keys out of the ignition. Immediately she had to change, she had to get the smell off…if she went to school, Edward would smell it, so would Alice and Gods help her if Jacob did. She ran up the stairs and changed as if the clothes she was wearing were full of disease, tears were in her eyes…thank Gods that her sisters weren't home, she didn't want anyone to get hurt. Sparrow washed her face, trying to remove the redness from her face and eyes.

This was why she was late, but Bella and the others didn't know it, they weren't in her first period class. They didn't smell it on her because she had changed clothes, and that they were only getting half of the story because Alice couldn't see all of it because of what she was. Jacob and her sisters were only told half of the story because she was afraid of a war…

……………………………………………………………………………….

Rosalie sat down and listened to Emmett's words. Was it her fault? Of course it was, she had been brooding about Bella and Edward, the fact that Edward had not wanted her. Emmett may have been mostly brawn but he wasn't stupid. She had grown slightly distant, her bitterness pushing him away and then she heard the words 'I want Sparrow.'

Blackness seem to sink in, she didn't remember tearing most of the upstairs to pieces, the only think she remembered was Emmett, Carlisle, and Esme holding her down and the words, "I'm going to kill her!" coming out as she came to.

After they were certain she wasn't going to take off to kill the girl did they let her go and sat her down to reason with her. Carlisle looked disapprovingly at Emmett, "I want you to work this out."

"But did you think, Rosalie that I wouldn't figure it out? That the whole time you were angry towards Bella because Edward didn't want you? What kind of petty crap is that! Which led me to believe that you wanted Edward," Emmett snapped.

"I know it was petty…but….I don't want Edward."

"Really, you could have fooled me with your anger and jealousy over Bella's mortality. I'm sorry over what happened to you, it wasn't fair, it wasn't fair what happened to any of us. But you have got to get over being mad at it and come to terms with the fact that you will never have children and be glad we have the family we do, the love that we do, most human families aren't even this functional."

"Why is it that you want Sparrow then, isn't it because she is warm and very human despite her immortality…she has the best of both worlds? Able to have a child."

"I want Sparrow because of her ability to love softly, despite her condition she is still kind to others, she accepts people the way that they are. There is so much depth to her. You have primarily focused on your need for everyone to look at you, look at what you have."

"I see. If…if I could change that, would you love me again?"

Esme looked down, she loved Rosalie despite her hardness but she could be wonderful to be around when she wanted to be. If she could just let go of the pain and vanity that had consumed her over the past nearly 80 years, they could fix this.

"I hope so…it doesn't matter anyway, it should make you happy that she turned me down."

"I don't want that to be the reason you love me again!" Rosalie stood up, but Carlisle put his hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "I want you to love me because of me, not because of rejection from another!"

"I know," Emmett breathed.

Carlisle stepped in, "you two should go to the isle. I am warning the McNielsons…"

"Why?" he panicked.

"Because, Rosalie is angry right now and even though Sparrow is an innocent in all this…you've just put her in danger, Emmett. You knew this would happen, so how can you possibly be so surprised over the precautions we're taking?"

"I'm sorry."

"I understand son," Carlisle remembered when he first found Esme, how he wanted her. He too, was selfish in his needs.

…………………………………………………………………………

In English Sparrow doodled on her paper, it didn't matter, it was a subject she had already studied. Why did tests always have to be right after a holiday? That never made any sense to her, who wants to study during a holiday anyway? She could feel the silent vibration of her phone…it was Jacob again. Why did she tell him before school, she should have waited, maybe it was the teenage drama queen in her? Still, she only told him half the story and it was enough to send him over the edge.

Sparrow could feel Bella staring at the back of her head, she could tell something was wrong but it was best to keep it quiet. Once the bell rang she bolted, shocking both Edward and Bella. Once she got to her next class, the teacher informed her that she had to go to the office.

The secretary told her that she was being taken out of school a few days beforehand for family reasons.

Jacob.

It had to be him, but it could have been Sage, she didn't know which, maybe there really was something that had to be done. Mother was coming; maybe she'd be there early? Sparrow gladly left and didn't tell Bella, she should have but Sierra wanted her home right away so there was no time.

……………………………………………………………………………………

When Jacob listened to Sparrow he quaked but kept his temper under control…still, there was more to the story than what she was telling him. She immediately had to go because she was running late for school but he wanted to talk more about but she had hung up before he could get anything else out. He called her number again only for her to not answer, he tried a few minutes later…nothing. After the fifth time she answered, "I told you that I have to be at school, I'm here now."

"You shouldn't be at school!" he snapped.

"Honey, please…the last bells rang."

"I don't care about the last bell!"

-click-

"Dammit!" he dialed again. "Why do women do this to you? Tell you about this crap and then run off like you're not supposed to be upset!" No one answered. Finally he called Sage and explained to her what happened.

"I'm sorry, Jacob. Don't worry, we'll take care of this," Sage was not happy. Sparrow should have called them and let them know, her boyfriend could do nothing. Vampires were not something to be trifled with, Cullen or not, and just assumed that because they were her friends that they weren't capable of doing anything rash. Ignorance was not bliss when it came to their world. This on top of the blasted demon that had already claimed another victim just yesterday…what timing.

She called the principle and let him know that she was taking Sparrow out early for the Holiday. All the proper information was gained and Sparrow was allowed to leave, she let Jacob know so he would calm down. Her father was right; he would make an excellent guardian.

…………………………………………………………………………

Bella looked out her window, "you don't think that Rosalie would really hurt her, do you?"

"I don't know. Rosalie doesn't like competition in looks or anything else," Edward held her from behind. "Right now she is safe."

"Would you be like that if I wanted to be with someone else?"

He fell silent for a moment, "I love you enough to respect your decision…I wouldn't be happy with it and I would always be waiting for it not to work out. Yet…"

"Yet?"

"I wonder if we had been together as long as Emmett and Rosalie were, would I still think that way, would I grow even more attached and lash out if it happened?"

"I wouldn't leave you."

"I don't think I'd let you anyway," he held her tighter.

"It's just so hard to believe that this would happen. I mean, they would constantly be fawning over each other."

"I know but over time, just like any couple, you have disagreements."

"Could we get like that?"

"Living centuries together, I'm bound to do something that would get on your nerves," Edward chuckled when Bella slapped his arm.

…………………………………………………………………….

Seraph and Sierra sat on the branches deep in the woods, following the spiritual signature of the demon. "This thing is a pain in the ass!" Seraph snapped.

"I know, it's already claimed another life. If we don't catch it soon it will start increasing its feeding pattern until the whole town is dead," Sierra furrowed her brow.

"We should be hunting down Emmett."

"There's no need, the Cullens have taken care of it."

"That we know of…"

"Until he actually threatens our little sister, there is nothing we can do for now."

"She is such a piece of work, acting so nonchalant about the whole thing…far too trusting."

"She has the heart of a healer, she'll always be far too trusting."

Seraph looked up at the sky, listening to a hawk, "do you ever wonder what the Oracle said about her?"

"Sometimes, but I'm sure if it was anything that brought danger to us or the clan, Sparrow would have been in seclusion by now."

"I worry about her…the older she gets, the more gifts of the demon come through. I honestly don't think that thing slashed her arm because he was tainting her blood for the vampires, I think he thought that she was a half-breed demon and he was teaching her lesson for attacking her elder."

"HUSH! I will not have you compare her to a half-demon!"

"I didn't mean to compare her, I was just stating a theory."

"Still, our clan has nearly hunted them down to near extinction. Thankfully people nowadays have lost most of the old magic on how to call on such creatures. If the clan ever suspected that Sparrow would ever turn out to be like one of them….her fate would be sealed. So please, I don't want you to mention it again," Sierra hissed.

"All right, jeez…," Seraph waved her hand in sarcasm.

They waited quietly, the signature was more intense in this area. Sierra thought she heard something and then relaxed when she saw a deer, "Sage thinks we should cast a spell in Rosalie's favor. Bind her and Emmett…"

"Isn't that interfering, we're not supposed to affect or make anyone love anyone else, that's kind of breaking the rules?"

"Not if it's for protection, a loophole I found," Sierra smiled.

"It could work then…but we should double check with mother when she comes. Has she settled the matter with the Volturi?"

"Not quite, they haven't got enough information."

"Doesn't Aro know that what they're doing is forbidden?"

"I doubt they care, they never do."

"Greedy bastards, it's never enough."

"As long as we keep the special ones out of the crosshairs, we'll be all right…," Sierra sighed. "Let's go, I don't think it's here anymore."

They leapt through the trees in their armor, heading to their home and preparing for their mother.