AN – Hey everyone. Thanks for all of your reviews. Since this is my first story I realized that I was replying to your reviews the wrong way and you haven't gotten any of them. Basically I am so happy you like the story but I would love your input as well, and I promise to reply correctly from now on.

Now, onto chapter 9. Don't get your hopes too far up, but let's say it ends with a very steamy cliffy!

Kay Maria

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The next few weeks went by with a lot less drama. I spent my days at school and my nights hanging out with Jasper. Emmett came by a couple of times to just hang out. I was surprised how quickly our brother/sister relationship formed. Although, now it was a lot more fun due to the fact that I could actually retaliate. Let's just say our practical jokes became a lot more fun.

My relationship with Jasper was another surprise. Everything was just so easy with him. We would sit in silence or talk about our days. He never asked more about my past and I never asked about his. He was the first person I had come across in a long time who just let me be.

Before I knew it, I was walking home from my last class before thanksgiving break. As I approached the building I smiled as I saw Ryan staring at a group of well dressed women standing by the street.

"Am I going to have to tell Melanie her husband is a horndog?" I teased as I went to stand beside him. His eyes quickly darted to mine and slowly smiled.

"She knows she's the only one in my heart. You can't blame a man for looking," he replied. We sat in silence for a few seconds until he spoke again. "She's pregnant you know."

"Who? Melanie?" I asked shocked.

"Yeah, she just found out yesterday. She's about six weeks along we think. She goes to the doctor next week." I looked at his eyes and I could see his excitement, but there was something else there.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm really excited about being a dad. I can't wait to teach him or her things and go to parks and zoos."

"But…" I continued, obviously something was bothering him.

"But who wants their dad to be a doorman. What real future can I offer my family? This was all supposed to be temporary to pay off Mel's loans but everyday it becomes more permanent. I'm going to be here in twenty years doing the same thing. What kind of example is that to my kids?" He looked so sad and defeated.

I tried to think of what to say to ease his worries. "Did you know that my dad was a police chief?"

"Was?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. Crap, I didn't think about that.

"Um.. yeah. He passed away. Anyway, do you know what I remember most about him?"

Ryan showed pity on his face for a second but then replied, "What?"

"I remember how much he loved me. He was a simple man who enjoyed fishing and sports. He didn't achieve any great feats in his life. He didn't go to college and he wasn't a rich man. But he loved me, and that is what I remember." If I were human I would have shed a tear or two, but I tried to let dwell on my happy memories with Charlie.

Ryan gave me a sad smile but nodded. "So I can promise you that that little girl or boy is going to worship the ground you walk on as long as you just love them. Now, enough of this mushy stuff. Tell Mel I said congratulations!"

"Will do Ms. Black? You know you're a lot smarter than I thought."

"I'm not sure if that is a compliment or insult but thank you," I laughed and walked into the building. I couldn't help but be a little jealous of Ryan. Having a child is a miracle that I knew I would never have. Maybe he would let me babysit?

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As I walked into the loft I saw Jasper wandering around the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" I asked. I don't think I ever saw Jasper in the kitchen.

"Well apparently Felix invited some of his school friends to Thanksgiving since they weren't going home for the holidays. I'm trying to see if I can make stuffing… but it's not working out really well."

I laughed. It was definitely like Felix to invite people over but to put the cooking on other people. "I'm sure Esme knows how," I replied as I walked towards him and his mess.

"Yeah, but we're doing this sort of pot luck thing which by the way you are invited to. I chose stuffing because you can just add water from the box, but apparently it's not that easy," he said as he waved over the pots he had attempted to make stuffing in.

I was amused and a little shocked. I couldn't really believe that they invited me over. It wasn't exactly like I was family; to be honest I was more like a black sheep.

"Who invited me?" I responded. For some reason that was important.

"Alice actually. She kind of feels bad about how things have gone and this is her olive branch gesture." To say I was shocked was an understatement.

"I thought she hated me," I replied.

"I think she mainly feels guilty now. Before I think she was upset because if you weren't in our lives than maybe we would still be together, and she wouldn't have had to deal with all of this drama over the years. But I think that she's happy now with Felix, happier than with me," he replied while looking a little sad.

"What? What's wrong?"

"I guess… its just… do you think there is only one person out there for everyone?" he asked.

"I really hope not. If so then I'm kind of screwed," I replied.

"Isabella, not to be mean but I don't think that you can compare Alice and I to you and Edward." He actually looked a little scared admitting it, but I wasn't angry. I felt the same way.

"I was not talking about Edward," I replied softly. Shock showed on Jasper's face but he knew not to dig any deeper.

"Do you think that Alice was you're one shot and now there's nothing left?" I asked.

"Maybe. I mean when you mate it's supposed to be for life right. But we didn't, and now she has a new mate but what about me?"

"I don't really know what to say. But if Alice found Felix I'm sure you can find someone else too. It probably just took her less time since she can see the future and then make it happen. Not all of us have that luxury and just have to wait for the future to become our present in its own time." I smiled at him hoping to ease his worry. To be honest the idea of Jasper with anyone else made my stomach hurt just a little. I liked our arrangement and I didn't want anyone coming in the way of it.

Jasper merely nodded apparently pleased with my answer and turned back to the destroyed kitchen.

"So do you think you'll come over? And before you answer please say yes because I know that you used to be good with this cooking stuff and I am in some serious need of help here," Jasper said.

I laughed. He needed more than serious help, but I wasn't going to tell him that. "Yeah I guess I'll go. If Alice is making an effort than so can I. Plus with humans there Rosalie and Edward can't get in my face too much." I smiled at the thought. It would be nice to have a normal evening with the Cullens. Well, as normal as a vampire Thanksgiving can be anyway.

"Great, I'll be sure to let the family know. Now, show me how to work this thing," he said as he pointed to the stove top. I rolled my eyes and pulled him over to it.

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After a few more failed attempts Jasper finally got the hang of it and was quite pleased with his homemade concoction. He tried to get me to just make it on my own, but I wouldn't let him get away with it.

Before I knew it we were packing up our food and heading out to the Cullens. We took Jasper's car that he brought over the night before so we didn't have to run or take a cab there. I grinned as I looked over and saw Jasper driving holding the stuffing container in his lap. He really was too proud of himself. I decided to make pumpkin cookies, a favorite Thanksgiving recipe of mine from way back in the day. It wasn't a usual food, but I thought the kids would like them.

We pulled up into the long drive way and I noticed that everyone was here; including a car I didn't know that I assumed to be Felix's friends. I glanced over at Jasper and smiled. "Ready?"

"Do you mean am I ready to spend an evening eating disgusting food only to throw it up later? You betcha. Now come on, let's go," he teased.

We walked into the house, which was booming with activity. Apparently Felix invited four friends over for the day, all of which were boys. Two of them were in the den watching the games with Emmett while the other two were helping out in the kitchen. Most of the Cullens were spread around the house doing this or that, just to seem busy. We walked into the kitchen and set out food down on the counter.

"Well Esme I think you have outdone yourself this year," I gushed, trying to keep up a human appearance. She turned to me with a big smile on her face.

"Oh it's so good to see you Isabella. I'm so glad that you decided to come." She embraced me for a few seconds and then went around trying to get the food plated and ready. Rosalie saw me, but didn't say anything and just went to help Esme.

Within the next twenty minutes the food was set up on the table and we were all gathered around to eat. Part of me kind of felt bad for the family who had to pretend to eat an entire meal. It didn't phase me though, one of my many quirks I guess.

The table was at relative ease while Felix's friends talked about their winter vacation plans while the rest of the family nodded and tried to spit out their food in their napkin. I happily at the meal in front of my plate.

Ever since I turned I never craved human food, but I didn't mind it either. It was like breathing I suppose. Not necessary but not uncomfortable. As the meal went on the family gave me more and more questioningly looks that I ignored. The meal went by pretty well. One of the boys decided to try and hit on Rosalie, which Emmett immediately took care of. It was quite funny how possessive he could be.

After the meal and a round of dishes later the guests said their goodbyes and took off in their car. As soon as they were out of hearing distance Emmett practically shouted, "Okay that was disgusting. Are we taking turns puking or what?"

The rest of the Cullen's followed Emmett outside and headed for the treeline. I didn't make a move because I didn't need to. "You coming?" Jasper said as he followed the rest outside. Before I had a chance to respond I heard the booming laugh that could only belong to Felix.

"Why would Marie come? This is pretty disgusting."

"Um… maybe because she ate too, a lot more than us in fact." Edward responded sounding rather annoyed.

"You don't know?" Felix asked curiously.

"Know what Felix," Alice responded staring at her husband. Felix glanced at me as if it were okay to tell them. Instead of responding I just spoke for myself.

"I can eat human food. It's not a problem."

Instead of a response I was met with a stunned silence and Felix's grin. He really liked knowing more about me than they did.

"What… how… what do you mean it's not a problem?" Jasper finally asked.

"It's not a problem. It doesn't taste bad, I don't have to throw it up."

"Okay so this is going to sound gross but how do you… you know… get rid of it," Emmett asked shyly. I didn't think that anything could gross him out.

"I burn it off as energy," I simply stated.

"Well then why don't you eat human food more often? It would help with your cover and if it's not an inconvenience it would make sense," Jasper asked.

"Um… well after I eat it I have to burn the energy and it makes me kind of… hyper," I finally settled on.

Felix's booming laugh echoed through the near by woods as he almost fell over laughing. "Is that what you call it Marie?" he finally asked.

"Shut it Felix," I warned.

"Oh no no no. You can't tell them this story and leave out the best part."

"I said shut it Felix," I warned again.

"What are you talking about? What's the best part," Emmett asked curiously.

Before I could tell Felix to shut it a third time he responded. "Well instead of hyper replace it with the word… frisky… or horny… maybe ridiculously aroused… Oh how about…" Felix continued on before I interrupted him.

"That's enough Felix. I'm pretty sure they get the picture," I growled at him seriously considering attacking him.

Most of the family looked rather amused by the latest turn of events. Jasper and Emmett's grin couldn't get any bigger while Carlisle and Esme had the good sense to look slightly uncomfortable. Edward mainly just looked shocked. The others feel somewhere in between.

"Well thank you Felix for embarrassing the crap out of me. Now why don't you go in the woods and throw up like a good little vampire?" I asked.

"Sure Marie, but what are you going to do now that you have no one to work off your… hyperactivity with?" he teased trying to get a rise out of me. It was working.

"None of your business Felix!" I all but shouted, only causing him to laugh harder.

"Well Marie if you need any help…" before he could finish his sentence I lunged at him and pinned him to the ground.

"First of all, if you finish that sentence you will regret it. Secondly, you are married now and your wife deserves a lot more respect that you are giving her. You need to apologize and then grovel for forgiveness. And thirdly, you don't need to worry about me taking care of anything. It might have been a decade since I've had some, but that doesn't mean that I have forgotten how it's done. You of all people should remember that."

With that I leapt off of him and walked into the house leaving a group of shocked vampires behind. I couldn't care less at the moment, Felix really pushed all of my buttons and he was lucky he all of his appendages intact. Others have not been so fortunate.

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Six hours and five hundred miles later I was not really feeling all that well. Instead of trying to work off my energy in a sexual way I was trying out physical exercise instead. Apparently that was a bad decision because I was more frustrated than I was by the time I left the Cullen house.

It was almost sunrise as I made my way back to the loft. I thought if I could try some sleeping it would help ease the feeling that was steadily growing in my stomach that I have long sense felt.

As I made my way up to the door I spotted Ryan, and I knew I was in trouble. I didn't just see Ryan but I saw the way the muscles of his back moved as he went to open the door for a man who lived a floor below me. I saw how his thighs strained in his dress pants and how his ass flexed with his movements. As he went to close the door I saw how his chest muscles moved up and down and…..SHIT.

This was Ryan. Married Ryan. Soon to be a father, Ryan. I had to get up to the loft, like immediately. I tried to run past him but he stopped me before I could reach the door.

"Are you okay Ms. Black," he asked with real concern on his face. If I were human I would be sweating. For him to notice a difference in my appearance meant that I was in bad shape.

"Yes Ryan, I'm just not felling like myself. I think I'll head to the loft and take some medicine." Before he replied I practically ran through the lobby and headed up to the loft, opting to the take the stairs because the elevators were way to damn slow.

I opened the stairway doors and practically ran for my loft. I took my key out and shakily placed it into the key hole and turned it. I threw open the door and closed it behind me. This was not good. I needed to find someone but I hadn't really made any friends here yet. I was getting to the point where I was just going to grab a random person on the street.

I was startled out of my planning by a chocking gasp, "Isabella?"

I whipped my face around to stare at Jasper, but yet again this wasn't just Jasper. I saw Jasper's biceps bulging with strain and I only thought how he would have to flex as he held my back thrusting into me. Jasper's abs stuck out of his tight T-shirt and I wondered how they would taste. Jesus Christ I was loosing it.

"Jasper," I managed to moan out and then looked in his eyes. I was expecting concern or confusion but I was met with his dark eyes that showed how much he was thinking the same things I was.

There was no doubt about it. Somehow Jasper was feeling the intensity of my emotions, which apparently was making us both unbelievably horny.

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What did you think? It's a little deviation from what's been going on.