All characters except for Annabelle Causley, Frederick Randal Laskaris and Rosa Maria de la Luna and a few others belong to Stephenie Meyer…and, of course, the writer is not receiving any profit for this story whatsoever.

This story follows right after Already Gone. The timeline of the story backtracks to two months after Rick and Leah return from their honeymoon in Greece after the prologue, which will reappear later in the story.

AN: Ses, Gaby, Lynn -thank you so much for your wonderful reviews! I especially love the long ones with comments and thoughts and such...enjoy them as much as I enjoy writing my story. The song at the end of this chapter is not my own or even my character's, but Fergie's (BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY). For the sake of this story, though, I am claiming it as Julie's work...neither one of us is getting any profit from it.

Always enjoy getting new readers and new reviewers, so don't be shy, read and review! I love to hear from you!

Ses -Rick would like me to tell you something: HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST COLLIN AS AN IMPRINT TO MY LITTLE GIRL? DO YOU HATE ME THAT MUCH?

Good thing that my story is way ahead of that point, otherwise Rick would be screaming at you and me both...Collin will not be imprinting on Rick's little girl.

Gaby -the hint is not in your imagination...it is in mine. That's a good thing though. Enjoy Gabe as he grows up...believe me, you want him to grow up...just not too fast. Even I agree with that.

LOVE YOU ALL AND PLEASE REVIEW! For some reason, I am not so very happy with this chapter so if you comment and leave constructive criticism as to how it could be better or if it can be better, I might be inspired to re-write it.

Chapter Nine

"Uncle Seth?"

"Yes Gabe," Seth finished securing the car seat into the middle of the back seat of his Mustang, tugging at it to make sure it didn't move.

"Can we listen to Sesame Street," Gabe asked, leaning against the side of the car as he watched his uncle work with his car seat.

"Well," Seth moved out of the car, smiling as Gabe climbed in, settling himself into the seat.

Helping him pull on the straps, Seth finished buckling him in, "I'll look through the CDs I have. Alice said it was the best collection in the world, so I bet if that's true, Sesame Street should be in there."

"Okay," Gabe smiled at Seth, watching him get out of the backseat, closing the door before climbing into the driver's seat, reaching under the passenger seat to pull out the black CD wallet, "Is it there?"

""Hold your horses, kiddo," Seth glanced over his shoulder, smiling at Gabe's giggles, "I still have to check."

"I don't have horses, Uncle Seth."

"Good thing to, otherwise you'd let them run all over the place," flipping through the CDs, he laughed as he found what he was looking for, "What do you know, this is the best collection ever! Sesame Street coming up!"

"Yay!"

Feeding the disk into the stereo, he pulled the keys out of the pocket of his jeans and turned the ignition on, closing the door and pulling on his seat belt, "Are we ready?"

"Yes!"

Putting the car into drive, he headed towards Forks, smiling as he heard Gabe in the backseat, singing along with the song playing.

Reaching up, he adjusted the rearview mirror so he could see Gabe as well as the road behind him.

"Uncle Seth?"

"Yes Gabe."

"Are we going to the park?"

"No. We're going to Port Angeles to the mall park."

"Are we gonna pick up chicks there?"

Seth laughed as he continued driving through town, "No. No picking up chicks today. We're going to meet a friend of mine."

"Is it a girl?"

"Yes, she is. Gabe?"

"Yes Uncle Seth."

"Don't call her a chick."

"Okay."

"Gabe?"

"Yes Uncle Seth."

"Don't tell her we go to the park to pick up chicks."

"I'll try."

"That's all I ask," Seth shook his head, letting out a chuckle. Despite the sleepless night, he was feeling good…it could be getting to spend time with his nephew…or it could be he would be seeing Julie again.

What was it about that girl that captivated him?

"Uncle Seth?"

"Yes Gabe."

"Is this car very fast?"

"Oh yes, very fast."

The singing puppets were the only sound in the car for a while. Looking into the rearview mirror, he smiled.

His nephew was looking drowsy. Car rides did him in practically every time.

"Uncle Seth?"

"Yes Gabe."

"Can it fly?"

"What?"

"The car. Can it fly?"

"No, it needs wings to be able to fly."

"Oh."

Looking at the mirror again, he watched the little boy for a few seconds. He was quietly staring out the side window, his blue eyes blinking slowly…he was putting up a fight to stay awake.

"Uncle Seth?"

"Yes Gabe."

"I'm gonna fly when I grow up."

"Are you now?"

"Yep."

"Tell you what," Seth reached back to pat his little foot, "When you're eighteen, if you still want to fly, I'll pay for your lessons."

"Okay."

The silence lasted for a few minutes, long enough for Seth to look back to see if Gabe was still awake.

"Uncle Seth?"

"Yes Gabe."

"Is she pretty?"

"Who?"

"Your friend at the mall."

"Yes, she is. Very pretty."

"Will I like her?"

"I think you'll like her very much. She's a teacher."

Seth caught Gabe wrinkling his nose at that, trying hard not to laugh as he added, "She teaches music."

"Can she sing?"

"Oh yes, she can definitely sing."

"Does she know Sesame Street?"

"You'll have to ask her."

"Okay."

Seth got onto the highway, bypassing Forks High School, the silence once again broken.

"Uncle Seth?"

"Yes Gabe."

"Where'd you find her?"

Seth laughed, "At the beach in California."

"Is she a mermaid?"

Raising an eyebrow at that question, he quickly glanced over his shoulder, "Why do you ask that?"

"'Cause she's pretty. And she can sing. And you found her at the beach."

"Well, I haven't made up my mind if she's a mermaid or not," Seth shot a grin at the little boy over his shoulder before turning his attention back to the road.

"Did you see her tail," Gabe kicked his feet, trying so hard to stay awake.

"Nope. She was standing on two legs."

"Maybe if we get her into water."

Seth laughed, running his fingers through his hair, "I don't think we'll be able to do that today. But we'll have to try another time. How's that?"

"Okay. Then we'll know."

"Then we'll know."

Leah sighed as she walked into her house, Rick close behind her.

Last night's lack of sleep was starting to catch up to her. Turning towards her husband, she smiled at his, sliding her arms over his shoulders and around his neck as he pulled her closer.

"I want to shower," she whispered as their noses touched, both of them breathing each other in, enjoying the closeness, "Want to join me?"

"I do, yes," Rick smiled at her, tilting his head to brush his mouth over hers, chuckling as she pulled away, keeping his hand in hers as she moved across the living room towards the hallway.

Looking down at the coffee table, he stopped, "What's that, Leah mou?"

"What," Leah looked at the envelope on the table, "Oh, mama send them over for you. I suppose they're pictures although I don't know of what."

"You didn't look through them," Rick let go of her hand, picking up the envelope.

"No. Mama said they were for you so I didn't look at them," Leah moved next to him, resting her chin on his shoulder, "Are you coming?"

"You go ahead," Rick kissed her lips, smiling down into her beautiful eyes, "I've been wanting to look at these for a long time."

Leah shook her head, her sable brown hair brushing against her neck. She was going to need a haircut soon, "Okay. You go ahead and look at those. I'll go shower."

Rick watched her walk away, tilting his head as he admired the way her hips swayed from side to side.

Shaking his head, he moved around the coffee table and sat on the couch, opening the envelope and pulling out a thick stack of glossy pictures.

Not thinking what those pictures might show him, he began flipping through them.

Leah wiped her hand over the foggy mirror, running both hands through her hair. It was starting to get longer than she normally kept it.

If she recalled correctly, the last time her hair had been longer than its normal chin length had been when she was pregnant with Gabriel.

Maybe she could let it grow out during this pregnancy as well.

Grabbing a towel, she vigorously rubbed her hair, hanging the towel on one of the hooks on the back of the door before grabbing her hairbrush and pulling it through her thick hair, tugging at the tangles.

Once she was done with that, she placed the brush back in its drawer, tilting her head to the side at her reflection before opening up her bathrobe, looking herself over.

Moving to stand sideways, she wrinkled her nose. She was already starting to show. With Gabriel, she hadn't shown until the end of the third month…she supposed the stomach muscles weren't as strong as they had been back then…not only that, but it was her second pregnancy.

Closing her robe, she tied the sash, trying not to feel bad about the changes in her body…Rick couldn't get enough of her so she knew he had no problem with the fact that her breasts were bigger or that her stomach was no longer flat or that her hips…

Oh goodness, her hips.

Shaking her head to get those negative thoughts out of it, she walked out of the bathroom, stopping at the sudden onslaught of guilt and remorse.

"Rick," she moved towards the couch, sitting beside him, a leg tucked under her bottom as she reached to run her fingers through his hair, "What's wrong, love?"

Rick shook his head, looking up from the pictures in his hands, his blue eyes revealing the inner turmoil he was feeling, "I did this to you. What should have been the happiest time of your life…I tore you apart because I was selfish…unable to see beyond myself –"

"Rick, what –" Leah shook her head, unable to understand what he was talking about. Looking down at the pictures, the ones in his hands and the others spread throughout the coffee table, she took a deep breath, realizing why he was beating himself up.

The pictures were of her, after she had returned from New Hampshire, pregnant with Gabriel and missing her soul, which she had left behind with Rick.

Even she had to fight the urge to cringe. In every single one, the empty look in her eyes pre-dominated the forced smiles. The pain and agony she had been feeling was clearly revealed on every single picture of herself.

Sighing, she leaned her forehead against his, stroking his jaw, "Rick, you can't –"

Without warning, he pressed his mouth against hers, taking her breath away as he deepened the kiss, dropping the pictures he was holding on the floor, sliding his hands into her hair, pushing her back into the couch.

Fisting her hands into his hair, she kissed him back with the same aching need she felt from him, a moan catching in her throat as he tugged open her bathrobe, his hands moving over her body, his fingers slightly digging into her muscles.

She tugged at his shirt, kissing his jaw, tugging at his earlobe as he moved his open mouth over her throat, his teeth scraping against her skin, pushing her desire higher.

"I love you," he whispered against her breast before tugging at her nipple with his teeth. Leah moaned, her hands frantic as she tugged at the snap of his jeans, having abandoned her attempt at taking off his shirt.

Returning his mouth to hers, he pushed the robe off her shoulders before pulling back slightly, quickly discarding his shirt and jeans, lowering his weight over her.

Looking deep into her eyes, he kissed her nose, her cheeks, her eyelids before moving his mouth over hers, whispering against them, "I love you. With everything that is me, I love you."

Leah cupped his face with her hands, smiling up at him as she slid her legs over his, "I know. With everything in me, I know. I love you too, Rick. Nothing could measure –"

"How much I love you," he finished, his words soft against her lips before he sucked her bottom lip, sliding his tongue over it then into her mouth, slowly deepening the kiss.

The fire between them burned hotter and brighter with every touch, every kiss. Before long, they were no longer aware of anything else but each other.

As it should be.

Seth laughed as Gabriel skipped beside him, his little hand holding on to Seth's bigger one, "Do you ever just walk, Gabe?"

"Nope," the little boy looked up at his uncle, "Walking is boring. If I had wings, I'd fly all the time."

"Yeah, you would," Seth shook his head, making his way around the crowd towards the kids' park area on the first level, "Want me to carry you? It's a long way for you to skip."

"Nope," Gabe gave another skip followed by a big jump, "I can make it. I'm not a baby anymore, remember?"

"Right," Seth looked around as they got closer to the indoor park, "Looks like a lot of kids are here today."

"It's a mall park, Uncle Seth," Gabe looked up at him again, "It's supposed to have kids in it. Is she here yet?"

"I don't see –" Seth spotted her sitting on one of the benches inside the play area as they got near the entrance, "There she is. Sitting on that bench over there."

Gabriel looked to where Seth was pointing, letting go of his uncle's hand to move across the play area at a near run.

"Gabe, hold on! I have to take your shoes off," Seth shook his head as he followed behind him, smiling as the little boy climbed up onto the bench beside Julie, "Gabriel –"

"You have pretty eyes," the little boy was on his knees, smiling up at Julie, a hand resting on her shoulder.

Julie gave him a big smile, "Thank you. So do you."

"Mama says I have Daddy's eyes," Gabe tilted his head to the side, "But everything else comes from Uncle Seth. What's your name?"

"Julie. What's yours?"

"Gabriel, but you can call me Gabe," he reached up to tug at a red-brown curl, "I like your hair."

"Thank you," Julie reached to tug at Gabe's dark blue t-shirt, "I like your shirt."

"Mama picked it. Will you help me take my shoes off," Gabe sat back with a huff, resting his feet on Julie's lap, "Rules say we can't wear shoes…'cause the park's inside. I have to wear shoes when we go to the outside park."

Julie chuckled as she helped Gabe with the Velcro straps on his sneakers, "Do you like cars?"

"Yep," Gabriel looked at the faded car stickers on his blue and white sneakers, "But not as much as planes. I'm gonna fly when I'm big."

"That's awesome," Julie set Gabe's shoes beside her, "There you go. You can play now."

"Will you play with me," Gabe pushed himself to stand on the bench, a hand on Julie's shoulder, the other reaching to touch her cheek, "You have to take your shoes off too."

"Of course I'll play with you," Julie laughed as she glanced at Seth. He just stood there, staring at them with an incredulous look on his face, "Can your uncle play too?"

Gabe turned to look at Seth, "He's really big but I suppose he can. Take your shoes off Uncle Seth."

Seth toed his shoes off, still saying nothing as he bend over to pick them up, moving towards Julie and Gabriel to set them on the bench next to his nephew's.

"What are we playing," Julie asked, standing up and placing her shoes where she had been sitting, smiling at the little sneakers snug between hers and Seth's.

"Tag," Gabe reached out and gave her leg a pat before jumping off the bench as he yelled, "You're it!"

Julie laughed, watching him run off into the large play area before turning to Seth, "What's got you frowning?"

"You ignored me," Seth crossed his arms over his chest, "We're supposed to be spending time together today and you didn't even say hi."

"Your fault for bringing your nephew," Julie smiled brightly at Seth as she reached over to lay a hand on his arm, "By the way…you're it."

Julie laughed as she skipped away, looking over her shoulder to see Seth standing still, staring after her.

Turning to walk backwards, she grinned at him, catching a glimpse of Gabe out of the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she smiled as the little boy climbed up onto one of the fiberglass boulders in the play area, "Your uncle's it, Gabe."

"Then you better run," Gabe scampered off the boulder, "'Cause he's really fast."

Julie laughed, turning to look to where Seth had been standing…he wasn't there anymore.

"Got ya," his husky voice whispered into her ear as his arms wrapped around her from behind, trapping her own arms at her sides, "You should never take your eyes off the person who's it."

"Hey, not fair," Julie laughed as she felt him nuzzle her behind her ear, "Tag backs aren't allowed."

"That wasn't stated before the game started," giving her cheek a quick kiss, he let her go before taking several steps back, "Gabe, Julie's it!"

The little boy squealed, running away, looking over his shoulder to see if Julie was chasing him.

Laughing, Julie moved towards him, dodging other little kids, holding out her hands in a threatening manner, "I'm gonna get you Gabe!"

Gabe let out another squeal, dropping to his knees to crawl into a tunnel, laughing when he looked back to find Julie right behind him, "You're gonna get stuck!"

"As long as I get you, I don't care," Julie's smooth voice echoed in the tunnel as she reached out and snagged Gabe's little foot, "I got you!"

Gabe laughed, trying to kick out of her grasp, his laughter continuing as she dragged him towards her, wrapping both arms around him.

"I've caught you," Julie smiled into his little face, unable to keep herself from falling for the little boy as he looked up at her with those big dancing blue eyes.

Reaching up to touch her cheek, he leaned close until their noses touched, whispering loudly, "Are you a mermaid?"

Julie's smiled widened as she moved around until her back curved into the tunnel, Gabe comfortable in her arms, his knees digging into her stomach, "What do you think?"

"I think you are," Gabe stared at her, his little face serious, "Uncle Seth isn't sure."

"Let's keep it our secret, okay," Julie kissed the tip of his nose.

"Can I see your tail," Gabe asked quietly, stretching his neck to kiss Julie's nose in return, "Mama calls that a kitty kiss."

Julie chuckled, "I like kitty kisses. As for my tail, I'll show you someday, okay?"

"Once again, I'm being ignored," Seth leaned over to look into the tunnel, "What are you two doing in there? We're supposed to be playing tag, not sardines."

Julie turned to grin at Seth, their faces inches away from each other, "You shouldn't have let me meet him. I'm in love."

Seth chuckled, knowing full well what Julie meant. She wasn't the first one to fall for Gabe's little boy charm, "Just remember, I'm the one that can give you access to him."

Julie laughed, helping Gabe climb over her and out of the tunnel before wiggling out herself. Taking Seth's hand, she groaned as she straightened up, standing inches away from Seth.

Smiling at him, she stood still, holding her breath as he stared into her eyes, his gaze moving down to her lips.

Taking a deep breath, her lips opened, unaware of the invitation she was giving him.

Seth swallowed back a groan but couldn't keep himself from leaning down the few inches that separated them, his lips slightly brushing hers.

Pulling back, she took another breath, trying hard to clam her beating heart as she stared into his brown-green eyes.

"Not yet," she whispered, reaching up to stroke her long fingers against his jaw, giving him a soft smile, "I'm not ready."

Seth nodded slightly, trying to breathe again, unable to get the taste and feel of her lips against his out of his mind.

If this wasn't imprinting…then what was it?

Leah sighed as she cuddled closer to Rick, her head resting on his shoulder, arm across his chest.

Somehow, they had made it to the bedroom…after a second shower…which didn't happen until after they had finished their trip around their own personal universe in the living room.

Stroking her arm with one hand, from shoulder to elbow, he slowly ran his fingers through her hair, occasionally kissing her forehead, whispering those same sweet words that had brought her out of her coma.

Leah sighed, kissing his chest, her fingers tracing small circles against his warm skin, still feeling his guilt and remorse over what she felt was no longer an issue.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her hair, "I should have been here…I should have known you were meant to be mine…I'm sorry."

"Rick," Leah let out a breath, pushing herself up to look down into his face, "I want to show you something."

Rick watched as Leah climbed out of bed, having a harder time than she should because she was wrapping the sheet around herself at the same time.

Smiling as he watched her tug at the bed-sheet, he wondered to himself what she could be thinking, trying to hide her body -which he had memorized down to the smallest curve and dip -from him.

Moving across their small room towards the dresser, she bend down to open a bottom drawer, laughing when he let out a low whistle in appreciation of the view.

Straightening up, she held the sheet in one hand against her chest, holding a photo album in the other.

She moved across the room, smiling as Rick sat up to stare at her legs. With every step she took, the sheet would swing open, revealing a long slim leg before hiding it again.

"It's like the grown up version of hide-n-seek," he said as she sat against the headboard, a leg tucked under her.

Pulling her closer to him, he reached out to slide his hand under the bed-sheet, stroking her thigh as he kissed her neck.

"Concentrate," she admonished, giggling as he nibbled her ear, "I really want you to see these."

"Alright," Rick straightened up, pulling the sheet to cover her legs. She gave him a look, her eyebrow arched.

"You know I can't concentrate when you're showing leg," he explained with a smile, chuckling as she leaned in to kiss him, "Now show me what you've got."

Leah set the album over their laps, opening the cover to reveal the first picture, which had been taken several hours after Gabriel had been born, "Isn't he beautiful?"

She moved her fingers over the picture, "I went into labor on a full moon night. I was so scared I would end up having a puppy."

Rick chuckled, resting his forehead against hers, "They don't phase until their first full moon after they're born."

"Well, see, I didn't know that," Leah saw guilt flash through his blue eyes. Kissing his mouth, she whispered, "Stop blaming yourself. It all worked out. Sam got me to their place in time for Emily to help. Besides, Gabe was born just as the sun was rising."

"Why was Sam taking you to their place," Rick worked hard at keeping a neutral tone but knew he had failed as he caught Leah's raised eyebrow, "Where were Sue and Seth?"

"Oh, they were in the house. I just didn't wake them up. I started having contractions in the middle of the night, so I headed to the beach –"

"The beach?"

"I was in pain, I wasn't thinking clearly. I hadn't told anyone that you were a werewolf...and what with my irrational fear of birthing a puppy instead of a baby –"

Rick chuckled again, a slight twinge of guilt tugging at him, "If I had been here…I could have put all those fears to rest…"

"You weren't here but look –" she pointed towards herself in the picture, "Look what you gave me."

Rick focused on the picture, seeing a different Leah from the ones they had left strewn about in the living room.

Her eyes were bright, her face flushed, her smile –alive.

"This was the happiest day of my life," Leah leaned her head against his shoulder as she pointed at another picture, where she and Gabriel were bracketed by Sue and Seth.

"Sam called the house after my baby was born…several hours after. I just wanted some time alone with him before I had to share him with my family," turning the page, she pointed at another picture, "As soon as Emily handed him to me, he stopped crying. We just stared at each other…" Leah swallowed hard, blinking fast to keep from crying, "My heart started beating again, Rick. I came alive –because I was holding a part of you."

Rick reached to flip the page, his other hand stroking her hair, "He looks nothing like me."

"Until he opened his eyes," she smiled as she pointed at a close up of Gabriel, his blue eyes wide open, "They've been that blue since he was born. I would watch him when he slept…and it would take my breath away when he would wake up. Those beautiful blue eyes would stare at me as if I was his whole world."

She raised her face to his, kissing his jaw before whispering into his ear, "You gave me a reason to live –to love. You gave me your baby –our sweet little boy. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could make me regret anything that happened," she set the album on the bedside table, moving to kneel before him, cupping his face between her hands, "I regret nothing because to do so, would be to regret you…to regret Gabriel. So please –please just let go of what happened. It doesn't matter –we're here."

Rick stared into her brown-green eyes, realizing that what Leah was saying rang true to the last word.

Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her, all his love and devotion poured into that one kiss.

Sliding his hands down her back, he tugged at the sheet until it pooled around her waist. He stroked his hands up her back, over her shoulders and into her hair.

He slowly moved her onto her back, never breaking their kiss, his hands moving over her breasts, down her stomach to her hips, pushing the sheet away until she was completely uncovered.

Pulling away slightly, he whispered, his lips brushing hers with every word, "I love you. Without you, I'd be lost."

She smiled as she closed her arms around him, finishing those sweet words that had helped bring her back, "Now that you've found me, please –don't ever let go."

Julie and Seth laughed as the fifth person that had stopped them to tell them their little boy was cute walked away from them.

"I can take him, you know," Seth offered, his arm around Julie's waist, unknowingly giving her support, "He's a heavy kid."

"He's not heavy," Julie hitched a sleeping Gabe higher up on her hip, his head resting on her shoulder, "Besides, he's comfortable and if I pass him over to you, he'll wake up."

"Just admit it," Seth opened the exit door, letting her go outside first, keeping a hand on the small of her back, "You don't want to give him back."

"I don't," she grinned up at him, "He's gotta be the sweetest little boy ever."

Seth laughed as he guided her through the parking lot towards his car, "Don't let him fool you. He's absolutely devious at times –especially when my brother-in-law gets touchy feely with my sister. It's actually quite funny."

"I bet he doesn't think so," she stood back as he opened the back door, shaking her head when he reached for Gabriel, "I'll put him in."

Stepping back to let her into the backseat, he tilted his head to the side, admiring the view.

"Stop looking at my butt," she said good-naturedly, gently placing the sleeping boy into his seat, buckling him in before getting out.

"I was just admiring your jeans," Seth gave her an innocent smile, laughing at the look of disbelief on her face; "They're really nice –especially on you."

Julie laughed, trying hard not to blush as he reached out to brush a red-brown curl from her shoulder.

"I had fun," she smiled, tilting her head to the side as he slid his hand down her arm, taking her hand and lacing their fingers together, "I have lesson plans to put together –we're working on a Christmas program and I have to find appropriate music pieces for my students, which is kind of hard to do because they're all of different ability levels and –"

"Relax Julie," Seth chuckled, giving her arm a little shake before raising her hand to his lips, placing a kiss on the back of it, his eyes never leaving hers, "I'll call you."

"Okay," Julie's voice rushed out in a breath as he let go of her hand, "I'll see you around."

Seth smiled at her, not moving as she walked away, his eyes following her until she reached a faded green sports Jeep, laughing as she climbed in without opening the door.

Argh! The Halloween bonfire.

He would just ask her when he called her later tonight.

Julie's fingers moved over the strings, plucking quickly, her left hand fingers moving from fret to fret, jumping from chord to chord as she continued to pick the strings, the notes fast and furious, yet beautifully uplifting in their constant change.

Whenever she had something to think through, whenever she had an important decision to make, she always went to her twelve string guitar…its complicated sound helped her organize her thoughts, helped her put things into perspective.

And whether he meant to or not, Seth was definitely complicating her ability to think.

Perhaps she was being fanciful, or unusually perceptive, but she knew, from the first moment she looked into his beautiful brown-green eyes, that he wasn't meant for her.

What hurt the most, though, was the simultaneous knowledge that, if it were a different life, a different world…an alternative universe, so to speak, they would be together, would love together, would live together…

So she had to make up her mind, if she wanted to protect herself, her heart, then all she could let happen between them was friendship…

But oh, how she wanted to know what it would be like to be kissed by him, held by him, cared by him…maybe even loved by him.

Would the joy of having him belong to her, however brief the time may be, outweigh the pain at having to let go of him when the time came?

Out there was the one meant for him in this lifetime, this world…someone just as special as he was…

But right now, she was here…and he was interested…

Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all…so the saying goes.

Could it be true? Could she love him knowing she'd have to let him go?

Was she capable of loving him with an open heart…and equally open arms?

In Italy

Taking a deep breath, she watched the two demon-angels asleep on the twin bed next to her own…she wasn't able to sleep: she was wide awake and wanting to get some work done.

Opening one of her hardback suitcases, she took several things needed; wanting to take some of her pictures and make them come to life, she selected one of the rolls she had used up when she had been in London.

It was time to see the sunrise again…this time, on paper.

Several hours later, she felt pleased, looking from one picture to the other, all of them hanging next to each other on a string of twine she had tied from one corner of the bathroom to the other.

Sighing, she glanced at her watch, surprised to see she had spent most of the night working with her negatives, her head slightly stuffy from the closed in smells of the chemicals.

Wiping her hands on a rag, she slowly and efficiently cleaned up the bathroom, putting everything away except for the hanging pictures…those had to dry.

Walking out of the bathroom, she placed everything she had taken out of the suitcase back into it, always making sure that everything they had with them was packed and ready to go...she hated having to live like that but it was necessary…for how long, she didn't know.

Kicking off her shoes, she unsnapped her jeans and pulled them off, placing them over the back of the chair nearest the second bed, pulling back the sheets to climb in, brushing her fingers through her hair before reaching for the small black bag she had placed next to her bed, pulling out the letters, all tied together with a ribbon that had once belonged to Marisela.

Fingering the frayed ribbon, she swallowed hard, trying not to cry as the memory of their father slipped through her defenses.

Pulling out the letter on top of the stack, she put the others aside before opening the thick parchment.

Mi Linda niña,

It's tiring, isn't it, trying to remember a new name, a new identity, a new past? I hope you haven't been approached by anyone, that there haven't been questions you don't know the answers to.

On top of that, by now, Marcos must be getting a little harder to handle, what with his somewhat darker nature. Please, I know it's not easy, you knowing what he did, but he's in need of unconditional love. He'll never forgive himself for what happened, will never forget it –a drawback, I'm sure, of what he is.

Remind yourself that he loved his mother –your sister –my Marisela. He loved her before he was born and he loves her even now, which is why his guilt is so hard for him to handle. Show him love, kindness, understanding, acceptance…perhaps in time, it will all shape him into becoming a loving and forgiving man…the kind of man his mother would want him to be.

Yes, this letter concerns the twins as much as it concerns you. You're young and not ready to be a parent, and although they grow faster than a normal child, and are able to comprehend as adults do, they are still children, Rosa Maria, and are in need of you and your guidance. They are in need of your love, your support, your gentleness.

Time will come sooner than it should when they will be able to live their own lives…you'll be able to live yours.

It will be hard to explain them to others…for that reason, I suggest you not stay in one place for too long…I'm sorry to do this to you, really I am, but it will be necessary for your safety.

It won't be long before you'll find a safe harbor…it won't be long before you'll be able to stop running. I promise you it won't be long before you can have the life you want with whoever you want.

Tell Viviana that I love her, that she's wonderfully special in a way only a little girl can be…remind her that love and sacrifice are necessary, sometimes crucial, to living a wholly human life…I believe she can be what she wants to be…but not without sacrifices.

Help her with her decision Rosa; don't try to keep her as she is. I know you have mixed feelings about them; you think them abnormal, which they are, an abomination, which they aren't. You have the power to help them become their true selves…for them to become more their mother's children and not my own.

Stay in Italy for three more nights. The morning of the fourth day, take yourself and the twins to the airport…your airline tickets will be waiting for you there…once you land at your next destination, read the next letter.

One step at a time, hermana mia, and you will make it to the finish line.

Know I am thinking of all three of you, and praying for you.

Eduardo Javier De Soto

Letting out a heavy sigh, she folded up the letter, placing it at the bottom of the stack before she secured them all, the ribbon tight around them. Bending over the bed, she grabbed the black bag, placing them into it before pulling out three passports. Flipping the first one open, she stared at a picture of herself…

Rose de Lune. Twenty years old, born on July fifteen in San Sebastián, Spain.

Marc de Lune. Three years old, born on March sixth in Salamanca, Spain.

Vivian de Lune. Three years old, born on March sixth in Salamanca, Spain.

Their new names…their new identities…their new lives.

What was their story? Taking a deep breath, she put away the passports, knowing that the answer to that question would be in the next letter.

She wasn't ready to find out what Eduardo had in mind…was she to claim them as her own children? Her siblings? Or was she to tell the truth and say they were her nephew and niece?

Why did life happen the way it did, she wondered to herself as she turned off the bedside lamp, sliding down the bed to rest her head on her pillow. Why did the supernatural have to exist?

She wished life were normal, the way many believed it to be.

She wished she didn't have any knowledge of vampires or those two little hybrids.

While she was on a wishing spree, she might as well wish her sister were alive…her parents…

Another sigh escaped her as she closed her eyes.

Enough with wishing. It was never going to happen, time was moving on and she needed to sleep…for however long the twins will let her.

Because Eduardo had been right…they may be growing fast but they were still children.

Letting out a tired breath, Seth got up from his desk, moving towards the window. Leaning against the frame, he watched the shadows lengthening as the sun continued to set. He'd been up for more than twenty-four hours and although he felt the exhaustion, he wasn't sleepy.

Pushing away from the window, he ran his fingers through his hair, going through the list of things he had to do in the morning.

There were patrols to be done, then he had a nine AM class, a three hour shift at the community administration building, another class, a study group –oh, it was going to be a long day if he didn't get any sleep.

Heading down the hall towards the bathroom, he turned on the shower, stripping before getting in, trying to get the water as hot as it would go…which wasn't hot enough.

He needed to find a way to relax, to get rid of this strange anxiety that was riding him hard.

What the hell was it that was making him paranoid, anxious, nearly sending him into panic attacks for no reason at all? Perhaps he should look into making a doctor's appointment but that would not be a good thing…he, like all his pack brothers, avoided doctors.

It wasn't easy explaining how they came to still be alive when they're temperature was 108.9 on a normal day.

Washing out the conditioner from his hair, he turned the water off, taking a towel from the hook right outside the shower, drying his hair before wrapping it around his waist, stepping out of the stall, not caring about the wet puddles he left behind.

He no longer had anyone after him to keep the floor dry because they hated wet socks…the constant fight between him and Leah growing up since they shared the bathroom upstairs.

After his mother had moved out, he had taken the downstairs master bedroom, leaving the rest as they were. Every once in a while, one of the pack brothers would crash in one of the three spare rooms but that was very rare.

It was a big house for one guy, something he didn't realize until after his sister moved out with Gabe, followed by his mother.

Pulling out a pair of boxers from his dresser drawer, he quickly yanked them on before grabbing his cell phone from his desk, speed dialing the one person that had been in the back of his mind all day.

"Hello?"

"Hey," Seth yanked the sheet off the bed, tossing it on the floor before climbing in, laying back with a tired sigh, "How are the lesson plans going?"

"Pretty well," Julie's smooth low voice seemed to smooth out the anxiety he had been feeling, making it bleed out bit by bit, "I found four different pieces for two of my advanced students. Now I need to find five pieces for my beginners."

"Why not have them do Jingle Bells or something like that," Seth tucked his free arm behind his head, staring up at the ceiling as he let her laughter wash over him.

"So over-rated. I like finding new pieces they've never even heard of…there are some simple ones from Germany that could work for my piano students…good thing I only have three of them. I think I might go with some pieces from this Spanish composer I love for my intermediate guitar players…they can work together on those."

"So the theme for the Christmas program is "Christmas Around the World"," Seth asked, scooting lower onto the bed, wiggling his shoulders against his pillow until he felt comfortable.

"That's a great idea! Why didn't I think of that? I'll have to tell my teacher, she'll love it. We can have the choir do songs from Italy and Russia…there are so many that I absolutely love. Seth, I just realized…you haven't slept in twenty-four hours…have you?"

"You are correct, I have not slept. I'm exhausted but I'm not at all sleepy…I don't know why, I mean, I've never had a problem falling asleep before."

"It could be a lot of things. Stress, diet, exercise –"

"It's none of those things. I've decided to blame you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you. I can't seem to stop thinking about you," Seth waited several beats before saying into the silence, "Does it bother you when I tell you that?"

"No…I can't stop thinking about you either."

"Good to know I'm not alone," Seth moved his arm from behind his head to rest against his chest; "I just remembered…we're having a bonfire for Halloween this weekend. A bunch of my friends from the rez will be there…would you like to come? I think Embry might bring Mattie, so you'll already know someone else."

"Sure, that sounds like fun. Are you taking Gabe trick-o-treating?"

"You would ask about my nephew," Seth smiled up at the ceiling, "Earlier in the day, yes, I will. Want to join us?"

"Well, I'd like to but I have a school dance to chaperon. I have a surprise for him, though…think your sister would mind if we woke him up later that night? He'll be ecstatic, I swear."

"I'll ask but I have to warn you, she's not very fond of you at the moment."

"What? Why? What did I do?"

"I think she's jealous, although she denies it. All Gabe talked about when I got him home was you…he told her how you were really pretty with purple eyes and that you could sing and that you played with him and that you and he have a secret that I can't know about…oh, and here's the part that got her all bent out of shape…you know about kitty kisses."

"Oh, I really wanted your sister to like me. Gabe told me his mother call kisses on the nose kitty kisses…after I gave him one. I had no idea that was a special thing just between them."

"Obviously, Gabe didn't either. Don't worry, she'll like you once she gets to know you…you're too darn cute not to. Anyway, what's the secret I can't know about?"

Julie laughed, "You'll find out Halloween night. So can you ask your sister for permission for us to wake him up? Think she'll say yes since I'm the one asking?"

"Don't worry, she'll say yes. Especially if I have help from Gabe in asking –she can't say no to her little boy. That's what Rick's for."

"Still wide awake, uh," Julie's voice was soft and he could hear her moving around her place.

"Yeah, although feeling more relaxed…as compared to before I heard your voice."

Another low laugh escaped her, soothing him even more, "Want me to sing to you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Called my bluff, did you now? Let me get my guitar and put you on speaker phone."

Seth took a deep breath, turning his head to look out the window. It was already dark…so much out there hidden in the darkness, searching for something…for him…

Could it be possible that he was going insane?

"Okay, I'm a little nervous about this."

"You? Please. You're a natural performer."

"Well, yes, but that's when I'm singing other people's songs…I've never shared my own songs with anyone else other than my little sister."

"Well, I feel special. I get to hear your own singing voice? Don't get me wrong, I think your mocking bird talent is amazing but I've been wondering what your own singing voice sounds like."

"Yes, my own voice…this is, after all, my own song. It's one of the first ones I wrote, several years back, when my sister was little. I've worked on it over and over again and I think I finally have it."

"Alright then, amaze me…as you always do."

Julie laughed, the low sound of strumming strings coming through the phone, "Can you hear the guitar?"

"Yes, now stop stalling, woman, and sing to me."

Another laugh escaped her before a short pause of silence, then the strumming of strings which Seth recognized as the introduction.

The smell of your skin lingers on me now
You're probably on your flight back to your home town
I need some shelter of my own protection, baby
To be with myself and center
Clarity, peace, serenity

I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do

And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But I've got to get a move on with my life
It's time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry

Seth closed his eyes, feeling himself relaxing even more as he listened to her voice, so beautifully smooth, almost like a good glass of whiskey.

The path that I'm walkin', I must go alone
I must take the baby steps 'til I'm full grown, full grown
Fairy tales don't always have a happy ending, do they?
And I foresee the dark ahead if I stay

I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to with you
It's personal, myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do

And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But I've got to get a move on with my life
It's time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry

His breathing got deeper, slower. Pushing the speaker button, he set it on his pillow next to his head, resting both hands on his stomach.

Like the little school mate in the school yard
We'll play jacks and Uno cards
I'll be your best friend and you'll be mine
Valentine

Yes, you can hold my hand if you want to
'Cause I want to hold yours too
We'll be playmates and lovers
And share our secret worlds

But it's time for me to go home
It's getting late, dark outside
I need to be with myself, and center
Clarity, peace, serenity

I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do

And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But I've got to get a move on with my life
It's time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry

Seth took a deep breath, feeling his body sinking into that wonderful state of sleep along with his brain as she finished strumming the last chords.

"Asleep yet?"

"Sing me another one."

He could hear her shifting papers before the strings began to hum again, her voice deeper, slower as she began to sing again.

Before long, he was asleep, breathing deep, his soft snores coming through the line.

He missed how she softly chuckled at the sound of his snores, quietly setting her guitar aside before she reached for her phone, whispering softly into it before hanging up.

"Good night, Seth."