I'm so sorry for the long delay, school hates me. It's summer but I have homework in three of my classes that I gotta do before it all starts again, yippee. So I hope this will be the beginning of more frequent updates but I can't guarantee anything.

I heard the front door open and close, we all turned to see who was walking into the kitchen. It was a man about average height with auburn hair, but what was startling was his extremely pale skin, his yellow orange eyes, and the smell that was coming off of him. I now recognized the smell from outside and in here. He was a vampire, and he was around here a lot.

I went over next to Shima and Embry blocked this guy's path to me and her.

"Who are you?" growled Embry.

"I was just about to ask you that dog," he snarled back.

"Embry, Carl? What the hell is this all about?" asked Shima.

"Vampire," I hissed.

"From the looks of it your diet only recently changed," said Embry in disgust, "I don't know how you got on our lands without us knowing but it'd be safer for you if you left quietly before the whole pack comes down on you."

"Carl is not going anywhere," scolded Shima making her was over to Carl's side, much to my and Embry's dismay.

"Don't Mom he's dangerous!"

"Any more dangerous than you," Carl spat back.

Embry started to tremble slightly, until I put a hand on his arm, "Maybe we can talk this out rationally without killing each other, literally. Embry call the Cullens and see if Edward or one of them can come down here, and call Jake. Carl, Shima lets move into the living room."

Embry's eyes said he didn't want to leave me and his mom in the room alone with this guy but he knew it had to be done. He picked up the phone in the kitchen and started dialing one of the numbers.

We went into the living room Shima sat down on the love seat and Carl went to follow suit but one growl from me and he sat in the arm chair instead. I sat on the couch across from the love seat.

"Can someone please explain to me what's going on?" asked Shima.

Carl opened his mouth but I cut him off, "Your friend here is a vampire. A vampire who from what we can tell has only recently stopped drinking blood of humans and has started drinking the blood of animals. Ain't that right Carl?"

"It's been over six months," said Carl only loud enough for me to hear, "Shima and I have been dating for seven after a month I decided to change my life style so I could be around her easier."

"You're a fool," I spat. This was the first time I got a really good look at him. He looked to be about mid- to late 40s when he was changed, with gray hair at the temples. It looked slightly eerie though because he had no wrinkles at all in his skin. If he died his hair he could pass of as being about 30. Though who knows how old this guy actually was.

Embry came into the room, "They'll be here momentarily." Not even a minute later the front door opened and both Edward and Jacob walked in.

"Who are you?" Carl asked eyeing up Edward, "Why are you helping these mangy wolves."

This earned a collective growl from me, Embry, and Jake.

"I am Edward Cullen, I'm here to be a sort of lie detector test, and as my family and I take a permanent residence here it is in our interest to be involved in this to make sure our secret is safe. You may benefit from our friendship if you continue the diet you are currently switching too, it's not an easy thing. I can also help you with handling being around a human so close to you. My wife was not turned until months after our wedding."

"Wait, let me get this straight," said Shima, "You're a vampire too? And so is your whole family, including DOCTOR Carlisle?"

"Yes," replied Edward.

"Can we get down to business?" asked Jacob, "We need to get this all figured out before we can bring him in front of the pack."

"Don't you even try Carl. No matter which of those plans you chose you're not going to be able to out run the pack once they start hunting you. Your talent won't help you for long."

"What's his talent?" I asked.

"He can hide his scent. That's how he's been able to live here undetected. The small trace that is around here is just because he spends so much time here there's no way to completely eliminate it here."

"How the hell do you know all of this?" asked Carl.

"My talent is to be able to read minds."

"Why is he here?" asked Jake, "Is he a threat to us, to the people of La Push?"

"I'm a painter," said Carl, "I grew up during the Renaissance in Italy, born Carmelo De Luca. I came to paint the west coast when I met Shima. I decided to settle down here. I heard of the vegetarian diet and I knew there was a clan nearby that practiced it but I hadn't taken the time to find out where and didn't actively look to find them. Now apparently all I had to do was go up the road a little ways. It didn't take long to notice the wolf pack here but fortunately I have the talent to hide my scent I just hoped they wouldn't notice me. I could smell them before they noticed me so I could keep a safe distance away from them. This morning though I had no choice. There were wolves in here with Shima I couldn't just leave her alone with them. Little did I know that one of the wolves was her son. I know you probably don't believe that I mean no harm to the people in La Push, but I've been clean for six months with no slip ups. It's hard but I know I can do it."

Shima was looking at all of us with pure confusion and just the slightest hint of disbelief. I wouldn't blame her. I would never believe all this crap being piled on me in one day. At least when I phased I had the facts staring right back at me, but to her we must all look completely normal.

"A few months doesn't show anything. I slipped up ten years after I was born, and I was a vegetarian from the day I was turned. I still struggle every day, and I'm over 100. We can help you though if you want it. Our family has found with a big group it is easier to transition into the vegetarian diet. You've done well on your own but temptations bring down even the strongest."

Carl mulled this over in his head for a minute, "From how I take it I don't have much choice in the matter. If I want to stay near Shima I must join your coven. If I don't I'll be asked to leave, correct?"

"Pretty much," said Jake.

"And will I still be able to see Shima?"

"No," growled Embry at the same time Jake and Edward said, "Yes."

"She's my mom!" yelled Embry.

"I can handle myself!" shouted Shima.

"You don't understand Mom. He's a vampire to him your blood is like the most delicious food you can think of times a thousand. Do you want to date someone who wants to eat you?"

"He hasn't eaten me yet and he's had 7 months worth of opportunities."

"But-"

"Embry, enough," said Jake with a touch of alpha command in his voice. It made me go stiff and it wasn't even directed at me, "Carl you will live with the Cullens. Period. Shima will be allowed to go to the Cullens' house to see you. Period. Who knows we might leave you out on good behavior when the Cullens give the ok."

"Thank you," said Carl knowing he got off easy for trespassing, " May I talk to Shima alone for a few moments before I go to the Cullens?"

"Sure, we'll go into the kitchen." Said Jake pulling Embry along after him.

"Jake are you insane?" asked Embry, "This guy has hidden right under our noses for 7 months and we're just going to let him keep living next door?"

"We can handle him, don't worry," said Edward.

"I'm not questioning your ability, I'm questioning my friend's stupidity."

"Relax Embry. It'll all work out. If I gave the order to kill the guy where would that leave your mom? I feel generous today and a good will gesture towards your mom. She was always my favorite second mom."

"I can't believe you!" Embry was shaking now.

I wrapped my arms around him until his shaking slowed to a small tremor, "Edward during the first few months while we are still determining if he's a threat would it be at all possible to post one of us in the woods closer to your house during our patrols to make sure everything is going as smoothly as we hope it's to be?"

"I would have to discuss it with Carlisle but I see no problem with it. All I ask is that the wolves that are chosen are ones that are more comfortable with us."

"Deal," said Jake, "They're done in there. He's your responsibility now. I gotta go spread the word about this to the rest of the pack. See ya later."

Jake, Edward, and Carl left leaving Shima, Embry, and I alone again.

"So I guess my assumption that you wouldn't like my boyfriend was right?" she asked jokingly.

"How can you joke about this Mom? He's a vampire, even if he's 'nice' I'm not going to approve of him. Not after the issues Edward and Bella had!"

"I'm old enough to handle myself whatever life throws at me. I've had enough curveballs in my life that I know how to take things as they come."

Embry huffed, a sign of defeat.

"Now I would like to spend some time with this lovely young lady you have brought to me. Now shoo and let us have some girl time!" said Shima trying to push Embry out of the door.

He looked back at me, wanting to stay and protect me.

"I'm a big bad werewolf Embry I can take care of myself and your mother," I stood up and gave him a peck on the lips, "I'll see later ok?"

We finally pushed him out onto the porch and slam the door in his face.

"Now my dear," said Shima rubbing her hands together, "Let me go find all of Embry's embarrassing baby pictures!"

I giggled to myself as Shima attacked a pile of boxes in her closet scouring for some pictures.

"FOUND THEM!" she yelled dragging out a huge box that I don't even know how it fit into the closet.

She started riffling through the little envelopes you get when you print pictures.

"Oh this is from the hospital when he was born! Wasn't he just the chubbiest little baby! He weighed 10 pounds 7 ounces! I was so fat when I was pregnant with him," she giggled.

I shuffled through a few more pictures and found one of a guy holding Embry at the hospital.

"Is that Embry's Dad?" I asked.

She shook her head sadly, "No that's my brother. That's one of the few times I've seen him since my family found out I was pregnant with Embry. They disowned me because I wasn't married. I shamed them."

"Oh I'm sorry for bringing it up. I'm just curious. Embry's never said anything about his Dad. He's talked about you, telling me memories from when he was a little kid. I kinda get the vibe though from the pack that it's not something that's enjoyable to discuss."

"Embry doesn't know who his father is," she said flatly.

"Oh! I'm sorry I really shouldn't be bringing this up then," wow this is really embarrassing.

She smiled sadly, "I was probably only a little younger than you when I met this awesome guy who told me he was from this reservation. His name was Justin Uley," She started.

"Sam's Dad?" I asked surprised.

"No his half brother, Sam's Dad is Joshua Uley. Anyways, we dated for a while, and we thought we were in love. We were very…intimate. After probably six months of dating I had to cancel going to a concert with him because I had the 'flu' or as I later learned was morning sickness. He ended up going to Seattle with his friends to use the tickets. They got drunk at the concert, which shocked me because when I was with them they never drank. They crashed the car and they all died," she stared off for a second, "When I figured out I was pregnant my family kicked me out, and I came here. I tried to get help from his family, but they wanted nothing to do with me. I ended up staying here anyways and raised Embry on my own. I got some help from the Blacks and Ateara's. I worked at the diner until Embry was about 5 then the old woman who owned it died and she put me in her will to receive it."

"Wow Shima, you're an amazing woman, to have done all of that on your own I could never have done it."

"It was damn hard, don't doubt that for a second, but I wouldn't trade Embry for the world."

"I'm glad to hear that Mom," said a deep voice from behind me.

"Embry!" she yelped in shock, "How long have you been here?"

"I never really left," he admitted sheepishly, "I just snuck back in the door after a few minutes, and you were so engrossed in pictures you never noticed."

"So you heard everything about your father. I'm sorry I never told you. It isn't a very flattering story about how we got together and had you. I didn't think you would want to know it."

"It's better than what I've been thinking. The werewolf gene is passed on through the Dad and the packs been thinking it was Joshua, Billy, or Quil Jr. All three were married before I was born."

"Why didn't you ask me then? I would have told you if you were that worried about it."

"We haven't talked in the last year, remember?" he reminded her.

She grimaced at her past behavior but quickly hid her guilt, "I am going to make that up to you someday."

"You don't have to, just be accepting and loving mother, mother-in-law, and future grandma," said Embry wrapping his arms around my waist from behind.

"I thought you guys said you were going to wait until you started a family. Let's not think about grandchildren yet. I'm not old enough for that!"

"I don't know Mom," teased Embry, "Tala here's just too damn sexy for her own good." He started to kiss my neck to prove his point.

"Embry stop," I giggled, this was not the place to start this, "Your Mom definitely doesn't want to see this."

He growled into my neck and brought his lips up to my ear, "Then you have to promise to make it up to me later."

"Fine promise, now stop it!" I yelped, I'm ticklish around my neck and ear.

Shima just sat there grinning at our antics, "Oh to be young and in love. You better treat her right Embry and stay by her side."

"I don't think that'll be a problem Shima. It's just getting him to leave my side when he has to," I joked.

"Speaking of leaving, Tala we're late," said Embry.

"Late for what?" I asked, confused, "I didn't know we were going anywhere."

"It's a surprise."

"Fine," I huffed, "Shima it was so great meeting you. I'm sorry for all the trouble it caused though."

"Carl and I are tough. We'll get through this little road bump of life and keep going. Besides it'll be one of the tests to see if he's really that into me," she joked, making light of it.

"Oh Mom, if you want, there's a bonfire tonight. It's a pack tradition and if you want to come and understand it more you're more than welcome to come. Billy, Old Quil, Sue, and Tala's Dad are going to be there too." Embry looked really anxious to have his mom come. I hope she accepts.

"Sure I'll come. I haven't seen Sue in a long time."

"Good, we'll see you tonight," said Embry, grinning ear to ear.

We left the house and jumped into Embry's car.

"So what's this big surprise?" I asked.

"It wouldn't be much of a surprise if I told you now would it?" he countered.

"Pwease," I begged putting on my best puppy pout, which was particularly good since I was a wolf after all.

Embry glanced over at me, "Oh man Tal, you know I can't resist that face!"

"Please, please, please, pleeeease!" I whined.

"Fine we're going to Seattle," he gave in.

"Why?"

"You'll see, and no I'm not telling you anymore no matter how much you whine or beg."

"Fine," I huffed. He laughed at me and my childishness.

I hoped you liked it. This was hard to write, there are places I want to move on to but this had to be told first. Next chapter should be good! I hope to get it up soon, don't give up on me yet. The story should pick up soon. Review!