"Why didn't you ever say anything?" I asked Aiden from the back seat as we drove to the house.

"Matt knows about me. He said you were older, and your mother died after she had him. I assumed it meant she had you before she met whoever Matt's father was. I mean you don't look like Matt, you don't smell like us. It seemed to fit."

"But now?"

"I didn't know Matt was your actual twin. I thought it was something you told people to explain the similar ages, like how Rachel is your sister, when she's your aunt. I realized you were actual twins the last time I spoke with Matt" Aiden turned back facing me. "I wouldn't hurt you. Finding Matt was a relief. We've met only a few like us, and they are savages. We disposed of them before they could hurt anyone."

"You think this male they found is my father?"

"He doesn't admit to having a son, in fact he denies it, and Aro believes him. So probably not, but if Aro finds you, he finds us…and we become slaves or inmates to Italy."

"It's not your father they caputered?"

"I don't think so, they would have found all of us, if it was. Our father…Greyson and Lillian and me…he taught us right from wrong. He taught us how to survive, and still keep our humanity. Our mothers are all dead, but our father kept us, wanted us. He wanted our mother's, too, but none of them survived the birth."

"I'm sorry." I whispered. "I thought you were like Rosalie, not like me."

"I, as well as Greyson and Lillian, have the ability to stop our hearts, and redden our eyes. It makes others believe we are full vampires. A nice trick our father passed on to us."

"Where is he now? Your father."

"He's coming back this way for Christmas. We are all here, so he is coming to us. He has always been a nomad, so he is with us as much as he can be, now that we are older. When we were younger he never left us, making sure we were in control and acclimated."

Rosalie pulled up to the house. I shuffled up to the house. I was tired. I felt the emotions taking control of me. The same trudging through sticky mud, pulling me down as I got closer to the house. Rosalie must have told everyone we were coming, since they were all waiting in the living room for us. Everyone stood around Aiden, I went to the couch and lay down. I found it difficult to stand, to remain upright as everyone gathered so close to us. I heard Aiden begin his story about his father as I closed my eyes. I didn't fall asleep for long, but I must have for a bit. Aiden story went from his father meeting his mother, to killing some girl he found in Salt Lake that was terrorizing a neighborhood.

"How many others do you know?" Jasper asked.

"Normal, like us. Just Matt and Katie. They have been the first half-breeds that didn't have the vampire father as the rest of the crazies."

"We will need to keep Katie here." Jasper said. "Even if she is basically undetectable, it would only take a hint and they would take her."

"I can't stay here." I said.

"Do you think that's best?" Aiden asked ignoring me. "They were looking for your family, and for good reason, it seems."

"She could be Emmett's," Rosalie said. "We could easily pass her off as Emmett's, and Aro wouldn't come after us after what happened with Ness."

"That's not guaranteed," Jasper said. "We got lucky the last time. If Aro sees us not only adding to our family, but procreating. He will come down harder on us."

"Then what?" Rosalie huffed. "We can't leave her alone."

"Leah and I will be fine." I mumbled. "Really, there's only a couple more weeks of school. I can't stay here with all of you."

"I would rather be close." Rosalie said.

"I don't mean to sound curt, but why do you need to protect her? It's obvious, her being away from you is better than getting caught with you." Aiden asked Rosalie.

"She's family, and we care about her."

Aiden looked at me. "It's complicated, but I can't stay here. It's too much for me."

Aiden said. "Greyson and Lillian can check in on you at school. I can stay close, since they think I am a Nomad just passing through. The three of you will be able to keep yourselves hidden or at least protected if anyone came for you."

"Aiden's right." I said. "They already think I'm with you. If I stay away from you, and get through classes, they won't suspect anything."

"Fine." Rosalie huffed. "I don't like this."

"It'll be fine." I stood from the sofa. "Greyson and I work together, he can come by more without drawing attention to it. Lillian and Bianca are already my friends, so hanging out with them won't seem out of character for any of us, and Leah is my roommate. I think I'm good."

"We'll be by to check on you," Jasper said. "We'll be careful."

I spent more time with Lillian, Bianca and Kim than I had planned. Kim was not what I expected. She joked about everything, she was easy-going, and none of the weirdness seemed to bother her. Lillian came around once she understood what I was, and what danger we were in. She clicked into our little group like a missing piece. Greyson, Lillian or Leah were always nearby. I gave up spending any time alone, for spending time quietly in a group. Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper called and texted Leah pretty often. They stayed away, but close. Alice traveled to Forks to spend time getting the house ready for Christmas. The last weeks flew by as everyone was on edge.

My finals wrapped up on Wednesday. Bianca was heading to Arizona Thursday afternoon, so we decided to go out and have a girls' night. Greyson told us to come to the bar so he could keep an eye on us, but he would keep his distance. I didn't really drink or party, but I wanted to celebrate, and give my friend a sendoff home.

Leah and I met Kim, Bianca and Lillian at the bar. The five of us crowded around a pub table half way between the cool air of the door and loud music of the juke box. We all ordered fruity fun drinks to start off the night. The drink was far too sugary for me, and the alcohol didn't seem to be there. After the first drink, drinks just seemed to show up. I found I like the dark drinks in tall glasses. It didn't take long for the room to get hot, and my vision blurred. Being a little tipsy was an interesting sensation. My body felt fluid easy, but my movements were awkward and hazardous.

After we were all very drunk and very loud… Greyson said he would help us get home. I pulled my jacket and gloves on and headed for the door. I needed some space from the crowd. The drinks had lowered my ability to block the thoughts, they were beginning to bombard me, getting louder the more I drank. I pushed the door open holding my face up to the cool breeze. Light flakes of snow sprinkled the night sky. I stumbled to the light pole grabbing it for balance, as my body swung around it.

"I give it an 8," a voice laughed.

"Really, I though 8.5." I said on my graceful fall around the pole.

Aiden stood next to a car laughing at me. "You drank too much."

"Yep, and it was fun." I slurred.

"I'm glad you had fun." Aiden wrapped his arm around my waist, helping stand up without the assistance of the light pole.

I woke up in my bed, in the same clothes. My head hurt, the light like needles in my eyes. My whole body protested as I sat up. Then suddenly, I was running to the bathroom vomiting violently into the toilet. Even after I expelled whatever was in my stomach, I stayed on the floor not wanting to move. I sat with my back against the wall and the toilet still close enough I could move if needed.

"Open up," Aiden said.

"This is the girls bathroom."

"Open the door."

I reached the latch and pulled it. I didn't get off the floor as the door opened.

"You look amazing."

"I feel amazing."

"Drink." He handed me a bottle of water.

I shook my head. Just the thought of swallowing made my stomach turn.

"Trust me."

I sucked down a few sips, testing my tummy. When I didn't immediately expel the liquid, I took deep drinks until the bottle was gone. Aiden gently lifted me off the ground. I washed my hands and face before leaving the bathroom. The smell of bacon hit me before I opened the door to my room. My stepped back trying to keep the water down.

"Aren't you hungry?"

"It smells awful." I said.

"Greasy food is the best way to get over this." Aiden said. "I got bacon, egg sandwiches, it will work."

I got used to the slight aroma in the hall, my body didn't seem to want to vomit. I opened the door to my room. The window was open, Leah and Bianca chewing big mouthfuls of food. Leah held up her finger as she worked the food down her throat.

"It's gone." She finally said.

"Thanks." I crawled back into my bed.

"I'll go grab you something. Do you want me to get coffee or some tea?"

"Um…I don't know." I couldn't make a decision.

"Both it is. I'll be back."

Aiden followed Leah out of the room. Bianca stayed for a few minutes, but left to get her stuff and head home. My phone chirped next to my head. Five missed calls since last night. I dialed Matt.

"Hello."

"Hey." I said sounding sick.

"You ok?"

"Hung-over actually. What's up?"

"I'm glad you're having fun." Matt laughed. "I called because I will be able to see you for Christmas."

"Really?" I asked. Matt had emailed me that he wasn't sure about Christmas. "I'd made plans to go home with Leah. Her family lives in a small community near Forks."

"Really?" Matt asked. "Well, that works out really well. We will be together for Christmas. Go with your friend. I will call you when I get to Washington on Friday."

"Ok. Love you."

"Love you, too. See you soon."

The hangover forgotten, I began to rifle through my clothes and personal items I needed to pack. I pulled out my smaller suitcase from under my bed and started throwing things into it. I made sure to pack my laptop and some pictures, the few gifts I managed to buy for everyone.

Leah opened the door to our room. As soon as she saw me she broke out into laughter.

"What?"

"You look so lost and disheveled." Leah handed me a cup of coffee and a butter croissant. "I'm sure Alice and Rosalie got stuff for you, don't worry about packing."

I tossed the suitcase closed and sat on the bed. I finished the coffee and food, feeling instantly better.

"Aiden went home. He said he will see you when you return in January." Leah said.

"I'm really going to miss him and everyone else. Is that weird?"

"No, they're your friends. Missing them, means you care about them. Would you miss me?"

"Nope." I laughed. "You're the worst roommate ever. You're never here and you so clean…god it's horrible."

"I don't know how you managed."

Leah and I laughed as she packed. We both showered and changed before packing her car. I excitedly hopped into the passenger seat, tapping my foot as she began her way to the highway. I didn't realize how much I wanted to go with her, to spend time with her, and I would see Matt for Christmas…my holiday was turning out pretty well.