Two Become One

by S.H.Walker

Leilei and Jacob continue their lives in Forks. Rated M for language. No Lemons. Complete

14. Chapter 14

90

"Jacob? . . . Jacob!" I screamed a bit frantically. I'd never smelled a 'wild vampire' before. Just the Cullens. And I smelled something and it wasn't Cullen.

"What babe?" He answered.

"Do the Cullens have any guests staying with them?"

"Why? I don't think so. What's up?"

"I smelled vamp at the high school. I think someone, maybe more than one someone is here."

"What the Fuck! Are you safe?"

"Mari and I are inside now. We were outside walking during lunch and I smelled something that wasn't right. She also started acting weird."

"Stay inside. I'll call Kolohe and we'll leave from here. Stay safe."

"Same to you. Love you."

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"So what's up Leilei?" Mari asked after we finally caught up outside after the last bell rang.

"Nothing. Are you heading home?"

"I was gonna walk to the library. I've got some stuff to do," Mari said. I knew she was planning to meet Kolohe there the way they did every Wednesday. Not gonna happen today.

"I know you're gonna meet Kolohe there, but he's here. Let's go down to the parking lot. I'm sure there's someone here. See, there's Jamie. You should come with me," I said taking her by the arm again. The same why I half dragged her back into the school building earlier.

"Hi Leilei. How are you?" Jamie asked trying to look cool at school but not at his school so he didn't look as cool as he wanted to.

"We're fine. Where's Kolohe?" I asked as I climbed into the front right of the truck to hunt for something that I knew was there.

"He's here somewhere. You're supposed to stay with me."

"Fine. Give me your shirt. Yes, I want your shirt." Then he forked over his oversized shirt for me.

"What are you doing Leilei?" Mari asked looking at me re-arranging my clothes. I hoped she didn't see the guns.

"Nothing."

"But bullets don't hurt them," Jamie said in Quileute.

"These will . . . So I've been told they will. Come on. Let's look for Kolohe." When I said his name she perked up.

"Kolohe said to stay with the car," Jamie said urgently.

"You just said he said you were to stay with me. We are going over there. So come on. Don't you want to see a non-Cullen vamp?"

"Leilei? Where are you?"

"I'm with Mari and Jamie. We're heading just past where the school busses pick up. We're watching to see if any thing is getting on the busses that shouldn't."

"Stay safe woman. Are you packing?"

"Why yes! I made Jamie give me his shirt to cover them."

"Stay sharp."

We walked past the traffic circle to watch students get on the busses and head home. I could see Kolohe trying to look all nonchalant watching to see who got on the busses too. "Where?" He gestured.

"Soccer field," I signed back in ASL. Then I touched Jamie. "I smelled them over on the soccer field."

"I smell something . . . funny. Sneezing. Stinkier than usual," Jamie sent back.

"I see Kolohe. He's over there. Why's he there?" Mari asked as she waved at him.

"I think I see something now," Jamie said squinting at the far side of the soccer field.

"Don't stare. It's like staring at an animal. They will take it as a threat. Look at them, first one then the other. Then away."

"Leilei, what's up? Why are we here?" Mari asked getting snippy for some reason.

"We're looking for Kolohe," I echoed.

"Got them," I signed to Kolohe.

"Where's Jamie?"

"Standing on my left – closest to them."

"Great! We're like 10 minutes away. Get back to the car. Go to the rez."

"They know that we know they are here. So going back to the car might be out of the question."

"Why?"

"They are staring at us. I think they want Mari."

"10 minutes is a long time. I don't want to . . ."

"You're not gonna anything. Oh good lord, the principal just came out here. Mr. Anders, yes sir. We are leaving. I just thought I lost my earring out here. I came to look for it."

"We'll just be a few more minutes. Thank you. Concentrate on getting here."

"Leilei, I feel sick again. I don't know . . . Let's head back to the car. I'm feeling weird," Mari said actually sounding sick.

"I though one of them had powers."

"Powers?"

"He's making Mari sleepy."

"What can we do Leilei?"

"Jamie, Don't panic. They will smell it. Mari, hold my hand."

"What?"

"Hold my hand. That's better." I knew that she could stay on her feet if I kept countering the effects of Mr. Vamp with powers. "You stay on my right side and hold my hand. God this looks weird but it will have to work for now."

"We're really close now. Stay still," Jacob sent.

"Oh holy fucking shit!"

"What now?" Jacob asked.

"Esme and Nessie have just walked out of the woods near the field. Esme, what are you doing here?"

"Hello Leilei dear. Carlisle is in surgery and the kids are busy. I couldn't get in touch with Jacob to tell him that he'd be on his own. So I came to let you . . . So there they are. Nessie stay close."

"This is not good. Oh Holy shit."

"Lei . . . stay calm."

"This is a dangerous place for you to be in Esme. The boys are coming."

"This isn't dangerous. Nessie, stay with Leilei. I'll go and talk to them. I'll invite them to the house. Carlisle will talk to them but I should let them know that it's ok," Esme said getting ready to head to over to talk to them.

"What are you talking about? Leilei!" Mari asked.

"Leilei who's that?" Nessie asked.

"He's ok." I turn to see Bleys walking up behind us, "He's the medic."

"Oh no. No, you're not going anywhere," Bleys stated with conviction. "Esme, you're not going over there to talk to them. This is not a good situation anyway you look at it but no. You're not going over there. The decision was made that we will allow them to go back out of this area the way they came. If you and Carlisle and your family want to go and talk with them later, that's fine. But for right now they are leaving."

"Who are you?"

"Carlisle and I met at the car accident. We won't allow you to put yourself in danger for them."

"But . . ."

"There isn't any but. Carlisle wouldn't forgive us for letting anything happen to you Esme. So no. You're staying here with us. We can't let you go back home now. They could follow you there if this situation gets out of hand. If you want to holler at them from here then tell them to go back to Seattle. Then you Cullens can find them there," Bleys said.

"But . . ."

"I'm not risking you or Nessie for them. You should have stayed at home but now that you're here stay with Mari and Lei. This is about to get ugly," Kolohe stated with conviction.

Bleys dropped his messenger bag and began to loosen his shirt. It came off. Then his shoes.

"What is he going to?" Mari asked. She was standing on her own now. Someone lost their focus.

Before I could say anything his pants dropped to the ground. He pointed at the red eyed things in the woods. Both fists hit his chest and then bam, all furry.

"What the fuck?" Mari said as she tried to run away from me. But I managed to get a grip on her and then again so did Esme.

"He's a big shiba."

"Bleys? Yeah, he is big," Jacob sent.

Kolohe touched his forehead to Mari's. Looked into her eyes and then kissed her.

"Kolohe, what going on? Leilei?" Mari asked wide eyed with fear.

"I love you Mari Jackson. Always know that." Then he turned to me, "Leilei!"

"Yes!"

"Be strong. Stay strong."

"My dad's leopard. You know I am."

"Leilei, What the fuck is going on here?" Mari asked again. She finally woke up and noticed that this just wasn't normal by any stretch of her imagination.

"Well . . . You wanted to know more about Kolohe and you're about to see it all."

Then Kolohe took off his tank top. Flip flops then pants. He pointed to the west where they were. Fists hit chest and then he was big and furry.

"What the hell?" Mari said it and so did they. "Yeah, another one."

"Jamie! Jamie! Jacob needs you. Did you watch Bleys and Kolohe?"

"Yes."

"Then faze and do it the exact same way. Slowly. You're not scared. You're a killer and they should know that from seeing you."

"Oh . . . Ok." So he took off his tank top. And his shoes. Then his pants.

"Him too!" Mari snapped.

"Yup!" was all I could say before Jamie was standing there without wearing underwear. Commando style, like he was an old time killer. I loved it. He didn't point he just snarled. Fists met chest and poof all furry.

"I'll explain later but for right now Mari know whatever happens is for the best. And you can't tell anyone about what's gonna happen. They will think you're crazy."

"You're brothers is a werewolf. Really! What the Fuck!" she screamed.

"Well, kinda. Yup."

"Awwww, isn't he cute?" We heard from victim # 1. A guy in sweatpants and a tee shirt standing near the tree line.

"God ! I hate that," I heard in the pack link.

"Show them your big sharp tooffies. That should scare the shit out of them," I said touching Jamie for the last time I hoped not. Jamie snarled showing a big mouthful of white vampire crushing teeth. They stopped laughing.

"Listen to Jacob and stay safe."

"Leilei . . . Leilei what's going on? What's that?" Mari asked.

We could feel the ground shaking. They were running full speed behind us. As they broke the tree line the footfalls sounded like thunder. I turned back to the front. Then it got dark as Jacob jumped over my head and landed about 20 feet in front of me. "The cavalry has just arrived," I said aloud.

He skidded to a halt and looked directly at the guy in front of their little vampire group. I thought there were only 2 but listening to the boys there was one that was in a tree that I missed. He was about 20 feet off the ground watching from a Kolohe perch.

"Leilei tell Esme if she wants to talk to them she can start now. Have her tell them to go back the way they came and she and the Cullens can meet them at the county line for a chat later. But they will leave Forks NOW!"

"Esme, if you want to talk to them Jacob said to do it now. But they have to leave."

"We're not going anywhere, you bitch. I'll drink you dry and skin that dog for a blanket," said victim #1.

"Leilei! I want to go now," Mari said straining against my grip on her arm.

"Oh, you are so dead," Nessie said shaking her head at them across the field.

"Listen you little thing. I can smell you too you know. What are you anyway?" Victim #2 said.

Esme said in response, "Don't answer Nessie. I don't think there is anything for me to say to them. But I wish your uncles and Carlisle were here. This is such a shame."

"Leilei come here please. I need to say something to them."

"Esme, keep Mari right here."

"Leilei?"

"I'll be right back," I assured her.

"That's right come closer bitch. Chicky Chicky. Here baby. Come to daddy." I'm not sure which victim that was but I knew that they'd be toast in minutes. Well anyway I hoped.

"Tell them to leave now. The way they came or die right here, right now."

"The pack leader has asked me to tell you to leave, that way," I pointed. "The way you came or die. No hunting is allowed in Forks, on the Makah or on the Quileute reservations. This is your one and only warning."

"I will drink you dry and fuck your corpse."

"Leilei, can you get that guy out of the tree? That one over there?"

"Do you want him down or dead?"

"I want them to know we're not fucking around."

"Dead it is." I pulled my guns out. I had a pair of Berettas with 30 shot clips. "Last chance," I said aloud hoping to goad them into showing themselves. The guy in the tree did just a little.

"We're bulletproof," he said as I sprayed automatic gunfire at his position. Both guns in an X over his chest and into the trees surrounding him.

"I know," I said aloud. "But I don't think you're fire proof," I finished. I moved back to our little group on the edge of the soccer field. Esme was on the left side. Nessie in front of Mari in the middle and me on the right. Bleys beside me. Kolohe beside Esme. As a mix of Jacob and Sam's pack moved onto the track surrounding the soccer field.

Panic struck the vamp in the trees. It's true, the bullets bounced off of him but they hit and smashed against him before bouncing away. The sodium in the air flared like little fireworks as he caught fire. Then the screaming started.

"What was that?" Esme asked stunned.

"It's elemental sodium. It burns in oxygen. You have to store it under oil, even the oxygen in water can make it burn."

"Oh my God!" The look on her face was horror. 'How could we?'

"Bitch! You stupid cunt! I'll rip you apart." The vamp in the running shorts said as he watched the one in the jeans begin to flail to try to put the flames out still standing in the tree.

That seemed to snap Esme out of her 'We were too terrible to her kind' funk. They used the c-word and in front of Nessie. At the most Nessie appeared to be 12. And he used that kind of crude language. The look on her face changed from shock and horror to pissed. And no one fucked with Esme and her family.

Mr. Vamp on fire fell from the tree as he realized that it was him that was on fire. Not just the tree. Not just his clothes. He himself was on fire. He tried to pat the fire out with his hand. Then his hand caught on fire. He tried to take off his shirt. Then he began to run to put the flames out. That just made it worse. Vampire 'flesh' burns like tissue paper. This guy wasn't going to last long

"Steve! . . . Steve! Help me man! Help me!" He cried when he could find words. He was just running trying to put the fire out. Steve, the one in the running shorts moved to help Mr. Firecracker but also knew that he couldn't touch him. I could hear Jacob giving orders in a language that I knew to be our battle language. The vamps were numbered and the pack members knew who each were to take out. Paul, Jared and Cody peeled left to put out Mr. Firecracker. Jared was jumping straight at him, just below head height to knock him down. Mr. Firecracker saw them bearing down on him and he ran into a tree. Minor damage to the tree . . . major damage to himself. His left arm went up in a shower of sparks. Watching his arm burn into ash sent Mr. Firecracker into frenzy as he began to swing at the approaching wolves and Paul caught the arm that was beginning to catch fire and ripped it from the body and spat it out. Jared stomped the fire out. One down in a patch of burned grass. Cody wheeled and headed to Jacob and victim #1.

Jacob flanked by Jamie headed straight at victim #1 named Steve I guess. He looked concerned about the purple ash that was starting to trail in the soccer field grass. Jamie and Jacob moved like they practiced this move many many times. Jacob went high and Jamie went low. Jamie came up with a leg and the sound of it being ripped off hurt me to my core. When I looked up I saw Jamie trotting away with the leg heading toward the grass. "On the track," I sent in the link. I pulled my gun and fired at the limb that was twitching on the track. Poof, purple ash started billowing toward the sky. Jamie turned to return to the fight. Jacob rolled over Steve while Jamie pulled his leg off and put his back to a tree. Cody came up on Steve's right and snarled in a way that made Nessie shiver. With Jamie returning to the fight on Cody's right Steve could only move to his left. Missing a leg made his decision for him. "Bring it," he screamed. "Done!" I heard Jacob said in the link. He fazed picked up a tree limb and swung it at his head. And down went Steve. Cody and Jamie tore him apart.

Vamp #2, who wasn't stupid I guess, looked to get away. He initially headed toward the far end of the field then suddenly wheeled and headed toward us. Maybe he thought he'd get the boys to focus on him and let the others go. Maybe he thought he'd get to us and ransom us or maybe kill one of us. Bleys moved so fast I barely saw him take off to protect us. Jacob fazed and called Seth to take our right and then Seth just disappeared from the link. With Kolohe focused in front I looked behind and saw Seth, on all twos chatting with Charlie. Then poof Seth was back on all fours and he was back in the link.

"Charlie is here. Leilei get him safe."

I ran to him. "Charlie with me now! No questions!"

"What the hell?" He said as he grabbed at his microphone. Then I grabbed his hand and asked, "What the hell are you doing? This is a vampire wolf thing. No POLICE!" I clamped my hand around his right arm and dragged him in the general direction of our little group.

"LEILEI!" I hear in the link, "Bleys needs you NOW!" Kolohe was moving from his left post toward victim #2. Victim #2 grabbed Bleys by his leg and twisted sending our medic to the ground in a heap. Kolohe hit the vamp so hard it gave me a headache watching it. The vamp skidded to a halt as he realized that he was alone but Bleys was wounded. I ran toward Bleys pulling my gun just in case.

"Slow down Lei," Jacob said in the link. He wanted to get in front of me. From the second Seth fazed back to all fours he ran full bore at victim #2. Then further to the right Embry and Quil cleared the edge of the school building to see what happened. And began to head to where I was heading, to Bleys. We weren't going to let him got hurt again. Jacob lunged at victim #2 and he swiped at him then Seth. Quil moved between the fight and Bleys to protect him. Cody took a running pass at him and he moved into the space that Seth occupied to be safe from Cody. Seth took a hand and forearm snick. That reaction caused him to take another swipe at him and Jacob took the other hand. He looked panicked as he was trying to decide what to do next. Cody recovered from his running pass at him and headed back.

"Help me," the victim screamed toward Esme.

"You had your chance. You made your choice." She closed her eyes. She knew what was next. She covered Nessie's eyes too but Nessie'd seen too much already. Seth hit the victim again and once he was down he was done.

"Bleys . . . Bleys look at me. Faze. You have to. You're healing in the wrong form do it now."

"I can't."

"Yes you can."

"You'd better. Now. Look at me." I gave him my strength. "Now fucking do it!" He fazed and there were bones that had broken thru the skin that were healing and he was drenched in his own blood.

"We've got to get him to the hospital," Charlie gasped in shock.

"Really? He's naked shiba with a compound fracture. Not gonna happen. Charlie, what did you think would happen when a vampire and a werewolf fight? Did you think it would be the best 2 out of 3 of a game of rock, paper, scissors? Really?" I screeched at him.

"Take him to our house," Esme said. "Carlisle will be home soon. That's why I came here. He's still at work I left him a message to come right home when he got out of work."

"No, I'm not going there!" Bleys said while gritting his teeth.

"It's the best place." Jacob confirmed. "He's got a full medical suite. X-rays, casts – everything."

"And I won't leave you for as long as it takes you to heal," I promised.

"Ok. I agree."

"Let's get him there."

"Fine, Lei give me one of your guns," Kolohe ordered as he dressed again.

"What are you doing now?" Charlie asked.

"I'm getting my truck. We'll take him there in the back. Jamie with me, get dressed."

"Kolohe what are . . ." Mari started to say. And he kissed her again. "You're safe with Lei stay with her. I'll explain everything I promise. Seth, Quil and Embry go with Esme back to their house. Maybe we missed someone. Check it out. If everything is fine we'll see you at the end of the drive way."

"Jacob, what are you going to do?" Charlie asked not knowing what to do.

Jacob fazed and walked over to us, "Get rid of the ash and yeah I know now. We'll clean up."

"Nessie come with me," Esme said not knowing what the plan was.

"No. You 3 go to the house. Check it out and the cottage and the palace. If everything is ok then it's ok. Nessie will be safe with Lei," Jacob stated.

"Lei, I need a clip. Jamie, let's go."

"Nessie are you ok?" I asked her.

"I'm fine. I'm glad that Seth is ok. Did you see him?"

"Yeah I know. He's so the man."

"Mari, are you ok? Are you gonna be ok?" I needed to check in with everyone.

"I don't know . . . I . . ."

"Stay with me Mari, you're fine. Really . . . Blood rings true."

"So, what do I do?" Charlie asked as he watched Esme disappear into the forest with Seth, Quil and Embry on all fours.

"Drive back to your office. And wait for the call."

"Call? Someone's gonna call?" Charlie asked as the vampire parts were being burnt.

"Yup. The transformer on that pole over there is gonna blow. And scorch the grass." Jacob said loud enough for everyone to hear and realize that they had to do that too.

"And turn on the sprinklers," I added. "Wet the grass to flush the ash away."

Kolohe and Jamie got back the truck and drove it to the edge of the soccer field. We lifted Bleys into the back and headed across town to the Cullen house. Nessie was in the front seat; Jamie, Mari and I were in the back.

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"What the fuck?" Rosalie spat coming upon a wolf in the kitchen of the house.

"Rosalie! NO! It's Quil!" Seth shouted seeing her look at him.

"Naked!" Rosalie screamed. "What the fuck Seth!"

So he started, "Short version of the story is the nomads that Alice saw went hunting for dinner at Forks high school. Leilei caught wind of them literally and the packs got called in and Bleys, the medic got hurt. Esme said to bring him here. We were checking to see if the house was clear."

"Where's Nessie?" She spat immediately when he finished.

"With Leilei, Kolohe and Mari."

"When will they get here?"

Quil looked at Emmett and nodded back to the door. Seth said, "I think that means to get outside already."

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"Mari, Nessie get in the house now," Esme said with feeling. "Rosalie, get them inside."

Esme watched as we got Bleys out of the truck and she cried, "Oh My God! Leilei are you hurt?" She said gasping at me.

"No I'm fine." What now?

"Your pants!"

"What?" Then I looked down I was covered with Bleys's blood.

"Ok, Mari I need you to help me please. Right now."

"What?" She answered dazed a bit. But still with us.

"Come here and take everything out of my pockets and give it to Nessie. Now loosen my pants and put them where?"

"I'll pour bleach on them," Rosalie volunteered.

"No," Quil interjected. "I'll burn them in the fire pit at the Palazzo."

"Fine, let's do it."

"Why?" Mari asked standing behind me taking my pants off.

"They are covered with blood. The Cullens don't drink human blood but its still blood. And it bothers them. And there is way way too much of it," I whispered.

"Leilei are you ok?" I nodded yes to her. "Let's get him inside. Upstairs in the medical room," Esme asked in rapid succession.

Rosalie called, "So what do we do?" As we all walked into the house.

Esme paused for just a moment, "Please cook something for the boys to eat."

"Cook?" Nessie echoed.

"Seth, I need the medical bag. Get me the heroine," I called to him.

"Percosaid," Bleys sent.

"Changing drugs to Percosaid. Can I shower upstairs?" I knew that me being covered with blood wasn't helping her either.

"No problem," Esme said knowing that I really should get that blood off of myself. For my own sake.

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"Why are there pack members in the drive way?" Carlisle asked moments later in the driveway as he headed into the house.

Rosalie spat, "Nomad attack at the high school. The casualty is upstairs and needs surgery."

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"Hi! I'm Nessie by the way. Nessie Cullen and you're Mari Jackson. You are really pretty. Come on we'll go to the Palazzo and burn Leilei's pants."

"Are you ok?" Quil asked both of the girls.

"I'm fine. Mari are you ok?" Nessie asked. Mari didn't say hi back.

"I don't think so. I'm not sure . . . Nessie, you're a Cullen?"

"Yup," she said as they walked thru the main house to the former Puppy Place now renamed the Palazzo.

"And you Cullens are . . . What?"

"Vegetarian vampires," she chirped trying to stay upbeat. She knew to stay calm at least. "We do drink blood but animals only. We have a treaty with the Quileute and we live here in peace with them and the people here in town."

"So Dr. Cullen is a vampire?" Mari started on a logic puzzle of her own.

"Yes, grandpa is a vampire but like I said . . ."

"I get that part. I'm having trouble with the vampire part. Grandpa?"

"Grandpa will help Bleys and then we'll put him up in the guest room until he's well enough to go back home to the rez. My dad, Edward, is his son so that makes him my grandfather. I call him Grandpa."

"But his leg was like hanging off!"

Rosalie spat, "He's a werewolf. Shiba! Whatever! He'll be back up in his feet again before the end of the month probably. You should go and cook something. What do they eat?"

"Mari would you like to see the Palazzo? Come on, I'll give you the tour. This is where Jacob and Leilei used to live."

"They used to live here?"

"Yeah, when Leilei lived with us she and Jacob lived here. This is the living room area and this is the kitchen. I'm gonna make a fire. It will heat the water for the showers."

"A mini fridge?"

"We take food from the main house and keep it here for when we eat."

"Who is we?" Mari stuttered.

"Seth and I live here now. But now Leilei and Jacob at live at the farm. Come on. Upstairs is our bedroom."

"You and Seth share a bedroom?"

"Yup. We've been living together for since Leilei and Jacob moved back to the farm. It has worked out pretty well actually. Things are calmer for everyone. Bathroom is that way and the closet is here. The patio is out here. See the tile work."

"Is that a hot tub?"

"Yup. We should get back to the house. The pack members are still on alert so we should get back."

"So you're a Cullen too?" Mari asked the blond who was looking her up and down. "Which one?"

"I'm Rosalie. And you're Kolohe's imprint. You're too good for him . . . dog breath."

"Auntie Rosalie. I know you don't like Kolohe but Mari may not know that. She doesn't like him at all. Actually Aunt Rosalie doesn't like any of the pack members other than Seth."

"Which one is Seth?"

"He's the wolf, Jacob's second. I'm sorry, the guy that went upstairs with Leilei with the drugs."

"Naked!" Rosalie screamed as Jacob just walked into the kitchen thru the backdoor.

"Sorry," he said in response. "Thanks Nessie."

"Towel or shorts?" Nessie asked calmly like it was an everyday occurrence.

"Shorts. Thanks. Where's Leilei?" Jacob asked dressing.

"Upstairs with Esme and Carlisle," Rosalie spat at him. How dare he walk in the house all dirty and naked?

"Thanks." And he ran upstairs.

"Are they always that way?" Mari asked watching him run upstairs.

"Yes. Rude. Smelly big and clumsy."

"Auntie Rosalie stop it please? The Kai and the Quileute are our friends," Nessie pleaded.

"Just for you pumpkin."

"I'm Peanut. Leilei's pumpkin."

Rosalie decided to explain while Nessie was getting some food for the boys, "We're not like those guys at the school. We don't hunt people for food. We feed on deer. We have a treaty with Quileute and we live here in peace."

"So what do you think they'll want to eat Mari? They boys I mean."

"Hell if I know . . . I don't know anything about them . . ." Mari spat in return.

"Well, let ME tell you a few things," Rosalie started.

"Rosalie, thank you. Mari you should have something to eat," Esme started. "Nessie honey I think sandwiches. Are there any meatballs in the freezer if so then get the red sauce and some rolls. Did you call your grandmother Mari? Jacob said something about telling her that 'coconuts being safe'. He said to say that to your grandmother. And Nessie, call your Uncle Jasper. Let him know that we're all fine. Fruit smoothies to drink I think," she mused just like a mom would.

Mari sat in the kitchen table and called her grandmother. They chatted just as Nessie and Uncle Jasper chatted. "Everything is fine. My grandmother is home alone. My mom and sister are out in Port Angeles shopping. They'll be home about 6:30."

"Good. So what would you like to drink? I could make you a cup of tea? Maybe you should sit. Quil, what's going on?" Esme asked.

"Everything is ok so far. Whatcha cooking?" He asked after changing into shorts too.

"Sandwiches and smoothies," Nessie said. "And cocoa would be nice with marshmallows."

"How are you?" Quil asked Mari again.

"I think I'm ok? But I . . . Why is everyone asking me that?"

"Because this isn't a normal thing I know. But Kolohe is outside he'll explain everything but he's still on duty right now. It's complicated - way complicated," Quil admitted.

"The cocoa will be ready in about 10 minutes," Esme announced.

"I'll be back then. I'm going to take a shower," Quil said then he started out of the back door.

"Quil," Nessie said to him before got too far from the house. "Take these towels to the Palazzo. There are shorts in the upstairs dressers."

"Why are you out here?" Rosalie asked Mari.

"I just needed some air. You don't feel the cold? Well, I guess not . . . Is this normal for you? I mean all of this!"

"Everything they do, everything they show up it's drama drama drama. Like when Leilei showed up here all bleeding and unconscious. Things were better before they all got here. I hate to say it but things were better when we were in school. Before all the boys went fuzzy and the Kai got here," Rosalie admitted her truth. "So what's it like being Kolohe's imprint? Is he all 'drooling and stupid like they all are. But probably not since he's so much older than Jacob. And he didn't drool that much."

"No, Jacob is older than Kolohe. Right?"

"Oh no he isn't. Kolohe hasn't told you anything has he. Oh well. You should go inside. You'll catch cold."

"Is she all right?" Esme gasped. "My goodness gracious!"

"She just fainted." Jacob said carrying Leilei back into the same room where I'd spent so much time last year. "Seth is still upstairs with Emmett and Carlisle. She just needs to rest. She's fine, really," Jacob insisted looking at her face. "When she's healing someone on the level she was it drains her energy. So she just shuts down. She'll sleep it off and be fine."

"Jacob come and eat," Esme mothered him.

"I'd love to but I can't right now. I've got things to do. Tokar is coming over. Is that ok?"

"You know it's fine. Where are you headed?"

"To a meeting with the Makah about what happened today. We got some info from Sam so I'm having a face to face to chat with them. I'll let Leilei know what's happening at the meeting. Embry and . . . Jamie, let's go."

Mari watched him, them faze in the back yard and head out into the forest behind the house. "That looks like it hurts," she said aloud.

"It doesn't but it looks like it does," Quil said. "It isn't that bad once you get used to it. I know. It doesn't seem to make much sense but we are what we are. We exist to make sure you humans are safe from the vamps with the red eyes. All of the Cullens have amber eyes."

"So is Kolohe Quileute?"

"No. He is Hawaiian Kai and we are Quileute Kai. Vampire hunting shifters. Leilei calls us shifters because we shift forms. Human and 4 legged."

"Mari, come in dear," Esme. "It's cold out there."

Knock knock

"What NOW!" Rosalie spat in exasperation.

Emmett answered, "I've got the door . . . It can't be anything bad. They knocked."

"Tokar and Leah come on in. Oh come in please. Are you hungry?" Esme asked.

"Thanks for asking . . . Later maybe. Where's Bleys?" Tokar asked hurriedly.

"Upstairs. Follow me," Emmett offered. "Leah, I didn't know you were coming?"

"More pain killers. Thanks for having us. I'll be with Tokar," she said carrying her medical bag with her.

"Another doctor?" Mari asked.

"No, Leah is an EMT trainee and she lives on the rez. She probably here for moral support," Esme filled her in.

"Are they always like that?" Mari said shaking her head.

"Yeah. They are . . . Well the last time," Rosalie started to warm up. Then Esme shot her a look that meant, 'Stop' and she stopped.

"Especially when someone's hurt. It doesn't happen that often thank God," Esme finished.

"Often? How often do things like this happen?" Mari asked heading back into shock.

"Rarely, very rarely. Don't worry . . . Cocoa? Where's Kolohe?"

Nessie said, "The guys are still checking the town for stragglers."

"They do that?"

"Yeah Mari. All the time," Nessie chirped back.

"I hear the shower. Leilei is up. I think she needs clothes. Nessie, go to my room and check the trunk for something for her to wear," Esme asked.

.

10 minutes later I walked into the kitchen. "A lovely Alice Cullen ensemble. Thank you Esme."

"Oh you're welcome dear. Come and sit here and let me comb your hair out."

"How are you doing Mari," I asked sitting down near her.

Then there was a pause followed by, "Why didn't you tell me about Kolohe?" Then she slapped me. I saw it coming and I let her think she hit me. I snapped my head. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Mari! I never told you about me!" I started. Ok, let's play.

"What?" She just stared at me. Well, that was true.

"Mari, you're in the Cullen house with the Cullens. You know I don't live here, now. You didn't know that before you got here. And you want to know why I didn't tell you Kolohe was a fuzzy? We don't out each other. That is for him to tell you, not me. You were gonna learn the truth soon anyway. My mom is coming to visit."

"Nona is coming to visit?" Esme perked up with the question out of the blue.

"Yes, near the end of the school year."

"What does your mother have to do with Kolohe telling me he's a . . . fuzzy?" Mari stumbled over the word 'fuzzy.'

"I can't say. I'm not allowed to say. But we don't out each other."

"Leilei, you're back with us. Are you alright?" Tokar asked concerned about my welfare.

"He's one of your people?" Mari asked staring at him this time. "I think I've seen you before."

"Maybe at the store?" I asked.

"No."

"Leilei, I heard you. Where are you heading with this? What are you not saying?" Tokar asked me.

I extended my left hand to him, "Mari's Grandmother Tanaka is Hekili. A Momoa."

"Really? I see your point. I'll allow this. Go ahead," he allowed me to spill.

"I have to get something out of my truck. I'll be right back."

.

"This is where she saw you?" I showed him a picture my mother found in the archives. "A few minutes ago you were hollering at me for not telling you about Kolohe and about me and about the Cullens. I'm not the only one keeping secrets."

"What are you talking about?" Mari shot back.

"Any idea why your grandmother seems to like me and Kolohe and Jacob? Why she pushed and invited us for dinner? Why she didn't freak over our tattoos? Did you ask your gran why she freaked out at the rez the other day? She's one of us. I'm outing your grandmother. Here's a picture from 60 years ago, when your gran was 20. Here's Tokar, this is my mom. And this is Simon."

"That's the guy from the lunch."

"Yeah, they were engaged to be married. This picture was taken 3 days before the wedding. And she left 1 day later."

"She what?" Esme asked.

"She left him. She was Simon's imprint and she left him." The absolute worst thing ever!

"She was his imprint?" Mari asked not getting 'imprint'.

"For each of the guys that shifts, goes fuzzy, there is 1 perfect woman. For Simon it was your grandmother. For Jacob it's Leilei. Among our people once you learn, figure out who it is, you date and decide to marry. Your grandmother just left him," Tokar delineated.

"You didn't look for her?" Rosalie, for some reason, seemingly concerned about fuzzy things.

"Of course we did but it was 60 years ago. Just after the war. People were everywhere most without papers. If she wanted to disappear she could and she did," he answered.

"But you couldn't find her?" Esme asked.

"How?" Tokar continued. "If she didn't want to be found, it's easy to disappear."

"Rosalie," I jumped back into the conversation. "When I woke up here, I knew phone numbers and addresses. She knew them too but she didn't contact anyone. She . . . left . . . us . . . him."

"But no nothing in 60 years until she started dropping hints to Leilei. We have found the lost Momoa sister," Tokar sounding triumphant.

"That sounds important . . . What is Momoa?" Mari asked.

"The Reader's Digest version of the story is she, Momoa, was the chieftain of a village on Maui. She had 5 sons that were the pack members. She tried to get the tribe to take the vampire threat seriously and they didn't. Then a woman in the village disappeared. The alarm wasn't raised because it was believed that she just ran away with her boyfriend. Her family didn't approve of him. Then he returned from fishing and he went to look for her. He didn't return either. It was decided that they met and left the village. Then Momoa disappeared into the forest. For the next 3 days and nights there was screaming in the mountains. The pack members couldn't find the source of the sounds. Then just before sunset 2 people walked into the village. Momoa and a man that held her arm as they walked into the village. He announced in broken Hawaiian that he was now the chieftain of the village because he married Momoa. Her sons told him to prove that he was married to her. And then he proved that they were together by having sex on the spot. He said you have the proof. And he proclaimed himself the chief of village. And he started to tell the people what to do. When he released her arm – she acted. She broke his legs and ripped his arms off. And then she spoke. She told them 'this' could not be allowed to live and they built a fire and burned him from feet to head. She said the couple was dead, that he'd killed them and he had killed her. She told them not to let their pack go dormant, to stay vigilant. Then she told her sons to kill her. She said she would not live as she was. She would not kill her own people, ever. Her sons protested and she told them that she was dead. That she died a chieftain and she deserved an honorable burial for saving her village and tribe. They agreed and they buried her head and burned her body. When her sons took 'last names' as they, we, became 'civilized' they took Momoa as their name."

"And your grandmother is a Momoa," I said to Mari after Tokar finished the story.

"And she just left Simon? I thought you couldn't breakup an imprinted couple," Esme asked.

"We don't break imprinted couples up. It's against our most sacred law. But if the woman decides not to marry him. She hates him or she leaves, what can you do? It's hard for the pack member. Simon decided to go thru the trial. Losing your imprint is like trying to heal after you get all of your skin ripped off. It takes time. Some men go insane and are killed. Some go fuzzy and don't change back. Because we're telepathic on 4 feet he wasn't allowed to be fuzzy when the rest of the pack was fuzzy because they can feel your pain. 10 years . . . it took him 10 years to recover. He married another. He is a father and grandfather. He has fathered pack members and wonderful human children," Tokar boasted.

"But he still looks like he did in the picture," Mari said looking at the IPad.

"When we first go fuzzy in the Kai world you spend about 2 years learning history and the important things. You learn that your aging slows and your wife may acquire that ability from you also. If your grandma married and had children with Simon she might still appear to be young too," I said in my best pack leaders' wife voice.

Mari guessed wrong, "So you're young forever?"

"It's unknown. It's all genetic. Each couple lives knowing that it is normal to age and die. But they probably will have a much extended youth," Tokar jumped in with the politically correct answer in front of the Cullens.

"How old are your parents Leilei?"

"I don't know. We have birthday parties but there aren't any candles. We just sing and eat cake. Well you've seen the wedding video and this picture. My mom's aged a bit in 60 years but I don't know how old she is."

"So your mom . . ."

"Was probably a teacher for your grandmother," I said knowing that was true.

"And so now Leilei you're what?"

"Oh my god Mari. I'm not a pack member. You don't acquire fuzziness. I can't change shape. I'm just Jacobs' fiancée. He's asked my father if he could marry me and he agreed. And I agreed. You are Kolohe's imprint. It means that Kolohe would like you to be his girlfriend right now. That's all. You aren't the pack member. You'd be dating my brother. He's Jacobs' pack advisor. Because I'm Jacobs' girlfriend and he's the leader that makes me the girls' leader. It's my job to organize activities for the girls and guys together. It's for you to decide whether or not to come."

"Like the baby shower," Nessie jumped in.

"I helped to organize the baby shower for the other pack leaders' wife. And there are the football games."

"Football football or soccer football?" Emmett asked. We knew that they were listening but I didn't know how much he attention was paying.

"Football football. It's 11 on 11 full contact shirts vs. skins," I answered proudly.

"Oh no!" Rosalie whispered. "Emmett no!" She exclaimed.

"I'll ref if you want me to Leilei? Please?" He added all enthusiastically.

"You organize football games for the packs?" Mari asked.

"Us girls drive up to the baseball field and let the boys be boys. We're the cheer leaders. Did you see the Replacements?" I said laughing.

"I'll ref anytime," Emmett said. Hopeful.

"They may be cancelled for a while. Bleys is our medic for the games," I stated not wanting any questions about why we'd need a medic for a 'friendly' Sunday afternoon football game.

"So if I'm Kolohe's girlfriend then," Mari started ignoring the medic problem.

Now you've got it, "You get invited to dinner at the farm on Fridays. We get together for cram sessions, to study for tests and SAT's. So if you want to come and your mom says you have to bring Karen with you then let me know and I'll hang up something white and no one will talk about anything fuzzy. If she says you have to bring Lori – then I'll have her bake cookies with me. What you and Kolohe do when you're on your own is your business."

"I can't do any of that. I . . . this is all too much for me . . ." she said sitting back down.

"Yes you can you don't have to make any decision this second. Or do anything. 'I'm living with the Cullens'," I said making air quotes. "Until I graduate from high school next year. So why don't you think that maybe you can take the same period of time to learn about your Hawaiian Kai culture. Like I said what you and Kolohe do is your business but it's my job to help you with understanding who you are. You can be angry with me for not telling you about my abilities." I touched her hand with one finger, "I can talk with you without speaking. I can take away pain by touch too." So I pinched her hand and touched her to take away the pain. "So hate me for not telling you that, about me. If you hate Kolohe for not telling you about him . . . take that up with him. Here's a spoon. If you hit him with your hand you'll break it. Your hand I mean. I can take away the pain but I can't fix the bones. Jacob's here. We'll be leaving to take you home in about 20 minutes."

"What?" Esme and Mari said at the same time.

"We've got to get Mari home at the same time she and Kolohe usually get home."

"But I can't . . ." Mari kept saying.

"Yes you can. You have warrior blood in your veins. Find your strength there. If not find your strength in the man who shares your soul. That man is outside. Kolohe. Go to him."

Then the back door slammed. Then I was smiling . . . smiling and laughing.

"I don't understand, Leilei you're laughing," Nessie said.

"Think back. She slapped me and asked why I didn't tell her about Kolohe?"

.

.

.

"You're steaming," Mari said watching the water on his body evaporate into vapor in thin cold air.

"Oh, I just got out of the shower," Kolohe said. "I'm still a little damp. I'll dry off. What's with the spoon? Leilei used to hit me with spoons when she was young."

"Why?"

"She was jealous that she couldn't go, you know all fuzzy. So she took to hitting me with a spoon or anything when she remembered to do it," he said laughing.

"Did she know about you her entire life? Is your father a fuzzy too? Tell me everything."

"The Readers Digest version of the truth. My mom, Nona had 3 kids with my dad. A human brother that I do not talk to, Walela, I was with her at the wedding and me – her only furry son. So far. My dad was not furry. Mom left him for Leilei's dad when I was 10. Before I turned 16 Leilei was born and I went furry the first time. So yes. I'm 31 and Leilei is 16. We don't know if Yutan is a furry yet. He's 10 and we have 5 years to wait."

"You said you love me?" Mari trying hard to remember to be mad at him.

"You're my imprint. It's how I feel. You're the other half of my soul. I don't know what else to say . . . How else to say it. Are we still friends?"

"Yeah . . . I guess. Leilei says that she'll invite me the farm so I can learn about my Kai heritage."

"Leilei is good about things like that. You're shivering," he said as he moved closer to her.

"That's right, you don't feel the cold either. Do you?"

"Nope!" As a silly grin came over his face. "It's 108 degrees over here," he said moving closer.

"No! Oh my god. You are hot aren't you?"

"Well, yes I am," he smiled. "Are we gonna be ok?" As he moved to give her a hug. Just to keep her warm.

"I think so. You smell like cologne."

"50% Hawaiian Kai. The rest of me is," Then she kissed him. "I owed you for saving me."

"I would have done it for anyone. Jon included but I wouldn't have kissed him or Karen for that matter. Let's get you inside."

"Good grief," Mari shrieked watching Jacob eat a 4 meatball sub in 4 bites.

"See! I told you," Rosalie pointed out to Mari.

"You should see him eat when he's hungry. Ready? We should be leaving soon. I want to see Bleys before we leave?" I said heading up stairs.

"Can I come too?" Mari asked.

I waved her on and she joined me heading upstairs. And she was back down almost as quickly. Apparently she wasn't ready for the pins in his legs and a hose up his nose.

"How are you?" I asked Leah.

"Fine, good to see you Leah."

I touched him and he was hot and breathing rapidly. "He's better. How much pressure in the traction?"

"80 lbs." Carlisle smiled. "4 times normal human. I think he's doing fine." He stated with a look of relief on his face.

"Carlisle can I have a word. Give this to Jasper. He'll understand. Have a good evening." I handed him a small vial sealed against spilling.

"Leah, are you staying all night?" I continued as I walked back down the stairs.

"Just until after the family meeting. Seth said he'd do the first overnight."

.

.

.

"Back seat you 2," Jacob said. 3 of the 4 of us scrunched our faces. Bleys' blood in the truck had bleach poured on it.

"I'll clean it up," Kolohe said.

"What?"

"We can smell the blood in the back. Someone poured bleach on it," he said aloud for Mari.

"You can smell it from here." We were in the extended cab of the truck. The passenger part of the truck. The blood was in the truck bed.

"We fuzzy boys," Kolohe started, "Have heightened senses. Hearing, sight and sense of smell."

"So what are you going to say to my grandmother?"

"We'll keep it in KISS mode for right now. We'll keep it simple. I'll answer the questions that she asks," I said.

"Just like with me."

"It's a lot to understand. I was born in this. The boys get the info after they go fuzzy. So any questions?"

"You live at the farm with Kolohe right?"

"Jacob and I live together at the farm. And Kolohe lives at the farm too."

"You and Jacob live together together?"

"Together together. We live a yurt."

"Can I see it?"

Jacob said, "Taking a left to the farm. Oh wonderful, it's Charlie. He wants the Kai to leave."

"Hello Charlie," we trio'd in harmony.

"Jacob, Kolohe. Are you heading home already?"

"Yeah, everything is fine."

"Really everything?"

"Charlie everything is fine. Bleys is out of surgery. And he's at the Cullen house."

"Jacob!" Charlie almost shouted looking into the truck and seeing someone he didn't recognize.

"This is Mari. She was at the school in the back with us. She's Leilei's friend. We're all fine. Bella, Edward, Jasper and Alice are on their way back home now. Seth said they'll be back here by midnight or so. We've got to get Mari home, can we leave?"

"So Carlisle's at the house?" He questioned.

"With Leah and Tokar."

"Ok, thanks. Thank you both for Nessie's sake."

"Good night Charlie," we all chimed again.

"Why does he do that?" Mari asked.

"His daughter Bella married Edward Cullen and became one of them. He wants to protect her. Like my dad would," I said. So the lessons begin.

"Hold it! . . . His daughter married one of them and . . . and . . ."

"You've got the idea. That's right. She's Nessie mother."

"How?" Mari asked heading back into shock.

"She got married as a human, got pregnant on her honeymoon. Had Nessie and got turned into a vampire because she had to be or she'd be dead dead. Not dead as a Cullen vampire dead. Nessie is about 6 yrs old and is acting like a teen ager now." So how's that?

"Plunk! Mari is officially in the deep end of the pool. The Wolf Run Farm people. Which is owned by the Kai," Jacob announced as we turned into the driveway.

"Do I want to know what happened here?" Mari asked as we got out of the truck.

"You do but not now. Ask me later and I'll tell you. It will take about an hour. This is the farm kitchen. We have pack dinners here, meetings and breakfasts too. Before the SAT's we have the students from the rez here for breakfast. Washing machines and lockers for the guys who work here. And here's the yurt."

"It's a tent."

"Yeah, come on in."

"It has a fireplace?"

"The furniture is mine. From my room in my dad's house in Japan."

"So you sleep in here with Jacob every night?"

"Yup and Kolohe sleeps over there in the tent. This is the shower house. And this is the furo. I like to soak. Barns with chickens and my pigs. Compost piles. Machine shed. When it's dryer Kolohe will start rebuilding the house."

"Your parents let you live here with Jacob?"

"My parents let me live with the Cullens and the Cullens let us sleep together."

"Holy crap! Really. You 2 live together?" Mari stood shaking her head.

"So it's like everything, complicated."

.

.

.

Knock knock

The peephole darkened and then the lock turned. "Oh my god you're home," Grandma Tanaka said. "Come in all of you. Are you ok? All of you?"

"Grandma, why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?" Grandma asked Mari.

"Tell me that you're Kai. When you were sure that they were Kai, why didn't you tell me?"

"I . . . I don't want to talk about it."

"Well I know now."

"Who gave permission?" Grandma asked narrowing her gaze at Kolohe and I.

"Tokar," I answered.

"He's here too?"

"So what is going to happen?" Gran knew something had to happen.

"My mom is on her way but she won't be here until June."

"I've decided to learn about my Kai heritage from Leilei," Mari interjected.

Jacob looked right. In the direction of the driveway.

"Home already?" Grandma asked.

"Yup at the bottom of the driveway."

"Quickly what happened?"

"3 nomads at the high school got turned into dust. 1 of ours got hurt but he's on the mend," Jacob said.

"Don't tell grandma about the Cullens yet," I sent thru touch.

"We should be leaving now," Kolohe said as he heard footsteps on the porch.

"Mom!" Mrs. Jackson called.

"We're in here," Mari answered back.

"Hello Mrs. Jackson," we chimed in unison.

"Hi Lori," I said. "Thanks for the help Mari. Oh by the way Mrs. Jackson, can Mari come to a cram session on Saturday?"

"Cram session?"

"Yes ma'am. There's a big calculus exam on Monday. Some the kids from the rez and I were gonna have a cram session to study for the test. On Saturday from 4 – 8pm at the farm. We'd really like to have Mari join us."

"Well, I don't know. We'll see," she said. Looking at me especially. I was dressed a bit better than usual.

"Thank you Mrs. Jackson. See ya tomorrow Mari."

"Have a good night," Kolohe said smiling at Mari as we turned to leave.

.

"Did we scare her to death?"

"We'll see tomorrow."

.

.

.

"She what?" Rosalie screeched aloud in the kitchen.

"Rosalie, lower your voice," Esme whispered.

"In flames! That bitch. I'll kill her myself."

"Esme, repeat what you just said again please," Jasper asked trying to understand what she just said.

"Leilei pulled 2 pistols and shot at the nomad in the tree. He said, 'Bullets weren't a problem. And she said she knew that but she didn't think he was fire proof.' Then he started screaming."

Jasper paused, "Did she say what the ammunitions was?"

"Molecular sodium. She said it burns in the presence of oxygen. I asked her."

"I'd love to see one of the bullets," Jasper said. And Carlisle pulled a small vial from his pocket.

"We have got to get out of here!" Rosalie concluded.

"Rosalie, lower your voice." Carlisle repeated knowing that she wouldn't. Well not yet anyway.

"But they could . . ."

"But they haven't and they didn't." He continued.

"But . . ." she continued.

They decided to let her finish her rant. It would be the only way they could continue. "Why are we still sitting here! Let's go! Why aren't we leaving right now?"

"Because Bleys is upstairs and still needs my help and we don't see this as a threat," Carlisle finished.

"Baby, they seem to like fireworks. Maybe they developed this as the perfect weapon against the Volturi," Emmett said trying to get Rosalie to slow down and think.

"What? You all have lost your minds?"

"No. It's a weapon that they can use against the Volturi. The Quileute would have to breed like rabbits to try to equal the number of the guard. This ammo, since it seems to work would even the odds in their favor. Because the guard probably hasn't changed their fighting tactics in centuries," Jasper said laying down logic that he knew Emmett figured out. Maybe Rosalie could get it now.

"They haven't had to change their tactics." Carlisle said aloud. "They are used to being victorious without challenged."

"This would be a wonderfully bad surprise for them," Jasper wrapped up. "Especially if they got caught in a cross fire which is what the Kai and the Quileute will probably plan for them."

.

.

.

"Are they all home now?" Mari asked as we headed back to the Cullen house.

"Yup, I think so," I said as we walked up to the front door.

Knock knock

"Hello Leilei. Mari, so wonderful to see you again."

"Hello Esme."

"Mrs. Cullen," Mari said quietly. Their house was quiet. It seemed to generate quiet.

"Please call me Esme. Your part of the family now," Esme said giving her a little squeeze across her shoulders.

"The family?"

"The people who know. In public I call her and Carlisle Dr. and Mrs. but in their house it's Carlisle and Esme. How's the patient?" I asked.

"Tokar is with him and Carlisle right now. It's exam time. Come into the kitchen to wait and I'll make you some tea. Come and sit here. I'll get Nessie. She'll love knowing you came by to visit. The rest of the family is here too. You should meet them Mari dear."

"That's good to hear. I'll be right back," as I headed to the bathroom.

"So how's it being a leash holder?" Rosalie. "You can get Kolohe to do anything right? So you can jerk his . . ."

"Young lady!" Esme snapped as Alice and Jasper walked into the kitchen from the outside.

"This is Jasper and Alice Hale, Bella and Edward Cullen. So now you've met the entire Forks Cullen family."

"Hello, nice to meet you all," Mari said smiling at the bunch of them as they walked thru the kitchen.

"She is really pretty and she dresses better than some," Alice said looking me up and down.

"So how did your grandmother take the news of you learning about her story?" Esme asked while she was putting out snacks.

"Well, she was happy that I was ok. Really happy about that but she's . . . she's worried. She doesn't want me in pack life. She says it's too brutal."

"Listen to your grandmother," Rosalie added from the family room.

"Rosalie!" Esme snapped in a mother tone that every daughter knew. "What's the problem with the life?"

Mari said, "She didn't want to say."

"Maybe it's the smell and the dirt," some advice came floating in the air.

"Don't you have somewhere to be right now? I'm sure you do. Please forgive Rosalie . . . she's Rosalie," Esme tried to make an apology for Rosalie. "What is worrying your grandmother so?"

"I'm not completely sure. She was smiling when she was remembering her childhood with the pack. But now, I'm not sure," Mari said sitting down at the breakfast bar.

"She knows what the cost is. What you have to give up. It's why I got so upset at Karen when we were at the rez. She was cutting on Kolohe for letting Yutan be the best man at our parents wedding. If Yutan turns fuzzy in about 5 years then everything is fine. If not then we plan how we will leave his life because in his lifetime we won't age. Unless he needs to be rescued." I just let that out of the closet. Humans in the Kai fuzzy mix.

"Like me yesterday."

"Then Yutan will learn about us."

"Isn't there any way to know, to be sure?" Esme asked knowing I'd told her before. We never knew for sure.

"No, not really. Mom is 90:10 she's sure he will. Dad won't say either way."

"You see, I couldn't do that to Lori. I can't leave her." Mari started to cry.

"You don't leave her. You have your life and she has hers," I said knowing that I was still trying to convince myself of that too.

"But because your grandmother left she never knew what she would or could gain. The undying love of her family," Esme said to help.

That sounded perfect to me, "That's what you can tell your Gran if she asks what you'll be gaining by deciding to be with Kolohe."

"Can't you make, bring Yutan over. Make him a fuzzy? Or like you give him an aspect?" Mari asked. So she and Kolohe had been talking more than I knew.

"I was a fluke. A 1 in 1000 freak occurrence," I lied. "And anyway it isn't my decision. It's his life - his decision. He could die if it isn't the right person who's the donor. Right then and there. Are you telling me that I have the right to do that to him?"

"So what happens to me if I don't get Kolohe's aspect? What happens to Lori?"

"Lori's life is hers. What she decides to do is her choice." True enough.

"I do not understand you young one," Tokar interjected. "You have known about us for one day and the only thing out of billions of things that could concern you, you bring the pain of losing your sister to yourself." He raised his hand to Esme. "You aren't concerned with all of the joys and happiness that is to come. You are seeking out the pain."

"But Leilei said she was worried about her brother."

"Worried – yes. Concerned – yes. Paralyzed by fear, no. She takes each day 1 at a time. We all do."

"But . . . I can't leave Lori."

Tokar paused then let the wisdom of his time as a pack leader come to the fore, "Are you planning to go to college in about 2 years? You will leave her then. We have known about you and your sister since Kolohe imprinted on you. Think, in about 6 years Jacob and Leilei will marry. If you and Kolohe are still dating then Nona will include you in the wedding party. If your sister looks the slightest bit interested Nona will slap a kimono on her too. Your mom and Gran also. The shower or whatever you women do too and at the rehearsals, Lori will be seen by pack members. Then she may be imprinted on right here in town by one of the Quileute. She may not reject becoming one of us when she is told about her Kai ancestry. Occasionally I ask my imprint, my wife, Do I retire now? Stop shifting and become a human again. She always says no. We have buried children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We have also raised pack members, humans and seer sisters. And yes there is pain, loss and grief but she loves our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. We have adopted in our community children that needed homes. She loves that. She's told me I am what I am and she is what she is because of me and we will live until we don't. . . . You have 2 years to learn about us. There is always pain but look for the joy and happiness. And you should remember that Kolohe will be with you for all the long days of your life. That is our marriage vow. The long days of your life."

"You're very lucky Tokar," Esme remarked.

"Not lucky fortunate. I'm very fortunate, I know."

"I'll be right back," I said heading up stairs.

.

.

.

"Are we still on for tonight?" Nessie asked when I got back downstairs from seeing Bleys.

"Tonight? What's tonight?" Mari wanted to know.

"A pack meeting at the farm. And yup. It's black bean chili and chips," I chirped back at Nessie.

"You didn't invite me?" Mari snapped at me.

"I would have but, I'm sure your parents, your mom especially wouldn't let you come over just to come over. She was all, 'We'll see' about studying for the calculus exam."

"She's just cautious."

"I get that but you're older than me." Ok, that was a shot but one minute she's all you're too dangerous and 3 minutes later she's all I want to and hang.

"Maybe your parents don't care."

"Oh they care, bitch. But they also know that if the hold on too tightly I'll leave and never come back. It's always fun when I go home. I'm my dad's spoiled rotten little pumpkin, his little girl. I can do no wrong. So I try not to do anything wrong to disappoint him. Mom has trained me from childhood and she's always known I'd leave and get married. All she's ever wanted for is to be happy. And she knows I am, so I try not to disappoint her either. Ok, let's go."

"Why?" Mari questioned.

"Have to get you home on time. Thank you Esme for everything. Nessie see you tonight."

"What's for dinner on Sunday?" Nessie kept at it.

"It's a Clearwater fish fry dinner. With veggie pot pies."

"Veggie pot pies?" Esme wondered aloud.

"Roasted carrots, onions, parsnips and potatoes in a veggie cream sauce. Chowder thick baked in a double crust with a hole poked in the top."

"Chicken pot pies no chicken?" Nessie giggled.

"Save me one or 2," Tokar added as he headed back upstairs to sit with Bleys.

"What's for dinner on Saturday?" Nessie asked pouring it on.

"Pizza. The teenage staple for the cram session."

"Cram session?"

"For a real definition, look it up in the urban dictionary. What it means to me last minute study session for a test," I answered heading out the door.

"Got it. Thanks."

"Why do we have to get back so early?" Mari asked. God! Mari whined like Nessie.

"Driving lessons. Kolohe told Jamie to drive his truck to the soccer field to get Bleys when he was hurt and Jamie didn't know how to drive – so starting today he's getting lessons and so we need my truck for that."

"Getting his license is that necessary?"

"No not really but knowing how to drive is. So now all of the pack members are gonna learn to drive everything. Do you know how to drive?" I asked. Things I need to know.

"No, but I want to get my learners permit. Is it really that important?"

"Yes it is. And yes it's a pack thing. If Tokar says to drive to the rez and be safe that's exactly what I'd do."

"It's like my Gran said, you're all too dangerous."

"No we're not," I snapped back. "The vampires are dangerous. Knowing how to drive isn't dangerous. Being somewhere and being in danger and not knowing what to do to help or get away is dangerous. Yesterday, just yesterday you damn near fell asleep on your feet. That wasn't done by me, it was them. And if you walked to the library he could have made you fall asleep anywhere along the way. And you'd probably be dead now. But I knew what to do and I called in the cavalry. And things got handled. 1 of ours of ours got hurt and you're saying that you'd rather not have been saved? So you're like your grandmother and just want to be a normal human instead being someone who got called to more than that. To be more than just normal. Yesterday you agreed to spend some time learning about us. And now it seems that you've decided you hate us and won't want anything to do with us because we do what needs to be done to keep the humans safe. That's fine. Here you are at home. I'll see you tomorrow or not. I'll still invite you to the pack functions that I'd invite any of the imprints to but I'll explain to them that we're too dangerous for you to attend a dinner party."

.

"What the hell happened? What did you say to Mari?" Kolohe damn near screamed at me.

Boy! Check yourself. I'm your councilor remember? "We went to the Cullens. I went to check in with Bleys and Mari was talking with Tokar and Esme in the kitchen. When I get there she was like, 'My parents aren't overly protective, your parents are too lax'. Nessie asked about tonight and Mari got upset that she wasn't invited. I kinda said I was taking it slow with her and pack functions since her 'rents' are a little too controlling, but I didn't use that word. Then she said it's like her Gran said, 'We're just too dangerous'. And I said vamps are dangerous. That morphed into 'learning to drive isn't dangerous' not knowing what to do in a bad situation was dangerous. Danger was what you made it out to be. That yesterday I saw a situation and I acted and it probably saved her life. That you guys handle the danger and not me."

"She said you told her to not come tomorrow?"

"I did not tell her that. What I said was she seems to hate the pack thing and so I'd still invite her to functions but that I wouldn't expect her to show." Just the truth like usual.

"When is your mom getting here?" Jacob asked.

"June."

"Will it be better by then?"

"I don't know."

"Clusterfuck all over again."

.

.

.

"And for the best 1 liner in a battle goes to Leilei with the and I quote, "What do you think happens when a vampire and a werewolf fight? Best 2 out of 3 rock paper scissors?" Jacob acknowledged my addition to the battle to his pack as we ate dinner.

"Thank you! Thank you! Everyone thanks. More nachos anyone?"

"And it seems I have been lax in my leadership," Jacob said. "Kolohe wanted Jamie to drive his truck and Jamie didn't know how. So from now on everyone is going to learn how to drive everything. Automatic and manual, the quads, motorcycles, bicycles . . ."

Stevie asked, "Unicycles too boss man?"

"For now we'll leave that one out. School busses too. You never know." Wiseass.

Ah-choo ah-choo

"Oh hi everyone," Charlie said entering the kitchen. "Nessie?" Followed by and uncomfortable pause. "Jacob, can I have a word?"

"Go ahead Charlie. This is my family."

"Ok, the DEA has decided not to look any further into the incident in the woods. They've checked the agriculture records and know that this is a transitional organic farm. Actually their looking at the biker gangs up north. We're all clear down her."

"That's great news. Thanks, is that all?"

"Yeah, that's pretty much it. Goodnight everyone."

Nessie rolled her eyes, "Oh boy!"

"Be strong," Seth said. "It'll be fine."

"What?" Cody asked.

"I'll get grilled when I get home about what's going in here?" Nessie whined.

"So tell them you learned you don't like jalapenos and I need you to help make my piecrusts tomorrow night," I said picking up cleaned plates.

"That's why there are leftovers. Where's Kolohe?" Jamie asked.

"On the phone with the woman," Jacob laughed.

"She's a girl if she doesn't see how much he cares," Mel snapped.

Jacob answered for her, "She's see that. She's just scared. She had one hell of a Wednesday. Most of you women folk didn't get thrown into the deep end of the pool all at once. Vampires, Cullens and werewolves all pretty much in a good 30 minute time span. She just needs the time and so does Kolohe. Give them space. Now what's for dessert?"

"Fried apple pies," I answered smiling holding a platter all ready to go.

"Same 3 for your brother."

.

.

.

"Ok Karen, try to help me talk Mari into coming to the farm on Saturday for a calculus study session?"

"The farm? With the animals?" She answered.

"The animals don't do math Karen," Mari went for the save.

I giggled and went for the smart ass answer, "Yes they do, they multiply. But no differential equations."

"Is this study session just for you or . . ." Karen continued.

"Me and some of the kids from the rez." I let Karen know that this would be mixed social. "Well, they have the same exam on Monday. And studying helps. And it's only 4 hours on Saturday."

Karen snapped back, "We can't go. Mari aren't we going to Port Angeles with your mom?"

"I could use the review. It sounds like fun. If mom says I can go, I'll think I'll go." Down goes Karen. Down goes Karen.

"Can I come too?" Karen asked.

.

.

.

"Is she coming?" Jamie asked.

"Don't know but that isn't gonna stop us. Let's get started." The 6 of us started working on the problems on the white board in the kitchen. About 5 pm I heard a sharp bark. And then the bell at the farm stand rang. "I'll be right back people. Don't get it all done without me."

"Oh Mrs. Jackson, Grandma Tanaka. Come on back. This way," as I turned on lights and brought them back into the kitchen.

"What's all this?" Mrs. Jackson asked. I had the exterior lights on so they could see.

"That's the barn. And the machine shed. Kolohe lives in the yurt and the tent is for dry storage. This is the commercial kitchen. Everyone, this is Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Tanaka, Mari Jackson and Karen O'Neil. This is Stevie, Jamie, Mel – Melinda, Cody and Leslie."

"Ah-choo . . . ah-choo. Excuse me please," Jamie said moving out the door to the outside.

"Hello! . . . Hello!" Came a familiar voice. It was Esme. "Wipe your nose young man and then help me with this."

"Yes ma'am," he said smiling at her.

"Surprise!" Carlisle said.

"Dr. Cullen what's this?" I asked. What now?

"Pizza for dinner? Leilei how many times have I told you that pizza is not a food group? So Esme made dinner for you all. Come and help us bring it in."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Dr. and Mrs. Carlisle and Esme Cullen. Mrs. Jackson, Mari's mother and Mrs. Tanaka, her grandmother." Nice. Thanks Carlisle. Stop with the surprises.

"Wonderful to meet you," Esme glowed. The light in the kitchen made everything look weird so they looked fine.

"You'll have to cook this. Just heat everything else. We're heading to the shelter tonight. I expect you in my 11 pm," Esme mothered me.

"All charged," I answered as I shook my phone. "11 pm it is."

"Lovely to have met you all. Study hard kids," she finished.

"Cookies Leilei?" Dr. Cullen said disappointedly.

"Dr. Cullen, they're oatmeal chocolate chip. Oatmeal is good for you right?" I took a small snack bag and filled it with cookies. "For your trip?"

"What is it?" Karen asked poking at the containers that were on the counter.

"Indian food," Esme said and she joined her mate heading out of the door. "Good night Mrs. Jackson. Mrs. Tanaka." They left and then the mother duo left too.

"Indian food?" Karen questioned looking at the Quileute kids sitting at the table.

"Not Quileute food silly, although Emily can cook. This is curry. I wonder if we have any pita bread. It's tandoori chicken, rice, lentils, potatoes and a note saying to make a salad. Ok dinner is at 7 people."

"Where's Kolohe?" Mari asked moving a chair.

"At the rez with Jacob. They're plowing the field at the school today. Spring will be here soon. Back to problem #6." They took seats and we started again.

And at about 7pm in walk the boys, "Hey Boo!" Jacob greeted me.

"Hey you!" I answer. "Stay way dirty smelly boy."

Kolohe winked at Mari, "Ok. What are we getting for dinner? How many pizzas?"

"For dinner you guys are getting cleaned up. Mrs. C. made dinner. Tandoori chicken and all the fixings so I'll start the chicken now and by the time you've scraped off 3 layers of dirt it'll be finished."

Mari asked for the bathroom. "Outside that door. Then turn right around the washer and dryer."

"What's with the lights out here?" She asked the darkness.

"We don't usually use them," Kolohe said moving closer to her. "We don't need them to . . ." Then she kissed him.

"Is that Jacob in the shower?"

"Yup. I'm glad you came. Thanks for giving us a second chance. Forgive Leilei. She's pretty much black and white. Yes or no. There's no in-between for her. She doesn't get you not understanding why not wanting to be safe when you know what you know."

"Are you saying you're not worried about Yutan?"

"I'm worried about him. I'm more worried about you," Kolohe answered her.

"Oh hi there I thought you fell in. Which way to the bathroom again?" Karen asked interrupting their moment.

"Did the door get stuck again? Fix it please!" I screamed from the kitchen. "Dinner in 15."

"Save me something to eat," Jacob shouted from the shower.

"Ok it's ready and ladies' first," I announced.

Well I won the bet about when Mrs. Jackson would arrive to pick up Mari. I knew she'd be early. About 7:45 there was a car horn blowing at the farm stand again. I headed out to find Leah talking with Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Jackson.

Leah looked happy when I appeared. "I need help with everything," she said.

"Come on in everyone. We've got dinner. Mrs. Cullen made dinner so if you want to have some, fix yourself a plate. I'm sorry, I'll do the introductions. This is Karen O'Neil and Mari Jackson from Forks high school. And this is Leah." I introduced everyone to everyone else.

"Oh Mrs. Swan it's nice to meet you," Mrs. Jackson said.

Then we all laughed. "I'm sorry. I'm Sue Clearwater's daughter Leah. Charlie Swan married my mother," she explained trying to keep a straight face. She lost.

"Leilei please fix me a plate. Girls, Jamie get your things together and we'll leave in a few minutes," Mrs. Parker said.

"How will the guys get home?"

"Jacob will take them after they've dropped me off," I answered.

"After we make pot pies," Leah added looking at the dinner leftovers.

"Thanks for coming. It was fun," Mari said as she winked at Kolohe. And he winked back. Then everyone left.

Leah asked, "Where'd Kolohe go?"

"Waiting for his phone to ring. They'll be all chatty batty catty chatty until she has to get off the phone."

"Her mother seems nice, Jackson wasn't it?" Leah asked as we started to dish.

"Yup and it's grandma that was the imprint," I reminded Leah.

"Seth help or get out," Leah smacked her brother.

"But I wanted to eat first," he whined as Nessie walked in the back door.

"Push the button on the mixer and eat second," she directed.

.

.

.

"Oh hello dear? Are you coming home soon?" It was Monday after school. The exam was a bitch but then again, I was ready. Nothing much happened at school and now a call from Esme. WTF.

"Do you need me now?" I asked. What could I do that any of her kids couldn't?

"Well, Karen, Jon and Mari stopped by to see you and their car is stalled in the driveway."

"I'll be right there. WTF all of the stupid bone headed things to."

"What?" Jacob answered after hearing me. I've got to watch that.

"Mari, Karen and Jon are at the Cullen house and their car is stalled."

"Leilei, don't kill them. I'll call Rosalie and see . . ."

"All of the Cullen kids are at school or away. Damn damn damn."

"Hello Mrs. Cullen," I said coming in the back kitchen door.

"Oh hello Leilei dear here's your tea," she said handing me a cup of Japanese green tea.

"She's so dead I'll kill her myself," Rosalie snapped.

"Shhh honey please," Emmett whispered.

"She did this. I'm ok with Esme offering the room to Bleys, he saved them but this is is,"

"Quiet," Jasper warned. "Leilei did not do this. She is pissed. I know that for sure. She isn't hiding it either. She may tear Mari limb from limb over this. Hopefully Jacob will be able to contain her. So Kolohe can explain they don't this."

"Does Mari know she doesn't live here?" Alice asked.

"She knows but why come here without Leilei?" Jasper answered.

Emmett whispered, "Leilei will find out. I hope Mari doesn't end up dead. She and Kolohe make a good looking couple."

"Everyone ready? Let go and look at the car. Did you call Stewart's for a tow?" Jon you fucking idiot.

"Nope. I thought you'd call Kolohe or Jacob since there was a problem. I thought that maybe Dr. Cullen would be a home." He answered getting up.

"The man's a surgeon not a mechanic. You idiot." Ok, so it finally came out of my mouth. I still wasn't looking at Mari. She should have known not to come here.

"Is Jacob with you?" Mari asked.

"They're both at the rez. Plowing again. Where's your flashlight?" I snapped.

"Flashlight?" Jon asked.

Dumbass! "Way to go Jon. Pop the hood. And I'll get my kit. Here plug this in."

"Where? What's this?"

"You don't know anything about cars do you? OMG! Maybe you need a grease monkey as a boyfriend. This is a machine that will talk to your car's computer and ask what the problem is."

"Oh!" He answered watching me click it in place.

"Oh hell no!" I said. I screamed other things in my head.

"What's the problem?" Karen asked.

"Your battery is dead you idiot."

"So what does that mean? Back inside and we call Stewart's for a tow?"

"No, I'll jump you." I said getting the girlie jump thing my dad got for me when I got the truck.

"You know how to do that?" Jon asked watching me with my toy.

Stupid mother fucking idiot. "So now call Stewart's and tell them what kind of car you have and that you need a new battery. He'll order one for you and you'll get it in a few days. I'll get your battery charged enough to start your car and you can drive home. I'll follow you just in case."

"So where are the Cullen kids anyway? I thought they'd be at home," Karen said wistfully. Like she really meant that. Like Alice and she would bond over fashion or something.

"Alice is in NYC or LA. Designing clothes or something," I filled her in on who I thought she might want to know about.

"Not the girls the guys. Where's Edward?" She asked.

"Isn't he married?" Mari added.

Well finally she got it. Try to get Karen focused on something else. "And going to med school I hear."

"You are so lucky having the Cullens as guardians," Karen cooed as we waited for the battery to get charged.

"My parents know the Cullens. They weren't close enough for me to call them aunt and uncle but yes I am lucky." I'd be dead if Jacob didn't know them.

"Am I in trouble?" Mari asked with a touch looking at me.

"No, I am," I sent back.

"Really? Fucking A.." Jacob said in the background of my mind.

Mari pulled her hand away quickly. "Is it always like that for you?" She whispered.

"In emergencies like this, yeah."

"This is an emergency?" She whispered again.

"D'oh! Yeah," I mouthed silently.

"Leilei, what are you doing?" Jacob sent.

"Apparently I didn't scare her enough. Stopped by to see your local neighborhood veggie vamps. Really! Holy Fucking Shit! Remember you need to drive for about 20 to 30 minutes to recharge your battery so don't turn off the car until then. Let's leave now," I reminded him again.

"Where are you going after you get us back into town?" Mari asked.

"I'm going to follow you and when you get them home then I'm going to the farm to feed my boys. I'm thinking waffles and snausages." Since I was wasting all of my time with this idiot I wasn't going to have the time to cook them a real dinner.

"Leilei, stop it. Is she laughing?"

"Nope."

"I think she's worried."

"Yup, she's late. Momma's not gonna be happy. And it doesn't have anything to do with us furry people."

"I'll stop by and thank Esme before I come home," Jacob offered. He's so the man.

So Jon drove across town to Mari's house. I was at the end of the driveway in my truck. And swore my favorite swear word when he turned off the engine. It wouldn't restart of course. "How much trouble can I get into if I kick his ass?"

"Lots."

"Oh. Oh well."

"Jump the idiot again. I love you."

So I drove up the driveway and met Jon and Mr. Jackson looking under the hood again. "I thought you left," Jon said seeming surprised that I'd do what I said I'd do.

"You didn't leave right away. I thought something was wrong. Good evening Mr. Jackson."

"Thanks for the second jump Leilei," Jon said smiling at me. I hoped he was hoping that I really wouldn't kill him.

.

.

.

"Leilei is pissed at me isn't she?" Mari asked Kolohe on the phone later that night.

"She is. So am I. You didn't understand the danger that you were in," he answered her.

"There wasn't any danger," Mari insisted.

"Yes there was," Kolohe hoped she would understand what he was going to explain to her. "You just walked 2 humans right into their house. We Kai don't do that. We don't know if they, the Cullens, go off the reservation and change their diet from time to time. We don't know if they go vegetarian just to live here."

"But Mrs. Cullen, Esme she's . . . she's . . ."

"Yes she is. She's just wonderful but vampires have a thing called singers. That's someone who smells so good that they can't stop themselves. Leilei isn't strong enough to pull one of them off if that happens. The person would be dead. We can't be party to that so we never bring anyone there."

"Oh, have they ever done anything to Leilei?"

"No. But she smells like shit to them and Rosalie would kill her just for fun," Kolohe admitted.

"Wouldn't Alice see the problem and not let that happen?"

"Alice isn't all seeing. She gets pictures of what is to happen but only when she can get the picture. If she can't see it then she doesn't know what's coming." Yeah that didn't make much sense but trying to understand Alice was difficult.

"What are you talking about?"

"Mari, it's like this. Alice sees a picture. She doesn't know if the picture is true or not, she just sees something. Like the nomads. She wasn't 100% sure that they would come here. She just knew that they might come near here. She couldn't see what the outcome was because they hadn't made up their minds. She can't see Leilei because she is aspected and she can't see any of us fuzzy boys or Nessie for that matter. So if something happens between all of those things that she can't see then she can't predict what the outcome will be. It's like Jumanji. Throw the dice and watch all of the pieces on the board move not knowing how or why. It frustrates her. That's why we, Esme and I built the cottage. They called it the Puppy Place until Nessie moved in. so now they call it the Palazzo. Leilei screws up the Alice ability to see the vampire future."

"I think I understand . . . No more trips to see Esme without an escort. Am I in trouble?" Mari asked now wanting to be in trouble with Kolohe and her parents all at the same time.

"No, you're not in trouble. You'd have to be considered adult to be in trouble. We won't hold you responsible for what you do until you're considered an adult. Oh it's late. I've got to go now. I'm on Patrol."

"We'll talk tomorrow," Mari said. "Night."

"Night baby."

.

.

.

"Well what was all that about?" Mari asked me watching Karen just about skip away to her English class.

"Well, she's my best friend now," I admitted wrongly. At least on my part.

"Why?"

"She got into the Cullen house."

"No!"

"Yes! But I know she doesn't like the Quileute and she thinks I'm an idiot. But she got into the Cullen house and that's a problem. I'll have a talk with Carlisle and he'll fix it for me and for himself."

"How will he fix it?" Mari asked concerned about her friend.

"Vamps have the ability to erase humans' memories. He could do that to her. But then there is Jon. Maybe Jon will just forget. Karen on the other hand, she won't." Have I scared you enough now Mari?

"Carlisle can do that? Erase peoples memories?"

"Yes. They, all vamps can do that. We can't. So you might have seen a vamp take someone and had your memory erased. You'd never know. The boys don't usually have any problems with things like that." Yeah, look at me strange. "If you're walking down an alley in your home town and you get grabbed by a vamp. Get smashed up against a wall and you fear for your life and then 3 boys with tattoos on their hearts come walking down the alley. The vamp drops you and you watch the boys shift into dogs and rip the vamp apart. When they finish they get dressed and tell you to go home. Then 3 weeks later you see 1 of the guys with a tattoo on his heart, you buy him and his kids some ice cream. People don't talk. Where we live in large numbers they don't talk. We take care of the people. They know that." Boo!

"So you wouldn't have ever taken me to the Cullen house? Ever?"

"Did I offer the house for the place to bake the cookies? You saw that kitchen. We could have baked cookies there but no. Never. Think. They are like 'The Incredibles'. They have super powers. And being in their house is the only place where they don't have to hide their abilities. If they wanted people to come and visit, they'd live in town. They don't. But then again neither do we. That's why the house looks like a construction zone. The boys run back and forth from the rez naked. The lockers are for their clothes. We don't want people watching what we're doing either. I would have introduced you to them. But in a situation where there were some boys around. Like at the farm on Saturday, all of the boys that were there were fuzzy and there are babysitters at the farm watching me all the time. You had them, the Cullens, hiding in their own house. So now I've got to try to keep Karen on a leash."

"Do you always make dog puns?"

"Yeah we do." It gets Rosalie in trouble with Esme so hell yeah. "You missed snausages yesterday."

"No I didn't. I just didn't want to laugh."

"You should. We, they like it. Especially if you're clever about it. Cheer up! You'll be off punishment soon." Kolohe told me that she was on punishment for coming home late.

"What are you doing this weekend?"

"Sock hop at the high school, Saturday night." Relaxing, dancing and snacks.

"So, are you asking Karen to go with you?" Mari snarked at me.

"Oh hell no! A $10.00 sock hop with the Quileute? Karen would have a stroke. But then she'd get to spend time with Carlisle in the hospital."

"So, what should I have done yesterday?" Mari asked me after class.

"Called me. I would have called Esme and she would have had Jasper at the door scaring the shit out all of you. Or no one would have opened the door."

"Jasper? Oh my god. He's got powers too?"

"Yes. He does. On Thursday when you came into the house you were still somewhat frantic. Didn't you feel calmer when he walked in the room? He did that. To help you feel better. He can reverse it too and throw fear. He could have made you all scared to death to come to the house. I don't think that he could single you out but he could make you all feel so uncomfortable that you'd leave and not come back."

.

.

.

"So how was the dance?" Mari asked on Monday morning when we headed to English class.

"It was just fine . . ." I said out of reflex. No telling Mari bad news unless I had to.

"I would have all of your asses in a shipping container on its way to Norway by now," Tokar said as angry as I've ever seen him before. "What were you thinking?"

Jacob said, "I don't think they were thinking? What are you doing here?"

Terry sputtered, "Well we smelled a tick and came to investigate." He said after looking at the 2 others that were with him.

"Tick?" One of the guys said.

"You couldn't hear her heartbeat?" Another question fired at him from Tokar.

"Why would you think we would allow a vamp here? At a high school dance you idiot?" Jacob continued.

"Vamp?" The same guy said.

"He's not one of us, a pack member," Terry said pointing at the guy who didn't seem to know what the fuck was going on.

Then Jacob said, "Knock him out Leilei," and I did. Then Jacob paused to allow them to be impressed by my abilities.

"So you brought a human, is he even a teenager? To a high school dance and attack an imprint wearing a jacket with vamp smell on it? Leilei, knock them all out. I'm calling Eric," Jacob snapped.

"This better be good. What's the problem Jacob?" Eric spat. He was Eric Martin the Makah pack leader. He didn't like the Quileute. They had the treaty with the Cullens. Traitors all.

"Tonight at the La Push high school these three attacked a girl in the parking lot who was getting a tampon out of her car," Tokar spat. The Makah pack members that were there knew of him.

"It was like this," Terry sputtered.

"Listen you 3 before you begin with your story, Leilei is a truth teller. She can read your minds and find the memory of what happened and tell us all the truth of the matter. You should know this before you start spinning stories," Jacob said.

"She will lie against us," Mike Corona said with fear in his eyes.

"I am not allowed to lie," I said aloud. I was tired but Mel would have justice. I promised her that she would. "And you all will see what the memory is."

"Explain yourself Leilei," Mrs. Taylor said still sounding half asleep. It was 2 am after all.

"I'm a truth teller. I can find the memory in his mind and show it to you in what we call union. It's like the mind link the pack uses," I explained.

"Can't be done!" Eric said.

"Now you're lying!" Terry said.

Call me a liar. Asshole. "Mrs. Taylor do you have a memory that you know I'd know nothing about that Eric could verify?" Test me bitch.

"Yes."

"Then may I touch you and see the memory."

"How does this work?" She asked getting nervous as I walked over to her.

"Relive this memory exactly as it happened in your mind. See yourself there." And I touched her forehead to mine. About 2 minutes later, "All done."

Eric asked, "Now what?"

"Here everyone hold this chain. You'll be able to see what she showed me. Do you see my room?" My test pattern. Something that I chose to use as a focal point.

"Beautiful mountains," she said.

"It's Japan, in my father's house. Everyone can see fine? Yes. Now the memory she shared with me." A high school graduation from 5 years ago. "You know I wasn't here for that."

"Now, what happened?" Eric asked again.

"Well . . . We went to La Push because . . . Well . . . we heard about the dance and we decided to crash it," Mike admitted.

"At a high school! High school you idiots," Eric spat.

"Well then this girl comes out of the gym and heads to a car in the lot. And she smelled like a vamp."

"And so . . ." Eric interjected.

"And then well we asked her what she was doing."

"And when did her bracelet get broken? Was that before or after her jacket and shirt got torn?" I interjected.

Mrs. Taylor attacked, "You 3 attacked a girl? I thought you just stopped her and she had a fit or something. You put hands on her?"

"An imprint!" I added fuel to the fire.

"An imprint in a parking lot at a high school dance. Eric, do something! Say something!" Mrs. Taylor snapped at him.

"What do I do? What do I say? You're fucking idiots. Stupid fucking idiots!" Eric roared.

"You 2, Terry and Mike. Stu, I'll assume you got dragged into this."

"He didn't know anything." Mike, the other guy said.

"Well he knows now. We'll deal with you later."

"They promised to give her $200.00 in repair costs for the bracelet and her clothes," I said keeping my word to Mel.

"Why did she smell like a vamp anyway?" Mike asked.

"The Cullens donate their old clothing to the thrift stores in Port Angeles. It takes a few washes to get rid of the smell," I answered Eric.

"Leilei, is the girl ok?" Mrs. Taylor asked.

"She's fine. She's under my supervision."

"Are you sending us to Norway?" Terry asked not sure where it was. And not wanting to go there anyway.

"Norway?" Mrs. Taylor echoed.

"We, the Kai, have an agreement with a Norwegian pack. When some of our pack members violate our rules not to extent where pack disbarment or death is the outcome we send that pack member to Norway for punishment," Tokar said.

"We will deal with them. I apologize for my pack members. Please extend my formal apologies to the young lady, her family and her imprint. The boys will come to you with the money and another apology," Eric spat with disgust. He didn't want to be beholden to the Quileute for anything. Let alone something like this.

". Fine. It was a great dance like always."