A/N: Okay, here's a little something to hold you over Thanksgiving.

Enjoy!

"I can smell the blood on you, Bella. Water doesn't take it away you know." Jasper said, close enough to me that I could feel the heat of his breath on my lips.

My eyes were locked onto his. It startled me as I felt his tongue on my lips, my mouth… at first I thought he was going to kiss me, but then I realized what he was doing.

"Jasper, this is a little…odd." I whispered.

"Shhh." He said as he continued.

When he had finished he sat back, his eyes closed. There was silence between us for a long time and I noticed Edward standing at the door.

"Edward! It's not what it looks like, I swear!" I yelped.

Edward smiled lightly. "I know… remember, I can hear his thoughts… honestly I hadn't thought I had left any on you, but I suppose I was wrong." He said with a chuckle.

"You only kissed me because of the blood on my face?" I asked, incredulous that he could or would do such a thing.

"No, of course not Bella… but when you were human, kissing someone covered in chocolate would be heavenly wouldn't it? It merely enhances the experience." He said, a wicked glimmer in his eye.

Jasper pulled my face back to him, still grasping my chin he said, "Let's hunt Bells… please, hunt with me."

It was 'no' that was on my tongue but my voice said 'yes'.

"I'm coming." Said Edward.

Jasper turned slowly to look at him, "Of course you are brother, as is Emmet…"

I was confused… "Might I ask why this has turned into a foursome in such an odd manner?"

"Jazz and Em are hoping you kill again… I'm there to observe…" Edward said easily.

"Give us a break, Edward, you hope she slips again too." Emmett said appearing at Edward's side. "Besides, I feel like I need to do this… I can't explain it."

I knew being a vampire would have some new experiences, but this was definitely out of the norm… I wished Alice was here to explain it to me, or at least as an ally.

We left the house with a questioning glance from Carlisle as we went.

Once we hit the woods we began running. It was freeing and fun like flying. I could barely feel my feet hitting the ground.

It felt like we had been running for hours, when suddenly I was alone. Looking around me, pushing out my new senses as best I could I could neither hear, nor see, nor feel any of them. What had just happened?

I felt compelled to stay in one place, but yet, just as compelling was the urge to seek familiarity. I had lived in Forks for so long, but never had I ventured so far into the forest. I couldn't even be sure I was still in Washington anymore.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but even the predator I now was, I was still scared. Like a lost child.

I walked for a ways, not really heading in any direction, the sun was setting and it would be dark soon…very dark. Could vampires see at night? I wasn't sure if this was the way I wanted to find out.

There was no life in this part of the forest… no creatures at all, cold blooded or warm. Nothing moving, nothing breathing, except me. I started to get cold…

I thought vampires didn't get cold. Maybe it had something to do with my warmth… vampires shouldn't be warm.

I sat down in the shelter of a half-hollowed out tree that still stood erect. It was shelter enough for the night. Vampire or not, I still didn't think I would enjoy being cold and wet should it decide to rain.

As I leaned my head back into the hollow of the trunk, I could feel my eyes growing heavy. I fought to keep them open, but wakefulness eluded me and when my eyes opened again it was full dark.

Hours must have passed, but where were the boys? Why hadn't they found me yet? I pushed out my connection with Jasper… still nothing. They had to be many miles away… I still could smell nothing but wet bark, sod and moss. It had rained.

It took me a few moments to realize that I was shivering. Shivering? Did vampires shiver?

There was an aching burn in my throat. Thirst… strong powerful thirst. I tried to sense if there were any animals around…nothing.

I walked again until I came to a stream; by now my sense of direction was completely skewed. I bent down next to the stream, sticking my hand in, trying to feel what my eyes could not detect in the darkness. The stream was flowing the opposite direction that I was walking.

Forks was in a valley, perhaps if I followed the stream it would take me closer to home. The cool water on my hand begged to quench my parched throat. I leaned down farther and drank… the more deeply I drank the more I seemed to want.

But it helped. Not like blood would, but it still helped. After taking my fill I headed in the direction of the river flow. After a while I began running. I ran fast, like the others… but in the dark, it was dangerous.

Finally I came to a part of the forest where I could hear cricket sounds. That was better than nothing; where there were bugs, there were frogs at least, where there were frogs, there were larger animals… and where there were larger animals… I hoped, would be the boys.

I walked closer and closer the direction I came until I could finally smell something familiar. Edward.

I followed his scent for what seemed like hours. I could see what seemed to be another clearing up ahead. By my estimation it should be nearly dawn. But what was that ahead…lights?

I picked up the pace just a bit until I could see for sure what I was looking at. It was the Cullen's house. I had made it back.

I walked wearily into the front door… and there they all sat, in their enormous living room. Every eye turned to look at me as I crossed the threshold.

Edward came quickly to me, grasping me up into a nearly painful hug. "Bella, where were you? We looked everywhere; we lost your scent completely. I was so worried."

He said all of this in one breath very close to my ear.

"I'm sorry; once I stopped running none of you were within sensing. I couldn't smell you or anything… I got lost, and then fell asleep… by the time I woke up, it was dark."

"Wait, Bella… sleep? Are you sure?" Carlisle asked?

"Yes… I was tired from running, I sat down in the hollow of a tree and lay my head back… my eyes were heavy and when I opened them it was long after dark, hours."

"Something is not right here; I must speak with Dagon… I'm sure he will be able to… enlighten me." Carlisle said.

He and Esme went upstairs to pack while the other four Cullens stayed in the living room to question me on the minutest details. Of course I didn't mind answering them, but it bothered me that they all knew that something was amiss.

Bella the freak as a human and Bella the freak as a vampire… would I ever even out?

Jasper, the quietest of the bunch tonight, piped up, "Bella, we didn't mean to leave you all alone; we searched for you, you were nowhere… I couldn't read you at all."

I nodded in agreement, "I know, same here."

Silence fell upon the room; even Emmett had nothing to say. I jumped when Edward's phone rang.

"This is Edward." He said, his face grew a bit more relaxed. "Good, I'll tell her. Yes, thank you. I know she will thank you too. Yes, alright. Goodbye."

I looked up expectantly, still as I reached out with my mind I could not read him. I could not feel Jasper who was in the same room with me… even though these powers where new, something just felt wrong about losing them so quickly and without warning.

"That was Alice. Bella, Charlie took it hard at first, but Alice stayed with him, out of sight of course. He's packing up and heading to Scottsdale. We think he is going to your old house; it's on the market again. He seems much better, though. Alice is going to keep an eye on him from here, so she should be here anytime. She said congratulations on your powers."

I nodded in dumb relief. Charlie would be okay.

Now, would I?

We stayed up for a while longer while the others related their experiences with the Volturi and other vampires.

I noticed Edward looking at me strangely.

"What's wrong, Edward?" I asked.

"You've been yawning every four minutes or so for over an hour now… are you getting sleepy?"

I frowned, "Yes, actually. I'm sorry; I think I'm just going to go up to bed. It's been an exciting day and all." I laughed nervously as I excused myself.

Edward followed quietly.

When we reached my room I turned to him.

"I'm just going in to sleep you know, I'll be fine." I smiled, hoping to ensure him that I was completely unfazed about everything. He was not convinced.

"Bella, not only am I completely head over heels for you, I'm also a doctor." He said; that crooked grin of his melting me heart.

I laughed at his words, but my laughter died quickly as I saw he was not joking.

"You're… really?" I asked, my words stumbling upon themselves as easily as my feet.

"I thought Alice told you."

"I thought she was speaking metaphorically; you sometime seem to over-analyze things…those are Jasper's words, not mine; so I thought it was kind of a private joke or something."

Edward chuckled. "That sounds like Jasper… but, no, it's literal. I actually have two doctorates, one in internal medicine, specializing in disorders of the digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems, the other… well, it's kind of strange really, for a vampire, I suppose."

"What, I suppose it's in gynecology?" I smirked.

"Mmm, no. Neo and Prenatal cardiology and internal medicines." He said bashfully.

"Wow, that's… sounds like a lot actually."

"Well, when you have nothing but time.."

"So why bring it up? I just want to rest."

"Because, with your permission of course, I would like to observe your sleep cycles; Vampires, well none I have ever encountered, have even had the desire to rest their eyes… I'm hoping I can figure out why you actually sleep and if you are going through actual rem cycles."

I nodded an okay. This would surely be interesting.

A/N: Sorry about the cliffies.... they just come naturally.