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

AN: New chapter up before I start my crazy work week! Just as promised! Sorry, this isn't the one y'all are anxiously waiting for...I just write what they tell me. I'm not crazy...although my books would sell so much quicker if I were.

Gaby -I love you! You're always one of the first ones to review.

Ses -thanks for catching up on my chapters. Love your wonderful reviews!

Hilja -looking forward to hearing from you

Lynn -You rock too and I notice when you don't review.

Everyone else, read. Enjoy. Review.

Chapter Thirty-Five

"These are the boundaries," Carlisle drew a finger through the topographic map on his desk, little Marcos kneeling on a chair as he leaned against the desk, "If you're going to hunt, you need to stay on this side of the boundary lines."

Marcos studied the map intensely for a few seconds before looking up at Carlisle, "I can't go across those boundaries, can they come across them?"

"Being that they're widening their patrols to include the house, yes they can. But you can't, especially when you're hunting. Marc, it's very important that you stay on your side of the boundaries. In fact, it would be best if, when you go out hunting, you head this way…towards the mountains."

Marcos watched Carlisle pointing at the map, his finger drawing an invisible circle around the mountains.

"They've never met anyone like you and your sister," Carlisle looked at the little boy, their eyes locking as he explained as clearly as possible, "To them, you two aren't just going to be different, you're going to be dangerous…especially you."

"Why especially me?"

"Because you're venomous, your sister isn't. Not only that, but you smell more like a vampire than your sister."

"Why?"

Carlisle sat down, leaning his elbows against his desk, "I'm not completely sure but I think it has to do with your eating habits."

"So if I eat like Viviana, I won't smell like a vampire to them?"

Carlisle smiled at the inquisitive little boy, "They'll still be able to tell you're different from normal human children."

Marcos tilted his head to the side, never looking away from Carlisle's face, "How?"

"For one, your sister still has a bit of a sweet smell as would you if you switch to eating as she does. Another reason is your heartbeat…your hearts don't beat the same as humans. They instead sound like hummingbird wings…you have about sixty beats more than an average resting heart rate…they will be able to pick up on that, quickly."

"So it really wouldn't make a difference if I change my diet," Marcos pushed away from the desk, sitting cross legged on the leather chair, "I don't bite humans so how can they see me as a threat?"

"They see a possibility as a probability," Carlisle gave him a sympathetic smile, "Just because you don't bite humans doesn't mean you can't. As long as you hunt on your side of the boundary line, there shouldn't be a problem…you might consider supplementing with real food every once in a while…the more you grow, the hungrier you'll get…which means a greater chance of losing control if you come across a particularly appetizing human."

Marcos' mouth lifted into a self-deprecating smile, "There can't possibly be anyone more appetizing than Tia Rosa…I'll never bite a human. I promised papa…right over mama's grave."

Carlisle nodded, wishing not for the first time or even the last time, that Rosa had decided differently…at least with Marcos, "I comprehend that you have a very strong hold on your thirst…it's still necessary for you to be careful…very careful Marc."

Marcos nodded, about to ask something when a soft knock sounded at the door. Carlisle called out, the door opening in response, Alice looking into the room with an apologetic smile towards Marcos, "I'm sorry to interrupt but Jazz called. The plane's ready to go."

Carlisle took a deep breath as he nodded; folding the map, he handed it to Marcos, "Study this Marc. Memorize it."

Marcos nodded as he took the map from Carlisle, sliding off the leather chair, "If…if something were to happen…would it hurt?"

Carlisle came around the desk to crouch down to the little boy's level, reaching out to rest a hand on Marcos' shoulder, "I wouldn't know but…I do know this…they're not blinded by rage or paranoia. They'll give you a fair chance, observe you to see how different you are from actual vampires…don't give them a reason to doubt or fear you…keep yourself as human as possible, Marc."

Marcos nodded before turning towards the door, stopping for a few seconds before turning to look at Carlisle, "Thank you Dr. Cullen."

Carlisle smiled at the little boy, giving him a nod, "You're welcome Marc. Look after your sister and your aunt, okay?"

Marcos tilted his head to the side, staring silently at the tall blond vampire before whispering as he walked out, the door closing behind him.

"I always do."

"Son of a bitch!"

"What's wrong?"

Seth looked to his bedroom door to find Mattie leaning against the door frame, "Hey, how'd you get in?"

"Your front door is unlocked. I knocked but you didn't answer so I came in to see if you were home and that's when I heard you cussing up a storm. What's wrong?"

"This damn project I'm working on," Seth turned his attention back to the blueprint on his drafting table, "The angles are all wrong…it has to be my own design but it should at least have a probability of actually being put together."

"Is that your final project," Mattie moved across the room to look over Seth's shoulder, her long hair in a braid over her shoulder, a dark purple knit cap on her head, "The one you've been working on for the past five months?"

"Yeah," Seth grabbed one of his erasers, an expensive piece of gum that left no smudges behind, "I turned in my draft week before school let out. I still have a lot to get done before I actually consider it done. Did you know Professor Zits actually sends them out to an engineering company to have them graded according to whether they can actually be done or not?"

"It's so mean that you guys call him Professor Zits," Mattie moved to sit at the edge of Seth's bed, pulling off her dark purple mittens, "Besides, I heard that several of those designs have been bought by the company ever since Professor Stevens started doing that."

"That's what I'm hoping for," Seth tossed his eraser aside, picking up his brush to clean the surface of the blueprint from left over residue from the eraser, "I mean, we're talking about a lot of money if it actually happens."

"How much," Mattie unzipped her jacket, shrugging out of it and tossing it on the bed along with her scarf, mittens and knit cap.

"Last design they bought was three years ago," Seth grabbed his ruler, reaching up to move the lamp closer to the table, "They paid the guy thirty thousand dollars."

"Nice," Mattie pulled off her snow boots, crossing her legs Indian style on the bed, "A really good design can easily go for up to fifty thousand."

"Pay off my two years of university," Seth took his light lead pencil, marking the blue print several times before tossing his ruler aside and picking up the angle ruler, quickly measuring and notating the angles, "It's not like I'm hurting for money. I've saved up some and mom, as well as Rick, has already offered to help me out with whatever I need but it's still going to be tight."

"What about that scholarship," Mattie leaned her elbows against her knees, resting her chin on her hands, "Brandon told Daisy the tribe's put up a new scholarship…the one in honor of your dad."

"I got it," Seth set the angle ruler aside, placing his pencil into the airplane cup before swiveling around, "It's going to completely cover my tuition…but there's still housing, books, gas for the car, food, clothes…the occasional party."

"If you cut out the occasional party from your budget, you'd be set," Mattie gave Seth a cocky grin, looking over her shoulder as Embry came into the room, "Hey Embry! Haven't seen you in a while."

"Because school's out for the holidays and you're spending all your time with that rock climbing guy," Embry fell back on the bed, lifting his arms to tuck his hands behind his head.

"His name's Lance," Mattie looked over her shoulder at Embry, reaching out to punch his side, "You know that, why won't you use it?"

"Because Embry's jealous as hell of Lance," Seth laughed as he ducked, easily avoiding the pillow his friend tossed his way.

Mattie shook her head as she laughed, turning her attention back to Seth, "So what are you guys doing for New Year's Eve? The Opiate is having a huge party, cover cost only, free drinks until last call."

"That sounds like fun," Embry reached out to tug Mattie's braid, laughing when she turned to slap him playfully, "Is your guy coming to that party?"

"If he can get away from the office long enough, yeah," Mattie's cheeks had a light blush to them as she smiled softly, thinking of the last time Lance had been unable to get away from the office…she had come to him instead and it had turned into one of the best nights of her life.

"I don't know," Seth swiveled his seat around to look down at his blueprint again, "I mean…New Year party involves kissing when the New Year's rung in and Julie's in L.A."

"I heard you and Julie broke up," Mattie tilted her head to the side, swatting Embry's hand when he reached for her braid again, "There'll be plenty of single, and pretty, girls there."

Seth shook his head, reaching for his light led graphic pencil again, "I'm not the kind of guy to go out and kiss random strange girls right after breaking up…especially when the one I broke up with is Julie."

"What about you Embry," Mattie turned around to look into Embry's brown eyes, frowning at the lack of excitement on his face, "Will you come?"

"Do I get to kiss you?"

"Only if you want Lance to punch you in the face," Mattie stated calmly, laughing at the grimace Embry made.

"Then no, not really interested in kissing strange girls either…without a knowledge base, you have no idea where their mouths have been," Embry gave Mattie a raised eyebrow look, "It's a matter of self preservation. I don't want to end up with mono…or worst."

Mattie shook her head as she looked from Embry to Seth, "Please don't tell me you guys are gonna end up like losers and sleeping your way through the New Year."

"Nah," Seth stuck his pencil behind his ear, taking another darker lead pencil from the cup, "We'll find something fun to do…minus the girls."

"I know," Embry exclaimed, sitting up as he intentionally tumbled Mattie into his arms, tickling her sides before letting her go, "We'll go cliff diving."

Seth looked over his shoulder at Embry, giving him a skeptical look, "In the middle of the night?"

"Yeah," Embry pushed himself to his feet, "We'll get all the other guys. You know, Quil, Collin, Brandon, Dylan, Dougie and Brady, buy some beer, set the bonfire up on the second cliff and when midnight comes, we jump…right into the New Year."

"I like it," Seth nodded, turning his attention back to his design.

"I don't," Mattie stared up at Embry with a slightly horrified look before turning to look at Seth's back, "You guys are going to break your necks."

"Sweetheart," Embry reached out to cup Mattie's cheek in reassurance, "We've jumped that cliff so many times, we can do it blindfolded."

"That's exactly what you'll be doing in the middle of the night!"

"It won't be dark," Seth grabbed all his pencils and placed them back in the cup, "The moon's going to be full that night. Anyway, I need to go out for a run, clear my head."

"That means he's kicking us out," Embry said to Mattie, skipping back to avoid Seth's kick, "Come on, Mattie, put on your winter gear and I'll show you where we'll be jumping from."

"Insane is what you two are."

Seth sat there as he watched Mattie putting on her jacket, her scarf hanging around her neck, mittens sticking out of the pocket of her jacket as she followed behind Embry, both chattering away like the best friends they had become.

Turning to stare out the window, he let out a heavy sigh…another year gone, another year coming.

How long before he had what he really wanted –what he needed with such painful intensity that it hurt to even breathe –in his life and in his arms?

Rosa held the twins' hands as they moved across the privately owned tarmac towards a different private jet from the one they had arrived in, the cold winter air making her nose turn red as it numbed her ears.

It was time for them to leave, to move to their new hiding place…hopefully their new home.

She didn't want to think about them having to do this again anytime soon.

Turning, she tried to smile at the Cullens but her face was so cold it hurt, "Thank you so much for your help. We really appreciate it."

"It wasn't a problem at all," Carlisle answered for the group, giving them a warm smile, "Remember, if you need anything, big or small, don't hesitate to call us."

"We won't," Marcos answered for his aunt, his free little hand ensconced in a blue mitten as he waved at them.

"Where's Rosalie," Viviana asked, her words muffled by the green scarf wrapped around her neck and over the bottom half of her face.

Emmett moved away from the group, kneeling down in front of the little girl, "She couldn't come, Viv. Saying good-bye is hard for her."

Viviana nodded in understanding, pulling out a folded piece of white construction paper, giving it to Emmett, "Can you give this to her? I drew it just for her."

"I will," Emmett took the paper from Viviana, putting it into the pocket of his leather jacket, reaching out to give the little girl a hug, smiling when Marcos let go of his aunt's hand to join in the hug, "I'm going to miss you two."

Viviana and Marcos both hugged Emmett's neck, their voices high and clear as they both declared, "We're gonna miss you too Emmett."

Kissing their foreheads, Emmett gave them one last squeeze before letting them go, standing up as they moved back to Rosa's side, each taking one of her gloved hands.

Jasper popped his head out of the opened hatch, quickly going down the stairs towards them, smiling as Alice made her way to him, kissing her forehead before turning to look at his passengers, "It's time for us to go."

Rosa nodded, letting go of the twins' hands to reach down and pick up her camera bag, pulling out a large brown envelope and handing it to Alice, "These are yours…if you can please tell Rosalie that I'm sorry."

"Rosalie will learn to understand," Alice smiled at Rosa before moving towards the twins, hugging and kissing each one of them, "You two be good for your aunt, okay?"

"We always are," Viviana's golden brown eyes glittered as she looked up at Alice, squealing when Jacob swung her up into his arms, "I'm gonna miss you Jakey."

"So am I, Ladybug," Jake kissed her little nose before settling down and reaching out to tousle Marcos' hair, "You be good okay? My brothers are going to take real good care of you and your sister and aunt…so you won't have to worry so much. Just be a kid Marcos.

Marcos gave a side glance towards Carlisle, the map the older man had given him in mind before he turned to look up at Jake, giving him a firm nod, "I will, Jake. Thanks for teaching me…so much."

"It wasn't a problem kiddo," giving him one last tousle, he stepped back to let Esme take her turn.

Soon, the twins had been kissed and hugged by the Cullens, Rosa given smiles and words of encouragement before Jasper ushered them towards the steps, taking the twins up into his arms as he navigated the high steps, Rosa following close behind.

The Cullens stood where they were, none moving as the steps were pulled up into the plane, the hatch door closing softly before it was latched securely.

Several minutes later, the plane began to slowly make its way to the runway, lights blinking in some kind of message to the other planes around it.

"Hey," Jacob called out to no one in particular, "What color are Rose's eyes?"

"Brown," Annabelle answered at the same time as Alice said, "Green."

"They're blue," Bella said quietly, leaning back into Edward's arms.

They all stared at each other before Edward said with a smile, "I believe a combination of all those colors is referred to as hazel."

"Why do you ask," Esme looked towards Jacob as they all turned towards their cars, walking across the tarmac as one.

Jacob couldn't hold back a smile as he recalled the way Seth had sounded when he'd asked about Rose's eye color, "Just…let's say I'm more than sure we've send Rose and the twins to the right place."

Rosa was tired but she kept driving, looking into the rear-view mirror to see Viviana asleep, Marcos staring out the window, his little face pensive as if he were analyzing the greatest problem ever encountered.

They had landed on a small private airstrip outside of some town in Washington and were now making their way to another town, this one named Forks.

From one side of the world to the other, Rosa thought to herself as she drove down the one o one, keeping an eye out for a side road that apparently was hidden until one was right on it.

She had actually traveled from one side of the world to the other in less than a year. She remembered having told Arturo she wanted to travel, just once to see what it was like. Now she wished she had been able to stay at home, never leave the ones she loved and that loved her.

"You just passed it, Tia," Marcos called out quietly, bracing his feet against the back of the passenger seat as Rosa stopped the car, put it in reverse and drove back slowly.

"I can't see it Marcos."

"It's right there."

"Where?"

"Just turn right Tia. You'll turn into it."

Even though she couldn't see it, she did as her nephew said, slightly surprised as she turned into a dirt road and not into a tree as she was expecting.

Driving the last few miles in silence, her breath rushed out as the road opened into a large clearing, a beautiful house set in the middle, the moon bathing it in soft light as she stopped the car a yard away from the front door, "Wow."

"Vivi, we're here," Marcos shook his sister awake before unsnapping his car seat harness, grabbing the handle to push the passenger door open.

Viviana followed behind him as they got out of the car, coming around to meet their aunt at the front of the dark Bentley.

"It's beautiful," Viviana whispered as she looked at the house from one end to the other then from bottom to top.

"It's big," Rosa leaned against the hood of the car, letting out a deep breath, "We'll get lost inside that house."

"Lots of places to hide," Marcos said in a slightly pleased manner before turning to his aunt and sister, "Can we unpack tomorrow? I'm tired."

"Okay," Rosa nodded, turning towards the car to grab her camera bag along with the black bag that never let her side, popping the trunk open to get the duffel bag where all their pajamas and night toiletries were packed.

Moving towards the house, Rosa pulled out a key from the front pocket of her jeans, opening the door.

They stood there, staring into the dark silent house, neither moving to walk in.

Breathing in deep, she gave a slight jump at Viviana's little hand sliding into hers, "Tia, can I sleep with you tonight? I'll pick a room tomorrow."

"Sure," Rosa nodded, trying to hide how relieved she was that she wouldn't be sleeping alone, "Marcos?"

"I'm too tired to look for a room," Marcos tensed his jaw, walking into the house with a purposeful step, his aunt and sister following after him, "I can sleep on the floor."

"You can sleep on the bed," Rosa stated, realizing why he would want to sleep on the floor, "On Vivi's other side. That would make it easier, wouldn't it?"

"Maybe," Marcos moved towards the wall by the staircase, standing on his tip toes to flip the switch, the soft light of the fixtures throughout the first floor flickering on, "Carlisle said the first floor had Esme's office, a library and the dark room."

"There's a dark room," Rosa turned to stare at her nephew with wide-eyes, feeling elated at the idea of having an actual work space of her own.

"Jasper takes pictures, remember," Marcos was pleased at the look on his aunt's face…that was probably the same look he and Viviana had during Christmas morning when they got to open the many presents, "He said it has everything you'll need to be able to do your work."

"Have you seen this kitchen," Viviana's voice was filled with joy as more lights came on, this time towards the left.

Closing the door, she locked it before heading into the kitchen in search of her niece, Marcos close behind her.

"Wow," Rosa stared around the large shiny room, feeling slightly out of place, "This is –"

"It's big," Viviana exclaimed excitedly as she opened drawers and cabinets, "And it has everything! This is awesome!"

Marcos opened the fridge, staring into its depths, "Except for food."

"Tomorrow's New Year's Eve," Rosa let out a sigh as she thought with slight nausea of having to do shopping on a holiday.

"Don't worry Tia," Viviana was busy scrambling from the pantry to the island, pulling out cans and bags and boxes, "We have enough food in the pantry to make it 'til day after tomorrow."

Rosa smiled at the excited little girl, looking down at her silver wristwatch, "Vivi, how about we check out the rest of the pantry tomorrow? It's close to midnight and we really need to get some sleep."

Viviana gave the pantry a gaze filled with longing before placing the jar she held on the island, closing the island door before moving to her aunt's side, "Okay. Where are all the bedrooms?"

Marcos pointed towards the dark staircase, all of them standing at the bottom, "Up on the second and third floor."

Seth laughed as he popped the top of another beer can, shaking his head at the sight of Collin and Bao, the puppy attempting to climb all over the big guy, "Did you really have to bring the dog?"

"I tried to leave him behind," Collin scratched Bao between his ears, holding up his hot dog on a stick to keep the puppy from getting to it…Lyn had left strict instructions about giving him people food, "He found a way to sneak out of the house and came after me."

"You're not going to be able to jump with that puppy," Embry tossed another piece of driftwood into the fire, the blue flames licking greedily at the new fuel.

"Sure I can."

"You're going to drown the poor thing," Brady grabbed another packet of hot dogs from the cooler they had brought, tossing it to Dougie who quickly and expertly spitted them onto sticks before handing them out to the others.

Collin pulled out a blue leash from the pocket of his cut off shorts, "I'm tying him to a tree. What kind of person do you think I am?"

"The kind that brutally ties puppies to a tree," Brandon quipped as he took his nearly charred hot dog from the end of his stick, shoving it whole into his mouth.

"At least I'm not drowning the animal," Collin growled, feeling guilty when Bao jumped off him, his ears down and tail tucked between his legs, "Sorry Bao, didn't mean to scare you."

Bao rolled onto his back, exposing its soft underbelly, his tongue lolling out when Collin gave it a good rub before he jumped back onto his feet, climbing into Collin's lap to once again attempt at getting the hot dog on the stick.

"That dog actually sees you as his Alpha," Seth pointed out in amazement, shaking his head as he chuckled, "Good for you Collin. Now you have someone to order around."

"Except the dog doesn't understand English," Embry chuckled as he checked his watch, "Two minutes 'til midnight. Fireworks ready?"

"Yep," Dylan walked into the clearing, a fluid lighter in one hand, "I tied a fuse long enough to burn in thirty seconds. So just tell me when it's forty seconds before midnight."

"Sam's going to kill us," Dougie muttered as he tossed his stick into the fire as he stood up, "Where'd you place them?"

"Nowhere near anything flammable," Dylan grabbed one of the spitted hot dogs from Seth, pulling off the wiener to take a bite out of it, "They're anchored on the side of the cliff…several feet from where we're jumping."

"Someone's gonna die tonight," Brandon pulled out his cell phone, pressing speed dial one, "I just know it."

"Hey," Dougie yelled out at Brandon as he moved towards the trees, "We said no girls!"

"Sorry dudes," Brandon gave them a cocky grin as he listened to the phone ring, "Just because you guys have little girl problems doesn't mean I do. Hey Daisy!"

They guys shook their heads as they all finished their hot dogs, Collin clipping the leash onto Bao's collar before tying him to a nearby tree, "Bu yao chue Bao."

The puppy sat back on its haunches, staring up at Collin with an adoring look. Giving him one last scratch between the ears, he moved towards the edge of the cliff where all his brothers waited.

"One minute," Embry said after checking his waterproof watch, Mattie's Christmas gift, "Dylan…go…now!"

Dylan ran into the woods as the rest of them turned to yell over their shoulders, "Hurry up Brandon!"

"Okay baby," Brandon said into the phone, "I gotta go. Happy New Year to you too, babe!"

Tossing the cell phone onto the ground near the cooler, he ran over to his brothers just as Dylan broke through the woods.

"Here's to the New Year," Embry called out as he stared at his watch, "Five…four…three…two…one…now!"

They all jumped into the void as the fireworks went off, sending sparkling lights and colors up into the air as they all fell into the dark waters below, their elated screams ringing across the reservation as others celebrated the New Year in their own way.

"Feliz Año Nuevo, Tia," Marcos and Viviana whispered together as they looked up at their aunt, the light from the fire in the fireplace making their little faces look like delicate china.

Wrapping her arms around them, she kissed their little foreheads, first Viviana then Marcos, whispering to them, "Feliz Año Nuevo, mis niños lindos."

They were snuggled together before the fireplace, Rosa leaning against the couch, Marcos and Viviana in her arms, a soft blanket wrapped around all three as they stared into the dancing flames in the fire place, the warmth of it slowly filling the large living room.

The sudden sound of far off firecrackers made Viviana and Marcos look towards the front door, both scrambling out of Rosa's arms as they ran across the living room, Rosa behind them, wrapping the blanket tight around herself as soon as they opened the front door.

Stepping out into the cold in bare feet, she stared up at the sky with awe identical to the twins as they watched fireworks upon fireworks bursting into colors and patterns, lightening up the dark sky.

Stepping further away from the house, she couldn't look away from the bright colored lights, her heart squeezing in remembrance to the celebrations in Spain.

It had always been a fun filled night, the kids allowed to stay up late to greet the New Year along with the adults.

It seemed, inadvertently, that she had passed on that tradition to her niece and nephew.

Looking at them, she smiled as she watched their still forms, both staring up in awe at the sky, Viviana occasionally clapping her small hands when a new firework spread itself across the dark sky.

She hoped, for their sake…and her own…that this New Year would be different from the last…and all the ones before that…