A/N: Something a little longer for you guys :D I'm in a bad place right now, being emo and all. So make me happy! Review.

To my usaul crazy people, hope you enjoy this. I can't wait until I get to do what I want!!! :D It'll make you laugh, cry and wish you were Luna. Stop being lazy and drop me a line. I miss your faces, people!

To ambii-twilight-chick who is very OCD... Chillax. Your addiction will take over your life now ;) Just don't ruin my fun! :P

And to sheyanna drantholli... Smile, child! There is always another way. There is always a way to carry on.

And finally: jblc77 who is sick. Drop her a line, my crazy party people!

Read and enjoy ;)

Quil's Point of View

Luna and I were walking on the beach. My cousin was unusually quite and distant. She looked old and tired, like she had given up her will to live. There were bags under her eyes. Her hair was messy and greasy, like she hadn't washed it for days.

"Luna, are you okay?" I asked.

Her movements were slow as she looked at me. Her eyes seemed to flash with confusion.

"I'm fine." She said, her voice ancient and tired.

"Have you been sleeping?" I asked.

She smiled bitterly. "Yes, Quil."

I shook my head, worried about Luna. She was sleeping less and less, and when she did sleep it was horrible. She woke up screaming almost every night. When I went in, she was normally sobbing before she sent me away. She spent hours every night either strumming on her guitar or running patrols. The pack was worried about Luna, some even taking bets to when she would finally crack and do something really stupid.

"I think your lying." I said. "Luna, what's going on?"

She kicked some stones, her eyes moving out to the ocean. I could see the pain in her eyes, like she was expecting someone to emerge from the ocean.

"It doesn't matter." A ghost of a smile playing on her face. "We'll see tonight."

Sam had spoken to the council on Luna's behalf. They had decided to move the bonfire night over so we could have the meeting tonight rather. It had been a week since Luna and Paul left school to see Sam. Luna looked worse every day. I hoped desperately that the council would be able to help, to give the girl a little peace.

Luna saw Emily and Sam coming over to us. My cousin walked over to her friends, trying to be happy. Or at least trying to fake it.

"Hey, Em!" Luna said, her brightness false and flimsy. "Who is this?"

The little girl in Emily's arms smiled at Luna.

"This is my niece." Emily said. "Her name is Claire."

"Hi!" The little girl said. "I'm Cwaire! I'm two!"

Luna laughed. "Hello, Claire."

Luna turned to me, and my eyes were on her face. She looked a little brighter, a little happier. She put Claire on the ground. I felt a pull to look at Claire. My eyes drifted from Luna's face down to the little girl.

My world was turned upside down as Claire looked into my eyes. Everything had shifted, and I felt like I was seeing the sun for the first time. Everything that had once mattered seemed to fade away. The strings that tied me to this world had been cut, drifting aways from me. The universe and my life was now tied to the little girl in front of me.

Luna looked up at me, seeing something in my eyes. Her face fell like I had just slapped her and suddenly I was torn. Was I more loyal to my cousin, the girl I knew better thatn myself? Or was I now a stranger to Luna and to myself, all because of a girl?

Claire moved over to me as Luna stood up quickly. She looked close to tears.

"You imprinted?" Luna yelled. "You fucking imprinted, Quil?"

"Luna!" Sam said, looking at Claire.

Luna turned on him. "Emily. Get the child out of here."

Suddenly I was worried, so I scooped up Claire and handed her to Emily.

"Keep her safe." I said to my Alpha's wife.

Emily nodded and walked away, my life in her arms.

"Care to explain, Luna?" Sam asked once we could no longer see Emily.

I was still watching the space where Emily was.

"My cousin there imprinted on Claire!" Luna yelled.

"You imprinted?" Sam said, a little confused. "You imprinted on Claire?"

"Yes." I said.

Luna growled. "She's just a kid, Quil."

I finally managed to rip my eyes from the empty space and turned to look at Luna. She looked angry and her hands were trembling. Sam was a little calmer, for now.

"Quil." Luna breathed. "Are you in love with a freaking two year old?"

I couldn't answer that. I had never been in love before, so I wasn't really sure. The only thing I was sure about was that I wanted to protect Claire with my life. The bond I had with the little girl was stronger than anything I had ever felt for my young cousin. I wanted to protect Claire like she was a little sister, or my cousin. But I wasn't romantically in love with her. Not yet anyway.

Suddenly Sam clicked and growled. The Alpha flew at my, dragging me to the ground.

"Fuck, Quil!" Sam yelled. "She's my niece!"

Luna pulled Sam off of me and hissed at him. Her anger gave her strength as she faced down the Alpha.

"Look, I get it's fucked up." She said. "I get that you're worried. But you will not hurt my cousin. Lay another finger on him and I will rip your legs off."

Sam growled at her. "Let's take this into the forest."

Luna shot me a death look before we walked into the forest. Luna put some distance between us as we became invisible from the human world. I undressed quickly and tied my shorts to my ankle. I let the change take over my body, listening for Sam and Luna.

It's not fair! Luna said.

Things will get better. Sam replied.

Sorry. I thought. I'll leave if you want to talk.

No. Sam thought. We need to deal with this issue.

Sam, Claire is just like a sister to me. There is no romance, I promise.

Sam saw the honesty in my mind. As long as that is all there is...

Suddenly the uneasy truce was broken. I saw something in Luna's mind. Something she didn't want the rest of us to see. Something she was trying hard not to think. The reason for her sudden decay.

Phase out! Sam ordered and I obeyed.

The phase was violent and I felt like I had just been shot. The images burned in my mind and I lay on the forest floor sobbing for a few moments.

Neil's eyes burned into Luna. He had a sick grin on his face as he moved closer.

"Forever." He whispered. "You are mine forever."

I felt Luna's pain, her anger. She couldn't loose these images that haunted her night by night. I dried my face and headed home.

Jake's Point of View

My father and I arrived at the usual place for the pack bonfires. Luna was already there, sitting alone and away from the wolves that where already there. She looked old and tired. Her fingers plucked dried leaves into pieces.

Sam and Emily were together, sitting on a log. Sam shot looks at Luna, but he seemed unwilling to talk to her. There was a dark flash in his eyes every time he looked at her.

At Emily's feet, Claire sat playing with Quil. Something seemed wrong there. Quil looked torn between Luna and the little girl. His eyes were dark and pained when he looked at his cousin, but bright and in awe when he looked a Claire.

"Hey, Lu." Paul said, walking in.

He went and sat next to her, but they didn't talk. Instead it looked like they were just enjoying their friendship, him supporting her in her time of need. Every one else started coming in, some with their imprints. Jared and Kim looked happy, where as Leah looked bitter. I really hoped that the girl wolves would find some happiness. Leah shot me a look before she went to sit with Luna.

The rest of the council had arrived. Old Quil looked at his granddaughter, the same pain in his eyes. Luna looked up at him, and I could see the tears.

"Grandpa." She said, crying.

Luna run up to the old man and hugged him. She sobbed softly.

"It will be alright, my child." He said, motioning her to sit with a last squeeze.

I walked over and took her hand, leading her to a log. She rested her head against my shoulder. I rubbed small circles on her back, trying to help her feel a little better. My efforts seemed wasted because I still felt her silent tears on my warm skin.

Sam took his place with Old Quil and my father. Sue was sitting there with her children,watching Luna carefully. Luna nodded and stood up.

"Luna," Sam said. "The council has decided your fate."

She nodded, her face streaked from the tears. "I will accept my punishment with little complaint."

"Punishment?" My dad asked. "For what?"

"Is that not what the council has decided?" Luna whispered. "Are you not going to make me pay for my mistakes."

"My daughter," Old Quil said. "From what Sam tells us you are already paying for them. We hate to see you in pain."

The wolves murmured an agreement. Not one among us wanted to see Luna get hurt.

"Then what?" She said. "Am I being sent away?"

"Just for a few weeks until this has blown over." Sam said.

Luna began to sob. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

I went and stood next to her. I wrapped her in my arms.

"It's okay." I said. "It'll be fine."

She sobbed harder.

"You won't be far." Old Quil said. "We have spoken to the Cullen's..."

A slight hiss came from the circle. The wolves still had a little animosity towards the vampires. I respected the Cullen family, grateful for the way they helped Luna time and time again. There were a few that felt the same, Luna and Seth being the main contributors.

"You will be staying with them in Forks for a while." Sam said quietly. "You can come back when you are ready."

Luna stood there. She looked over each council member before she nodded.

"I accept." She said.

When she didn't move, my father asked her if she had more to add.

"I wish that the council takes a vote." She said.

"About?" My father replied.

"Sam has put an injunction on me..."

"We have spoken about this, Luna." Sam said, stopping her. "It will not be removed."

She cleared her throat. "I think the council has a right to know."

"What is it, Luna?" Sue asked.

"I want to be able to go back to California one day."

"That is out of the question!" Sam said, standing up. "Luna, they are just dreams!"

"If it was Emily or Leah, you would already be gone!" Luna replied in a snarl. "I just want that option, Sam. I'm not going to leave without telling anyone."

"No, Luna. There is another way."

"What if I don't want another way?"

"Damn it, Luna! Neil is not..."

"How do you know, Sam? How do you really know?" She yelled.

"I wish I knew. I wish I could give you a straight answer. But I can't. It's too dangerous for you to go."

"I'm not going to go!" She hissed. "I just don't want to be a prisoner anymore. Let the council vote!"

Sam looked at the council. "I put the injunction in place so that she wouldn't run away back to California."

"But I won't!" She said.

"We vote." Billy replied, putting an end to all arguing. "All in favour of Sam?"

I saw Sam raise his hand. The circle was dead quiet.

"All in favor of Luna?"

Sue raised her hand, followed by Old Quil.

"Sorry, Sam." My father said. "The council has decided."

Luna nodded and walked away. Sam followed, muttering something under his breath.

Sam's Point of View

If Quil had pissed me off about the imprinting thing, then Luna had just added insult to injury. I followed as she headed into the woods. We phased at the same time.

I'm sorry, Sam. She thought. You would not have done it any other way.

You're right.

I'm not going anytime soon. I'll stay. I'll be a wolf girl. I just wanted to know that there were other options.

I could see the honesty in her mind, mixed with confusion and guilt.

You're right. I would have done the same for Emily or Leah. I replied. The order is removed.

She smiled. Thank you.