Hey everyone! I hope those of you celebrating Thanksgiving had a good time and enjoyed the long weekend. Sorry for the inconsistency with the chapters, its getting kinda crazy with finals, etc. The next chapter will be longer. It will be about the campfire, like the one that Bella attends in Eclipse. So KEEP READING and email me with your thoughts/comments/ideas.

Alli

We walked as a group to La Push. Leah laughed at something one of the copper skinned boys said, and Jake and Jason were in deep conversation. Seth padded beside Naomi, his large paws surprisingly quiet. Naomi looked around awkwardly at her companions. As if Nessie heard Naomi's thoughts, she turned and winked. Naomi smiled back. Nessie was always so sociable. Instead of appearing the awkward, shy person she was, Naomi observed her surroundings with more interest than she actually had. They had not yet reached the houses, and tall trees grew lush. The grass, too, was thick and tall. Naomi supposed it was La Push's proximity to Forks- vampires never settled anywhere with half decent weather. She could hear the wash of waves along a shore, and in the fading light she could see the outline of a house. They had officially entered the town.

Without warning, Ty ran off into the forest. Seth nuzzled Naomi and whined. Naomi nodded, and Seth bounded off into the thick woods not far behind. She understood- they couldn't be seen. Naomi felt lost for a moment, but then a boy was there, bare chested and broad shouldered.

"Hi, I'm Gabriel. Gabe." he said, holding out his hand. To his credit, he didn't flinch at her icy touch.

"Naomi." she replied.

"So Seth imprinted on a vampire." he shook his head in mock sadness. "That blows our theory out of the water."

Naomi was intrigued. "What theory?"

"For a while, we thought that we imprinted on someone who would… produce the best heirs. To pass down the line." Gabe answered.

"But Nessie-?"

"We thought she and Jake may have been an exception." he explained.

"Well, if it's any consolation, Seth imprinted on me when I was still human." Naomi offered.

"Now see, that's interesting." Gabe said excitedly, like a dog with a bone.

"You like genetics?" Naomi asked.

"How can you not, when you're a werewolf? It's a genetic thing, but how did it happen? Is it only our tribe?" he theorized. "There are a lot of questions."

"A lot of questions." Naomi mused. "And not a lot of answers."

"Same thing applies to vampires. Sort of, anyway." Gabe said.

Naomi was seized by this. "Like who was the first vampire? Who created them?"

Gabe nodded. "Exactly."

"Are you two done your super serious talk?"Nessie asked, appearing beside Naomi.

"For you, Nessie." Naomi promised.

"Good, because we're here."

Here was a house. It didn't look much different from the other houses. Like a house that sheltered mythological, potentially immortal, enemy- turned- ally creatures. Ty and Seth emerged from the house with new shorts. They were laughing about something and the sound fell upon Naomi's ears like music. She noticed his absence like an acute ache. They were only separated for eleven minutes and forty- three seconds, for goodness's sake. Seth locked eyes with Naomi and smiled. She smiled back, unable to stop if she had wanted to, because the sight was the most beautiful in the world. He walked towards her and wrapped a warm arm around her waist, planting a kiss on her head.

Naomi was then distracted by the sound of two heartbeats, fully human, unlike the wolves or Nessie. She cocked her head in confusion. She thought the werewolves were a secret. Two women appeared in the doorway with the same rich skin and dark hair as the wolves. One was distinctly older than Naomi, in her early to mid twenties. The other was only several years older than Naomi's seventeen. Gabe and Jason met them, kissing them without reserve. Naomi raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Naomi, this is Mia." Jason introduced the older of the two women, the one who held tightly to his arm. "And this is Lily." The girl stared at the sound of her name. She had been staring at Gabe with shining eyes, nearly glowing in the night. Staring at the pair, Naomi wondered if that was how she and Seth looked. She could ask Nessie, she supposed. Nessie would show her. But Nessie would pry. The truth was, Naomi just wanted to know if she looked as happy as Lily and Gabe when she was with Seth.

"Nice to meet you both." said Naomi.

"Come inside everyone. Lily and I prepared some food. They're always hungry." Mia said conspiratorially to Naomi. Naomi hid a smile. True to her word, food covered the large wooden table, and the wolves wasted no time digging in. It was strange for Naomi to see food like this. At home, the wolves always ate whenever, whatever. There was never a meal time, and they never sat down to eat together, although Naomi heard Esme suggest doing so countless times.

Naomi listened to the two packs tell stories that had happened in the last years, some hilarious, some frightening. The hours passed quickly, and Lily fell asleep in Gabe's arms.

"I'm going to take her home." he said and lifted her smoothly. "Keys?" One of the other boys, Luke, snatched up a pair of keys and tossed them to Gabe, who caught them effortlessly in his mouth. He nodded and left the house. Naomi could hear the rumble of the car engine grow more and more quiet.

"I think we'll pack it in, too." Jake said. This seemed to signal the end of the night, and everyone rose. Goodbyes were said, and plans made, and the Luke and Dom departed.

"Thanks for putting us up, Jason." said Seth.

"Not a problem. Have a good night." Mia and Jason climbed the staircase and Naomi heard a door click shut.

"Come get me if you're bored." Nessie said and followed Jake into a room. Seth took Naomi's hand and led her towards the bedroom.

"Tired?" Naomi asked.

"Not a bit." Seth replied.