It wasn't a surprise to find Tanya waiting at her new home for her. Barely just a day into Lois' being on her own in Port Angeles, she wasn't sure how to feel with her mother figure suddenly there.

There was, of course, appreciation to have such a devoted mother.

Then again, there was irritation. Lois was half a century old. Did Tanya think she couldn't take care of herself? That any sort of human could possibly be a problem? It was laughable and insulting. Yet Lois didn't let these thoughts get to her. She remembered Eleazar's words of advice and approached the situation calmly.

"Tanya." She greeted, still uncertain. It was early morning, and the sun would rise in about an hour. "What are you doing here?"

Said older vampire sat comfortably on the couch, a smile curling at her lips. "I wanted to see how you were doing."

"It hasn't been that long. Plus I did call you a few hours ago." Lois reminded, still remaining friendly. She was leaning towards irritation now.

Tanya just looked amused. "Your lips twitch when you're angry, Lois. Don't be. I had to discuss something with you that I hadn't considered before... Something too important for a phone call."

Now worried, Lois dropped her bag and shed her coat, quickly taking a seat across from her. "What is it?"

Tanya's eyes dropped to the table between them, resting lightly, but thoughtful.

"Have you ever craved human blood?"

"Never." Lois answered without a beat, truthfully. "Other than that time as a newborn, but I didn't know what I wanted. At least until you guys trained me with the animals."

Tanya smiled to herself. "I'm glad I never let you get close to that struggle… What about Charlie? How are things going?"

Lois looked at her for a moment, her thin blonde brows knitting together. "You know I'd never hurt him…"

"I know that, Lois. At least not intentionally."

"You think I have bad restraint?"

"It's all something we have to work on, Lois. Just because you don't smell it doesn't mean it's not there." Tanya suddenly stated, eyes flashing upwards. Lois eased back into her seat, anxious.

"What's this all about?"

For a long minute, Tanya stared off. Then, her voice was a mumble.

"La tua cantante."

Lost for words, and visibly confused, Lois offered a meek shrug. "Bless you?"

Tanya's eyes shifted over, and she couldn't resist smiling. "I didn't sneeze, Lois. It means 'your singer'."

Lois pressed her lips together, glancing around awkwardly. "And…you came here to give me Spanish lessons?"

Tanya let out a sigh. "So you don't know." She stated, as if to herself. "I should have told you… Carlisle brought it to my attention, and I'm embarrassed I didn't wonder about it sooner."

"I'm really lost…"

"A singer is someone who's blood appeals to a vampire. Sometimes just to one, or to many vampires. Carlisle called last night and expressed his concerns. It's what he…and all of us are beginning to think has affected you, Lois."

"Why would you think that? I haven't even smelled-"

"Lois," Tanya strained, "you moved down here on impulse-"

"I worked a month to get here-"

"You abruptly start a relationship with a human. Then you strain our friendship with the Cullen's on the basis of an acute relationship. Lois, Charlie has to be your singer."

Hurt, and mortified, it took Lois a moment to speak. Eventually her voice came out quietly, but almost betrayed.

"I did all this because Charlie makes me feel like a normal person. And even if he is, or isn't some singer to me, that can never change how I feel. Because you can never hold me to the same expectation as a regular vampire, Tanya."

Tanya appeared a tad guilty for her outburst. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on." Lois slumped, scrunching her golden orbs. "Gimme a break. We all know I don't exactly meet the standards for a vampire. But I've been around long enough to see the scales of vampirism. I'm not average like you or the Cullen's, I'm not terrifyingly superior like the Volturi. There has to be the other end of the spectrum somewhere, right? Well…I think that's me. The closest to a human a vampire can get. So you can't just expect me to understand this singer business, because…" She paused, biting her lip.

"I did have the chance to drink human blood, once."

Tanya sat upright quickly. "I just asked you if you ever craved human blood."

"You're not letting me finish." Lois patiently spoke, dormant on her chair like a child admitting something. "A few years ago… When I was traveling, I found this teenage girl in the woods. She was…" Lois bit her lip. "She was trying to kill herself. Blood was everywhere. I thought for sure, that when I saw so much blood, I would lose control and kill her. But…" She furrowed her brows. "It was like I was looking at dirt. I felt nothing. I could smell it, I could almost taste it in the air…but there was nothing. I… I was stunned… I managed to console her and get her to a hospital. Then I saw she left so much blood on me. I figured that was my second button being pushed, and I thought for sure I'd lose control…" she shook her head, speaking simply. "A nurse got me a change of clothes, and I left those bloodied rags behind me. Just like that."

After a long silence, Lois slowly lifted her eyes. Tanya was speechless, staring at her with wide eyes.

Lois turned away. "Jasper was right. He told me sometimes a person, if they're weak enough, that state can follow them into their second life. Maybe I'm just a dud-"

Cold arms suddenly wrapped around her, and Tanya was shaking.

"Tanya?" Lois panicked, eyes glued to the corners and trying to see. "Mom-"

"Lois." Tanya eventually breathed, letting out a shaken breath. Blonde curls skimmed across Lois Carol's face, and bewildered, she saw Tanya's amazed smile, if not admiration in her eyes. "Eleazar told me about it once, but none of us believed him."

"What?" Lois pressed, wrapping her own arms around Tanya. She'd never seen the older vampire like this. So…vulnerable. So open.

"It doesn't matter if Charlie Swan is your singer. Lois, you don't need human blood. All your little quirks… Sleeping isn't a vampire's special ability, it's not even possible, but your dreams within them are. You can't be compared against us, Lois. You are a mix of humanity and vampirism." Tanya breathed.

Lois struggled for words. "You mean…"

Tanya nodded slowly, still smiling amazed.

"Lois, you're a hybrid."

.

.

.

It was well into the morning, but still the two Denalis' kept in the apartment. The sun was shining outside, so there was no chance of either of them going outside. Sunlight streamed in between the curtains, but the apartment was still without lights. Still, it was cozy and bright enough. Lois sat curled on the couch against Tanya, a cup of piping hot chocolate in her hands.

Each time Tanya glanced at it, she would just smile.

It all made sense now.

"As I was saying about Eleazar, he did encounter a newborn that… was fairly similar to you a few hundred years ago. After the initial newborn strength passed, the story is this vampire was…inadequate, to the Volturi's standards. They weren't happy with him."

"I sympathize with him. It's not something you can just work harder for." Lois mumbled.

"I know." Cold lips pressed to her head, reassuringly, and Tanya went on. "Eventually, because this new vampire was so human, in many ways, they wanted to kill him."

"Why?"

"It wasn't that he was a threat. Far from it." She leaned over, and Lois's eyes widened.

"They were jealous."

Lois shifted her big eyes over. "The Volturi? The most wealthy, powerful and beautiful vampires ever?"

Tanya sighed. "I guess if you've been around for a few thousand years, doing the same things… life gets stale. Eleazar told this story with admiration and wonder… the same way he treats you, Lois."

"Eleazar?"

Tanya nodded, grinning. "He loves you very much, Lois. We all do. And I think he formed a connection with that one person long ago, too. There was something…graceful, about that person. They didn't need to kill to survive. Granted, only animals, but there was no desire for human blood. Just think how many countless humans would still be alive if…" She shook her head. "This vampire was also a rumored hero. Superhuman, invincible… Yet, even with vampire traits, he was still human inside. I believe that's what you are too, Lois."

"But you remember that training accident a few years ago with Garret. He threw that spear clear though my chest… I didn't think I'd ever see my icy insides." She dryly chuckled.

"You shouldn't have gotten in his way." Tanya pointedly spoke, bothered. "Scared me to death.."

"Sorry… Go on with the story, please." Lois asked, taking a sip of her drink. Her mother couldn't help but smile at the sight. "It doesn't have a good ending, though… Because this vampire was such a hero, women flocked to him… And when the Volturi decided to kill him, they also killed the women he had possibly been intimate with. They didn't want any chance of some super-hybrid being created."

Lois opened her mouth, but paused abruptly.

"Did you just imply he could have kids?"

Tanya nodded. "The Volturi figured it was possible. So-"

"Does that mean…" Lois slowly began, watching Tanya carefully. It took the older blonde a moment, and then, she nearly shot out of her seat. Lois nearly broke her cup from holding it so hard.

"Does that mean that I could-"

"I'm not sure about anything anymore." Tanya had to laugh. "With that Renesmee Cullen, we all figured the mother would have to be a human. Since… on a male vampire's side, there's no problems. It was assumed a female vampire's womb would always be dead. Incapable of supporting any life… There's no telling what you've got going on in there, Lois."

Said woman cracked a smile. "Should I get Garrett and those throwing spears?"

So she saw the flick to the head coming. Lois shook her head. "Wait…how come the Volturi haven't come after me?"

"They probably don't know…and, well the story says that one vampire was a bit arrogant. Flaunting what they lacked…he possibly had it coming."

Lois lowered her head. "At least things make sense now. I always thought there was something wrong with me… Now, it turns out when you changed me, there was that rare chance apparently something weird would happen. Completely random and… I've never fully been a vampire." Lois marveled, looking down at her hands. "I always wondered why I liked that Renesmee Cullen so quickly."

"Well…she was expected. You're a little freak of nature." Tanya winked. Lois huffed and sipped her sweet drink.

"Food still makes me sick… But maybe if I wean myself off blood, and find food I liked, what if I transitioned into a human?" Lois wondered.

"This isn't the Twilight Zone, Lois."

She had to laugh, grateful for her mother's visit.

"It could be."

.

.

.

Later that same day, about an hour before her next night shift began, Lois was hunting in the woods, just outside of Port Angeles' center town. There were plenty signs of hunters being around these woods, too, unlike Forks in such a capacity. A few old beer cans were discarded, rusting, and empty shotgun shells gleamed like diamonds in the day's fading light. Lois tried hard not to focus on the scent of gunpowder and sweat.

Utterly repulsive, and hopefully it hadn't scared all the deer away. Lois impatiently huffed as time wore on, and any scents of deer were far. She hadn't drank since she came down here, and morally obligated to sate her thirst before dealing with humans again, she was persistent. Lois had no temptations with humans, but she didn't want to be on edge with them. In hunger, she was testy, frustrated, and liable to scare people with her dark eyes.

'Face it.' she thought. 'You're just upset Charlie didn't kiss you.'

Lois stumbled to a halt. Was that really the cause of her frustration…? Not entirely, at least. She did need to drink soon. Plus… Charlie was on her mind. It wasn't rejection or anything. He was taking things slow. It was respectable. It was…a nice change of pace from men she was used to. Therefore, she couldn't think like they did.

The vampire's countenance softened as she continued her hunt.

She could track easier now with that reassurance.

A short half hour later, Lois daintily wiped a dot of blood away from her lips, afterwards running her tongue over it and leaving herself spotless. She turned her head, noting the hungry bobcat watching a short ways off.

"He's all yours fuzz-ball."

That said, she left the deer carcass behind her and started for town. As she walked, soothing down her clothes and inspecting for any imperfection, her phone rang. At the certain display of numbers, a smile tugged at her lips and she answered.

"Hey, Charlie."

"Hey. You at work yet?"

"I'm on my way now, actually. What's up?"

"Just wanted to check on you. I wasn't too sure when to call. Figured with your night shifts you'd be plum tired in the day."

"I don't need much sleep, so you can call whenever." She shrugged.

"That must be nice." He gruffly stated, perhaps a touch envious. "I get anything less than eight hours I'm barely a functioning person."

Lois laughed.

"I meant to ask," he went on, sounding a bit distracted from her laugh, "are you doing anything this weekend?"

"No, not really."

"Did you want to do anything? I figured we could ride around Port Angeles, see a few places."

Lois opened her mouth, but froze. Recalling the weather forecast she saw earlier, and the blinding rays of sunlight expected all weekend, she spoke quickly.

"A-Actually, I'm probably just going to stay at home and relax. Some time resting would do me good."

"I understand. You feeling OK?"

She was fine, but under no circumstances was she going outside in sunny weather. "Um, yeah."

"Lois…"

He was starting to sound worried. "It's just, I think that Mexican food didn't settle too well with me. So I really didn't want to do much. But feel free to hang out with me." She offered, hoping to convince him. However, she heard his pause.

"Have you gone to the Doctor?"

"…no."

"Then you should. Dr. Cullen is one of the best on this side of the state. You got his number?"

Lois almost sighed. Trying to dig out of a hole only put her into another.

"Yes, I have his number… I'll probably be heading over this weekend to see him then."

"I'll pick you up Saturday morning. Since you're on the night shift just let me know when to come by. Little sleep or not you shouldn't be dragging on account of me."

"Okay…thanks Charlie. See you."

"Take care Lois…goodbye."

She hung up and let her head fall back, sighing up at the dark night above.

"So much for relaxing at home…"

.

.

.

The arrangements with Carlisle had already been set up the day before she was leaving with Charlie. Said Doctor found amusement in Lois's attempts of evading going out, and in Charlie's persistence. Regardless he informed her he would handle it with discretion, keeping their secret intact.

Lois was thankful for that aspect, but for the most part, her eyes were on the skies. She dressed appropriately to hide from said sunlight. Her dark jacket was overly large and fell past her hands, her legs were fine with pants and sneakers, and she decided she use a sunhat to shadow her face, along with a pair of sunglasses for casual sake.

But for one who normally dressed in style and fashion, this level of nonchalance and 'I'll just throw something on' came as a surprise to Charlie. Officer Swan arrived at the time Lois suggested, about eight in the morning to his surprise over her presumable lack of sleep, and blinked when she opened the door.

"I'm guessing you're really not feeling good."

Lois knitted her brows, hidden under her hat. "Because of how I dress..?"

"Sorry. What I mean is I'm not used to seeing you not being vibrant and…well, lively. It worries me. Not your clothes."

Lois slouched her head. "Nice save."

"Wasn't a save. Why are we talking about clothes…? I'm just worried Lois." His warm hand fell atop her shoulder, and not having contact for so long, it was startling. But she liked it. Warm, safe…

Lois lifted her head, smiling. "Thank you, Charlie."

He managed a little smile, though it was laced in worry. "Come on. Let's get you feeling better." His hand moved from her shoulder to an arm wrapping around them, and in that short walk to her car after she closed the front door, Lois's mind was in a daze. He was so unbelievably warm. Lois had tried different methods over the years to stay warm, from sitting near fireplaces to even boiling bath water and practically deep frying herself. The rest of her family still found that funny, and half the time if they ever got a phone call, they'd call and say it was for Lois, from Red Lobster or Long John Silver's. Only Eleazar didn't get it and laugh like them.

She only broke out of her delight from the gesture when he opened the passenger door for her. Lois thanked him and sat inside, and he closed it after. As much as she wanted to focus on Charlie during the drive, Lois couldn't help but feel paranoid at the steadily growing sunlight. Charlie mistook her leaning away from the window and towards him as a sign of nerves.

"Hey, don't worry." He spoke once he noticed, glancing over. "Carlisle is a good doctor. He'll set you up good." His hand fell over hers, and despite how freezing it was, he just held it warmly. Lois was tense a moment. There was never much physical contact between them, and for the most part she'd grown scared he'd question her usual cold temperatures. Aside from a lingering glance, Charlie Swan simply accepted it. Worried of course, but figured there was nothing he could do. Lois was surprised, but pleased he kept his hand like that the entire drive to Forks. Now and then his thumb would rub over her hand, comfortingly. Small gestures like that didn't escape her attention. As they pulled up to the hospital, Lois turned her hand and wrapped it around his. Her eyes were out the window when he looked over.

Easily able to mistake it for nerves, instead of the sunlight being responsible, Charlie gave her a little squeeze.

"Come on." He assured.

Lois nodded, and they started out. Charlie didn't take her hand again, though he did walk closer. Lois didn't mind. Goodness knows if locals saw their Chief holding hands with someone, word would spread like wildfire. Charlie talked to the front desk receptionist, and afterwards she told them to go to a certain room just down the hall. Now, Lois was uncomfortable and not because of the sunlight. She refused to sit on the crinkly bed, though Charlie didn't exactly disagree with her annoyance with it. He was fine with her sitting next to him, and there in that small exam room was he good with holding her hand again. Lois's honey orbs trailed over, and she gave him a thankful smile.

"I'm glad we got to spend time together… even if it is here." She mumbled a bit. No one liked hospitals. Lois tried not to think of all the people coughing, and dried old blood hiding somewhere. These places were a germ casserole.

"Just wanted you to be alright." Charlie quietly said, eyes on the door. It was probably a police thing that he watched those going about. After a moment he looked at her, meeting appreciative eyes. Charlie's countenance softened, something that happened often when seeing her look at him like that. So sincere and appreciative. It was like his chest tightened up, and the world faded away. It almost looked like she simply lov-

The door opened and Dr. Cullen stepped inside. Lois withdrew her hand and straightened up, but Carlisle had already seen and was smiling.

"Charlie." He greeted, turning his head. "Lois. Heard you're not feeling well."

"Something like that."

"Don't be shy. You tell him." Charlie nodded over, furrowing his brow. Carlisle skimmed through his clipboard, busily. "Actually Lois, I need to update your records. Do you mind…?" His gold orbs lifted, and Lois nodded knowingly.

"Not at all… Charlie?"

Said Chief nodded, patting her hand as he got up and left the room. Afterwards, Lois slumped in her chair, sighing.

"He's persistent. I should've kept my mouth shut."

Carlisle was smiling, resting back against the wall. He spared a glance at the door. "He's definitely worried about you, though."

"Can't we just come up with some…anti-sunlight condition? That way he understands I just don't like sunny days. He'll have no idea."

"We could but… That might only worry him more."

Lois looked off towards the ground. "So…what are you going to tell him?"

The doctor thought for a moment. "You told him you ate something bad, right?"

She nodded.

"Simple stomach bug. Doesn't last more than a day, at best. Nothing for him to worry about. I'll prescribe you a recommendation of Advil and easy resting. Nothing outdoors." His lips pulled up, innocently as he looked at her under his lashes. "And I doubt Charlie will be taking you on anymore dates at that restaurant too."

Lois turned her head, embarrassed.

As Carlisle pretended to write notes for her medical, Lois opened her mouth and paused. Carlisle lifted his eyes, blinking. "Hm?"

Lois lowered her eyes, shaking her head. "Nothing."

Something in her stance must have resembled a child being shy about something. But Lois always had that aura since her second life. Where, when her first came to an end, she became so dependent on Tanya and the Denali's. Firstly for the decent interactions she'd been so long deprived of. And now, if she was comfortable with someone enough, Lois tended to break her walls down. Carlisle happened to pick up on that and walked over, sitting in the empty chair next to her.

"Lois… you can talk to me, if you need."

"…I…I was wondering about something, actually… But I don't know how to go about it."

"I wouldn't worry about eloquence." Carlisle smiled.

Lois eased up and looked across from her.

"When someone enters their second life… their human life is left behind, right?"

Carlisle looked at her a moment. "Yes."

"Okay…But…what if some of it stayed?"

He furrowed his brows. "Humanity is a moral code vampires can choose to follow, or not. But physically nothing human remains."

Lois turned her head, hesitant. "What if it could, though? Could it be impossible?"

Carlisle thoughtfully took a moment. "Well…it's unheard of… But I suppose anything can happen. Like abilities. Some of us possess them, others don't… I'm curious now, Lois." He smiled. "I hope you know Jasper and Emmett were just teasing you before. All vampires range in-"

"I'm a hybrid, Carlisle."

The silence that followed was loud, and it left him opening and closing his mouth. "…My granddaughter Renesmee is, but I don't think-"

"Maybe sometime you should talk to Eleazar. He has an interesting story…" Lois turned her head, sighing up at the ceiling. "It all makes sense. And I know Edward's been in my head, so he knows almost everything about me. And I'm sure he's talked about me too… But sometimes, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear my heart actually moves sometimes. Mostly if I'm with Charlie. Since I've met him I've learned so many things about myself. I never really cared about how I talked or dressed before, but now it's…different… Then it feels like I can't breathe and my chest gets so tight-"

"Breathe?"

Lois cracked a smile. "Well, you remember how it used to feel… My chest starts to flutter, but I find breathing cools me down and helps me think better."

Carlisle had a hand propping up his head, and his hand covered his mouth, but his eyes were dead set on her. Nothing could break his concentration.

"Charlie's expecting an exam. I think I'm going to perform one now."

"What?"

He was on his feet, discarding his clipboard and normal tools. Goodness knows he didn't need it. Then he was standing before her, knowing with no one else to see, he didn't care about appearing human. Lois' eyes followed him though.

"Can you stand, please?"

So she did, holding out her arm when he asked her to. A cold hand wrapped around her elbow, and he pressed his other hand to the inside of it. He was silent a moment.

"There's no rushing blood, none, actually. That's to be expected. Now I'm listening."

He paused, eyes absentmindedly resting on her neck. His look of focus remained. "Lois, close your eyes… Think of Charlie."

After she sent him a questioning look, Lois complied. She thought of this morning. How from her window she briskly saw Charlie get out of his car. So concerned about her. Then when she opened the door he looked her over, like he was doing his own personal examination. The small details never escaped her. Everything was so-

The small sound that left Carlisle's throat left Lois blinking at him.

"Carlisle?"

His golden orbs were round with alarm. Something from the normally calm vampire that unnerved Lois. Whatever words he wanted to say had died on his lips, which now remain parted, at a loss for words.

Lois's hands settled in her jacket pockets, but inside it she wrung them together nervously. She had yet to break her now worried gaze, brows becoming all the more knitted.

"Carlisle. What is it?"

Finally, he swallowed and broke out of it.

"Lois." His voice was almost raw sounding, completely different from his calm politeness. "We were right about one thing. Your heart doesn't beat. But that fluttering you were talking about? It wasn't your heart. Lois…"

Carlisle broke out an amazed smile.

"For a minute there…You have rushing blood in your heart."