All characters that are from the TWILIGHT saga by Stephanie Meyer belong to Stephanie Meyer. All others belong to me. I do not receive profit for these stories except for the joyous enjoyment of reviews.

This story follows right after When I'm Gone: Third Installment to GONE Saga, so if you haven't read that one or the two before, please do.

The timeline of the story will coincide with Gabriel Michael Laskaris' growing up years, starting at Seth and Rosa's wedding day, April 12th and will progress from there.

AN: Another chapter! It's been a busy last two weeks and it's only going to get busier so please, bare with me if I take longer than usual to update for the next six weeks. I'll do my best to maintain my one a week goal but just in case, I apologize ahead of time.

To answer a question posted by a reviewer simply known as "c" :although it seems Lian and Julie are the focus of this story, I am using their story to make time pass -Gabriel and Vivi are still children and have yet to reach the age where there's more to their everyday life. Don't worry, they will soon get there -at the moment, they are both nine. I update my family tree with every new chapter to keep track of the ages.

Gaby -Love you darling! thanks for keeping me from going into the dark place. And don't despair -this chapter ends well.

Ppani -thank you for your wonderful review! You will notice some of the things you pointed out in your review are present in this chapter -I swear, I had already written it all out before I read your review -you're that insightful. Look forward to your next review.

Inosolan -so awesome to see a new review of yours with every new chapter of mine! thank you!

Chelsea, Lette, Moani, Loving Leah, and all others -you're all great! I look forward to every review y'all leave behind -they make my day.

As always, enjoy as you read and review.

Chapter Thirty
First Week of June

A bark behind him let him know he needed to slow down and give Einstein the chance to catch up.

The sixty pound dog had good running speed but he still fell behind in comparison to Marc's own speed.

Slowing down a little more as he rounded a bend, he saw the crack up ahead –it was ten feet wide and probably only a four foot drop but it always gave Marc that shot of adrenaline that usually came with speed –whether it was on his bike or on his feet, going fast was something he enjoyed immensely.

Einstein came up to his left, his long legs eating up the distance as they got closer.

Several feet away, Marc bend in one fluid motion, still moving as he lifted Einstein into his arms just as he pushed off the edge, flying over the ten feet to land in a crouch a foot away from the opposite rim –easy as pie.

Einstein whined as Marc placed him back on the ground, the four year old dog shaking slightly with his tail tucked between his legs –he hated being airborne but was always good at staying still whenever his boy did something like that.

"You're a good dog, Einstein," Marc rubbed between the dog's ears, patting his back as the bluetick hound moved towards a tree to empty his bladder.

Letting out a sigh, Marc straightened his shirt, looking down to see a streak of dirt on his jeans, his shoelaces untied.

Slapping the dirt away, he crouched down to tie his shoes, his head snapping up at the sound of a soft curse coming from deep inside the forest stretched out before him.

Standing up, he headed into the forest, easily finding the path that would lead him back to La Push, Einstein trotting behind him, his nose sniffing close to the ground even though he couldn't smell.

Rounding the first bend, he stopped at the sight of Bailey on one knee, her head bent as she inspected her other knee, the bicycle lying on its side a couple of feet from her, "I thought you weren't allowed in here."

Her head snapped up, jaw tightening as she yanked her jeans' leg down to hide her scraped knee, rising to her feet, lifting her chin in a challenge, "It's not like I'm going to be telling. Are you?"

Marc shrugged as he slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans, "I don't care what you do –besides, your dad was the one that made the rule."

"You're in here," Bailey picked up her bicycle, pushing it beside her as she moved past him up the way he had come from, her nose stuck high in the air –little princess bitch is what Marc called her in his head.

"I'm an exemption to the rule," Marc turned to watch her walk up the path out of the forest and towards the mountains, "Your dad's gonna find out you've been out here –it's dangerous."

"Considering you're in here and not up there," Bailey turned to face him, jerking her thumb over her shoulder, "I'll be safer going that way."

Her insult seemed to have no effect as Marc kept his face immovable, Einstein sniffing the ground as he walked further into the woods.

"What did you find for dinner," Bailey sneered at him, propping her bike against her thigh as she crossed her arms over her chest, fighting back the desire to turn and run as Marc arched an eyebrow at her, "A skunk?"

Marc's lips spread into a smile that showed his white teeth, an edge of mockery in his words, "A mountain lion."

Bailey shivered with disgust as she covertly rubbed at the goosebumps breaking over her arms, "Dad should have killed you and your sister when he had a chance. You're both freaks of nature –you shouldn't exist."

Marc didn't reply, simply tilting his head to the side as he looked over her shoulder, his mouth stretching into a one sided smile as Bailey continued insulting him and his sister, "You're both an abo –what the hell are you smiling at?"

Marc lifted a shoulder in a shrug, "Just wondering how long it's going to take between you shooting your mouth off and that bear biting your head off."

Bailey spun around, the bike falling to the ground as she took a step back, freezing in place when the bear, several yards up from where they were, looked her way, his snout quivering as he sniffed the air, "Oh God…do something."

"Why should I," Marc leaned against a tree, not at all worried as he watched Bailey and the bear stare each other down, "You called me and my sister freaks of nature."

"I never said you were monsters," Bailey's voice shook as the bear started moving towards them, his big body undulating with each step, the vibrations under her feet making her shake, "You can't let the bear eat me."

Marc rolled his eyes as he pushed himself away from the tree, "It's not going to eat –"

The bear let out a roar as it stood on its hind legs, his beady eyes trained on Marc as his nose quivered –the shifting wind carrying Marc's scent uphill and now the huge mammal felt the threat of a predator.

Marc grimaced as Bailey let out a squeak, feeling a little bad about how scared the girl was, "Okay…maybe you should walk backwards –very slowly."

Bailey took a step back, freezing when the bear lowered to all fours, "Marc…kill him or something."

"Are you fucking kidding me," Marc moved very slowly towards Bailey, keeping his eyes on the mammal, "He's a grizzly bear."

"You had a mountain lion for dinner," she hissed at him, able to feel him close behind her –now she was between a bear and a half-vampire…just her fucking luck.

"And apparently, you eat bullshit for lunch," Marc reached out to take her arm in his hand, "Don't make any sudden movements Bailey, or we're both screwed."

Bailey bit her lip as he pulled her back, brown eyes never leaving the bear as it made its way towards them, huge body shifting menacingly with every heavy step he took, the ground shaking hard under them.

"Climb up the tree," Marc moved her to the nearest tree, her eyes flicking up quickly before she turned her attention back to the bear, "I can't reach the branch."

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Marc dropped to his knees, shoving his head between her knees as he grabbed her ankles, standing up with her on his shoulders, "Grab the branch and get up there!"

The tree bark scratched her hands but she grabbed onto the branch, pulling herself up as Marc held her feet in his hands, his eyes on the bear as it increased its speed, "Will you fucking hurry up!"

As soon as her feet left his hands, Marc jumped up and grabbed another branch, his feet scrambling against the tree trunk as he heard a series of shark barks growing closer, "Shit!"

Looking down, he watched as Einstein ran towards the bear, barking and growling, his hackles up as the bear swiped at him with a large paw, "Einstein, no!"

The bluetick hound skipped back, narrowly missing the clawed paw as he snapped his teeth, lunging towards the bear, the large animal rearing on its hind legs.

"Einstein," Marc yelled as his heart beat fast, watching his dog bare his teeth, his body coiled as he readied himself to attack, "No! Go get help! Einstein!"

Bailey closed her eyes, holding tight to the branch as a high pitched whine filled her ears, Marc's yells increasing in desperation as she tried to swallow past the knot in her throat.

The tree shook, a scream squeezing past her tight throat as her eyes flew open, "Marc! Don't!"

She didn't think, simply moved to grab Marc by the arm and yank him back, keeping him from jumping off the tree, Einstein struggling onto his feet, favoring a front leg as he bared his teeth at the bear, his side bleeding from jagged claw marks.

"Let me go," Marc tried to shake her off but she held on tight with both hands, "Dammit, Bailey, let me go! Einstein!"

A series of deep howls echoed throughout the forest, the bear's head moving up as it sniffed the air, Einstein growling and snapping his teeth as he weaved slightly on his feet.

Lowering to all fours, the bear turned around and hurried up the path as three gigantic wolves broke through the trees.

One of them –the pitch black one Vivi called Shadow –stopped under their tree as the other two ran up the mountain after the bear.

Einstein let out a weak bark as he hobbled a few steps before collapsing onto the ground, the black wolf sniffing the base of the tree before looking up, its dark eyes luminous as it looked from Bailey to Marc then back.

Turning, it slipped between the trees, several seconds dragging by before Sam stepped into view, his words deep and soothing as he reached for his daughter, "It's okay, Bailey. You can let go of Marc now."

"Is it gone," Bailey's voice shook, her hands holding on tight to Marc's arm as she stared at the path leading out of the forest.

"Yes, baby," Sam wrapped her in a hug as soon as he lifted her down from the tree, Marc jumping down to land in a crouch. His knees scraped the forest ground before he shoved himself to his feet to run towards Einstein, the dust in the air clinging to the left behind by his tears, "The bear's gone."

Bailey wrapped her arms around his neck, tears rolling down her face as she watched Marc fall to his knees next to Einstein. His hands moved over the dog's body, blood soaking his jeans and shirt as soon as he lifted Einstein's head onto his lap, "Daddy, we need to get Einstein to a doctor –he saved us."

"We will, baby," Sam kissed her cheek, holding her tight a while longer before setting her down on her feet, watching as she moved to kneel at Einstein's other side.

"It's gonna be okay, boy," Marc stroked his hand over Einstein's face, his thumb tripping over a gash on his muzzle, "I'll take care of you –you'll be okay, Einstein –you have to be okay…you're my best friend, you can't…"

"Daddy's going to take him to the doctor," Bailey sniffed back a sob as she stroked the dog's shoulder, his tail wagging slowly against the forest ground, "He'll be okay, Marc. I'll help you take care of him."

Marc nodded, swallowing a sob as he buried his face into Einstein's neck, his chest painfully tight as Brad and Dougie ran down the path towards them, both of them phased down wearing cut off shorts and nothing else.

They said nothing, simply gave Sam a nod to let him know they'd chased the bear to the other side of the mountain, all three men watching as Marc cried into Einstein's neck while Bailey comforted him, the dog's breathing labored and harsh in the heavy silence.


Third Week of June

Rose walked across the living room floor towards the front door as another knock sounded, this one a little louder than the first.

Turning the knob, her eyebrows shot up in surprise as soon as she opened the door, "Bailey…hi."

Bailey gave her a shy smile, shifting the cardboard box she had in her arms, "Hi, Mrs. Clearwater. Is Marc home?"

Rose blinked, staring at the eleven year old girl for a few seconds before she realized she had yet to answer, "Yes. He's upstairs in his room."

"Can I go up," Bailey shifted the box again as she tossed her head to get the long bangs out of her eyes, "I brought some stuff…for Einstein."

"Oh, sure," Rose stepped aside to let her in as she pointed towards the stairs, "Maybe you can get him to come out of his room."

Bailey stopped at the foot of the stairs, blinking big doe brown eyes –so much like her mother's –before she smiled, "I'll try."

"Do you need help with the box?"

"No, thank you," she shook her head, the bangs falling back over her eyes, "I've got it."

Rose watched her run up the stairs, still shocked to have Bailey Susannah Uley in her house, seeking out Marc…

The universe must have tilted upside down.

Bailey shifted the box to free a hand, knocking on the door twice, waiting a beat then knocking two more times before turning the knob and pushing the door open.

Entering the room, she used her foot to close the door behind her before moving across the room towards the glass wall, dropping to her knees as she set the box aside, "He's looking better."

Marc nodded, not hesitating as he stroked Einstein's side, a fresh white bandage wrapped around his middle and front leg, "He ate a little today but I still have to force feed him."

"I brought him something," Bailey pulled out a box of milk bones, a fleeting smile crossing Marc's face as he took the offered box, "These are his favorite treats."

Bailey shrugged as she pulled out a teddy bear from the box, snuggling it under Einstein's paw, the bluetick hound sniffing it before settling his head back on Marc's lap, "I thought the dog on the box looked happy. Is he taking his medicine?"

Marc nodded, reaching up to gently stroke the floppy ears, "Uncle Seth holds him down so he won't move and rip his stitches and I give him his medicine –the pills that go to the back of his throat are a little hard to do."

"I brought him a new ball," Bailey handed him the tennis ball, smiling as Einstein's ears perked up, his big brown eyes on the ball as his tail started wagging, "He likes it."

"Einstein likes to play fetch," Marc set the ball out of sight, scratching him at the base of his skull; "He can't play yet. The vet said he should start moving in another week but I can't let him run yet."

"We'll just keep the ball safe until then," Bailey scratched his back leg, Einstein turning his head to give her a doggy grin as his tail wagged faster, "Before you know it, he'll be chasing squirrels and fetching again."

"Yeah," Marc bit the inside of his cheek, not looking at her as he nodded, his fingers moving over Einstein's muzzle, the scab on the side of his nose hard and crusty under his fingertips.

Bailey gave Einstein's rump a gentle pat, shifting on her knees as she took a deep breath, the concentrated smell in the room causing her discomfort but she had something she needed to say, "I'm sorry."

Marc's eyes snapped up as he finally looked at her for the first time since she walked in, "Why? The bear did it, not you."

"I know," Bailey moved back on her bottom to cross her legs, leaning her elbows on her knees as she rested her chin on her fists, "But I went into the woods and I shouldn't have."

"The bear would have turned away if it hadn't been for me," Marc looked down at his dog, feeling unworthy of the adoration he could see in his big brown eyes, "He caught my scent and felt threatened."

"You can't blame yourself, Marc," Bailey's mouth hitched into a one sided smile, "Crap like that happens sometimes."

"Yeah."

The silence lengthen with every passing minute, Bailey stroking Einstein's shoulder as Marc kept the steady scratching behind his ears.

Letting out a heavy breath, Einstein stretched, whimpering as the healing wounds on his side pulled.

"It's okay, boy," Marc rubbed his thumb between Einstein's big brown eyes, knowing it would help him relax, "It won't last."

Letting out another whimper, the bluetick hound shifted his head on his boy's lap, tongue lolling out to the side as he panted, slowly relaxing into his plush doggie bed.

Bailey leaned down to hug his neck, her ponytail sliding over her shoulder.

They didn't say anything to each other, simply focusing their attention on Einstein.

A rumbling sound broke the silence, Bailey looking up to see Marc's face flushing, "Was that you?"

Marc nodded, his eyes on Einstein, his fingers never stilling, "Tia Rosa brings me food."

"But it's not enough, is it," Bailey wrinkled her nose, dropping her eyes to watch Marc's fingers ruffling Einstein's short haired coat, "You have to…go out, right?"

Marc didn't look at her but it was obvious from the tightness of his voice he wasn't comfortable at the moment discussing his…supplemental diet, "I'll be fine."

"Why don't you go out," Bailey rubbed her nose, the burning sensation already past uncomfortable and bordering on painful; "I'll stay with Einstein."

"You scared I'll lose it and bite you?"

"I'm not scared of you," Bailey scowled at him, thrusting her chin forward, "Besides, you'd never bite me."

"How can you be so sure?"

They stared into each others' eyes, the tension heavy in the room, neither flinching as she answered.

"Because you don't want to be a monster."


August
First Day of School
1:45PM

The trees were dancing and she could hear the wind singing, the glass cold against her hand as she watched the outside.

The colors were pretty –all the trees were different, leaves falling and flying as clouds moved across the blue sky.

She moved side to side, her eyes on the tree outside, her fingers tapping the glass to make music with the whistling wind.

"Tyra, baby, where are you?"

Blinking, she twisted to look at her mama, blond hair tickling her neck as it moved too.

"Baby, what are you doing by the window?"

She turned to look outside again, intently studying the yard as she patted the glass, "Zak. Zak."

She knew mama was smiling because mama always smiled, "We'll pick him up soon, okay?"

She nodded, bouncing her knees a couple of times before she leaned forward to press her nose against the glass, breathing hard to paint it just like Ady and Aly taught her.

A cry from down the hall had her spinning around, toddling as fast as she could after mama to the boys' room.

"Oh my God," mama moved into the room, picking Aly up from the floor, "Oh, baby, are you okay?"

Aly sobbed, wrapping his arms around her neck, Ady leaning against the side of the ladder that went up to Gabe's bed, "He 'kay?"

Mama sat on Zak's bed, cuddling Aly as she moved her fingers over his head, her thumb touching the red booboo on his forehead, "Was he trying to climb the ladder, Andrey?"

Ady nodded, his blue eyes filling with tears 'cause he knew he was in trouble, "He slipped."

"You both know you're not supposed to climb the ladder," mama kissed Aly's booboo, setting him on Zak's bed –it was the bottom one where she could reach to wake him up in the morning, "I told you it was dangerous and you could get hurt. Now you know."

Toddling across the room, the blue and green rug tickling her bare feet, she leaned into the bed, reaching out to pat her brother's knee, "'S 'k, Aly."

Aly sniffed, rubbing his fist under his nose before he reached to pinch her nose.

"No Aly," Tyra slapped his hand, moving away from the bed as she scowled at him, "Ba Aly."

"Tyra," mama looked at her and now she knew she was in trouble, "You don't hit your brother."

Her bottom lip poked out, tears welling up in her brown-green eyes as she pointed at her brother then touched her nose, "Ba Aly."

"I know, baby," mama leaned forward, lifting her up to sit on her lap, giving Aly the look when he leaned forward to pull her toes, "Alyx, don't. She doesn't like you doing that."

She scowled at Aly, holding both feet in her hands to keep them away from his fingers.

"Now," mama ruffled Ady's hair as he moved to lean into her side, his hand under Tyra's knee, "It's time to pick up Zaky from school –"

"Zak," Tyra interrupted, sticking a small finger into her mouth as she nodded with her entire body, "Zak."

Mama smiled as she brushed back the blond curls off her forehead, "You missed him, uh, baby?"

Mama laughed as she nodded again, the hand on her back keeping her from falling off her lap.

"Now," mama looked at Ady and Aly, "You two need to behave if you want to come. If not, I can drop you off at Granma's for a while."

Ady and Aly looked at each other then looked at Tyra, Aly's smile making her frown as she tucked her feet between mama's legs.

"We go Granma's," Aly scooted off the bed, Ady following as they ran to the closet, coming out with shoes in their hands.

"Of course you pick Granma," mama stood up, shifting Tyra to set her on her hip, "She lets you run wild."

Ady and Aly laughed, bumping each other as they held up their shoes to her.

Placing her on her feet, mama gave her a pat on the bottom, "Go get your shoes, Tyra."

She toddled across the hall to the room on the other side, tripping on the edge of the butterflies on the floor.

Pushing herself up, she toddled into the room with the clothes, crouching down to pick up her shoes.

She was going to get Zak!


The drive to Forks was short, Alyx and Andrey chattering as they took turns making Tyra screech.

Leah let out a sigh of relief once they reached her mom's house, glad to see her come out of the house –she wasn't going to have to take Tyra out of her car seat.

"Rick will pick them up after he's done with track practice," Leah hugged her mother before moving around the car to open the door and unbuckle Alyx, "I have an appointment at the doctor's for Tyra after I pick up Zaky."

"Don't worry about it," Sue lifted Andrey out of his car seat, settling him on the ground before leaning in to give Tyra a kiss, her little hands reaching up to pat her face, "I'll make sure and tire them out."

"Good luck with that," Leah closed the door as Alyx ran up the driveway, Andrey meeting him on the porch, "Hey!"

They stopped at the front door, turning in unison to smile at their mother before running down the porch steps, tackling her legs as they laughed.

Squatting to their level, she pulled them into her arms, buzzing their baby soft cheeks, laughing when they reciprocated in kind.

Patting them on the bottom, she watched them run up the porch and into her mother's house.

"Thanks mama," Leah straightened her sweater, moving around the car to hug her mother again, "I hope they don't give you too much trouble."

"Oh, don't worry," Sue kissed her cheek, waving at her granddaughter, grinning when she opened and closed her little fingers in a wave, "It's always a pleasure to watch them."

"Oh, I'm sure it is," Leah got into the driver's seat, opening the window as soon as she closed the door, "By the way, thanks for teaching them to whistle through their teeth."

Sue laughed, slipping her hands into the pockets of her sweater, "I know I shouldn't have but they're impossible to resist –especially when they say please at the same time."

Leah laughed as she set the car on reverse, giving her mother a wave as she teased, "It's the dimples –you need to become immune to them."

Sue laughed, giving them one last wave as she shouted, "That's not going to happen any time soon."


Leah smiled as she walked down the hall, thinking how sweet her babies were, walking a couple of feet in front of her, Zaky holding his little sister's hand, the Nemo backpack he had asked for too big for his little shoulders.

She knew people thought her insane for wanting so many kids –well, except for Sam.

He was certain she had some calculated plan to outnumber his pack –that was far from a sign of insanity.

She had explained to Rick the pain of believing herself barren for so long, yet the biggest reason was that they fascinated her with their differences despite all of them –well, except for Tyra –looking so similar.

Each one was a part of herself and a part of Rick yet uniquely themselves in personality…Gabriel, her first born and the one to bring joy back into her life, was becoming more like his father with every passing day.

He knew what he liked and liked getting his way. Full of energy as most nine year olds were, he was assertive and she was starting to notice, wanting control of things and people.

It was something she should have seen coming what with his propensity to choose which toys to share but she hadn't expected it to transfer to people…it seemed especially obvious where Vivi was concerned.

Definitely something they needed to work on.

Now Emmie…oh, her sweet little genius!

So curious and full of questions –there were times she felt stupid not knowing the answers –it seemed her love for knowledge was something she shared with the two men in her life and no one else.

It never failed though, for Emmie's line of questioning to have her laughing to the point of crying –she was just so inquisitive and precocious –and it always surprised her how quick she connected the dots between one subject to the next.

Her nosiness, though, was something she and Rick were struggling with. She was interested in everything and everyone even if it did not concern her.

This habit led to another troubling one –gossip. She talked to anyone about anything –and by anything, she said everything she learned, saw and heard.

It was going to be a hard fight but at least it was the only one so far –thanks to Rick's rules, they were doing pretty well at sidestepping any issues that may arise with Embry.

Now her Zaky –oh, he was such a sweet boy. His quiet nature seemed to be a byproduct of shyness but it wasn't that –he just didn't care to say much unless it was important to him.

Out of all their children, Zaky was the one that always brought Nicolai to Rick's mind.

Her third born loved all things of the sea, spend all his free time with his Uncle Seth learning the secrets of surfing –sometimes she worried that his desire to commune with the ocean would isolate him from others but after Tyra was born...

Zaky loved his little sister, liked to lie down next to her while she took her naps and just watch her sleep. He always made sure the twins didn't torture her to the point of crying, kept her near him whenever they were together, was always willing to drop his toys and play with her whenever she asked.

Now the twins –oh, the twins…Alyx and Andrey were going to give her gray hair before her time. Those two were a combination of sweet and naughty, always laughing and seeing humor in everything. Their deviousness was never ending and it amazed her how they used their intelligence to get into so much trouble.

Andrey seemed to be the quieter of the two but when his brother was by his side, he just let himself adopt Alyx's open and loud ways, both of them charming their way out of trouble –something that, thank goodness, never worked with Rick.

Everyone else, herself included, turned into putty with a simple flash of their matching dimples.

Now her baby –Tyra was already growing into her own personality, showing signs of stubbornness with occasional moments of shyness.

She loved her Daddy –followed him all around the house whenever he was home, liked having him play with her and Zaky.

If it wasn't Rick, it was Zaky –those two were her safe harbor, the ones she ran too when the twins put their deviousness to use with her as the test subject.

What she had notice, though, was the twins' inability to surprise her –they could make her cry, even get her angry, but they could not scare or surprise her…almost like she knew what their devious minds were capable of.

Charlie had remarked how she would make a good cop.

Embry's car pulled up beside her as she buckled Tyra into her seat, Zaky working on his own seat belt, "Aren't you here a little early?"

Embry shrugged as he closed the door, the black t-shirt he wore stretched across his broad chest, "Fifteen minutes. It's her first day of third grade –and as per my deal with Rick, I get to take her out for ice cream once a week, starting with the first day of school."

Leah laughed as she buzzed Tyra's chubby cheek before climbing out of the back seat and closing the door, "She'll be happy to see you –let me know if she had a hard day. Rick assures me bumping her up a grade was a good decision but it still worries me."

"You're her mom," Embry moved around the front of the Rabbit, his hands in the pockets of his worn out jeans, "It's your job to make sure she's safe –it's my job to make her happy. See how it works?"

Leah laughed, shaking her head as she opened the driver's side door, "It's all about teamwork. Don't let her put too many toppings on her ice cream –it's hard enough to get her to sit still long enough for her to eat dinner without sugar adding to the problem."

"Hey," Embry gave her a shrug with a cheeky smile, "As an imprint, I claim the same rights as grandparents –spoil the crap out of her and deny her nothing."


Last Week of August
New York City

A heavy sigh escaped him as he tossed back the comforter, moving gingerly to sit up, his legs hanging off the side of the bed, a dull ache still lingering at the base of his skull.

They had pulled an all-nighter to finish their CD, the band insisting on a celebratory brunch after recording the last song.

Halfway through the boisterous meal, a blinding pain had hit him square between the eyes and in less than five minutes, he was incapacitated by a full blown migraine.

The pain had been so bad, he'd handed his car keys to Julie, not caring if she could drive or not –hell, at that point, death sounded like a welcome relief to the pounding in his head.

It had all been a blur –Julie had gotten him up to his apartment and given him Advil before helping him change and tucking him into bed, drawing the heavy curtains over the large window to block the outside light –he vaguely remembered her staying by his side until he fell asleep.

Looking at the clock, he ran his fingers through his hair, the silence making him wonder if Julie had left while he took his three hour nap.

Standing up, he hitched up the lounge pants he wore, taking a t-shirt out of the drawer he kept them in and pulling it over his head as he made his way down the hall to his living room.

Stopping as soon as the hallway opened into the large living room, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

She was stretched out on his couch, wearing his clothes –black boxers and an undershirt –with a bowl of popcorn on her flat stomach as she watched the large screen of his plasma TV, the volume muted –the silence now made sense, "What are you watching?"

Julie's eyes moved to look at him, her full lips spreading into a smile as he moved across the living room floor, "A movie on vampires and werewolves."

Lian snorted as he lifted her legs to sit in the middle of the couch, taking the bowl of popcorn from her before he stretched on her, his head pillowed on her chest as she extended long legs on either side of him, "Why are you watching this?"

Julie took a handful of popcorn from the bowl, which Lian had placed on his chest, "You're always asking me about mermaids and the family legends –I just thought it would be interesting to learn more about your own legends."

Lian chuckled, lifting his arm to place his hand behind his head, his middle finger hooking into the neckline of the shirt she wore as he watched the silent scene unfolding, his other hand stroking her leg, "You won't learn from watching this crap –Hollywood has it all wrong when it comes to our legends."

"Then you teach me," Julie ran her fingers through his hair, feeling him relax into her, his back flush against her stomach and lower abdomen, "What are the legends you grew up with?"

Lian closed his eyes, letting out a sigh as he felt the dull ache he'd woken up with slowly disappear, "I'm Makah and Seth is Quileute –ever wondered how we can be related?"

"I assumed either his dad or mom is related someway to one of your parents."

Lian nodded, opening his mouth when she offered him popcorn, sucking the butter and salt off her fingers before chewing and swallowing, "Seth's mom is my dad's little sister. She grew up in the Makah reservation –met Uncle Harry during a town celebration in Forks."

"Was it love at first sight?"

Lian smiled as he curled his fingers around the delicate curve of her knee, his scalp tingling as she kept running her fingers through his hair, "Yeah. For both of them –dad didn't make it easy, though. He was very protective of Aunt Sue and a bit…bias, shall we say? He felt that she should marry someone from our own tribe –see, by marrying Uncle Harry, Aunt Sue ceased to be Makah and became Quileute."

"So that's why there's no half Makah and half Quileute," Julie shifted slightly, the feel of his body cradled between her legs causing a flush to spread through her body.

"No such thing," Lian ran a finger down her shin, circling to move up her calve, "You're either Makah or Quileute, you can't be both. Loyalty to our people is ingrained in us from childhood –it's why dad wasn't happy with me choosing to leave the reservation and seek my future in the white man's world."

"You've done well for yourself," Julie took another handful of popcorn from the bowl.

"By betraying my roots, so my father says."

Julie swept his shaggy hair off his forehead, chuckling as he pointed at the screen, "Did that chick just kiss the vampire dude?"

"Yes," Julie turned her attention to the screen, watching the muted movie for a few seconds before explaining to Lian, "She moved to this small town to live with her father and fell in love with the resident vampire –most of the plot concerns his struggle between warring desires to kill her and love her."

"She's a fucking ditz," Lian removed his hand from behind his head, the back brushing Julie's breast, causing her body to react instantly to the simple touch, "Why would a girl –a live, human girl –waste her time with a soulless bloodsucker?"

"I don't know," Julie laughed, drawing up the leg tucked between Lian's body and the back of the couch, Lian using it as an armrest, his hand cupping her knee, "I myself am intrigued by her werewolf best friend –who happens to be in love with her."

Lian laughed, the lingering pain he had been feeling completely gone as he tilted his head back to look at her face, "And what about this werewolf intrigues you?"

"He's hot," Julie gave him a teasing grin as she pointed at the screen, "This is my favorite scene –shirtless and standing in the rain…yum."

Lian's eyebrows lowered over his brown eyes as he said in a petulant tone, "I'm much hotter without a shirt than he is."

"That's true," she slid her fingers over his jaw, down his throat and into the neck of his t-shirt, his skin warm against her fingertips, "But I've yet to see you shirtless and wet."

"Something that can be easily remedied," Lian set the popcorn bowl on the floor, turning until he was facing her, his forearms on either side of her head keeping his weight off her, "How about we take a shower together?"

"Mhm," Julie lifted her arms to wrap them around his neck, her fingers ruffling his hair, "That sounds very intriguing…"

Lian grinned, lowering his head to kiss her bottom lip, his tongue teasing the corners of her mouth as she opened to him.

Frustration welled up inside her as he kept teasing her mouth, his tongue sweeping over hers then pulling back before she could respond in kind.

He let out a deep chuckle as she gripped his hair to keep him still, her lips slamming against him as she took control of the kiss, her tongue delving into his mouth with an avarice that betrayed the depth of her desire.

Before long, they were both panting, their bodies flushed as the clothes between them became an annoyance needing to be divested.

Lian tossed aside the shirt she wore, dipping his head to suck at her hard nipple through the lace of her blue bra, his hand molding and squeezing her other breast, pulling and twisting her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, the pleasure sharp as it flashed through her like a bolt of lightning.

Letting out a moan, she arched her body into him, her hips tilting to rub against the hard bulge pressed against her core.

They vacillated back and forth over that fine line between lovemaking and lust-filled fucking, his hands alternating between rough and gentle as he stroked her body, fingers digging into her hips, dragging down to knead her thighs before he pushed her knees up.

"Please…" Julie's plea came out in a sob, her body shaking with the intensity of the crackling connection between them, the hollowness inside her expanding to take in the pulsating emotions that radiated deep within him –it was like breathing for the first time.

The rest of what they were wearing evaporated in the heat of their desire, leaving them nude and slick with perspiration, soft curves sliding against hard muscle.

"Bedroom," Lian growled, tugging at her earlobe with his teeth, "Now."

"No," Julie dug her fingernails into his sides, her legs wrapped around his hips.

The hot, hard length of his cock glided against her molten core, her heart racing as she whispered into his ear, "Here. I want you here –I want you now."

A growl rumbled deep in his chest as he reached down between them, his thumb flicking the swollen bundle of nerves hidden between the lips of her sex before positioning himself against her slick opening.

Sinking into her –the slick muscles of her pussy rippling tightly around him –he realized at that moment that nothing –absolutely nothing in heaven, earth or hell –would have him turn and walk away.

She owned him –heart, body…and soul.