Lily woke after a few hours of dreamless sleep. She tried to stretch, only to realize Jasper had spent the night for the first time. She turned to face him, covering her mouth to stem the stench of morning breath, but he spoke first.
"How you feelin' doll?" he asked, concerned.
"I feel like shit to be honest Jas. What time is it?"
"Just a bit after 6 in the mornin'. Do you want to try and sleep a bit more?"
"What time is everyone meeting up?"
"In an hour or so. Why don't you shower and do your mornin' routine? I'll go get the car and pick you up."
The previous night rushed back into her mind, making her cover her face as she groaned and leaned into his chest. "I think I may have told my parents just enough to worry them.
"Doll, they were already worried. They love you. We have so many secrets already that we have to keep from everyone. . ."
"I didn't tell them names or too many details, but it was just enough I think."
"They're smart. It won't take 'em too long to put it all together. Just try and keep it vague when it comes to. . ."
"To the vegetarians?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow to show she was joking.
Jasper chuckled. "Exactly."
"Thank you for- "but Jasper cut her off.
"Don't thank me for being there for you. I wish I could have been here sooner."
She hugged Jasper tightly before moving off the bed and out her room to the bathroom across the hall.
30 minutes later, freshly showered, teeth brushed, an English muffin toasted and devoured, and leaving a note for her family, she was jumping into Jasper's car and heading towards wherever they were meeting to train.
The frozen coffee drink in the cup holder with the name "Doll" made her morning that much better.
They drove in comfortable silence to the Cullen's house before Jasper parked the car and vamped over to her side and opened the door for her. "Doll, I'm gonna run us to the spot. The cars can't make it that far into the forest."
Lily, having finished her drink, jumped up and down in excitement and in a slight sugar rush. "How do you wanna ride?" Jasper asked, smirking at her happiness.
"backpack style!"
"As you wish" he said, smiling wide before kneeling on the ground so she could get onto his back. He was, after all, significantly taller than she was. As soon as her arms were wrapped around his neck and her legs locked around his waist, he placed his hands under her thighs to secure her and took off.
Lily hid her eyes between his shoulder blades to avoid getting motion sickness.
After they arrived at the clearing, she noticed the rest of the Cullen's minus Edward and Bella were there. Rosalie tossed a blanket at Lily before laughing at the disgruntled face she made at being hit by the comforter.
"Come on, warm up!" Rosalie said, rolling her eyes. "You're going to be practicing too."
Jasper growled at his "twin" before covering Lily in the blanket burrito style. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do."
Lily placed her hand on Jasper's cheek, forcing him to look at her in the eyes. "Jas, you'll keep me safe. But I need to know what I can handle."
Alice vamped over at that moment to ask Jasper to get them all warmed up before the pack arrived.
Lily was just enjoying being wrapped in her cocoon of blankets and thinking of what she could do to not be useless.
She refused to be a hindrance.
Carlisle walked over towards her at a more sedate pace before joining her on the ground.
"Dr. Vamp, you're going to ruin your pants sitting in the wet grass. I'm surprised Alice isn't screaming at you" she teased.
Carlisle laughed before hugging her. "Oh, she is. It's just too low to hear for human or mostly human ears. But I wanted to talk to you. Alice said last night you had some questions about anatomy?"
Lily's face burned bright red but gathered her courage. "How does sex work with a vampire?"
The other vampires in the clearing all paused before continuing their warmups. Lily rolled her eyes before muttering about eavesdropping and facing Carlisle once more.
"Vampires don't tire, so they only pause when they need to feed or choose to stop when intimate with other vampires. We gifted our children a separate home whenever they found their mates or partners for privacy reasons. The anatomy works the same as humans as we were once human. But I suspect you want more details pertaining to your situation."
Face still red, Lily simply nodded.
"Human and vampire copulation does occur, but usually before feeding as control is no longer an issue if the human will be fed on afterwards." He paused, seeing how the young girl would react.
Lily, to her credit, had lost her blush but didn't pale or look sick at the thought of messy feedings. Carlisle gave her a look that asked if she was okay for him to continue.
"Doc, it's the circle of life. You guys are apex predators. I'm guessing blood or the thought of eating excites you guys?"
"Sometimes, usually with the more vicious individuals. Everything is personal preference after all."
"What about if the human in the equation isn't going to be dinner?"
"That also occurs but is much rarer. The vampire needs to have control over all aspects of their abilities such as strength and endurance."
"Do you all get pregnant or get others pregnant?"
"We pause when we are turned biologically. Unfortunately, the women are unable to get pregnant as their wombs are forever frozen. As for males, there has been no instance of a male vampire impregnating anyone, human or otherwise that I am aware of."
"So, what about ejaculation? Is it semen or is it venom?"
"As with women, males are frozen biologically. The fluid produced in ejaculation is semen mixed with venom."
"But humans can't get pregnant?"
"Not that has ever been recorded in our existence, no."
"So, birth control shouldn't be an issue?"
Carlisle paused at that, head tilting to the side and a frown forming on his face. "You know, that is an excellent question. If birth control is taken for hormonal reasons to help with your menstrual cycle or mood, acne, what have you, then it would be recommended. As to prevent pregnancy, it shouldn't be needed."
Lily's blanket drooped down on one of her shoulders as she shifted within the blanket. "Do you all ever turn children? Or Babies?"
"No. never." Carlisle got extremely serious at the topic. "That law is the single most enforced law of our kind, believe it or not. Our secrecy is the second most enforced law."
"That sounds like there is a story there."
Carlisle sighed, running his hand through his blonde hair. "There was a time when children were turned by those who craved to have children of their own. Children, babies, it didn't matter. They were unable to control themselves. Their beauty and natural gifts as a vampire drew people in. Their lack of control made them a liability. A single immortal child could eradicate entire villages. Our cousins in Alaska, their mother turned a child once. She was destroyed, but her three daughters were allowed to live. They were dark times."
"Is there a minimum age to turn someone?"
"Not exactly. If the person in question is in their teenage years and has a sire that teaches and guides them? They shouldn't turn into a disaster. Edward, for example, is 17. The twins in Volterra were turned around 12 or 13, but they were hand selected and raised for lack of a better word by Aro himself. Both cases are technically about teenagers, but they were not let free to roam the world and cause chaos."
"How do you. . ." but Lily found she didn't have the words to ask what she wanted.
"How do we move forward? Some of us truly want to be parents. Just like with humans where they want it more than anything else in the world but just cannot have them physically, they must adapt. Adoption isn't really an option for us unless we intend to turn the child when they're old enough. But how do you keep a child from telling their friends or teachers about their parents? What if they don't want to turn? The parents would have no choice but to force them to turn. Its not a good solution." He sighed again before looking out at his adoptive children. "Esme and I, we have been so blessed to have the family that we do have. I know some of us are unhappy with their choices being taken away from them, the live they thought they'd have, but we must always adapt if we are to survive."
Carlisle turned back towards Lily then, smiling. "As always, we never know where we will gain our next family member. Each one of you is a blessing in my eyes. A truly wonderful gift. If I could take away the pain of being a vampire, the choices we must make, I would for all my children officially and otherwise" He winked at Lily, causing her to giggle.
"Dear, if you and Jasper want to take that next step, that is between the both of you. I will support your decisions and give you a full checkup if that is what you want or can get a colleague of mine if that would make you more comfortable to do it."
"Nobody ever talks about mixed species relationships sexually, so I was feeling really lost. Thank you for helping."
"Anytime. Now, I do believe my eldest son and Bella have arrived."
"Is something wrong with Alice?" Bella asked as she entered the clearing with Edward. She looked like hell, not having apparently slept well either.
Edward chuckled. ""The werewolves are on their way, so she can't see anything that will happen now. It makes her uncomfortable to be blind."
Alice, having heard his comment, stuck her tongue out at the couple.
"Hey, Edward," Emmett greeted him.
"Hey, Bella. Is he going to let you practice, too?"
Edward groaned at his brother. "Please, Emmett, don't give her any ideas."
"What? Lily's joining in aren't you pixie?"
Lily laughed before giving Emmett a thumbs up showing that she had every intention of joining.
"When will our guests arrive?" Carlisle asked Edward.
Edward concentrated for a moment, and then sighed. "A minute and a half. But I'm going to have to translate. They don't trust us enough to use their human forms."
Carlisle nodded. "This is hard for them. I'm grateful they're coming at all."
Bella, eyes wide, asked if they were coming as wolves. Edward nodded, looking cautious.
Lily was thrilled to see Leah in her wolf form once more. Maybe she would let her ride her Lily wondered to herself.
"Prepare yourselves, they've been holding out on us" Edward cautioned.
"What do you mean?" Alice demanded.
"Damn," Emmett muttered under his breath. "Did you ever see anything like it?"
Esme and Rosalie exchanged a wide-eyed glance.
Lily could see shadows coming, but nothing other than that. Bella couldn't see anything either, asking Edward what was going on.
"The pack has grown," Edward murmured.
Ten wolves came through the clearing, all the size of horses with thick fur covering even thicker muscles. Their fur varied in different colors. Lily knew there were more wolves than the 10 in the clearing. She was thrilled to see Leah near the back. She waved at her friend. Swearing that she saw the giant beautiful grey female wolf roll her eyes at her.
Carlisle took a slow, deliberate step forward. It was a careful movement, designed to reassure. "Welcome," he greeted the invisible wolves.
"Thank you," Edward responded in a strange flat tone.
Edward spoke again in the same detached voice, speaking Sam's words. "We will watch and listen, but no more. That is the most we can ask of our self-control."
"That is more than enough," Carlisle answered. "My son Jasper" — he gestured to where Jasper stood, tensed and ready — "has experience in this area. He will teach us how they fight, how they are to be defeated. I'm sure you can apply this to your own hunting style."
"They are different from you?" Edward asked for Sam.
Carlisle nodded. "They are all very new — only months old to this life. Children, in a way. They will have no skill or strategy, only brute strength. Tonight their numbers stand at twenty. Ten for us, ten for you — it shouldn't be difficult. The numbers may go down. The new ones fight amongst themselves."
A rumble passed down the shadowy line of wolves, a low growling mutter that somehow managed to sound enthusiastic.
"We are willing to take more than our share, if necessary," Edward translated, his tone less indifferent now.
Carlisle smiled. "We'll see how it plays out."
"Do you know when and how they'll arrive?"
"They'll come across the mountains in four days, in the late morning. As they approach, Alice will help us intercept their path."
"Thank you for the information. We will watch."
With a sighing sound, the eyes sank closer to the ground one set at a time.
It was silent for two heartbeats, and then Jasper took a step into the empty space between the vampires and the wolves. It wasn't hard to see him — his skin was as bright against the darkness as the wolves' eyes. Jasper threw a wary glance toward Edward, who nodded, and then Jasper turned his back to the werewolves. He sighed, clearly uncomfortable. "Carlisle's right." Jasper spoke only to his family in that moment; he seemed to be trying to ignore the audience behind him. "They'll fight like children. The two most important things you'll need to remember are, first, don't let them get their arms around you and, second, don't go for the obvious kill. That's all they'll be prepared for. As long as you come at them from the side and keep moving, they'll be too confused to respond effectively. Emmett?"
Emmett stepped out of the line with a huge smile. Jasper backed toward the north end of the opening between the allied enemies. He waved Emmett forward.
"Okay, Emmett first. He's the best example of a newborn attack."
Emmett's eyes narrowed. "I'll try not to break anything," he muttered.
Jasper grinned, causing a funny feeling of butterflies in Lily's stomach at the sight. It wasn't often that she got to see this side of her mate. "What I meant is that Emmett relies on his strength. He's very straightforward about the attack. The newborns won't be trying anything subtle, either. Just go for the easy kill, Emmett."
Jasper backed up a few more paces, his body tensing. "Okay, Emmett- try to catch me."
Lily couldn't see Jasper anymore, Bella looked on at the scene equally lost. She had moved to sit by Lily when the fighting started. Lily opened up her blanket for Bella to share with her seeing as it was chilly, and she was only wearing a sweatshirt and jeans with sneakers.
Jasper was a blur as Emmett charged him like a bear, grinning while he snarled. Emmett was impossibly quick, too, but not like Jasper. It looked like Jasper had no more substance than a ghost — any time it seemed Emmett's big hands had him for sure, Emmett's fingers clenched around nothing but the air. Beside the human girls, Edward leaned forward intently, his eyes locked on the brawl. Then Emmett froze.
Jasper had him from behind, his teeth an inch from his throat.
Emmett cussed.
There was a muttered rumble of appreciation from the watching wolves.
"Again," Emmett insisted, his smile gone.
"It's my turn," Edward protested. Bella's eyes nearly popped out of her head when Edward complained.
"In a minute." Jasper grinned, stepping back. "I want to show Bella something first." Jasper waved Alice over. "I know you worry about her," he explained to Bella as she danced blithely into the metaphorical ring. "I want to show you why that's not necessary."
Bella started to bite at her nails as Alice took a fighting stance in front of Jasper who was crouching facing her. Alice stood motionlessly, looking tiny as a doll after Emmett, smiling to herself. Jasper shifted forward, then slinked to her left. Alice closed her eyes.
Jasper sprang, disappearing. Suddenly he was on the other side of Alice. She didn't appear to have moved.
Jasper wheeled and launched himself at her again, only to land in a crouch behind her like the first time; all the while Alice stood smiling with her eyes closed.
Lily tried to focus on Alice and realized that she was moving. She took a small step forward at the exact second that Jasper's body flew through the spot where she'd just been standing. She took another step, while Jasper's grasping hands whistled past where her waist had been.
Jasper closed in, and Alice began to move faster. She was dancing — spiraling and twisting and curling in on herself. Jasper was her partner, lunging, reaching through her graceful patterns, never touching her, like every movement was choreographed. Finally, Alice laughed.
Out of nowhere she was perched on Jasper's back, her lips at his neck.
Lily growled at the sight before putting her hand to her throat. The vampires surrounding her stared at her for a moment before continuing, her face once more blushing furiously.
"Gotcha," Alice said before laughing.
Jasper chuckled, shaking his head. "You truly are one frightening little monster."
The wolves muttered again. This time the sound was wary.
"It's good for them to learn some respect," Edward murmured, amused. Then he spoke louder. "My turn."
After Edward got up to take his turn against Jasper, Alice came over to the girls and sat with them. "Cool, huh?" she asked Bella smugly.
"Very" Bella agreed, never turning away from Edward.
"Jasper's gonna win," Lily said.
Bella looked affronted at the idea of Edward being less than perfect. "No way, Edward can read minds. There's no way he's going to lose."
"Body language Bella," Lily reminded her. "I think it's like how soccer player's position their hips when they want to kick the ball to aim. Jasper's much better at detecting body language. Edward relies on his gift too much to ever really have developed it I bet."
"No, his gift can only help him" Bella argued.
"Help him have a crutch," Lily said, somewhat unkindly. "It could really hurt him or others if it is a crutch for him."
"Girls, pay attention" Alice said before looking at Bella once more and whispering. "I've got my eye on you, Bella. I'll warn him if your plans get any more defined," she threatened in the same low murmur. "It doesn't help anything for you to put yourself in danger. Do you think either of them would give up if you died? They'd still fight, we all would. You can't change anything, so just be good, okay?"
"Bella, you aren't planning anything are you?" Lily asked, concerned. Bella didn't have the best history when it came to plans. . . or decision making. . . or anything along those lines.
Bella just winced and ignored both of them. "I'm watching" Alice repeated.
Edward had closed on Jasper now, and this fight was more even than either of the others. Jasper had the century of experience to guide him, and he tried to go on instinct alone as much as he could, but his thoughts always gave him away a fraction of a second before he acted. Edward was slightly faster, but the moves Jasper used were unfamiliar to him. They came at each other again and again, neither one able to gain the advantage, instinctive snarls erupting constantly. It was hard to watch, but harder to look away.
Eventually, Carlisle cleared his throat.
Jasper laughed, and took a step back.
Edward straightened up and grinned at him.
"Back to work," Jasper consented. "We'll call it a draw."
Everyone took turns, Carlisle, then Rosalie, Esme, and Emmett again.
"You see what I'm doing here?" he would ask. "Yes, just like that," he encouraged. "Concentrate on the sides. Don't forget where their target will be. Keep moving." Edward was always focused, watching and also listening to what others couldn't see.
"Can I go now?" Lily asked, starting to stretch her muscles from having been sitting down for so long.
The wolves started to growl at the thought of an incredibly small human girl taking on a vampire.
"Lily, I think it's best to leave it to those of us who are better equipped to handle this. It's not like you're going to participate anyways in the battle" Edward said condescendingly.
Lily just looked at him before turning towards Jasper and walking towards him and the ring of dirt that had been formed from the previous fights.
"You sure doll?" He asked, smirking.
"Absolutely" she replied, smirking back.
"At least slow it down to human pace Jasper, to make it somewhat fairer" Edward cut in.
"Why?" Lily asked, hands on her hips. "You think some random vampire will if I ever come across one? Or any other thing that goes bump in the night? Its better to practice to standards."
With her back turned towards Jasper, she hadn't realized he took that as a que to begin. Lily found herself flung in the air, spinning sideways.
Adrenaline pumping, her wings flared out from her back ripping holes into her shirt. They caught her in the air and helped her land on her feet. They disappeared just as quickly as they appeared.
She had been practicing on getting them to come out but couldn't make them stay out yet.
Bella, having never seen Lily in what Lily considered action mode, gasped and had her mouth hanging open.
Lily's fingernails had turned to claws and her fangs had surfaced. Lily had to take care not to cut her lips on her fangs, but after multiple slip ups, she had gotten used to how she should hold her jaw.
Jasper vamped to her once again, but Lily was ready for him this time. In her action mode, she was better able to see and follow his movement. She ducked down quickly and narrowly avoided him grabbing for her. A vine grew from the ground and wrapped around his leg, pinning into him with its thorns.
Jasper easily freed himself free from it, but it had bought enough time for Lily to get up from the ground and wrap her claws up his side.
Her claws were able to form cracks into his skin, the sound of metal-on-metal ringing through the air.
The wolves were openly becoming hostile at their fight. Lily tried to keep her focus on the fight, but hearing Bella's screams of "What the fuck?" was highly distracting.
"Focus Doll" Jasper whispered into her ear before pulling her into his grasp and bending her head to expose her neck.
She, never having been one to give up, grabbed his balls with her claws; a move he was absolutely not expecting.
Either out of instinctual habit or pure shock, he pulled his hips back out of her grasp and loosened his grip on her neck. She twirled in his grasp and bit him in his shoulder, piercing his skin once more.
He, having become used to her gentle nips, was shocked at the strength of this bite.
Unfortunately, she was only mostly human and he was very much a trained soldier and hundreds of years older than her. She quickly found herself once more in his grasp with his lips on her neck before he gently kissed her on the spot.
"You're getting better" Jasper said approvingly.
"Thanks cowboy" she smiled up at him. She was sweaty, getting goosebumps from the breeze, and horny after their fight.
Being able to pick up on her emotions, jasper kissed her on her lips firmly before letting her back down on the ground.
"Lily, what the fuck was that?" Bella demanded.
Turns out Edward had managed to keep Lily's secrets from Bella after all. She sent a silent thank you to the telepath for keeping her privacy.
Lily only shrugged at Bella's question. "I have no idea, but it is what it is."
"People don't just turn into things!"
Lily just stared at the brunette dumbly before motioning to the pack of horse sized wolves behind her and family of vampires both of them were involved with.
Bella, having realized her fumble, backtracked. "They were turned, and the pack have their ancestors to blame. You don't have a reason!"
"Look, I get you're freaked out. This is what bothers you? Would it be easier on you if I was a guy with muscles and stuff? Would you be quicker to accept me for me that way?"
Bella had the good graces to blush at the insinuation.
Lily continued. "Listen, I don't know why I'm this way. I can't turn it off. I don't know what the future holds. But this is my reality and I've come to accept it. Besides, it could be worse. Id rather be a pigeon than a chickadee." She smirked at the inside joke. The low grumbly huff from one of the wolves (hint, Leah) made the joke worth it.
"Anyways! Enough drama! Thanks for coming you guys" Lily said, turning towards the pack. "I think we are just about done for the day."
Jasper confirmed that, turning toward the wolves for the first time, his expression uncomfortable again. "We'll be doing this tomorrow. Please feel welcome to observe again."
"Yes," Edward answered in Sam's cool voice. "We'll be here."
Edward sighed before turning to face his family. "The pack thinks it would be helpful to be familiar with each of our scents — so they don't make mistakes later. If we could hold very still, it will make it easier for them."
"Certainly," Carlisle said to Sam. "Whatever you need."
There was a gloomy, throaty grumble from the wolf pack as they all rose to their feet. Sam was in the lead as the alpha of the pack. Bella's eyes looked ready to pop out of her head.
Sam approached Carlisle where he stood in the front, the huge pack right on his tail. Jasper stiffened, but Emmett, on the other side of Carlisle, was grinning and relaxed.
Sam sniffed at Carlisle, seeming to wince slightly as he did. Then he moved on to Jasper.
An enormous russet-colored wolf seemed to focus on Bella. Lily realized that it must have been Jacob. He opened his mouth looking fierce before he rolled his tongue out to the side like a dog causing Bella to giggle. He ended up trotting up to Bella and sitting by her. She was enraptured by the change in her friend before feeling her way through his fur. Lily stopped paying attention to the weird trio of maybe lovers to walk up to one of her best friends.
Leah, still in wolf form, looked bored.
"So, think I could ride you like a wild woman?"
Leah growled and barred her teeth at the suggestion of being some animal to ride.
"Please? Pretty please with sugar and whip cream and a cherry and jimmies on top?" Lily rambled on trying to sound as ridiculous as possible. Leah rolled her eyes before shaking her head.
"I'll give you a ride in the sky whenever I figure out how to fly" she bargained.
Leah got up, flicking Lily with her tail, before following her pack home from the clearing.
"By Leah! Love you!" Lily cried, trying to be as annoying as possible for her friend. The echo of growling from the woods made her laugh.
"You are insane" Jacob muttered towards her once he returned from the woods in his human shape.
Lily just shrugged. "Girls gotta find a way to get a ride somehow."
It didn't take him long to cross the field, though he gave a wide berth to the Cullens, who stood talking quietly in a loose circle.
"Okay, bloodsucker," Jacob said when he was a few feet from Bella and Edward, evidently continuing the conversation they had been having. "What's so complicated about it?"
"I have to consider every possibility," Edward said, unruffled. "What if someone gets by you?"
Jacob snorted at that idea. "Okay, so leave her on the reservation. We're making Collin and Brady stay behind anyway. She'll be safe there."
Bella scowled. "Are you talking about me?"
"I just want to know what he plans to do with you during the fight," Jacob explained.
"Do with me?"
Lily had gotten curious about the conversation, taking Jasper's hand and walking them over to the fighting trio.
"You can't stay in Forks, Bella." Edward's voice was pacifying. "They know where to look for you there. What if someone slipped by us?"
"What about Charlie?"
"He'll be with Billy. If my dad has to commit murder to get him there, he'll do it. Probably it won't take that much. It's Saturday, right? Theres a game. We're taking Lily's parents too."
"Excuse me?" Lily jumped in. "When did that conversation happen? Because I'm sure none of us were aware of that."
Jacob looked uncomfortable. "Lily, they're human. They can't be here."
"And don't they get a say in their own lives? Or do teenagers get to decide their lives for them now?"
"We have to at least get my friends out of town" Bella cried. Edward cupped her face before replying to her scattered thought process gently. "You can't evacuate everyone. Hiding you is just a precaution. I told you, we'll have no problem now. There won't be enough of them to keep us entertained."
"But what about keeping her in La Push?" Jacob interjected, impatient.
"She's been back and forth too much," Edward said. "She's left trails all over the place. Alice only sees very young vampires coming on the hunt, but obviously someone created them. There is someone more experienced behind this. Whoever he" — Edward paused to look at Bella — "or she is, this could all be a distraction. Alice will see if he decides to look himself, but we could be very busy at the time that decision is made. Maybe someone is counting on that. I can't leave her somewhere she's been frequently. She has to be hard to find, just in case. It's a very long shot, but I'm not taking chances."
He paused to look down at Bella once more. "Just being overcautious," he promised.
Jacob gestured to the deep forest east of us, to the vast expanse of the Olympic Mountains. "So hide her here," he suggested. "There's a million possibilities — places either one of us could be in just a few minutes if there's a need."
Edward shook his head. "Her scent is too strong and, combined with mine, especially distinct. Even if I carried her, it would leave a trail. Our trace is all over the range, but in conjunction with Bella's scent, it would catch their attention. We're not sure exactly which path they'll take, because they don't know yet. If they crossed her scent before they found us . . ."
Both of them grimaced at the same time, their eyebrows pulling together.
"You see the difficulties."
"There has to be a way to make it work," Jacob muttered. He glared toward the forest, pursing his lips.
"I'm still focused on the fact that you guys once again are overstepping on my families lives Edward."
"Lily, maybe it hasn't dawned on you, but you ARE family to us," Edward said.
Lily reared back, never realizing he actually cared about her. Edwards shoulders dropped slightly before he hardened his face. "You're part of this family, regardless of anyone's personal feelings. We need to keep our family safe and that extends to your parents just as much as Charlie."
"Next time just clue me in on the conversation please?" Lily asked before turning to Jasper.
"Darlin' this is the first I'm hearing of their plan for your parents as well."
Lily was satisfied with his promise before turning back to the couple. Bella was swaying on her feet.
Edward was telling her that he had to get her home.
"Wait a sec," Jacob said, wheeling back to the Bella situation, his eyes bright. "My scent disgusts you, right?"
"Hmm, not bad." Edward was two steps ahead. "It's possible."
He turned toward Jasper. "Jacob has an idea that might work." Edward took a deep breath.
"We're going to see if I can confuse the scent enough to hide your trail," Jacob explained.
Bella looked suspicious.
"You're going to have to let him carry you, Bella." Edward's voice was calm, but it has a subtle undertone of distaste."
Jacob rolled his eyes before picking Bella up. "Don't be such a baby."
Edward's face was composed and smooth before speaking to Jasper once again. "Bella's scent is so much more potent to me — I thought it would be a fairer test if someone else tried."
Jacob turned away from them and paced swiftly into the woods, Bella wrapped in his arms.
After a few minutes Jasper and Edward ran into the woods to find Bella and see if the trail was covered. Before leaving, Jasper kissed Lily once again before blurring away with his brother.
Lily walked up to Rosalie and Emmett after the boys left.
"Hey there pixie" Emmett greeted her playfully. "Think you could take me on?"
Rosalie slapped him in his shoulder. "Don't be an idiot, she's lucky she didn't pass out or get a nosebleed from that much exertion."
Lily laughed. "I'm fine guys, I promise. Just tired. I need to talk to Sarah and John about the meeting here." Rosalie made a face, causing Lily to hurry and explain. "I had that nightmare last night. They woke up and I told them some stuff but no names or details. They know somethings going to happen and are worried on how to keep everyone safe."
"But they're human" Emmett stated.
Lily shrugged. "That doesn't mean their feelings aren't valid. They're scared and want to keep us safe. I said I'd have more information after this meeting, and we would have our own meeting at the house. If they can stay on the reservation, that might be a safe idea. They were thinking of flying us all out of the area until everything blew over."
Rose looked contemplative at the idea. "I think that's actually a better plan. I don't trust the pack to keep everyone safe with most of them being involved in the fight."
"Have you decided what your plan is?" Emmett asked.
"She's going to be with Bella" Alice said, walking up to their group.
"What?" Rosalie and Lily asked in unison.
"I just saw it. She's going to be camping with Bella during the fight to keep her from doing anything stupid."
"Um. . . Alice? You realize if a coven of vampires can't keep her safe what the hell am I supposed to do?" Lily asked, highly skeptical of the plan.
Alice just shrugged. "I didn't make the decision; I only saw it."
"Jasper is going to be pissed" Emmett stage whispered to Rosalie.
"Thanks for once again including me in the decision-making process. I need to go home." Lily said grumpily.
Jasper came through the trees at that point, scooping her up without a word and cradling her to his chest and running towards her house.
Once he got there, he put her down on her feet. The door flung open at that moment with John, holding his shot gun, and aiming it towards Jasper.
"Dad, no!" Lily cried.
He took the shot anyways.