A/n: Hey, guys :) Not my best chapter today. I've been preoccupied and I'm starting to feel sick + the emotional stress. I'm dealing with some sad things but I'll be okay! I wanted to start this off with some good news so here's the news: After this story finishes, I have spin-offs planned for those who enjoyed the story! Like the story of Lewis and Juliet's early days + what really happened to Erica, not to mention the wolf twins, Lewis and Spencer! Just things that don't fit in this story. Hope everyone's well and I'm here for those who aren't. Love Eli x

Chapter Twenty Two - The Edge

Juliet

I put on a movie for Lewis. Of course, I pretended to watch with him, but my mind was elsewhere the entire time. I couldn't tell you anything that happened in the movie.

Sooner or later, Spencer would have to come to terms with his imprint. Then, he'd tell Lewis, and Lewis would freak out and then have to come to terms with that.

It's not like Lewis would care about the fact that Spencer was a guy. Lewis was very comfortable in his bisexuality. The problem would be that, suddenly, Lewis would be an imprint, the first male imprint. Lewis would learn about the legends, learn about me and my family.

I was torn. Selfishly, I wanted Lewis to be part of my world. I wanted to be able to complain to my best friend about stupid wolves and stubborn vampires. I wanted to show off my abilities as a hybrid, or confess my worries. Reasonably, I knew this would affect Lewis. He was always a boy who saw reason, not fantasy. It would be too much for him to take. Not to mention that he and Spencer didn't even live close to each other. Spencer couldn't leave Forks and there was no way Lewis's mom would let him just up and move out of Oregon.

Spence was like, fifteen. It would be horribly selfish to ask him to transfer into Jake's pack, away from his family, his friends and his native land. But it seemed we had no choice in the matter. Why did the powers above put Lewis and Spencer together?

I had a few choice words for those powers.

After Lewis went home that night, with Spencer nowhere to be seen, Seth burst into my room.

"I mean, can you believe it?" Seth asked.

"I can't."

"A boy!"

"Seth," I warned. "Are you more worried about the fact that Spencer imprinted on another boy, or the fact that they plausibly can't be together."

A look of horror crossed his face. "No - Jules, I'm not worried about Spencer imprinting on a boy. It's never happened before, of course, I'm sure there's been gay wolves who just didn't end up imprinting. I'm just worried about the Elders and… Does Lewis even like boys?"

"Does Spencer?"

"Yeah," Seth sat on the bed. "He tries real hard to hide it, but the pack mind, you know. He keeps thinking about this boy he had a crush on. We're trying to tell him he doesn't have to be embarrassed, but still."

"He needs time," I took Seth's hand. "It must be hard to find out you're living in a supernatural world that nobody knows about. He probably feels even more isolated now."

"You're right," he groaned. "Man, I need some sleep. He'll come around, won't he?"

"He's got no choice," I stood up. "I'm gonna go take a shower. You heading to bed?"

"Yeah, I'm beat from training the pups," he rubbed his face. "I'm so glad I'm not alpha."

"Okay, I'll join you in a bit," I leaned down and kissed him softly.

As I expected, he was sleeping by the time I crawled into bed. I snuggled into his side and joined him in the dream world.

Nessie POV

"I missed you," I whispered into the darkness. Jake kissed my jaw hungrily, trailing kisses down my neck.

"I missed you, too," he told me. "I hate training. I like my small pack."

"Nice of you to do a favor to Sam," I squeezed him. He just snorted.

"Guess I missed some pretty important pack drama today," Jake said. "Of course it's only interesting when Seth's on babysitting duty."

"I didn't know it was possible," I admitted. "I know they'll probably end up happy together but I can't help but feel horrible for them now."

"All we can do is be there for him," Jake sighed heavily, rolling onto his back. "We're his family, his brothers and sisters."

We drifted to sleep side by side, our wrists lightly pressed together. Gradually over the last few months, we'd begun to sleep farther apart. No longer intertwined in impossible ways. It didn't mean we were emotionally distant - I think, in fact, it meant the opposite. We didn't need the physical contact to feel the emotional closeness. We were secure in the fact that nothing could break us apart. Gone were the days that we would cling to one another. Now, we simply existed together.

And I'd never slept so well.

Juliet POV

That morning, I went for a run in the forest with Nessie. It was brisk out, the morning fog covering the trees and making the rocks slick. Of course, being hybrids, we weren't bothered by the cold. The mist was actually refreshing, creating a soft dew in our skin and hair.

"How are you doing lately?" Nessie wrapped an arm around my shoulder as we stood on a cliff, overlooking the forest.

"I'm happy," I told her. "The winter weather always gets me down, but s'not so bad with everyone around."

"It's been a crazy few months," she lamented, looking up into the sky. "I constantly feel like I'm hanging on the edge of a cliff, waiting to either fall or get pulled up. Like something could happen and so easily make me lose my grip."

"I get it," I hugged her waist. "Hey, Tatiana is coming to meet us today. Do you think she and Carlisle will really be able to give Rose and Emmett a baby?"

"Carlisle would give Rosalie the world," Nessie said solemnly. "He won't stop trying until he gets her that baby."

A long silence stretched between us.

"Do you think… No, nevermind, it's stupid," Nessie looked down at the damp rock beneath us.

"Tell me," I grinned. "It's probably far from stupid."

"Do you think we'll be able to have kids? With Jake and with Seth?"

I blew air up into the bangs that framed my face. Jeez, what a loaded question; although I did ask for it.

"I think Fate has a lot in store for us," was the only thing I could tell her.

"I just see myself as a mother," she admitted. "I want kids, I want to have a toddler clinging to my hip while we stand out the window. I want the bedtime stories, the lullabies, the screaming, the ups and downs. I want to send my kids to school and cry as I watch them grow up, get too old for the kid stuff. I want to be proud when they follow their hearts. You know?"

"I understand, although in a way I don't," I rested my head on her shoulder. "After my parents, as Erica and I watched their relationship fall apart and then they just died… I vowed never to have kids. Obviously someone who came from two people that were so fucked up would just follow their parents footsteps. When I imagined children, I saw scared kids as I fought with their dad. I saw myself trying to cover up bruises. I heard them ask, why is mommy crying? So no, I never really wanted them. But then Seth… There's just this goodness that he has. It's like a bright light, he's just so patient and understanding. He'd raise our kids so well. He makes me think that I can be good."

"You can break the cycle of abuse, Juliet," Nessie softly said. "You would make an amazing mother. You remind me of my mom, in a way. She didn't even want kids until I was conceived, and then her world changed. Bella's not a very lovey-dovey person, if you can believe it. But then I came along, and she showed me gentleness and compassion and affection. I know you'll be the same way."

"And if our kids turn into wolves?"

"Then they'll be the coolest wolf-vampire hybrids the world has ever seen, and most definitely the first," she giggled.

After a shower and some lunch, we sat together on the couch in the living room. My foot jiggled nervously as everyone turned to the sound of feet on the stairs. Carlisle opened the door, revealing a woman.

She wore a white dress with gold accents. Her skin was strikingly pale, complimenting the outfit. She had wide, doe-like eyes that would have been innocent looking if it weren't for the deep red color that stained them. Her hair fell in dark black sheets to her waist.

"Carlisle!" She cried out, embracing him. "It's so good to see you at last."

"And you, Tatiana," Carlisle smiled. "This is my family."

Tatiana scanned the room, smiling. Seth, Nessie and I were on edge. We couldn't see past the red in her eyes.

"Well, it's nice to meet you all," Tatiana smiled politely.

"My daughter, Juliet," he gestured. "Seth, Renesmee, Edward and Bella, my beautiful wife, Esme. My other children are out today, unfortunately."

"Quite alright," Tatiana was busy eyeing up Seth. I almost growled at her.

"And this is Charlie, Bella's father," Carlisle continued. Charlie shook Tatiana's hand warmly, barely noticing her vibrant eyes.

"We're going to look at schools today, yes?" Tatiana said. "I am so looking forward to working alongside you."

"Yes, we are," he confirmed. "We need to find a school that we both like, in a place densely clouded enough so that we don't risk exposure. And you're going to work on your diet, right?"

"Of course I am," Tatiana said with an airy wave of her hand. "I've been trying. There's slip-ups, every now and then. You know how it is."

"Yes," Carlisle said, although it was very clear that he didn't.

"Anyways, shall we go to your study?" Tatiana rested her hand on his arm. Esme's eyes tightened ever so slightly, but her welcoming smile remained in place. I admired her - if she had done that to Seth, I'd be baring my teeth.

"Yes, if you're ready to start."

"I'm ready, Carlisle."

Nessie's hand casually rested on my collarbone and an image flashed into my mind. It was a repeat of what Tatiana had just said. I giggled audibly while Edward sent us a warning look. Tatiana, however, took no notice of the interaction. Her eyes were on Carlisle. My Carlisle, and Esme's Carlisle. That was not going to fly, not in a million years.

When they went upstairs, we all turned to Edward. He stared evenly around the room.

"People's private opinions aren't our business," said Edward firmly. Nessie stuck out her tongue at him in defiance.

"That means she does like him," Seth breathed, softly enough so that it would be indecipherable from where Tatiana was.

"Seth's right," I lowered my voice in the same fashion.

"Not our business," Edward reminded us.

"Not like she has a chance against Esme," Nessie added. "Like, hello."

"Nessie's got a point," Seth told Esme. Esme just smiled bashfully and waved her hand.

"Oh, you kids, behave," she scolded, but she couldn't conceal her grin.