(Twilight theme by Stephanie Meyer)

EPOV

"I am on my way to a perfect game." Bella said practically trilling with excitement.

"I liked you better when you were shy and clumsy Bella." Emmett said clearly annoyed that he had not been able to pick up the spare on Wii bowling.

I decided to hang back; Emmett was determined to challenge Bella to every game under the sun until he finally beat her. He was still upset that she beat him arm wrestling after the wedding. The more frustrated he got the more the rest of us enjoyed ourselves. I currently had an ongoing bet with Jasper, he was sure that Bella's winning streak would be ending soon, but it looks like I will not have any house chores for quite some time. Money was useless to bet with so we were dividing up the household chores to keep it interesting.

"Another strike!" Bella said doing a small happy dance as Emmett tried to throw the controller on the ground, but the gesture lost its dramatic effect when the safety lanyard caused it to bungee back into his hand. The room erupted into laughter when I felt my phone vibrate.

Tristan's number flashed on my caller ID and I stepped out onto the porch before answering my phone.

"Edward?" Tristan sounded scared, almost childlike.

"What's wrong?" I asked in a hushed tone and I ran from the house to somewhere I could talk to him without worrying the rest of the family.

"Can you meet me in town? I need to talk."

"Why can't you come home? It's almost dawn."

"Edward, please?"

"I am already running towards you."

"Thanks, sunshine motel on O'Laughlin room 42."

I hung up my phone and was standing at the door of room 42 within 3 minutes. Tristan opened the door and he smelled different…

His eyes wouldn't meet mine, and he was oddly quiet; not his usual incessant chatter. When his eyes finally met mine, I felt a chill and a memory take me over.

***

I resented him; he made me into this monster. Why should I suffer? Why not embrace what I've been turned into? The only reason I did not set out on my own earlier was the sincerity in each of Carlisle's thoughts.

When I left our home I would constantly repeat the reasons I left, in an attempt to justify this thirst burning my throat.

I had my first victim picked out. He was a murderer and rapist stalking another innocent young girl down a dark alley. His mind was perverted and made me sick as I watched him recount his conquests. The same scared looks in each young girl's eyes. Their screams and pleading excited him and he began to walk faster towards the scared young girl.

Her heart was fluttering wildly as she noticed his shadow grow in her peripheral. His heart was beating slow and steady as he concentrated on his prey. He was unaware that he was not at the top of the food chain as he thought himself to be. I had him in my sights.

The girl rounded a corner and hid behind a pillar of crates, hoping that the shadow was a figment of her imagination. That was a wish I could grant tonight. The man slowed to peer around the corner and once his back was to me fully I grabbed him. I spun him around so he could see the hunger glint behind my eyes and he became the victim before a single scream could escape his lips. I did not even have to think about how to do this, it came naturally. It felt right letting go and losing control of the monster that sat beneath my skin. My first taste of human blood was unlike anything I had ever experienced in my life. I felt stronger and the night took on a new clarity.

Afterwards, I was on a high. Human blood coursed through my veins and it felt right. I remember enjoying the feeling as I strutted through the dark city streets back to my apartment.

Once inside a mirror caught my attention and the crimson eyed monster that stared back at me lost its smug expression and it was instead replaced by that of a broken man.

***

The same broken man I saw in my eyes that night was staring at me now through Tristan's eyes.

"Is the human alive?" I asked slowly and he closed his eyes and nodded fervently.

"She should be home by now. She didn't even know that she was in any danger." He looked at my shoes when he spoke; his thoughts revealed that he feared he would see disgust or disappointment in my eyes if he made contact.

"Tristan, you did very well. She is alive and that is what matters."

"I hate myself. That is not who I am."

"That craving is what lies inside each of us. It is natural, you're a predator now."

"Natural? No, what we are is not natural Edward. We are going against nature, under the guise of rising above our baser instincts."

"Yes, but trust me, our nature does not numb the guilt of killing innocent human beings."

"How many?"

"Have I killed?"

"Yes, I saw you in Volterra; you barely reacted to killing your own kind. What about humans? You sound like you have experience." His tone was accusing and yet he still could not look me in the eyes.

"I left Carlisle for a few years and followed my own path. I won't dare to count how many there were, I have tried everything to justify my actions, but there is none." I stopped and thought about how to explain this to him. "You once told me that you were a religious person… my reason for returning to Carlisle is most similar to that train of thought I suppose. I justified my diet by preying on those who have wronged others, murders and the like. I thought that Carlisle's ideologies had been creating the guilt I felt after each kill, but I realized that I was not meant to decide who lived and who died. It was above me to judge those around me. I felt guilty because what I was doing was wrong, no matter if the person deserved death or not. In Volterra, I was killing as an act of protection. It was survival and I do not feel guilty for my desire to continue living. That is the true nature of all species, survival."

"Bella called me one night while you two were broken up. She said the two of you kissed and then you ran away. The way she said it, it wasn't the first kiss. Do you remember that night? Why did you run?"

"I did not run away because of her blood. Although there have been times when Bella was human that I did run for that reason. I left her for a week after our first encounter. I had never thought about dating a human girl so when I was initially attracted to Bella I feared I was 'falling off the wagon'."

"How did you get over it?"

"I tried to live without her and the loss I felt was worse than the cravings I was fighting."

"Until I care about someone as much as I cared about her, I will never be able to safely interact with people."

"Tristan, you are still new. Give it time, something tells me that you will be able to adjust to this faster than any of us have."

"I was doing alright, we went to a movie and she even held my hand. We were sitting next to each other in the dark for 2 hours; her scent did not overpower me. Then we get to the bar and suddenly I realize that she is being drawn to me. Her scent is driving me crazy. I barely needed to say anything and I knew she would go along with anything I suggested. It was as though she had no self control, she wanted it. Then she kissed me and all I could think about was her blood. I could see her dying in my arms and the pleasure it would bring. The human connection I yearned for was no longer in the forefront of my mind. It was just thirst and the high from a power I held over her. I even knew how I would get rid of her body, dark thoughts I have never experienced were in my mind."

"Our humanity is what keeps us together as a family. Your humanity is strong and I would be worried if you didn't react this way to what happened. When you were a human you never had to make the decisions we do. Trust me; you are still in there somewhere. You just need to get comfortable. It takes time."

The hotel phone rang and Tristan shook his head and a small smile pulled at the corners of his mouth.

It's Bella, be cool…

He thought at me and I answered it.

"Hello?"

"Edward? What are you doing with Tristan?"

"We decided to get out for a while. Did you beat Emmett?"

"What do you think?" She said brightly, her tone became stern and she said, "Please put Tristan on the phone."

I handed him the phone and he rolled his eyes at me. I gave them some privacy and could only hear Tristan's side of the conversation.

"Izzy, how goes it?"

"Yes, I'm fine, I just needed to have some guy time –"She cut him off. Bella had a fire in her personality that was more prominent when she was around Tristan and by his expression it was something he was used to getting around.

"The date was going fine, but I couldn't close. She ended up getting a ride home with her girlfriend at the bar. I promise."

"Thanks kid, but I am going to hang out with your other half for a while if you don't mind."

"Yeah, it is going smashingly."

He hung up the phone and I saw that he was still depressed, but much calmer than he had been.

"How did she find you here?"

"She just knows me very, very well. If it weren't for Bella I think things would have gone very differently tonight."

"What do you mean?"

"Yesterday while we were watching TV together we discussed my date and she suggested certain precautions for me to take."

I thought about yesterday afternoon and how we all sat on the couch together, I did not even think twice about Tristan's arm draped along the back of the couch. It felt like a deception almost, I knew that he was putting so much trust in me right now. He was bringing me into his pain and identifying with how I felt not too long ago. I just could not hide the fact that I was still jealous of their bond and closeness. I knew he felt my unease, but he ignored it and continued to answer my question.

We sat and talked through the morning and afternoon. I tried to tell him everything I knew about our siblings and their slips or temptation. I found myself reading his thoughts as we spoke and he was letting me. The relationship that Tristan and I had was very challenging, at first we were enemies, then allies, now we were thrust into a family situation. Beneath any animosity we have/ will feel for each other there was trust. That is how I ended up in this hotel room instead of Jasper, or Bella.

BPOV

Tristan came home that night with Edward. They were chatting like old friends and it put me at ease. I knew I would not have to worry about him. It took a year before Tristan even thought about trying to get that close with a human again.

Carlisle and Tristan worked hard to discover more about our bond and the closer Tristan and I became the faster we were able to produce results. Our eyes dulled significantly in the few weeks following the honeymoon. They dulled into a sweet amber color that matched the rest of our family. Carlisle thinks that the distance somehow made our bodies vulnerable and the eye color may have been a side effect.

One thing that became stronger as we were together was our control around humans. It became easier and easier to be around them and Tristan was a lot more confident as time went on.

Originally the plan was to hold off on school for 5 years or so, but Carlisle was sure that Tristan and I would be able to handle the task and after only a year. Tristan was not looking forward to going back to high school, well, neither of us were. I spent my last human year working hard to graduate early and I was not expecting to go back so soon. Despite our reluctance to go back we didn't voice our concerns, the family looked like they were excited to put some roots down even for the 4-5 years we could get away with.

The first weeks of school really threw a wrench into the way our household ran. The more seasoned Cullens told us that we just need to be at school for the community to see that our family was normal. They said to stay out of trouble and keep up the pretense we were human. The problem is that I am not sure they knew what Tristan was like as a human in high school.

His good looks matched with his natural charisma, was an unstoppable force. The students flocked to him, rather than shying away as the students at Forks high had when the Cullens arrived. This fact really upset Edward more than anyone else. The fickle relationship that Tristan and Edward shared was beginning to crack. It developed into a sibling rivalry and I was the shiny toy that was in the middle of each argument. During the day I would be with Edward and playing my role in public, but at night Tristan and I were working with Carlisle or spending time together. My time was constantly spent trying to please both sides. They were so involved in this rivalry that they thought I was oblivious to the struggle. I just continued to ignore them and did my best to be neutral, Switzerland if you will. If I knew what would happen, I might have just stopped and forced them to get it out in the open.

TPOV

(Tristan [-] Bella [~])

Esme and I were coming back from a hunt when Bella caught up with us. She jumped on my back and I carried her piggy back style to the house.

What's up?

~ We received mail from Marcus. He wants us to come to Volterra for St. Marcus' festival.

How did you get the letter?

~ He sent it with a nomadic clan. They called me Princess.

Who saw them?

~ Edward and Jasper were with me when they arrived.

You know Edward won't be happy about this right?

~ He will be fine. Trust me.

"Carlisle is looking for us. He wants to go over some new ideas before school tomorrow." She said out loud for Esme's benefit.

Where is the letter?

~ I let Edward read it. He is discussing the subtext with the rest of them. I made sure it had no mention of the previous gifts before I handed it over, don't worry.

Where is the coven?

~ At the house.

Why are we entertaining them? Why not just send them out of our territory?

~ I don't know the protocol. I just went to find you and Esme.

After a mile or so I could smell their scent. "Do you smell that Esme?"

"A coven?" She answered.

"Yes, they arrived just before I came to get you." Bella said. "Marcus sent them to invite me and Tristan to the St. Marcus festival in Volterra."

"When does he want you to leave?"

"He is giving us the option to attend." Bella answered in a calm voice.

"No, an invitation from them is never an option." Esme sounded worried now.

"Marcus is ruling all by himself. We can do whatever we please." I added in my usual cocky tone.

"What did Carlisle or Edward say about this?"

"They are discussing the letter now." Bella said and the house came into view. "We should go join them; did you want to go to Italy again?"

"Not if it is going to be Cancun all over again." I replied

"Cancun?" Esme asked confused.

"In high school we entered a contest for a free vacation to Cancun; you know one of those booths in the mall? Well we won and when we went to claim our prize, it turns out we were one of 12 people who won. We all had to sit through a time share presentation and then a million hours later it was another raffle to determine who got the vacation."

"If Marcus is just going to pitch us the whole time, I don't want to go either." Bella added.

"You would want to go if that weren't the case?" Esme pushed and she wasn't hiding her shock at the idea of someone choosing to go to Volterra.

"Why not? I think Marcus is lonely and he sort of implied we were friends." Bella said letting her innocence and naiveté show through her stoic vampire exterior.

We are not his friends.

~ Two invitations within a year? I think we are, if he meant us harm it would have happened by now or he would have remained silent so he could have the element of surprise don't you think?

I lowered her to the ground and the front door to the house opened to reveal a worried Alice.

"What's wrong Alice?" Bella said trying to keep her voice to a whisper.

"Tristan, we need you in the living room." Alice said and held her hand out to me. I took her hand and she led me at human pace into the living room. There were four faces staring at me from the couch. Their red eyes penetrated my every step and as I looked at their faces I knew that I had known at least one of them before.

(A/N: Sorry for the cliff hanger, I wrote this crazy long chapter and decided to end it here and get a jump on the next few chapters so I wouldn't have to go weeks without updating. So thanks for patience and all that good stuff. Enjoy and leave some love, my awesome Beta Nici91 had some good feedback for me on this chapter, I hope you will too. )