Okay, next chapter. Um, I'm still sick but since this chapter is almost done, has a final scene I need to write out. I'll poke at it and try to get it done. You should sleep. I don't like being bedridden. Not a very valid excuse. Not the point. Whatever. This chapter better be enjoyable. Have you met you?

Collin took a deep breath, squirming uncomfortably as he considered how to begin. A lot had happened recently but where would he begin? "Things are bad again. Not catastrophic end of the world chaos like before…well not yet, but…werewolves are causing issues."

"Werewolves?" Both of them asked at the same time and it was slightly creepy. The way they spoke as though they were the same person again. The word completely in time as both of them spoke.

"Yeah. Um…Something big is happening. Werewolves and…do you remember Kayden?"

"Hard not to. She was my beta. Had this stupid annoying crush on me. Why?"

"She's having this power trip, claiming she's the successor to Ak."

Bella snorted at that and Dol rolled her eyes, neither of them spoke their distaste at the prospect though based off the way the two glanced between each other it was clear they were speaking about it silently.

Shifting uncomfortably in his seat he continued the story, staring down at his feet. "Now she's working with werewolves…only it isn't just her. The Head Counsel is getting involved as well. Something big is happening and…they're trying to kill Mary."

Collin looked up as his mom spoke. "That isn't possible, right? Only you and Brady can kill her." The sisters shared a look, one that said they were communicating telepathically again. He tried not to let it show that it was bothering him.

"That's what we thought but…someone came to light and now I'm not so sure that's right. Only family can kill her, only those she sees as family, those that she loves. Based off the ancient rules. However, we came across someone yesterday…his name was Vasilii."

"Vasilii? He's dead." Dol spoke up reflexively, obviously startling herself by her expression.

"How-" He stared at his aunt in surprise, she knew the name? A name he'd never heard until Mary had spoken it the preceding day. God, had it only been a day? In this strange break in time…it felt like years ago, as though he'd been here for years.

Dol looked down at her feet as she cut him off, a conflicting look crossing her expression. "When I died, I took every memory every incarnation Ak ever had. Know the saying 'your life flashes before your eyes at death.' It's true. For me I got years of memories. Now…either the rest of her incarnations are gone to the afterlife, whatever that might be, or since I was the most recent incarnation I absorbed them all into myself, I really have no idea. Point is, some of her incarnations picked up information, heard things. Of course they didn't really know what the relevance was. Other times Ak would come forward just enough to see what was happening and listen closely. Vasilii made quite a show for himself, so yes, I know who he is, but he is dead. Mary's screams were heard across the world. She was the one that killed him."

"Well he's alive now; or he never died. We saw him yesterday." It was still a little unsettling it had only been a day since the events in Vegas.

"Are you certain it was him?" Dol was searching his expression, Bella looking off a bit distantly. From memories he had seen he knew that distant expression meant his mom was in her sister's head completely.

"The way Mary reacted, it had to have been. She stopped the show of power she was doing to make her point."

"So he isn't dead then. Not anymore. Though we know that she did kill him…The Ancients aren't real. Just a vague power that they made up to explain what happened to them."

"I never said it was The Ancients. I'm just telling you what we saw. It was Vasilii. Mary sure as hell believed it was."

"Can you…" Dol was clearly curious if she could see what had happened there herself but without the memory of someone dead he wouldn't be able to tap into that scene. Everything in his ability revolved around the dead. No one had died following the appearance of Vasilii. Not in the place he would have to target.

Bella's voice was sad as she blinked, focusing on the room "Since his ability revolves around the dead he wouldn't be able to unless someone died in that moment. No matter how much it develops it never bypasses that. Which brings up a question. Collin, why is your ability developing?"

He stared down at the floor as his mom looked at him, through him, he could feel it. She had once asked, no begged, him not to push his ability, for him to try not to use it. Dwelling on the past always did more harm than good. Which was painfully accurate. However, it was all he had for a long while. Until…

"I have no idea. I mean…it started changing on its own. I would…look at memories, I did it a lot so I could feel close to you…but…then I saw one of these past visions, the day that you were taken in Volterra. Only it wasn't through your eyes, I was watching you…it's all confusing…I think in these states I'm impacting the events and…I think I made him save you…" His mother looked confused, "I also think…I think I woke Dol up. It could all be coincidence; I really don't know. But…I want it to be true…because if it is…"

"Collin." Bella was in front of him, her hands took his shaking ones. He was shaking? It took him a second to understand. He was scared. Terrified. Everything… "You can't. You can't try to change things now. Not after all this time."

He launched himself off the couch and into his mom's arms, hugging her and shaking, feeling completely miserable. "If you could…wouldn't you change things? Fix them? Stop everything that had happened…Kachiri…all of it?" That was what he wanted. His biggest hope. Stop Kachiri from destroying his mom. Stop her from torturing Leah. Part of him whispered to him and every ounce of his being wanted to deny that, but it was true.

"No, Collin." He tilted his head up to see his aunt standing next to them, a sad smile plastered on her face as she rested a hand on his shoulder.

His mom continued as if it had been her talking initially, "As much as it destroyed us, everything that happened. It had to happen. Do you remember that memory? The memory where she tortured me?"

No no no. As though a switch had been flipped the scene around them changed again and…Dol's grip tightened, Bella spun around in the same moment and his heart sank. It was at the peak of the incident. Collin knew this scenario all too well. It had haunted him for a long time. Now…now it was even worse.

A blood covered, mouth open from the scream she had been in process of in at that moment, Bella was halfway unstrapped from the table. Dol had tears in her eyes with her arms wrapped around her sister. Edward was standing across from her with one of the most hostile looks he'd ever seen. A look he'd seen every single time he went through this memory through Dol's eyes.

Next to the door Leah's tiger form was on the corpse of Kachiri, teeth in the bitch vampire's throat. One of the most satisfying sights on the planet. If only it had been a successful kill by Leah. If only it had happened sooner.

That wasn't what Collin was paying attention to this time. Not with the new sight he saw.

Leah.

Leah was standing next to her jaguar form, her attention turning to them and a surprised look covering her face.

Leah.

"Leah?" Dol was stunned, her voice cracking.

"Leah?" Bella was confused, of course she'd never seen Leah as a person. She'd been too broken in her later encounters with her sister. It made sense.

Collin was rooted to the spot at the sight of the brown haired girl. Leah.

The dead shapeshifter's gaze bore into him and he had to look away. Hello again, Collin. Her mouth didn't move, it never did, her words were gentle, comforting, every ounce of his being wanted to run to her and dammit. There was no reason for it. It didn't matter. She was dead. He couldn't handle this.

"She's Imprinted on him." Dol's voice was a bit dumbfounded. Those four words were also enough to pull him out of his thoughts.

Not exactly. Leah's attention moved to Dol, finally acknowledging her, I can't imprint on him. I would've but I couldn't. I died too soon.

"You're lying, Leah." Dol stepped between him and the other shapeshifter.

I'm not-

Leah's silent voice was cut off before she could continue, "No. Leah, you're lying. You're dead yet somehow you've Imprinted him." Leah had mentioned the possible Imprint during their first encounter. But… "Do you know how I know? The way you look at him. I've seen that look in a mirror a thousand times. Oh the amount of time I spent trying to learn to hide it. You can't though. You imprinted on him. So tell me why you're lying."

Collin pushed past his mom so that he was standing next to Dol. Leah had Imprinted on him? When? How? It didn't make sense. He'd seen Imprintees, he had a vague idea of their mentality around the one who Imprinted them, but he also knew that if someone Imprinted on them, they knew it.

She stared at the ground, not looking at any of them when she responded. Bella's hand rested on his shoulder and he listened closely to the story. This is going to sound like something out of a bad book. The problem is, the day I met him I imprinted on him. I have imprinted on him, Collin. But…the day I met him is the last time he sees me. It's mixed up and a huge mess.

"You're right. That does sound like something out of a bad book. Then again so does our lives." His mom squeezed his shoulder at his aunt's words. Collin was stunned. She'd Imprinted on him…or hadn't…yet…

"Wait, you said the last time I see you. What does that mean?" He stared at Leah, confusion and a million other things trying to manifest, a million questions rising.

It means the last time you see me. I don't know the details; you wouldn't tell me. Probably because I was so young. The last time you see me is the first time I see you.

Collin carefully pulled out of his mom's grip, stepping forward until he was a few inches in front of her. "Why didn't you tell me?" The first time you met her she died. Part of his mind reminded him. He didn't want to think about that. Not in the least. This was so close to it…to her death…

I couldn't. It isn't fair to you to know what can't be. See, I got cursed with the worst of the Imprints. Maybe the best if you're, you know, alive. But falling in love with your Imprintee at ten is a royal pain when he knows you more than you know him. Of course it makes the love mean that much more when he fell on his own accord. Without the Imprint in place. Leah held out her hand warily and he took it, Collin, I have to ask. I need to know. Do you love me yet?

His throat closed, he wanted to say, 'no'. Tell her he didn't, and it was partially true, but he was falling, and it wasn't fair. "Yes." He barely choked the word out. "I've been falling for you since I met you."

She closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him against her. Collin, I wish I could say differently, but you need to know this. Things will get hard for you, I need to tell you this now though, everything ends where it all begins. Don't ask me what that means. I have no idea. All I know is that. I've held onto that information since the day I met you. She rubbed his back and when he lifted his head slightly he watched her sadness seep from her as she looked back at Dol and Bella, swallowing heavily. Did this work? Did I save you?

No one spoke, all Collin could do was tighten his grip on her as tears filled his eyes, he buried his face in her side.

"What can we tell her, Collin?" Both his aunt and mom spoke at the same time and it sent a wave of discomfort down his spine again. Nothing could stop that from making him uncomfortable.

Rather than think on that he bit down on the inside of his mouth, letting out a breath before speaking, "Everything. If it's true and nothing that we do here can impact anything out there. It won't matter if we tell her."

Are you positive?

"Yes. You told me as much. 'History can't be altered. No matter how much you wish it would.' Those were your exact words. If I can't do anything to alter history; it will do no harm telling you."

He turned slowly to look at his mom and aunt, though he made a point of grabbing Leah's hand as he did. The two sisters were looking at each other in that creepy way again. "What you did here probably saved a lot of lives." Bella spoke first, looking back at them.

Not mine. Not a question, a statement.

Dol took over the story, golden tears streaking her face. "You die after this. Not nearly soon enough but you do die. I am so sorry, Leah. What happens after this…I watched them, I didn't let you go through it alone…it isn't pretty. You nearly killed Kachiri here, as far as The Romaz and The Amoz are aware, you did kill her. You get tortured and it isn't kind." It took a lot of energy but he managed to keep the memory change from changing, he couldn't see that. Not again. What was strange was the effort was starting to have an effect on him. He could feel something straining though he couldn't place what it was. Was he actually exerting himself? "I stayed with you for a lot of it…but it wasn't easy. Bella was turning and everything was falling apart and God my soul…it was bad."

Who turned Bella? Somehow it had slipped his mind, she was turned here…this was what had broken her. The first time.

"Edward turned me,"

His mom stared at the floor as Dol picked up the story, "According to him he did it for his own benefit as well as Renesmee's. He saw how much trouble we were causing and figured out something was brewing. A way to free her. It was also a ploy for his own benefit. If he couldn't have Bella's blood, he'd have her body."

The sisters shared an uncomfortable look before Bella took over, answering Leah's questioning look. "We didn't save her. We tried but she didn't want to be saved. She was too broken." Leah averted her gaze, looking back towards where her body was frozen tearing into Kachiri.

The story about Edward was one of those things he probably wouldn't have ever learned if it wasn't for his ability. When Collin had known Edward he'd been a different man. He'd played dad to him after John had died though it had been a bit late since Collin had already been a vampire. Before that Collin knew he'd also played father figure to Brady off and on during his visits. Of course he was also his mother's lover, but that was also something he never would have learned about if it hadn't been for him being a quarter vampire.

How do I die? A question everyone wants to know the answer to but also doesn't, the million-dollar question.

"Zafrina kills you. Aunt Dol and Edward get your innocence proven at your trial then Zafrina kills you before escaping the city."

Dol stepped forward and spoke up, "You save a lot of lives, Leah. Without your death…a lot of things would've been different. A whole lot. We may not have ever escaped the city. Not as easily as we did. You don't die in vain."

Leah nodded, though her grip tightening on his didn't pass his notice. Collin, I really wish I'd gotten to meet you in life.

"Our lives are tragic." Their family was cursed. It had to be. Nothing ever worked out, it was one thing after another after another…nothing good ever worked for them.

"Let's talk about anything other than this." Dol's tone was hopeful. Considering they were dead it made sense they didn't want to dwell on the negative parts of their past…

"Any memory suggestions?" He asked them. This memory wasn't pleasant. Not for a happy conversation.

Collin, I don't think I can follow you like they do. Leah's grip tightened and he turned around to see her smiling sadly at him.

"You know I can't." He didn't want to leave her. He wanted to spend the rest of eternity with her. He was supposed to be her Imprintee. Or he would be. It wasn't fair.

When we met, you told me I can't leave my own memories. I'm sorry, Collin. She took his hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it.

"What if I can fix it?"

You know you can't. The past is the past.

"You've been telling me that since I met you."

And I'll keep telling you it. Now go. Enjoy your time with your mom and aunt.

"I-" She shook her head and he shut his mouth. As much as it hurt him, she didn't want him to say the words. Instead of pushing for that he smiled sadly, "I'll see you the day you die." A bit of a strange sentence, depressing as well. Something deep inside him told him that they wouldn't have more encounters on her part before that.

The day we meet, right? She asked, a bit mournful. Of course the idea of meeting someone on their death date was tragic.

"The day we meet. The first time you tell me that I can't change the past."

Won't be the last. She smiled, a bit more genuine than it had been. You need to stop dwelling on it, Collin. Nothing can be changed. She pressed a kiss to his forehead and stepped back, looking over at Bella and Dol. Thank you.

"For getting you killed?" Dol's voice was a bit bitter.

"Dol."

"Sorry, Bella. It's crap though. You know it is."

Neither of you killed me. In fact, you saved me. From the moment Emmett gave me to Kachiri, she put me through all forms of emotional and physical torture. When she first got me she experimented on me. Pushed me to the brink of starvation and a hundred other things. Testing shapeshifter limits. For the first time in years, in this room, I was truly free. Free to make my own stupid choice. What happened to you here, Bella. It was terrible. All of it. You both saved me. The events around this terrible night saved my life. Even If I die afterwards. I can't imagine anyone is capable of harming me in the perfected ways Kachiri learned. Don't blame yourselves. Not now and not ever again.

"I'll never stop blaming myself for it."

Collin closed his eyes, tightening his hold on Leah, not ever wanting to let go.

The entire city saw the two of you as selfish individuals. You weren't selfish. You simply had a good sense of self preservation. Now go. I will see you again, Collin.

"Goodbye, Leah." He muttered softly before the scene around them melted away to another one. Collin didn't have time to take in the sights around him as he collapsed to the snowy ground beneath him, a cry of pain escaping him as he felt something protest deep in him. All he could do was grab onto the sides of his head, not that it did any good, and fight back the tearing agony that tore through him. If the pain of his transformation was anything to go by he would take that a hundred times over just to rid himself of this. It went on for what felt like hours and all he could do was lean over in the snow and scream out in pain until finally the agony started dying away and he became faintly aware of hands on his shoulders. Shaking him, trying to get his attention.

Opening his eyes, that he'd closed at some point during his agony, he flicked his gaze onto the person standing in front of him.

He launched himself into his mom's arms without thinking, tears streaking his cheeks. It hurt. It all hurt. Everything hurt. There was nothing he could think of to describe of where the pain was, because it was everywhere. In his mind, in his soul, in his body, wherever that was, it was everywhere. Several years in the future from the probably location of this memory.

Something deep in him told him the painful truth. It was his ability. This was the backlash from him using his ability like this and he needed to stop. He didn't want to.

"Are you alright? Talk to me. Please." Bella was frantic, he wanted to open his mouth again but he was worried if he did he'd scream. The pain was still there, not as unbearable as it had been but still torturous.

Instead of speaking he tightened his hold on her and cried silently into her shoulder. Finally, after what felt like several more hours, the pain subsided enough he knew he could talk again. That part of him was still telling him he needed to stop using his ability but he didn't want to. He wasn't ready to leave his mom.

"I…" He trailed off when he realized his voice was rough from the shouting. Clearing his throat he started up again, "I think…I can't keep…"

"It's okay, Collin. It's okay, baby boy."

He made a soft whimpering sound as he clung tighter to his mom, something else clicking with him and panic flaring through him. "Dol." He jerked his head around to try to spot his aunt but…she was gone. She wasn't there. The memory was a happy memory for his mom, a good memory, the Christmas she had learned she was pregnant with him. This was during their snowball fight. If he hadn't been frantically looking for his aunt he might've relished in the happiness in his family's expressions, instead he was terrified. Had he lost his aunt? Was she-

"She's here. Collin, look at me." Making a pained sound he looked back at his mom and realization dawned on him.

"Why?"

His mom smiled weakly at him. "We're the same person, Collin. To an extent." She paused for a moment, a genuine smile crossing her expression, "Quiet, Dol. In that regard I am definitely not you."

He relaxed into his mom, despite the fact that Dol was, literally, back in his mom's head…how did that work in this? Their souls had to truly be connected in this…whatever it was. Which was more than bizarre and uncomfortable to think about.

"Now tell us what happened."

He squirmed uncomfortably, not wanting to tell her what he knew. What something kept telling him was the truth. He wouldn't lie to his mom and he wouldn't keep information from her. "When we left Leah…um…my ability. I think it's…draining me. Whatever that means. It's…It hurt. A lot. I can't…"

"You need to let us go."

"I can't."

"Collin."

He blinked, pulling back and looking up at his mom, tears falling down his face. "I can't. Not again. I wasn't there. I should've been there but I wasn't. I should've been. I can't let you go now."

"I love you, baby boy, and this, this is more than I ever could've asked for. One final, coherent conversation with my son. You need to let go now. You need to return to your life."

"I'm sorry."

"I know you are. We could spend forever arguing about this but you're in pain. Let go, Collin. I love you."

Collin's throat closed up and he clung to her, not wanting to let go. He couldn't do that. There had to be more time.

"Collin."

"I love you both. If you see her in the afterlife, tell Leah I love her." He muttered as he allowed the scene around them slip away until they were gone and he was being sucked back to the real world.

I feel like these were unnecessary chapters. Dol, are you crying? No. I'm sweating. It's hot in here. Okay, whatever you say. Did you did a fourth wall break in there? Not at all. Okay then. These chapters did hold some important information. Also, I saw the reviews last chapter. Thanks for the get well and trust me. His manipulation on past events is very important. I've already began sketching out the final chapter, my original draft was too…well I won't spoil it. The new one is much more fitting. You will probably all hate me for it too. Anyways. I gotta lay back down. Dol, stop crying. I will hang you from a telephone pole. There's that love. I'm not crying.