Callie floored it as she shot down the narrow road. Within minutes she was in front of Jacob Black's small home. She practically fell out of the car. From inside, Jacob heard the commotion, and he quickly ran out the door. "Callie?"

She ran to him, embracing him tightly. Unexpectedly, he sniffed her. "Callie, you reek and you got really huge. Have you been taking good care of yourself?"

She grimaced. "That's the welcome I get?" She laughed with him before remembering her mission. "Jake, have you seen my brother?"

"Yeah, he's over with Leah on First Beach… Why?"

"I have to talk to him, now." Jacob nodded, recognizing the urgency in her voice. He picked her up and took off across the reservation towards the beach. Briefly, Callie was annoyed that she couldn't move fast enough to keep up with everyone around her.

As he ran, he spoke to her with the control of a Kenyan marathon runner. "You know, you Dawson kids just come and go with the wind. We haven't seen either of you in months, and now, you're both here."

Callie smiled, reassured that she was going to see her brother. Jake, however, tensed under her. Her smiled faded; he only got tense when he was uncomfortable. "What's wrong, Jake."

"I just missed you, Cal. You have my kid…"

Though he wasn't looking at her, he could tell that her eyes narrowed simply in the tone of her voice. "What are you getting at, Jacob?" She asked sharply. He didn't reply.

When they skidded to a stop in the sand, Callie looked down the beach, seeing a group of silhouettes a half mile down. Jacob needed no direction, and he ran towards the group. Before they even reached their destination, they heard the conversation.

"Why do you need to know where those leeches live, anyway?" Asked a male voice, which turned out to be Embry.

"Because they kidnapped my sister. Thanks, guys." They saw Nate's form kiss a smaller form, presumably Leah, then start running.

Callie yelled for him at the top of her lungs. Nate stopped and looked around, his posture revealing his confusion, until he spotted them.

"Callie!"

She leapt out of Jacob's arms, stumbling through the sandy earth, sometimes on her hands and knees, as she ran towards her brother. When they were close enough, he lifted her by the armpits and swung her around. He set her down again, and held her close.

"I've missed you, squirt," he said, quietly. Callie was teary-eyed.

"I'm so sorry, Nate. I'm sorry I didn't tell you where I was." She mumbled incoherently into his chest, wetting his shirt. He didn't let go, but he stood back a little.

"Look how big you're getting!"

She grinned. "I know, right?"

"Is it a girl, like you said?"

"Of course!" She laughed. He hugged her again. "Finally, someone who believes me!"

Jacob interrupted her. "What's this about leeches?"

Callie winced. Nate looked at her. "Did they kidnap you?"

"Wait, you know?" Callie was confused. The only reason she knew is because she had figured it out, years ago.

"Come on, I'm only so much dumber than you, Cal."

She blushed. "No, they didn't kidnap me. They helped me. They gave me a home."

Every werewolf was on his feet by now. Jacob grimaced. "So that's why you reek. Bunch of bloodsuckers."

"Hey, back off, Jake. They did more than you did." Nate immediately resumed his big brother position. Callie suddenly heard whispers about how they hadn't gotten along since Nate found out about Callie's pregnancy, which was why he hadn't been around, even to see Leah.

"So you're siding with them, now?" said Quil, another werewolf friend of Jacob and Embry. He went to stand next to Jacob. The boys were suddenly menacing.

Nate sneered. "I'm not siding with anyone, I'm standing up for my sister."

"And Dr. Fang and his clan."

Callie could only assume he meant Carlisle. "Back off. They're good people."

"They're vampires," Jacob yelled.

"You're a werewolf!" Callie yelled back. "It's not like you're more normal!"

"You're staying here," Jacob said, suddenly solemn. "There is no way a bunch of mosquitoes are raising my kid."

Callie was immediately surprisingly feral. "You and your commands can stay the hell away from me and my baby, Jacob."

"Fine, we'll take out the vampires with you there."

"What? Where the hell did that come from?" The boys were already heading towards the woods. Callie ran after Jacob, grabbing him by the shoulder. "No, don't!"

Jacob pushed her off of him, and she fell to the ground. Sunken into the sand, a look of shock and dismay colored her face. Nate had him by the neck in a second. "Don't you ever touch my sister again," He said. His hold did little but delay the group, and soon Nate was on the ground next to Callie.

The next moment was a blur. Suddenly, Edward, Emmett, Jasper, and Rosalie were on the beach behind Callie, and Alice was helping her stand. The boys turned with furious grins on their faces. Soon, Sam Uley and a number of other werewolves were at their side.

"Damn, bloodsuckers. If we didn't have a reason to kill you before, we sure do now." Jacob flexed his hands. Edward rushed towards him, and Jacob began to run as well.

Callie somehow got between them and screamed "Stop!"

Out of pure surprise, the two of them halted.

"Don't you dare fight."

"Callie, get out of the way," Jacob growled.

"No."

"Callie," Edward pleaded in a softer tone. "Please, don't get in the middle of this."

"No. Obviously, I am in the middle of this." She sighed. "Stop waving your junk at each other. I'm tired of this ridiculous bravado." Something in the defeated tone of her voice made everyone stop. They just watched her. She walked towards the woods, motioning for Edward and his siblings to come with her. They followed her, walking backwards in a circle around her.

"Callie!" Nate called. She stopped, turning to face him. "Don't leave again."

"Then come with us."

Nate looked at the werewolves. He looked at his lover, Leah. She pleaded for him to stay with her eyes, but it was overwhelmed by stares of scrutiny from the rest. He shot a sad look at her before running to join his sister.

As they disappeared into the woods, Callie heard the lonely cry of the only female werewolf. Soon, it was joined by the howling of the others, and though there were many moans, they were still as homely and lonely as if they were miles apart.

Nobody spoke on the way home. Much to Nate's chagrin, Emmett carried him on his shoulders as they tore through the forest. Edward held Callie close to him, holding in the urge to say, "I told you so," especially when her tears began to stain his shirt. Alice had disappeared to claim Edward's car, and when they hit a road, she was there waiting.

Emmett let Nate down, and he immediately went towards the car, nodding an awkward thanks to the burly vampire. Edward carefully set Callie on her feet.

"Nate," She said, waddling over to him, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I wanted to find you, and I have." He embraced her fondly.

Edward was by their side in a split second. "I'll be riding with you," He said, opening the passenger door for Nate. Callie understood immediately, and she sat in the backseat.

"Thank you," was all she could choke out to the others before closing the door. Edward sat in the back with her, and soon, Alice was driving away. Edward held her close, acting as a seatbelt. Nate noticed this right away. He looked at Callie.

"So, you've made some friends."

Callie smiled, blushing a little. Nate reached his hand back to Edward. "Nathaniel Dawson. Pleased to meet you," He said, cordial as his sister.

Edward smiled despite himself. "Edward Mason Cullen. A pleasure." They shook hands. Nate smiled back.

"Thank you for caring for my sister." Despite his outer courtesy, his brain was awash with concern for Callie. He looked her over entirely, checking for bumps, scratches, and cuts. "You okay, Cal?" Edward smiled at the siblings. Callie too was too worried for her brother's health.

"I'm fine. You're an idiot," she said.

"Idiot, ey? How do you figure?"

"Trying to strangle a werewolf? Are you serious?"

Alice joined the conversation. "You tried to strangle a werewolf? Emmett's going to be so jealous!" She squealed.

Nate smiled at her. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure."

"Alice, naturally," she said, introducing herself with a flick of her hair. As with any human, Nate was stunned by her beauty. Somehow, however, his concern overwhelmed him.

"Lovely to make your acquaintance."

"Indeed," she agreed.

He had already taken notice that she paid little attention to the road. "I don't mean to be rude, but in the interest of my sister's safety, could you watch the road, please?" He said, making an effort to keep his voice even.

The others laughed in response.

"I suppose I'm not getting something, here?"

Callie smiled. "Alice can see the future. She's pretty set for driving."

"Of course," Nate said, bewildered. "Things just keep getting more interesting, don't they?"

Callie nodded. "And for the record, Edward here can read minds."

Nate coughed to hide his surprise, or maybe because of it. "That would have been a nice tidbit of information to have."

Edward grinned. He liked Nate already. So did Alice.

Callie changed the subject. "Nate, I tried to find you. What happened?"

"I left Mom and Dad's house. I came looking for you."

"Where do you live now?"

Nate scratched the back of his head. "Well, mostly my car." They turned onto the Cullens' driveway.

Callie's face fell. "You're living in the back of your VW?"

He shrugged. "Well, I got our college funds, as well as our regular savings, and transferred them to a private account, figuring I could just buy a place with that." He stopped. Callie remembered that her account had nearly 80,000 in it, and that didn't include Nate's, or their savings. "But," he continued, "I realized that you have a baby on the way…I didn't know what you'd need. So…I stayed in my car."

Callie rolled her eyes. "Well, we have an extra room or four," Alice said, right as they parked in front of the Cullen household. Nate's jaw fell open.

"I see that." Edward grinned, and they got out of the car. He and Alice walked ahead, and Nate fell behind to Callie, and said, "So, they're vampires?" Callie nodded. "Are they going to like, suck our blood out or anything?" She shook her head. "Okay," He said, reassured, as they walked in their door.

The others were home already, sitting in the living room with Carlisle and Esme. Upon their entrance, Callie introduced Nate to everyone. Carlisle stood and shook his hand, and the others nodded. During the introduction, Alice had whispered something in Emmett's ear, and he shot up. He put his hands on either shoulder, and looked Nate in the eye.

"You strangled a werewolf?"

Nate scratched the back of his head uncomfortably, and said, "Somewhat unsuccessfully."

"But you grabbed one by the scruff of the neck?" He nodded. Emmett turned back towards the others. "I like him."

Nate was immediately given a room near Callie's. Esme didn't even bother trying to convince Carlisle this time.

Later that night, after a decent dinner of leftovers that Edward had cooked for Callie two days ago, Nate was relaxing on his bed, watching television from a small screen hung on the wall. There was a knock on the door, and Callie walked in.

Nate turned the television off and looked at his sister. "So, you live with these guys, huh?" She nodded. "Jeeze, sis, first you get knocked up by a werewolf, then you move in with a bunch of vampires. What would Grandmother say?"

Callie laughed. "I'm not sure, but I bet it'd involve holy water." They laughed together.

"So what's the deal with these guys, then?"

"They're the best, Nate. I was living in a shelter for the longest time–"

He interrupted her. "So that's why I couldn't find you." Her face became confused. "Those things are confidential. No one can know where you are."

Callie nodded. She had forgotten that bit. "I'm sorry. I didn't really think about anything then, just living." She bit her lip.

Nate hugged her reassuringly. She smiled weakly. "So, go on with your story."

Her smile brightened. "Anyway, I kept going to school, but I got transferred from Gifford to some other dude, and there was Edward." Nate nodded, remembering the boy from the car. "I sat next to him, and he let me sit with them at lunch even when no one else would."

"What about your other friends? Jessica, Lauren?" Callie's face grew sad. Nate realized immediately what had happened, and he cursed the fickle friendships of high school. "Go on, Cal."

"So I had this baby attack, pretty much, and he helped me. Got me out of school. He tried to take me home, but when he found out I lived in a shelter, he took me to his family, and they invited me to live with them." Nate smiled, glad someone had helped his sister when he couldn't.

"Carlisle is a doctor, and he checked my baby out, and she's doing fine, you'll be glad to hear."

"I am glad," Nate agreed.

"They're all so amazing, Nate. They're vampires, but they've decided to live an alternative lifestyle. They only drink animal blood." Nate's stomach turned, but he hid it well. "They don't attack humans. Isn't that amazing?

"Alice loves shopping and parties, and she got me a whole wardrobe when I moved here. Rosalie fixes cars and shops with Alice, and she and Esme are just so helpful when it comes to my baby. They both always wanted one. I think you'll get on with Rose really well, what with your car obsession. Jasper reads as much as I do, and he's awesome to debate with, and Emmett is just a big teddy bear. He's really competitive but really fun."

"What about Edward?"

Callie blushed thoroughly. She didn't know for sure, but she thought Edward was listening to this conversation. "Edward…he is amazing. He plays piano perfectly, and he's the most selfless person I've ever met. He makes a mean plate of manicotti, and he has amazing taste in movies."

"You know, you never talked about Jacob like this."

Callie exhaled. "I don't think I loved Jake...certainly that is beyond my consideration at this point. He was just…everything they would hate. I liked it."

Nate knew she meant their parents. He scowled. Then he realized something. "You love him?"

She blushed even more, nodding shyly. Mentally, she called out to Edward. "You hear that? I love you."

In his bedroom, Edward smiled. Into the darkness, he whispered, "And I love you, Callie."