Elijah had me get out of the house after that. I didn't try to stop him.

We drove into town, his bumpy truck rattling the whole way, and stopped at this tiny coffee-and-bagels place. At first I protested; firstly, as a half-vampire, I don't exactly love human food. And secondly, I had no money.

Elijah just scoffed and flapped his worn-out wallet in my face as he parked the truck. "You're a hungry vampire, and I'd prefer you eat crappy small-town bagels instead of the next innocent bystander." I considered that, then agreed.

A bell tinkled as Elijah shoved open the door for me (I'd always thought using "tinkled" to describe stuff is weird, since I always get the image of yellow liquid spouting from a bell as it "tinkles" merrily) and we roughly grabbed the nearest pair of chairs. The place was called Matthew's Bagels, and it was badly-lit, the whole place made out of wood. Only a handful of people were sprinkled in the shop, and all stared at me as I entered.

"Okay," Elijah said as we finally scooted a couple of wooden chairs across the scuffed-up floor, and plopped ourselves down. "Before we delve into the deep stuff... I've always had a very important question about vampires." He had a look in his gray eyes as he leaned on the chipped table.

I stared at him, drumming my pale fingers on the smooth surface. "Shoot."

His mouth curled into a half-smile, and I knew I would regret letting him ask whatever he had to say. "Alright. Well... see, I've always wondered. As a girl, when you become a vampire... do you still have your period?"

Blankly, I stared at him. "I'm curious, Elijah. Do you plan on having kids?"

Taken completely aback, he grinned, somewhat warily. "Um... I guess, yeah."

"Well," I said sweetly, "if youeverask me another question like that, I'll make sure you are handicapped in a way that will ensure you never are able to use certain equipment again... which, I believe, means no kids."

His face twitched, eyes decidedly amused, as he let out a barking laugh. "I could always adopt!"

Sighing, I shook my head. He was somewhat bipolar, I was sure of it.

"Questions aside," he chuckled, shaking his head, "and onto the deep stuff."

Frowning, I traced my finger across the cool surface of the table. "Elijah... what are we going to do about... everything? The watch, my parents..."

His gray eyes dark with thought, Elijah tossed his head, blinking hair from his vision. "It makes even less sense to me."

I shook my head. "Okay, Elijah, look. You've mentioned the old man, and how he's become a part of your life. With this whole time-travel thing, I mean."

Elijah bit his lip, then shrugged. "Alright... a year ago, I was out in the driveway, working on my truck. Out of nowhere, this old man approaches me, telling me that he has been sent to... mentor me. He shows me this watch, and said that it was all I needed. Ever since then, he shows up randomly, checking in, but never saying much. I don't even know his name," he admitted.

I glared at him. "The first time we met, you told me a totally different story. That you met him in an antique shop!"

His eyes unfocused. "Did I?" He shook his head, smiling slightly. "Sorry, I... I did lie. Before you slap me, let me assure you that I only did it because, let's face it, we were strangers and I wasn't sure if you were the right girl.

And secondly, don't slap me, because you'll dislocate my jaw or something."

I clenched my teeth, stomping the floor. Great. He lied to me. "You ass," I growled under my breath. Elijah sighed.

"I'm sorry," he told me, sounding genuinely apologetic. I hesitated, then gave in, deciding to not slap him... yet, anyways. Maybe when we weren't in public.

"I forgive you, human."

He grinned crookedly, gazing at me, his gray eyes warm. We sat in silence for a moment, and I frowned, wondering what he was staring at. "You awake in there?" I inquired. Elijah blinked, and shook himself.

"Okay... where was I? Oh... the old man. Well, he's a friend. I know that. But there's something weird about him. He, like, looks at me, and I get this feeling. Like he knows me, as if we've met before, and one time, he said something... weird."

I frowned. "What did he say?"

Elijah paused, then replied. "Something about... a deal."

What? "A... deal?"

He shrugged uncomfortably, then noticed something over my shoulder. "Uh, Nessie, I think we should leave."

I opened my mouth to ask why he thought such a thing, then I smelled an annoyingly familiar scent, and whipped around, glowering as Edward Cullen stepped into the shop, followed by Jasper and Emmett. It took less than a heart-beat for Edward's golden eyes to find me, and even less for him to approach. Jasper and Emmett tagged along after him, curiously peering at me and Elijah.

"Abigail," Edward said, eyes wide as he marveled at the chance we'd be in the same crappy coffee shop at the same time.

"Edward," Elijah exclaimed. "How nice to see you."

"Still sore from the whole I-was-in-Abigail's-room thing?" Edward guessed.

Elijah smiled brightly. "Yup."

"What a happy coincidence," I said frostily.

"Hi Abigail," Emmett grinned.

My head swiveled to my uncle. "Why, hello there, Emmett."

"Your hair looks pretty today," he remarked.

I blinked, bewildered but deciding to play along. "Your eyes look pretty today."

His eyes widened. "Really? Jasper, do you have a mirror?"

Jasper rolled his eyes, amused. "Why would I have a mirror? Ask Edward here. He's the pretty boy of the family."

"Okay, okay," Edward growled. "Jasper, Emmett, let me catch up with you two. I want to talk with Abigail here."

"Don't forget that mirror, buddy," Emmett called over his shoulder as he and Jasper strolled away. It was only me, Elijah, and Edward now. My father cleared his throat, smiling tersely at Elijah, before bending and whispering in my ear, "Can I talk to you privately?"

"Whatever he has to say, I can hear it. Right... Abby?" Elijah rose his brows.

I chuckled under my breath. "Um... I think you better stay here, Elijah. We'll be right back." I nodded to Edward, taking a deep breath and hoping I wouldn't regret this. He smiled, but it was cold, and quickly we moved from the shop, out the doors within seconds. As soon as the glass shut, Edward hesitated, then looked up at me. I crossed my arms. "Speak, cretin."

He pursed his lips. "I've come here to... discuss something important."

"And you were expecting me to be nice?" I guessed.

Edward shook his head, looking half amused, but in a detached way. "No, God forbid. It's about... the other night," he said uncomfortably. I bristled, realizing he meant the other night, when he'd kissed me. And said... it had felt wrong.

"What about it?" I drawled.

My father studied me carefully. "I've only known you about a week, and that whole time... I thought you were unique, different. Certainly, being one of us, you were special. But I thought you were special to me... to my future." I cringed. He had no freaking idea how terrifying it was to hear him say this. "But the other night... when I kissed you; there was something missing. And it's strange. I find myself... almost falling out of love with you."

His words were anguished and confused, but they had the total opposite effect on me. Fireworks went off on my head, and a head-splitting grin grew on my face. If I'd been a ten-year old fangirl, I might have leapt up and down and squealed. He had admitted that he didn't like me anymore. Now I could try to get him and Bella together!

As if seeing the wild torrent of thoughts in my eyes, he rose a finger to stop me. "Look... I know I gave you a lot of wrong messages, and you probably thought I wanted to be with you. If I've hurt you, I promise to leave your sight, to never come again. I don't want to stay and cause more pain."

"More pain?" I almost laughed the two words. "Edward, this is good. I never wanted to be your future-" I had to cough the word out- "I wanted to be your friend. Because there is someone who you are meant for. Someone much more important." I grew serious as spoke, realizing how important this moment was.

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

I sighed. "Okay, let me be straight with you: I need you to get to know Bella Swan."

Edward looked truly shocked. "Bella Swan? The new girl?"

My frustration took over. "Yes the new girl!" I snarled. He flinched, then rubbed his arm, frowning at me.

"I could never love her. She's a human. It's wrong," he told me crossly.

"Well, think about it, big guy. She's interested in you. Really interested," I added after a moment, for emphasis. He hesitated, eyes never flickering from my face.

"Okay... but, really, the only reason I came here was to... make sure you wouldn't be heart-broken."

I offered him a grin. "Which I am not."

He looked pleased, and touched my shoulder. "Good. You're not my future, but you're still an amazing girl. I hope we can become friends, and put all this behind us." He spoke so politely.

"Ah... yeah, sure." I was really happy the incest issue seemed to be finally gone, and Edward was shaken from his weird infatuation, but it would be hard to ever put it behind us. Frankly, I could never look at my father the same without thinking of his lips smooshed up on mine. Yuck.

His eyes began to smolder, and I took a cautious step back. "But I came here for other reasons, too. Now that we're... friends, and I can look beyond you... I've realized that you are more than unique. You are a stranger to Forks. Abigail... I know there is more to you than this."

Feeling sudden tension in the air, I crossed my arms, and felt the cold, wet wind of Forks whip across me, tossing my curly hair into the wind. Shivers passed through me, but I knew it wasn't from the wind. "Edward..."

"Please," he said quietly, eyes meeting mine. "I want to know."

I bit my lip, feeling strangely empty suddenly. "There isn't much you can understand," I said softly. "I'm not allowed to say anything."

"Then there is something?"

I gazed into my father's eyes. "There is... something."

He held his breath for a moment, eyes flickering like two candles. "Your name isn't Abigail, is it?"

"No." How could I lie?

He put his hands in his pockets. "Where are you from?"

He'd gone too far. At least I could answer; in careful semi-truths. "A place far from here. I was brought to Forks on... a mission. To discover something about... myself." As I spoke, I realized this had to be true: otherwise, the whole adventure was a waste. And it couldn't be random. The old man had given me the watch on purpose; he'd meant for me to come here.

His eyes narrowed. "And have you discovered that, yet?"

My eyes diverted from his. "No."

Edward glanced up, shaking his head. "How long are you staying?" I was surprised by how calm he was taking this; as if the whole time, he'd understood, felt that something strange was up about me.

"I have no idea," I murmured.

There was a brief silence, where I could almost hear Edward's head churning. My answers, I'm sure, were short and frustrating, barely able to satisfy his thirst for the truth. But he was patient, and- despite the whole incest thing- a good man. He would never try to drag the answers out of me.

"It's hard," he said as last, musical voice quiet and quick, "to understand, when your minds are so protected. It's like a wreath of thorns surrounds your minds; your dreams, thoughts, secrets, all unknown to me."

I pricked my ears. He'd said minds, plural. Who else could he not read? I asked him as much, and was startled by his answer.

"Elijah's mind is as protected as yours sometimes. If I truly focus, I can find bits and pieces, but it is very... odd. As if he knows about my power, and knows a way to protect himself from it." He shook his head, then glanced

down at me. "But thank you... for letting me into your head. It eases the questions that have been following me since the other night," he grimaced.

I smiled slightly at him, feeling a real peace between us for the first time since my days in Forks. Bonding time. Excellent. "You're welcome."

The door swung open just then, and Elijah came trotting out, followed by Emmett and Jasper. Emmett was laughing about something. "-and so the dog says, what's the matter with your mama, and the cat-" His joke was cut in half when Jasper nudged him in the ribs, and his brother fell silent as they all saw us.

"Hey," I said weakly.

"Ready?" Elijah asked hopefully.

I nodded quickly, looking at Edward. "Yes," he said. "We're done here."

"Okay. Cool," I stepped away, nearly crashing into Elijah. "Bye, guys."

Edward's gaze hovered on me for a moment as Jasper and Emmett walked past. Finally he turned, and left, too. Elijah and I stood there for a moment, watching as the three Cullen boys disappeared down the side-walk, and faded into the town. He looked at me, eyes apprehensive.

"What did he want?"

I sighed, not ready to talk about it just yet. "Come on, Elijah," I murmured. "Let's go home."

Hey, who woulda known? We reached the 100+ reviews point! I love you guys, ya know that? Big thanks to Secrets of the Roman Empire for all your reviews and thoughts, I enjoyed reading them(: