Jeez, sorry it took so long, but here's the next chapter! I had finals all this week, so while on lockdown, I was trying to come up with the next chapter, while sneaking time on my laptop by the way. Anyways, you can stop listening—reading actually—to my rants. Just read and review

Chapter 22

Alice

I sat bolt upright, my mind whirring. What just happened? Her future just… changed! I can see her future now… why? Jasper looked at me, his head resting on the pillow.

"What did you see?" He knew me so well. We hadn't been sleeping, obviously, but I felt weary enough that for the first time in years, I wished I could sleep.

"Max's future," I said thoughtfully. Jasper's eyebrows pulled together in confusion.

"How? She's tied to the pack. How can you see her future?"

"I don't know," I whispered, just as confused as he was. Did something happen to Jacob? Is Max alright?

Jasper took my hands in his, already kneeling in front of me. I knew what he would tell me without looking into the future. We had to tell Edward, Bella, and Fang. Something was wrong, and they could help figure it out.

Jasper and I rushed to the cottage, knowing that Fang was there as well. We rounded the side of the cottage and came to the already open front door. Edward was inside, pulling a sweatshirt on over his tousled hair. Bella was slowly—for us—dragging a pair of slacks over her legs.

"What happened? What did you see?" Bella asked as they came out of the cottage. I heard Renesmee sleeping in the back room and knew she would be fine.

"I'm not sure what happened," I explained.

"What's going on?" Fang asked groggily as he dropped from a tree. Jasper stiffened but I held his arm.

"You can control yourself," I whispered to him. He nodded but held his breath. Turning back to Fang, Edward, and Bella, I explained what I had seen. "Max was flying, which isn't anything new, but she was alone. I don't think she was above Forks or La Push."

"What's so weird about that?" Fang grumbled, not seeing the point.

"I shouldn't be able to see Max's future, at all."

"Why not?" he asked, suddenly interested.

"I can't see whenever the pack is involved. Since Max got hurt, I haven't been able to see her future. A few minutes ago, I saw that. I shouldn't be able to see her future at all."

"Where is she?" Bella asked.

"She's not here," Fang said. I looked at him, startled. How did he know that?

"Where is she then?" Jasper asked, noticing my confusion.

"She's still in La Push I think," he muttered, concentrating on something. He shut his eyes tight and screwed up his lips, trying to hold onto something.

"How do you know?"

"I just do," he replied, looking at me. I nodded, understanding that he knew just as much about this sudden ability to sense her as I did.

We ran to the line and stopped. Fang kept flying, unaware that we weren't following anymore. We all looked at each other, unsure if we were allowed to cross the line. I closed my eyes and then opened them again, smiling.

"Sam is coming to meet us." Edward nodded, hearing the pack leader's mind. When Sam appeared, he stopped just five feet from us.

"He wants to know why we're toeing the line," Edward said, translating for the black wolf.

"We're looking for Max," Bella said. "Sam, do you know where she is?" We all looked to Edward as he frowned, his brows pulled up in surprise.

"He says she's on First Beach. He said Jacob came back to the house, alone, and went straight into his room. He won't let anyone in, he won't talk to anyone. Billy thinks he won't shift because he doesn't want us in his mind." I noticed, as did Bella and Jasper, that Edward slipped into the pack's 'we' when he translated.

"Have you gone to check on her?" Jasper asked, a little upset. Sam shook his head, feeling that it was unnecessary to put it into words. "Why not?"

"We are concerned about our pack brother, not her. We still aren't sure of her," Sam said through Edward.

"Have you come across another vampire?" Jasper asked suddenly. I looked at him, surprised that he would change the topic so quickly.

"We haven't seen him, but Embry caught his trail a little while ago. He and Quil followed it for a few miles, but it went over the line into your territory up in the mountains." Jasper nodded, thinking. "What are you thinking Jas, we can't do that!"

"What?" Bella asked, looking curiously at her brother-in-law.

"I was just thinking," Jasper said slowly. "We should let Fang take care of Max, while we go after this stranger. The sooner we find out what he wants, the sooner we can decide what to do."

"Sam says he won't let anything happen here. Is it alright if we go and tell Max and Fang?" Edward asked, looking at the black wolf. His massive head was still for a moment of deliberation before he nodded once. Sam turned and ran off, back towards his house.

We ran swiftly to where Fang stood beside a washed up log. I didn't understand what he was doing until I saw Max lying across the wood. Bella and I picked up our speed and raced to Max's side. I put my finger over her wrist, feeling for her pulse. It was fast, just like normal. Dropping her arm, I peered at her face.

She looked sallow. Her eyes were closed, but I could plainly see the sparkling water dripping out of them and down her face. Her lips were trembling in a hard line; she was trying to be strong, and failing.

"Max, what's wrong?" Bella asked softly.

"She won't talk," Fang said. "She hasn't spoken to me yet." Just as he finished saying that, Max opened her mouth.

"He—he left," she choked out. Her eyes squeezed shut, trying to hold back the tears.

"What happened honey," Fang asked soothingly, putting a hand on her back. I frowned, unsure if he should be here. Edward glanced at me and shook his head. He didn't think Fang should hear this either.

"Fang, maybe you should go," Edward said softly. Fang looked at him, incredulous.

"Why?" Edward tried to find a way to say, without revealing that Jacob and Max were going through a rough patch because of him.

"He can stay," Max said hoarsely, opening her eyes. "He should know."

"Know what?" Fang asked slowly. He narrowed his dark eyes when no one responded right away.

"Jacob Imprinted on me." I thought Fang's eyes were going to pop out of his head.

"What! So… so he's in love with her?" He sounded pissed off. I was surprised that he knew what an Imprint was. I was unsure about how we should proceed. He didn't seem like the type to take bad news well.

"Yes, he is," Bella said when Max didn't respond.

"He was," Max corrected quietly. We all looked at her, stunned. I noticed with acute annoyance that Fang had a small smirk on his lips. I'm going to wipe that smile off his face with the back of my hand, I thought angrily. Edward heard me and frowned, shaking his head.

"What happened?" Jasper asked softly. He sent a small wave of calmness to Max, but she frowned and shoved it back.

"Stop trying to make me feel better," she snapped, sitting up. Her eyes brimmed with new tears, her eyes red from crying for a long time. "He told me that as long as Fang was here, he wouldn't be. He doesn't want me around anymore. Sound familiar?" She looked accusingly at Fang, her expression furious.

Fang actually looked remorseful as he hung his head. "I thought we were past that. We came back, didn't we?"

"Yeah, after I was locked up in a dungeon," she responded harshly. The four of us looked at each other, careful not to look at the two bird-kids. We could all tell; this was a fight they had a lot.

"Max, why don't you and Fang go back to the house? We're going to go after that vampire that's prowling around," Edward said, abruptly interrupting their argument.

Fang's expression confused me. He looked shocked. His brows pulled together as if he were trying to remember something, something important. I watched him struggle as he fought to recall a face or a name perhaps, but he could not seem to reach it.

"Max, I'll carry you back," Fang said, rising. Max didn't respond, but she didn't object either.

Max

It was stupid of me to notice, but when Fang lifted me, with trouble, into his arms, I thought of something. Jacob doesn't have a hard time holding me. He never felt unstable, or like he was about to drop me. Fang doesn't seem to have a proper grip; I think he's going to drop me.

Luckily, he didn't drop me. But it was a long, awkward walk back to the Cullen's house. Edward had offered to carry me back while Fang flew, but Fang had insisted. I think he just wanted an excuse to touch me.

"Do you—did you love him?" Fang asked when we were almost at the house.

"I don't want to talk about this right now," I whispered. Fang didn't respond, but he grunted and shifted me, trying to get a better hold while walking over rocks.

"You're gonna have to go over the river yourself," Fang said when we reached the water. He barely gave me a chance to get my balance before releasing me. I would have fallen on my butt if I hadn't grabbed his arm. He held me up, but I pulled him down as well. "What're you doing! Max, you almost made me fall."

"You dropped me," I said, standing.

"You could have caught yourself," he muttered, spreading his wings and flying onto the front porch. I stared after him, incredulous. Alive not even a full day and already he's acting like the obnoxious ass I disliked.

Muttering angrily to myself, I jumped over the river, gliding over with my wing tips. Fang was already inside, reclining on the couch. I went into the kitchen, suddenly hungry. The refrigerator was packed with food, but none of it seemed appetizing. I didn't want meat, I wanted cereal. Raising Bran to be specific, I thought glumly. I would have to ask Esme to get some for me. And some bacon.

Sighing, I shut the fridge door without taking anything out. I wasn't hungry anymore. I went back into the living room and joined Rosalie, Emmett, Fang, Esme, and Carlisle. They were watching a show. It had something to do with demons and vampires, and a girl named Buffy? I sat and watched with them until a buff guy named, whadya know, Angel, came in.

My breath was caught in my chest. Seriously? This is really happening to me right now? I glanced at Fang and almost flipped my lid. He was sitting calmly beside Emmett, his arm over the back of the couch, the other hanging limply over the arm of the couch. He was watching the show with earnest, asking Rosalie questions about it, and about what was going on. Did he not hear what that Buffy chick said his name was? Is he not fazed at all?

"Max, are you just gonna stand there, or are you gonna come and watch with us?" Fang asked, completely oblivious to the thoughts racing through my head. The look I gave him would have peeled the paint off any surface. "Whoa, what's gotten into you?"

The others turned to look at me. All brows were raised at the hateful look I was targeting Fang with. I ignored them, focused on the idiotic grin spread across my sort-of-ex-best friends' stupid face. Does he not realize what he's done? What his return has done to me? Apparently, those internal questions should be answered with a loud and obnoxious 'YES.'

"We need to talk," I said, my eyes on Fang and Fang alone. I was going to put the thoughts of vampires and werewolves and everything else out of my mind. We needed to have a little chat, and we needed to do it before I went totally ape-shit on him.

"Oh really?" Fang said snidely. Edward looked at him, surprised that he was sassing me. "And what do we need to talk about Maximum?"

"Don't call me that," I snapped, which was unnecessary and uncalled for. Even he seemed taken aback by my tone.

"Jeez Max," Fang said, standing. He laughed and looked back over his shoulder at Emmett, who was flicking his eyes back and forth between Fang and me. He grinned at Emmett and rolled his eyes like 'who is this chick?' Oh-ho, he is in for a very rough night if he keeps that attitude.

He followed me soundlessly through the Cullen's house. I went up the first flight of stairs, gazed at the many caps hanging on the wall, and continued up. Fang just raised a brow when I stopped at the high school graduation caps, but he didn't say anything. Good boy. When we reached the third floor, I stopped at the end of the hall and turned to face Fang.

"What's this all about Max?" he asked, holding his arms up to indicate the empty hallway. "Why are we up here? What is so secret that you have to keep it from the Cullens?"

"It's not a secret so much as…" I stopped and looked down. Fang softened and put two fingers under my chin, tilting my head up to meet his eyes.

"You can tell me Max," he murmured. "I'm here for you."

His honesty and sincerity made me even angrier as well as guilty. Telling him that I was connected, somewhat, with Jacob would be even harder if he was going to be so calm about this. I would rather he be pissed off so that I could have an excuse to yell at him.

"So what did you want to talk about? Or did you drag me up here just to stare at my sexiness?" Fang asked smugly. I scowled and punched his arm.

"Shut up. I have to tell you something, but I swear to whatever god we have, that if you piss me off, I will be outta here so fast," I threatened quietly. Finally, Fang got the hint to keep his mouth shut.

I began at the beginning, from the very moment that Zane killed him, up until today. He was surprisingly silent throughout my entire tale. When I revealed Jeb's secret, he sank to the ground, sitting against the wall beside me. I had decided not to stand at all. It was too much to hope that I wouldn't be so weak that I could stand by the time I finished.

"So… Jeb was evil this whole time?" he whispered, staring straight ahead. I nodded. "And Jacob killed him… after rescuing you?" Another nod. "And he risked his life to save you… because he's in love with you?" I didn't nod. I just sat there. He knew that since I didn't deny it, it was true. "Do you love him back?"

That was literally the million-dollar question. Did I love Jacob? "I don't know what love is. Based on what I've felt, I would say that love is the feeling you get when you're around someone who means the world to you; someone who can make you smile without even trying; someone who can make all the darkness and depression go away with a single smile."

"You didn't answer my question," he said, softer than before.

"Jacob means a lot to me," I replied quietly. "He was there for me when I couldn't deal with your murder. He made the dark cloud disappear just by smiling at something stupid that I said. He helped me get through each day. He got me to smile."

"So I take that as a yes?" I nodded without looking up. Fang took my face in his hands and looked into my eyes. "It's alright Max. I understand that you needed someone. I wasn't there to help you through the ordeal of our deaths, and he was. He was the one to hold you together."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, tears sliding down my cheeks. Fang gave me a small, sad smile and wiped away the tears with his thumbs.

"Don't be. I know that you expected me to blow up in your face, but I won't, I promise." I had been expecting it actually, and I was a little surprised to hear that he knew it. "I understand the consequences and repercussions of my absence Max."

"But are you okay with them," I pointed out. Fang sighed.

"Of course not." My face fell. "But I have to live with it, don't I?"

"So you're going to be difficult," is what I surmised from his words. Fang shrugged and a lopsided grin spread across his face.

"I'm not just going to roll over and let Jacob come in and take you away from me," he said in all seriousness. I frowned. "Max, did you really think that I would let you walk out of my life?"

"No, of course not. But I was hoping you would be a little more… civil about it," I mumbled. Fang did not show any emotions for the first time since his resurrection.

"Max, really? I'm not giving you up without somewhat of a fight." It was my turn to sigh.

"Fine, but don't expect me to take your side," I said sternly. His expression was somber and sad.

"So you choose him over me?" he asked quietly. I didn't look at him. Did I choose Jacob over Fang?

Finally, I nodded. "I can't just turn him away Fang," I said softly. "He needs me. And I need him." Fang nodded in defeat and rose. He offered his hand and I gave mine, letting him pull me to my feet. He pulled me into his embrace and I resisted at first, until I realized he was just hugging me. He was not making a move, his hands weren't wandering, it was a simple hug.

"I missed you," he murmured into my hair. I clung to him and nodded.

"I missed you too." Pulling back, I looked into his face. "Did you see them? The others?" Fang's eyes zoned out and I knew he was far away, remembering death.

"No," he said at last. "I don't remember anything of being dead. It was just… a giant black hole in my memory. There's nothing to remember, nothing to see."

"Ok," I said dejectedly. I had been so hopeful for a glimmer, a hint that my flock was safe, wherever they were.

"But I do remember a face," Fang mumbled, far away. "It was a little hazy, but I remember seeing this guy sitting over me when I opened my eyes. It was like, he was there, and then before I really got a look at him, he was gone." Fang looked at me. "Do you think I imagined it or something?"

I shook my head. "I doubt that. You wouldn't just randomly imagine a guy standing over you the moment you come back from the dead." Fang shrugged and started down the hall.

"That's true I guess. But how else can you explain it? I mean, why would someone be there?"

"Well you came back somehow," I reasoned. Fang turned, looking strangely thoughtful. "I mean, it's not like you just suddenly came back from the dead. You had to have had some help with that. I bet the guy you saw did it." I refrained from telling him about the strange vampire that stole their bodies, but I'm not sure why.

Fang agreed and we rejoined the Cullen's on the couch. Edward gave me a look that practically screamed 'tell me what happened.' I nodded at him and watched the movie that was on. Not surprisingly, it was the movie that Jacob and I had watched together, the first time he let me in on his creepy fetish.

Surprisingly, the only people who didn't turn to look at me when I laughed at the amounts of blood squirting from the guy's chest were Bella and Edward. Everyone else, Fang included, gave me the 'look'.

"I'm not crazy," I said, pointing my finger at Bella. "I saw you chuckle, don't deny it." She laughed.

"You watched horror with Jake, didn't you," she accused, stifling her laughter. I blushed and nodded. "He got you into it too!"

"Yeah," I said, smiling slightly. I saw Fangs lips turn down a little at the corners. It would have ruined my temporary good mood if another victim had not started gushing blood that flew five feet from her neck. Bella and I started snickering, our hands barely covering our mouths.

"You two are strange," Edward murmured. He may have sounded freaked out, but his arm went around Bella and he smiled his crooked smile. Bella and I just grinned at each other and sat back, watching the terrible movie.

When it was over, I rose and began pacing the room, contemplating how I would convince Jacob. He hadn't seemed that willing to ever see me again this morning and how would I convince him that I chose him?

The Cullens and Fang watched me, staying silent as I tried to figure out a solution to my latest dilemma. After five minutes of nothing, I sighed and plopped back onto the couch. No one said anything until I looked up questioningly.

"We should go now," Jasper murmured, looking down at his pale, scarred hands instead of at me. I raised a brow at him but he didn't see it. Edward did though, and he was the one to answer my unspoken question.

"We're going hunting for this strange vampire," he said quietly, purposely not looking at Fang.

"Ok, I'll come with you," I said, standing. Edward shook his head. "Why not?" I folded my arms and frowned at him.

"Max, I think you should go see Jacob first," Bella said softly. I glared at her. I still hadn't thought of some way to tell him yet! I couldn't just go there, with no plan at all!

Fang got up from where he had been perched on the arm of the couch and left, walking swiftly up the stairs. We all watched him go silently. My large sigh was the only noise before Bella spoke again.

"We can call if you want," she offered. I sighed.

"That still leaves the problem of what I would say," I muttered, putting my head in my hands. The couch shifted a little and when I looked up again, I was alone with Bella and Alice.

"Max, we'll help you through this," Alice said soothingly. "Even if it means I won't be able to see your future ever again." She gave me a smile meant to cheer me. It did, but not enough for me to give her an answering smile. Her smile faltered and she quickly went to get the small silver cell phone that every one of them had.

She handed me the phone and I held it in my hand gently, as if it were a living thing that would bite me if woken. I stared at it, hesitant to open it and press the buttons. Bella gave my shoulder a small nudge, encouraging me to be brave and face this. Sighing, I put it down on the couch.

"I should tell him to his face," I mumbled, knowing that had been their plan all along. Bella and Alice knew that I wouldn't be able to break this to Jacob over the phone. It was too impersonal.

"Want us to come with you?" Bella asked. I nodded and the two of them rose fluidly. I followed suite, though my joints were a little sore and my shoulder still ached from Jacob clawing me.

A small part of me was pleased and excited that we were taking the yellow Turbo that Alice had driven in Italy. It was a very, very small part, but it still gave me the sustenance to get into the car without a fight. Alice drove at around 80 mph, which was slow for them. I knew it was a struggle for her not to go harder on the gas, and that her foot was itching against the pedal, but she knew that I wasn't quite ready to face this. I needed all the extra time that I could get.

We reached the line too quickly. Alice slid to a stop, the foreign yellow sports car parked in the center of the road. I sighed and waited for a few minutes, going over in my head what I could possibly say to Jacob. When I got out of the car, I still had no clue what my plan was. I was just gonna wing it.

I walked the dark road alone, hugging my body as if I were cold. But I wasn't. I was just really nervous. Moreover, I kept seeing shadows in my peripheral vision. It could have been nothing, but it could have been something. I turned my head towards one of the 'shadows' and released a small sigh of relief. Sam was poised, regal and majestic, just at the tree line. His black fur barely shone in the moonlight, but I could see that the wind gently blew the individual strands back from his muzzle.

I kept my eyes from searching the trees for the other wolves. I knew that Sam had only let me see him to let me know that if anything went south, he was here to take care of it. Even, especially, if it saved his Pack brother from more pain.

"I'm here to make it right," I said softly at one point after walking a little farther, knowing Sam, or whoever else, would hear me. I heard a faint rustle and the soft howl of a wolf. It didn't sound too far away, but whichever one of the Pack was doing it was purposely being as silent as possible. I briefly wondered why, but then my mind was elsewhere. I had reached the Black's house.

I stopped and looked across the small front yard to the suddenly imposing front door. I tried to imagine where Jacob would be. Is he on the brown couch against the wall watching TV, or is he at the kitchen table, eating again? Taking a deep breath, I walked slowly across the short grass to the door.

Raising my hand, I began to knock on the door, but I stopped just before my fist kissed the wood. I can't do this, I thought frantically. What if he rejects me? What if he doesn't even believe me? I lowered my hand slowly and turned away from the door. Putting my arms down by my side, I walked off the step and down the lawn, away from the house.