Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
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Prompt: Grief
Dialogue Flex: "Whose turn is it?" he asked.

Marta's fingers dug into my arm as she pulled her over to the house. I looked to see that my father had resumed looking at the car, climbing into the driver's seat with a little encouragement from Edward, and Jacob was looking longingly in our direction.

"What is it?" I asked, letting myself be pulled when Alice let go of my other arm.

"Is there somewhere we can talk in private?" she asked, her eyes darting from one person to the next.

"Sure, let's take our luggage to my room. We can talk while we figure out sleeping arrangements." She seemed to like that idea, still casting furtive glances at the others as she grabbed for a bag with her free hand and dragged me into the house. Once we were in there, however, she went silent, looking everywhere but at me. Taking a hint I led her up the stairs to my room and began to unpack. A quick discussion about the bed being queen-sized bed resulted in the decision that we could both easily sleep on it. I made room for her in the dresser and closet, a task made more difficult thanks to all the clothes Alice had begged me to purchase with the trust fund money. Finally, I'd had enough stalling.

"Marta, I already know," I said to her when she looked out the bedroom window again. "I'm surprised that Jacob knows, to be honest, and frankly wonder how he found out. However, I promise, you are perfectly safe with the Cullens. They refer to themselves as vegetarian vampires."

She started at my casual use of the word, her eyes growing wide with shock. "How long have you known?"

"Months," I replied. "Ever since he started to hang around."

"What about Jacob?" she asked me, her eyes growing even wider.

I was confused. "Jacob's not a vampire…"

"No, he's a werewolf! Where do you find these guys?" she exclaimed, twisting the shirt she was holding so tightly I was afraid it might rip. "He turned into a giant wolf right in front of me. I just about had a heart attack. And then…then he changed back into a person and told me he imprinted on me like some bird or something and that he loved me."

Before I could reply Edward was at my side. "Charlie can hear you two, you need to be quiet," he said, staying back from Marta who was now trying to press herself into the corner of the room. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Marta, I won't hurt you. I've never even been tempted to hurt you."

She pressed more into the corner and shook her head at him, as if refusing to believe what he said. Edward continued. "I know Jacob surprised you, but once he imprints he has to be near you. We have to renew the treaty tonight, and it would be good to have you and Bella with us."

"Wait," I interrupted, "Jacob really is a werewolf?" I didn't miss the hurt look from Marta.

"Yes, he is. Just like his grandfather, although it seems to have skipped a generation," Edward said. Now it was my turn to be shocked. "I can see you're surprised, Bella, and Marta is trying to decide if she's hallucinating, but I need you both to act normal. Charlie will be coming up the stairs in two minutes." He looked over to the corner with a raised eyebrow. Marta nodded, indicating agreement. Edward looked frustrated but resigned, leaving us to finish unpacking. Marta didn't say much more until it was time for bed.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked as we pretended to get ready. In reality we would be going with Edward and Jacob to someplace where they could talk without worry of being overheard.

"Because I was asked not to," I said. "I knew you were safer that way. Knowing actually puts you in danger because humans aren't supposed to know about vampires."

"But you know…"

"Because the Cullens need me." She was still acting strange, so I sat on the side of the bed and patted the space next to me. This was something we were used to as we frequently had talks in her room or mine, lounging on the bed. When we were comfortably situated I explained everything to her, from the scholarship to meeting Edward after being attacked by a vampire in the woods. I even told her the serial killer that had been around campus had been a vampire, which led to a discussion on how the Cullens had removed him so we humans could be safe.

She was much calmer at the end of our discussion, even if a little petulant. "Still can't believe you didn't tell me. Now I've got some mythical creature after me, too."

"Jacob was my friend before I left for school," I told her. "He's a really good guy. Besides, if you marry him you won't have to worry about a green card." That earned me a pillow in the face.

When the snores from my father's room were consistent, Edward appeared in my bedroom window. "Are you ladies ready for this?" he asked, making Marta jump and me laugh at her reaction.

"Welcome to hanging out with vampires," I told her. "They like to suddenly appear and startle you."

"Don't give me trouble, woman," Edward said, flashing through the room and to my side so quickly he was a blur, making Marta drop her jaw in shock. Scooping me out of the bed he carried me just as quickly back to the window. "Down you go!" In a second I was caught by another pair of hard, cold arms. Alice quickly set me on my feet.

"What did you with her?" Marta fussed, and I smiled when I saw her appear at the window, peering out with concern and relaxing when she saw me wave. Turning on Edward she continued, "If you think you're going to throw me out of a window you can think again. I'll use the stairs."

"Um, there's a problem with that. We had to wait longer than expected for Charlie to go to sleep, so we're late meeting the pack. I need you to let one of us carry you," Edward explained, holding out his arms as if asking her to step into them.

"You're going to carry me?" she asked, looking at him as if he'd lost his mind.

"No, I'm carrying Bella. Someone else will carry you."

"Who?" she asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Whose turn is it?" he asked out the window.

"Good grief," Alice said, walking closer to the window. "It's going to be me. We already know this." She turned to Marta. "Would you rather jump and have me catch you or have Edward pick you up and jump?"

"Um, I'll jump," Marta said. She stood up on the windowsill, looking scared for a second. Then, closing her eyes, she launched herself out of the window. Alice had to take a few steps to catch her, but that was just as well since Edward followed quickly after.

In a moment I was wrapped around Edward's back and Marta was in a similar position on Alice's. Jasper took off into the woods with us following, Marta swearing in Spanish the entire way.

Hooray, I actually posted! And now that I have, I'm back to sorting seeds for my garden while watching the snow fall.