Good evening, ladies and gents. FF went over quite the little makeover this week. I've been here for years, and I don't think it's ever changed its appearance since I signed up. You can add covers now. I'd love one for TOC, but lack the artistic abilities. I may try to make one, but if anyone out there can do better, be my guest. (: I'd love it to not be Darren Criss holding a giant banana. I think it confuses people.

Enjoy!

I honked the horn as I drove up to the house. That, fist pumps, and loud wooing had been in random sequence since I dropped off Adrian at her building. Third date down, very successful.

I saw Mom and Dad wrapped up in each other on the porch's couch. They smiled at me.

"I see it went well," Mom said.

"It was alright," I said shrugging, but my grin gave away my façade. I felt like my entire body had wires shooting electricity through it.

"You want dinner?" Mom asked.

I shook my head. "I ate already. I have to run patrols though."

"Be careful."

I waved her off and ran to the woods. I ran on two legs a while so all my thoughts could be my own. My excitement was happily translating to energy as I did quick swings off of tree branches and scared any and all wildlife.

I came to a river I couldn't jump so I took off my shorts and t-shirt, now a regular clothing staple much to my mother and aunt's distaste. I secured them with a leather strap around my ankle and shimmered into a wolf. I made the bound over the river, and the voices of the pack came in. Sam, Jared, and Quil were running tonight. I was glad I was running with older members. Brady and Collin were two kids who just joined. They were both thirteen, our youngest ever. It was weird sharing headspace with someone three years younger. It makes you remember what an idiot you were back then. I'm sure I'll think the same thing when I'm nineteen about myself now.

Oh, great, another one, Quil thought tiredly.

Hello to you too, I said, my cheer unwavering.

He's sick and tired of the imprints, Jared said, chuckling internally as he ran through the woods.

Every minute of every day, Quil grumbled.

Well, you've been running long enough, Sam thought, Jake's here. Take off.

Thanks, Sam, Quil said. He promptly left our thoughts space.

So, Jake, I see your date went well, Jared said, snickering.

It did as a matter of fact. I guess the same to you since you're giggling like a girl.

You would be correct.

On both counts?

Stuff it, Cullen.

Speaking of imprints, Jake, Jared and I and some of the elders have been talking about you and Adrian.

Puzzled, I asked, About what?

We just think…it's less simple than it looks.

What are you talking about?

Doesn't she seem a bit random? She's from Seattle when all the other imprints have been of the tribe or in the area. And it's weird, you being who you are.

That meaning?

Come on. You're the Alpha by blood whose family passes and then you're raised by Cold Ones? And then you return like back from the dead? Your life story even sounds like a legend, Jared said.

So I'm a little…peculiar. That doesn't mean something always has to be up.

I'm just saying that with everything going on-

Like what?

The Seattle murders?

A chill ran down my spine. The vampires' proximity to my imprint had been driving me insane when I wasn't talking to her.

Two weeks prior

The coffee table was on the verge of snapping. It may be saved if I could get my hands to stop shaking. A report on the continued murders in Seattle had just ended. One of the people missing was a young guy, who had been walking home from his office only three blocks away from where I had met Adrian. I called her cell phone immediately, struggling to hit the numbers with my thick, trembling fingers.

It rang five times before I got her voicemail. A worried whining came out of my throat as I hit END. My eyes flicked towards the coffee table. It's seven at night. I would get there at ten at best. But the panicked feeling in my chest wouldn't go away until then.

"And you called me a stalker." I jumped at Edward's wry voice. He came down the stairs, smiling with amusement over my torture.

He grimaced, "I'm not finding pleasure in your pain. I get it. But you have to learn that most of the time, there is no real danger."

"And how are you staying away from Bella tonight?"

He grimaced again, "Mostly because she asked me to. As much as she loves me, she also doesn't want to fail her finals. But I'm fine."

"Well, Bella's dad has a gun which will keep her from most human dangers, and she lives in Forks whose vampire population is nonthreatening."

"I'm sorry. I would hate to be in your shoes right now."

"Thanks for the sympathy, but it isn't helping anything."

"So let's go."

"To Seattle?"

"Yes."

"Now?"

"Do you not want to?"

"No, let's go!" I said, enthusiastically.

Edward gave Grandma notice, and I wrote a note so I wouldn't have to knock on my parents' bedroom door. And then he said he wanted to take the Ashton Martin. I had never been inside the Ashton Martin. It was like a dream. I moaned when he turned on the engine, and it smoothly purred. I almost forgot my panic.

"That may be the most beautiful sound I've ever heard."

Edward chuckled, "I should drive this more, but I'd never want anything to damage it. And it isn't good for the cover."

"How does it drive?"

"Flies is the better word."

I groaned again. This car was like a sexual experience. "Any chance I might-"

"No," he said flatly.

"Can't blame a guy for trying."

"Seriously, though, no. Not even if it were the last car on Earth."

"Okay, I get the idea."

He pulled out, and when I wasn't marveling in complete awe over the way the car glided over the pavement, we talked like we hadn't since before Bella came into our lives. He was no longer enemy so he was dovetailing back into the uncle role. We joked and bantered effortlessly. When the night turned pitch black, we pulled up to her building. I hadn't been in her room, but I knew it was on the side of the building. I climbed up the fire escape and found her window.

She was really a sleeping beauty. In the dark, I saw her hair spread out wildly around her face, which was so serene in comparison. I let out a huge sigh, and it felt like a weight had been lifted from my chest. She was safe.

I wanted nothing more than to open the window and sleep with her, in the most innocent way. Just to know that she was safe and with me.

"That might be pushing it," Edward said, once again making me jump. I can't be pulled out of my reveries like that.

"You're right," I said, "But what am I going to do tomorrow night? I can't be a creepy guy who always peers into her windows. That's your schtick."

"I do a lot more than peer," Edward grumbled, "Let's walk around the building. Another vampire and an unfamiliar foulness should be enough to keep any predators away."

"Good idea," I said. I put my hands on her window, and walked around the building. I even went so far as to go into the lobby and do a quick run up the stairs.

"No one will want to come within five miles of your stink," Edward said, laughing when I came out of her building.

I smiled. "Good. They need to learn not to mess with the Cullens."

We're just trying to look out for you. I don't think it's going to remain blissful forever. It feels like something's going to happen, and we don't want you to be blindsided, Sam said.

Well, can you stop? I'm freaked out enough over her being in Seattle, in the lion's den. If something happens, it won't be because I'm not worried, I countered. I pushed into the ground, but I really wanted to punch something. Why did it have to be so unbelievable that my life could stay happy?

Alright, Jake, Sam said, trying to prevent a fight or a freak-out, Why don't you go back to my house? Cool off?

Sure, I said, still huffy. I felt like the Big Bad Wolf as my nostrils flared with each puff out. I ran towards La Push until I felt calm enough to phase back. I quickly dressed and then slumped against a tree. I felt better when I didn't hear their paranoid, grating thoughts. New imprint bliss was one sacredly happy time in the pack. Why did mine have to be plagued by fear?

I took Sam's advice and ran to his house. I inhaled lemon deep in my nostrils. Pie. I eagerly ran in and greeted Emily.

"Hey, Jake. Can you do me a favor?" she asked, while pulling the pastry out of the oven. My eyes widened hungrily.

"Sure thing," I said, never taking my eyes off of the aromatic dessert. I would do any favor for that pie. Lemon was my favorite, and although I had eaten not long ago with Adrian, I felt starved.

"Can you take my niece out of the highchair and put her on the carpet in the living room?" I looked around the kitchen. I hadn't even noticed the messy, dark-skinned toddler covered in some type of red sauce.

I laughed at her and wiped the food off with her bib.

"Thank you," Emily said. She was watching me pick up the baby with a protective look. I hadn't had much experience with babies, but I wasn't going to drop her. I set her down on the rug like I was asked, and she quickly crawled over to where she had a stuffed seahorse lying on the ground. She promptly picked it up and threw it towards me.

I laughed, "Nice to meet you too."

"That's Claire. I'm watching her for my sister."

Claire found a plastic block and threw that at me too while giving off high-pitched giggling.

"Is she related to Leah?" I asked. Emily gave me a scolding look, but I saw humor in her eyes.

"Pie?"

"Yes, please," I said. She gave me a generous piece, and I dove in. All prior annoyance and anger dissolved. I groaned like I did in Edward's car. Cars and pie are really all I need. And Adrian.

"Oh my God, is that pie I smell?" Quil's voice boomed from the back porch.

"Yes," Emily called. He ran in and all but snatched the next piece from her hands.

"Oh, this is great," Quil moaned. He sat at the table and took slow steps to make it last.

"Isn't it?" I agreed.

"Thank you," Emily said. She sliced a piece for herself, "Ooh, I'm good."

We laughed. She set down her plate and went into the living room and came back with a wriggly Claire. She sat the toddler on the counter where she and I were leaning over our food.

"Cake?" she asked.

"No, pie," Emily said, "Want some?"

The toddler nodded quickly and Emily spooned some filling into her mouth. She smiled and slammed the table yelling, "More!"

"I think that's your sugar limit before naptime," Emily said, and the baby pouted.

"Emily, when did you…" Quil began but he never finished the thought. Emily and I and even little Claire looked at him. He was staring at Claire with more reverence than I had ever seen on the most unserious boy's face. The toddler had stopped all wiggling and noise too. Both were extremely still and focused on the other. Emily and I looked back and forth between the two with confusion and worry.

"Quil?" I asked, worried about him. Emily was gently patting her arms and saying her name with panic. I leaped over to Quil and shook him less gently.

He mumbled something in Quileute and slowly stood before running quickly out the back door, his legs almost blurring.

"Slow down, buddy!" I yelled, going after him, trying not to give away the secret which he was completely disregarding.

Quil ran straight past Embry who had been walking up to the back of the house.

"What happened?" Embry said turning around to watch Quil as he ran into the tree. I noticed that Quil was shaking as he sped off.

"I don't know!" I said, "One second he was sitting at the table and then he started staring at this little girl really weird and then he ran out."

"I'll get him!" Embry said, turning around the way he'd come, back into the trees. I went back inside. Claire had come out of her trance, but now she was crying fat tears and sobbing sadly. This was no childlike tantrum. The kid looked truly agonized. Emily was trying to soothe by patting her back and murmuring softly, but it didn't look like it was working. Poor Emily looked terrified over what might be wrong with Claire and the hand that wasn't firmly holding Claire was shaky.

"Emily, do you know what happened?" I asked.

"No," she said. She sounded really upset, "Please take her. I need to talk to Sam."

I nodded, understanding the special sadness that was separation from your imprint. I took the little girl and quietly said any words I thought might help, but she kept crying. Note to self: don't procreate. You suck at it.

Sam picked up pretty quick because Emily was talking into the phone, "Sam! Please come home. Something's wrong with Claire. Quil was staring at her, and she got very still and now she won't stop crying."

I took the hand that was doing nothing to help Claire and pat Emily's back. I wanted a few people here right now. Two of them were my mother and grandmother because they would know how to comfort a baby. The third was Adrian, but that was a constant, always feeling.

I looked at the crying baby. She looked even more upset than Emily and I. It wasn't simple either. She seemed to understand how sad she was. It wasn't over a missing toy or something like that.

Realization hit me, and I looked at the baby again. She opened her eyes and reached a tiny hand to tug on my hair.

"BACK!" she shrieked in my face, and she pointed her other hand towards the back door.

"Oh, baby," I sighed, "I get it."

Emily was still talking with Sam, and it sounded like he would be here soon, "Jake? Do you know what's wrong with Claire?"

"Um, quick question first. Is there an age minimum on imprints?"

Emily dropped the phone on the counter, and its batteries came out. She didn't move to fix it, "Oh my God. How? You just imprinted! This doesn't happen! She's two! You don't think he did, really? He must have! That's why he ran out! Oh my God, what the hell?"

"Emily, does it happen?" I asked, Claire still smacking my chest with her tiny hand for attention.

"Yes," Emily said quietly, "It's happened. It's one reason you don't age. But why Claire? Oh, poor Claire." She moved to take the toddler who was still trying to get us to bring back Quil, I mean her imprint.

"I'm sorry, Claire, you're stuck in the imprint club," she said sympathetically, pulling her niece in tightly. The toddler was oblivious to any reason for pity. She still had one thing in mind. She wriggled in Emily's tight embrace.

"Em?" I said, "I think she's trying to breathe."

Emily loosened her hold, and the toddler repeated, "Back."

Sam came in then. He ran over to where we were standing, and I moved out of the way. He hugged Emily and kissed her gently for a long time. Claire was caught in the middle and she started tugging on Emily's necklace. I walked back over and took the toddler. Sam and Emily only got closer.

"Um, guys. I think we had an issue on the table," I said. They separated a bit sheepishly. Emily tucked herself into Sam's chest and there was obvious improvement over her two minutes ago.

"Okay, Quil definitely imprinted," Sam said, "On Claire."

"I know," Emily said, "Jake figured it out. How is he?"

"Definitely freaking out. Panicking. Kind of repulsed with himself. He doesn't feel that way about her of course, but he feels the draw of the imprint. I think that if he saw her again, he would be more at peace with it, but it's scaring him shitless."

"I think she would be better too," I said, ignoring the waving I was getting from said she for attention, "How does it work when they're so young?"

"We don't have much on it, but he's basically her protector. He needs to see her to avoid insanity, and he needs to know that she's safe. Her needs will always come first. "

"But will it ever be romantic?"

"The imprint always has rejection power, but imprints are made for each other. Why would she pick someone else?"

"Five imprints, Sam. That's half. I don't think we ever had five imprints in a century. This is insane," Emily said.

"Something big must be coming," he murmured with worry.

I thought of our conversation from earlier tonight. He could put his worries to rest. I was right. There's no "special purpose" behind my imprinting. Just nature calling for more wolves.

I looked at Sam. What he just said had reaffirmed my thoughts on the matter. But he was looking at me, and I think it did the same for his own.

I hope you enjoyed. Stay tuned for what's coming ahead. Have a great week! If updates are slow in the coming weeks, I have finals so blame the school system. Good night!