AN: HA! That had to have been less than eighteen hours! Damn, I'm great! I still can't believe this is going so fast, I'm hardly struggling at all. Oh, I had someone ask me why Nessie and Claire are the same age, technically Nessie is younger, but she is lying and telling everyone she is 18, since she is physically. And all the werewolves are still physically 25 and Claire will learn later on how old they really are. If anyone has any other questions, feel free to ask! There is a NCIS marathon tomorrow so I may not update till later. Peace and Love and thanks for all the lovely feedback!

Chapter Eight

Family Reunion

Jacob waited on the side of the road for ten minutes for Quil before he came back, his face blank and his clothes dirty. Jacob said nothing and pulled back out onto the road. I knew better than to say anything. Something had seriously irritated him and he looked like he could kill Nessie and I with one swift hit, while Jacob would take two. He didn't show any more emotion though, just went back to being quiet, but was relaxed in his silence.

"We'll drop you off at Emily's, she'll take you to him from there, we need to do something." Jacob said, throwing a glare in Quil's direction. Quil continued to stare out the windshield.

"Okay, how much longer?" I asked anxious.

"About an hour, the Rez is way out there." Jacob said apologetically.

"No problem." I said with a smile.

I pulled out my cell phone and looked for any missed calls or texts to find nothing.

"Has she tried to call?" Nessie asked.

"No, I'd be worried if I wasn't so pissed." I mumbled.

Nessie was going to say something else when we heard a siren kick on behind us. Nessie and I turned to see a cop car riding Jacob's tail pipe.

"Jacob Black!" Nessie chided, reaching over to smack her boyfriend.

"I was only doing five miles over the speed limit, I swear." Jacob said defensively.

Jacob pulled the Bronco back into the emergency lane and the cop did as well. The officer took his sweet time getting out of his cruiser and walking up to the Bronco. Jacob rolled down his window and waited patiently.

"Officer," Jacob said respectively.

The officer looked at Jacob seriously. "We got a report that a girl matching her," he looked over Jacob's shoulder at me, "description was kidnapped." He said sternly.

That damn mother of mine can't leave well enough alone.

"There's been a misunderstanding-" Nessie started sweetly, but I broke her off by taking off my seat belt and maneuvering myself between the front seats to glare at the officer.

"Officer, I am eighteen years old, have decided to take a break from my lying mother and go spend time with my father." I said angrily.

One of the officers brows quirked in confusion and he took a careful step away from the Bronco. "Can you all please step out of the vehicle?" He ordered politely.

Jacob and Quil got out of the Bronco and Nessie and I got out Quil's side. We walked around the Bronco to the officer and Jacob, Quil stood behind me to my side, his fists matched Jacobs in their tension while Nessie was utterly calm. I wonder if she even has a temper.

"Did they threaten you at all?" The officer asked me, his right hand resting casually on his gun.

"No, they haven't." I ground out.

"Can I see some ID?" He asked, and I had a feeling he wasn't really asking.

"For the love of God I just want to see my Dad! I don't want to go anywhere near her, and she has no authority over me anymore, I've been eighteen for three months!" I cried out frustratingly.

"Miss, calm down." The officer warned.

Nessie reached out to touch my shoulder. "Claire," She whispered.

I deflated and tried to keep my angry and exhausted tears at bay. "I just want to get to go home." I murmured tiringly. I felt Quil move closer to me, so close I could feel his freakishly warm body on my back.

The officer let out a tired sigh. "You're not in any danger?" He asked flashing Quil and Jacob suspicious looks.

I rolled my eyes and pointed to Jacob. "He drives better than my mother." I said flatly.

He nodded defeatedly. "You know how to reach us if you need help."

"I won't need it." I spat, turning back to the Bronco to climb into my seat behind the driver's seat.

Quil and Nessie walked around the Bronco and climbed back into their seats while Jacob talked to the officer for a few more seconds before resuming his seat as driver. He waited for the officer to pull back into traffic before he took off down the highway.

"Didn't think she would call the cops." Nessie said slightly surprised.

"I figured she'd call the FBI." I grumbled.

I pulled my phone back out again and started a text message to Natalie. "What're you doing?" Nessie asked curiously.

"Texting Natalie, Mom will try to get to me through her next, I should warn her." I answered sadly. I really wanted to talk to her now, but in a way, I didn't. This whole situation is throwing me for a loop.

"What are you gonna tell her?" She asked softly.

"That I'm not with my mom and I'll explain it later." I answered as I texted the same thing.

"She'll take that answer?" She asked confused.

"For ten to twelve hours, then I have to tell her everything or she'll cross the Bering Strait and kick my ass." I recited with a sigh.

Nessie smiled. "I like her." She said cheerfully.

"I figured you might." I chuckled. I leaned over to Jacob's seat. "You think we can make it to my dad's house without any more detours?" I asked pouting a little, hoping that would get me somewhere.

"I'm not promising anything, but the next time the cops try to stop us I'll give them a run if you want." Jacob said with a sneaky grin.

I nodded. "I like that plan."

We were all deathly quiet for the rest of the drive. Nessie had wanted to say something once or twice but never did. I had my fill of talking and just wanted to see my dad, the man I hadn't seen in thirteen years. It made me sick to think my mother, the woman I thought was a all around wonderful human, left her husband and two other daughters for me. I know Nessie said I would have to be patient to learn the truth, but I don't think anything will excuse what my mother did.

Our transit seemed to be closing when Jacob finally got off the one-oh-one and started travelling down damn near abandoned roads. We passed a handful of houses before Jacob pulled into the long driveway of a little rancher. Jacob and Quil got out and helped me and Nessie out of the Bronco. Jacob grabbed my bags and walked me up to the house while Nessie and Quil waited by the car.

The front door to the house open and what looked like a younger version of my mom stepped through, only she had three scars on her face that hindered her beauty. Following her was a tall, lean man who looked mid twenties, like Jacob, but his eyes looked so much older. I walked closer to them slowly, hoping some long lost memory would resurface as to who they were, but no such luck.

"Hi Claire, I'm your Aunt Emily." The woman said happily.

"Hi," I mumbled, shyness kicking into full gear.

"My goodness, you got so big, and beautiful." She cried.

Jacob set my bags next to me and looked to the man. "Mind if we drop and leave," He asked pointing over his shoulder.

"No its fine, I'll get her to Jeff." Emily insisted, smiling brightly at me.

I looked back to Nessie and Quil, trying not to look sad. "You'll be back right?" I asked Jacob.

"You can't get rid of us that easy." He grinned wolfishly.

I nodded and watched as they all piled back into the Bronco and sped out of the drive way and away from the house. I looked back to Emily and found the man smiling at me as well.

"Come on, you've got a lot of people to re-meet." He said nodding to the silver sedan parked in the drive way. I nodded dumbly as he scooped up the bags and walked to the car, popped the trunk and tossed my bags in. "I'm Sam, by the way." He added when I said nothing.

"Uncle Sam?" I asked with a laugh.

"Just call me Sam." He groaned painfully.

I suppressed another laugh. "Okay," I said with a nod.

He walked back to us and gave Emily a quick hug. "I'll stay with the boys, you take her." He said quietly.

Emily gave Sam a quick peck on the lips and ushered me to the car. She was a very sensible driver and sped up for nothing. We started down another back road, going about twenty miles an hour, with an uncomfortable silence.

"Where did Jacob, Quil and Nessie have to go?" I asked suddenly.

"It's probably best if Quil tells you that." Emily said knowingly.

"Why?" I asked confused. This Quil was becoming more of a mystery man every minute.

"It has a lot to do with him." She explained.

"Oh," I mumbled stupidly.

I kept my mouth shut for the rest of the ride. I didn't think Emily would be mean, or insulting or vicious, I just didn't want to make a fool of myself. It's been happening a lot lately. She pulled into the gravel drive way of the split level home and parked next to a black Jeep Cherokee.

"Here we are," Emily said once she put the car in park and took off her seat belt. "Hasn't changed much since you left." She said with a small smile.

"I don't remember." I mumbled sadly.

"That's okay, you were only five." She reassured me.

"That's what everyone keeps telling me." I muttered sourly. I don't want people to make excuses for me. I just really wish I did remember.

She sighed and patted the back of my hand. "You ready?" She asked nodding to the front door.

"Yeah," I said breathlessly.

I stepped out of the car and helped Emily take my bags out of the trunk and walked as slowly as I could to the front door. Before either of us could ring the door bell or knock, the front door opened to show a much older version of my father. He still had his hazel-green eyes, but his dark blonde hair was showing more grays and his didn't have the glow it did in the picture my mom had, he was still about six-foot-two like Mom said. But there was no denying, he was my dad.

"Claire," He said smiling.

Hearing my dad's voice, something I had never really remembered in the first place, brought tears to my eyes that I couldn't stop. "Hi," I chirped.

"Last time I saw you, you're head barely reached my knees." He laughed, knocking on his knee. I gave him a weak smile. "You look just like your mother." He sighed, shaking his head.

That one sentence did me in. "I'm so sorry," I cried, tears gushing from my eyes and down my cheeks. I was in his arms a second later and I couldn't help but notice that his arms were not like the warm arms I remember. They were still comforting none the less.

"Shh, it's never been your fault, ever." He cooed, rubbing my back.

"Why did she do it?" I choked through my tears.

"A lot of reasons." He mumbled sadly.

I felt Emily take the bags from my hands. "I'll take these up to her room." She whispered as she slipped passed us and into the house.

I pulled away from my dad's chest. "I still have a room?" I asked confused.

"Of course, all my girls do." He said grinning as he ruffled my hair a little.

My face fell a little. "Where is she?" I asked quietly.

"Give her time, this is painful for her." He said sadly.

"I understand," I said with a nod.

He turned me and pulled me into the house. "So, tell me about everything I missed!" He bellowed playfully.

AN: By the by, I'm picturing her dad as an older version of Jensen Ackles. :D Review!