Hi faithful readers. And Hi Reviewers, special thanks to you as you number so very few.

I finally know where this story is heading. And boy did it surprise me when Bella informed me. ( Yeah I know I don't sound quite sane but, who cares )

So I hope now that I know the "Endgame" I can update quicker.

Duncan had caught himself again and smiled at me knowingly. "You want to mess with them all don't you?"

"Oh Hell, yeah." In the broadest southern accent I could manage.

Freestyle Hand to Hand Championship USA

The next day, I was just stretching and warming myself up in a small gym room outside the main stadium where the tournament would take place, when I felt the presence of another immortal.

I looked around and saw to my surprise. Christine.

I smiled when she spotted me and she returned the smile. We walked towards each other and hugged.

"I'm still Ella McCleod. " I whispered in her ear. She responded with a quiet whisper of her own. "I'm Christa Samson."

And before I could ask any of the usual questions one asks of someone one hasn't seen for a while. She snogged me. That's right I am flexible and batted for both teams. I responded with a quiet laugh and kissed her back.

I lost myself a little in the sensation of just how talented a kisser Christine or Christa was. When I heard rather loud smacks. Followed by exclamations of pain. And a shout of "Dudes, that's my sister. Stop perving."

I ended the kiss with Christa and pulled out of her embrace to see what was going on.

There stood the entire pack with my brother Taylor looking angrily at the somewhat chastened looking other members.

I laughed when I saw the lot of them were still moderately aroused. Christa having followed my line of sight joined in.

That got the attention of the pack and they looked at us, somewhat put out that we were laughing at them.

I caught myself and said. "Christa this is everybody. Everybody this is Christa."

Jacob stepped forward and introduced everybody by name. Not knowing how much information to tell Christa he stuck with just names.

I pulled Taylor toward me and hugged him. "Hey Bro, you do realize you are almost an hour early"

"Wanted to wish my older Sis good luck. And do you great all your old friends like that?" He asked looking at Christa.

"Oh no, just the especially old friends." I winked at him.

Christa huffed. "I'm only 15 years older than you." Then she paused. Christa knew much of my previous life. So she had caught on quickly. "Wait a minute you're her brother? And you're Jacob Black?" she turned toward Jacob. "The Jacob Black?"

"One and the same." Jacob answered with a wide grin.

"Yeah Charlie remarried and had a puppy." I said gesturing toward Taylor.

Christa got the hint. "They're all…?" she trailed off.

"Oh yeah. The whole lot of them!"

She laughed. "Oh boys?" the pack looked at her. "Mind if we go out after the tournament and you can tell me all about the barking mad things you all get up to."

"Sure if you tell us some stories about Bella?" Rob said.

"Ooooh I know some good ones." she exclaimed.

I groaned. "You're going to embarrass me aren't you?"

"Every chance I get." she answered smugly.

"Ah with friends like that…" I sighed overdramatically.

They all laughed.

Then the pack wished us both good luck and said they were going to go and find good seats. Taylor and Jacob stayed and Jake asked me "B- Ella when you said you where in a martial arts tournament you didn't mention it was The USA Championship for hand to hand combat. Not to mention you're gonna be fighting other guys."

I laughed. "Jacob honestly I defeated Victoria, and you're worried about me fighting against normal men? Honestly you should be more worried about them."

"Yeah but you can't use any of your mojo here." Jacob countered.

"Yeah 'cause that would be cheating." Taylor joined in.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll fight fairly, honestly you worry too much. Any and all injuries will heal in a snap and even if I died, I'd come back. "

They seemed to think about that.

"Now shoo. We have to warm up." I shooed them away with the typical shooing hand gesture.

They wished me good luck again and turned to join the rest of the pack in the audience stands.

I continued with stretching and Christa joined me. We chatted a bit. Catching up. When I heard it, an ear splitting squeal. "Ella." Alice. (who else)

Aw hell. I abruptly shielded Christa and mouthed to her. 'They only know Ella. They don't know I am Bella.'

She looked surprised but nodded her head.

I got up and turned towards the direction of the squeal and was promptly engulfed in a tiny stone cold hug. And there they where the Cullens, including Carlisle and Esme.

I looked towards them with a questioning look at Alice. Who was still hugging me and let go.

"Ella, these are our foster parents Esme and Carlisle Cullen. Mom, Dad this is Ellanore McCleod." She said/sung with a beatific smile.

"Mrs Cullen, Mr Cullen it is pleasure to make your acquaintance."

A split second later Emmet swung me around and boomed "Good luck lil'sis." He then put me down.

And the rest of the Cullens including Edward wished me luck as well. I thanked them cordially.

I introduced Christa. "Hey this an old girlfriend of mine Christa. Christa this is the Cullen Family" I pointed at each of them " Rose, Emmet, Alice, Jasper, Edward and their parents Mr and Mrs Cullen."

"When you say girlfriend…?" Emmet, gutter-mind that he was asked immediately.

"Yes we were involved at one point." I admitted. I was curious to see their reaction.

The other Cullen girls including Esme while surprised smiled. But the boys including Carlisles' mouthes dropped. Even Emmet who had insinuated it in the first place.

"Seriously? "Emmet asked" Are you gay?" he had a glint in his eyes and was looking in Edwards direction. No doubt wanting to tease him that I was gay this time around and Edward had no chance or something like that.

"No I'm not gay. Just … flexible. I don't care about the gender of a person. I care for the person themselves. Not their accessories. Besides we were mostly friends with benefits."

Oddly enough Emmet seemed to relax at that. Weird , I thought. I would wonder at his reaction for while, until he explained it to me years later.

"Great Benefits." Christa added with a leer in my direction.

"Yes, Quite."I answered succinctly.

We both felt it at the same time another immortal approaching. We simultaneously turned in the direction of the feeling. I had automatically reached out for it and shielded the mind.

And there in leggings and tank top stood none other than Ceirdwyn.

She walked towards us. "Oh do close your mouths, it is quite unseemly." She smirked.

We did. And she continued. "And I feared this would be boring, but with you two here I am sure to have some sort of competition. See you out there." She smiled, waved, turned around and moved to a corner to begin stretching herself.

Christa and I looked at each other and she exclaimed: "We're doomed."

I nodded my agreement.

"Ah come on she can't be that dangerous." Emmet through in. "I mean she is almost as tiny as Alice."

We looked at each other. And in the most southern of drawls I said quite seriously in a defeated voice. "We don't have a snowballs chance in hell."

Jasper looked amused at my answer. Or perhaps my fake accent.

But then determination swept through me. "But I will fight my fiercest and go down with honor. I am a McCleod and I will not back down."

Christa shrugged. "I am just glad she isn't evil. I'll do my best."

"Believe me a lot of us are. And that is all our teachers can ask of us." I assured her.

"Besides there are only two instances where size actually matters." I said to the Cullens.

"Really?" Edward asked curiously. He was looking at me with sad worried eyes, that where at the moment however alight with curiosity. "And when does size actually matter?"

Christa and I answered together. "Cocks and Cars." Then we giggled.

Emmet laughed at that. Edward and Alice looked somewhat appalled. Jasper and Rosalie where amused. And Carlisle and Esme. Oh they where amused as well. Though I could see they were trying to look sternly disapproving.

I stopped giggling. And smiled apologetically at Carlisle and Esme. " I am sorry Mrs Cullen, Mr Cullen. I am not making a very good first impression. I assure you it was just a joke. And I am a bit anxious at the moment and needed the laugh. So please forgive me. Not that there is anything wrong with the topic. But the location is a wee bit unfitting. And with Kerry here I am just worried and –" there Christa shut me up with another kiss, before I could continue my ramble.

She then turned to the Cullens. "Sorry but when she get nervous she babbles and then there is only one way to shut her up."

Jasper and Emmet exchanged glances that quite plainly said they knew and used that tactic themselves.

"Then I suppose you hope you won't face each other out there?" Edward asked.

"Hell no." Christa said at the same time I asked. "What gave you that Idea? I just hope we don't face each other way in the beginning. That would make a very short tournament for one of us."

"Oh yes. Because when we are out there. " Christa said and I joined in the last half. "All bets are off." We said together. We smiled at each other and then our stares took on a predatory look.

There was a gong-like sound and an announcement that all family and friends please leave backstage and get into the stands so the contestants could warm-up.

Christa and I continued warming up but in silence. We had shifted ourselves into 'battle mode'. We calmed and focused ourselves. I left only minimal protection wrapped around Ceirdwyn and Christa. Just enough so Edward could not read their minds but if Aro touched them now he would still be able to. I was able to keep this level of shielding up quite easily with no effort. For once it was established I could anchor it in the sub-conscious part of my mind.

There was an announcement. "All contestants please come backstage."

We went there and waited. We watched as all contestants flocked towards this hall. About

300 people if I was not mistaken. More men than women I observed. That hadn't changed.

Then the manger spoke to us. "O.K. people we are about to start. Behind me you can see who will fight with whom." As he said this he snapped his fingers at the last and the black backwall faceing toward the gym lit up with hundreds of names at the bottom and a lot of lines leading from there to empty Boxes . Which again had 2 Boxes leading to one box, and so on an so on.

"Now people let me remind you of the few rules, Ladies and Gentlemen. No kicking in the balls, no poking out eyes, no biting " he now seemed to address mostly the females. "No hair-pulling. Also everybody remember no killing! About 9 years ago someone was killed accidentally and now I am obligated to tell you this up front. Other than that everything is game. Now guys a word to the wise. All the ladies here had to come this far so don't go being all gentlemanly each of them is a fighter. And ladies don't think they'll be easy on you and if they are show them to be sorry for it. Now folks remember each of you can forfeit at any time. Otherwise the fighting will end when you're unconscious or otherwise unable to get up. We have ambulances standing by so don't worry. The title of champion along with the prize money of 50.000 $ is waiting for you. So do your best people. That is all. The tournament starts in 10. You all get in and get to the benches when the gong sounds"

I scanned the names. And found mine, Christa's and Ceirdwyn's. If Christa and I won all our fights we would end up fighting each other in the semifinals. And if I were very lucky I wouldn't face Ceirdwyn until the final.

I was looking forward to this tournament more and more. Christa and I smirked at each other. "Ella you better fight well, 'cause I want to fight you. I will be very angry if I can't fight you when you don't cheat."

"Yeah, yeah." I answered rolling my eyes.

They guy went up front to do the regular 'Welcome to the whateverhowmanyeth …' thing for the audience I didn't listen to the rest of the speech.

Then the deep sound of a big Gong sounded. And all of us got up to enter the stadium.

Loud applause greeted all of us as we moved towards the benches.

I searched the crowd for my people. I spotted Duncan and Methos in the seat they had reserved earlier that day. Duncan was clapping and Methos was showing me the thumbs up.

Way up and in the middle I could see the Cullens. And the reason I spotted them at once was that they were holding up a huge girly, glittery and rainbow coloured Banner that said "GOOD LUCK ELLA"

Oh that had to be Alice's doing. I rolled my eyes. "Waaay over the top guys." I muttered as if to myself. But they probably heard.

I looked for the Pack and they also were holding up a banner. But it was painted by themselves and on something that looked like some leftover wallpaper. It's ends were painted in an approximation of the MacLeod hunting or MacLeod of Harris Tartan and below it said "Hold Fast!" in small letters which was the McLeod cry of battle. And in big letters they had written Luceo non uro. The McLeod Motto. I smiled my biggest smile. With tears in my eyes at their thoughtfulness. That they would go through the trouble for me to research this. I mouthed at them Thank you. They got that I was Ella more than the Cullens, even though the Pack knows that I used to be Bella and the Cullens think I'm a re-incarnation. I shook my head lightly to pull myself out of my musings.

Then I closed my eyes. And breathed in deeply...and exhaled. I calmly said to myself. "Hold fast. Luceo non uro."

That lifted any nervousness I had felt previously. I was calm, confident and prepared for battle.