Ok, I'll make this short: please, please, please, please, please with a blood dosage on top review? I realize I only posted the last chapter several hours ago so maybe I'm being a bit hasty…sorry, can't help it, I'm just so eager to update and see what you all think, anyway, here's chapter thirty one, as usual, review, enjoy, and…uh, make sure you shower?

(I know, I know, I'll stop with the 'dirty' thoughts haha…too excited for my own good over being able to update…)

I do not own any of Stephanie Meyer's wondrous work, solely the plot and some new characters in this story.

**************************Oliver****************************************

I'd been hoping that perhaps, just maybe, Edward might take me somewhere within hearing range of my desperate pleas for help for our little 'walk'…but soon we were heading into the forest. After several minutes, I found myself having to jog to keep up with him—he still had his iron grip on my arm—and I wondered vaguely just how fast he could really run; word had it that Edward Cullen was faster than Leah. I didn't have long to dwell on the insignificant detail, however, the next thing I knew I had my back slammed into a nearby tree. Edward held me up by my chest with one hand, despite how big of a kid I was; I knew somehow that it didn't matter how big I was, Edward's strength was unbelievable at the moment.

"Now," snarled Edward, his eyes gleaming like a crazy man—he wasn't actually going to kill me was he?—"let's get right to it. I know what your dirty little paws were doing on my little girls body, if it hadn't been for Bella's initial shield I might've been able to break it up before you got as far you did."

My mind was racing; so he hadn't seen everything…I was almost hopeful, but then Edward let out a terrible laugh.

"Oh, I saw enough, trust me," he spoke to me, his fingers digging into my arms, "and if you EVER do anything remotely near what you did," he raised his voice at me, fire raging in his eyes, "I WILL kill you next time. Renesmee is only twelve, thirteen at the most, and she will NOT be doing that kind of stuff right now!"

I could feel the air being pushed out of my abdomen, my ribs close to being crushed under his grasp; if he didn't let me down soon I was going to pass out.

"Do we have an understanding?" his face was right in mine, and I could smell the vampire in him, his venom; it made me cringe, and despite my already lacking oxygen supply I managed a whimpering, "yes sir."

He dropped me and I fell, crumpling to floor in agony where his hand had held me up, gasping for air.

"Now that that's settled," Edward continued, in a lower voice, "that's not the only thing I needed to discuss with you."

I was still trying to remember how to breathe, the bruise where he'd held me still quite painful; it would take awhile to heal regardless of my faster than usual healing. I looked up at him through blurry eyes, blinking furiously to get rid of the water that had accumulated in my eyes during this whole ordeal.

"There's a reason I'm letting you off this easy," he said. I almost let out an exasperated cough: this was letting me off easy? His eyes narrowed dangerously and I immediately took the thought back. "Jacob is gone, you saw him leave as a matter of fact."

I recalled Jacob's hasty flight into the forest…what did that have to with anything?

"That is not exactly your business, Oliver, but given the circumstances, I'm going to have to ask a favor of you."

Yeah, like I'd be jumping for joy to do him a favor after what he'd just done to me…

His eyes flashed, "Really, you're tempting me to change my mind about you."

Ok, ok, I thought hastily, what do you want?

Edward spoke carefully this time, "Alice is telling Nessie right now that Jacob has gone back home to spend some time with Billy, all you have to do is confirm this. You saw him leave into the forest, so don't make it into something that's going to make her worry. There's something much bigger going on and we don't want Nessie to get herself into any trouble by going out and looking for him."

I processed what he told me…so that meant that Jacob was…

"Yes, he is gone, for now anyway, until we can figure out what to do about the situation," Edward answered me.

Situation?

"Like I said, none of your concern, the less you know," he said, this time frowning more as he spoke, "the less you can let slip to Nessie."

I flushed, though curiosity got the better of me. "Where did he go then?" I asked, finally speaking aloud.

Edward shook his head, "I don't know, none of us do."

"Oh," was all I said, finally sitting up into a kneeling position…I wonder if he's ok?...the thought of something happening to him made me feel guilty, and I looked to Edward for a response.

"Jacob is fine," he answered—I let out a breath of relief, at least I wouldn't have that on my conscience. I thought of something else, and before he could respond, spoke aloud anyway. "Renesmee's not going to settle for this lie for long, it's only Christmas once a year. Tomorrow she's going to ask the same thing."

Edward looked pained, but he still spoke to me in the same stern voice. "Yes, we are aware of that…it's going to be difficult for her when we tell her the truth, which is why we want to her to be happy as long as she can until then."

I nodded in understanding, it made sense…then I couldn't help thinking about the possibilities Renesmee and I had with Jacob temporarily out of the picture…

"Don't even think about it," growled Edward; I immediately stopped. "Unfortunately," he continued, fixing a disgusted look on my wounded figure, "you do make her happy, so if you could just cooperate with us tonight, I would be really grateful. Our family will figure something out for tomorrow."

"Ok," I agreed, "I'll say whatever you want me to say."

"Good, we should get back then, Nessie will see us missing and assume the worst," he said, eyeing me meaningfully; I understood, the threat of killing me was still there. "Do me this favor, and behave with my daughter."

I struggled to get up, my entire midsection aching. "I will."

********************************Nessie*************************

As soon as Alice had finished with my hair, I raced out in search of Oliver.

"Hey, Tom, have you seen your brother?" I asked. Tom was busy eating again.

"Yeah actually, he left with your dad," he said through a mouthful of noodles. I looked at him with a frown; wouldn't Oliver leaving with my dad be something to be suspicious of? Tom took it as something else, of course, noticing my frown, he stopped chewing for a second, picking up a forkful of noodles. "What? Did you want some? There's still more…"

But I had already left, worried still for Oliver's fate yet slightly amused with Tom's lack of focus when food was involved. I went to my mom next.

"Mom," I said, ignoring her 'hi dear, what's the rush?', "where did daddy take Oliver?"

Her smile faltered and she quickly regained composure, but of course I wasn't fooled. "Oh, well," she said, "your father just wanted to talk to Oliver, that's all."

I grabbed her arm. What are you not telling me mom?

She narrowed her eyes at me then, and I suddenly remembered I was just as much at fault as Oliver for the little 'incident'. "Well, sweetie," she said, her voice somewhat tighter, "I understand you like this boy, but your father happened to hear some very interesting things going on during your little make up session."

I released her arm, taking the tiniest step away from her. "Luckily for you both, I shielded most of it, but still," she said, grabbing me and pulling me closer to her so I couldn't make my getaway, "apparently you two got pretty far. I have to say, Nessie, I'm disappointed."

I didn't know what to say, more aware of the fact that though I'd obviously done something really wrong, my mom wasn't exactly getting mad at me…as a matter of fact, she looked a bit worried herself…

"I know, mom," I heard myself say, "and I'm really sorry. We just got a bit carried away, but it won't happen again."

She nodded, letting me go, and suddenly smiled at me. "Well, at least you're honest with me."

I stared at her as she moved away from me and over to Esme's side. That was it? No punishment for little twelve year old me getting my boobies groped? It made no sense…maybe daddy hadn't told her exactly how far we'd gotten…

No time to dwell on it. I made my way to the front door, but just as I grasped the handle it opened, and in walked my dad.

"Hello, Nessie," he smiled at me brightly.

Ok, seriously, what was with all this optimism?

"What? It's Christmas Eve, after all," he said to me, laying a hand on my shoulder as he spoke, "no need to be unhappy right now. Don't worry, young lady, I know exactly what you did, Oliver will be in shortly. Just make sure it doesn't happen again."

And with that, he returned to crowd.

I stared at the back of his retreating form for a moment, barely noticing when Oliver came to stand by my side.

Mom had acted ridiculously lenient towards me and 'the Oliver moment'; it was weird, but justified if she didn't know the exact details…

But daddy?

No way.

Something was going on that I didn't know about. My eyes narrowed in suspicion, frustration building in my already mangled mind of emotions.

Why were they always keeping me in the dark?

Ok, so I lied about waiting till tomorrow, ha! But that just means I'll be able to write another chapter by then. Again, review please, let me know what you think. I'm a bit unsure of this chapter—I feel I could've added more to it—so let me know what you feel. As always, thanks to those of you who have reviewed, it makes my day :)