Once again, thank you ever so much for the great reviews and support, and that includes my one-shots as well. It makes me quite the happy little vampire-obsessed human and I don't know if I'd have been able to finish this story without, so thank you all! Here is chapter sixty, read, review, and enjoy!

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

**************************Rosalie***********************************

"Emmett! That's enough!" I yelled at him, but my usual happy-go-lucky husband continued to tear into the limp carcass, his anger seething through with every rip and snarl. I could understand, I was pretty pissed myself…

He finally turned my way and followed without speaking; no words were necessary at this point. Carlisle had called us a bit earlier and told us about flying immediately to Volterra, hunting thoroughly was going to be necessary.

Volterra.

I'd visibly cringed at the name, the haunting memories of the past coming explicitly to mind. If it should come to a fight, I knew our coven was strong, but…I couldn't pretend I wasn't scared.

We entered the front door within the next ten minutes, pausing only to briefly nod knowingly towards the rest of our family. Esme, Carlisle, Jasper, and Alice flew by us as we continued the final preparations to leave. It wasn't much, really, a few sets of clothes, money, and even a small tote bag for the dog.

I did a double check of our small luggage, making sure with extra attention that Nessie's clothes were there. She would definitely want to change into a fresh pair of clothes, what with the undoubtedly maiming the recent horrid events had done to the ones she had on, not to mention the stench of pungent dungeon rooms…I stopped, picturing my poor, tattered, niece sitting solemnly on the disgusting stone floor of a dark and dirty dungeon floor…it was heartbreaking.

But she'll be home in no time, I growled, forcing the optimism amidst such dreary circumstances.

"Hey Barbie."

I whirled around, too lost in my concerning thoughts before realizing who it was that spoke to me. I blinked at the mutt's slightly blushed face, averting eyes and similar anguish.

"I just wanted to uh," he turned his head, scratching behind his ear nervously—I refrained from making a snide comment—"t-thank you…" he mumbled.

Thank me? For wha—oh that's right. I'd been so lost in thought over everything that I'd almost forgot. I smirked. Oh yes, Jacob Black was going to owe me big time.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" I asked innocently, feigning deafness. He looked up at me finally, his tortured eyes narrowing slightly.

I knew now was not the time for one of our 'conversations' but I couldn't help torturing him just a little bit…it was at least somewhat of a comfort, on my part anyway.

"I said," this time a bit harder, "thank you, for saving me and stuff."

I smiled at him, my eyebrows raised. "Your welcome, dog. Lucky for you Nessie loves you so much—"

"Don't!" he suddenly interrupted me, his anguish became apparent in his watery eyes, a hard but vulnerable look suggesting a terrible war invading the innermost crevices of his mind and soul…I hesitated.

"Just please, Rosalie—"

Did he just call me by my name?

"—I don't think I can take any more crap, even from you," he continued, "we don't like each other, I think we both agree on that one, but right now Nessie…" his voice broke as he spoke her name, salty streams falling and staining his copper skin.

I took an uneasy step backward…He's crying! In front of me…

He cleared his throat and tried again. "N-Nessie needs us, so let's just, you know, be decent with each other till this is all over, yeah?" Again that puppy dog look, begging me for…a truce.

I suddenly felt like the most horrible being in existence. It was clear as day: Jacob was dying, suffering like no other, with Nessie's absence, with the risky implications on her life. He had almost killed himself pursuing her, not caring what happened to him, or what his death would mean to his father—I wasn't even sure he remembered he had a father. On top of all that, Edward and Bella were already almost there and he was stuck here, disabled and helpless to be of any contribution in the rescuing of his one true love…and here I was, caught up in the frivolities of our 'I hate you' relationship…

And he was crying…Jacob Black was a mess of mucus and tears…

"I—I, yeah, ok," I answered, unsure of what else to say. Our relationship had never been this intimate—if that's what this moment was at all—and despite how much I understood him right now, how matched our goals were, I couldn't bring myself to say anything better, it was just so…awkward.

He looked away, nodding, the same glazed and hurt look in his dark eyes. I took a deep breath and took one step forward. He's just a person, Rose, this shouldn't be that hard, yes a very smelly and disgusting mongrel of a person but still, you can do this…

"Jacob, I mean it, truce," I said somewhat stiffly, giving him a small smile and extending my hand. He looked at me incredulously, almost smiling as he crossed the space between us and clasped his hand in mine. I refrained from pulling away and shrieking…Be nice, be nice, he loves Nessie, Nessie loves him…

"And your welcome," I added, grasping his hand a little tighter in acknowledgment. This isn't too bad…I can be nice…"I know Nessie's fine wherever she is, I—"

"Oh God, Nessie!" he suddenly bellowed, and before I knew what was going on, before I could leap away in disgust, he'd thrown himself into my 'waiting' arms and began bawling the Nile river into my perfect hair.

My eyes widened drastically and I stiffened. Several instincts crossed my mind all at the same time, above all: throw the dog across the room, shower IMMEDIATELY, drown him for good this time, and—

I stopped breathing, fighting every self-preserving urge in my body and mind, closed my eyes and stuck my nose as high into the air as possible and—

"NO FREAKING WAY!"

Jacob tentatively wriggled out of the very loose arms I'd only briefly placed around his bulking form, stepping back gingerly and smiling stupidly at my mixed expression of intended comfort and utter horror.

It was a pained expression no doubt.

"YOU HUGGED HIM BACK!" Emmett was still yelling, an unbelievable high at this very unexpected turn of events.

I scowled in his direction. "Emmett, you keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for you! Jacob was—"

"AND YOU CALLED HIM BY HIS NAME!"

My eyes began to blaze as I took a menacing step towards the stairs. Emmett was unfazed but Jacob's laugh stopped me.

"Don't worry about it," he said, the slight uplifting of his voice somewhat of a breath of fresh air on the entire ordeal, "I won't say a thing, and uh…thanks again."

I turned on him, my momentary 'comfort mode' gone and replaced with irritation. "Yeah, yeah, get over it dog," I snapped, making my way upstairs as Emmett came down, laughing nonstop.

Men are so stupid sometimes…but I couldn't help the small feeling of satisfaction with the fleeting laughter echoing throughout the house, no matter how short. Something told me we were going to need it within the next twenty four hours…

*************************Mystery Guy************************************

I waited calmly as Jane brought the wretched girl into my presence. Her gift, as useful as it had proved to be, was suddenly the least important in my mind. True, I hadn't a concrete idea of the situation, but if Jane had reason to believe she was meddling, then so be it.

She entered solemnly, careful and hesitant but never once avoiding my direct stare into her crimson eyes. "You called, master?"

I didn't bother moving as I answered. "Yes, Jeanine. Jane tells me you are being somewhat…"I paused, searching for the right word, "intruding. Tell me, young lady, do you not know your place in the guard?"

She blinked, unsure of what exactly I was implying. "Yes, master, but seeing as how Jane and Alec are no longer—"

"But even you, Jeanine, can see that, given their heroic actions as of late, capturing a treacherous villain, they will be given the option of reinstatement?"

She hesitated, thinking over her next words, a look of determination crossing her features. "Even so, my lord, it was never mentioned that anything happen to the boy. He is at no fault and—"

"Ah, getting a bit greedy for the lives of that insalubrious race are we now?" I said, standing up and looking down at her menacingly.

Her eyes widened, suspicious of my next words. "We both know they are our natural enemies, do we not, my dear?"

"Yes—"

"And you more than any of us, I daresay?"

"I—"

"And I would really hope," I continued, taking a step closer to her, "that you wouldn't take advantage of the favor we are doing, have been doing you all along."

If it were possible for a vampire to pale, she would be paling. "What are you talking ab—"

"Don't act stupid with me girl," I snarled, finally stepping directly into her line of vision, a mere foot away from her unfavorable colored face, "the only reason your father and sister are still alive is because I haven't given the word to do otherwise."

She gasped, fear consuming whatever remnants of calm she had left.

"And you know how I feel about them," I continued, "so if I were you, I'd listen very intently to what Jane or Alec commands of you. They, unlike yourself, are working for the better of our kind, so unless—"

"Jane said she was the only one—" she suddenly began pleading.

I ignored her. "—you do not care for their safety you will do as you are told, otherwise—"

And she was suddenly on the floor, sobbing tearlessly at my feet. "PLEASE NO! DON'T HURT THEM, I'LL DO ANYTHING, PLEASE MASTER CAIUS, ANYTHING!"

I growled and kicked her away from me. "Get away from me, you disgusting creature!" I hissed. "You're lucky you took so well to the transformation otherwise you'd be dead as well!"

She shuddered on the ground and looked at me, the pleas in her eyes dismissing any insult I was possible of throwing at her and only begging for the lives she'd left behind.

"Go now," I barked, "and remember, anything out of line, anything at all, and you can kiss the rest of your family good-bye."

Ok so I'm really, really, really excited for the next chapter. Now you know who the mystery guy is—as several of you already guessed haha—and perhaps a little bit more of Jeanine's story. Don't worry, though, the next chapter (maybe two?) will be dedicated to her and you will all find—finally—out her tragic and despairing past. What did you think of Rosalie and Jacob's little moment? Hehe, that is one relationship that oh so much fun to write *pauses and blinks as the vague idea of a Rosalie/Jacob oneshot starts to form in mind* so anyway, the next chapter will be up no later than Wednesday. Until then, if you haven't already, please read and review my latest oneshots (you can get to them by clicking on my profile page under 'My Stories') and of course, review this chapter. I want to hear your thoughts people! OOOoooh, I'm a receiving-reviews addict, haha, love you all and thanks!