Wasn't going to write the kiss, because reasons and because Fanfiction is naturally cruel… But this happened, who cares anymore. This is a complete mess, just like my life; I hope it's somewhat okay.

They say that being in love is like signing your death sentence. I agree wholeheartedly. It isn't just the emotional junk, although that plays a big part, it's the physical betrayal of your body. The quickening of your heart, the lightening of your head, the buzzing in your ears like swarms of bees and the inevitable weakness of every muscle in your body.

It's a miracle we fight for this sense of helplessness. We wrestle with rationality in favour of this complete betrayal of biology. But we do it because it's worth it. When your body gives in and you're trapped in a whirlwind of chaos, it feels good. Great even.

Humans would die for this specialised brand of drug.

A death sentence, truly.

Being kissed by Klaus is probably one of the most terrifying things I've ever been through. Do I regret it though? Not a chance. Would I fight for it, walk on coals for it? Probably. There's no way I'd ever give up this moment.

His fingers aren't warm, a factor of my temperature as well as his, I'm sure. But they're perfect nonetheless; they were made to cradle my neck. I was made to fit into his arms. Sculpted. Shaped. Melded. Perfectly synchronised for this one moment.

Klaus and I. Us.

It's brief. It happens in the mere blink of an eye, but it's picture-perfect, one of those silly movie kisses that grace the happy ending. I can almost believe I imagined it. And if it weren't for the lingering touch of his fingers on my skin I probably would have written it off as a too-much-turkey induced illusion.

My eyes open. Klaus is still close enough that I focus on the curve of his lashes, the unnatural blue of his eyes. The intensity of his gaze says it all.

He's going to do it again.

I'm pretty sure my heart is going to explode, but I can't hear it as much as I feel it. I wonder if Klaus's heart is beating just as hard. Unfortunately Hayley is squealing too loud for that pleasure.

Klaus's hand falls away and he steps back. Face as neutral as always.

If it weren't for the wall just behind me I might have crumpled in despair.

"You sound like a pig at slaughter, Hailey." The Original comments as he turns to face the hybrid, "Clean up after yourself." Then, without glance or word further, he coolly leaves the kitchen with a vacuum clutched in his grip.

When the hell did he get the vacuum? I look down at my hands, the rubbish bags are twisted between my fingers. My eyes skitter back up, struggling to focus on Hayley as she squirms, wrapping paper strew around her like confetti.

"Did that actually just happen?" She sniggers, clutching at her face. "Klaus giving in to a mistletoe?"

I open my mouth but no sound emerges. My lips are tingling, my skin on fire. Yeah, yeah, that totally just happened. And it would have happened again if Hayley wasn't screeching.

"I love and hate you so much right now,"

Hayley snorts, "Understandable."

The day gets long and, just as everyone starts shuffling in the awkward manner that suggests they want to leave, Klaus gets his first taste of the 'powers' the Cullen's possess.

It's Edward who lets it slip, although I doubt it was as much a slip as it was a test of wits.

He cringes and comments offhandedly that sometimes reading people's minds is as bad as seeing their Tumblr account. Although it takes me a moment to process – because I'm focused on the shocking revelation that this stoic undead knows what Tumblr is when I'd only been introduced to it by Elena a few weeks prior – the fact that Edward had just revealed his ability doesn't go unnoticed.

"You can read minds?" Is Hayley's squawk of disbelief, as if she hasn't had enough fun today.

Bella's simultaneous question is one of intense amusement. "What was he thinking exactly?"

'He' likely is the equally apathetic hybrid at my side, as he's the only other 'he' in the room other than Edward.

"I can," Edward says to Hayley, seeming to ignore his wife's mirth.

"He can," Bella repeats with a pout, her sideward glance full of exasperation at the cold shoulder.

For a moment I wonder at Bella's question as well, but before I can contemplate what exactly happened in Klaus's head that made Edward give that comment, the Original in question is right in Edward's face.

"You can read minds? How is that possible?"

It's stupefying how he doesn't shrug the whole thing off as a joke. I would have if I hadn't been thrust into this life the way I had, if I didn't turn into a furry, four-legged beast on occasion. Yet, then again he too turns into a furry, four-legged creature (though I haven't seen it yet). Considering the overall strangeness of Mystic Falls, perhaps his reaction is perfectly normal.

Granted, I never mentioned the powers the Fork's vampires possessed because of this exact intensity Klaus is displaying now. In the beginning I think I feared he'd find a way to get his hands on Nessy and use her to create some kind of miraculous new hybrid. Now though, now the only thing I fear he'll take from this revelation is that the Originals aren't the only 'special' vampires. Because even though Edward can read minds and Alice can see the future, they still sparkle in sun-light and that's something I'll never be able to take seriously.

Edward, I'll give him credit, doesn't reel back from Klaus as I would have at the passion behind his demand for answers. The vampire shrugs a shoulder and when he starts going on and on about people having thoughts and blah blah blah. I'm more than happy to wonder off to help Alice do some last minute cleaning kitchen.

With most of the plates, platters and utensils stored away safely, Alice makes a clear attempt to bug me for details. The girl pointedly looks at the mistletoe above the pantry door before turning her eyes to me, she pauses (a good minute) for elaboration. Her eyes shining something fierce with a look I'd seen mirrored on Hayley's more times than I care to admit. I've experienced my fair share of mischievous wolf glances and this time is no different in spite of it coming from a vampire.

I cluck my tongue and ignore her, putting the food down and hurrying from the kitchen with my face burning like July.

Upon re-enter the front room my eyes immediately fall on Klaus in all his fascinated glory, eyes alight with interest and lips in that mini pout of thought. My throat clenches around the scattering of thoughts that plague my mind.

Don't even think it, Leah. I chastise myself, shaking my head. But despite my efforts, I feel Klaus's breath on my cheek and his fingers under my chin, on the back of my neck. That mixture of intensity and compassion that make his eyes seem like the summer sky.

I choke on the air in my lungs and earn a raised brow from Hayley, the only one who seemed to notice my re-appearance. When I wave off my actions the hybrid grins and wags her brows, pursing her lips a dramatized version of a kiss.

It's final, I'm killing her.

With the cat out the bag, the afternoon quickly turns into a show of abilities – not much unlike the woodcutting incident of earlier.

Hayley more than Klaus jumps at the opportunity to be the object of the ability fare. She has Edward relay her thoughts and most of the time has him cringing, leaving the rest us wondering what she's thinking that has the vampire so uncomfortable that he refuses to say it aloud.

Although she ends up begging Alice for a snippet of the future the vampiress can do nothing but tell Hayley the visions come when they want to.

Nessy is more than happy to indulge Hayley's obsessive interest in her ability and before long Hayley is glowing and chattering on about things in Forks even I wasn't aware of. Emmet challenges the hybrid to an arm wrestling match much to everyone's amusement ("What are you trying to prove here, bloodsucker?"), and Hailey barely lets him win.

A flighty rampage of vampires and wolves through the woods leaves the wolves on edge; although by the way Paul keeps on trying to flirt with Hayley, clearly they aren't as bothered by the territory breach as they make out to be.

Klaus mutters under his breath a possible complaint at how childish his hybrid is acting, but he makes no attempt to reel her in. And no way does my relation to the vampires stop him from commenting of the, and I quote, the 'hopping around like weird sparling fairies'. Needless to say, he wasn't impressed, but don't let it fool you. I swear I saw him smiling when we were crashing through the forest like…well, wild animals.

Darkness nips at the horizon, Emily sighs about back pain. Sam rubs her shoulders while the pack start to ready themselves for leave. Klaus stands next to me with his arms folded across his chest. His eyes flicker back and forth across the scene before us.

I swallow thickly, would he be willing to see the reservation before we leave to Mystic Falls? Because I have no doubt that soon we'll be on our way and I might not get to bask in the nostalgia that lines the walls of our family home. Seth would prefer it, so would Sue. I don't need the clothes I have here, but there are a few things – a photo of the Uley pack when it was still one, a pendant of my mother's – that I'd prefer to take with me.

"Klaus-"

"Leah-"

I stop mid-address and turn around. I blink, smile. "Oh, hey,"

Seth smiles, "Have a moment?"

I glance at Klaus and when he shows no reaction to my earlier call, I turn back to my brother. "Sure," Seth wanders out onto the lawn; I follow, nudging at frozen dirt. "What's up?"

He keeps walking and before I know it we're trudging in the forest. Close enough to the house to hear laughter, but far enough that they won't hear us talk. He stops at a naked tree, its branches decorated in soggy clumps of half-melting ice, and turns to face me. "It's not much, but…" Seth sticks out his hand.

Reaching forward, Seth loosens his grip over my hand and drops something into my palm. I raise my brow, but Seth just shrugs.

It's a wooden amulet, no bigger than a watch face. Polished until it seemed more metal than wood. The chain is familiar though, old but shined by someone with clear care. My throat clenches and I meet Seth's gaze.

"Dad's chain?"

He clears his throat, "Yeah, he'd want you to have it."

"But after… after, you said-"

"I know," He rubs the back of his neck, a nervous habit he'd gotten from dad. "It's been collecting dust in my room for too long." He steps closer and turns the amulet over in my palm. "Here, Jake helped me carve it. I'm not very good, but it's better than the first one looked at least."

My eyes flicker down to the sphere. The mingling of two wolves to form a third. The skin of my right arm itches. "The pack symbol." My lips tremble as I look back at my brother, his earnest face brimming with worry.

"Is it okay? I mean, you weren't very careful about the way you scraped off that scar the other day and I didn't say anything because I didn't want to you to know I knew because I understand that you had to do it with all that's happened but I was worried that you'd take off the tattoo as well so I thought I'd give you something to remember us by if you did you know?" He pants and I stare at him dumbfounded. "Y-you don't have to-oof, Leah!"

I pull him closer and squeeze his face against my shoulder; he struggles for a moment, protesting in muffled annoyance. "Shut up for a minute and let me hug you,"

He does, with feigned reluctance, and for the longest minute the world seems perfect.

Seth is quick to escape from my side once back in view of the Cullen family home. I understand, but that doesn't mean I can't apply an extra layer of older-sister embarrassment.

"Thanks for the present, Sethie."

He glares over his shoulder, face glowing a shade of red that puts tomatoes to shame.

"Sethie," the lingering members of the pack call in unison.

"Guys," my brother whines and suitably puffs up like an unhappy blowfish.

The nostalgia of when this was a common occurrence makes my throat ache and I smile as Quil wraps a teasing arm around Seth's neck.

Jacob meets my eye with that stupid grin, naturally my eyes roll. But I mouth a 'thank you' and lift my hand to touch the amulet hanging from my neck. If it's even possible, his grin grows wider and before the stupid can catch up with me I hurry toward the house.

The look Klaus gives me when I join them is one I cannot understand; it's not pity or resignation, not interest or annoyance. It's something…deeper.

I swallow and break eye contact, the galloping of my heart coming to the forefront once more.

"Another," Hayley demands and when I look to her, Nessy is in front of her with a hand stretched out in the air.

"Me too," Klaus interrupts and extends his into the middle of the loose triangle.

I stare at the scene for a long moment. Renesme is beaming, obviously proud of all the appreciation her gift is getting. Hayley's face is flushed and puffy, the tremble of her lips suggesting that, despite Nessy's delight, the visions she's sharing aren't all rainbows and butterflies.

"What now?" she asks eagerly.

Hayley frowns, "After the Volturi arrived, surely you didn't stay for the battle."

"There was no battle," I say and three eyes turn to me. I try to shrug off my random addition. "Can I join?"

I edge closer to their triangle.

"Of course," Nessy and Klaus say in unison and the little girl giggles. Klaus's lips twitch and his eyes soften, I don't understand it, but I won't question it either.

I offer my hand into the middle and three other hands meet it.

Instantly the air explodes with the song of thousands of conversations – at least it feels that way. Faces by the dozen line before us, mom holds my hand tighter, I can taste her fear and it becomes my own.

I look up to her, her lips are drawn in a snarl and I realise she's screaming at me.

"Stay with Jacob," she says, her eyes aren't as steady as her voice and my own well up with tears when she leans down to kiss my forehead.

I don't want to say goodbye. The words don't reach my lips before I'm being lifted from the snow and soft fur becomes my seat. The warmth of the wolf beneath me is a comfort, but it doesn't ease the icy fear that blocks my throat as Jacob starts to run. Mom disappears from view and behind her dad and the rest of my family – their faces mixtures of sorrow and fear – as if they'd never been there and moments later tears are freezing on my cheeks. I lean forward and sob silently against the wolf's shoulders.

The Cullen house snaps back into focus and when I blink my eyes clear of russet fur, it's to see Hayley's weeping face. The hybrid clings to Nessy's hand.

"I-I know how that feels," She tells the girl, "I remember when my mom left me." Nessy rubs Hayley's arm reassuringly, that distant look in her eyes telling me she's projecting as much comfort as she can.

"I'm sorry, Hayley."

"No," the woman says firmly. "Thank you, it's good not to forget, it gives me strength." But still she cries.

After a moment Klaus stands and places a hand on Hayley's shoulder. "Perhaps this is enough for now." He look over at me and there's a hardness there I've only seen when Tyler first attempted to threaten Klaus on the night of the fire. "For all of us."

I reach up and rub my face, collecting my own tears with the sleeve of my shirt. Parents, it seems, is a bad topic for everyone.

I content myself with a final pat to Renesme's head, on which a new headband sports a colourful array of butterflies. The faces surrounding us make my stomach equally queasy and content.

The last time I attempted a goodbye it was abrupt and limited to a few scribbled words in a letter. Now though, I realise, there's so much more to it. It's painful, not that it wasn't the first time, but this time I can see the look in my mother's eyes. Her fear of my not returning to them is reflected in Seth's gaze as well despite the extensive reassurances on my part.

Despite my guarantees that I'd not make my myself a stranger, my reputation for estranging myself has outlived my assurances. They're water rather than blood. Sand rather than stone.

I offer Sue a bright smile in an effort to ease the tension, hers or mine I cannot decide. Her answering smile is only a fraction of its previous brightness from her earlier teasing.

"Thank you for your hospitality," Klaus shakes Carlisle's hand.

"It was a pleasure having you." The doctor says smiling. "You are welcome to visit again; I'd love to speak to you further on the process of your hybrid transformation."

"Of course,"

Typical.

Yet between the two I find myself wondering, yet again, why vampires are so unnaturally good looking and… old-fashioned I guess. If I recall correctly, even when murdering Klaus has that hint of old breeding, just like Damon, just like Edward.

The age, I'm certain. It must be a product of too many years.

I shake my head. Well, if I think of them in those terms then it makes sense.

I press a kiss to Sue's cheek and hug Seth so tight he begs me for mercy. Charlie I give an awkward side hug and receive a 'Be good, kiddo'. The vampires in turn offer me wan smiles and parting nods – one of those things I'll never understand but accept nonetheless. Till this day I'm still finding differences between Forks and Mystic Falls bloodsuckers incredulous.

"I'll mail you the pictures," Sue says, "Alice has the address, doesn't' she?"

"She does, thanks, mom."

With the greetings complete, we turn to leave but at the last possible moment Alice calls me aside. Standing to the side her face is devoid of her natural cheer and her voice, when she speaks, holds a quality of uncertainty which is not typical of the vamp. When I lay my gaze on her troubled frown the queasiness from earlier comes spiralling back.

"What is it?" The words are dry on my tongue; I try not to let dread seep into my voice.

She shakes her head and her spiked hair bounces with the movement. "I cannot see your future, you know that." I nod, already disliking the line of conversation. "I had a vision, but there's too much static. Something is wrong though, or is going to go wrong."

I swallow, looking back at Klaus and Hayley who wait patiently. "Do you think-"

Alice cuts me off. "I don't know. I'm sorry. Just be careful. "

She reaches out and touches the back of my hand in a semblance of reassurance before gliding off to where Jasper is watching us with that familiar intense indifference. The vampire wraps his arm around the girl's shoulder and just like that the frown melts off Alice's face. I could almost believe it was never there.

I apologise for how long these are taking me, I'd make excuses but I'm just going to say one word instead: University. Fuck. My. Life.

Okay, so four words, sue me.