Wolves of the Pacific

by greenpeach20

In 1902, Renesmee Cullen grew tired of the tedious life of moving around with her family and decided to make the journey west as a mail order bride. Yet a chance encounter with a reddish brown wolf would change her life forever.

67. Chapter 67

Chapter 67

*Author's Note: For reference, the below language is pulled directly from the Quileute Nations Official website where there's a brief description of the language, their written alphabet and pronunciation. I couldn't find Xs in my insert pad that had dots under it, only above it, so I improvised. Definitely worth checking out.

Following their talk and kiss, Kevin walked Amber quietly back to her room and gave her one last good night kiss before closing the door. For good measure, Kevin located some paper and a pencil and wrote Amber a little love note that he later placed at her bedside when she'd already fallen asleep. When Kevin came downstairs the next morning, he could tell Amber had received his letter by the content look on her face and how she was in a far better mood than she'd been the day before. Of course, their interactions remained cordial as always. Sadly, due to their misstep, Kevin was not able to take Amber dancing with her friends. However, they did make arrangements to spend the day with them again, though sadly Luther and Charles could not be present due to work, and they all went to the art gallery together. They returned home before dinner as per Anna's and Levi's request. Sadly, their only time alone was only during the night when Anna and Levi were in bed and they could secret away to the guest room or to the candle room downstairs during which Amber would work on an order. Kevin helped with the shop several more times during his remaining time in Berlin. He was able to stay an additional Sunday during which he went to the synagogue with them again. That particular afternoon, a woman at the synagogue's son had a birthday and everyone was invited to the park to celebrate. Kevin, Amber and her parents all joined after returning home and dressing more casually for the young man's birthday.

"How well do you know the boy?" Kevin asked Levi when they were walking to the park together with Amber and Anna.

"Admittedly, not very well," Levi said. "He's a shy boy that tends to stay by his mother's side, but Henrietta is a lovely woman. Her husband David is a good friend when I can see him."

"What's the boy's name?"

"Joseph," Levi said. "He turned 5 the other day."

"It's strange to think he's technically near Amber's age," Anna said, a little stunned with the prospect. "Even now it shocks me how much you've grown."

"It shocks me too," Amber said. Kevin chuckled a little. "Do you think he'll like the little blue animal soaps?" she asked.

"I'm sure he'll love them," Anna said. "He'll just have to make sure he's gentle with them."

"His mother will have to keep them on a high shelf, then," Kevin chuckled. "Boys that age aren't gentle with anything."

"I fear Kevin speaks all too truthfully," Levi chuckled as well. "Though, Kevin, I imagine you and your brothers were much more destructive."

"We were the worst, I assure you," Kevin played along with the joke.

When they arrived at the park, they found the group with balloons everywhere and even a clown making animals out of balloons for the much younger children. They all walked up to Henrietta and David and wished Joseph a happy birthday, giving them the present they'd made for him. Kevin and Amber sat on a bench in the park together, a reasonable but comfortable distance from one another, and watched the clown make animals for the children.

"How do you suppose one learns to do that?" Kevin asked.

"Training I would think," Amber said. "I hear clowns are especially popular in Spain."

"Are they? Whys that?"

"I actually don't know," Amber said. "It was only something I'd heard. I can't say I've been to many parties with clowns."

"This is the first I've seen one I admit," Kevin said. "I hear they're popular at circuses but I don't care to go to those. A circus is a cruel place from what I've seen. Freak shows and mockery doesn't much appeal to me."

"I'd be more interested in the acrobats," Amber smiled.

"I would be too were it not for the insistence that a mermaid was found. I read in the paper there was a 'creature' found with a fish tail and a monkey's body. The circus housing the thing claimed it was proof of the existence of mermaids. Turns out, it was just a dead money sewn to a fish. Who knew," Kevin said sarcastically and with a chuckle.

"A sucker's born every minute as they say," Amber smiled. "You don't suppose mermaids exist do you?"

"Seeing as we live in a world where vampires, half breeds and shape shifting wolves exist, I'd be willing to believe it. Although I doubt very seriously that sailors would have seen one. Somehow I imagine creatures like that would be very secretive."

"Seeing as vampires tend to be, I can see why one might think that," Amber said.

"Well, to my understanding, vampires are only secretive because of the Volturi."

"I'm not familiar with that name," Amber said.

"I can't say I'm very familiar with them either," Kevin said. "I only know what mom or her family brought up and it hasn't come up very often. I know they were prepared to attack my mother's family on the grounds of creating an immortal child which, from what I'm told, is a child that became a vampire at an immovable age. So, for example, a two year old was changed and now they will be 2 forever. Not just physically but mentally as well. Apparently, they can't be taught because they're frozen at the age they were changed. Anyway, apparently, one of our cousins mistook my mother as being an immortal child, which she isn't. She's a half breed. Completely different. The Volturi are, from what I can tell, a ruling coven."

"I never imagined vampires would be ruled," Amber said.

"Neither did I, but apparently they do. I hear they have a number of talents and gifts at their disposal like a powerful tracker and so on. I suppose if you've not heard about them, you've not encountered them and if you've not encountered them, you're in good shape."

Amber giggled, "It would appear so. I suppose secretiveness is for the best anyway. Were we not so, I imagine I'd be in one of those circuses you spoke about. Perhaps as the strange blood drinking monster that's immune to sunlight and holy water and crosses."

Kevin chuckled, "Now there would be a scam. You are what you claim, but it makes you the same as anyone else, and you'd be in the papers as the young woman pretending to be half vampire."

"Better they think I'm pretending," Amber smiled. "I assume you and your family are secretive about turning into wolves are you not?"

"We are," Kevin said. "There are some strict limitations to anyone knowing about our gift. That rule's only gotten stricter over the years. Pale faces aren't to know, though Uncle Hailey and my mother and her family are the exception. Though she's my father's imprint, hence the exception. Hailey knows because he was nosey and kept asking questions about the Cullens which resulted in asking questions about us. Our allies know, but they've known of our power for centuries. In some tribes, our power is no more than legend, but sometimes that's all the more you need."

"I assume I'm permitted to know because I'm your imprint?" Amber asked.

"Yes. I made an exception for your mother as well and believe me I still get chewed out for that exception," Kevin chuckled. "Regardless, we need to keep our power as secret as possible so as to avoid trouble. There's a saying my Uncle Jasper told me when I was a kid: Never ask 'you and what army' to someone that can answer or beat you."

"Doesn't your family technically have an army?"

"Well, sure, but it's an army that would only defend against other tribes or a small number of vampires. We aren't equipped to fight the American army is what I'm saying which is why it's so important I obtained a law degree. I'm not proud to admit this, but if there's any group of people that have been and continue to be shafted by the American government, it's Native Americans. If a tribe wasn't raped and pillaged to death, they were forced to sign away their lands. Sadly, our people signed away a lot, but there is a nice amount of land that we kept and it's all in my father's name, which will be a huge advantage to us. My grandpa ensured that my father is a legal entity and, consequently, myself and all my siblings are too. We have birth certificates, have proof of an education, especially in mine and Kyle's cases, and we are considered American Citizens. In some cases, tribes are seen as completely separate countries. In a manner, our tribe is absolutely a separate country. English is growing, but ultimately Quileute is the main language. We use a bartering system and we have what amounts to a royal family. We are our own nation. And since all that land is in my father's name and he has an extremely wealthy group of in-laws and a lawyer son in his arsenal, we're in the lucky position where the government isn't likely to try to fuck with us. Or more appropriately if they try we'll be able to win."

"I suppose so long as you're able to defend your people at least," Amber said.

"My mother did make a written language," Kevin said, continuing with her previous point. "It's taught to all the kids along with English reading and writing. Her goal is to ensure all Quileute children are bilingual and she's come a long way in accomplishing that. Most of my generation is fluent in both but Quileute is the dominant language, especially since a lot of the older generation don't know English."

"Are English and Quileute very different? I mean besides how they sound?"

"They're two completely different entities," Kevin smiled. "And the written language we've developed is..long handed if you will. The way it's written now, my grandpa Edward has deemed comparable to Polish." Kevin chuckled a little. "The sound, though, is much different. Quileute also doesn't use Ns or Ms at all."

"Might I hear a little?" Amber asked curiously.

"Well, let's see. For example, Good Morning would be 'Haćh chiɂí'" (Hah-ch chee-EH) "And it's spelled like this in the written language." Kevin showed her what had become the standardized spelling. "Something like, 'How are you today?' is 'Ayásocha ẋaẋíḳtiya" (uh-YAH-so-CHUH hah-HECK-tee-yah) "and this is how it's spelled." Kevin showed Amber the standardized spelling.

"It looks so other worldly like an ancient language," Amber said.

"It is an ancient language," Kevin smiled. "It's not very hard to pronounce at all, but when you see it on paper, it can look very intimidating. You should see the histories mom's been working on with dad, grandpa and my late Uncle. I imagine for you, it's comparable to how I feel when I look at the Torah."

"Like you're looking at a language you don't understand?" Amber giggled.

"Exactly," Kevin said, then continued. "The pack is required to know Quileute. That made it really hard for Travis when he joined the pack. He belongs to the Hou tribe. He's my cousin to clarify. He grew up learning a little Quileute, but Hou's his Native language. So he had to learn Quileute and English, both verbal and reading and writing, all at once. His English is still rather poor if I'm being honest but he's getting better."

"Why is Quileute required for the pack?"

"It's the language my father and Embry Sr. think in," Kevin shrugged. "They both speak English fluently, but if either of them are stressed, Quileute is usually the first thing they think in and we need to be able to act immediately and know exactly what they're saying. A strange thing my generation often does is try to mix English and Quileute. There are just things that don't mix or translate, so we just use English words. It always sounds extremely bizarre."

"I can imagine," Amber smiled and giggled. "I remember when you and daddy had gone drinking and when you returned, you were slurring French and German together. The two simply don't mix."

"I'm very aware," Kevin chuckled. "I'm curious. Do you still think in French?"

"I suppose I do sometimes," Amber shrugged. "I only speak French during school or when I'm writing to you, otherwise I'm speaking German. Honestly, if you didn't write to me, my French would be inexcusably poor."

"Would you prefer I write to you in German from now on?" Kevin asked.

"No," Amber shook her head. "Your spelling in German is atrocious."

"'Atrocious' you say? That hurts, Amber."

"I'm sorry to be so blunt with you," Amber smiled. "But you spell like a 3 year old that's picked up a pencil for the first time. Your French is superb, though."

"It better be. I've been learning it since I could walk," Kevin sighed. "Alphonse only tells me I need to practice. He never said my spelling was that bad."

"The problem you have is you tend to spell based on sound. Sometimes that works, but a lot of the time it doesn't. You'll use an A for example when you should use an Ä for example. Same thing with your Os and Us. When dotes are necessary and you leave them out, it's confusing. I suppose most would be able to figure out what you mean, but it's still a misspelling."

"Perhaps I need a better teacher," Kevin suggested.

"Unfortunately, you're never here long enough for me to correct your spelling."

"It's that bad?"

"I told you: you spell like a three year old that's picked up his first pencil. Unless you're writing in French. Then it's perfect. I'm rather jealous of it in fact."

"So long as it's not necessary for me to point out your French misspellings," Kevin teased and Amber swatted him.

"Now you're certainly not getting any lessons from me," Amber joked.

"Don't be so cruel Amber," Kevin smiled back. Amber smiled back and turned her attention to the birthday boy. He was engrossed in the balloon animals the clown was making and laughing as the clown spoke very fast. The clown then created a little star out of the balloons and handed it to the little girl who had requested it. Then, Amber appeared very thoughtful. "What's on your mind?" Kevin asked.

"You said you saw a priest Monday?"

"Yes," Kevin said. "I'd gone to confession. It's a Catholic tradition where you speak to a priest and you atone for your sins. Though in my case I was more concerned with getting some much needed advice. Not that I've followed through with it thus far. What brought that up?"

"If I told you I wanted to raise our children Jewish, what would you say?"

"I'd say I just assumed that's what we were doing," Kevin said. Amber looked at him with a sweet smile.

"Do you mean that?"

"Of course," Kevin said. "I'm Catholic in name only if I'm being blunt. The fact that prior to Monday I'd not been to confession for 7 years and, prior to that, I'd not been in a church since my twin siblings' baptism, is testament to that. I'm far more in alignment with the tribe's spiritual beliefs of being one with the spirits of earth."

"Do you suppose your family will object?"

"They won't," Kevin said. "All things considered, our family's in no position to be judgmental. We're a diverse bunch as it is. The more diversity the better as far as I'm concerned."

"I'm relieved to hear it," Amber smiled, wishing desperately in that moment to hug him but refraining.

"My Uncle Carlisle has a theory about our imprinting," Kevin said. "Granted it's just a theory. We've been trying to understand imprinting since Taha Aki did it for the first time so many centuries ago. It used to be so rare. Now it seems to be happening a lot. My father imprinted, Quil, a former pack member, imprinted, Embry Sr. imprinted, I imprinted, and my grandfather imprinted. It's a record high in our tribe."

"That's a happy occurrence," Amber smiled. "What's the theory?"

"Uncle Carlisle thinks, among other things, the goal of imprinting is to strengthen further generations. My father, Embry Sr. and myself in particular imprinted on women that were not only foreign from our lands but also had immortality and, in yours and my mother's case, strength the average human doesn't have."

"Caevia's Embry's wife right?" Kevin nodded at Amber's question. "What is she that she has immortality but doesn't have greater strength?"

"She's human," Kevin said. "Growing up, Aunt Caevia never wanted to talk about her past and Uncle Embry always ensured we never pried. Of course, when we all changed, that went out the window. Aunt Caevia, according to Embry Sr.'s account, insists that her immortality is due to a curse put upon her tribe. She's from a tribe called the Tistihlal, or the Thunderbirds. According to her people's stories, twin brothers feuded for power over the tribe. One brother was good, the other was evil. The good brother attempted to murder the evil brother by taking him into the desert and cutting his throat. But the evil brother removed his soul from his body before his brother could kill him and he was unable to rejoin his body after it was dead. The good brother returned to the tribe and told the people his brother was dead and he was chief. In a fit of rage, the evil brother took over the body of a falcon and changed into a human form. The evil brother returned and fought with his twin. According to the stories, the brothers wrestled and fought viciously until the evil brother obtained a knife and stabbed the good brother in the heart. It's said, in that moment, the good brother cursed his evil brother, telling him that from the moment his blood touches the ground, the evil brother, all his children, his children's children and all the generations that followed would be cursed with everlasting life yet would suffer all the pains of mortal man. It's said the good brother claimed it would create anarchy and hatred among the evil brother and his children."

"So they live forever but are cursed with the pains of mortal man? I'm not sure I understand what that means."

"According to Aunt Caevia, it means they suffer longer. For example, if I break my arm or anyone else in my pack for that matter breaks their arm, it'll heal in a matter of days tops. A Thunderbird of Caevia's tribe, on the other hand, would suffer the same pain for the same time as a normal person. She also says that, unlike the pack which is rather impermeable to illness for the most part, the Thunderbirds are prone to a number of illnesses. They still suffer illness and can still die, but their deaths are very slow and painful. I think a good example might be that, in theory, a Thunderbird is immortal and will remain youthful, but if he suffers cancer of the lungs, he will die a slow and painful death just as anyone else that has the disease. As far as the anarchy is concerned, Caevia claims to recall several stories since the start of the twins' story where the throne was obtained through power struggle and anarchy. In fact, she claims that's how each succession occurred. No chief ever stepped down according to her. The eldest son came to the decision that he wanted his turn and murdered his father. According to her, the man that was chief when she was among the Tistihlal, I think she said his name was Barka, murdered his father, his mother, all his father's wives, and most of his siblings save for a few sisters. She says it was remembered among the people as the 'Night of Red Feathers' or something like that."

"I would say the 'good brother' got exactly what he wanted, then," Amber said. "So she's of that family?"

"Actually, no. She was of the slave class when she was there and was sold. However, her mother was raped by a Thunderbird and became pregnant with her. Seeing as her mother was married, she blamed the pregnancy on him and she was able to scrounge by. According to Caevia, known bastards of Thunderbirds were thrown off the pedestal to die."

"That's so horrible," Amber said.

"It is. We've never seen them directly of course, but Embry Sr. remembers all her scars and sometimes can't help but think about them, especially if Aunt Caevia comes up. She's been beaten and branded and brutalized in more ways than one might think possible. Things didn't get better until she came to be with my mother and family. When she met Uncle Embry, things got better again. Anyway, back to the point I'd been talking about; Carlisle thinks that, while Caevia sees her immortality as a curse, she does have the hereditary advantage of the Thunderbirds. Embry even turned into a bird when we were kids."

"Did he really?" Amber asked. Kevin nodded and replayed the memory in her mind. He showed her little bits and pieces of all the times he'd tried and not succeeded and then finally the crowning moment when he dived off the side of the cliff and turned into a giant falcon. He played the memory he had of when Embry flew back and perched on the cliff, towering over him with a light brown belly, black spots and a black back of plumage and feathers. He showed the image of a bird with a human's piercing stare and the sound of Embry's call. "That's incredible," Amber said.

"It's a gift no one in our tribe has ever had before. He is able to be a bird or a wolf, which you can imagine is extremely advantageous. He also heals like we do rather than the Thunderbirds. So if he breaks his arm, it'll heal the same as if I did. And then there's myself and my brothers and sister. We can all become wolves or vampires. Another gift that has proven to be highly advantageous."

"Do you suppose I'd offer much in the way of a new advantage?" Amber asked.

"Carlisle's theory is the widened gene pool is advantage enough. Our legends claim we've always been a small but powerful tribe. Of course, when the plagues came our way, that reduced our numbers. Our tribe has about 250-ish people right now and we've had wavering allied bonds with the Hou and the Makka. Right now we're allied with both which gives us greater variety. Our best advantage, though, has been going out into the world."

"Did Nathan not imprint on Tomoeh or Natalie to Jae?"

"No," Kevin. "The ability to imprint doesn't mean we can't love someone that isn't our imprint. Truthfully, when Jae and Natalie didn't imprint, we were all shocked. We were sure they would since they were so close. Jae loved her from the very start. But even if they've not imprinted on one another, it didn't matter to them. They love each other and want to be together. In truth, I'm sure if we'd never met, I'd have found someone eventually. I'd not have loved her the way I love you, but I'd have loved her. But seeing as I've imprinted on you, I'll never look at another woman as long as I live."

"What happens if Natalie or Jae or Nathan imprint?"

"We aren't sure," Kevin said. "I can only imagine, changes would be made but it wouldn't be without heart ache. If Natalie imprinted, it would break Jae's heart and vice versa. They aren't worrying about it, though. They just want to be with one another."

"As long as they're happy," Amber smiled. "I was about to ask if they're married, but they're only 16 right?"

"17 this December in Natalie's and Nathan's case. I'm going to admit to being a terrible person, but I can't for the life of me remember what the triplets' birthday is. Actually, I think it's December." Kevin thought long and hard a moment. "Yes, it is December. The twins and triplets were born within days of each other."

"It sounds like such a challenge to keep track of so many children," Amber giggled.

"You don't know the half of it," Kevin chuckled. "Caevia's produced more little terrors than should be permissible. I say that with love of course, but those children are little devils. Aidie and Embry Jr. have spent most of their lives helping raise all those kids. They're almost as much parents to some of those kids as Embry Sr. and Caevia."

"How many children does Caevia have again?"

"12. Embry Jr., Aidetzi, Jae, Rae, Sharisa, Peta, Gaeli, Bayaq, Taraq, Aiya, Zephyr and Grae."

"Good God, I didn't think it was possible for one woman to have so many babies," Amber went wide eyed.

"It was supposed to only be 11, but Grae was a happy accident," Kevin chuckled.

"Too many children," Amber shuddered. "I don't know how she stayed sane."

"Who said she has?" Kevin joked and Amber hit Kevin's arm, eliciting a laugh.

"That's a terrible thing to say about her," Amber scolded with a smile.

"I'm joking," Kevin said. "Embry Sr. and Jr. and Aidetzi did a lot to make things easier."

"Did she want that many children?"

"She did," Kevin said. "She lost a lot of children when she was among her tribe. Out of respect for her, I won't go into too much detail, but she miscarried three times if I recall due to assault by the father and two of her children were taken for being bastards of Thunderbirds. So she lost five children. I think she said the two she'd been able to birth were girls."

"That's so sad," Amber said.

"It is, but that's behind her now. She has a husband that loves her and all the children she could possibly stand. She's happy now."

Amber giggled, "She certainly does. So how old are all her children?"

"Well," Kevin started thinking. "Embry's a few months older than me, so he just turned 22. I won't be 22 until October. Aidetzi is 21 now. The triplets are going to be 17 in December. Peta is 12 this year. Gaeli's 10. The twins Taraq and Bayaq are 8, Aiya is 6, Zephyr is 4 and Grae is 3." Kevin smiled proudly. "I can't believe I remembered all that."

"I know you were joking about Embry co-parenting his siblings, but some of them are young enough to be his own kids," Amber giggled.

"No, believe me, we know," Kevin said. "You want to know something funny? When we got back from Europe, the first time Embry was woken up by a baby crying, it was the happiest he'd been since we left. He said it was 'the most calming and reassuring sound he'd ever hear' because it meant he was home."

"That's adorable," Amber said. "When does Embry plan to have kids?"

"Who knows," Kevin shrugged. "He hasn't imprinted and he hasn't met a woman he wants to marry. He's had a few flings I'll admit to you, but no one he wanted to marry or even really introduce to us. I don't think mom even knows about any of these women save for in passing."

"Well, that's not good," Amber scolded.

"I'm sure he'll settle down eventually. He just needs to find someone he wants to marry."

"What about Kyle? Or Travis?"

"Kyle hasn't found a woman he wants to marry or his imprint and Travis…well…Travis is…he doesn't intend to marry."

"Why not? Is he planning to become a priest?"

"Good God, no," Kevin chuckled a little. He stopped laughing though when Amber looked confused. Then he cleared his throat. "It has to do with his preferences."

"I don't understand," Amber said.

"That's probably for the best," Kevin said. "It's not my business to tell you such things."

"Okay," Amber relented. "I won't pester you. Do members of the pack ever refuse to be with anyone unless that woman is their imprint?"

"It's happened before," Kevin said. "That's not really Kyle's intent. It's not as though he's never dated, he just hasn't been with anyone he wanted to be with for the long run."

"I suppose it's best for him to focus on his studies," Amber said. "Perhaps after he's finished his studies, he should tour the world in search of his imprint."

Kevin chuckled, "Maybe."

"I'm curious," Amber said, thinking about her comment now. "When you ran off to join the army, was there any motivation in finding your imprint?"

"Last thing on my mind," Kevin smiled and answered honestly. "When I joined, I was 13 and hadn't changed yet, so I couldn't imprint. And during the war, I was most concerned with staying alive and keeping Embry and Seth alive. Embry and I forced ourselves to change when I got a letter from my dad warning us about accidentally shifting when at the front. Even then, I was more concerned about getting us all home alive and making joining the army work to my advantage later in life. When I heard you crying, I felt a tug, but I didn't realize what it was. Honestly, I assumed it was because I heard a baby crying and my first instinct was to check if the baby was okay and get the baby to safety."

"Are you happy you imprinted on me, though?"

"Yes," Kevin answered bluntly with a smile. "You changed my life forever and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Amber blushed and, in an effort to be discreet, returned her attention to the playing children. She even began to fantasize just a little. She wondered what their children would be like. She wondered if any of his family's exotic features would show or if their children would be blonde and pale skinned like her since Kevin, although still rather tan, was paler than she remembered Embry being or even his younger brother and sister from his memories. She admitted that she was thinking about it to Kevin and he chuckled. He told her that, God willing, no more than 10 years from now, they'd be watching their children playing in the ocean water of the coast of his tribe collecting seashells and rocks with their Grandpa Jacob teaching them to fish.

They had their personal fantasy until they were interrupted by a few people at the party saying it was time for lunch. After everyone ate, Joseph blew out the candles of his personal cake while the other guests got less expensive pastries for dessert, enjoying their treats while Joseph opened his presents. Returning to their fantasy in the privacy of their minds, Kevin imagined their children or what their children might be like into Amber's mind, showing a scene of their children enjoying their birthdays on the beaches with her parents running around with them and his parents laughing and smiling along. The imagined scene made Amber look up at Kevin with bright, loving eyes and he smiled back at her. To their luck, no one noticed them. Her parents were sitting beside her and staring at Joseph and all the other guests were doing the same. Kevin whispered 'I love you' in Quileute to Amber so only they would share the moment. Amber knew what he meant and she repeated the words to him and they shared a private smile before, to their shared chagrin, giving their attention back to the birthday boy as he opened his presents with a bright and eager smile.

Amber and Kevin were very careful the remainder of his time in Germany. He spent a few more days following the birthday until he had to take the train to Le Havre. The night before Kevin was set to leave, Kevin packed his things with the door wide open while Amber sat on the edge of his bed beside the suitcase. With the door open and Amber's parents right downstairs able to hear them, they kept their conversation friendly. When Anna and Levi walked upstairs for the night, their said goodnight to Kevin and Amber feigned being tired and wanting to go to bed as well. As they entered their room, Amber made the quick walk to her own, but as soon as their door was closed, Amber walked backwards towards the guest room and closed the door so they were finally alone. They smiled at one another while Kevin finished up the last of his packing.

"When will you come again?" Amber asked.

"I'll make sure I can come next year," Kevin said. "I might have to gamble to make it happen, but I'll come back next year."

"You gambled to get here?" Amber asked, a little surprised.

"I'd been saving up, but when I'd found out about you guys moving her to Berlin, I gambled at the race tracks to make sure I could come to see you. It won me the money for two trips."

"You keep this up, you may resort to gambling for everything," Amber teased.

"Not everything," Kevin smiled. "Just you."

"What happens if one day you lose?" Amber asked.

"Then I'll swim here," Kevin joked. Amber smiled and finally walked over to Kevin to hug him. He embraced her, holding her close. "Don't worry, Amber. I'll be here again next year."

"I know," Amber smiled. They rocked back and forth together with Amber's head against Kevin's chest and Kevin resting his chin on Amber's head. "You'll write to me as soon as you get home?"

Kevin nodded and kissed the top of Amber's head. "I will."

Wanting the chance to give her one last kiss, Kevin feathered his lips down her head to right beside her eye, down to her cheek and ear along her jaw until he reached her lips. They kissed for several minutes, continuing to rock in a comforting way. When her tongue would touch his, he'd always tighten his hold just a little and when Kevin did that, Amber would feel a thrill within her. The inevitably had to stop their kisses but it was with a great deal of regret. When they did, Kevin walked Amber to her room hand in hand and they shared one more goodnight kiss before Amber retreated to her room and Kevin went to the guest room for the night.

The following morning, Kevin had breakfast with the family. They had a last nice chat before Levi had to leave for work. Kevin said goodbye to Levi and enjoyed the remainder of the morning with Anna and Amber before they walked him to the train station as they had before. He made sure to get an earlier train so it wouldn't disrupt the store's hours too much. Once they'd arrived at the train station, he presented his ticket and Amber and Anna helped him get all his things on the train.

"It was a pleasure seeing you, Kevin," Anna smiled when they were outside the train again.

"It was a pleasure," Kevin agreed. "As always, thank you for having me."

"It's no trouble at all," Anna answered. "You know you're always welcome to visit."

"I appreciate that Anna," Kevin smiled. "I promised Amber I'd come visit again summer next year if that will be permitted."

"We look forward to seeing you," Anna smiled. "Amber and I need to get back to the shop, but I hope you have a good trip."

"Mother, can't we see him off?" Amber asked

"I wish we could, but we have an appointment at noon and we really need to be back before that," Anna said.

"It's alright, Amber," Kevin said kindly. "I'll write you when I'm home alright?"

"Okay," Amber said, finally relenting. Kevin embraced them both in a hug and, with Amber's mother not able to see, Kevin silently pressed his lips to Amber's ear to kiss and pushed loving words into her mind. Amber smiled at those words and hugged Kevin tighter, secreting a kiss from his neck just as silently. They all released shortly after and Kevin said his final goodbyes to Amber and Anna before walking into the train.

Kevin looked out the window and watched as they walked away. Amber looked over her shoulder the whole time they walked away and wasn't looking forward until the train was no long in view. It was another couple of minutes before the train departed for the long trip to Le Havre. He smiled to himself when he thought about Amber eventually finding the little letter he'd left her under her blankets before they all left.

Amber and Anna returned to the shop just in time to make their appointment with a client and discuss plans with that client on a color scheme for their party and how many soaps were needed. The remainder of the day was rather slow, so Amber stayed in the house and worked on that soap order for that client. She'd seen models of Amber's soap orchids, had fallen in love, and insisted she needed orchids for her event. Thankfully, Amber could do her soap orchids in her sleep, so she got through half the woman's order by the time Anna finished making dinner. After sitting down with her parents, Amber returned her attention to the orchids, painting the ones she'd finished carving until Anna insisted Amber needed to go to bed for the night. Reluctantly, Amber finished the orchid she was working on and finally made her way to bed after cleaning the brushes. In truth, she preferred to be kept occupied. She already missed Kevin and working was keeping her mind off things. She was also still upset she'd not been able to see him off like she'd wanted to. When she got upstairs, she said goodnight to her parents and stepped into her room, dressing for bed. She went to her bed and tossed back the covers but was then surprised by the little letter under her covers. She grabbed the letter and sat on her bed, back against her headboard and the moon her only source of light. She opened the envelop and pulled out the letter and instantly sighed. She swore she could hear his voice as she read.

Dearest Amber,

I wanted to write to you one more time before I had to leave. I miss you already upon writing this letter even though you lay in bed just down the hall. I must admit it makes me miss you more. It's a strange position to have you close yet so far. Perhaps that's an uncreative thing to write. Though I can attest to the truth of the statement. If I may request you recall the first night we kissed passionately. We spoke so briefly about it the following morning. In fact, we barely spoke of it at all. Even my previous note to you only spoke of your beauty. I fear you must grow tired of my expression of it.

While your beauty and sweetness have a great effect on me, it has been the feel of your lips that stir me to base hunger. Every warm touch is enough to bring me from a man of reason to a beast of desire and passion. That is what you did to me that night, Amber. It had been meant only to be a sweet kiss. A tame, innocent kiss as many before it have been. Yet I couldn't stop. Just the memory of it now and the small recreations since set me aflame. Your taste, your scent, the feel of your hair and skin beneath my fingers. It is a memory I dearly cherish. Do you remember, Amber, how my hand had dared to drift up your leg beneath the shield of your skirt? I certainly do. You were so soft to the touch and so tempting. Surely you felt your control over me ever present when I held you close and pressed your hip to mine. What control you have. I can't imagine you don't know your power. I think you know what a man so desperately in love is willing to do for the subject of his passion.

I'll never forget how each touch made you sigh or how your hands cradled me desperately. Yet I had to stop you. How I managed is a mystery but I had to stop you. More appropriately, I had to stop myself. When our lips parted, you appeared so dazed as though you were in a trance. Afterwards I'd walked you back to your bedroom and we kissed one last time. Please, Amber, allow me to speak freely of overhearing you just the smallest bit that night after I left your room. I'd known the tension you built in me and that desperate need to relieve that tension. I'd not dreamed I could have such an effect of that nature on you as well. Forgive me, but I tried so hard to imagine it for myself but as is the curse with a blind man attempting to imagine an orchid, such perfection and beauty would not be done justice were I to create a picture. I could only clearly imagine your face and wonder as to what it must be like for it to contort in desire. To express facially a sensation of pleasure reserved only for the administer of said pleasure.

I even began to think, 'If only it were me'. If only it were me with hands upon you. If only it were me touching you so sinfully and so intimately. If only it were me that you gripped onto and engulfed while my fingers touched the moist inner recesses of your delicate skin and lifted you to the heavens and back. It was such thoughts of you, Amber, that brought me to heaven and back as well as the sounds of your moaning and whimpering in pleasure. I'm tempted to ask if you thought about me after I brought you to your room. Did you recall my hands and my lips while you brought yourself to the precipice? I like to imagine I'm so privileged for that to be true.

I long for the day I can see you again Amber. Perhaps, if I am brave and you match my desires free of reason, we can continue this erotic journey together. Until then, I shall content myself with the blessings you've already bestowed.

I am forever yours, my love, my darling, my light.

Love,

Kevin

Amber's cheeks went scarlet as she read. He was correct in stating that his previous love letters to her were simple proclamations of his love for her and her beauty. She'd, naturally, always loved those words of love and adoration. Yet this letter had her blushing. Initially, it was shyness of the topic, but it passed. She realized as she read further there was nothing be embarrassed about. Kevin experienced the same feelings. They shared this together. However, she continued to blush when she read of Kevin longing to touch her and the wonder of whether or not she wanted to touch him. She wasn't sure if Kevin was being poetic or naïve as to his wonderment of the possibility that she might imagine him during her self-ministrations. To her it was obvious that it was thoughts of him that had such an effect. Yet she could not deny she'd wondered the same thing that night and had blushed like a school girl when he admitted to her the following morning that he'd 'had a hard time falling asleep' as well.

Amber read through the letter again and held it close to her bosom after that second read through. She wanted to write to him. This instant. Yet she knew her letter wouldn't reach his home before he did. Instead, she would wait to send it. However, that did not stop her from sneaking downstairs and retrieving paper and a pencil and writing her response.

The boat ride back to New York was rather relaxing. Kevin spent a great deal of time on dock looking out onto the ocean. I even saw some dolphins swimming. Then he saw a pod of black and white creatures that were far bigger than dolphins. He found a sailor and asked what they were and he was told they were called Killer Whales or Orcas. They were so much smaller than the whales he'd seen. He'd made a note to himself that, once Kevin was bringing Amber back, to keep an eye out for them again. She'd appreciate the sight he knew. Once he finally returned, Kyle had already returned home and was in the living room looking through some new supplies he'd obtained for the upcoming term.

"How was your trip?" Kyle asked. "We didn't hear from you the whole time you were there."

"It was a nice trip," Kevin said. "Amber and her mother were overrun with brides wanting unity candles."

"I suppose it is wedding season," Kyle said. "I didn't realize so many Germans were Catholic."

"Neither did I," Kevin said. "I need to write a letter so I'll leave you be. I'll be in the bedroom if you need me."

"Sounds fine," Kyle said and returned his attention to his tools.

Kevin went to his room and to his desk proceeding to write Amber a letter. He lit the candle she'd made him, just wanting to be in its glow. His letter was rather basic simply explaining that he'd arrived home safely. He mentioned the small whales he'd seen on the way back and told her they'd look out for them when he was able to take her back to America. Then, finally, he ended his letter asking if she'd received his note under her covers. He sealed the letter and applied the correct address information and went for a walk to the post office and placed the letter into the mailbox. He returned to work the following Monday. He was surprised when he didn't see Olga at her desk, but Alphonse explained she'd taken a personal day. When Kevin pressed for some details, Alphonse didn't have any. However, Anastasia was sitting on his office floor sucking on hard candy and playing with Diane. Kevin was relieved that the Executive Assistant was able to help in Olga's absence. She was even happy to see Kevin, insisting he join to play. He did, but for only ten minutes before needing to return to his office to catch up on his work. Olga returned the following day in a chipper mood. Apparently her nephew had a birthday and she'd wanted to attend.

"So how was your trip to Germany?" Olga asked after Kevin asked about her day off.

"It was very nice," Kevin smiled. "I ended up working part time at a candle shop this trip."

"Oh really?" Olga giggled. "What was that like?"

"Relaxing," Kevin said. "You haven't worked in retail before right?"

"I haven't, but my mother works at Macy's."

"Really," Kevin rose an eyebrow. "What does she do?"

"She's actually a manager now. She works in the perfumes division."

"Does she get free perfume?"

"No," Olga smiled, "But she does get a generous employee discount. She's not really big on perfumes, though. She usually uses her discount on out of season clothes that are on sale or cooking supplies."

"How does she like working there?" Kevin asked.

"She likes it most of the time, but she gets her fair share of unpleasant people. She has a supervisor, Andrew was his name, that I've met a few times that gave me tips for dealing with customers and taught my mom everything she knows. I'll never forget that man. You could scream in his face until you turned blue and he'd never have less than a big smile."

"A little like what you do," Kevin teased.

"Oh, Kevin, your clients are never mean to me. I'm too nice. They're mean to you."

"Indeed," Kevin said with a joking bitterness. "Did anything interesting happen while I was gone?"

"Nothing too out of the ordinary," Olga smiled. Alphonse was able to handle everything for the most part, although he worked over night several times. I can tell he's really relieved you're back. Poor Anastasia did her best to help, sweet little thing, but there's only so much a cute smile and a full head of brown curls will do."

Kevin chuckled, "She tried. That's what matters."

"So how is Amber?"

"She's doing very well. She and her mother were swamped with brides wanting unity candles so they were really busy, hence why I was helping out. We did get to spend some time together, though. We went on a picnic with her friends, we saw a moving picture and we got to go to a birthday party."

"That doesn't seem like much for being there so long," Olga smiled. "I would hate to think you worked most of your vacation."

"I was happy to do it," Kevin smiled. "I was telling her father that compared to war, just about any job is relaxing."

"I suppose that's true," Olga said. "So when are you planning to visit again?"

"Next year if I can help it," Kevin said. "I just have to find the money to do it."

"From what I hear, you have a talent for finding money," Olga smiled. "I wish I were so lucky as you seem to be."

"I'm lucky because I know when to not push it." Kevin placed a list on Olga's desk. "These are the cases I've taken over, so if anyone from this list calls, just let them know I'm back and forward them to me if needed."

"Yes sir," Olga smiled and got back to work.

Roughly two weeks passed and life had returned to its usual routine. At the end of those two weeks when Kevin arrived home, Kyle informed him that he'd received a letter from Germany as well as an invitation from Dr. McCarthy to a wedding. Kevin was far more interested in Amber's letter, naturally. Kyle affirmed he'd take care of dinner, so Kevin retreated to his room and went to his desk where the letters were. He placed the wedding invitation to the side and went to Amber's letter. The envelop was stuffed, indicating a long letter which Kevin greatly looked forward to. When he opened the envelop, there were two separate letters. One was tied with a purple ribbon. Though Kevin was intrigued, he placed that letter aside and focused on the untied set of pages.

In the standard letter, she wrote to him about the shop, their customers, the order placed by the mother to be who just had a boy and her friends. Dahlia's wedding plans were coming underway and the wedding was officially set for the first Saturday of October. They would be going to Hamburg for a long weekend to relax and enjoy being married. Evidently, Luther had also obtained a job in the city and was now living downtown, so Amber speculated that it was very likely he would propose to Gertrude very soon. She'd returned to school and explained it would be her last year before university. Levi already had her preparing for the application process. While it certainly wasn't impossible for a woman to attend university, a woman getting in was a strenuous process to say the least compared to a young man. She needed references to start and she'd managed to obtain those in abundance thankfully. However, it was the end of her letter that had him most intrigued and eager.

As to the letter you left under my covers,she wrote at the end of her long letter, refer to the note with the purple ribbon. She ended that letter with an 'I love you' and signed. Kevin put that letter to the side and finally went to the note with the purple ribbon. He untied it and placed it on his desk before opening the pages to read. Kevin, before starting, went to the bedroom door and closed it behind him and then went to his bed, sitting up with his back to the wall.

Kevin,

I have in fact received your note that you secreted among my blankets. My cheeks are still burning red from reading it. I'm surprised you overheard me. I thought I had been so quiet. But to know that it gave you pleasure makes the moment more special to me. How you described your desires; it made my stomach twist in knots.

The longing is mutual. When I took care of myself that night, I wished it was you so badly. Nothing would have made me happier. I imagined your large hands and how they would have undoubtedly felt better than mine. I know so little about these intimacies that you mention but I'm far too embarrassed to ask anyone. If mom knew I was having such thoughts, she'd tell me I need to occupy my time with productivity and that such things are only for the married. She means well, of course. I have heard from older women that a young woman should never allow such things because it'll make a man not want you. A woman at my synagogue tells her daughter sometimes 'why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free'. We're different though. I know that.

Seeing as my education in the matter is limited, I must resort to what education in the matter I have which is little more than sterile this is this and it does this and this is that and it does that, don't do it until you're married. So unromantic.

I suppose I can always ask you, right? I've been wanting to know more since that night. When we went to that moving picture together, I was so giddy. I was so scared we might be caught kissing, but it was so thrilling. But you didn't put your hands on me then like you had before. I wish you had. Although, I guess I never make my desires very clear. I try being seductive, but I feel as though when I try I just come off like a child that doesn't know what she's doing.

I can't wait to see you again next summer. Mom said she would be okay with hiring someone for the season to make things a little easier for us. That way I don't have to leave you alone or force you to work. I think that would be much better. You can sit with me while I fill orders. You can read to me while I work. We didn't do that this past visit and I missed it. Maybe we could readPride and Prejudiceagain. I loved reading that with you. Or we could read together once mom and daddy went to bed.

I've had a fantasy appear in my head. We have a wide chair in the candle room besides the stool. It's the one you always sit in when you're watching me work. Perhaps one night, I can complete a few orders and we can sit on that chair together with you behind me. Or maybe that would be distracting. But my end goal is the distraction isn't it? I can't think of how to tell you about this except to say I want to kiss in that room. Maybe more. I'm excited to see you again but I won't see you until next summer. I feel so impatient. Is that terrible of me?

I haven't stopped blushing since writing. If you were still in the guest room next door, I would let myself in and hug you. Then I would get under the covers with you and demand you let me stay the night with you. I'm so sad mom and I couldn't see you off. At least we could kiss in private before you went on the train. I still feel it on my skin and I still taste yours.

I look forward to seeing you again in summer. You're always welcome.

I love you,

Amber

Kevin smiled reading Amber's letter. It wasn't like her to be so nervous when writing. He could feel the nerves on the page and she was trying so hard to express her feelings. He pictured her biting and licking her lips with her legs crossed while she wrote this letter. He got up from his bed and tied the letter back up in its purple ribbon and tucked the letters in their envelop and put them in his drawer where he'd started keeping all Amber's letters. He pulled out paper to get ready to write, but did glance at the wedding invitation Dr. McCarthy had sent. Apparently his youngest daughter was getting married May next year and the invitation stated he could bring a guest. With the invitation in hand, Kevin let himself out of the room and walked to the kitchen where Kyle was working on dinner.

"Do you want to go to a wedding with me in May?" Kevin asked.

"Who's wedding?"

"Dr. McCarthy's daughter," Kevin said. "It says I'm allowed to bring a guest and since I can't bring Amber, I suppose you'll have to do."

Kyle laughed, "How thoughtful of you. Why don't you ask your legal assistant Olga? She's a nice girl and she'll go as just a friend."

"I'm sure she would, but I don't want to give the wrong impression," Kevin said. "Word would spread around the firm that I took her to a wedding and before you know it, everyone's asking when we're getting married."

"I guess you can always ask Alphonse," Kyle said.

"I take it you don't want to go?"

"Unless you can promise Sgt. Stanley will be there," Kyle said. "I haven't seen him in a while."

"I would assume so," Kevin said. "This is his niece getting married. I can always write to him and find out."

"Write to him and find out," Kyle said.

After that, Kevin returned to his desk and proceeded with his letters. To get it done, Kevin started with the letter to Sgt. Stanley advising he'd received an invitation to his niece's wedding and was planning to ask Kyle to come with him, but who had started he'd only go if Sgt. Stanley would be attending. The letter was brief. Once that was completed, Kevin returned his attention to his response to Amber. As always, he wrote her two letters: a standard friendly letter and his love letter to her. He told her of work and family, his niece and how much she'd already grown, how she'd be 1 come January and how he couldn't believe it had been so long and then mentioned the wedding he was invited to and how he wished he could bring her as his guest but had contented himself with settling for Kyle assuming he would attend. Then he moved on to his response to Amber's love letter. He debated with himself if he should remain chaste and talk how he normally would or indulge that fantasy Amber had mentioned.

Amber,

You can always ask me about anything. Allow me to dispel any nonsensical notion that any intimacy between us devalues you to me in any way. I've loved you since I met you. When I looked into your ocean blue eyes, you became what tied me to this world and I've always loved you. I loved you when I was your confidante, your friend and your guardian and now as a man that sees a woman so beautiful and so cherished to me that my intense desire for you could never hope to be satiated. Although I look forward to our impending vain attempt to try.

I do recall that big chair in the candle room. I'll warn you will have to sit on my lap though I don't mind. In fact I think I'll prefer it. I understand if you're in the candle room late at night, it is because you require orders to be completed. I'd not dream of distracting you while you work as I know what you do is a delicate craft. More importantly, a delicate craft that handles sharp cutlery. Although, after completion of said task, we can distract one another to our hearts' content.

As to what that entails, we will have to wait and see. Such things I would prefer we discover together in person. That is to say nothing of the truth that any attempt to visualize seems insufficient. I've mentioned that before, I know. My repeating it does not diminish the honesty of it. I want us to learn about one another as gradually and earnestly as possible. I'll not speculate as to the moistness and warmth of you but I shall look forward to it. Sadly, any warmth I offer is purely outward with a mixture of roughness and rigidity.

My hands, for example, are roughed from so many years of climbing trees as a boy, hunting and fishing with my father and brothers, and the time in the trenches during the war. Out of everything, I fear the later hardened me in more ways than just physical. Though I promise I'm not so rough that I can't be gentle as you've experienced firsthand already. Savor those memories of us together as I know I will. I think of you every day, but I admit to thinking of that night in particular whenever my desires peak. I hope you will do the same when you miss me. Think of how I felt as I'll think of how you felt and we will content ourselves until our next meeting come summer.

I love you, Amber, my darling, and I miss you.

Until I see you Again,

Kevin

It was a short letter to be sure compared to his other letter and it was certainly less scandalous than his previous love letter, but he was happy with his attempts towards greater subtlety. He tied the love letter with a string he had making a note to himself to possibly buy ribbon at a later date, and put put both letters into an envelope. He took his letters, the ones for Amber and the one for Sgt. Stanley, to the post office and returned home in time for his helping of dinner.

They received their reply from Sgt. Stanley a few days later confirming he and his wife and children would indeed be attending the wedding and that they looked forward to seeing them there. The remainder of the year continued on with letters to Amber and Kevin going out with Kyle every other night on patrol. It allowed them to keep in touch with the family and how their niece was doing. Scarlet was squirmy as ever when she wasn't sleeping. She'd nap with Nathan and Nathan and Tomoeh would sit on a blanket with her, playing. Scarlet would be handed around to family members and she would always look around, often focusing on really colorful items. She loved playing with Natalie because of her long hair. Natalie would make sure her hair was braided and she'd dangle it above Scarlet while she laid in Natalie's lap. Scarlet's giggle was always previous but her little toothless smile was always brightest when she was playing with her parents.

Most days, Nathan and Tomoeh would be at Renesmee's and Jacob's home and Renesmee played with her granddaughter as often as possible during the day. However, Nathan and Tomoeh would play with Scarlet's toes and give her toys for her to grab. Sometimes, Nathan would try to encourage her to stand but Nathan was not able to do it herself. By the time it was Christmas, she was crawling around on her own and would follow Nathan around as best she could. Roxanne remained remarkably patient with Scarlet. Roxanne was not typically one to tolerate much. If she didn't like something, she made it clear. However, with Scarlet she would let her get away with nearly anything without so much as a growl. A very light nip perhaps, but that was it.

Roxanne would sit beside the blanket when she was smaller and on her back and would lick her sometimes. Now that Scarlet was moving around on her own, she would crawl to Roxanne and would grab her fur and pat her hands against her like she was a drum. Nathan would sit with Scarlet when she would do that just in case, but Roxanne would only nip and every time she did, Scarlet would just giggle and stare up at her dad. She'd had a small amount of black hair when she was born, but now her hair was getting a little longer. Tomoeh would always tie her hair up in a teeny tiny bow that she always managed to dishevel at one point or another during her play.

Toroeh and Rae were able to make it to the Quileute tribe with Wren late fall. Scarlet and Wren were able to pick up where they'd left off: laying on a blanket together. Though now they were able to acknowledge one another and even play. They would crawl around and roll on one another with their toys assisting in keeping them occupied while the four new parents talked and kept an eye on the children. Kyle was the next one to return home for the winter. Kevin would be joining soon but, as last year, would need to return for the now yearly New Year's party Mr. Huntington threw. It was the first time Kyle had seen Scarlet since she was born in summer and she'd grown so much. She barely remembered him but she was excited to make a new friend and Kyle was happy to play with her. When Kevin finally made it home, she was just as eager to greet him and she was rewarded with several new wooden toys for her to play with.

"She looks a lot like you," Kyle said to Nathan while they were all sitting together watching Tomoeh and other family members play with the baby. The Cullens swarmed the little girl taking their turns holding, snuggling, tickling and playing with her.

"Do you think so?" Nathan asked.

"She does," Kevin agreed. "I'm relieved you're handling this so well. I don't know if I've ever really think you for what you did."

"You don't need to," Nathan said. "I'm happy. Tomoeh's really sweet and I like being married to her. She's been a great mother too. I think everything worked out for the better."

"That's good to know," Kyle said.

"All the same," Jacob spoke up, "I'm proud of how you're doing. Your mother and I both are."

"I'm not so weird a dad as you thought?" Nathan asked with a chuckle.

"She's only six months, Nathan. Give yourself time," Jacob chuckled back.

They all joined in the humor continuing to watch everyone else play with Scarlet and her cousin Wren. Kevin remained as long as possible before returning to Connecticut in order to ensure that he made it to the New Year's party for his law firm. As they had done last year, Kevin and Alphonse met at the venue; however, Alphonse had a rather unexpected guest. When Kevin met up with Alphonse, beside him stood Ana dressed in diamonds, a black dress, a fur coat and her dark hair dolled up. She even wore a little tiara back towards the base of her bun. When Kevin encountered the pair, Ana smiled brightly, her dark mahogany painted lips complimentary to her thinner lips.

"Kevin," Ana said and embraced Kevin when he was before them. "How long has it been since we've seen one another? I can hardly remember, so far too long."

"Too long indeed," Kevin smiled pleasantly. "How have you been? Did you not visit New York this holiday?"

"Oh, I got back this morning. Alphonse insisted he wanted Anastasia back home. Honestly, the man acts as though she'll fall off the face of the earth if she's not brought back to Connecticut."

"He's only concerned," Kevin defended. "Did your parents visit?"

"Not this year, I'm afraid," Ana said sadly. "They are planning to come in spring, though. I think it'll be nicer that way."

"Can we please get inside?" Alphonse interrupted. "It's freezing out here and not all of us are wearing a dead animal on our shoulders."

"Sorry, Alphonse," Kevin spoke up hoping to avoid the two arguing and led them both inside the banquet hall. Once they were all inside, Ana found a lady to speak with while Kevin and Alphonse meandered around. "I didn't realize you were bringing Ana."

"She invited herself," Alphonse said. "She was complaining that I never take her anywhere fun and got herself all dressed up before I could argue with her. She probably just wanted to get out of the house."

"I assume Diane's watching Anastasia?"

"Yes," Alphonse said. "I left her with someone competent."

"This might be a stupid question, but how are you and Ana doing?"

"You're right. It's a stupid question," Alphonse said. "How was your family?"

"They're doing well," Kevin said, moving on from the topic. "My niece is getting so big. She's already crawling around and she's the bell of the ball wherever she goes."

"Babies tend to be," Alphonse said. There was a moment of silence before Kevin continued.

"Try to cheer up," Kevin said. "Ana's keeping herself occupied with everyone else, so try to enjoy yourself."

"I'll try," Alphonse sighed.

Kevin and Alphonse were immediately located by Mr. Huntington's wife who waved them over to talk. Kevin asked if they would be attending Dr. McCarthy's daughter's wedding which they confirmed they were going. Helen was pleased to know Kevin would be attending and made him promise that he would dance with her at least once during the wedding. Kevin promised he'd save a dance specifically for her and Helen blushed.

"So, Sergeant," Helen started. "My husband told me you hired a young woman as a legal secretary?"

"In January, yes," Kevin nodded. "January will be her 1 year anniversary of working for us. She's done extremely well."

"Oh I should hope so," Helen smiled. "My husband was telling me he'd fire you if that girl made so much as one mistake and I told him, 'You will do no such thing Geoffrey Huntington.' Don't you worry yourself Sergeant. I'd never let my husband fire you."

"Helen, you honor me with your kindness and generosity. Truly, you are a shining example of how all proper ladies should treat the less fortunate."

Helen giggled, "Oh stop, you. Honestly, darling, how could ever even think of threatening to fire this wonderful young man?"

"A lapse in judgment my dear," Mr. Huntington sighed.

"A most inexcusable lapse in judgment," Helen said, smiling kindly at Kevin. The music changed to something more akin to a waltz and that caught Mrs. Huntington's attention. "Oh! Sergeant, please do give me a dance. I'm sure you're a fine dancer."

"I fear I'm not so well trained as Alphonse," Kevin said, looking at Alphonse who appeared less than eager for the compliment.

"Oh, to be sure," Mrs. Huntington said. "But the Baronet has his own wife to dance with." She either ignored or didn't notice Alphonse's huff of contempt. "You, on the other hand, dear Sergeant, are without a proper date and are in desperate need of a dance partner."

"You present a fair point, Helen," Kevin smiled and accepted Mrs. Huntington's hand and went to the dance floor with her.

"So tell me, Sergeant," Mrs. Huntington said once they were swaying together to the music. "Do you have a date to Miss. Caroline's wedding?"

"You mean Dr. McCarthy's daughter? I'm just bringing my brother."

"Your brother?" Mrs. Huntington said, slightly surprised. "Surely you'd rather bring a young lady."

"The young lady I would bring is all the way in Berlin, Mrs. Huntington," Kevin reminded with a smile. "Sadly, I can't bring her."

"Oh, dear, that's right," Mrs. Huntington said. "That's a dreadful shame."

After the end of the song, Kevin brought Mrs. Huntington back to her husband so they could dance together, finally returning to Alphonse who was enjoying some food while speaking to a client. Kevin glanced around the room to locate Ana. He finally found her dancing with a client Kevin vaguely recognized, but it wasn't a client he'd represented. She seemed to be having a good time with the gentleman, but they were eventually interrupted by the man's wife, or Kevin assumed it was that man's wife. After the woman dragged that man away, Ana located Kevin and Alphonse and walked across the room to them.

"How are you enjoying the party, Ana?" Kevin asked when she was there. Alphonse glanced, but immediately returned to his conversation.

"Well enough. It's no Heidelberg ball, but it'll do. Might I have this dance, Kevin, since you're standing here all by your lonesome?"

"I don't see why not," Kevin smiled and looked at Alphonse. "I'm going to dance with Ana. Do you mind?"

"Fine," Alphonse said dismissively, not even looking at them. Kevin took Ana's hand and they went onto the floor and danced together.

"Honestly," Ana said as the two danced, "he's been a sour puss since he came home. The way he's acting, you'd think I was forcing him to the dentist."

"He's just trying to socialize with our clients," Kevin defended. "So long as you're having a good time, try not to let it bother you."

"I've no concern for his work," Ana said bluntly. "I just wish the man were tolerable. Frankly, he's lucky you put up with him or he'd have no friends at all."

"He's not so bad," Kevin defended further. "You were both shoved into marriage to one another. It's understandable to that there would be some hard feelings."

"You really are a good friend to him," Ana said. "Perhaps there is some honey under all that bile."

"I assure you, there is," Kevin smiled kindly. "How's Anastasia doing?"

"She's wonderful," Ana smiled. "The only thing Alphonse and I agree on. I'll give the bastard credit where credit's due: he's a good father."

"He really does love that little girl. I guess all I can suggest is try to be cordial with each other for her sake."

"It's so tiring," Ana complained. "The man makes the task virtually impossible. I'm sure complains of me viciously to you."

"You mean as you're doing to me now?" Kevin said, trying to keep smiling kindly to let her know he meant no offense. She just sighed.

"Perhaps," Ana said. "Not everyone can be like Victoria and Albert."

"Yes, I hear her majesty did love him very much," Kevin said.

"She adored the man and mourned his death until her own death. It's rather romantic I think."

"Are you related to that royal family?"

"A cousin of mine married into the family," Ana said. "All us royals are intermarried, Sergeant. You know that. Does your tribe not have a similar practice for its royal family?"

"Not really," Kevin said. "Chiefs have arranged marriages, but it's not unheard of or unseemly for a future or current chief to marry a woman that's among the tribe regardless of her family hierarchy. Most times, such things are irrelevant."

"I envy you, then," Ana said. "I envy you a great deal in fact."

"I know it's hard, but it would really serve the two of you well to try and at least be friends. If not for your daughter, for the sake of your mutual sanity."

"Perhaps," Ana sighed.

Ana dropped the subject and, shortly thereafter, their dance and Kevin returned to Alphonse, who'd finished his conversation with the client. He didn't bring up Kevin and Ana dancing and neither did Kevin. They stayed at the banquet hall an hour following the countdown and said their goodbyes before going their separate ways. Kyle didn't return to Connecticut for a few more days until it was time to resume classes. Kevin and Amber continued to send one another letters, both love letters and typical letters, while Kyle dived into his studies continuing to do very well. During his visits, Kyle was always sure to show Renesmee what he'd learned and she was able to apply those tips to looking after the tribe.

With it being winter, the snow was still sticking to the ground and Scarlet was fascinated with it. Rae and Toroeh were staying with Embry and Caevia, but would frequently go up to Nathan's and Tomoeh's house so the babies could play. Natalie and Sharisa were frequent visitors with Jae coming over after work every day. By the evening, all seven of them would be cuddled in the house after Wren and Scarlet had played in the snow with careful monitoring of them so they wouldn't get cold while Roxanne would frequently be on a rug taking a nap. Now that Scarlet was largely mobile, she would often tucker out the young wolf and her patience which remained saintly. At the end of most nights, Nathan would go on patrol with Natalie and Jae while the others would stay behind for a while, even spending the night at times.

"I haven't asked," Tomoeh said to Toroeh when the two had finally had a moment alone. Scarlet was being put to bed and most everyone was going to bed. Sharisa and Rae were attending to Wren in the guest/baby room. "How are you and Rae?"

"We've been well," Toroeh smiled lovingly. "I've told Toraz a few times thank you for picking a fight with the Quileutes. If he'd not, I wouldn't have met Rae."

"I'm glad to know you love her," Tomoeh smiled and tucked Scarlet in. "And she loves you?"

"She does," Toroeh said. "Can you believe we've both been married almost two years?"

"It seems so hard to believe," Tomoeh smiled.

"What about you and Nathan? He seems to be treating you well."

"He's been wonderful," Tomoeh smiled. "He's really embraced being a father and he's been good to me too."

"Good," Toroeh smiled. "Because if he wasn't, I'd have to kill him." The two laughed and Tomoeh swatted her brother's arm.

"Don't say that," Tomoeh smiled. "I didn't think I would be, but I'm happy with him. We're even talking about having more children when Scarlet's a little older."

"Rae and I too," Toroeh said. "She wants to wait a little more before we do, but it'll be in the next few years. Do you two know how many you'll have?"

"We haven't gotten that in depth," Tomoeh said and gently leaned her hip against the crib. "I have told him I don't want as many children as daddy had."

"I would think that goes without saying," Toroeh laughed. He stopped when he heard Scarlet start whimpering and the two were quiet until she finally calmed back down. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake her."

"She's alright," Tomoeh smiled. "She seems to sleep best when she's on Nathan's chest or listening to him talk. She'll be taking after me and be a daddy's girl."

"You were all daddy's girls," Toroeh teased. "I must say dad was remarkable at making all of you feel like each of you were special."

"Don't be silly, Toroeh. I was the favorite. He just didn't want the others to feel bad," Tomoeh smiled proudly and they laughed in a hushed whisper so as to not disturb Scarlet again.

"If you say so. I'm just relieved he makes you happy,"Toroeh said. "You two seem to complement one another."

"I like to think so,"Tomoeh smiled. "Can I admit something to you, though?"

"What's that?"

"I wish he slept here at night. Even if it's only every other night. He did that when I was pregnant and I loved it. He would tell Scarlet bedtime stories until she stopped kicking. It was a little romantic actually."

"That does sound nice,"Toroeh smiled. "I'm going to bed. You should get to bed too."

"If you insist,"Tomoeh smiled and looked down at Scarlet. She was already sound asleep with her foot twitching from time to time. That always made Tomoeh giggle. "She looks so much like Nathan."

"She's got plenty of you too,"Toroeh smiled and patted Tomoeh's shoulder, leading her to her bed before leaving to the guest/baby room. By the time he got there, Sharisa was long asleep, as was Wren, while Rae was barely hanging on. When she saw Toroeh, she smiled and stretched a little.

"There you are,"Rae yawned. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine,"Toroeh smiled and sat on the floor by the bed Rae and Sharisa were on. Rae rolled to her stomach so she was face to face with Toroeh. "Tomoeh and I were just talking a little before bed."

"What about?"

"Mostly Nathan,"Toroeh said. "I'm curious. Do the wolves every allow for nights with the family?"

"That's more of a Uncle Jacob question,"Rae shrugged. "I would think it shouldn't be a problem since the pack has gotten so big in recent years, but you never know when something might happen. Why do you ask?"

"Tomoeh was just saying she wished Nathan slept at home at night more often. She said he did that a lot when she was pregnant and she misses it."

"Oh,"Rae said. "I'm sure he could work something out with Uncle Jacob. I can talk to him about it if you want. Or I can bring it up with Natalie or Jae."

"Thank you,"Toroeh smiled. "I think Tomoeh would appreciate it. So how long has Sharisa been asleep?"

"Since she put her head on the pillow,"Rae smiled. "She was worn out today. And Wren hasn't made a peep since we put him down for bed."

"Good,"Toroeh said. "I like it when the boy sleeps soundly." Toroeh looked up towards the bed and sighed. "I guess there's no room up there for me is there?"

"I'm afraid not,"Rae smiled and gently crawled out of the bed until her feet touched the floor, She went to a corner with an extra blanket and walked over with it, sitting beside Toroeh.

"You don't have to sleep on the floor, Rae,"Toroeh smiled.

"It's alright. I don't want to leave you by yourself on the floor. Besides, I'm used to sleeping next to you. I don't like it when you're not there."

Toroeh smiled a little brighter and kissed Rae's forehead. They whispered an 'I love you' to one another and adjusted themselves on the floor so they were comfortable and fell asleep together not waking until Wren began crying for attention in the early hours of the morning. The following morning, Nathan, Natalie and Jae as well as the rest of the pack returned to the tribe. Travis went to the little house he was sharing with Embry and went right to bed, having gotten very little sleep. Most of them hadn't gotten much sleep. There was a clutch of 4 vampires passing through and they wound up chasing them through the woods for an hour until they caught and killed them. No one got to take a nap that night.

"Will you be alright going to work?" Natalie asked while they were walking in the direction of their respective homes.

"I'll be fine," Jae smiled and waved dismissively, but only after an extended yawn. "I'll just take a nap during my lunch break."

"And that's what? A half hour?"

"Sleep is sleep," Jae said. "Don't you worry, Natalie, I'll be fine." Jae bent down and gave Natalie a quick kiss before running to his house to dress for work. Natalie reluctantly returned home and went straight to bed. Nathan ran around the tribe to his house and didn't change back until he was in front of the house. When he let himself into the house, Roxanne was downstairs sleeping in the kitchen and her ears perked up when Nathan stepped inside.

"Morning, Roxie," Nathan barely managed with a yawn before walking past Roxanne.

She watched him go past and rested her head back down when he reached the stairs. He walked upstairs and let himself into the bedroom. As soon as he did, he heard Scarlet start whimpering, so he went over to check on her. She just needed to be cleaned up and once she was, she was content again. Since she was against Nathan's chest, he walked over to the bed and got under the covers next to Tomoeh who was still sleeping. He moved closer to her so they were against one another in bed. Tomoeh woke up to Nathan's woodsy scent and warmth and woke up to see Scarlet sound asleep on her daddy's chest and Nathan equally as sound asleep. She smiled at the sight and couldn't resist placing a kiss on Nathan's cheek. He grumbled a little but eventually smiled.

"Morning," he mumbled.

"Morning, Nathan," Tomoeh said and got just a little closer. "How was patrol last night?"

"Tiring," he answered. "We chased four vampires for an hour until we finally got them. Some of us stayed by the tribe but a bunch of us went so far north we were lost for a while."

"Not exactly a direction you had in mind?" Tomoeh giggled.

"Not in the least. It was too cold," Nathan complained with a weak, tired smile and his eyes still shut.

"Poor thing," Tomoeh teased and kissed his cheek again. "I take it no one got much sleep last night?"

"No," Nathan said.

"And here I am bothering you," Tomoeh said meekly and Nathan just smiled.

"You're not bothering me," Nathan smiled and gave Tomoeh a kiss. "Why don't we just all stay in bed today?"

"I rather like that idea," Tomoeh smiled and snuggled up to Nathan and Scarlet. They were soon interrupted, though, when Scarlet was hungry and wanted her breakfast. So Tomoeh took Scarlet and fed her while Nathan kept sleeping. Eventually, he noticed Scarlet wasn't on his chest anymore and it woke up, but he heard her feeding and calmed down.

The three of them remained in bed while Sharisa, Rae and Toroeh got up for the day. They returned to Embry Sr.'s house to leave Nathan and Tomoeh alone. Jae was getting ready to leave when they arrived. Rae got his attention and gave Wren over to Toroeh before going to Jae and pulling him aside.

"Morning, Jae," Rae said.

"Morning, Rae," Jae said. "What has you guys coming back so early?"

"We realized Nathan and Tomoeh were still in bed and we didn't want to bother them. Speaking of which, I wanted to bring something up with you."

"What's that?"

"Do you suppose we could convince Uncle Jacob to let Nathan sleep at home from time to time? Maybe all of you could?"

"You could bring it up to him," Jae said. "I'd wait until later, though. The man's probably sleeping like the grave by now. It was a long night."

"Did you get any sleep?"

"Not a wink, but I'll be fine."

"Maybe one of us should go tell Hailey you didn't get any sleep and you should stay home."

"I don't need to stay home, Rae," Jae smiled. "I'll be just fine. Worst case scenario I'll ask to stay home from patrol tonight."

"I guess," Rae said. "Is daddy still awake?"

"Probably not," Jae said. "I'd leave him be for a while too. None of us really got any sleep so we're pretty tired. I need to get to work, Rae, but you guys stay out of trouble."

Jae hugged Rae goodbye and waved at the others before getting on his bike and riding to the shop for the day. Natalie managed a quick nap, but she woke up within about three hours. She was so used to sleeping intermittently that it was hard to get a full night sleep. Since it was the middle of the day, she went into town to the General Store. She let herself in through the back and noticed Jae wasn't downstairs. Hailey told her he was upstairs sleeping for his lunch break. Technically, his lunch break ended a half hour ago, but the boy looked so tired all day that Hailey had just let him sleep. Natalie let herself upstairs and glanced in the direction for the master bedroom, but Jae wasn't there. So she walked forward into the smaller room and lo and behold, Jae was laying in bed breathing deeply. Natalie smiled and closed the door behind her so there wouldn't be as much noise coming in from downstairs. She sat on the edge of the bed and the movement caused Jae to groan a little as he woke up.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Natalie smiled.

"How long was I asleep?" he asked while rubbing his eyes and sitting up.

"According to Hailey, an hour. He said you looked exhausted so he let you sleep."

"Well, that was nice of him," Jae groaned and stretched. "Good thing you woke me, otherwise I would have slept the rest of the day."

"I think you probably should," Natalie smiled. "I got about 4 hours sleep I think. I feel a lot better."

"Good," Jae yawned. Natalie moved closer to him so she could kiss his forehead then kiss him on the lips once he was done yawning. "To what do I owe the visit?" Jae smiled and kissed her back.

"I was just checking on you," Natalie said. "I know how tired you were and I was worried."

"Thanks for worrying about me," Jae said as he placed another kiss onto her lips. "I promise, I'm alright."

"You say that," Natalie said, "but I know you better than that. How about when we go on patrol tonight, you and I just sleep? We'll find a little spot, snuggle up under a tree and if they need us, we'll wake up, otherwise we can get some much needed sleep."

"That sounds nice." Jae took Natalie's hand and brought it up to place a kiss on her skin. "You let me get back to work, okay?"

"Alright, I'll let you get back to work," Natalie smiled and stepped away so Jae could get out of bed.

She returned downstairs with him and, thankfully, the door between the shop and the house was closed so no one saw them coming down the stairs together. They both waited until a customer left before going through the door to the shop. Hailey gave the okay for Natalie to be there and she stayed at the shop for the remainder of Jae's shift before he closed the place up and they had to leave. They ran home together afterwards hand in hand and had dinner with everyone. Before leaving for patrol, Jae took a moment to walk up to Nathan.

"Nathan, why don't you stay behind and sleep in?" Jae said. "Natalie and I are just going to be sleeping the whole night. And Tomoeh apparently really wants you home right now."

"Does she?" Nathan said. "She hasn't said anything."

"From what I hear, she told her brother, who told my sister who told me and now I'm telling you," Jae smiled. "We'll let Jacob know, so don't worry."

"Alright," Nathan shrugged. "I won't turn down more sleep."

Jae and Nathan chuckled before parting ways, one to go to the woods and the other to return home. By the time Nathan returned, Tomoeh was tucking Scarlet into her crib. She didn't hear Nathan come into the house or into the room. She was focused on Scarlet. So when Nathan walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, she jumped and looked over her shoulder. She relaxed, though, when she realized it was Nathan and smiled.

"What are you doing home? I thought you were on patrol."

"I was about to, but I was told you wanted me home," Nathan smiled.

"Oh," Scarlet said, assuming it would have been Toroeh. "You didn't have to. After last night, I'm sure your dad wants everyone on high alert."

"It'll be fine," Nathan shrugged and kissed her cheek. "If they need me then all they need to do is howl or come banging on the door."

"Preferably the prior option," Tomoeh giggled a little at the feel of Nathan dusting kisses down her neck. "So I have you all to myself tonight?"

"Yup," Nathan said, continuing his line of kisses.

"I'll accept that," Tomoeh smiled and turned around in his arm, enjoying their night together.