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.

77. Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Their trip together started off on a great note. Nathan and Scarlet never bothered to furnish the tiny apartment they were using, but most of the time they were out and about enjoying the city. They found a little cove on the beach where they tucked away another red tree ornament that looked out onto the sea, as all the others have thus far. The $200 Nathan initially stole lasted them through most of their time in San Diego, but Nathan wasn't averse to stealing a little more money once that run out.

"How do you do that?" Scarlet asked Nathan randomly one day while they were walking down the boardwalk together.

"How do I do what?" Nathan asked.

"You know what," Scarlet teased. "Sometimes when you pass people, you'll take something without them noticing."

"Oh, that," Nathan said. "So you noticed that?"

"Once I paid attention, I did," Scarlet said. "Besides, I was wondering where that money was coming from."

"I guess you were bound to notice eventually," Nathan chuckled and patted Scarlet's head. "Truthfully, it just takes a gentle touch and some good luck."

"Will you teach me?" Scarlet asked.

"You want me to teach you how to pick-pocket?" Nathan smirked. "I don't know, Scarlet. You've got enough of my bad habits."

"What's one more?" Scarlet asked jokingly and Nathan laughed.

"Alright, fine," Nathan said and pulled Scarlet with him onto the beach so they would have more privacy and no crowds. "So Scarlet, as I said before, successful pick-pocketing is a combination of a gentle hand and luck. Luck being correctly guessing which pocket holds the wallet."

"How do you guess that?"

"I usually go for the right pocket because generally, people are right handed. If you don't find anything, you pull away and just move on. The key to pick-pocketing isn't just gentleness, but swiftness. You have to be quick. If you dilly dally, you'll get caught. And I don't think I need to tell you what happens when you get caught."

"Okay," Scarlet said. "So how do you do it?" Taking a moment, Nathan put the money he'd collected and placed it in his back right pocket.

"I'll give you a hint," Nathan smiled, "I'm right handed. Your aunt Natalie is left handed." Once Nathan had the money in his back pocket, he moved a little further away from Scarlet. "Now, I'm going to walk by you. When I do, I want you to try to take the money from my pocket."

"How will I know I did it right?" Scarlet asked.

"You'll know," Nathan smiled and proceeded to walk in Scarlet's direction. She started moving closer and when they crossed, she reached into Nathan's back pocket. He grabbed her wrist as he turned and kneeled down to look at her. "Caught you."

"That's not fair," Scarlet complained. "You knew I was going to reach for it."

"While that's true, I grabbed your wrist to stop you because I felt you. I could feel you reaching your hand in my pocket because you weren't gentle enough." Nathan took the money back and placed it in his back pocket again. "Let's try again."

They crossed paths again and Scarlet tried to be gentler, but Nathan still felt her little hand grab at the money, so he grabbed her wrist and stopped her. After several tries, Scarlet became really frustrated and asked Nathan to pick-pocket her so she could feel what he was saying she needed to do. The problem arose in that it happened so quick that she couldn't really take notes after Nathan had stolen the money from the back pocket of her little overalls. Unfortunately, after numerous attempts, Scarlet became frustrated and insisted she wanted to just return to the apartment for the day. Deciding not to push her, the pair returned to the apartment for the night. Nathan had not become a wolf at all since they'd reached San Diego, so he decided that night he would go ahead and do so. As he suspected would be the case, Jacob was quick to give Nathan a piece of Renesmee's mind about him leaving so suddenly.

It was a heat of the moment decision, dad. I don't know what to tell you, Nathan smiled.

I'll refrain from mentioning you're teaching Scarlet to steal,Jacob said. Your mother would throw a fit.

I take it you've had enough of that for now?Nathan joked. While Jacob chuckled just a little, he still growled.

Don't speak so disrespectfully about your mother,Jacob argued.

Aside from turning her into a criminal, how has Scarlet enjoyed San Diego?Jae asked.

She really likes it,Nathan said. She loves the sunlight and she loves playing at the beach. We'll be leaving here soon and go to Nevada. We're probably going to visit all over the place. I hear there are tribes in Nevada and I'm sure they wouldn't mind visitors.

I wouldn't assume that,Jacob said. Just tread cautiously. For all you know, they might still have a little whiplash from white settlers.

Good thing I don't look white, then,Nathan chuckled.

Nathan didn't stay a wolf long. Only to say hello. He'd remained in the apartment, so he nudged his nose against Scarlet so she could say hello to everyone. When Scarlet saw her father as a wolf, she knew the others could hear her, so she waved and smiled before she went right back to sleep. Eventually Nathan turned back and went to sleep as well. The following morning, they went out about the town and Scarlet insisted she wanted to practice again. Sadly, the result was the same. She just couldn't seem to get the hang of it. Yet she was convinced it was because Nathan knew and therefore she'd never be able to take the wallet. So she decided she'd test on someone else.

While they walked the boardwalk enjoying what they'd decided would be their last week in San Diego before leaving (the landlord had begun demanding rent), Scarlet scanned the streets until she found a man that looked particularly well off. She found a man wearing a suit accompanied by an older looking woman in a very fine dress and decided they were perfect targets.

"I'll be right back," Scarlet said offhandedly to Nathan before running off to cross the street, avoiding what few cars were on the road as she crossed. Nathan went after her across the street, but Scarlet kept her eyes on the target.

Once she was on the right side of the street, she proceeded to walk calmly over to the man in question. She even started looking away from the man so as to not draw attention. Once she was close enough, she took a quick look around her to make sure she wasn't being watched. She noticed Nathan was walking closely behind her, so that gave her comfort and a hint of boldness. The target was sufficiently distracted; talking to who Scarlet deduced was his mother. Scarlet took a deep and quiet breath to not catch the man's attention and made the plunge. She took one last look around and reached for the man's back pocket to check inside. What followed could only be considered a comedy of errors. Instantly, she realized she'd managed to pick a man that must be left handed, because the wallet was not in his right pocket. Just as she realized it, the man came to attention and instantly looked right at Scarlet, eyes flaring.

"You little brat!" the man yelled and appeared as though he might grab Scarlet when a firm fist went right across the man's face. Nathan grabbed Scarlet in his arms and started running while people started screaming and demanding the police.

"You almost had it, Scarlet, but you panicked and gave yourself away," Nathan said to Scarlet while they were running. He heard a whistle and looked behind seeing a cop now chasing after them.

"I'm sorry, daddy," Scarlet whimpered, scared that she'd gotten them in trouble.

"Don't worry about it, Scarlet, we'll be fine," Nathan said before taking a sharp turn and tossing Scarlet on his back ensuring that she held onto him before climbing up the ladder of an apartment complex.

"What's going to happen?" Scarlet asked.

"Nothing if I can lose the cop," Nathan said as he climbed.

He glanced down and saw the cop proceeding to chase after them on the ladder. Once Nathan reached the top of the ladder, Nathan told Scarlet to hold on tight while he turned around on the ladder and released, kicking off the side of the wall and grabbing onto the side of the opposite building. He pulled them up onto the roof and started running, jumping from roof to roof, fully expecting the cop wouldn't be able to follow. By the third building, they'd reached a dead end with no new roves to jump to, so Nathan found a ladder and slid down, all the while Scarlet holding on tight. Once Nathan was on the ground, he started running in the direction of the apartment they were staying at when he heard heavy panting. He looked behind him and was shocked to see the cop barely managing to keep up on a bicycle.

"He's tenacious; I'll give him that," Nathan said. "Alright, Scarlet, we'll have to run around a while until we lose him."

Nathan turned on his heel and started running towards the cop much to his and Scarlet's surprise. Nathan ran around the man's bike knowing he'd have to take a few seconds to manage to turn around safely. Once the cop was out of site again, Nathan ran around the buildings until he found an alley they could run through to reach that street to the apartment again. He managed to lose the cop and made it to the apartment where they went right to theirs and started getting ready as soon as they were inside.

"Well, that was exciting," Nathan said while he was packing.

"I'm sorry," Scarlet said, still feeling really embarrassed.

"Don't be, Scarlet. It was your first time. Besides, it's not your fault the first rich guy to walk down the street was left handed," Nathan chuckled and gave Scarlet a hug. "Don't worry so much. You'll get the hang of it with a little practice."

"Promise?"

"Promise," Nathan answered and kissed her head. "Now get packing, kiddo. We'll need to leave a little sooner than expected." Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"San Diego Police! Open the door!" Another knock followed the barked order.

"God damn it, he's good," Nathan said admiringly. "I almost feel kind of bad."

"I don't like him," Scarlet pouted as Nathan packed the last of what little they had with a light laugh.

"He's got a determination that I admire," Nathan said.

"Open the door in the name of the law!" the officer yelled again. "Or I will force open the door!"

"Alright," Nathan sighed a little, speaking to Scarlet. "I think we've teased him enough."

Nathan picked up Scarlet again with their things in the bag on Nathan's back and he went to the first open window and jumped right out just as the cop made good on his threat and made the landlord open the door for him. He went to the window as Nathan was jumping out and looked onto the street. Nathan landed on his feet and looked up at the cop.

"You have a fine day, Officer!" Nathan yelled before starting to run down the road. He heard the cop grumble to himself and leave the window, but by the time he'd gotten back down, Nathan and Scarlet were long gone.

"I think you just made him angrier, daddy," Scarlet giggled.

"Oh, he'll get over it," Nathan smiled. "So we'll head back north a ways until we reach Las Vegas."

"What's Las Vegas like?" Scarlet asked.

"We'll have to wait and find out," Nathan smiled. "There'll be lots of desert; I know that. I know it's approaching the Grand Canyons, but that's in Arizona. Depending on how we like Vegas, we might not stay very long."

"Auntie Caevia's tribe lives in Arizona don't they?"

"That's what she said," Nathan answered. "But I don't think we'll pay them a visit if her stories of them are true. I suspect they don't particularly like visitors."

"Well, that's no fun," Scarlet said. "What tribes are there in Nevada? Maybe we can stay with them for a while."

"I know for a fact the Paiute tribes reside in Nevada. I'm pretty sure there's one that's within Las Vegas too. I don't know if we should ask if we can stay with them, but we can certainly pop in and be friendly. We should arrive in the next couple hours so we'll worry about it then."

"Okay," Scarlet said. "And sorry again for getting us in trouble."

"Don't be," Nathan insisted. "It's just part of learning."

"But grandpa always said you were a natural," Scarlet complained.

"Well, that's me," Nathan said. "Most people have to learn through trial and error. Don't let it bother you so much."

"Okay," Scarlet said, still fuming just a bit, and rested her cheek on Nathan's shoulder.

As he promised they would, they arrived in Nevada in a few short hours at the pace he was running. They'd passed through long desert until they reached the Mojave desert passing large stretches of emptiness with bright red canyons. It was breathtaking. It was everything Nathan always thought it would be and more. The black and white pictures never did the canyons any justice and seeing them in the flesh was like nothing he'd seen before. The sun beat down on them even in the beginnings of autumn and Scarlet was mesmerized. While they ran, she insisted they stop when she noticed something. Nathan stopped and put Scarlet down so she could run to what she'd seen. It was a tiny, spiky creature that stood on four legs with a long tail that looked like it was staring into the sky.

"What's that?" Scarlet asked.

"I think it's called a bearded dragon," Nathan smiled.

"Are they poisonous?" Scarlet asked.

"Not to humans," Nathan said. "Tarantulas and rattle snakes are, though. So if you see a tarantula or a rattle snake, stay away. You'll know rattlers by the sound their tales make."

"So they at least warn you to stay away?" Scarlet giggled.

"Yes, they're kind enough to warn you," Nathan chuckled. "This little guy won't hurt you, though, so long as you don't spook him."

"Do you think I could pick him up?" Scarlet asked.

"Hold on," Nathan said, not wanting to chance it. He crouched and came forward slowly from behind the little lizard. Once he was close enough, Nathan gently picked up the little dragon and it squirmed a little. He gently placed it on his hand and once there, the lizard seemed to relax. "There we go. Try petting his back. It's really rough." Scarlet came a little closer and gently rubbed her finger along the lizard's back. As Nathan said, it was rough and stubbly. Very strange. Then the lizard jumped from Nathan's hand and ran away, making Scarlet giggle.

"I think I scared him," Scarlet said. "That felt so weird. That was nothing like a frog."

"Yeah, frogs are wet little buggers. That thing's dry as a bone," Nathan smiled.

"Maybe we could keep one," Scarlet said.

"Nah," Nathan said. "I don't think dragons are so sociable as Roxanne was," Nathan joked. He stood back up, whipping his hand on his shirt, and then picked Scarlet back up. "Alright, kid, let's get to Vegas."

After getting back into a run, Nathan got them to the city in less than 20 minutes. What they saw was similar in scale to Port Angeles or Seattle, but it was dustier and the buildings were all different. Nathan brought Scarlet to a little park where children had stopped playing seeing as it was a little late. He checked how much money they had: $50 . Not much but it could be enough for some food. But then, finding and hitting up the tribe nearby was sounding rather nice. But that would be rude, so they walked around until they found a little hotel. The place they found featured a bar that was bustling and a young woman on stage singing in a saloon dress. They went to the front desk where a man was rummaging through papers.

"1 bedroom for the night," Nathan said. "With 2 beds if possible."

The man looked up and was a little surprised. "What on earth do you need a room for?"

"We just arrived and we need a place to stay for the night," Nathan said.

"You can't stay with your own?" the man asked.

"Well, considering we don't know the tribe her at all, I thought dropping in on them unannounced would be rather rude," Nathan said.

"You don't- oh! I see, you're not Paiute. My mistake, I assumed you were part of the tribe. Excuse me," the man chuckled a little. "That'll be $5 a night."

Nathan counted 5 singles and placed them on the desk, "One night should do us fine." The man took the money and placed it in the register before removing a key to a vacant room.

"There you are, sir. 3A is open. That has two beds available."

"Thank you," Nathan smiled and left the desk with Scarlet to find their room. It was a little room, but as promised it had two beds and it was cozy enough. Scarlet ran to and plopped on one of the beds, bouncing with the spring mattress.

"It's nice to have a bed," Scarlet sighed in contentment.

"Enjoy it while it lasts," Nathan teased. "Are you hungry?"

"Desperately," Scarlet answered and hopped back off the bed. "Can we get something to eat?"

"Definitely," Nathan said. "Let's see what they've got at the bar."

Nathan and Scarlet left their things in the room and locked the door before going to the bar/saloon area of the hotel where they'd seen the woman singing. She was still on the stage when they arrived and she was still singing. They took their seats somewhere and waited for someone to come and talk to them. They ordered some food and waited while enjoying the show. Soon their soups and bread arrived and they dug in. They overheard a few men talking about their work at the Hoover Dam. It would be done by next year and word was they were all damned proud of it.

"I thought everyone hated President Hoover," Scarlet said when she'd overheard the workers boasting about it.

"Apparently not everyone," Nathan chuckled and gave Scarlet a gentle nudge on her shoulder.

They spent the night at the hotel and left the following morning with their things on Nathan's back. While the roads were mostly paved and the buildings sturdy, there was still a little reminder of the desert outside the city with little critters skittering around. As they perused the town, she saw several kids in different groups all over playing with little bearded dragons in town. One group of kids were playing with a tarantula, holding a stick and poking it hoping to get a reaction. Nathan asked around until they eventually found the part of the city that was actually reserved for the Paiute Indians.

It was nothing like back home. For a start, it appeared nearly identical to the main town. He understood why all the locals were calling it a 'town within a town'. The stores were labeled accordingly and appeared to be made of beige clay. It wasn't just the Native Americans that crowded the streets either. It was all manner of citizens of town. They went to the little shop and stepped in. It appeared just at all the other shops they'd seen and there were a few patrons in the store that were going through the goods. There was a kid sitting behind the counter that Nathan could tell was a Paiute. He had long coal black hair tied back in a ponytail and his skin reminded him of Caevia's. He wasn't really paying attention to the store at the moment, more absorbed in reading a copy of Famous Funnies.

"Morning," Nathan said when he and Scarlet walked up to the counter. The kid looked up from his comic and put it down.

"Morning to you too," he said. "Did you need help looking for something?"

"I was actually hoping I could obtain a guide. You see, my daughter and I got into town not long ago and we're in need of a place to stay."

"I can't say that's my place to offer that, but I can point you in the direction of someone that can."

"I'd appreciate that…"

"Danny," he answered. "My name's Danny."

"I appreciate it, Danny. My name's Nathan Black by the way. This is my daughter Scarlet Willow." Scarlet smiled bashfully and waved her hand a little.

"Well, welcome to Las Vegas," Danny said as he got out a map and showed Nathan where the tribe's gathering place was. Thankfully, it was just down the road. After thanking Danny for his help, they left the shop and walked down the road where they'd been shown and let themselves into the little building they'd been advised was the tribal center. When they walked in, there were children playing together with a young woman running around with them. There was another man sitting in a chair in the corner with mostly black hair that was slightly grayed. He heard Nathan and Scarlet enter and got up from the chair to walk over and greet them.

"And who might you strangers be?" the man asked.

"My name's Nathan Black and this is my daughter Scarlet Willow. We just arrived in town yesterday and we were hoping we might find a place to stay while we were here."

"I suppose we can make some kind of arrangements for you," the man said. "How long were you staying?"

"We weren't sure yet," Nathan said. "We stayed in San Diego a month, but we might stay here longer. It's already growing on me a bit."

"You came all the way here from San Diego?"

"Washington, actually. San Diego was just our first travel destination."

"Washington you say? I thought you looked a little pale," he said. "The sun will do you some good, I say."

"I couldn't agree more, mister….."

"Just call me Delsin. Over there's my daughter Tamara."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Delsin. And thank you for your kindness."

"So from what tribe do you hail?"

"The Quileutes of the North Olympic region."

"Quileutes you say?" Delsin said rather coarsely. "The name seems vaguely familiar."

"Really? I wouldn't think we'd be so well known."

"Truthfully, if it's the tribe I'm thinking of, I fear the memory is not positive," Delsin said. "Though I'll not hold old history against you. Least of all when I'm not positive."

"Perhaps I can alleviate the concern," Nathan offered. "How did you come to hear of the Quileutes?"

"Well, it's an old story, but there was a time in our history when a large group that said they were Quileutes invaded our lands. It was brief, but they took a number of our people by force and were gone nearly as soon as they'd come."

"That may hold some truth," Nathan said. "We had a chief that banished a large group of people for treason. A member of that family had attempted to murder the chief so they were banished."

"I see," Delsin said. "All the same, it was before any of our times, so no need to hold it over your head." Delsin turned to look towards the young woman playing with the children. "Tamara! We have guests, so get some beds ready for them in the back room!"

"Alright!" the young woman answered and left the children to continue playing while leaving through a side door that appeared to lead to a hallway.

"Those will be ready soon, so stay as long as you like," Delsin said. "You've come at an opportune time as it turns out. We like to get people together once a week in the desert around a bonfire and tell stories over food and coffee. Seeing as you're our guests, I'd like to invite you to join us tomorrow next we meet."

"We'd love to," Nathan agreed.

"Daddy," Scarlet said, "Can I play with the other kids?"

"Sure, go ahead," Nathan said and let go of Scarlet so she could run over to the kids and play. After a brief period of introducing herself to the other kids, they included her in a game of tag and the children ran around the room playing.

"So where's her mother?" Delsin asked.

"She passed away early this year," Nathan lamented. "Cancer took her."

"My apologies for your loss," Delsin said. "What was her name?"

"Tomoeh," Nathan said. He even reached into his bag and pulled out their family picture he carried and showed it to Delsin.

"She's a beauty," Delsin said. "I can see why you married her."

"Truth be told, it was arranged in part. Her tribe had attacked ours and marriages were set up to keep the peace. I loved her all the same, though. I just wish I'd told her more."

"If that smile is an indicator, she knew," Delsin reassured. "Come sit with me. I assume you and your daughter have been on your feet a while." Nathan followed Delsin to the chairs in the corner and took one beside him. "So how old are you?"

"I'm 26 in December," Nathan said.

"That's a tender age to be alone with a child. How old is your daughter?" Delsin asked.

"She's 9 now," Nathan answered.

"A child raising a child," Delsin said in a seemingly sad tone. "An all too familiar story." There was a moment of silence and Nathan didn't bother to answer back. "I didn't ask: why on earth are you here all the way from Washington?"

"It was Tomoeh's last wish. She used to tell me that one of the things she'd loved about me was my sense of adventure. She'd humor me whenever I'd show her my atlas and all the places I wanted to go. We used to talk about how when Scarlet was older, we'd all travel together or after we had a second baby. We'd been trying to have a second baby, but when she wasn't getting pregnant, we eventually found out it was because of cancer. She made me promise I'd take Scarlet on my adventure."

"She sounds like she was a good woman," Delsin said.

"She was," Nathan said in a hushed tone. "She also made me promise I'd fall in love again. I don't know if I can deliver on that, though."

"Well, you'd best," Delsin said. "No one has just one soul mate. It is possible to love many people. So is the nature of being human. You'll find a young woman to love someday. You just need to be open to the possibility."

"All the same, it's too soon," Nathan said. "So no need to set me up with Tamara or something," Nathan joked.

"Oh, don't flatter yourself, boy. You're not good enough for my daughter," Delsin said and Nathan laughed.

"Pleased to hear it," Nathan answered. "I take it she's not married?'

"Widowed," Delsin said. "Her husband died when he was working on Hoover Dam."

"I'm sorry," Nathan said. "I assume that sort of thing isn't uncommon?"

"Unfortunately, no," Delsin said. "I lost a son to that monstrosity to boot. I'm certainly not the only one. I'll be happy when it's done."

"If you don't mind me asking, how old is Tamara?"

"She's 22," Delsin said. "She's my youngest in fact."

"Out of…"

"Three," Delsin. "Their mother put her foot down when we finally had Tamara. What of you? Do you have siblings?"

"Three," Nathan said. "Two older brothers and a twin sister. Thankfully, the burden of chiefdom is on my brother Kevin's shoulders God forbid the need should come up, so I'm free to travel."

"You're a chief's son? I suppose you implied that didn't you?"

"With the arranged marriage thing, I guess I did," Nathan said. "My grandpa is still living and is still chief. After him will be my father Jacob."

"I see," Delsin said.

"Are you chief, then?"

"No," Delsin said. "I'm a council member, but not chief. So how long do you and your daughter plan to travel?"

"I don't have a specific plan in mind outside of making it to the Amazon. And that'll take however long it's going to take. It'll depend on how much we like places we come to and how long we stay. We'd been in San Diego most recently like I'd said, but we had to leave suddenly because Scarlet got caught pick-pocketing." Nathan chuckled a little but Delsin seemed un-amused.

"Be aware that we will not tolerate that kind of behavior," Delsin said pointedly and Nathan stopped smiling.

"I wasn't implying we'd do anything like that to you or your own. We were on our own in San Diego and it was our means of getting by. Seeing as you've been kind enough to offer us a place to stay and food to eat, there will be no need for us to do such a thing."

"I'll expect you to adhere to that," Delsin said. Tamara finally returned and she smiled warmly at Nathan.

"Those rooms are ready for you and the little girl whenever you're ready."

"Thanks for that. Tamara, right?"

"Yes, Tamara. And what was your name?"

"I'm Nathan Black and that's my daughter Scarlet Willow. I'd tell her to say hello, but she seems to be occupied at the moment." Scarlet was still playing tag with the other children and Tamara glanced at her and giggled.

"I'm happy to see the children are being so nice," Tamara said.

"Any of them yours?" Nathan asked.

"Only a nephew," Tamara said. "I'm without children."

"Your father mentioned your late husband worked on that Dam. My condolences for your loss. I lost my wife to illness earlier this year, so I know the feeling."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Tamara said. "Did father invite you and your daughter to join us for our bonfire?"

"He did. I'm looking forward to it. I know Scarlet will too once I tell her."

While the children continued to play, Nathan reiterated to Tamara everything he'd told to Delsin. Delsin seemed to remain slightly apprehensive about Nathan for the most part though he remained a gracious host. Tamara was much friendlier on the other hand. He mentioned that Scarlet had found and expressed a liking for the bearded dragons in the desert. Tamara revealed she too had a fondness for the reptiles and kept several as pets, offering to allow Scarlet to come to the house she shared with her father to play with them. Once they'd managed to get her attention, Scarlet eagerly accepted Tamara's offer and they went to the house with her to meet all her lizards. Tamara had them in a little encasement in the backyard of the house so the lizards could have natural light to bask in and a little clay dome for them to hide and a little cactus. Tamara helped Scarlet into the little encasement and the lizards initially scattered before returning to their business. Once she was able, Scarlet started playing with the lizards by picking them up and letting them walk over her hand.

"Thanks for letting her play with your pets," Nathan said. "We used to have a wolf, but she'd passed away."

"You seem to have lost a great deal," Tamara said.

"I'm afraid so, but we're getting through it. I was apprehensive about us traveling together after Tomoeh died, but this turned out to be exactly what we needed. We've been putting red tree ornaments everywhere we've gone. It's our little way of bringing Tomoeh with us I guess you could say."

"That's very sweet," Tamara said. "Maybe I can help you two find another place to place your next one. The canyons might be perfect. The view is breath taking when you're high up on those canyons."

"We'd appreciate that," Nathan smiled. "So do you and your dad run a little daycare or something?"

"I'm a teacher," Tamara said. "You caught us while they were at recess. Seeing as you occupied the remainder of mine and father's time so the kids were able to play, they already love you two."

"I'm pleased to hear it," Nathan chuckled. "I'd thought that place was the tribal center."

"We use it as a school as well," Tamara said. "We're in the midst of building a school but it works for the time being."

"How long have you been a teacher?"

"Three years," Tamara said. "There was a woman from town that was originally a teacher to our tribe after the reservation was made for us twenty or so years ago and she'd retired. I trained with her for a while and took over after that."

"My mother and aunts were our primary teachers when I was a boy," Nathan said. "Mother's a little more focused on medicine now that she's inherited the Medicine Man's responsibility, so my aunts and a family friend, Claire, took over all teaching responsibility to the children."

"Your mother is the tribe's Holy Man? I've not heard such a thing before."

"My mother was a nurse before she came to be with the tribe, so my Uncle had taken her under his wing."

"Your mother is white?" Tamara asked, a little surprised.

"Yes," Nathan said. "My mother is white and my father is son to the tribe's future chief."

"I would have never guessed you were half white. You look so like your father I can tell."

"My twin sister and I all look like our dad. My two older brothers look more like our mother. Is no one in your tribe half white?"

"No," Tamara answered bluntly. "The people that came to inhabit this land back in 1911 have been rather good to us. I can't speak for the bunch that came before them, but we had a new wave of people who had named the town Las Vegas and that's when a reservation was created for us within the city. They've not mingled with us intimately outside of that however."

"Sounds a little like Forks," Nathan said. "That's the town my tribe is closest to. Our relationship with them used to be hostile at best, but that changed due almost entirely to Jae."

"That's your sister's husband you said, right?"

"Yes, that's my sister's husband. Everyone loves Jae. Once he became a frequent visitor of the General Store owner and eventually started working for him, the remainder of the town that had still not liked us warmed up to the Quileutes really quick."

"He sounds like quite the man," Tamara said.

"He is," Nathan smiled. "Sometimes I wish I were more like him." Tamara smiled at Nathan but returned her attention to Scarlet who was still playing with the dragons.

Unfortunately, it eventually became late and they needed to return to the tribal center. Nathan was surprised how cold it got come nightfall. The sun had kept the temperature a nice, comfortable temperature, but the moon did little to retain the warmth. Delsin let them back into the tribal center and showed them to the room Nathan and Scarlet would be sharing with two little beds on either side of the room. Scarlet eagerly dived right into the bed and got comfortable, going right to bed. While Scarlet slept, Nathan quietly became a wolf so he could give the pack an update.

That was nice of them to let you stay,Jacob said when he heard Nathan's thoughts.

It's certainly less expensive than the hotel was. Scarlet loves those little lizards we keep seeing.

And they call them dragons? Jae asked.

They're nicknamed Bearded Dragons, Nathan said. I suspect we'll be pestering Tamara a lot to play with them.

Maybe she can take one with as a pet, Jacob suggested.

I'll convince her not to,Nathan said. Reptiles require a lot more care than we can offer at the moment. They're cold blooded so they need to be able to sit in the sun to warm up and get in the shade to cool down. While I'm sure Scarlet would have the best intentions, I don't think she can handle that responsibility.

Maybe, Jacob said.

You'll certainly be seeing desert for a while, though, won't you? You said you were passing through Arizona and New Mexico after this right? As far as I know, Texas has a bit of desert and so does Mexico.

Yes, we'll be seeing mostly desert until we reach southern Mexico, although I would prefer we keep to the coast. Scarlet likes the beaches.

Any estimation as to your return that I can offer your mother? Jacob asked.

Just let mom know we're fine, we're having a great time and we'll be back when we get back.

Not the answer I wanted, Nathan,Jacob said.

Well, it's the answer you got. The pack enjoyed a good laugh for a moment; a laugh that even Jacob couldn't help but join. So how has Kevin been? He hasn't been on patrol for a while again?

He's working, Jae said. He still visits home every weekend but the way he's been working, he's exhausted by the end of the day. Embry says that sometimes he'll be home before Kevin gets back and Kevin won't give so much as a hello before he goes right to bed. The immigration officer hasn't been helping either.

Still no further luck with the Dymeks? Nathan asked. For fuck sake, just bring them here illegally at this point.

Kevin's basically decided to give the officer one more year to 'get his ass moving' or he's going to get Amber and her family himself. Jacob answered. Your grandpa said he'd lend Kevin money to go to Paris in the winter to visit them.

Will he be able to stay longer than a night? Nathan asked.

Kevin will stay through Hanukah. So at least a few days,Jacob said. Also, are you and Scarlet coming back for Christmas?

We weren't planning to,Nathan said. By then, we'll probably be leaving for Arizona. So…enjoy adding that bit of news to mom.

I swear, Nathan, if you keep this up, your mother will slap you clear across the face next she sees you.

Despite his irritation with Nathan, Jacob wished Nathan a good rest of their trip and to give Scarlet a hug for him. After their talk, Nathan changed back and finally went to bed, being sure to go over to Scarlet's side giving her a quick hug and kiss on the head courtesy of her grandpa, making sure not to wake her. Since she'd extended the offer, Nathan sat in with Tamara while she taught the children with Scarlet sitting in on the lesson: a development she was less than impressed with. "If I wanted to sit around listening to a lesson," she'd complained, "I could have stayed home." Tamara told Scarlet to pay attention and she behaved the remainder of the day. When the children were given liberty to play, Scarlet perked up and played with the kids that were quickly becoming firm friends.

"Aside from her little outburst, you're daughter's a good student," Tamara smiled.

"She can be when she wants," Nathan said. "She loves history, so that tends to hold her attention. Anything else bores her."

"Oh really?" Tamara said and giggled.

"Really," Nathan smiled. "She gets that from me I'm afraid. I was good at math and science and enjoyed that well enough, but I wasn't really interested unless we were studying history. Reading and writing and French were never my thing."

"French? My, didn't we get quite the five star education?" Tamara teased. "I take it your mother's side of the family saw to that?"

"Damn straight," Nathan chuckled. "My grandpa used to complain that he'd not tolerate his grandchildren receiving any less. Before they'd made my parents a nice big house, he used to also complain endlessly about us all sleeping on the ground in a teepee on top of each other like 'little hamsters' as he used to put it."

"Beauty of clay houses is you can make them any size you want," Tamara smiled.

"Doesn't hurt that they're appealing to look at," Nathan smiled back. "The townspeople seem to be really nice to your tribe."

"They're on the 'nicer' side," Tamara answered. "You still have your rogue racists, but that can't always be helped." They two watched the kids play a moment in silence. Eventually, Tamara instructed the children to return to her so they could continue their schooling for the day.

When it was later in the evening, Tamara and Delsin brought Nathan and Scarlet to their house and got ready to leave for the little gathering outside town. They hitched a ride with another tribesman that was making their way there and by the time the sun had set, they'd arrived at the designated site where a fire was already blazing with a giant pot of soup on the fire in a large pot. Some brought chairs while others were seated on the floor. Nathan noticed Danny among the group talking with a few other boys his age and a young woman that appeared to be his sister. As they approached, a man that appeared the spitting image of Delsin were he 20 years younger approached and hugged Delsin.

"So this is the new comer?" he asked after he'd said hello to his father and sister.

"Yes, this is Nathan and his daughter Scarlet," Delsin said. "Nathan, this is my eldest, David."

"Pleasure to meet you," David smiled kindly and extended his hand to Nathans to shake. "I hear you got to play with my sister's dragons?"

"Yeah, and they're really cute," Scarlet smiled. "They make funny noises too."

"That they do," David agreed. "Well, I don't know about the four of you, but I'm starving. Dinner's been ready for the past 15 minutes and we've just been waiting for everyone to get here."

"Well, don't wait to eat on our account," Delsin chuckled and they all walked to the fire and once everyone was seated, a few of the women started serving everyone their soup.

"So father said you were widowed?" David asked Nathan once they were all seated. A woman sitting beside him, Lillian as Nathan discovered who as it turns out was David's wife, swatted his arm.

"David, don't be rude," Lillian said.

"I'm not being rude, I'm asking a question," David defended. Rather than argue, Nathan nodded.

"Yes, my wife passed away during the New Year. She died just as it became January."

"My condolences," David said. "I'm told you came all the way here from Washington state?"

"Yes, we did," Nathan nodded. "I've always wanted to travel and Tomoeh, my wife, told me she wanted this to be something Scarlet and I did together. So we're going to keep going south until we reach the Amazon."

"Why the Amazon?" Lillian asked.

"Because it's the place I want to go the most," Nathan said. "I've read so much about it and heard so many things about it that I grew to love it. Once I've seen the Amazon, we'll return home."

"That's certainly exciting," Lillian said. "If only we could do something like that, David."

"Indeed," David said.

For a while, everyone was talking pleasantly and just ate their dinner. Delsin was sitting with a group of men at varying ages that Nathan assumed was the tribe's council. One of the children, David's and Lillian's son, talked with Scarlet while they were eating and, once they were done, pulled her off to the side with the other kids to play.

"Scarlet Willow, right?" David said when the kids ran off. "How'd you and your wife come up with that name?"

"When we found out she was pregnant, we went to my family's house and just looked through a bunch of books until something sounded good."

"That works," David shrugged.

"If she'd been a boy, her name would have been Crimson Ash."

"Good thing she was born a girl," Lillian said and Nathan chuckled.

"Now who's being rude?" David teased. "Scarlet's your only child right?"

"Yeah, she's an only child," Nathan said. "She's got two cousins, but they're younger than her."

"Perhaps one day she'll have more," Lillian said.

"I'm sure of it," Nathan said. "It'll just be a while, though. Besides, the cousins she has are both boys."

"And what are their names?" Lillian asked.

"JJ is the oldest and his little brother Salem. They're about 2 years apart give or take. Their dad wants more kids but my sister's put the brakes on for now," Nathan chuckled.

"As well she should," Lillian said. "I love my little boy, don't get me wrong. But I despised being pregnant."

"I remember," David sighed. "We had our son, so I'm happy."

"You don't want to try again for a girl?" Nathan asked.

"No," David and Lillian both said in unison and Nathan chuckled again. Soon, some of the elders yelled for everyone's attention, including the children who were instructed to return to the group, and started up what would be a string of stories from Trickster tales, so history to just someone telling the others about their day.

"Scarlet, correct?" the eldest of the men said when they reached Scarlet and she nodded. "Tell the group a story of your people. You belong to a tribe to the north correct?"

Scarlet nodded and sat up on Nathan's knee while he sat in a wood chair so she could see everyone. "Can I tell a story daddy told me?"

"Of course," the man said.

"It's about an Evergreen named Little Red Tree."

"What is an evergreen, child?" he asked.

"It's a big tree that's green all year round. It's used as a Christmas tree."

"Oh, those things," the man said and everyone knew what she was talking about. "Anyway, excuse my interruption child. Please go on."

"Okay," Scarlet said and cleared her throat before proceeding. "Once upon a time, there was an evergreen named Little Red Tree. Little Red Tree was loved by all the animals in the forest, but he was sad because he'd lived in the same woods for so long and never got to see more of the world. One day, a Raven flew onto Little Red Tree's branch and said, 'What's the matter Little Red Tree?'

Little red Tree said, 'I've been in these woods for so long and it's all I've seen. I'm rooted into the ground and can't move from where I am.'

The Raven was laughing at Little Red Tree and said, 'That's a shame. I have wings, so I can fly!'

Little Red Tree cried, 'Please Raven, tell me what's it's like from high in the sky. Is it pretty?'

'It's very pretty,' the Raven said and Little Red Tree continued to cry. Soon the Raven felt bad. 'Don't cry Little Red Tree. What if I give you wings?'

'Would you really?' Little Red Tree asked.

'Yes, I'll give you wings,' the Raven promised. 'But you have to return here after 10 years. That is when you will change back.'

So the Raven changed Little Red Tree into a pretty red bird and Little Red Tree flew away to explore the world. He dipped his toes into rivers and oceans and ate fruit off a cactus until he reached a big rain forest. He loved it so much that he stayed. Then the end of his ten years came and while he was perched in a tree eating fruit, Little Red Tree turned back into a giant evergreen. Little Red Tree cried thinking he would die, but soon he decided he'd seen so much of the world and he could die happy. But then he changed. His pine needles turned to big green leaves and he grew pretty red flowers and the animals took comfort from Little Red Tree. So rather than die, he adapted and became better than ever."

Nathan smiled a little and the group clapped for the story. "A very good story," the eldest council member praised. "So what about you, Nathan? That is your name?"

"Yes, that's my name."

"Perhaps you could tell us a story about your people. I'm curious about your tribe to the north."

"Daddy, maybe you can tell them a scary story," Scarlet suggested.

"Yeah!" one of the kids said. "Tell a scary story!" A few other kids agreed and the elders and parents were overruled.

"There you have it," the man chuckled. "Tell us a scary story."

"I guess I can manage that," Nathan said, deciding he'd come up with something. "Here's a story we have in my tribe and our ally's tribe.

'During the winter, many, many ago, it was a particularly cruel winter with blistering winds, falling snow and bitter cold. It's said there was a woman named Dask'iya with three children and a husband. She discovered during that bitter winter that her husband was having an affair. Upon her discovery, rather than apologize, he left her with their three children and ran to the arms of his lover.

'Dask'iya was furious and heartbroken over her husband's betrayal. She decided that she would have her revenge. So she took her children into the mountain, her youngest tucked in a little basket, where the cold was its harshest and killed all three of her children for their father's indiscretion.'" As Nathan told the story, he had just about everyone on the edge of their seat, including Scarlet. "'After killing her children, Dask'iya left them there on the mountain. Or she had attempted to. When she tried to go down the mountain, she discovered that she was trapped. No matter where she walked, she couldn't get down without risking injury. So she was stuck in those mountains with her three dead children.

'She hid herself away in a cave deciding to wait out the winter, but it was too great a task and she discovered that she was hungry. No. Ravenous. Dask'iya began to look at her three dead children, her mouth salivating. She denied it at first, determined to outlive the winter and return down the mountain, but soon the hunger consumed her and she couldn't resist anymore. She started with her eldest child and dragged his body into the cave with her and ate his flesh raw with just her knife and teeth as her tools.

'At first, she was filled and satisfied and put the child to the side. But soon, much sooner than she should have been, she was hungry again and she ate more of her eldest child until there was nothing left but bones. As she ate, she regained her strength, and she wasn't cold anymore. But she was always hungry. She ate all three of her children before she knew it and yet she was still starving. And she was changing. Her skin paled to a sickly color and her hands seem to become alien to her. Yet she could now leave the mountain with ease, faster than she ever moved before. She moved like a spider from tree to tree in search of food until she found children alone in the woods.

'She swept the children up in her basket and brought them back up the mountain where she placed gum on their eyes and burned the children alive before eating them until she reached their bones. And so it was that Dask'iya terrorized the tribes near the mountains. She kidnapped children by swooping them up in her little basket and would eat them at the top of her mountain in her little cave where she would press gum into their eyes and burn them alive.

'Then, one day, Dask'iya kidnapped some Quileute children among whom was a young girl. She brought them up to her mountain top and put gum on their eyes preparing to burn them alive. While Dask'iya danced and sang for her meal, the young girl warmed her hands against the fire and rubbed the gum from her eyes. When she could see, the young girl pushed Dask'iya into the fire and caused her to burn alive, saving the children from a certain death and returned the children to their tribe. It's said that while Dask'iya is dead, she might come back one day if children are bad. So it's important to always be good or Dask'iya may come back and take you up to her mountain to eat you.'" A gentle round of applause came after Nathan told the story. Granted it was largely fabricated from the actual story, but they seemed to like it.

"Is that story true?" one little kids asked Nathan.

"I can promise you, Dask'iya was real. You know how I know?" The little boy shook his head. "Because my great grandpa saw a creature just like her. A sickly monster that screeched a horrible sound with grey skin, teeth like knives and limbs that were abnormally long that moved like a spider. A monster that ate humans and grew bigger with each time it ate human flesh."

"Was Dask'iya a giant like in our stories?"

"Not quite like your giants, but she would certainly have been tall," Nathan said. "That's why you have to be very good or Dask'iya might come back!" The children all shivered while the adults chuckled a bit.

"Well, now that our guest has terrified the children," the elder joked and then looked at the young man sitting beside Nathan. "Tolame, why don't you share a story?"

"Alright," he said and sat up a little straighter and cleared his throat. "Now far be it from me to claim a monster like Dask'iya is not scary. But children, you don't need to fear her, for she belongs to the tribes of the north. I hear tales of the Algonquin tribes who claim such a beast can only wander at night and need shelter during the day."

"You're thinking of Wendigos, but please go on," Nathan teased and Tolame chuckled.

"Has Dask'iya been known to leave her frigid terrain?"

"Children were always abundant in our tribe, so she's never had a need to wander too far."

"All the same," Tolame said. "What you should fear, children, are the Water Babies." At the name, the children knew what he meant and shivered, but Scarlet was unaware.

"What are Water Babies?" Scarlet asked.

"They're evil spirits that infest our waters. They appear at night only, so during the day the water is safe. But should you venture to the waters at night, you're doomed to risk your life. Water Babies earned their name for the cries they make at night to lure their victims. Some say they look like beautiful babies to lure their pray. Others claim their have tails like fish. They have even been known to kidnap children and change them into spirits just like them and that child will be doomed as a Water Baby for all of time. Now sadly, children, there is no brave hero that saved our people from this great menace, though certainly not due to lack of effort.

"You see children, Isa, our great wolf spirit, had seen the torment these evil creatures bestowed upon the desert people and he lamented for us. In his benevolence, Isa decided that he would try to destroy the creatures and enlisted the assistance of his younger brother, Coyote. Now, Coyote hated the Water Babies! Their dreadful wailing kept him up at night and he was tired of it. So he gladly agreed to help his brother destroy the foul spirits. So Isa and Coyote came up with a plan: they would take cacti and turn them into little men to lure the spirits from the water and when they'd left, Coyote would snatch them up and eat them.

"Isa found two cacti and bestowed upon them the ability to walk. So the cacti removed their strong roots from the desert floor and proceeded to walk. Coyote was tasked with leading the cacti to the water but as they traveled, one cactus man accidently stabbed Coyote with his needles and Coyote became angry, attacking the creature. He caused himself to be ensnared in the cactus man's body and was covered in needles and he began to whimper. Feeling for his brother, Isa called to a little desert bird and asked him to pluck the needles from his poor brother's body. The bird did so and removed the last needle at the break of dawn.

"Since it was morning, Isa and Coyote had to put their plan on hold and Isa instructed the Cacti to return their roots to the ground. They agreed they would try again the next night. So when the moon returned to the sky, Coyote and Isa brought the Cacti back to life and once again Coyote was tasked with leading the cacti to the oasis where the evil spirits rested. This time, Coyote was very careful not to let the cactus men touch him lest they have a repeat of the previous night. As they made their journey, the crossed paths with a Jaguar.

'Where do you go with walking cacti?' Jaguar asked.

'We go to defeat the evil Water Babies,' Coyote howled proudly. 'We will lure them out of their waters with the cactus men and when they're out, I will eat them!'

The Jaguar laughed, 'The Water Babies are not so stupid to be fooled by simple walking plants! They will see through your plan and you will have done all this for nothing!'

"Coyote became angry with the Jaguar and howled at him challengingly. Isa, determined for the plan to work and to calm his brother, begged the Jaguar to tell him how to defeat the Water Babies if he knew. The Jaguar contemplated a moment and then had an idea.

'You know of the Nimerigar?' the Jaguar asked and Isa and Coyote nodded." All the children shivered at the mention of the name.

"What are the Nimerigar?" Scarlet asked.

"Much like your evil Dask'iya, they're cannibals that are evil. But unlike Dask'iya who was once human and became a large beast that grows in size with the consumption of human flesh, they are a tribe of tiny people that are ferocious and violent," Tolame explained. "'So with Isa's and Coyote's confirmations, the Jaguar smiled maliciously.

"You must lure the Nimerigar to the water where the spirits dwell and they will wage war upon each other.' Having provided his word of advice, the Jaguar ran away into the night. So Isa and Coyote went about their plan and went to a little village where the tiny men known as the Nimerigar dwelled. Using the walking Cacti, Isa lured the vicious cannibals from their pyre where they danced around a cooking baby and brought the Nimerigar to the water's edge where the spirits lived.

"As the Jaguar said would happen, the Water Babies and Nimerigar waged war on each other. The spirits cried into the night and the Nimerigar made their war cries. But some of the cannibal men were engulfed by the Water Babies, making them more vicious than ever. In turn, some of the Nimerigar picked up the Water Babies which made the cannibals more ravenous. Coyote attempted to fight, but nearly was engulfed by the Water Babies and Isa grabbed him to flee. Isa and Coyote learned that night that it is not possible to fight and defeat evil with evil.

"To this day, no force, human or trickster, has been able to defeat the evil Water Babies. So always be careful, children, when wandering along the water at night. For if you hear the cries of a baby and follow, it is sure to lead to your doom."

The group clapped to Tolame's story and moved on to the next person. Nathan was pleased to hear the man tell a story that was clearly influenced by an H.P. Lovecraft story seeing as the group had decided to go in the horror direction. Specifically, the man told his own tale of a man that discovered papers describing the Eldritch Gods. He told a story of a man of Paiute origin that found a statue of a strange creature in the desert. He described it as a serpent creature with then heads covered in eyes. He described writing being on the statue but it was illegible and a different language. All he could decipher was a single word that appeared completely unpronounceable.

"Can you spell what it said?" Nathan asked the man. The children were getting really into the story and Nathan wanted to make it feel more real. "I speak fluent Lovecraft," he joked and the man chuckled a little and looked at Tamara asking for some paper and a pencil. Thankfully, she had both and handed them over to the current storyteller who wrote down a random, completely indecipherable word almost challenging Nathan. Once he'd written his word, he handed it over to Nathan: Ymnap'Ktshpara. "I believe that's pronounced 'Yem-nah-p Ki-tysh-para'."

The man laughed and took back the paper seeming to write down the pronunciation Nathan had just given. Once Nathan had pronounced the name, the storyteller continued. He described how the man found the statue and began examining it. The stone that the serpent was carved in appeared as though it was from another world. It was slimy and yet the dust of the desert did not adhere to it and, when the man accidently dropped it, the statue did not break or chip. He tried breaking it, but the statue never so much as scratched. The man stared at and examined the statue until it was night until he was near delirious with tiredness.

He continued, saying that the man then took the statue to the tribal elders to see if they knew what the statue was, but it was to no avail. The elders had not known what the statue was. In a last effort to find out what the statue was, he traveled to the east with little more than a sack of clean clothes where he'd heard tale of scholars that studied ancient artifacts. The young man continued by stating the man finally found a scholar that was able to tell the finder of the artifact, though the language was foreign to him as well, was something originating from the south oceans. Unfortunately the scholar's explanation went no further than that, except to advise the man that he need lay his curiosity to rest. But the man could not be stopped and he procured a boat all by his lonesome and set sail for the south oceans just as the scholar had said.

The young man told of how the character had sailed for days, growing delirious with thirst and hunger following his food and water supply running dry. Soon the man couldn't keep conscious and fell asleep in his boat. He did eventually awake, but it was on a beach of black rocks with a mountain. The young man explained how the character in his weakened state barely managed to rise only to find his boat in complete shambles. He was stranded. With nowhere else to go, the character climbed up the mountain until he happened upon a shrine. He was startled to find it was made from the same slimy, strong stone as the statue he'd found and bared the same bizarre image of the serpent. Yet as he stared upon the massive image, he began to feel strange. His head throbbed, he heard strange sounds that he couldn't identify, and his vision was compromised. Suddenly, he swore that he saw the strange statue move and the man became violently ill, upchucking contents that were not there. Then from his mouth poured what could only be described as black sludge that was vile in taste and the man proceeded to scream and lose consciousness.

After he had, the young man explained, he eventually re-awoke, but in a place he would have never guessed. He awoke in the cabin of a boat. It was later explained to him that he was found stranded in his own small craft in the middle of the ocean and he'd been rescued. The man concluded initially what happened to him must have been a dream and he finally took the wise advise of the scholar and returned home in an attempt to forget the incident. Yet forget he could not. For every night when he tried to sleep, he'd awake before that statue he had seen. Always clear as day to his eyes and the creature would momentarily appear to move and he would fall ill as he had before. The nightmares persisted and drove him mad. The young man explained that the elder's family and tribal elders grew wary of his condition and sought the assistance of the holy man. Yet his chants did nothing improve his condition. His nightmares and paranoia persisted, one day, he had that same dream one last time.

He awoke before the statue and became ill as he always did. Yet this time, the creature did not move slightly. It appeared to come to life and, in his dream, he'd lost consciousness again with the feel of a headache persisting. This time, however, the man did not wake from the nightmare.

After the young man finished his story, the children appeared thoroughly scared and the tribal elders insisted that scary stories were no longer to be told for the remainder of the gathering lest all the children suffer lack of sleep.

"So you're an H.P. Lovecraft reader?" the man asked Nathan once he had the chance.

"I've found occasion to read a few of his stories," Nathan nodded. "I found them a little more interesting that the Jane Austen I grew up reading."

"As did I," the young man said. "I'm Dan by the way."

"Nice to meet you, Dan," Nathan smiled back.

The story telling went on for hours. By the time they'd completed the circle, most of the children were sound asleep. Scarlet had dozed off sitting in Nathan's lap shortly after Dan's story. He hitched a ride back to town with everyone and they dropped him off at the tribal center so they could get to bed. Nathan tucked Scarlet into bed and Nathan fell asleep near immediately after resting his head on the pillow. He only woke up when he felt tiny hands nudge his shoulder repeating 'daddy' over and over until he finally opened his eyes and looked at Scarlet.

"Everything alright?" Nathan asked in a drowsy tone.

"I went into the gym to play but all whole bunch of people are already there and there's all kinds of food. Someone named Dan asked for you."

"Oh, yeah, that guy," Nathan said and sat up, rubbing his eyes and yawning. "What did he want?"

"He didn't say he wanted anything in particular. I think they're just inviting us to have breakfast with them," Scarlet said.

"Alright," Nathan said. "Just give me a second and I'll be right out."

Scarlet nodded and left the room to run back to the gymnasium while Nathan got into a fresh pair of clothes and went to the gymnasium. Scarlet was already playing with a bunch of the children. Some were running with bread in their mouths and were firmly scolded for the hazard. There were tables everywhere and the gym was packed with people already eating their breakfast. Tamara seemed to be heading the line of people handing out food. Nathan saw the man from the night before, Dan, walk over to him.

"Morning," he said. "Nathan you said, right?"

"Yeah, Nathan," he nodded. "And you said your name was Dan?"

"Still is last I checked," Dan joked and they chuckled. "How'd you sleep? I've stayed in those little cells before and they get hold as shit in the summer."

"It's a little cold for my liking actually," Nathan said. "Although, I'll take your word for it that it gets hot. What were you staying back there for?"

"Long story short, the wife and I were arguing at the time," Dan answered with a shrug.

"I assume you two reconciled?" Nathan asked.

"Eventually," Dan answered.

"Was your wife at the bonfire last night?"

"No, she was working," Dan said. "She actually works at that inn you and Scarlet had been staying at before."

"Where do you work?"

"On the dam," Dan shuddered. "We'll all be happy when that fucking thing is done. But enough of my grumbling. You must be hungry so let's get you something."

Nathan followed Dan to where all the food was being handed out and Nathan stuck with bread and some left over soup from the night before just to be on the safe side. Once they had their food, Nathan sat with Dan near where the kids were playing.

"She looks like her mom," Dan said randomly.

"Pardon?" Nathan asked.

"You're daughter," Dan said. "She looks like her mom."

"How'd you know?" Nathan asked.

"She just doesn't look a whole lot like you," Dan said. "Though from what I've been hearing from Delsin and Tamara, she's certainly her father's daughter all the same."

"To a fault at times, I'm afraid," Nathan smiled. "Everyone calls me the black sheep of the family."

"Starting a flock, then?" Dan joked.

"If two is qualified to be called such," Nathan said.

"I overheard you say you're widowed. Is that right?"

"Yeah," Nathan answered a little solemnly. "She died from cancer."

"My condolences," Dan said. "When did she die?"

"Just after the New Year," Nathan said. "Shortly after midnight, she squeezed my hand and told me she loved me and when I woke up the next morning, she was gone."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Dan said. "How has your daughter been handling it?"

"She was really upset at first, but she's getting better. We've been helping each other get through this. Tomoeh, that's my wife's name, said she wanted us to travel together and I'm glad we did. It's lifted both our spirits."

"That's good," Dan said. "Maybe with all this traveling, you can find yourself someone new and move on."

"I wouldn't count on that," Nathan answered honestly. "I don't know if I want to re-marry."

"Loved her that much?" Dan asked.

"A little," Nathan said.

"A little? Either you loved her or you didn't," Dan smiled, trying to be more uplifting.

"It's not that I didn't love her. I did. Hell, I still do. It's just, getting married was never my first choice to begin with. Tomoeh and I got married due in part to settle a feud between our tribes. I wouldn't have ever married her if I didn't have feelings for her, but given the choice, I don't think I'd have married. My goals have always been to travel and see the world."

"You're doing that now at least," Dan said.

"Yeah," Nathan said. "I almost didn't. When Tomoeh was diagnosed, I felt my whole world crumbling around me. I told her I couldn't raise our daughter myself, but she encouraged me and told me I could." Nathan thought about Tomoeh a moment, remembering her smile and the site of her naked on their bed looking at his atlas. "She really was one in a million. Even if I wanted to get married again, no one would ever be like her."

"She sounds like she was a wonderful woman," Dan said. "But I don't think she would have wanted you alone forever."

"I know she wouldn't," Nathan said. "She made me promise to move on some day."

"Well, there you go," Dan smiled. "Can't go against a loved one's dying wishes."

"I guess," Nathan sighed. "Later, though."

"Sure, sure," Dan agreed.

"You said you were married didn't you?"

"Yeah," Dan said. "Been married going on seven years now. We've got two daughters." Dan reached into his back pocket to pull out a wallet and then a little picture. He handed it to Nathan so he could see a black and white picture of two little girls that Nathan knew instantly were Dan's daughters.

"They're cute," Nathan smiled. "They look just like you."

"Yeah," Dan smiled. "I admit I felt the same way you do when I was younger. I never really wanted to get married, but then I got to know Peggy."

"Is that your wife's name?"

"Yeah," Dan said. "If you ever meet her, be sure you call her Meg. She hates being called Peggy."

"Why do you call her that then?" Nathan chuckled.

"It's to tease her mostly," Dan chuckled. "I knew her in passing most of my life and she always hated being called Peggy, so a bunch of the other kids would tease her and call her that. I'm afraid I'm among them. Once we got older and started getting to know each other better, we started seeing one another. We got married after we found out she was pregnant with Mina. That's my oldest daughter. Then we bickered a while, made up, and next year we had Lida."

"Might I ask what it was that you and your wife had disagreed over?" Nathan asked.

"It wasn't a disagreement. I'd screwed up," Dan said. "There was a time we'd argued over money and in my frustrations, I'd go out drinking after work and…well…one night I slept with a waitress at a bar, Peggy found out about it and one day after work, I came home to all my things on the front lawn with a note that said 'Take your shit before I burn it – Love Peggy'." Dan chuckled a little. "The note's funny now that I look back on it. Granted I wasn't laughing at the time."

"I bet you weren't," Nathan chuckled. "How'd you two get over your rough patch?"

"Counseling," Dan answered bluntly. "The elders of the tribe are men of many talents you'll come to find."

"It seems it worked," Nathan answered.

"It did," Dan smiled. "Don't let my saying this get back to Peggy, but my indiscretion may have been the best thing to ever happen to us."

"I'll not ask you to elaborate on how that's possible," Nathan chuckled.

Dan just smiled back and left that topic hanging. Most remained at the gymnasium for the remainder of the day save for any people that needed to leave for work, Dan included among them. Nathan remained at the gymnasium for the day, as did most of the kids, who were looked after by Tamara and Delsin. Nathan eventually noticed two little girls that he recognized from Dan's picture and saw they were playing with Scarlet. Mina appeared close to Scarlet's age while Lida was clearly a toddler. He smiled when he saw they were getting along well. Several hours went by and Nathan spoke periodically with Delsin and Tamara until later in the afternoon, a woman walked into the gymnasium. She had long black hair and tan skin like the others and she had a rounder face. She wasn't very tall either and she looked as though a stiff wind could get the best of her. The woman noticed Tamara, who was sitting beside Nathan at the moment, and came over with a kind smile.

"Afternoon, Tamara," the woman said.

"Afternoon, Meg," Tamara said. "How was the inn?"

"Same as always," Meg said. "How were the girls?"

"Like little angels," Tamara said.

"If only they behaved that way with me," Meg joked and then looked at Nathan. "I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met."

"Nathan," he answered and stood up from the chair to introduce himself. "Nathan Black. I'm the newcomer."

"Oh, right," Meg answered and smiled. "Dan told me about you. He said you two share an interest in that monster novelist."

"We have a shared liking for H.P. Lovecraft, yes," Nathan smiled. "I assume you're Peggy, then?"

"Meg to you," she answered back with a smile and a wink. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you last night at the bonfire. I was so tired, I could barely move."

"It's no trouble," Nathan smiled. "I'm meeting you now. Dan showed me a picture of your two daughters. They look just like him."

"Oh, I know," Meg giggled. "My poor girls."

Nathan chuckled, "What? Dan's not unfortunate looking."

"I suppose that's true," Meg said. "He said you have a daughter. So which one is she?"

Nathan looked towards the group of kids and, when he found her, pointed out Scarlet. "That's my daughter. Scarlet Willow."

"Oh, I love that," Meg said. "How'd you come up with that?"

"Her mother and I just searched my grandparents' library until we found something that clicked," Nathan answered honestly.

"And here, Dan and I just stared at a map," Meg laughed. "So how long will you and your daughter be staying?"

"I'm not sure yet," Nathan said. "We were in San Diego a month, so maybe the same amount here. Probably longer, though."

"Longer, I hope," Meg smiled. "I heard you came here all the way from Washington. The dry heat must be refreshing."

"You've no idea," Nathan chuckled.

"I'm here to take the girls home, so why don't you and Scarlet come join us for dinner? It's not good to be cooped up in a gymnasium all day," Meg offered.

"If you're offering," Nathan smiled. Nathan followed Meg to where the girls were playing and left the gymnasium to walk to Meg's and Dan's house. The house looked about the same as the others on the block and was rather plainly decorated when they entered save for a few traditional items and charms. There were cacti that surrounded the house that didn't rise past Nathan's calf. Once inside, Mina offered to show Scarlet all her toys and they all sat together on the floor to play while Lida started coloring on cardboard. The Kitchen and living room were all in view of one another, so Nathan sat at the dinner table while Meg started getting a few things ready. "Is there anything you'd like me to help you with?"

"Yes, go ahead and cut some onions," Meg instructed. She turned her attention to a fresh batch of beans she had soaking on the counter. "I hope you don't mind soup again. I can make a lot and it lasts us the week."

"Not at all," Nathan smiled and started helping her. Meg retrieved the ketchup from the far side of the counter and started throwing things in a big pot. Once everything was in, Meg put the pot on the fire to start cooking and the two sat together at the table.

"There," Meg said. "It'll be cooking about 2 hours, but it'll be ready once Dan's home."

"So how long have you two been married?"

"Eight years," Meg answered. "I'm sure he told you our marriage started with a love child."

"He did mention that," Nathan said. "He also mentioned there was a small rough spot but that things got better."

"You mean him cheating on me?" Meg said and Nathan nodded. "Yes, that did happen. I forgave him for that a long time ago. We went to counseling with the elders and…I guess you could say we 'understand each other' now." Meg winked and took a sip of her water.

"I'm afraid I don't follow," Nathan said.

Meg shrugged, "It's nothing. So Dan said your wife had passed away. My condolences for your loss."

"Yes," Nathan nodded, growing evermore weary of being reminded of the tragedy. "She's dearly missed."

"I'm sure," Meg said. "When Loran died, it was hard on us all, but more so on Tamara."

"I assume Loran was Tamara's late husband?"

"Yes," Meg nodded. "We were all very close before he died. She's adjusting well, but she still misses him. We all do."

"I can imagine," Nathan said. "You all grew up together didn't you?"

"More or less," Meg nodded. "It's a small tribe after all. We have our Paiute neighbors to the north of course, but we rarely see them if at all. I admit I've never been outside Nevada. So you can imagine when Dan told me you were the gypsy man that came into town, I was quite intrigued."

"Is that what they call me?" Nathan chuckled.

"It's one of a few," Meg said. "Some are calling you 'the wanderer'. I'm sure there are more by now, but The Gypsy and The Wanderer are the top contenders."

"Well, let it be stated for the record I prefer 'The Wanderer'," Nathan answered with a smile.

"I'll start chirping that one around then," Meg smiled and winked. "So where are you going? Anywhere special?"

"I want to make it to the Amazon," Nathan said.

"I can't say I'm familiar with that," Meg said.

"It's a rainforest in South America, mostly in Brazil. We'll be going through a few other Nations before we get there, though. We'd start in Colombia. As to whether we'll go east into Venezuela or west through Peru I haven't decided. I'm leaning heavily towards Peru."

"Why Peru?"

"That's where the Inca tribe resides," Nathan said. "They were called the Children of the Sun and they had an empire that stretched from the tip of Colombia down through Chile and their capitol was in modern day Cusco, Peru."

"Well, that's exciting," Meg smiled. "And what's in the rainforest? Besides the obvious rain I mean."

Nathan chuckled, "Lots of trees, fruit, flowers of all colors, weird animals. There's plenty. I know some remote tribes live within the rainforest and there's a frog called a Poison Dart Frog who's skin is poisonous and the Amazonian tribes will rub their arrowheads against the frog's skin to make their arrows poisonous."

"Effective," Meg giggled. "I guess you'd best stay on their good side then."

"Indeed I will," Nathan agreed. Meg smiled at him crookedly and her eyes sparkled in a way that seemed very playful.

"So how old is Scarlet?"

"She's 10," Nathan said.

"A little older than Mina, then," she said and glanced at the girls who were still playing together. "Was it always your plan to bring a little girl traveling with you?"

"No, but it was worked in," Nathan said. "Traveling was something I'd always wanted to do but after Tomoeh and I got married it wasn't so simple. We got to go to Europe together, but I've always wanted to start traveling south. She made me promise before she passed away that I'd travel like I wanted and take Scarlet with me."

"That was thoughtful of her," Meg said.

"She certainly was," Nathan smiled fondly.

"I can tell you loved her," Meg said. "She was a lucky woman."

"I was lucky to have her," Nathan said. "So forgive my asking, but how old are you?"

"It's not polite to ask a lady her age," Meg teased. "But to answer your question, I'm 27."

"I turn 26 in December," Nathan said.

"A tender age indeed to be left alone to raise a daughter all by yourself."

"It's the hand I was dealt," Nathan answered. "Tender age or not."

"Good answer," Meg smiled admiringly. "I love a man that takes charge of his situation no matter what."

"I don't really have a choice," Nathan said.

"Everyone has a choice, Nathan," Meg said. "You just made the right one." When Meg said that, the two shared a look and Nathan felt rather comforted and smiled.

"Well, thank you for saying." Meg smiled at him with the same strange gaze that seemed, to Nathan, dare he say, piercing.

Nathan remained at the house with Meg for the remainder of the day. They spoke of several things and her expression towards him never seemed to change except to intensify. Eventually, Dan returned covered head to toe in dust, grease and sweat, running to the bedroom to get himself cleaned up. He said hello to Nathan ask he passed and Nathan returned the gesture. Mina and Lida went to their father to greet him, but given his state, he kept them at arm's length promising a proper hug when he himself was proper.

"He adores those two," Meg smiled sweetly.

"Yeah, I can tell," Nathan said. "Any plans of more?"

"Not now," Meg said. "Maybe later. He wants a son really bad. Did you and Tomoeh try having more children?"

"We had tried, but her illness prevented it," Nathan said.

"Perhaps someday," Meg said, but Nathan wasn't so optimistic.

"In truth, I'd rather not," Nathan said.

"You don't think you'll find love again?"

"I don't want to," Nathan said.

"What of something less demanding at least?" Meg asked. Nathan noticed her move just the slightest bit closer to him in her seat.

"Less demanding?"

"Or more primal I suppose is the better word to use," Meg said and her eyes became that strange piercing gaze from before and Nathan realized what she was doing.

"Perhaps," was all Nathan said, unsure what other answer to give, and took a sip of water. After that exchange, Nathan tried to uphold a normal conversation with Meg, but he couldn't quite shake what just happened. Eventually, Dan finally came back and hugged his daughters as he promised he would. Dinner was ready by then and Meg got everyone their helping of soup.

"Tell me honestly, Nathan," Dan asked, "was Peggy a nice hostess?"

"She was very kind," Nathan said briefly and changed the subject to work while Meg kept her attention on the girls to make them behave.

After dinner, the girls wanted to keep playing, so Meg made them all coffee and they sat together looking at the girls. Lida was the first to drop, wandering over to Dan and begging his attention so she could fall asleep in his arms. Though they were remise to admit it, Mina and Scarlet were exhausted and Meg took the girls to their room to tuck them in while Dan walked Nathan home. Scarlet had fallen asleep in his arms as they walked back to the tribal center.

"Is everything alright?" Dan asked. "You're being awfully quiet."

"I'm alright," Nathan answered and Dan chuckled a little.

"Meg surprise you or something?" Dan asked.

"It was nothing," Nathan said. "I thought she was flirting with me, but I must have misread her."

"Oh, no, you read her just fine," Dan answered honestly and Nathan looked at him strangely. "Remember when I told you that my fooling around on her was the best thing to happen to us?"

"Yeah," Nathan answered.

"Well, like I'd mentioned, we had counseling with the tribal elders. It made us able to be more open with each other. I admitted to her that us arguing wasn't the only reason I turned to another woman. I just wanted to."

"And she accepted that answer?" Nathan asked.

"Not at first," Dan said. "She'd thought I was saying she wasn't good enough, but that wasn't it. I explained that I love her and wanted to be with her, but I didn't want 'just her'. Does that make sense?"

"So you told her you wanted to be married to her but still fool around on her?"

"Not necessarily," Dan said. "I told her that I wanted us to have an 'open relationship' I guess you could say. I told her I wanted us to have fun with other people and do it together."

"You mean orgies?" Nathan looked at him strangely and Dan laughed.

"I don't know if we've ever hadthat much fun, but it's certainly on our bucket list. When Tamara's husband was still alive, the four of us would get together at their house while my parents watched the kids and we'd just have sex."

"Really?" Nathan asked, raising a brow at the explanation. "She doesn't strike me as the type."

"Are you saying my wife does?" Dan asked challengingly, but he chuckled.

"I wasn't trying to imply anything," Nathan shrugged.

"I know," Dan said. "So as to Peggy flirting with you, don't worry about it. I'm not mad. She was just sticking her feelers out as it were. If you're not interested, we won't bring it up again."

"It was just a strange offer," Nathan said. "At least I don't feel bad about it anymore."

"Don't feel bad at all," Dan said. "I'm sure Peggy's got a big crush on you now."

"I'm flattered," Nathan said. "Although, you'll understand that I'm not too keen to go from being widowed to a third wheel."

"The 3rd wheel's the one you want to be in this case," Dan chuckled. "But fair enough."

"Do you guys still do this with Tamara? Even though…..what was his name? Loran?"

"Yes," Dan nodded. "Yes to both. Initially, when Loran died, we were just shoulders to cry on but once some time passed, we offered further comfort I guess you could say."

"Am I to assume Delsin doesn't know about this?" Nathan chuckled.

"No, but I will kill the first who tells," Dan joked with him. "If you aren't interested, I understand, but make sure to keep this between us. We have a handful of people we'll do this all with, but Peggy was just excited for a new face."

"So it's got nothing to do with me being handsome, but a new face?" Nathan smiled.

"It's a little of both, don't worry," Dan smiled back. When they finally reached the Tribal Center, Nathan faced Dan and they shook hands.

"You have a good night, alright?" Nathan said.

"You too," Dan said. "And if you ever change your mind, just let us know." Nathan said goodnight to him and they parted ways. Nathan tucked Scarlet into her bed and went to his, but he didn't fall asleep right away.

Back in Washington, Kevin was making preparations to leave for Paris. He intended, this time, to stay a week at minimum. He warned Alphonse that he would be gone but swore he'd be back as soon as possible. Things seemed to be calming down a little since the crash, but things were still rather hard. Thanks to a loan from Kevin's family, he took a fast track to the east coast, just opting to run there himself, and bought the first available ticket to France. Kevin wasn't following German news so closely anymore. He stuck with news from France which was, by in large, alarming. Despite the man's previous threats, Kevin went to the immigration officer's office before he left for a status. He had some form of good news in the form of the Dymeks finally having a meeting scheduled with the American Embassy in Paris. Granted it wasn't until spring, but he'd take it.

When he arrived east, he bought his ticket to the first boat leaving for France the next day. It took two days to arrive in France, but once he did, he didn't waste time with a train and just ran to Paris. He arrived in Paris by the early afternoon and went to the apartment from before where they still lived. He knew they'd all be at work, so Kevin went to a café just down the road and drank coffee and read the paper waiting for them. As he was reading, he saw a story regarding Germany and Adolf Hitler's latest escapades. Kevin tossed it to the side, not wanting to look at the 'creature's' picture. Finally, he saw Amber approach the complex and when he did, he went to her side and called to her.

"Amber," Kevin said and she shot a stunned look in his direction.

"Kevin," she smiled and went to him, running through the snowy cobblestone road to embrace him. Kevin took her in his embrace and even spun her around once before placing her on her feet as he kissed her. "I didn't know you were coming. This is such a wonderful surprise."

"I promised you one time I'd come see all of you for Hanukkah. I'm just finally making good on my promise."

"Mom and daddy will be pleased to see you," Amber said. "We finally got a meeting with the Embassy."

"Yeah, I heard. Finally, some progress being made," Kevin smiled and kissed Amber again. "How has Paris been?"

"Once we got accustomed to being here, I admit I've loved it," Amber said. "Paris is so beautiful."

"It is," Kevin said.

"You're staying longer than just the night, right?" Amber asked.

"At least a week," Kevin promised. "Last I visited….that was inexcusable. Will you let me make it up to you?" Amber just nodded and kissed him suddenly, surroundings be damned. Kevin kissed her back, but did pull away eventually and smiled at her. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Amber said. "How long have you been out here? You must be freezing." Amber left him to run to the door so they could go inside and Kevin followed.

"I was inside the café down the road. I was alright," Kevin promised as he stepped inside. They went to the apartment and Amber let them inside.

"Make sure to kick the snow off your boots before you come in," Amber said as she did just that, rubbing her boots on the mat and kicking off the snow. "Mother can't stand it when snow gets in the house."

"Sounds like my mother," Kevin chuckled and copied what Amber did before they finally entered. "How have you all been?"

"Alright," Amber said as she went to the kitchen to get some water boiling. "I'll make you some tea."

Kevin nodded and took off his coat, glancing around the apartment. There was a little menorah on the counter looking out on the window with some normal white candles and the middle candle intricately carved with white, blue and gold wax and there was a little box on the counter with a dreidel. It made him smile.

"Is there a synagogue you're all attending? Any specific plans for the holiday."

"There'll be a little holiday dinner for everyone at the synagogue, but that's being reserved for New Year. That aside, we'll be going about business as usual. I'd suggested to the rabbi that the children could have a little dreidel competition and last year we did, but the children became competitive and downright ruthless," Amber giggled.

"Starting a fight with the kids, Amber?" Kevin teased.

"I didn't play, so I started nothing," Amber said with her chin high. Then she smiled and went back to him and hugged him. Kevin hugged her back. "I want us to go site seeing," Amber said.

"Absolutely," Kevin said. "When Anna and Levi get back, we'll make plans."

"Just us," Amber clarified and Kevin chuckled. "We'll do both," he promised. "I'll take you to Versailles. I never got to go there and all my siblings say they adored it."

"I remember you telling me Scarlet had gotten a helmet from one of the guards," Amber giggled. "And you told her she wasn't allowed to wear it and made her cry."

"It was the first time you were all meeting and I wanted to make a good impression," Kevin defended. "Don't try to make me the villain here."

Amber giggled, "I'm not." She released Kevin only to take his hand and lead her with to the kitchen where she was boiling water. "What tea would you like? We have earl grey and lavender."

"Lavender I guess," Kevin said. "I can't stand Earl Grey."

"That's for the best. Mom loves it," Amber smiled and took out the loose tea and got a little teabag ready. "How has business been?"

"Better," Kevin said. "This crash is finally starting to hurt a little less. I still had to borrow money from my grandparents to make this trip, but it was worth it. Embry's still living with me working on construction jobs here and there. Travis is delighted to have the house all to himself even if he only sleeps there."

"That's good to hear," Amber said. "Do you think daddy will be able to find work? When we come to America I mean."

"Worst case scenario, I'll make up a job for him," Kevin said. "Alphonse and I have gotten friendly with some banks in Seattle so I'm sure I can make a job happen. I'll even help you and Anna open a new candle business if you like."

"That sounds like a dream," Amber smiled. "Though I suspect it would be best mother and I learn English before we start a business."

"I'll help you all learn, don't worry," Kevin smiled. "So how does Hanukkah go?"

Amber giggled, "Well, for starters it lasts eight days. We've already gotten through three. Every night, while saying a prayer, we light the new candle and the candle of the previous night while saying a prayer. This part is something daddy's family does, but after each lit candle, we eat pickled herring on rye bread to welcome the new year. I hate it."

"You get pickled herring here?" Kevin asked.

"A woman at our synagogue is Swedish and her mother taught her how to make it," Amber said. "That's only after we say the prayer, though."

"You'll have to teach me that prayer," Kevin said. "Unless I'll be permitted to recite the Lord's Prayer or something," Kevin joked and Amber giggled.

"Absolutely not," Amber smiled and wrapped her arms around Kevin's neck. "You're among Jews, so you'll pray like a Jew."

"And how do I do that?" Kevin asked.

"Let me grab some paper," Amber said and went to fetch some. Kevin turned off the heat and poured the boiling water in the cup with his tea so it would steep. When she returned, she was already appearing to write something down. She was writing from right to left, he noticed. "Okay," Amber said and placed the paper down.

"Darling, I can't read Hebrew," Kevin chuckled.

"Just give me a moment, I'll use the Germanic alphabet to spell it out for you," she smiled and proceeded to work. It took her a moment since she was reading from right to left and writing from left to right, but she eventually got it. "There we go. That's the prayer we say."

"Oh boy," Kevin said nervously and looked at what was on the paper before him.

Hanneirot hallalu anu madlikin 'al hannissim ve'al

hanniflaot 'al hatteshu'ot ve'al hammilchamot she'asita

laavoteinu bayyamim haheim, (u)bazzeman hazeh 'al yedei kohanekha

hakkedoshim. Vekhol-shemonat yemei Hanukkah

hanneirot hallalu kodesh heim, ve-ein lanu reshut lehishtammesh

baheim ella lir'otam bilvad kedei lehodot ul'halleil leshimcha

haggadol 'al nissekha ve'al nifleotekha ve'al yeshu'otekha.

"You want to walk through it? There's a little tune that goes with it too."

"So I have to sing too?"

"Yes, you do," Amber smiled. "You look nervous."

"A little," Kevin said and Amber patted his back.

"You won't learn by staring slack jawed at it," she teased and brought him and his tea to the dinner table where she proceeded to teach him how to pronounce and sing the prayer. Shortly thereafter, Anna and Levi came home seeing Kevin practicing.

"Kevin," Anna smiled and came right over to give Kevin a hug. "It's so good to see you. Amber's teaching you the prayer we'll be saying tonight."

"Bless her heart, she's trying," Kevin chuckled. Levi walked over and the two of them shook hands. "Amber told me you finally got a meeting the with American Embassy."

"Yes," Levi nodded. "And it only took 100 years," he joked. "So how long do we have you?"

"Just for the week," Kevin said. "I'd promised I'd spend a Hanukkah with you and I wanted to make good on that promise."

"Well, we're happy to have you," Levi smiled.

"Amber has also informed me that we're to eat pickled herring after the prayer?" Kevin asked.

"Indeed you are," Levi said. "It's good luck."

"Alright, sir," Kevin smiled. "I can't say I've ever had pickled herring."

"You'll have more than you've ever wanted before you leave," Anna teased. "In the meantime, Amber, you keep teaching him the prayer and I'll heat up dinner. We're having Matzo ball soup."

"I can't wait," Kevin said and returned to his seat and practiced with Amber. He felt a little self-conscious when he heard Anna and Levi chuckle just a bit at his expense, but he soldiered on. Soon, dinner was heated up and Anna brought everyone a heaping bowl with French bread.

"Tomorrow night, I'll make latkes," Anna said.

"I can't wait," Kevin said and took a spoonful of his soup. "This is delicious by the way, Anna."

"Thank you, Kevin," Anna smiled. "I'll make sure I make those mushroom tarts you love before you leave."

"I'll love you for it," Kevin smiled.

"Forgive my saying, Kevin, but you look so skinny these days. We'll get some meat on your bones before we send you back too," Anna said.

"I'm afraid that's my fault," Kevin said. "Most of the money I make goes to the business, but we're starting to get better. I think by next year, I'll be comfortable taking home an actual salary. Right now, I just live off what little I have left and stretch out food as much as I can."

"Gracious," Anna said. "That won't due. I suppose once you and Amber marry, her first order of business will be ensuring you're eating properly." Amber smiled and patted Kevin's knee.

"She'll not have to work hard to make me," Kevin chuckled. He glanced down at her left hand and saw the engagement ring and bracelet he'd given her. It seemed so long ago now and he didn't care for that.

"Levi, we should be able to go to America soon, right? Since we got that meeting with the Embassy, surely we'll be able to go soon," Anna said.

"I hope so," Levi said.

"Kevin said he has friends that work for banks and said he was sure he'd be able to find you work," Amber said.

"And you're welcome to stay with me," Kevin said. "I have plenty of room in that house, so you can live with me permanently if you like."

"Oh, no, no, we'll find our own place," Levi said. "Assuming you two are not married by that time, Amber would live with us."

"Naturally," Kevin nodded.

They sat together talking while they had dinner together. It was something Kevin had missed a lot. Kevin broached the topic of asking permission to take Amber out on the town to see Paris and invited Levi and Anna to join them. Amber looked at Levi pleadingly, silently begging him to decline the invitation and allow her and Kevin some time alone. It seemed to work and Levi gave his blessing for the two to go out together without them, but only on a day Amber was not working and it was daytime. Kevin agreed happily. Once they'd finished dinner, they went to the menorah and lit the middle candle. While they lit the candles, they began reciting the prayer:

Hanneirot hallalu anu madlikin 'al hannissim ve'al

hanniflaot 'al hatteshu'ot ve'al hammilchamot she'asita

laavoteinu bayyamim haheim, (u)bazzeman hazeh 'al yedei kohanekha

hakkedoshim. Vekhol-shemonat yemei Hanukkah

hanneirot hallalu kodesh heim, ve-ein lanu reshut lehishtammesh

baheim ella lir'otam bilvad kedei lehodot ul'halleil leshimcha

haggadol 'al nissekha ve'al nifleotekha ve'al yeshu'otekha.

Kevin did his best, but he still felt as though he'd pronounced the words improperly. Amber had kindly permitted him to read straight from the paper to make it easier for him. And as promised, after the candles were lit, Levi retrieved the pickled herring and rye bread and everyone had a slice of rye and herring. After Kevin ate it and watched Amber's face, he shrugged.

"Better than what they served us in the army," he said and Amber just leered at him momentarily. Just to tease Amber, he asked if he could have another piece, but Levi said it would have to wait until tomorrow night.

They stayed up together for a while just talking and catching up with one another. They even started making plans for the future such as wedding plans. Amber hadn't smiled so much as she did when they started talking about the wedding. Kevin had promised Amber a Jewish wedding and he joked that he'd make it happen even if he had to bribe the rabbi. Anna spoke of the dress Amber would wear and how it was already adjusted for her. It was the dress she had worn and her mother had worn and her grandma. The dress was easily originally from 1790 give or take, yet she proclaimed it to be timeless and beautiful and how great care had been taken over the generations to make sure it stayed that way. Kevin was, of course, forbidden to see it. Kevin told her parents how there would also be a Quileute wedding, which caught Levi's attention.

"You want to have two weddings?" Levi asked.

"I think the best thing to do would be to have the ceremony earlier in the morning and let our guests enjoy a reception at lunch and once the moon's coming out, we'll return to the tribe and have the Quileute wedding on the beach. We'll have to make sure the weddings are held during the cycle of the moon we've been designated. It's our tribe's tradition."

"I see," Levi said. "I assume since you're eldest son to a chief, that's a bit of a mandatory procedure," Levi chuckled.

"Eldest son to the chief apparent, but yes," Kevin smiled. "I don't suspect I'll be chief of the Quileutes any time soon, but we will be required to follow procedure."

"And how do weddings go in your tribe, Kevin?" Anna asked eagerly.

"It's always at night and it's before a bonfire. Since I'm a perspective chief to come, I need to wear a wolf's skin headdress and Amber will as well. They're believed to be the original skins of our ancestors before the trickster Q'wati granted the wolves their wish to be human. The current chief and medicine man, in this case that would be my mother, would dance and tell the story of our ancestors who's skins we wear and there's a fertility dance. I'll warn you it may be a touch risqué for what you're accustom to but it's supposed to wish fruitfulness to us."

"That is something we'll need," Anna smiled. "Now, Amber tells me my grandchildren are to be named Levi Jacob and Anna Heather Renesmee?"

Kevin chuckled, "Yes, those are the names we've agreed upon."

"Have you thought of any other names? What if you have two girls or two boys or, gracious, two girls and two boys?"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, mom," Amber blushed.

"Amber, I'm allowed to get ahead of myself," Anna smiled. "Now Kevin, I adore Amber with all my heart. You know that. But I always wished Levi and I could have had many children. That's truly one of my deepest regrets was we couldn't have at least 5 children and watch them grow up together and have their own children."

"You have my word, Anna, that you will be supplied with plenty of grandchildren," Kevin smiled.

"We'll start with two and see how it goes from there," Amber said.

"See, I must admit I envy your mother. Already, she has three grandchildren and so far only two of four children have had kids. She'll be supplied with more than she'll know what to do with."

"You must be thinking of Aunt Caevia," Kevin chuckled. "Now that's a woman that will be provided more grandchildren than she'll know what to do with. You know she has 12 children right."

"Oh, I know," Anna giggled. "But only two have children so far?"

"Three," Kevin said. "Jae and my sister have two boys, JJ and Salem, her daughter Rae has a son, Wren, and her eldest daughter Aidetzi just had a little girl, Naevia Ruth."

"That's a beautiful name," Anna swooned. "Where did Ruth come from?"

"The father's mother. A Mrs. Ruth Carter. She's a lovely, lively, devout, Baptist woman. Aidetzi attends church with them now and she tells us that when they all sing for church, Mrs. Carter's easily the loudest singer."

"She sounds charming," Anna giggled. "So that leaves nine children left to start having kids?"

"Just about," Kevin smiled.

"And what of Embry? You're good friend. He's your age is he not?"

"Embry's not at a point where he's ready to settle down and start a family," Kevin said. "He'll do it when I wants to." Anna sighed somewhat disapprovingly, but shrugged.

"What about your little brother? Kyle was his name am I right? And Nathan?"

"Yes," Kevin nodded.

"Please, allow us to extend our sympathies for your brother's loss," Anna said. "It's not an easy thing to go through at any age, but least of all so young."

"Thank you for saying," Kevin said. "He's doing better. He and his daughter are helping each other through this time."

"I'm pleased to hear it," Anna smiled. "Now, Kyle is not married am I right?"

"No, he's not," Kevin said. "He's not of the same mindset as Embry, I assure you. He just hasn't met the right girl."

"Well, allow me to pose the argument he may not be looking hard enough," Anna teased.

"That may be truer than you realize," Kevin chuckled.

"He's not still attending University is he?" Levi asked.

"Oh, no, that's long passed," Kevin said. "Right now, his goal is to build a hospital with the tribal grounds. Sadly, those plans are put harshly on hold, but he's still working towards it. He works at a local hospital in Forks right now but he makes a point to remain home as much as possible depending on the season to help out mom."

"You and your brother are certainly hard workers, I must say," Levi said. "When he puts his mind to it, I'm sure he'll make some lucky young woman very happy."

"Yeah, he will," Kevin said.

"Oh, Levi, I just remembered something!" Anna said. "Kevin's little sister. We'll need to make sure she's accommodated. I'd hate for the poor thing to sit at the family table only to not be able to eat anything while the rest of us do."

"We'll bring it up when it's time to," Levi said. "Now, Kevin, I don't suppose Amber's given you an explanation of a Jewish wedding has she?"

"I know I sign something…..what did you say it was? The Ketubah?" Amber nodded with a proud smile. "So I sign that. I know I have to break some glass."

"Those are some things, yes," Levi said. "It's not so different that it won't be easy to figure out once the day comes." Levi took another sip of his tea. "Also, Kevin, I'm afraid there aren't any beer halls here, but we can at least get some wine."

"I didn't know you liked wine," Kevin smiled.

"It'll do," Levi sighed.

"Remember, no more than 3 drinks," Anna said. "Well, actually, make that 1. My poor husband gets so sleepy when he drinks wine," Anna teased and Levi chuckled.

"One of the reasons it's not my drink of choice, but alas it will do," Levi answered. "Anyway, how about tomorrow we have lunch together and we'll get some wine. It's not quite the same, but it's better than nothing."

"I'd like that," Kevin smiled.

Kevin and Levi agreed upon a place to meet the following day and shortly after, everyone went to bed. Kevin insisted he was alright sleeping on the couch even if it was too short for him. They blew out the candles of the menorah and retreated to their beds for the night. He'd finally gotten comfortable with the pale moonlight and the light of Paris shining on him when he felt a gentle hand place itself on his shoulder. He knew her by her scent and smiled.

"You're supposed to be in bed," Kevin teased in a whisper.

"You can't possibly be comfortable," Amber said, kneeling down and resting her head on his chest. "I was worried about you and wanted to check on you."

"It's alright, Amber. I'll be fine."

"You can sleep in my bed if you like," Amber offered. "And I'll sleep out here. I'll fit a little better on this couch."

"You don't have to," Kevin said lovingly and placed his hand on her head. "Did you receive my letter?"

"I've received all your letters," Amber smiled.

"I'm referring to one in particular," Kevin smiled. "A letter that was of a more personal nature." Amber seemed to move with some discomfort at a rush of arousal.

"Yes," Amber sighed. "It was a most wicked read. I'd received it while I was at work and thought to read it during my lunch break. My face was beet read the remainder of the day from what little I'd read before I realized it's nature."

"Oh really?" Kevin chuckled.

"Yes," Amber nodded. "It was torture waiting to read it. I had to help mom with dinner and clean up. I didn't get to read it until evening."

"When you did, was it to your liking?" Kevin prodded with a seductive smile, even if Amber's head was on his chest and she wasn't looking at him.

Amber sighed, "Yes, it was. You certainly have a vivid imagination."

"I like to think so," Kevin said. "I only thought to keep up with a little theme. You had enjoyed that image of us making love on a balcony in Paris."

"Indeed," Amber blushed. "If I remember, after that you described a circumstance in which we were on a boat."

"A smaller boat meant for whale watching," Kevin said. "That's something my grandpa used to do for us sometimes. We'd all go out to see to watch the whales migrate and we could always hear them sing."

"You described that as I recall," Amber smiled. "Then you described a scenario in which we made love in your bedroom back home."

"I admit, it was not my most exciting idea," Kevin chuckled.

"It was exciting to me," Amber smiled. "Then you described hot springs in the mountains that we might make love in."

"You'd like the hot springs," Kevin said. "I'm sad to say I haven't gone myself, but my brother and sister have gone. Sometimes, if we have people at the tribe that suffer sore muscles or something, Kyle will take them there to soak and relax. He's trained in modern medicine, but he's a big fan of natural medical treatment."

"I can't wait," Amber smiled. "And then you're most recent letter. I would go so far as to call it blasphemous."

"You mean making love in a church?" Kevin chuckled and Amber nodded. "I just thought of it on a whim, honestly. Although, once I started imagining it, I found it rather erotic."

"I will say, Kevin, had law not worked out, you could have been a novelist. Though I can't imagine we'd be able to get away with making love right before the altar of God."

"Oh, we could," Kevin smiled wickedly. "We'd just have to be careful."

"Perhaps, but Notre Dame?" Amber asked. "We'd never get away with it."

"Is that a challenge, darling?" Kevin asked and Amber giggled.

"Perhaps it is," she said. She suddenly felt Kevin's chest harden substantially and even go cold. In alarm, she lifted her head and looked into Kevin's suddenly alien, bright red, eyes that held a passion she'd come to know well. After the initial surprise wore off, Amber returned to look. "And what are you doing?" she whispered.

"Listening to make sure Levi and Anna are asleep," he whispered back. His voice sounded so strange to her. It was his voice but it was changed somehow in a way she couldn't describe. It was chilling to her. While he was listening, he also just looked at Amber. She was in her nightgown that he loved and she still wore her bracelet, her ring, her star and his dog tags. He wondered if there would ever be a time seeing her wear his dog tags wouldn't spark a fire in his loins. He was rather confident there would not and he was pleased with that.

"I prefer you as you normally are," Amber said.

"I'll be that way again in a moment," Kevin promised in that stranger's voice. "In the meantime, Levi and Anna are out cold. They'll not hear us leave if you'll permit me to accept your challenge."

Amber blushed, "You really intend such a thing?"

"Only if you would like," Kevin said and leaned down so their lips were a breath away. His scent was sweeter. Amber didn't like it.

"Change back," Amber said and without another thought Kevin did as she asked. His eyes returned to their loving brown, his scent his normal masculine woodsy smell and his warmth radiating on her skin even from afar. She smiled. "That's better."

"Shall we make a fantasy come true?" Kevin asked again, causing Amber to blush.

"I had thought you wouldn't lay a hand on me until we were married," Amber said, though she didn't mean a word of it. Kevin inched dangerously closer but their lips still didn't quite meet.

"I would think that ship has sailed, wouldn't you agree?" Kevin said. "Besides, the siren has sung her song and this poor fool has not the will to resist." Amber giggled and nodded.

As quietly as was possible, the two put on their boots and coats and exited the apartment without making a sound. He brought them to the roof of the complex and changed to a vampire, though Amber did not like it when he did. He carried her with while jumping from rooftop to rooftop making the trip to the church in the distance. He was under no delusion that his original description of having sex before an altar wasn't possible. I was rather confident there would be priests awake all hours of the night or they would certainly hear them. So instead, they snuck around the streets until they reached the back of the church, While confused, Amber held on tight while Kevin started climbing up the statues and to all the different protrusions on the church walls until he reached the center between the two towers looking out onto Paris. It was such a breathtaking site.

"I've never seen Paris like this," Amber said. Having changed back, Kevin walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, his lips and breath warming the skin of her neck. "Though I must point out this isn't exactly an altar of God."

"I beg to differ," Kevin teased and continued to kiss her neck. "We're among the bell towers. I'd argue this is a much more romantic spot than the altar."

"That I'll not argue with," Amber sighed, tilting her head so Kevin could continue to kiss her. Then he stopped and just rested his chin on her shoulder, holding her close to him. She placed her arms on his, wrapped around her waist.

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot," he sang, Scottish accent and all, lowly to her in his warm, loving voice, "and never brought ti mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot? For auld lang syne." He even played the sound of his mother playing the song on the piano in her head and for a moment, she almost cried.

She started to see a large room in which there was a Christmas three decorated as though it were royalty and there were children and adults alike all over. Some she recognized instantly. Some she did not. She realized it was his grandparent's house back home and he was recalling the memory. It was from the year before and they were all singing together after cheering and bringing in the new year. She saw Jae and Natalie share a kiss while they both held JJ and Salem, she saw Embry and Caevia kiss and then hug all their children and grandchildren, she saw the Cullens, she saw family she didn't recognize and she saw Renesmee sitting at the piano playing with Jacob sitting beside her. She could see it so clearly.

"You have such a big family," Amber said quietly.

"And it'll get even bigger," Kevin whispered in her ear and placed a kiss there. "Soon, you'll all come to America and we'll kiss after the clock tolls midnight come New Year's. We'll light a menorah on one of the mantels of the house looking out onto the neighborhood and when it's Christmas day, we'll go to my family's house to open presents." His hands started to roam longingly over her and she quivered. "One day, we'll be able to do that with our children present. Watch them open presents while we drink eggnog and brandy Alexanders. Your dad can make them swallow down pickled herring and rye bread. I didn't mind it, but I imagine children might not care for it so much."

Amber smiled fondly at the image, "I don't think so." Kevin pressed his lips to her neck again, almost desperately.

"I long for it," Kevin said. "Every time I see that damned immigration officer, I want to just swoop you all up and take you to America myself."

"Daddy would never be able to get proper work," Amber pointed out solemnly. "He'd never agree to it, lovely as the plan may sound."

"I know," Kevin said. "I'll make it happen, though. I'll get you all to America if it's the last thing I do."

Amber smiled, "I know you will." Tiring of not being able to hold him or look at him, Amber turned in Kevin's arms and wrapped hers around his neck and looked up into his eyes. "None of this was in your letter to me," she teased.

Kevin smiled, "Forgive me. I got caught up in a fantasy."

"A future," Amber corrected. "However, as to that 'fantasy', perhaps we should move along with that so we can hurry back. Leave everyone none the wiser."

Kevin only nodded before he pressed his lips to hers. He glanced up to see where he was going and then pressed Amber against one of the hard, cold pillars. Amber lifted her leg to wrap around Kevin's waste, exposing a portion of her leg to the cold air. Kevin pull at his coat so he could wrap it around them and her leg was no longer exposed. He held her tightly as he kissed her and pressed her so firmly against the pillar that she feared it might crack. Kevin reached down her leg and lifted it to his hip, making it so she was propped up, ankles locked behind him, and his erection pressed ever harder against her core. The feel of it made her whimper with desperation.

They left their clothes on for the most part to protect from the elements. However, when Kevin couldn't bear to be parted from her anymore, Kevin reached between them to release his erection and push aside her knickers so he could slip inside her. Amber nearly cried. She'd missed this and held him so tightly that he couldn't move. She didn't want him to yet. She just wanted to savor the moment. Kevin acquiesced and remained still for just a moment, kissing her neck and savoring the taste of her skin. Soon, though, he couldn't take it anymore and wanted to move.

"Amber," he whispered in her ear.

His voice was so tender, yet somehow desperate and fierce against her ear. Amber finally loosened her hold so Kevin could move and once she had, Kevin thrust with a rough motion. One of his hands trailed into her hair and his hand took all the force of the pillar's stone rather than Amber's head. Their lips met again to stifle each other's moans and cries of pleasure. It wasn't quite the spectacle that he'd described in his letter. There was no light from candles or colorful light of stained glass windows, but the light of the moon and warmth of his body more than made up for it. Amber became dizzy with passion as Kevin brought her to new heights she'd not felt since last they'd been together. Then finally, Kevin brought her to her climax, swallowing her moans as she felt the waves of pleasure wash over her. Kevin continued to thrust while Amber rode out the remainder of her orgasm and soon, Kevin listed her gown and coat and pulled out suddenly as we typical for them. Once he'd released, he let her coat and gown back down and rested against the pillar still holding her and still kissing her. They finally parted their lips resting their foreheads against one another as they breathed.

"How many Father's Prayers do you suppose you'll have to say for this little fantasy?" Amber asked with a light giggle.

"If I confessed this to a priest, he'd likely condemn me to hell," Kevin chuckled and kissed her again. "Frankly, I'll accept it with a big smile on my face."

Amber giggled a little more. "You're not a very good Catholic, Kevin."

"Never said I was," Kevin smiled and gave her one more kiss. "I suppose we should get back."

"If we must," Amber replied.

Kevin changed to a vampire again and ran them back to her house, slipping into the house silent as the dead and Amber returned to her room, Kevin to the couch, and the next morning, they all had breakfast together, Anna and Levi none the wiser.