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.

107. Chapter 107

Chapter 107

After returning from patrol that night, Nathan was in a bit of a huff. Ada María was feeding Jaedynn while Ariel and Gabriel sat on the couch napping when Nathan returned home. He'd gone straight upstairs ready to just sleep. It had been an interesting night. Ada María patted Jaedynn's head telling her to be good and she told the boys to keep an eye on Jaedynn while she checked on their father. Nathan was already under the covers and was a few deep breaths from being asleep when Ada María crawled up onto her side of the bed and laid down beside him.

"No good morning to me?" Ada María said.

"Good morning," Nathan said.

"Something happen?"

"A few things," Nathan said. "Scarlet finally shifted and told me where she is."

"Where is she?"

"Hawaii."

"How the hell did she get to Hawaii?" Ada María asked.

"Some kid," Nathan grumbled. "She found her imprint. Some punk from Hawaii named Kai."

"Well, good for her," Ada María smiled. "It'll do the girl some good to have someone to love like that. Or am I to assume you don't like him?"

"I don't know him," Nathan said. "I only know what I heard from Scarlet's head when she changed at by that time I was so relieved to her hear voice that I yelled at her."

"Sounds like something you'd do," Ada María teased. "So when is Scarlet coming home?"

"ASAP," Nathan groaned. "That could mean a week given Kai has to take her here by boat from the Hawaiian islands."

"Good. We'll get to meet him then," Ada María said. "Did anything else happen last night?"

"You mean with that guy that was walking Natalie home and JJ took her the rest of the way?"

"Is that what happened? Natalie said she wasn't feeling well?"

"I only know that JJ caught her walking home with someone at her side and JJ took her the rest of the way home and growled at the guy. None of us said anything and kept the thought to ourselves, but that was Suerro."

"Suerro? I thought that was a chief your people had years ago."

"It was," Nathan said. "But according to Natalie's nightmares, he's also that chief's uncle who'd nearly died after falling from one of the bluffs. He'd been changed to a vampire. He's also Natalie's imprint." Ada María widened her eyes a little in surprise.

"I suppose love is just in the air isn't it?"

"That's what I'm hoping," Nathan said. "Natalie's been so depressed for so long since Jae died. Anything that will help her move on with her life and be happy again is good enough for me."

"Does JJ not know?"

"I don't think so," Nathan said. "He won't be happy about it at first to be sure. He still feels responsible for Natalie. Jae told the boy to take care of his mother and siblings and he's done it."

"He certainly has," Ada María agreed.

"But I think he's let the responsibility consume his life," Nathan said. "He needs to move on with his life too. Of course, I don't know if that'll be so easy."

"Perhaps he should look for his imprint," Ada María shrugged. "That seems to be your pack's fix-it-all remedy to just about any problem."

Nathan chuckled a little, "I guess it does seem that way." Ada María smiled and leaned down to give Nathan's head a kiss. "Everything will work out. It always does."

"Makes things a little boring don't you think?" Ada María said.

"As long as getting there's fun," Nathan smiled and kissed her back. "Let me take a nap and I'll be downstairs by the time Jaedynn's finished eating."

"Alright," Ada María said.

That same morning at Natalie's house, JJ finished a few cups of coffee and left the house without much of a word to Natalie, still feeling less than thrilled with the news he'd just received. He went straight to work where he found Hailey in the kitchen reading the paper.

"Anything new happening?" JJ asked when he came in.

"Not since our defeat in Osan," Hailey said. "This abhorrent fear of the communists aren't doing us any favors if you ask me. We finish one war only to enter another."

"Truman did say we'd help fight off Communism," JJ said. "South Korea was invaded by a communist nation."

"Is it unpatriotic of me to say what's Korea's problem should stay their problem?" Hailey asked sarcastically.

"Just don't let it spread you said something like that. Wouldn't want rumor's spreading you sympathize with the commies," JJ said.

Hailey huffed, "Who in town would tattle on me even if I did?"

"You never know," JJ shrugged. "Do you want me to open up?"

"That depends," Hailey said and put down the paper so he could turn in his chair and look at JJ. "What did you have for breakfast?"

"Coffee like I always do," JJ said.

"Eat one of the apples on the counter and you can open up," Hailey said.

"Jesus, Uncle Hailey," JJ grumbled but picked up an apple and started eating like he was told.

"So what's got you in a sour mood this morning?" Hailey asked. "Does it have anything to do with the man that walked Natalie home last night?"

"How the fuck-" JJ started but groaned. "Son of a bitch."

"You live in a tiny town, JJ. We none of us have any secrets here," Hailey said. "I heard from Mrs. Wright this morning on my way here. She said someone that 'looks like one of her people' to quote her exactly was helping your mother home."

"Yes, it has to do with him," JJ finally answered. "I don't like him."

"Why? Did something happen?"

"No, but he's a vampire for starters," JJ said.

"What does that matter? You've got so many damned leeches in the family I'd think you welcome them with open arms."

"We don't," JJ said. "Just because we make an exception for my grandma and her side of the family doesn't mean we take kindly to others."

"Okay, okay, but your mom can take care of herself and clearly she got home fine."

"Thanks to me," JJ grumbled. "I was on patrol and found them and walked mom home. Sent that bastard on his way."

"Yes, JJ, you're a very good son," Hailey answered in an exasperated tone. "So is that all that's wrong with him?" JJ didn't answer and the silence that filled the air was uncomfortable. "What else is wrong?"

"Mom imprinted on him," JJ nearly hissed and said between gritted teeth. He wasn't eating the apple anymore.

"Remind me what that is again?"

"It's when a wolf finds their mate," JJ said.

"Oh, yeah," Hailey said. "Well, good for her. Your mother deserves some happiness after all these years."

"He ran off with his tail between his legs the moment he saw me," JJ said. "He doesn't deserve her."

"Because he let you walk her home as I'm sure your mother requested or is it something even more irrational?"

"Irrational?!" JJ barked.

"Calm down," Hailey said. "Look, JJ, I understand. Really I do. We all loved your father and we all miss him, but you know more than any of us that Natalie hasn't been well since your father's death. Neither have you for that matter and it makes all of us worry. If this imprint thing can help make your mother feel better and move on, then it can't follow through soon enough. Jae wouldn't have wanted your mother this miserable and you know it. He wouldn't have wanted you this miserable either."

"So what? I'm supposed to let this son of a bitch step in and play dad just because mom imprinted on him? I don't think so."

"JJ," Hailey said more firmly. "No one's saying this guy will be playing dad. No one's even saying you need to like him right away, but you at least owe it to your mother to give the man a chance next you see him. Okay? Can you agree to do that?"

"Fine," JJ finally said.

"Good," Hailey said. "Now finish your apple and you can open shop."

"I'm really not hungry now," JJ said.

"Too bad. Eat it or I'm sending you home without pay," Hailey said.

JJ rolled his eyes but finally finished up his apple and when he did, he went to the front and opened shop. By the end of the day, he was ready to blow up. He didn't know if he could stand another person asking him about the man that had walked Natalie home after work. When going to work that night, Natalie was much nicer about answering people and just explained he'd seen her upset in the street and had offered to walk her home as a kind gesture. Nothing more. But no one missed the odd upbeat spring in her step as she served drinks and took orders. Though Natalie didn't realize her improved mood, didn't really want to acknowledge it even if she did notice, the patrons did and suddenly there was a great deal of interest in the good Samaritan that had walked Natalie home.

That same day back in Hawaii, Kai and Scarlet went on a tour of Maui and the Navy base in Honolulu just as he promised. They used his boat to speed up the tour much to both their discontentment, but it was still an experience Scarlet wouldn't forget. By the time they returned to Luana's little house, it was nearing sunset and she'd already cooked up a little fish for Scarlet to eat. She'd even packed up a large collection of dried fish and fruit with containers of fresh water for the trip back to Washington. The next morning, Kai and Scarlet woke bright and early and Scarlet said goodbye to Luana with a big hug and kiss on the cheek. Luana promised again this wouldn't be the last they saw of each other and said her own goodbyes. Scarlet and Luana waved to one another as they left the shore and she finally stopped when they'd left that part of the island.

"I really like your mother," Scarlet said. "She's very nice."

"She liked you a lot too," Kai said. "She'll miss you I'm sure."

"I'll miss her too," Scarlet said. "Maybe one day I could come back for a visit. Preferably when you're back on the island."

"That might be difficult to plan," Kai admitted. Once they were out on the open ocean with nothing ahead of them until they finally reached Washington, Kai said down for a little while to relax. "Aside from my mom, how'd you like Hawaii?"

"It was gorgeous," Scarlet said. "I can't wait to tell everyone about it. Apparently there are plans for a memorial at Pearl Harbor."

"That's good to hear," Kai said. "I'm sorry again about your father yelling at you."

"It's not your fault," Scarlet said. "I should have told him where I was sooner. How long will it take us to get to Washington?"

"If I had to guess, about 2 or 3 days by boat," Kai said. "I'll know for sure once it's nightfall when I can check the sky."

"You'll need to give me a refresher on how you read the stars," Scarlet smiled. "I remember needing to locate the North Star, but that's as far as I remember I admit."

"Don't worry; I'll remind you," Kai said with a charming smile. Scarlet blushed a little and went to the side of the boat to dip her feet into the water.

"This is so relaxing," Scarlet said. "Do you ever get lonely when you're out at sea?"

"Maybe a little," Kai said. "I've usually reached land by the time I get really lonely. This journey's the first time I've had a guest."

"I hope I haven't been too much trouble," Scarlet said.

"Quite the contrary," Kai smiled. "I may have to change around my route to include Washington. Might be a little cold for my liking, but I can always make due."

"I would love the visits," Scarlet said. "Who knows? Maybe one time I could join you for a full tour of the Pacific. Assuming the invitation is there."

"Rest assured, it's there," Kai grinned and kissed Scarlet's cheek before sitting beside her putting his feet in the water. He started poking her foot with his under the water and Scarlet was blushing again.

"Will you stay with us for a little while? I know Washington's going to be a new place for you. It might be fun to show you around. You did the same for me."

"I would love to," Kai smiled. "I would love to find out if it's really the wettest state in the Union as they say."

"It is," Scarlet answered bluntly and Kai chuckled. "Don't let that deter you, though."

"I won't," Kai answered.

Kai placed his hand on Scarlet's and she accepted it eagerly. She leaned against his shoulder and took in his scent. His hair was down and the ebony curls tickled her face where they met. His hair smiled clean and salty. While she laid against him, Kai pulled up some water and asked if there was anything Scarlet wanted to see. She asked if he could recreate movies to which he advised he'd never tried and was eager to experiment. She asked if there were any movies he'd seen but he wasn't really familiar with anything. She told him the story of Cinderella that she'd seen a million times with her dad and little sisters. She remembered it perhaps better than she should. She even remembered most of the words to the songs as she walked him scene by scene of the movie.

"I've never made mice sing and dance while sewing a dress," Kai chuckled while Scarlet hummed 'Cinderelli'.

"She needs a dress for the ball," Scarlet said and continued to hum.

"I may have to see this movie," Kai said.

"We might be able to catch it in theatres still," Scarlet said. "It was still in a few select theatres a month or so ago when we saw it in Las Vegas."

"You know, I don't think I've ever gone to a movie theatre at all. We have them in Hawaii, but I just never went to one."

"Do they not have any in other places you've been?"

"Japan, not a chance," Kai said. "Although with Americans stationed there, I'm sure they'll fix that soon enough. Can't let a little thing like being nuked twice get in the way of westernization."

"That was a dark joke," Scarlet said.

"I'm afraid there's not much that's funny about what was going on with Japan," Kai said. "I've seen the effects of Japanese imperialism first hand in the Philippines and the few times I've been to Korea in the last fifty years. I hear China suffered some of the worst atrocities out of the lot but I'm sure those effected will dispute that depending on who you speak to."

"Are you planning to return to Japan any time soon?"

"Not for a while I think," Kai said. "By the time I left Japan the last time, American troops were already stationed there and they were starting to build themselves back up from the devastation of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Now that troops are being sent to Korea after the North invaded the South, it'll just be a nightmare to navigate."

"All the more reason to come to Washington instead then," Scarlet attempted to lighten the mood and Kai smiled.

"Indeed it is," Kai said. "Your father won't have to fight in Korea will he?"

"Daddy's retired, so no," Scarlet said. "He'd have been deployed already were it not for that."

"I'm sure he's relieved about that," Kai said.

"Ada, me and the kids more so," Scarlet said. "Daddy was away for so long because of the war and we missed him so much. We were so happy when he came home. I can't imagine him leaving again and potentially never seeing him again."

"I can't wait to meet him," Kai said. "He sounds like a worldly guy."

"I don't know if 'worldly' is the word," Scarlet said. "Anyway, back to the movie. After this Cinderella's stepsisters are going to tear apart her dress the mice worked so hard on."

"What cunts," Kai said and Scarlet laughed.

She walked him through the scene in which Cinderella's evil sisters tore apart her dress and her running outside to the gardens to cry. She tried to remember the song by the Fairy Godmother, but she had a hard time remembering the gibberish. Startling given Ivory and Jaedynn would singing the stupid song over and over again while playing with their dolls. It was weird singing 'So This is Love' after telling Kai that Cinderella and the Prince needed to dance together and wander through the gardens together. She could feel him trying to hold her foot with his toes while she sang and she nearly broke to giggle, but she kept singing. When she finished directing him through Cinderella, she tried to walk him through Snow White, but that proved difficult given the actress for Snow White was a soprano to shame all sopranos and had a hard time getting the high notes.

"If we can catch it on TV, I need to show you Fantasia. You'd like that."

"I've heard of that," Kai said. "I hear it's a Disney experiment of animation that went well."

"It went very well," Scarlet said. "It's the strangest thing you'll ever watch at parts, but it's destined to be a classic in my opinion. I think you'll appreciate the Sorcerer's Apprentice segment. Mickie Mouse nearly ends the world playing with his master's hat."

"Oh my, that does sound fun," Kai said. "Any other movie you wanted to walk me through?"

"Mildred Pierce may be a big ask," Scarlet said. "It stars Joan Crawford. Do you know her?"

"Not personally, but I've not been to Hollywood in a while," Kai joked. "I've heard of her but I've never had the pleasure of seeing her movies."

"Flamingo Road is good too, but I prefer Mildred Pierce. I've never wanted to choke anyone before, but Veda Pierce instilled the desire like no other."

"Who's Veda?"

"She's Mildred's daughter. If we can find that movie on TV, I'll show you that too. Joan Crawford movies are really popular, so we may get lucky."

"I'm told Marilyn Monroe is getting popular," Kai said. "She's the blonde right?"

"I think she was in You Were Meant for Me but I never saw that. She's in Fireball and The Asphalt Jungle but I haven't seen those either. Those might still be in theatres when we get back."

"Sounds like we've got quite the movie viewing planned out," Kai said.

With the exception of navigating, Kai spent most of the day sitting beside Scarlet and talking to her. Soon the sun was going down on the horizon and the stars were coming into view. Kai sat on the floor of his boat so he was looking up at the sky. With his legs spread and knees up, Kai encouraged Scarlet to sit in his lap so she could see what he saw. He held her hands in his and directed her eyes towards the North Star.

"So now that we have the right star in view," Kai said. "We know that Washington is Northeast from here. Emphasis on 'north'." Kai held up her hand with his so they could follow the stars to navigate what direction they had to go. "Now it's likely, we could veer off course doing the day, but so long as we keep our direction consistent with the help of the sun's positioning, we should be there in about 2 days."

"So let me walk through this again," Scarlet said and started reviewing what Kai had taught her. While she did that, Kai leaned his head down to her neck and began to press kisses to her neck. She stopped mumbling through what she'd been taught and smiled. "Is this necessary for reading the stars?"

"Imperative," Kai smiled against her skin and kept kissing her. She leaned her head to the side so he had easier access to her neck.

Scarlet shivered with each delicate kiss he placed on her neck. It tickled but in such a way that her body reacted to it delightfully. He held her hands the whole time he kissed her. Then he introduced his tongue, tenderly licking her neck at the spots he remembered made her tremble the most. Scarlet sighed and leaned into him all the more, especially when he reached her ear and started to lick her there. Then he released one of her hands so his could trail down to the hem of her dress which he lifted so he could touch her bare skin. It started at her calf and then his hand gradually worked its way up to her knee and then down to her thigh. Scarlet bit her lip to lessen her moan, but Kai still heard it and she felt him smile against her ear.

"You smell like hibiscus," Kai said.

"It's the soap your mother let me use," Scarlet said.

"I know," Kai grinned and kissed her ear again. "I like that soap. It was always my favorite as a kid." Kai's left hand that had still been holding Scarlet's hand let go of her hand and trailed his fingers up her arm until he reached her shoulder. Then he reached that hand down to her hip and up to her waist. She trembled from the touch and he smiled again. "You're very ticklish."

"I never used to be," Scarlet said as she leaned against him. She wasn't looking at the stars anymore. Her eyes were closed and she was just enjoying his touch.

"Really?" Kai said and gently trailed the tips of his fingers over the bare skin of her thigh and reveled in the shiver and he noticed the smile. "You don't have to," Kai began, "but I don't think I've done more than kiss you a few times."

"If I didn't know better Kai I'd think you were flirting with me," Scarlet teased.

"I hadn't realized I was being so subtle," Kai chuckled and nipped Scarlet's ear. She whimpered a little and Kai moved his right hand around on her thigh so he was dangerously close to her core. "I've wanted you for a while now," Kai admitted.

"Have you?"

"Yeah," Kai answered and trailed his hand just that much closer to her. He very nearly touched the cotton that was covering her. "I was hoping maybe you felt the same way."

"Just maybe?" Scarlet smiled. Kai's left hand trailed up over Scarlet's breast until he reached the buttons of her dress and he started to undo them one at a time. Tiring of the teasing, Scarlet lifted one of her free hands so she could plant it on Kai's head. She threaded her fingers through the curl of his black hair and loved how thick it was. "I've wanted you too," Scarlet answered.

Finally having her verbal acquiescence, Kai let his right hand go between her legs and his left hand dipped into the opening he'd created in her dress and took a gentle hold of her breast. Scarlet breathed in, lifting her chest just a little from his touch, and reached her free hand behind her so she could touch him. When she touched the muscle of his belly, he flinched just a little before returning to rest and she felt him moan against her skin. He'd started sucking just behind her ear and it was enough to make her whimper.

"Have you ever done this in the middle of the ocean?" Scarlet asked in a breathy voice.

"Can't say I have," Kai said and kissed his way down her neck to her shoulder. "I'm eager to try, though."

Kai nudged aside her dress with his nose so he could kiss more of her shoulder. The fabric pushed aside easily and soon half her chest was free and exposed to the cool air. She shivered both from the sudden cold and the feel of his lips against her skin. Then his hand moved from her right breast to her left so the cold wasn't affecting her anymore. Scarlet trailed her own hand further down, loving the feel of him under her hand. Soon she reached the top of his pants and initially she tried to delve in, but they were too tight, so she undid the button and zipper of his pants. She managed to get the zipper down and once she had, she took a hold of his erection. She felt Kai bite her and there was a moment of a horrible sting on her shoulder.

"Kai," Scarlet whimpered and he realized it wasn't with pleasure. He sucked on her skin so the sting was gone and licked her there. It healed instantly, but the faintest white scar remained.

"Sorry," Kai said. "Does it still hurt?"

"No, it stopped," Scarlet said. "I didn't hurt you did I?"

"No," Kai said and kissed her again. "It feels good." Kai lifted his right hand just enough so he could dip his hand under her panties until he finally reached her core.

The moment his fingers reached the folds and felt her wetness, they both groaned and Scarlet kept stroking him while Kai rubbed his fingers over her clitoris. The hand he hand on her breast went up to the collar of her dress and pulled it aside, but could only pull it so far. He took his fingers away from between her legs and pulled her unbuttoned dress down from her shoulders so she was topless. Scarlet lifted both arms from the sleeves of her dress and Kai moved away from her so he could come around to face her. He pressed her down so she was on her back and Scarlet laid back, laying her arms above her head. Scarlet licked her lips and watched Kai move towards her like a cat preying on a cornered mouse. Her heart pounded the whole time. Kai grabbed a hold of her dress and pulled it down along with her panties and dropped them to the side.

"I've never gotten a really good view of you naked," Kai said and placed his hands on her thighs and started trialing them up to her hips.

"Was it everything you hoped for?" Scarlet joked.

"Everything and more," Kai grinned and swiftly put his hands just under her hips and jerked her towards him so he was cradled between her legs. She gasped and giggled from the sudden movement and brought her hands up to his chest.

Kai leaned down over her and kissed her. She brought one arm around his neck while her other hand went between them so she could hold his erection again. Kai groaned into her mouth and grew more passionate, thrusting once into her hand enjoying the feel of her touch. He brought his hands to her breasts and ran this thumbs over her nipples tenderly. Scarlet threaded her fingers through Kai's hair again as they kissed. She used her toes to push down his pants further.

"Put me inside you," Kai said against her lips before continuing the kiss and Scarlet did as he asked, guiding him to her entrance.

Once there, he thrust forward and was inside her in one stroke. Scarlet wrapped her arms around him and locked her legs around his hips after he was inside. The two of them were still a moment as though savoring the moment all the while continuing to kiss one another. Kai put both his hands on the floor of the boat so he could grip onto something and once he had, he finally started to move. Scarlet moaned when he finally started moving and clutched to him tighter. He reached down with his hands and tugged at her thighs so she wasn't wrapped around his hips anymore and had more freedom of movement. Once Kai had her legs adjusted in such a manner that she was cradling his hips, Kai started to move with greater force but kept a moderate pace.

Kai took his lips away from Scarlet's and started kissing her neck again being mindful not to bite. He slowed his movements a little as he started kissing his way down her collarbone and chest until he reached her breasts. When he'd reached her nipples and began to suck on them, he increased his movements again and caused Scarlet to moan his name. After he'd given both her breasts his attention, Scarlet pushed on Kai's chest to get him on his back and mount him. Once they were both comfortable, Kai trailed his hands up her thighs to her hips. He held her there while she started to move and reveled at the sight before him. She sat up straight but continued a slow up and down movement while she got her hair out of her face, leaving her completely bare to his view and her breasts bouncing with her.

He kept one hand on her hip and lifted the other to her breast, running his thumb over her nipple. She put her hands on his chest for balance and started to move faster. When she would hold her head back, the ends of her hair tickled his legs. Soon he wanted to hold her, no longer content to just have his hands on her. So he sat up and took Scarlet in his arms after which he took her lips in a kiss again while she wrapped her arms around his neck. He trailed his hands to the round flesh of her butt and followed her movements as she continued up and down. The more she moved, the closer they both came to their released. Scarlet reached between them to help herself along when she felt Kai reaching his end. Scarlet increased her speed the closer she came and finally, she felt as though her body snapped and she gripped the hair of Kai's head and she moaned into his mouth. Kai followed shortly after her, gripping her hips and then wrapping his arms around her and held her tightly as though she were a lifeline.

After reaching his climax, Kai fell backward with Scarlet still firmly in his arms and finally gentled his hold once his back was on the floor of his boat. The two of them kept kissing a moment even after their climax until finally parting their lips with Scarlet resting her head on Kai's chest. He kissed the top of her head ready to fall asleep then and there.

"That was wonderful," Scarlet sighed.

"Always quick to flatter me," Kai grinned and kissed her heard again. "We'll have to do this again before we reach Washington. Sex on a boat's a lot of fun."

Scarlet giggled and snuggled into his chest and the two of them fell asleep in one another's arms. They lost a few hours from oversleeping and losing course, but Kai got them reoriented again. The day after, they finally caught sight of land but it wasn't quite where the Quileute tribe rested. They were too far south, so Kai followed the coast until they finally reached the tribe.

"It's so cold," Kai grumbled, not enjoying the cold or the current drizzle in the least bit.

"It's actually not that bad today," Scarlet said, "but I guess it's a little gloomy compared to the islands."

"You guess?" Kai managed a small laugh but shivered. "This is honestly the coldest place I've ever been."

"Doesn't Japan get snow?"

"In the winter," Kai said. "I don't go during the winter. I always go in spring that way I can visit Japan but get away before monsoon season."

"Japan gets monsoons?"

"No, India does," Kai said. "They base their agriculture around them in fact but they're a bitch to sail through."

"I would imagine so," Scarlet said. Eventually they finally reached the shore. Scarlet pointed out where her house was atop the hill and the disembarked in front of Renesmee's and Jacob's house.

"There you are," Jacob said, stepping out of the house. "I'll warn you right now. Your daddy's not too happy with you right now."

"Yes, grandpa, I know," Scarlet said as she walked over to Jacob and gave him a hug. Then she looked at Kai. "Kai, this is my grandpa Jacob. Grandpa, this is Kai. We met in Peru and he was kind enough to get me home."

"And gave you a trip to Hawaii from what I hear," Jacob said and approached Kai. "It's good to meet you."

"It's good to meet you too. I've heard a lot about you all. Good things."

"I would hope so," Jacob said. As they spoke, Jaedynn ran down ahead of Nathan and went right to Scarlet to give her a hug. Scarlet picked up her little sister and gave her a hug.

"Hey, Jaedynn," Scarlet smiled. When she looked up, she saw Nathan approach. "Hey, daddy."

"Welcome home, Scarlet," Nathan said and hugged her.

"Are you not mad at me anymore?"

"Oh, no, I'm still mad," Nathan said. "You're Kai?" Nathan asked Kai.

"Yes, sir," Kai smiled and approached, his hand extended. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Scarlet speaks so highly of you. I'm sorry about delaying her return. Hawaii is part of my usual route and I needed to return home anyway. Scarlet was kind enough to accompany me."

"I'm to understand that you never stay on land for long?"

"The longest I'll typically stay anyway is a four or five months, and that's only when I'm home. Otherwise, I'm never inland longer than a two months."

"Why the constant traveling?"

"It's what I love to do," Kai answered. "Scarlet was telling me about all the traveling the two of you had done when she was younger. She even told me about trying to find El Dorado. It's a shame it wasn't found."

"El Dorado fell with the arrival of the Spaniards I'm afraid," Ada María said as she approached and was close enough to introduce herself. "The Inca Empire was the wealthiest empire in all of the Americas before they fell. We had the gold."

"That's what I've heard," Kai said and smiled. "You must be Ada María."

"And you must be Kai," Ada María smiled and shook Kai's hand. "Thank you for bringing Scarlet home. That was very courteous of you. The bonus trip to Hawaii doesn't hurt either."

"You'd like it there, Ada," Scarlet said. "It's beautiful."

"I've heard how beautiful it is," Ada María said. "So how long will you be staying with us?"

"If the weather doesn't improve, I might leave tonight," Kai joked but looked at Scarlet and affirmed he was only kidding.

Since Kai had mentioned his disliking for the cold, Ada María sympathized and led him up to the house she shared with Nathan and gave him some heavier clothes to wear and some sock. Ada María was the more welcoming of the two. Nathan was polite but he didn't say much, still a little upset with the scare he'd caused for him. However, when Ariel, Gabriel and Ada María had to leave for the bar to work, Nathan's parents and a few other relatives were coming and going, but for the most part he was alone with Scarlet, Kai and Jaedynn, who'd fallen asleep in Nathan's lap after dinner.

"You and your brothers all served in the army right?" Kai asked when it was just the four of them in the house.

"Yes, we did," Nathan said.

"Scarlet says since returning home you've been a professional dad?" Kai grinned, trying to lighten the mood and maybe get Nathan in a good humor, but he seemed to remain rather standoffish.

"In a manner of speaking," Nathan said. "We're not hurting for money and it was best that I stay with Jaedynn, especially when she was really little."

"You have five children right? Scarlet, Ariel, Ivory, Jaedynn and Gabriel?"

"Yeah," Nathan said. "Remembered them in order of age and everything."

"Scarlet spoke a lot about the lot of you," Kai said.

"Do you have children? It's my understanding you're older than even her grandparents."

"I'm much older, yes," Kai nodded, "but I never married and I don't have kids."

"Any reason for that?"

"I never met anyone I wanted to marry. Besides, the way I like to live, it seems silly to marry and start a family. They'd only see me maybe once a year when I'm in town."

"You'd be surprised what changes you're willing to make when you're not the most important person in your life anymore," Nathan said and, almost unconsciously, started petting Jaedynn's back.

"I guess that would come with being a parent," Kai said. "Your brother Kyle is the only one among you that doesn't have children?"

"Much to mother's discontentment," Nathan said.

"What's there to be discontent about?" Kai said. "If I'm counting everyone, between her kids, she's got 9 grandkids doesn't she? And more on the way when your oldest brother and wife have another child? They just had a daughter I think Scarlet said, right?"

"Mom's just frustrated with Kyle. He keeps promising he and Evie will have children when he finishes the hospital he wants to build, but that keeps taking longer and longer. Whether that's due to the actual logistics of opening a hospital or Kyle not wanting kids is anyone's guess. He's thought both things."

"Why have kids if he doesn't want any?"

"Evie wants kids," Nathan said. "For the wolf, sometimes what the imprint wants is reason enough. I assume Scarlet's told you about imprinting and what that is right?"

"She mentioned a bunch of you have imprinted and explained what that means," Kai nodded. Just then, Jaedynn started groaning as she woke and sat up from Nathan's chest and started rubbing her eyes.

"It's late, Jaedynn, so go ahead and brush your teeth and I'll help you get ready for bed," Nathan said.

"No," Jaedynn said and hopped down from Nathan's lap and went to the little TV guide on the TV they'd had maybe two weeks. She'd looked over that guide near religiously trying to find cartoons and movies. She finally found what she was looking for. "I want to watch Pinocchio." She turned on the TV and played with the knob until she got to the right channel.

"That's another Disney movie isn't it?" Kai asked Scarlet.

"It's not my favorite, but it's alright," Scarlet said.

"Jaedynn Rose, it's 8 o'clock," Nathan said firmly.

"Please daddy, I want to watch Pinocchio," Jaedynn said and looked at Nathan with little puppy dog eyes. Nathan sighed and slumped.

"Fine, but afterwards, you're going to bed," Nathan said.

"Thank you, daddy," Jaedynn smiled and sat down in front of the tiny TV while a few commercials played. Nathan walked over and picked her up and took her a few feet away so she wasn't right in front of the TV anymore and Jaedynn complied but with a little grumble.

"Just out of curiosity," Kai said when Jaedynn's attention was fully taken up with the movie, "does Jaedynn know anything about her birth mother?"

"She knows Ada's not her birth mother," Nathan said. "She's asked about her birth mother before and we tell her what we know. Ada knew her more than I did. I barely knew Eloise in truth. I can count the number of times I've actually seen and spoken to her on one hand."

"Does she ever write?"

"No," Nathan said. "We agreed she's have Jaedynn and after that she'd bolt to Canada. As far as I'm aware, that's what happened. She stayed long enough to recover after giving birth and then she left. Ada and Scarlet took over from there."

"Does she ever express a desire to meet her birth mother?"

"Not that she's voiced to me," Nathan said. "She probably will one day, but if she does, we'll deal with it. I like to think Ada's all the more she could want in a mother."

"Daddy," Jaedynn turned to look at him and then put her finger over her lip and shushed him gently. "The movie's about to start."

Nathan smiled and poked her leg with his toe making her giggle. Jaedynn tried to stay awake through the whole movie, but half way through her eyelids got heavy and she ended up falling asleep on the floor. When she was asleep, Nathan turned off the TV and got her tucked into bed for the night. Nathan stayed up with Kai and Scarlet a while longer, but soon suggested they get to bed for the night. Kai was asked to sleep on the couch in the living room.

JJ met Kai briefly the following day before he left for work. Salem and Nesia stayed at Nathan's house for a while to get to know Kai as did Natalie, though she was generally asleep on the couch from her work the previous night. JJ had gone to work for the day still as crabby as before. They'd not seen or heard from Suerro the night he'd tried walking Natalie home, but JJ was still on edge. JJ had gone to the bar after work a few times and he was constantly reminded of his mother's sudden change in demeanor. She wasn't quite as she used to be, but she was less depressed to be sure. JJ wanted to be happy that she was clearly in better spirits, but he just couldn't be because he knew the reason for it.

Back east, Suerro had not rejoined his coven in Boston. Rather, he retreated to Maine where he knew he'd be left alone. Or so he thought. The moment he'd left Forks, that horrible Raven followed him everywhere. If he stopped for even a moment, he could see a shadowy figure in the distance that kept getting closer to him the longer he stayed in one spot. So finally he kept running and didn't stop until he reached Maine and could go no further without diving into the Atlantic. But when he reached Maine and had finally stopped, the raven continued to stalk him and he kept seeing the shadowy figure. He avoided the water as much as possible, thinking that it would prevent him from having to hear the ghost he knew was following him.

Eventually, it came a time, barely two days after he'd returned to the east coast, that the ghost following him decided he'd lost his patience. On the third night of stopping at a coastal town, he stepped into a bar hoping to avoid the water and the raven. There was a band playing in the bar that Suerro paid no mind. He found a spot in which to tuck away and refused any drink when a waitress came to his way. But when he looked at the waitress, she was dark of hair and tan of skin. She wasn't Natalie of course, but he was struck with how much the young woman reminded him of her. He did his best to ask the young woman to leave him be once he made the connection. The longer he was inside, he started hearing the raven squawking. At first he assumed he could just hear it from outside, but it kept getting louder and louder in his ears.

He looked around the bar but none of the other patrons seemed to notice the raven's incessant squawking. Suerro did, however. It kept getting louder and louder to a point where he could swear the bird was right by his ear. Then he looked up at the band that was playing. Both the women singing were black haired and tan skinned. Just like Natalie. Suddenly, he looked around the bar and was surrounded by women that looked exactly like Natalie. They were in varying displays of joy from mere smiles to laughter and even loving glances in his direction. She wasn't there, though. Her scent wasn't filling the bar. It was the scents of several strangers. Suerro groaned and rubbed his face. He heard the squawk again and suddenly, the bar was filled with Natalie's scent. He opened his eyes and when he did, the bar was empty save for Natalie. She was in the plain clothes she'd worn when he'd walked her part of the way home. She had the same tame expression as before as well. She wasn't giving him much more than a polite smile with the same sadness in her eyes.

The squawking got impossibly louder and was now to his right. He looked to his right and saw who he presumed to be Jae and it made Suerro jump from his table. Jae didn't appear pleased and there was an anger in his paled eyes. The raven flew onto the table in front of Jae and flapped it's wings aggressively, making its call with the same ferocity. Jae stood up from the chair he'd been occupying and began to approach. Suerro backed away and got out of the bar as calmly as possible, but once he was outside, he made a run for it. He would have continued to run, but there was suddenly a sharp pain on his chest. It was the tooth he kept around his neck. The pain forced him to stop and when he did, he was before a fountain in the middle of town. The raven was perched on the lip of the fountain and flapping its wings again trying to get Suerro to come to the fountain. When Suerro tried to back away, he backed into a hard figure, but when he turned in horror, there was nothing behind him. He started stepping backward towards the fountain and then turned when the raven squawked again.

"You'll never leave me alone will you?" Suerro said in horror.

"Home," the raven said.

"I went home," Suerro spat back. "What more do you want?"

"Home!" the raven said again. "Return home!"

"What do you want from me?!" Suerro yelled.

"Return home!" Another voice came. It was Jae, but he wasn't behind or even in front of Suerro. He finally dared to approach the fountain and Jae was there in the water with the same vicious look. Or perhaps it was frustration he saw in the man's eyes. "For Natalie," the man in the water added.

"She doesn't want me," Suerro finally said. "She won't love anyone but you and she lost you."

"I can't make her happy anymore," Jae said. "That's why you need to return home to her. I won't rest until she's happy again and you're the only one that can make her happy. You're her imprint."

"You speak of a word Taha Aki gave to his perversion," Suerro spat back.

"You felt it too when you saw her," Jae said. "You loved her instantly. You're the only one that can make her happy."

Suerro looked into the water of the fountain at Jae, but after their talk, Jae's image disappeared and was replaced by that of Natalie. She was singing and he could hear her as clearly as though he were in the bar listening to her. She was singing a song that had become popular during the war. 'You Belong to Me'. Her rich voice carried the song effortlessly and, despite there still being a sadness there he also saw a sparkle. It was a shine in her eyes that he suspected hadn't been there in years. He caught himself wondering if he could ease that sorrow so all that showed was happiness. He even longed for it. The raven made another sound, but it wasn't a squawk this time. Rather, it was a pleasant sound. Almost like a purr.

"I'm begging you," Jae's voice came and Suerro turned to see Jae standing there, paled features and injuries prominent. "Go home."

Suerro stared into the paled dead eyes of a desperate man. Suerro looked back at the water to see Natalie singing again. She was in the bar he could tell. The longer he watched her sing, the more it tugged at his heart. The crow continued to purr as if to encourage the feelings he was having. Then he closed his eyes, took a deep but unneeded breath, and walked away. He began running west the same way he'd come from. It took him two days to get back to Washington and when he arrived, he waited until it was nightfall to enter town and once he had, he walked right to the inn. The raven was perched there and, at the raven's side, was a little blue bird. There was a kid leaning against the wall by the door. He was trying to convince a drunk man that he'd had enough for the night and needed to return home.

Inside the bar, Nathan was there with JJ and Kai. Scarlet wanted to encourage Kai and Nathan to get to know each other better especially since she had a feeling Nathan wasn't warming up to the man. JJ had already been there and was drinking a beer. The only beer Natalie would give him for the night. Nathan was having straight whiskey and Kai just drank water.

"You don't drink?" Nathan asked after Kai only requested water.

"I don't really like anything," Kai said. "Half breed, remember?"

"You'd be surprised," Nathan said. "Ada's two thirds and booze it about the only thing she does like. That and coffee. Truth be told, I think she only likes the buzz they both give her."

"Water's fine, really," Kai assured.

"JJ, assuming it's alright with you I think I'd better be frank with Kai," Nathan said and JJ shrugged indifferently. "While I appreciate you bringing Scarlet home, I'd like for you to be blunt with me of what your intentions are."

"Pardon?" Kai asked, confused. "I'm not sure I understand your question."

"Okay," Nathan said and leaned forward with his drink in his hand. "I'm not so naïve to think the two of you haven't been fooling around. I was young once too. I know how it is so I'm no one to talk about chastity or any shit of the nature. But regardless, that's my baby girl and if all you're doing is 'fooling around' then you'll have quite the angry father to deal with. And I'm not a father you want to upset for the record."

"Are you threatening me?" Kai asked with a raised brow.

"I don't threaten, Kai. I'm a man of my word. If you're wasting my little girl's time then I'll gladly tell you a little story from Paris that'll give you a taste of what's coming your way."

"I'm warning you now, Kai. It's gruesome," JJ muttered, a chill from Nathan's memory of it coming to his mind.

"Nathan," Kai hurried, "I don't know what you think I'm going to do, but I'm not some villain. If you're asking if I like Scarlet, then yes I do."

"I didn't ask you if you like her. Plenty of worthless little brats have 'liked' my daughter. I asked you if you love her," Nathan said. Kai was quiet, a little stunned by the question and admittedly extremely intimidated. The silence was uncomfortable and JJ kept his nose in his glass sipping his beer as if trying to hide.

"I.." Kai started but got nervous. He wasn't even positive admitting having affection for Scarlet was even the answer Nathan was looking for. Though in the end, he knew he was better off just telling the truth. "I know that the way I feel about Scarlet isn't like anything I've felt for anyone before."

"So you don't love her?" Nathan asked harshly.

"No, I didn't say that," Kai said nervously. "Look, Nathan, the truth is Scarlet really isn't like anyone I've known. But I'm a drifter. Always have been. That's not really a conducive lifestyle to what I'm assuming you're expecting from me."

"What is it you think I expect?" Nathan asked.

"I don't know," Kai said. "Me to stay here I guess. Get a house with a white picket fence, a dog, a family. I can't really offer that."

"Can't or won't?" Nathan asked.

"Both?" Kai answered hesitantly. "Nathan, I don't want to stay here. To be blunt, I really don't like it here. I care a lot for Scarlet. Hell, I probably do love her. I do love her. But what she and I will have is going to be a little unconventional. Honestly, I think she knows and accepts that. If that's not good enough for you, then that's your business but this is really between me and Scarlet." Nathan kept a sharp gaze on Kai while JJ looked away, desperate not to get involved unless it got ugly. Nathan's eyes didn't soften, but he did lean back and swirl the whiskey in his glass.

"I'll give you points for standing up to me," Nathan said. "If whatever you're suggesting makes Scarlet happy, then I won't utter any further complaint, but you're wrong about this not being my business. I love all my daughters, but Scarlet and I? We share a different bond. She helped me through one of the toughest times in my life when her mother died. We helped each other through that. Like I'd said before: plenty of worthless little brats have 'liked' my daughter. But they're worthless because they'd never be able to make her happy. You're her imprint, so I know you can, but that doesn't give you cart blanche to do whatever the fuck you want."

"Wait, what?" Kai suddenly came to attention. Scarlet had explained what imprints were but she'd not told him he was hers. Suddenly, he felt a little overwhelmed.

"She didn't explain that to you yet?" Nathan asked.

"No," Kai said.

"Well, now you know," Nathan said. "And now you really know my expectations. You make my little girl happy and you and I will get along just fine. Otherwise," Nathan took a sip of his whiskey, "just remember something. There was a sniper that killed JJ's father. That man was my best friend."

"Scarlet told me about Jae," Kai said. "He sounds like he was a good man."

"None better," Nathan said. "You know what I did to the sniper that murdered Jae?"

"You killed him?" Kai guessed.

"I tortured him," Nathan said. "That's no exaggeration either. I tortured that man until I finally saw fear in his eyes. I did that to a German soldier that, if I'm being honest with myself, was doing his job. Doesn't change that he killed my best friend, but he was an enemy. He did what would have been expected of anyone in his position. Imagine what I'd do to you if you ever did anything to hurt my little girl." Kai stayed put in his chair trying not to show any fear. He suspected if he did, that might earn Nathan's respect, but the truth was he'd never felt so scared in his life. Finally, Nathan grinned. "Good. We understand each other."

"I would never intentionally hurt Scarlet," Kai said.

"Good," Nathan said and took another sip of his whiskey. The door of the bar opened and Nathan had glanced in its direction, but his gaze was held when he realized who'd stepped in. "I see he came back."

"Who?" Kai asked and turned to look, but he didn't recognize the man Nathan was looking at. "Who's he?"

"No one," JJ nearly growled and downed his drink.

"He's my little sister's imprint," Nathan said.

"You planning to tell him the sniper story too?" Kai asked, half kidding, half nervously.

"Depends," Nathan said while looking sternly at Kai. "If he's a 'drifter' I may have to." Nathan looked at JJ. "Try to relax, alright kid?"

"Why don't you?" JJ said combatively and Nathan swatted the back of JJ's head.

"Watch it," Nathan said.

Back at the door when Suerro walked in, he looked around trying to find Natalie, but what he saw was enough to send a shiver down his spine. There were three men at one table one of whom he swore for a second was Jae, but he realized he must be JJ. After smelling the air, he realized it was. He remembered the smell. The men at that table were looking right at him and he suspected he knew why. Finally, one of them smiled a little and motioned for Suerro to come over. After a brief hesitation, Suerro finally did. JJ looked more and more irritable the closer Suerro got.

"You must be Suerro," one said to Suerro once he was there.

"I don't recall us meeting."

"We haven't," the man said. "I'm Nathan Black. I'm Natalie's twin brother."

"Oh," Suerro said.

"This is Kai. He's a friend that's visiting and of course you and JJ met." JJ said nothing while Kai smiled politely.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Suerro. Thank you for taking some the attention off me," Kai said.

"You're welcome," Suerro answered. "Is Natalie preparing to sing?"

"If she's not out serving, I would assume so," Nathan said. "Why don't you sit down?" Suerro hesitated a moment but finally took a seat at the table. He could feel JJ's glare but he tried to ignore it. "So tell me about yourself. What have you been up to since you changed?"

"Since I died you mean?" Suerro asked.

"Sure," Nathan said.

"You seem rather unconcerned with that," Suerro said.

"Exceptions can be made when the occasion calls for it," Nathan said. "My mom's a half breed after all. Natalie told you about that right?"

"She did," Suerro said. "What else has she told you?"

"You're the third wife's brother for one," Nathan said.

"Her name was Zurra," Suerro said, becoming slightly more aggressive. "She saved your people's lives. Least you can do is remember her name."

"You're right. My apologies," Nathan said. "So you were Zurra's brother. Chief Taha Aki wished to marry her, you refused, eventually he went behind your back and married her without your consent, night of the wedding, you found a vampire that ended up attacking you, Taha Aki was evidently about to kill you but you threw yourself off the cliff so he wouldn't and the vampire that attacked you saved you from drowning. You evidently brought a vampire to the tribe to avenge your sister in a manner, she took her life to save Taha Aki's, he wandered from the tribe never to be seen again, you found him, killed him and then took his tooth."

"I didn't kill the man," Suerro said. "I let him die on his own. To kill him would have been a kindness. To let him live would be the best punishment for what he'd done."

"The way I see it, your sister's death was your own fault," JJ said aggressively. Suerro looked at the young man. He really was the image of his father. He felt the tooth at his neck begin to poke him as if a cruel reminder.

"Should I leave?" Kai asked after the silence was too much.

"You'd best," Nathan said and Kai couldn't leave the table soon enough. He left Suerro alone with Nathan and JJ to return to the tribe.

The silence persisted until Natalie finally took the stage and started to sing. Suerro looked at her and listened finally feeling a little better. Nathan noticed Suerro finally smile just a little and, despite their previous exchange, he felt better about Suerro. JJ did not however. He continued to stare cruelly at Suerro.

"Suerro," Nathan said and Suerro looked at him. "Back to my question. What have you been up to since you changed?"

"Nothing of note," Suerro said. "I've stayed in Canada a few years and then I returned to the United States about 100 years ago. I typically remain along the east coast with my coven."

"How many are in your coven?" Nathan asked.

"Just three," Suerro said. "Myself, Percible Romney and Ray. We call him Ray anyway. He's Powhatan."

"Really?" Nathan asked.

"Yes," Suerro said. "He was born years after the first white settlers came but he was changed in his youth. It was lucky too. Small pox would have taken him otherwise."

"How did the three of you become acquainted?"

"The woman who changed me, Juliette, was friends with Romney. I preferred Romney over Juliette and began traveling with Romney instead. He introduced me to Ray not long after, he and I became friends and we stayed together more or less from there."

"They didn't join you here?"

"I haven't seen them since I first left and came here," Suerro said. "They know why I'd come here in the first place. I doubt they'll expect me any time soon."

"I see," Nathan said. "So is that raven that follows you around a familiar or something? He's the biggest raven I've ever seen."

"No," Suerro said. "Damn birds been following me around for a while. I was able to ignore it at first when I realized it was following me, but when-" Suerro stopped a moment and sighed. "It was just made clear to me why the bird was following me around in the first place and it had to do with your sister."

"I see," Nathan said.

"What little Natalie and I were able to talk, she mentioned her late husband," Suerro said. "Jae I believe she said his name was."

"Yeah," Nathan nodded. "I'll be blunt with you, Suerro. I think we all know why you're here. You included. And you've got big shoes to fill. Very big shoes to fill."

"I've gathered that," Suerro said and, suddenly, JJ stood from his chair and grabbed his jacket.

"JJ?" Nathan said.

"I'm going home," JJ said. "I have to go to work in the morning."

"You sure you don't want to stay? Get to know Suerro a little more?" Nathan asked. JJ looked at Suerro non too kindly.

"I'd rather not," JJ said and walked away. When he left the bar, Nathan sighed a little.

"You'll have to be patient with him," Nathan said. "Poor kid hasn't been the same since Jae died. Before we left, Jae told JJ he was counting on him to be the man of the house until he got back. When Jae died, JJ basically took over. He went to Hailey who owns the General Store and begged for his dad's job so he could support Natalie and his little brother and sister." Nathan noticed Suerro soften at the mentioning of it.

"I know how he feels," Suerro said. "I was just a boy when my father died. I had to look after my little sister."

"So you know exactly how JJ feels," Nathan said more than asked.

"I do," Suerro said solemnly. "I also know he thinks the same about me as I did with Taha Aki."

"I see," Nathan said and scratched the back of his head. "But as far as I understand, you disliked Taha Aki because your father had refused to permit a marriage am I right?"

"That's what I kept telling him and it was part of the truth," Suerro said. "But the whole truth is…my father had entrusted Zurra's care to me. I took that very seriously. I loved Zurra and I really wanted the best for her, but it felt like Taha Aki was trying to push me aside. As though all my hard work and my father's request didn't count for anything. So yes: I think I know exactly how JJ feels."

"In that case, maybe you'll be able to handle this better than Taha Aki did," Nathan said.

"I don't know," Suerro said. "I'll try."

"Please," Nathan said. "JJ's a good kid. He really is. But he and Natalie….they're enabling each other for lack of a better term."

"How do you mean?"

"Well," Nathan said, "Natalie's always been a skinny thing. She's a finicky eater to make things worse. She won't eat meat of any kind, neither of us can eat dairy because it makes us sick, she won't eat honey, and she can't eat nuts."

"What does she eat?" Suerro asked.

"Grains, seeds, fruits and vegetables. Like I said, she's always been a skinny thing, but after Jae died, it got worse. Sometimes we have to force her to eat something. JJ got into the habit too. He doesn't eat. Hailey helps by threatening to send him home without pay if he doesn't eat something. So we know he eats lunch at least. But when he's at home, he and Natalie just won't eat. They tell each other to but….I don't know how to describe it."

"Has it improved since she and I met?" Suerro dared to ask.

"Actually, it has helped a little. She's finally eating again, but she still doesn't eat enough," Nathan said. Natalie stopped singing and Suerro looked up at the stage at her. She was still very thin, but there was a glow that seemed to have come to her skin that wasn't there before.

"She looks healthier than last I saw her at least," Suerro said and then looked at Nathan again. "I suppose since JJ's not here, I should admit it's not just the raven that forced me here."

"Jae did too?" Nathan asked knowingly and Suerro looked a little surprised. "Natalie keeps having these dreams of Jae showing you to her. It's how she knew so much of you, but she told you that already. I wouldn't find it odd that he'd do the same to you. Jae loved Natalie as far back as I can remember. He loved her from the beginning. He wouldn't want her as miserable as she's been without him."

"He said to me he couldn't be at peace until she was happy," Suerro said.

"I can imagine," Nathan said. "So now you've made this a little personal for me."

"How so?"

"Jae was my best friend. If the only way he can be at peace at last is for you to make Natalie happy, then you sure as shit had better."

"I'll do what I can then," Suerro said.

Nathan finally smiled genuinely at Suerro and thanked him. Then he finished his whiskey and excused himself from the table. Suerro saw Nathan talk to a woman at the bar and a young man. He kissed the woman, patted the young man on the head and then walked out. Suerro looked up at stage, but Natalie was already gone. On a gut feeling, Suerro walked outside and went around to the back and just as he suspected, Natalie was there but she wasn't leaving. She was against the wall speaking with a co-worker who was enjoying a cigarette. Suerro walked over to her and Natalie appeared on edge when she saw him.

"Evening, Mrs. Dauer," Suerro said and smiled kindly. "You sang beautifully tonight."

"Thank you," Natalie managed a shy smile. "Peggy, this is Mr. Suerro Rouge. He was kind enough to walk me home the other night when I'd left feeling unwell."

"Oh, you're that man?" Peggy said and smiled, extending her hand. "Well, we appreciate the gesture Mr. Rouge." Just then, Ada María opened the back door and poked her head out.

"Peggy, we're back on in five minutes. Get your butt in here," Ada María said and then returned inside. Peggy sighed and put out her cigarette on the ground with her foot.

"She's such a slave driver," Peggy said. "Don't tell her I said that," she asked Natalie.

"I won't say a word," Natalie promised.

"Thank you and you have a lovely evening Mr. Rouge," Peggy said and went back inside. When Suerro and Natalie were alone, there was a silence that filled the air until Suerro cut it.

"Are you done for the night?" Suerro asked.

"No," Natalie said. "I finish at 1."

"I can stick around and walk you home," Suerro offered.

"That's very kind, but you don't have to," Natalie said.

"I insist," Suerro said and then leaned against the wall right beside Natalie. "I got to meet your brother and son."

"Did you?"

Suerro nodded, "Nathan was friendly in his own way. I don't think JJ likes me, though." Natalie didn't say anything. "I can't say I blame him. I know how it feels to lose a father at such a young ago and have to take over."

"JJ's been wonderful," Natalie said. "I just wish he never had to take on so much."

"I admire your son a lot if I'm honest," Suerro said and Natalie looked up at him. "When my father died, taking care of Zurra fell on my shoulders. Of course, tribal law and tradition would dictate such would occur, but I really wanted to be the best for Zurra that I could be. She was heartbroken when our parents died."

"I can imagine," Natalie said. She got a little teary eyed.

"What's the matter?" Suerro asked.

"I'm sorry," Natalie said and rubbed her eyes. "I just remembered the day we saw Jae and the others off. Jae made JJ promise to look after things while he was away. JJ was so proud of Jae. He used to say how his daddy was a hero."

"He is," Suerro affirmed. Natalie and Suerro shared a look and she became teary eyed all the more before looking away.

"He has his father's medals in his room," Natalie said. "He was supposed to have Jae's flag, but I kept that. I have it in my bedroom with all his pictures."

"I'm sure the medals are what he wants most," Suerro said. "They're proof his father didn't die for nothing I think." Natalie rubbed her eyes again trying to stop crying.

"I've cried so much over the years," Natalie said. "I keep telling myself it doesn't do a bit of good, but I can't stop. I miss him so much." Natalie cried anew and Suerro, without thinking, moved closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He didn't say anything while Natalie just cried. He rubbed her shoulder with a comforting gentleness. When the crying calmed, Natalie rubbed her eyes and stood up. "I'm sorry. I had better return inside. My break probably ended five minutes ago."

"I'll wait out here for you when you're ready to return home," Suerro smiled.

"Thank you," Natalie smiled almost hesitantly, but she was happy he could tell. There was the gentle hint of a sparkle returning to her eyes and Suerro felt a sense of gratification. As he promised he would, Suerro waited outside for Natalie to finish with her shift. When Natalie finally returned outside in the wee hours of the morning, she had her purse and was in her waitress uniform that she generally wore through most of the night.

"So how was work?" Suerro asked when they left the back of the bar and were walking through town.

"I got a lot of good tips," Natalie said. "It's always best when we have sailors in the bar. They love a good show and drinks before they're deployed."

"How long have you worked there?"

"About three years," Natalie said. "It took some adjusting at first, but I'm glad I took the job. I think something to busy myself was what I needed."

"You were a housewife before all that weren't you?"

"I was," Natalie nodded.

"You have three children do you not?"

"Yes," Natalie said. "JJ's the eldest, then Salem and Nesia's the youngest."

"Is JJ the only one of them that's working?"

"Yes," Natalie nodded. "Hailey's even leaving the General Store to JJ once he retires."

"That's good news," Suerro said.

"Do you have a profession or are you a nomad?"

"No profession," Suerro said. "I belong to a coven of two others and the three of us generally collect money from our victims. It's collected a nice chunk of money for us but we hardly ever use it. Romney uses it more than any of us."

"What for?"

"Personal things," Suerro said. "He has a mate that he enjoys spoiling with niceties."

"What's her name?"

"Eleanor," Suerro answered. "She's a nice girl. Canadian born and was changed by the same woman that changed me. She and Romney have been together about fifteen years now if I recall correctly."

"Do you still keep in touch with the woman that changed you?"

"Hardly ever," Suerro answered. "I never cared for her. There were several points of contention between us almost always stemming from my Native heritage. I stayed with her to learn the language of the area and when I met Romney and we became friendly, I chose to travel with him rather than Juliette."

"That was her name? Juliette?"

"Yes," Suerro said.

"So you speak French?"

"I speak Québécois," Suerro said. "Parisian French is largely spoken by those that live in the less populated communities in the Quebec region."

"Are Québécois and Parisian French very different?"

"It's largely pronunciation and different words for certain things. It's not terribly different from a Bostonian accent and a Midwest accent for comparison."

"I'm afraid I'm only familiar with Parisian French, but I'm so out of practice. I can still read French though."

"And how is your Quileute?" Suerro asked and managed to earn a gentle smile from Natalie.

"Fluent," Natalie answered.

"That's what matters," Suerro said.

"We have a written format for the language now," Natalie said.

"You don't say?" Suerro said. "When did that happen?"

"Around the time my mother and father married," Natalie said. "My mom used to be the medicine woman for the tribe."

"We've never had a female healer as far as I know," Suerro said.

"Until my mother," Natalie said. "She made my big brother Kyle her apprentice and he's the Medicine Man now since daddy became chief and mom has to act as Chief's wife. Kyle's trying to open a hospital on tribal grounds and mom is working towards opening a school. It'll be done by next year."

"That's exciting indeed," Suerro said. "Your mother is a pale face I assume?"

"Grandpa was born in Brighten, England I think and Grandma's parents are from Scotland. She was born in Ohio."

"That's as white as it gets," Suerro joked and smiled when he noticed Natalie smile just a little. "Was your mother born in Ohio as well?"

"I believe so," Natalie said. "I can't remember exactly where, though. She was born before the civil war began. Were you changed by then?"

"I was," Suerro said. "I stayed primarily in Canada at the time. More open space back then."

"Not so much now?"

"Not unless you're in Saskatchewan or Alberta," Suerro said. "I quite like Saskatchewan in fact. Nice and spacious, not too many people especially the further north you go. Though to be fair that can be said for just about all of Canada."

"Where do you usually stay now?"

"Boston," Suerro said. "Mostly Boston. It's where Romney was born and he gets home sick easily."

"Have you ever been out of North America?"

"Not once in my life," Suerro said. "You?"

"I've been to Germany and France," Natalie said. "Before the war of course. It was before JJ was born. Jae proposed right before we left in fact." Suerro noticed the sparkle start to fade a little at the mention of Jae. He looked down at her wrist, her left wrist, and saw she still wore her bracelet.

"That's the bracelet he made you?" Natalie nodded. "It's beautifully crafted."

"He said he wanted to give me something as unique as me," Natalie said and finally smiled a little at the memory, but that smile soon faded.

"You still wear it on your left?"

"I could never bring myself to put it on my right," Natalie mumbled. "Being a widow is hard enough without the symbolic reminder."

"I can understand that," Suerro said.

"You were never married were you?"

"No," Suerro said. "Never married or mated."

"No children I assume?"

"No," Suerro said. "I've always wished for children of my own but…..well, it wasn't possible." There was a silence between them for a while as they approached the woods.

"Jae wanted a lot of kids," Natalie said. "He was a triplet and an older brother of 12 children. Jae was wonderful with our children and he always joked we'd start with a modest six children."

Suerro chuckled, "When I was human that was a rather modest number of children. No one ever had as many children as Taha Aki, but six kids wasn't unusual."

"How many children did he have?"

"32," Suerro said.

"That's a lot of kids," Natalie said.

"Bastard couldn't even remember all their names," Suerro said harshly. "If he needed one of them and couldn't remember what their name was, he'd either list off all the names he remembered or would just point at the kid he was addressing."

"Well, really, 32 kids is a lot to remember," Natalie said.

"Don't marry three women then," Suerro said just as harshly but then sighed a little. "I can't believe his youngest son was named after me. I would wager anything that was entirely Zurra's idea."

"I'd make that wager," Natalie said. "I don't suppose you would know whether or not the stories of his reign are true would you?"

"I'm afraid I never returned to the tribe after my sister's death," Suerro said. "What stories came from my nephew's reign?"

"The story goes that he became chief too young, forced to marry too young, didn't finally have children with his wife until ten years into their marriage. Stories claim he was cruel and shamelessly betrayed his wife. It's said he imprinted on a woman from a tribe we'd won a battle against and had brought her back to the tribe as a gift for himself. His wife died under suspicious circumstances. Rumors spread that he killed his wife, but no one dared try to prove it. He married his imprint and she's the one that gave him his sons."

"I'll believe it," Suerro said. Then he reached under his shirt and pulled out Taha Aki's tooth and when Natalie say it, she was stunned by it. "It's Taha Aki's tooth."

"You really kept it all these years?"

"I did," Suerro nodded. He looked at the tooth and then looked at Natalie. She looked nothing like Taha Aki or Zurra. Years and years separated them, but she was still a fruit of the lineage. She was fairer than what was average for women of the tribe, but she still held a russet hue to her skin, black eyes and ebony hair that seemed to go on forever. "Have you always kept your hair so long?"

"I have," Natalie nodded and started playing with the strands of her hair thoughtlessly.

"I think my mother may be the only woman I've ever known that had longer hair," Suerro said, smiling fondly at the memory. "I have vivid memories of my mother braiding her hair after bathing and she'd loop it around. Zurra used to love mother's hair."

"My hair never got that long," Natalie said. "I don't think my aunts would ever let me grow it that long. It's never gone below my hips. When I changed to a wolf for the first time, everyone teased me relentlessly because I looked like a domesticated fancy dog rather than a wolf."

"You're the first woman the join the pack, no?"

"I am," Natalie nodded, "but I wasn't the last. My niece Scarlet changed to a wolf."

"Was Jae part of the pack?"

"Yeah," Natalie nodded. "When Jae and I married, I went on patrol a lot less especially when I got pregnant with JJ."

"Do you ever go on patrol now?"

"Rarely," Natalie answered. "I shift often enough to remain a wolf. So I'll go on patrol once a month at most."

"Why not retire?"

"I don't know," Natalie admitted. "It used to be because Jae and I both wanted to be part of the pack but after he died…..I don't know. I don't even know if I can release my wolf. My brothers have gone long stretches of time not shifting when they were at war. Any other pack member would have long lost the ability to shift after so many months at a time without shifting. They never lost their wolf, though."

"It could be from your mother's influence," Suerro agreed. "I can only imagine what being on patrol is life for you with so much hair."

"Everyone's tried to convince me to cut it," Natalie said.

"No," Suerro shook his head. "Don't ever cut it. It's too beautiful."

"Really?" Natalie asked, continuing to pet her hair.

"Really," Suerro answered. He wanted so badly to touch it, but he refrained. "It compliments you."

"Daddy teases me that my hair accounts for half my body weight," Natalie smiled a little.

"He might be right about that," Suerro said light heartedly, but he couldn't help looking her up and down. She really was very thin. "Have you eaten anything tonight?"

"I haven't been hungry," Natalie said.

"Do you like potatoes?"

"Yes," Natalie nodded.

"I'll whip something up for you when I get you home. I'll feel better if I know you've eaten something."

"That's very kind of you, but you don't have to," Natalie said.

"Please, Natalie," Suerro said. "It will put my mind at ease."

Natalie sighed and finally smiled meekly. "Alright," she said. "If you insist."

"I do insist," Suerro said. He kept rubbing the tooth around his neck. It had felt lighter since he arrived in Forks. It's presence wasn't so offensive anymore. "Just to be clear," Suerro said, "you can't eat nuts."

"No," Natalie said. "I ate peanuts once when I was a girl and my throat closed. Nuts are effectively banned from the tribe."

"Harsh sentence," Suerro smiled. "You don't eat meat. Of any kind."

"No," Natalie answered.

"I'm told you're allergic to shell fish as well? So no claims?"

"Makes my throat swell and I break out in hives," Natalie said. "I can't even help collect clams without my hands breaking out in hives."

"You won't eat eggs."

"No," Natalie said. "That's gross."

"Alright," Suerro chuckled a little. "No honey?"

"Bee vomit," Natalie said.

"Fair enough," Suerro said. "Your brother was not exaggerating when he called you a finicky eater."

"Some of them are allergies in my defense," Natalie said. "The rest is principle. Nathan says he'd heard of a man in London that dubbed my habits as 'vegan'. I think Nathan said he wrote for a vegetarian newsletter but he went further than most vegetarians do. Supposedly they were only supposed to call it 'vegan' until they thought of a better name. To my knowledge they never did."

Suerro chuckled, "I can't say I've ever heard of intentionally refusing to eat certain things for any less than an allergy. Even The Jungle only manages to repulse momentarily before the reader's next beef and cabbage soup."

"I refused to eat beef before the publishing of The Jungle for the record," Natalie said.

"Well, aren't we getting smug," Suerro teased and Natalie giggled. It was such a beautiful sound and he wondered how long it must have been since she laughed. "I assume you've read The Jungle?"

"I have," Natalie said. "Kevin sent it to us when he was at university. He went to Yale."

"Impressive," Suerro said. "So your brother's a lawyer?"

"He is," Natalie said. "He owns his own business and everything. He and his business partner even have an office they opened in New York."

"Your brother is quite ambitious," Suerro said.

"Kyle attended Yale too. He's trained in traditional medicine as well as modern medicine."

"Invaluable to be sure," Suerro said.

"Kyle is working on building a hospital too," Natalie said. "He swears into be finished soon too. Now, whether or not that means he and Evie will finally have a baby is another matter entirely."

"In truth, if he doesn't age, there's no rush," Suerro said.

"Tell that to my mother," Natalie smiled a little. "She was in her forties by the time she had Kevin, but God forbid her own children do so. She defends she only had children so late because she'd not met our father until that age."

"Makes perfect sense," Suerro said with a smile. "Our mothers would have gotten along just fine. Had my mother not died when I was young, I've no doubt she'd have had strong words for my bachelordom into my mid-twenties."

"Imagine how upset she'd be if she knew you're well over three hundred years old and unmarried with no kids."

"She'd fall over with shame," Suerro smiled and Natalie giggled a little more. "You have a beautiful laugh," he blurted out.

"Now you're just trying to flatter me," Natalie joked.

"I assure you I'm being truthful. I'm not one that's prone to flattering people. Quite the contrary in fact. I dare say if any of my coven mates saw how I've spoken with you thus far, they'd accuse me of not being myself."

"You're not usually so thoughtful?"

"No," Suerro answered bluntly but he smiled at Natalie. "I believe the word for me is a misanthropist. I don't like most people."

"I would never guess," Natalie said. They had reached the woods by this point and were going down the trail together. "You've really never been back to the tribe since your sister's death?"

"I have not," Suerro said.

"You'll be surprised by how much it's changed then," Natalie said. "Most of the tribe has houses now. They're sprinkled out through the woods. My house is closer to the water. My brother's house faces the water, but he's up a hill."

"I look forward to seeing it," Suerro said.

As they walked through the woods, Suerro could smell and even hear the wolves but unlike last time none of them poked out to interrupt or send Suerro away. He and Natalie were able to talk as they made a leisurely stroll back to her house on tribal grounds. Natalie was simply unable to not bring up Jae frequently as they spoke, but the more she did, Suerro realized it was beginning to be with less and less pain and more fondness for the memories. Eventually they made it too the village. No one was outside. Rather they had all gone to bed for the night hours ago. Natalie led Suerro to her house and he followed her up to the door.

"This place is lovely," Suerro said. "When I was human, the homes we had needed to be able to travel. It's interesting to see everything so sturdy."

"After Forks was established, the tribe really didn't travel. I think my great grandpa had wanted to ensure the new locals didn't try to steal it. We have a treaty with them, but at the time we still weren't on the best of terms. Daddy was much more comfortable about the relationship I think after the land our tribe resides on became ours in the eyes of the law."

"You own the land?"

"Daddy does," Natalie said. "My mom's father had bought it to ensure that it would be safe. After a brief period of being infuriated that grandpa was able to do that in the first place, grandpa explained he'd done so to ensure nothing could legally part the Quileute tribe from their lands and he signed it over to daddy. If anything happens to him, it'll go to my big brother Kevin."

"That certainly does make things easier," Suerro said. "Doesn't hurt to have a lawyer in your arsenal to boot I suppose."

"No, that never hurts at all," Natalie said. "I feel a little silly asking, but did you want to come in for some water or coffee?"

"I would like to come in, but to ensure that you eat something. I promised to make sure you ate before I left for the night, remember?"

"Yes, you did promise that," Natalie smiled gently and opened the door to the house. When she and Suerro stepped in, JJ was on the couch reading and listening to the radio at an extremely low volume. "JJ? It's two in the morning. What are you doing up so late?"

"I was waiting up for you," JJ said with a hint of surliness.

"JJ, you didn't have to wait up for me," Natalie said and walked over to the couch where JJ was sitting. JJ was about to calm down when Natalie hugged his head, but he tensed right away when Suerro kept walking into the house.

"Can I help you?" JJ asked sarcastically. Natalie pinched his cheek and stood up.

"JJ, don't be like that," Natalie said. "Suerro was kind enough to offer to make something for me."

"Salem already made dinner and there are leftovers on the table," JJ said. "You'll like it mom. He made roasted veggies and soup."

"Salem did? I can't wait to try it," Natalie said. "I guess I have something already. Did you want to stay for a while and talk?"

"Salem and Nesia went to bed, so you should probably go," JJ said to Suerro. "Wouldn't want to wake them." JJ and Suerro exchanged glance. JJ was making no effort to be even remotely courteous, but Suerro reminded himself of when he'd been in the boy's shoes more or less and stayed calm.

"If you've already got something for dinner, then I'll leave you be," Suerro said to Natalie.

"In that case, thank you for walking me home, Suerro," Natalie said and walked over to him. It was a rather awkward exchange. She offered her hand and Suerro accepted it in a shake. "You have a good night."

"You too," Suerro smiled. "Have a good night, JJ." JJ didn't answer while Suerro left the house. When Natalie closed the door, she crossed her arms and walked over to JJ who remained on the couch.

"Honestly, JJ, where are your manners?"

"Too early for manners, mom," JJ said and stood from the couch. Rather than argue with him, Natalie sighed and relaxed a little.

"Just don't be so rude," Natalie said. "He was kind enough to walk me home. You shouldn't speak to him that way."

"Since when do you need an escort home anyway?"

"JJ," Natalie said firmly.

"Fine, I'll be nicer," JJ said. "Just because he's your imprint doesn't mean I have to like him."

"Jae Jacob," Natalie said firmly and JJ looked at her. "I understand this seems sudden and I agree that it is. But that does not mean you can't be polite. You've barely spoken to the man. You can hardly say you don't like him." JJ took a deep breath and rubbed the back of his head.

"I have work in the morning," JJ finally said. "Night mom."

"Night, JJ," Natalie said. JJ was about to walk upstairs, but Natalie stopped him. "I love you."

"I love you too, mom," JJ said, turned to walk to her, kissed her cheek, and finally went upstairs. After JJ had gone upstairs, Natalie went to the kitchen and found the food that Salem had made. She made herself a plate and made a point to eat everything on it.

When Natalie finally went upstairs to her room, Jae's pictures and his flag were the first thing she saw. Normally when she saw those pictures, it would crush her because it was a reminder that he was gone. But this time when she stepped into her room and saw those pictures, she smiled and approached the dresser that held them. She picked up the picture of Jae before he'd been deployed. He was in his uniform, his hair had been freshly buzzed short and he was wearing his brand new uniform. What always caught her attention was Jae's smile. That infectious, bright, mile long smile that she loved so much. Natalie sat on the edge of the bed on Jae's side and held his picture close. While she was holding his picture, she heard wings flapping and she heard a pecking at the window. She turned to see the little blue bird that still called her porch home. Natalie put down the picture on Jae's pillow and went to the window opening it. The bird stood there as Natalie looked down at him.

Natalie extended her hand to the bird and he hopped into her hand without hesitation. Natalie lifted her hand so she was looking at the little bird. She started petting the bird's chest with her thumb and the bird tweeted pleasantly. Natalie went back to the bed and sat on her side and put the bird on her knee. Blu, as Nesia had named him, took a moment to get balanced on her knee and once he was, he sat and looked up at Natalie. She smiled back and the bird and lifted her finger again to pet his chest.

"I'm sorry I'm always yelling at you," Natalie said and the little bird uttered a chirp and his chest kept expanding and retracting with his chirps. "Ever since you came here, I've been having these dreams. But then, you know about that already don't you?" The little bird tilted his head and Natalie smiled. "I finally met the man that kept haunting me. You probably saw him when he took me to the door. He's nicer than I thought he'd be."

Natalie laid back on the bed not moving her knees, but Blu flew from her knee and landed on her chest. Natalie giggled a little and petted the birds little head with her finger. Natalie glanced at Jae's picture on his pillow and then looked at Blu. She looked in the bird's eyes looking for something. Normally this particular bird had all black eyes and so did this one. Then again, so did Jae. Using the tip of her finger, Natalie continued to pet the little bird's head and chest wondering if she could make it fall asleep. She was the one to fall asleep though with the bird still on her chest.

The next morning, JJ woke up exhausted and in a slightly crabby mood. He made coffee and breakfast for Salem and Nesia. They came down shortly after smelling breakfast and left for their schooling at Renesmee's house after they were done. JJ finished his coffee and made the trip into town arriving at work. He endured his usual pestering from Hailey about eating something and work went on like it normally did save for people often asking about the stranger that had walked Natalie home again the previous night. Back at the tribe, Natalie woke up late into the morning. By the time she did, the little blue bird had already flown away. She looked to Jae's side of the bed where his picture still laid. She smiled at Jae's picture and picked it up to put it back on the dresser before getting dressed and going downstairs. She made herself some oatmeal and coffee. When she realized she was making breakfast for herself, she smiled a little feeling proud of herself. As she sat down to eat, she heard a gentle knock at the door so she went to answer and Suerro was there on the other side with a kind smile and a handful of three apples.

"Good morning, Natalie," Suerro said and breathed in the air. "I feel a little silly. I came to bring you breakfast but is smells like you already made yourself something."

"As a matter of fact, I did," Natalie smiled. "Thank you for the apples all the same." Natalie accepted the apples. "Did you want to come in for a little while?"

"I'd love to," Suerro said and stepped inside closing the door behind him while Natalie got the apples to the counter. "So where is everyone? JJ's at work am I right?"

"Yes, JJ's at work," Natalie said. "Salem and Nesia are at my mother's house for their schooling. I imagine they'll be back by two."

"How old are they?"

"JJ is twenty," Natalie answered. "Salem is seventeen and Nesia is thirteen."

"How are they doing? I mean with regards to their father."

"Salem and Nesia are alright," Natalie said. "They miss their father a lot but they've been doing better over the years. JJ's the one that's still not come to terms with his father's death. Me too if I'm being realistic. It's helped having someone to talk to though." Suerro glanced around but was surprised by something.

"You don't have pictures of him?"

"They're in my room," Natalie said. "I've had all Jae's pictures in my room since he passed away."

"Is that healthy?" Suerro asked.

"No," Natalie admitted. She was poking at her oatmeal now having lost her appetite.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up," Suerro said.

"No, no, it's alright," Natalie said. "I know it's not healthy. I just wanted him close whatever way I could." She rubbed her face. "I don't think my children have seen their father's pictures in five years. I keep them in my room and I never let them in my room." Suerro was silent while Natalie rubbed her face a little. "I've been so selfish," Natalie whimpered. "I've spent all these years feeling sorry for myself never being there for them when my children needed me."

"You weren't selfish," Suerro reassured. "You were in mourning. Take it from someone who was actually being selfish."

"It's not as though you didn't have ground for refusing Taha Aki's proposals," Natalie said as she rubbed her eyes.

"I don't mean that," Suerro said. "I mean after I was changed. Before I fell off that cliff, I told Taha Aki I would haunt him. I told him I'd make him pay for what he'd done. When Claudia had found out her mate was killed, she was in such a furry. I saw a chance to finally get back at Taha Aki. I didn't think about my sister or my nieces or nephew." Suerro started rubbing his face a moment. "I was so blinded by wanting revenge that I caused my little sister's death and ruined my nephew's life. My nieces' lives too. What I did: that was selfish. I just wish it didn't take losing my sister to realize it." Natalie reached over and put her hand on Suerro's wrist and smiled gently.

"Looks like we're both guilty of something," Natalie said. She took her hand away and breathed a moment. "Is it too late for me to start making things right?"

"Not for you," Suerro said. "For me, yes, but not for you."

"There's a way you can make things right," Natalie said. "Give Zurra Taha Aki's tooth. Let them be together." Suerro looked at Natalie a moment, stunned by the suggestion. By instinct, he was offended by the notion but upon reflection, he realized she was right.

"I don't know if I can," Suerro admitted.

"I think you can," Natalie said. "I know you can. It would be the right thing to do and it'll be the best way to forgive and forget."

"Forgive," Suerro mumbled, feeling as though his dead heart was seizing with rage. But then he looked at Natalie again. "My nephew became chief after his father left?"

"He did," Natalie said. "His imprint gave him his sons and the eldest continued the line. My great uncle Sokajili abdicated to my grandpa Kayechiwetchwe in favor of becoming a medicine man. To my knowledge, Sokajili was the only one to abdicate to a different family member and it was his brother."

"I see," Suerro said. "It's as I thought then."

"That I'm closely related to Chief Suerro you mean?" Natalie asked.

"Yes," Suerro nodded. "When you put it that way, you imprinting on me of all people seems rather odd."

"What would you suspect our relation is?"

"That depends on how many generations separate us," Suerro said. "I'd guess at minimum I'm your Uncle from seven generations back."

"Sounds rather gross when you word it that way," Natalie said with a light smile. "I suppose we should avoid analyzing it to that extent."

"Perhaps," Suerro said. "I'll think about it."

"About what?"

"Giving Zurra Taha Aki's tooth," Suerro said.

"I think it would be the best thing for you to do," Natalie said.

"I know," Suerro said. "I just don't know if I can."

"You can," Natalie said again.

"You have so much faith in a man you barely know," Suerro mumbled.

"You seem to have a lot of faith in a woman you barely know," Natalie threw back. Suerro and Natalie looked at one another a moment until Suerro finally smiled.

"Some people are worth having faith in," Suerro said.

"Indeed they are," Natalie said. There was another brief silence before she looked away but spoke. "When I was still having those dreams, Jae was always in them. He would be trying to show you to me. One night after I woke up, I looked at Jae's picture and cried. I told him you'd never be him."

"You're right. I never will be," Suerro said.

"No," Natalie said, "no one will ever be Jae. But you don't have to be." Natalie went somber and stared down at her food. Suerro didn't say anything, unsure what to say. "This is extremely awkward."

"It is," Suerro agreed. "No one ever tells you how to talk to someone a ghost told you to be with." Natalie, rather suddenly, started giggling just a little.

"No, I can't say anyone's taught me about that," Natalie finally said. They looked at each other and smiled a little. "I guess we'll figure it out."

Suerro nodded in agreement and then encouraged her to finish her breakfast. Suerro stayed with Natalie and just talked. Natalie encouraged Suerro to tell her what he remembered of his human life that didn't involve Taha Aki. Sadly that proved to be a difficult task. So she asked him to tell her about his small coven and what they were like and what they did. Before she knew it, it was the afternoon and the front door opened to Salem and Nesia walking in. The two of them were talking about something when they noticed Suerro and stopped right in their tracks. Salem knew immediately who Suerro was.

"Hey mom," Salem and Nesia both said.

"Welcome home," Natalie said. "How was school today?"

"It was school," Salem said. "I didn't realize we had a guest."

"I'm sorry," Natalie said. "Salem, Nesia, this is Suerro Rouge. He was kind enough to walk me home yesterday and he stopped by today to talk."

"Hi," Nesia said nervously.

"Afternoon," Salem answered just as apprehensively, but Suerro noticed immediately that, unlike their brother, they weren't aggressive.

"It's a pleasure to meet you two," Suerro said. "Your mother speaks endlessly about you and your brother."

"She does?" Nesia asked.

"She does," Suerro said. "Are you named after your grandmother? Nesia's a very pretty name."

"I'm named after my grandma Caevia and grandma Renesmee," Nesia answered.

"It's very pretty," Suerro said again and then looked at Salem. "I hear tale you're indeed named after Salem the city in Massachusetts."

"That's what I'm told," Salem said. "Have you been there?"

"Several times," Suerro nodded. "I typically keep to the east coast. Have you ever gone?"

"Just once when we were leaving for Italy. My uncle Kyle got married in Rome."

"Sounds expensive," Suerro said and Salem smiled a little. "I assume Rome is where your uncle and his wife met?"

"They met in Naples," Salem said. "I know she visited him in Rome when he'd been there. It was towards the end of the war." Nesia was sad a little at the mention of the war.

"Your father fought in the war correct?" Salem and Nesia nodded. "I've been told the story. What your father did was very brave." Nesia nodded and brushed a stray tear away.

"I know," Nesia managed. "We miss daddy."

"I know how you feel," Suerro said. "When I was about your age, the tribe was attacked by a nomadic tribe. My father and several others tried to fight them off. We won the day, but my father were among the fallen. I lost my mother that day too."

"I'm sorry," Salem said. He looked between Suerro and Natalie. "So you're Suerro."

"You know him?" Nesia asked.

"I know of him," Salem said. "Nesia, I think I saw Blu outside. Why don't you bring him some breadcrumbs?" Natalie went to the kitchen and grabbed some fresh pumpernickel she'd made the other day. Nesia took a chunk and went outside to feed the blue bird while Salem, Natalie and Suerro stayed inside.

"You've awakened to your wolf have you not?" Suerro asked.

"Recently," Salem nodded. "So you're mom's imprint?"

"It would seem so," Suerro said. "Taha Aki was the first of the pack to ever imprint. It's so strange feeling it for myself after all these years."

"I assume you've met JJ?"

"Yes, I have met JJ," Suerro said. "I don't think he likes me."

Salem smiled a little, "I wouldn't hold your breath he'll like you any time soon. No offense to you."

"None taken," Suerro said. "I was the same way in his shoes."

"You had a sister, right?"

"Yes," Suerro said. Nesia came back inside without the bread. "Blu like the bread?"

"Blu loves pumpernickel, so he ate is right up," Nesia smiled. "Daddy used to love pumpernickel too."

"I can't say I've ever tried it, but it smells good," Suerro said.

"Mom, are you working tonight?" Nesia asked.

"Yes, I need to be at the inn by five," Natalie said. "Was there anything in particular you wanted for dinner?" Nesia shrugged and grabbed a chunk of the pumpernickel bread and started eating it.

Suerro stayed until Natalie had to leave for work. He offered to walk her to work, but Natalie declined saying it wasn't needed. After saying goodbye to Natalie, Suerro went into the woods for a while to walk around. It really had been years and it surprised him how much had changed and yet how much was also completely the same. As he went along the coast, his attention kept returning to the islands nearby. There was of course the largest one that was reserved for chiefs. Zurra was buried there too. He knew that. There was also the smaller island further north that he'd been dragged to after he fell into the water that night of his little sister's wedding.

He noticed Kai and Scarlet on the coast together while he walked. Nathan and Jaedynn were with them. Despite their previous ill conversation, Nathan and Kai appeared to be getting along well. When Kai saw Suerro, he waved at him and encouraged him to come over and spend time with them. They all knew who he was, or the pack did at least. So Suerro was surprised by how welcoming they all were save for JJ. Kai even suggested that Suerro and Natalie should join them all in the city when they went to a movie together. Suerro agreed that if Natalie was alright with going and with him coming that he'd happily join them.

"So how long are you here for, Suerro?" Kai asked while they were all on the beach.

"I don't know," Suerro said. "I hadn't thought about it. You?"

"At least another few weeks," Kai said and smiled at Scarlet. "After this, I think I'll go back home to Hawaii for a while. I think from there I'll go to Australia."

"You love to travel I take it?" Suerro asked.

"Can't imagine doing anything else," Kai said. "When I was a boy that was the longest I ever stayed in one place. The minute I made my very own boat, I told my mother I was going to explore the open ocean and I've been doing that ever since. I have a route I follow and everything. Washington having been added to that."

"For how much Nathan loves traveling, I don't wonder why Scarlet likes you," Suerro said.

"It's more than that," Scarlet defended with a light smile while she looked at Nathan who appeared slightly annoyed with the comparison.

Suerro eventually joined the family to Nathan's house and Suerro finally got the chance to meet Jacob and Renesmee who were also very welcoming to him. He'd never felt so at him since he was a child. As they were all talking in the room with a view of the ocean, Salem and Nesia came over with JJ close by. Salem and Nesia smiled politely at Suerro but JJ appeared surprised to see him and then extremely irritated.

"Good to see you, JJ. How was work?" Suerro asked after he'd said hello to Salem and Nesia.

"Fine," JJ said and did his best for the remainder of the night to completely ignore Suerro. He didn't push the matter with JJ and instead kept conversation with Natalie's parents and Nathan and, when they wanted to talk to him, Salem and Nesia.

"So what do you do? Are you just a nomad?" Salem asked.

"I'm afraid so," Suerro said. "I admit my time is generally rather boring. Ray and Romney try to keep things interesting, but Romney's been mostly preoccupied since he met Eleanor."

"Who's Eleanor?" Salem asked.

"She's a woman from Canada that Romney met about fifteen years ago. They've meet mates nearly since the moment they met truthfully."

"You said Ray's a Powhatan Indian right?"

"Yes, he is," Suerro said. "Narrowly escaped death by small pox when he was human. Romney was a soldier during the revolution." When he saw the interest in Salem's eyes, Suerro smiled. "Don't get too excited. According to Romney, he experienced one battle, got shot in the shoulder and then a vampire attacked him. I don't think he even shot his gun in battle once."

"Huh," Salem said, decidedly unimpressed. "Well that's underwhelming."

"I'm afraid so," Suerro said. "Just don't ever tell Romney I told you that. He would be extremely upset with me."

"You're secret safe with me," Salem said.

"I'm told your father taught you German?" Suerro asked.

"JJ knows the most German of the three of us," Salem said. "Nesia and I are better with French since that's what we're taught when we come to grandma's house for schooling."

"Parisian French I assume," Suerro chuckled.

"Is there another type?"

"Québécois," Suerro said. "It's French, but it's a dialect that's spoken in French Canada. It's what I know. It was the first pale faced language I learned. I didn't start learning English until I met Romney."

"Have you lived in the United States since befriending Romney?" Salem asked.

"Mostly," Suerro said. "We tend to stay around Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Sometimes we'll venture up to Canada, but I tend to prefer not to."

"Why?"

"The woman that changed me stays in Canada. It's where she was born. Long story short, I prefer to not interact with her."

"Any particular reason?" Salem asked.

"There are a lot of reasons," Suerro said. "Nothing really worth talking about honestly. She wanted me to be something I didn't want to be and she wanted more from me than I was willing to give her."

"Charmant," (Charming) JJ mumbled to himself sarcastically in German.

"I'm sorry?" Suerro asked.

"Nothing," JJ said.

"You've been working at the General Store for five years now right?" Suerro asked.

"Closer to six," JJ said.

"How do you like working there?"

"It's kept food on the table," JJ said. Suerro couldn't help but notice the edge to the statement. He didn't let it bother him though.

"That's a lot to take on," Suerro said sympathetically.

"Nothing I can't handle," JJ said. Before Suerro could ask him anything else, JJ stood from his spot where he'd been sitting. "Salem, Nesia, it's getting late. We should go back. Salem, you and I are supposed to go on patrol tonight."

"You don't have to," Jacob said.

"No, we will," JJ said and then looked at Suerro. With a subtle harshness to his tone, he said, "I'll wait for mom to get off work and I'll walk her home."

"She'll like that," Suerro said and then looked at Salem and Nesia. "Good night."

"Good night," Salem said. "It was nice meeting you, Suerro."

"It was nice finally meeting you and Nesia too," Suerro said.

"Bye, Suerro," Nesia said shyly and left the house with JJ and Salem. When they finally left the house and they were out of earshot, Kai was the one to speak.

"JJ seems to like you," Kai joked.

"Adores me," Suerro said sarcastically.

"Like I said," Nathan said, "you have big shoes to fill."

"Can they even be filled?" Suerro asked rhetorically. "I won't ever be your late brother-in-law. I don't know if that's a crime JJ can forgive."

No one said anything because they didn't know what to say. It was true. Salem and Nesia were appearing open to giving Suerro a chance. JJ was clearly not so willing and they weren't entirely sure how to address the matter. All the same, Suerro did his best. He didn't wait for Natalie that night since JJ said he wanted to walk Natalie home. He still kept an eye on the house to make sure that she returned home with JJ walking her back still in his wolf form. After Suerro had seen JJ bring Natalie home, he went about addressing another matter.

He swam to the largest island off the coast where the chiefs were buried. He went to the spot where Zurra had been buried and sat there. He brought his hand up to the tooth ready to take it off, but something stopped him. He thought again about what Natalie had said to him about giving the tooth to Zurra. Forgiveness. If he gave back the tooth, he would finally forgive what happened and at the same time apologize for what he'd done. But he couldn't do it. He couldn't bring himself to forgive Taha Aki. He didn't need to forgive Zurra. There was nothing to forgive. She was a victim in this. When he thought that, he let go of the tooth, a renewed rage filling him. She'd really been a victim in all this. She'd been a young woman very much in love. Even in such a brief time of knowing Natalie, he was finally starting to understand what it was she had felt.

"Zurra," Suerro mumbled as he stared at the ground in which she was buried. "I'm so sorry for everything I've done to you. I just wanted what was best for you." He stopped a moment and thought about what he'd just said. He held the tooth in his hand again and looked at the ground again. "I didn't do you a bit of good did I?"

He felt so defeated suddenly with the weight of the knowledge of his culpability in everything that happened. He'd known deep down but now the knowledge seemed overwhelming. And yet, despite that, he just couldn't do it. He couldn't give the tooth to his sister. He ended up staying there well after the sun had already risen. He'd thought he'd likely remain that way, but he heard the movement of water and then wood against dirt. Suerro finally looked up already knowing it was Natalie when he could smell her. He looked at her and she appeared surprised when she saw him.

"Natalie?"

"Salem said he'd seen you come to the island but no one had seen you come back. I was concerned," Natalie said. "Are you alright?"

"I don't know," Suerro said. "I tried giving Zurra the tooth. I couldn't do it. I tried, but I just couldn't."

Natalie approached him and sat beside him not saying anything. When she'd sat beside him, Suerro felt better instantly. He took a hold of Natalie's hand in his and continued to stare at the ground while they said nothing. The sky darkened during the day but didn't do more than a light drizzle. All the while, Natalie stayed with Suerro not making him say or do anything. She just sat beside him. Eventually, Suerro looked at Natalie and he felt comforted. Finally, Suerro removed the tooth from around his neck and began to dig. Natalie moved aside so he could dig until he was sure he'd reached the depths of his sister's grave. Once he had, he put the tooth into the ground. When he did, he thought he felt the slightest little thump under his hand as though feeling a beating heart, but it was gone as soon as he felt it. He wondered if he'd imagined feeling it but somehow he knew better. Once the dirt was returned to its rightful place, he looked at Natalie.

"Thank you," he finally said.

"For what?" Natalie asked.

"For being here with me. I couldn't have done it without you," Suerro said. Natalie smiled and approached him again so she was sitting beside him again.