I would like to thank the two lovely people who reviewed me; Baxteropolis and Debbie Hicks (though I hadn't a clue what you meant with your review) thank you. Another thank you to those who faved a followed.

A/N: there may be a few spelling errors, if there is, I apologize.

Side note: In the next chapter, there is going to be a few time skips, but not much.

Anyway, enjoy.

1988—February 13th

Progress.

I didn't know how I managed it or where I found the patience, but that was just it—progress. From five seconds to five minutes, slowly stretching out to almost a full hour, all in the space of a month. The measly five second immunity I built up over five months looked pathetic compared to now and what I had accomplished. I hadn't felt more proud of myself, almost buzzing with excitement.

The mountain lion, despite the spur of the moment, had given me the go-ahead and extra push I needed. Though I hadn't built up the confidence to meet the mighty beast in battle again, it gave me the miracle I needed to move forward. The blood, though more sweeter and delicious than that of a measly rabbit, had kept me going for a solid three days before I felt the hunger pains once again. And that was just it.

I needed to eat more—or if not more regularly to build my immunity.

It took exactly one week to muster the courage, but eventually I did it. Taking down a deer was child's play, it seemed—not the horribly impossible task I once assumed. It was easy, but still just as messy. The blood wasn't as good as the mountain lion, but still held the familiar earthy scent and taste of both rabbit and cougar.

If I had to pick between rabbit and deer, I would pick deer without a second thought. It was more satisfying than the tiny creature and sated my hunger the quickest—enough to keep me full for another few days before I had to eat again. I did, much to my pleasure, fix a regimen. The span between feeding and looking for more food was spent snacking on rabbits, which I spaced out graciously.

But as the weeks filtered by, my hunger slowly begun to stretch out also. My feeding times weren't as regular, or every three days. Instead, I could wait up to a full week. However, if I was in the presence of blood near the due time to eat, I would undoubtedly be unable to hold myself back I had come to realize.

If I had just eaten, I could withstand the burning torment for an hour. It only thinned the longer I went without sustenance.

But I was happy. Progress is progress, no matter how small it is. I'm getting somewhere, even if I'm taking baby steps.

Because of the progress I had made, I was confident that I could make a quick stop at Charlie's house without endangering anyone—simply to check up on things. I wasn't going to stay long, but long enough to know how dad was coping, along with Renee and how they were faring in parenthood. Charlie would know what to do, but Renee would be a lost cause—a first time mother and all. I pondered about my sister, wondering idly on what she would look like.

This brought brings us to the present.

I was a mile out from Charlie's house, my wild hair creating more tangles as the wind whipped past me as my legs carried me forward. I was ecstatic and nervous. Ecstatic because I finally would get to see my little sister, but nervous because of Renee. Renee was the cause of my worries the most, the more I remembered as her blood called to me.

I had eaten recently, however. But I wasn't sure how I would handle her blood if it was accidentally spilled. My restraint, no matter how I had come to rein it in, I doubt I could handle the potency of her blood. Keeping my distance was my first priority, even if I was on the outside looking in. It would be enough, as long as they were fine.

I moved silently, weaving through the trees with confidence and meaning. My feet, despite being bare, didn't hurt as I skimmed across the ground. No rock pierced my skin and no twig caused discomfort as I stepped on them. I didn't earn as much as a small cut, but I wasn't questioning the logic despite my curiosity. Maybe if I came across other people with the same illness, I could ask them what it is exactly that I had caught. It definitely was not a normal cold, anyway.

In no time at all, I reached the small white coloured house and leaped up to the familiar tree I had sat in, many months ago. I crouched carefully, peering through the branches and over toward the large window that lead into my former bedroom.

A small heartbeat alerted me that someone was home. However, there was only one—not three, like I assumed. I cocked a brow, but shook my head.

I listened as an audible sigh broke the silence and I involuntary inches forward to listen more, even though I didn't have to. I could hear perfectly.

"Nah, she's handling herself fine. I'm just really..." I blinked, Charlie's voice drifting softly into my ears. My brow creased a second later, it didn't exactly sound like him though.

There was another sigh, followed by the sound of something crackling and buzzing. There was another voice. "You'll see her soon," more buzzing and static "Don't worry yourself."

Dad...he's probably on the phone...

"I can't help it, Billy. After Anna..." there was a sharp intake of breath and it took me a moment to realize it was me, I quickly shook it off. "I just worry for them. Renee, she's great but Bella is just a baby. She should be at home, not travelling and living in hotels with her mother. It's not good for either of them. They need something more stable because sooner or later Renee will run out of money and-"

"Charlie, relax. I recall you mentioning Renee was headed up to stay with her mother, maybe she got distracted along the way. The woman has the attention span of a squirrel, you know that." I heard Charlie chuckle and I allowed myself a small smile.

"Yeah...yeah, you're right. But still, after what happened, I can't help it."

I scowled, fighting the urge to run down to the house and charge in through the front door. Unfortunately, my mind was elsewhere with the thought of Renee and Bella—so the chances of me acting upon it was very thin. Gritting my teeth, a flare of anger built up inside.

So Renee fled with Bella... Why doesn't this surprise me?

Despite knowing Renee for a small period of time and as much as I disapproved of her and Charlie's marriage, I had always hoped she would prove me wrong. Renee has always been too sunny for my tastes. She craved adventure and tried to squeeze it out of Forks—apparently my dad was seen as something of an adventure and marriage and a baby was going to happen whether I liked it or not.

But as soon as she gets bored...

A growl rumbled in my chest.

Charlie needed her and she left. Part of it was my fault, but that wasn't something that I controlled. I never intended to become...whatever this is. I still haven't given it a name, for my disease that is. But the point is, she left Charlie to pick up the pieces. Taking away Bella would have only made it worse. The only daughter he could see and touch; gone.

But at the same time, only half my anger came from Charlie's behalf. The other was for myself. I really wanted to meet Bella—or see her from a distance. That much I deserved. Unfortunately, I was too late.

I begun to hate Renee a little more.

I didn't care that she was only a few years older than myself, being young and stupid was never the issue. It was being irresponsible, irrational and too damn scared to handle a committed relationship. She loved the sun, I knew that much—Renee talked about it a lot and it was easy to see she missed it. But she could have easily dragged Charlie with her, to wherever that may be.

Yet at the same time, I knew Charlie and Renee were opposites. He was serious and she was carefree, he struggled to express himself and she managed it without embarrassment.

Renee couldn't handle Charlie.

Months back, I would have laughed at the thought of it. But now, all I could feel was anger for Charlie's stupid, harebrained ex-wife—if that is what you could call her. She didn't deserve him. She didn't deserve Bella, either.

"...this summer?"

I blinked, shaking away my thoughts.

"Renee is bringing her down for a month in July, I guess I'll have to make due with what I have." Charlie grumbled, sighing a moment later. "I wish I could get more time, but Renee is reluctant enough as it is. It's either that, or one week in October. I don't want to push my luck and we both know how slim that is..."

I cringed.

"It could be worse," Billy's staticy voice said, not missing a beat. "On another note, the wife is nagging me to set up a few dates for the twins and Bella. What'd you reckon?"

Charlie chuckled. "That could be arranged. It'll be good for Bells, I don't think she'll like being stuck in the house with me all day." he chuckled once again and I rolled my eyes. I doubted the twins and Bella could do much besides gnaw on their arms and drool all over the place. Sharing their toys, however, is out of the question.

Rachel and Rebecca didn't like to share their toys. I learned that the hard way. All I meant to do was shift their toys out of the way, but I ended up with two sharp bite barks to the hand a second later. Luckily, skin wasn't broken.

I huffed, shifting my position on the thick branch I was crouched on and angled myself away from the house. All I had meant to do was quickly check in and that's exactly what I did—though I found out a few things that didn't please me, I didn't want to push it in case something happened.

Charlie is fine, despite the misgivings. I just hoped everything would turn out better for him, I also hoped I would get better so I could come home. But I didn't know how long that would take.

Carefully, I leaped off the branch and landed on the ground.

With one last glance at the house, I breathed in deeply, before taking off.