A/N: Hey guys!
I know I've been gone for so long, but I promise it was for good reason!
To my loyal readers, (if you're still out there)
thank you for the reviews and shout outs!
BellaFlan thanks for the great review, shout out and
for having an amazing fanfic
that kept me entertained during my dry spell.
To everyone at the Twilight Convention in
Miami this past weekend
you have brought me out of my writer's block!
Esp to Justin and Kiowa
giving me some much needed muses!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, the Characters and this Universe.
Just borrowing it from Stephenie Meyer.
No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter 8: Family Ties

"I grew up in a pretty house
And I had space to run
And I had the best day with you"

-Taylor Swift The Best Day

Nessie POV

Claire and I had been sitting close to the fireplace on one side of the living room making a few comments about Tribal School pretending to act normal. In reality we had both been trying to listen for the wolves when a cool breeze swirled past me ever so slightly carrying the scent of moist earth and evergreen trees.

The door had swung open so silently that even my enhanced hearing didn't catch it. It left me feeling faintly dizzy as my mind only associated the scent with Jacob.

I looked up to find the wolves filtering into the doorway making it look narrow against their large frame. The constant gentle pull I felt toward Jacob intensified as he floated through the doorway. It took every ounce of self control I had not to immediately gravitate towards him. The other Quileute men had settled into the conversation in the kitchen easily each one gliding toward their respective women.

The retired wolves joined their wives in the kitchen with Bella. Kim had been desperately trying to feed Michelle while Rachel watched in amusement, feeling no sympathy due to the fact that the twins were much worse.

Laura sat uncomfortably on a high bar stool in the kitchen with Rachel assuming that Bella was less of a threat than Edward. I caught Edward's small smile and give a slight nod as the thought crossed my mind. She relaxed her stiff posture as soon as Collin stood behind her. Not needing to look at who it was I saw her smile as he rubbed absent minded circles on her back soothing her.

Bella and Emily were in deep conversation about Charlie and Sue when Jacob and Quil joined them. Watching my mother talk with Emily it dawned on me that she may look eighteen, but I could see the years of stress and worry over Charlie weigh her down. The golden orbs grew large as Emily described Charlie's latest disaster in the kitchen.

I watched Jared wrapped his arms around Kim and gently placed a kiss on her head before taking Michelle into his arms. Michelle's furrowed brow had smooth as Jared whispered to her. The lips that had been a pout had turned into a smile only angels should have. Curling herself up into his arms, Michelle was temporarily pacified. Kim took this opportunity to feed her and strangely she accepted without protest this time.

Watching their exchange I caught Jacob peering at me from his peripheral vision. Giving him a small smile I turned back toward the living room letting him spend time with Quil and the retired wolves.

Billy, Koku and Edward sat on the other side watching the twins. Koku was lighter skinned than the Quileute men, but his features were very much like theirs. He was Leah's perfect match reminding me of the Chinese yin and yang. He was exactly like Leah but also her exact opposite. She was astoundingly beautiful, outspoken, arrogant and aggressive. He was equally as attractive and assertive but had a quiet and fierce demeanor about him.

Koku was unbelievably patient and kind despite his massive stance, much like the other wolves. He reminded me of Sam in a strange way. I had been informed that he was part Quileute on his mother's side.

He was from another tribe in Canada and had come to visit Seth a few years back and never left. They had met during one of the many expeditions Embry and Seth had taken in search for other Quileute descendants.

Koku fell in love with Leah instantly, her undeniable beauty and the fire she had captivated him. Leah had always been beautiful and loyal, but her anger toward the world and her obvious aversion toward me made me steer clear of her. I expected her to turn him down much like she had with her other suitors. Hate him even, but I was wrong.

Next, Leah became someone I didn't even recognize over a span of a few months as she began forging a strange friendship with the man she barely knew. Their opinions were as contrasting as night and day. They argued about everything, but I came to grasp that it was their way of understanding each other in every way.

At first the changes were small and seemingly insignificant, but it was the start of the long list of changes I was going to have to get use to in a short amount of time. It started with her short jet-black hair which she stopped cutting as soon as he arrived. Then it was her volatile temper which became controlled and she became as calm as a Buddhist monk. Her passive-aggressive hatred toward me ceased over night, confusing me.

Leah became more and more like the Leah I had heard stories about. She made amends with Emily and even became Jordan's godmother. The final straw had been when she and Sam even became close friends. When I asked Jacob, he merely shrugged and said she finally met her match, quickly changing the subject that I knew not to ask again.

Looking at Leah now, I saw the girl that Sam had fallen in love with so many years ago. She had taken a seat on Koku's lap leaning her head casually on his neck listening to their conversation.

Billy's booming laugh echoed through the house making everyone turn to look at them.

"Paul, you sure you can handle three in your house? They are so much like Rachel and Rebecca. It worries me." Billy joked.

Paul shook his head laughing, "You're right. I'm going to need to even those odds soon because they have me wrapped around their fingers already."

Alessandra blushed crawling up into Billy's waiting arms while Altea giggled in delight running up to Paul as fast as her chubby legs would let her. As she reached him, Paul scooped her up and swinging her onto his neck causing her to giggle even louder.

Andrew and Jesse had taken a seat beside us joining in on our conversation about the girls at the high school, only knowing our version of the girls they often lusted after. They had been forbidden to fraternize with any of the other Quileute teenagers.

Jesse and Andrew clearly upset with the alpha order often tried to sneak out to the beach looking for loop holes, but without fail they just managed to earn extra patrols with each attempt. My mind drifting to their most recent attempt brought images of the two wolves being scolded like five year-olds. Jacob hovered over them as they hung their head in the Den's living room.

"So, Ness, since we're not allowed to see girls other than you two will you show us others on the the Rez?" Andrew said playfully hinting at my gift earning him a high five from Jesse and a glare from Jacob.

I laughed knowing that he would surely pay for that comment with more than just a glare later. "Andy, you know I can't do that! And I know Jacob, there has to be a good reason why you two aren't allowed to hang out with the girls on the Rez!" I told them mockingly batting my eyelashes at him.

"Well, Nessie as a matter of fact there really isn't, Jakey over there is just trying to make sure our concentration is fully on the job, but really how can we do that with you and Claire Bear looking the way you do!" Andrew's husky voice whispered into my ear leaning closer to me.

I giggled despite the fact that I had no real romantic interest in Andrew. The normalcy of the interaction made me feel like doing a dance. Among the werewolves and vampires was the only place I could feel normal was strange and comforting to know that both my families were here.

"Andy, Andy, Andy…when are you going to learn that Nessie and I will never be interested!" Claire said pulling me away from him winking at Quil from across the room.

"Hey Claire," I heard Andrew purr into her ear easily leaning over me, "I know you're not interested in Jesse over there, but they say I remind everyone of a better version of Quil." he said smirking as his eyes darkened giving her a once over with his eyes.

Despite Claire's dark tanned skin I saw the blush creep from her neck to her high cheek bones. "You wish." She replied refusing to back down while the lack of confidence in her voice was blatantly obvious.

I glanced at Jesse seeing his face fill with amusement at the sight before him barely containing his laughter. I sat sandwiched between Claire and Andrew as the sexual tension emanated from them.

"STOP!" Edward screamed suddenly. Everyone froze as the irrefutable disbelief and anxiety crossed my father's face.

"Bella, shield them, I need to hear the others!" He told her so quickly I barely heard him.

Not a second after Bella pulled the shield around us that Edward screamed, "Jacob! The wolves! Phase! Now!"

Jacob took off running faster than I had ever seen him toward the door, the other wolves close behind him. Jacob became a blur of fur and pieces of fabric as he phased before getting out the door. Leah, who had sprinted out of Koku's lap jumped swiftly over the loveseat phasing in mid-air chasing quickly after him jumping off the open balcony door.

I felt Jesse and Andrew stiffen at Edward's voice in shock only taking a second to bolt toward the balcony door after Leah stripping off shirts and tear away pants as they too launched off the balcony door following Leah's lead.

Dan only managing to strip off his shorts mid-phase as the black and silver fur tore through his thin cotton t-shirt. When the blur of human men and fur stopped Bella ushered everyone into the living room.

"Get closer so I can shield all of you better." she whispered.

The retired wolves had made a loose circle in the living room putting them between us and the door.

"Wait." Edward said concentrating his eyes and brows pursed furiously.

The silence stretched on as I surveyed the room. Michelle clung tightly to Kim while Emily held Laura who had began sobbing as silently as she could manage.

"Vampries." Edward spoke coldly.

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