A/N: Well, this is my first Edward/Jacob story and I'm very excited about it! I should probably have waited until I was done with Love and War, but I've been sitting on this one for months and I'm too excited not to post it. This one will be more slow moving that my other ones (to start off, Jacob is only 13 right now), and a bit more like That Which Cannot Remain Silent as far as tone and humour. It will certainly be less angsty than Love and War and The Purpose of Life. So hopefully you all enjoy it!

(Also, I may have messed with the canon timeline a bit. But it suits the story, so go with it.)

Summary: The first time he passed through Forks, Edward found himself strangely drawn to the Quileute Tribal leader, Ephraim Black. But knowing that he was not his mate, Edward ignored his instinct to stay with Ephraim and try to become friends with the tribe, and he left with his family. When they return years later, Edward meets Ephraim's grandson, Jacob, and finally discovers just why he was drawn to Ephraim. The only problem is that the separation and tensions between the wolves and vampires are a hindrance to Edward getting what he wants. Thankfully, both Edward and Jacob are stubborn.

Disclaimer: The Twilight Series and all recognisable characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. No money is being made and no copyright infringement is intended. Only this rather lame plot is mine.

Prologue

Forks, Washington, 1948

Edward looked around the quaint country house that would be their new home for the next couple of years. It wasn't horrible, but Esme was determined to decorate it into her favourite style, whatever that was. It was the first new home they had been to since she had joined their makeshift family, and she was excited to put her mark on it. Edward and Carlisle were fine with that considering their other homes were sparse and bland. Having a house that felt like a home was a welcomed normality in their strange world.

Edward walked around the second floor noting that there were more rooms than the four of them would need, before he moved up to the third floor. He hoped one of the rooms could be set aside for his piano. And maybe a library would be nice.

With only Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, and Edward living there, each person could have three rooms to themselves and still have space to spare. Room to grow, Esme had insisted when they had first looked at the house. Edward didn't know why they would grow, unless Rosalie and he found their mates. But Edward couldn't see himself with anyone, and Rosalie was a bitch. Edward loved her like a sister, but even he admitted that it would take a special man to put up with her.

"Edward," Esme called from downstairs, "Come help us move things."

"Come on Precious Edward, you have to pull your weight too," Rose's taunting voice followed.

Edward frowned and tucked his hands into his trouser pockets, thinking of all the horrible things he could call Rosalie once he got down there. It was only Esme's sweet smile greeting him that mellowed his mood. He picked up their new yellow couch – which was quite fashionable, yet hideously ugly, in Edward's opinion.

"Where would you like this, Esme?"

"We've designated the back room as the living room. The one with the French doors opening up to the backyard."

Edward nodded in understanding and carried the couch through the hallway, making sure he hit the top of Rosalie's head. She glared at him and yelled, Ass,in her head so Esme couldn't hear. Edward smirked and mouthed, "witch" before carrying on with his chore.

He dropped the couch in the middle of the room, knowing that wherever he put it, Esme and Rosalie would just move it anyway.

"Where's Carlisle?" He asked.

"Getting a job at the hospital," Rose replied. She brought in a recliner chair and shot a withering glare at Edward when the couch blocked her from entering the room further.

"Oh, of course."

"We're going by Gaskell here, in case you forgot."

"I hadn't," Edward shot back.

"Right, so he has to send in his new information, including last name. Really, you are the mind reader. Shouldn't you know all this?"

"I do try to give you your privacy."

Rosalie snorted and turned away from Edward, "Our beds are outside. I've already claimed the bedroom at the front of the house on the second floor. And Esme says your piano should be arriving later today."

Edward practically glowed at the excitement of having a piano again. They had been on the move for the past four years and Edward desperately missed being able to play a piano when he wanted to get away from the world. Or from himself. Now he would finally have a piano at his disposal; and as appeasement for being dragged around the country for four years – and, Edward liked to think, putting up Rosalie along the way – Esme and Carlisle allowed Edward to chose whatever piano he liked.

The rest of the day was spent moving furniture around and painting. Edward stayed in his designated room at the back of the house, setting up his new bookshelves and organising his library in alphabetical order. And then again by genre. Anything to avoid getting forced to paint and decorate.

Carlisle arrived later that night and Esme proudly walked him throughout the house; preening under the praise Carlisle gave her. Edward felt the familiar pang in his chest that he always got when he watched others with their mates. He loved his family, and was happy that he wasn't wandering somewhere alone, but he wanted nothing more than a mate. He desperately wanted someone who would love him and stay with him forever.

Carlisle had hoped that person would be Rosalie, but Edward knew it wasn't. He loved Rose and admitted she was beautiful, but he would never be in love with her. To pretend or use each other for temporary relief would be cruel, because somewhere out there Rosalie had a mate waiting. And hopefully so did Edward.

The piano arrived later that night and Esme set it up in the corner of the living room. Edward hid his disappointment because he knew that Esme loved hearing him play, but secretly he wanted some privacy. He would never get that though, and part of him didn't think he deserved it.

Esme never had privacy around Edward. Her thoughts were laid bare before him, and thoughts were the most private thing a person could have. So if he had to share his playing, he supposed he could have worse penance for constantly stealing the private thoughts of those around him.

He played all night long and for the first time since becoming a vampire, Edward was happy that he didn't have to sleep anymore. By the next morning he was no longer out of practice, and no one would have ever guessed that he hadn't touched a piano in years.

"Edward!"

Edward stopped playing immediately, his fingers hovering over the keys like a statue. Esme rushed into the room in a panic that Edward had never seen before.

"Esme, what's wrong?"

"Carlisle just called. He had a run in with someone at the hospital, someone who knew he was a vampire. They have set up a meeting for tonight."

"How could anyone know what we are?"

"They're from the reservation," Esme said ominously, "The man said he knew Carlisle from their legends. Oh, what if they tell someone?"

"Calm down, Esme," Edward said. He gently took her by the shoulders and guided her to the couch. "There's nothing to be worried about. Even if someone said something about us, nobody would believe them. As long as we stay calm, everything will be fine."

"You're right, of course Edward. It's just been so nice here, having a home and settling in. I don't want to lose that."

"We won't. We'll meet with the man, ask him what he wants in exchange for his silence, and continue on as if nothing has happened."

As much as he assured Esme that nothing would go wrong, Edward wasn't as convinced himself. He could only suspect whom Carlisle had met in the hospital, and if he was right, it didn't bode well for their family.

Edward had been set against living in Forks, Washington for one reason: the Quileute tribe. Edward had taken some anthropology courses at college and in one of them they had studied the legends of Native Americans. One legend in particular had caught Edward's eye, and that was the legend of the 'Cold Ones' from the Quileute tribe. Amazed that his own species had made it into legend, Edward had learned as much about the tribe as he could. So when Carlisle had suggested Forks, and Edward recognised the name of the town, he tried to convince the rest of his family that this was a bad idea.

But who would believe legends, the family thought, and so they moved in. And here they were. A ball of dread was forming in Edward's stomach at the idea of meeting the man tonight. Something told Edward it was going to be life changing.

This was confirmed even more once Edward found himself standing in the woods later that night at the border of what he now knew was the La Push Reservation.

"This is where he told us to meet," Carlisle muttered. He had been visibly shaken when he had returned from the hospital that day. The man had been violent and confrontational, and it took all of Carlisle's control not to attack and defend his family.

"They're coming," Edward warned. He could hear bits of thoughts getting closer. One of them was louder than the others, more hesitant yet determined.

The Cullen's stood closer and took defensive stances, in case they were to be attacked.

"We won't hurt you," A voice called from the trees.

"You'll forgive us if we don't trust you," Carlisle said. Edward strained to hear the minds of the men. Their superior vampire hearing gave them one advantage, so they knew that there was a group of fifteen men moving into position so that they were surrounding them.

"Why should you fear us? You are the killers here," the same voice said. "We are just food to you."

"No, you are not our food. Our family only eats animals. We will not hurt you. We just want to live a quiet life here for a few years."

Laughter echoed around the trees. One laugh was louder than the others and at that moment and man stepped out from the trees. Edward's breath caught as the beautiful man was illuminated by the moonlight. His golden skin and long black hair gleamed brilliantly. There was something about this man that called to Edward. He had something special and wonderful about him.

"A vampire that does not eat humans? I have never heard of that."

"It is rare, I will give you that," Carlisle admitted. "But I assure you, my family means you no harm. We do not hunt humans and we will not hunt you. If you let us live in peace, it will be like we were never here."

The native man regarded Carlisle briefly then let his eyes wander to Esme and Rosalie. Then his eyes finally met Edward's. Edward couldn't tear himself away from the gaze. He didn't know what was happening to him, why he felt like this man was important. He knew it wasn't his mate, vampire knew their mates immediately, and this man was not Edward's mate. But then why did he elicit this reaction?

"My name is Ephraim Black. I am the tribal elder of this land," Ephraim said regally.

"My name is Carlisle Cullen," Carlisle said, "And this is my wife and mate Esme, and our children Edward and Rosalie."

Ephraim quirked an eyebrow cynically when Carlisle said 'wife' and 'children', but he didn't comment. Instead he moved on to the more important matters.

"Why have you moved here vampire?"

"As I told you, we have been nomadic for several years and wanted a home so we could settle down. We did not know that you were here and have no intention of posing you any sort of threat."

"Are there more of you?"

"No, it is just us. If any other vampires were to pass through, they would not be from our family."

Ephraim was silent, but Edward could hear all the thoughts passing through his head. He was still untrusting of Carlisle when he said that they would not harm his tribe, yet Ephraim was a fair man and believed in giving chances. Edward knew that this meeting would end well, though both sides would have to compromise.

"I will allow you to stay, " Ephraim said at several moments of consideration. A murmur of disapproval swept through the forest, but Ephraim held his hand and all went silent again. "I still do not trust you fully though, and that is why I have decided on these rules. A treaty, if you will. If you follow them, my tribe will not attack you."

Edward heard Rosalie's inner snort as she wondered what they could possibly do to them. But Edward knew the threat was real. He could see in Ephraim's mind great men who could shift into werewolves. He saw a beautiful russet wolf rip the head off a vampire who had threatened to kill his wife. This tribe was a force to be reckoned with, and as such would have to be respected.

"Of course, we will agree to any terms."

"First, you will never cross this boundary where we stand. If you enter Quileute territory, you will die. Understood?"

"Of course," Carlisle agreed.

"Second, if you ever bite a human, you declare war with our people. I don't care if it is an accident or not, if you bite a human, we will kill you all."

Carlisle hesitated for a moment before agreeing. In theory it was a reasonable law, in practice however, it was a difficult thing to have hanging over a vampire's head.

"You are our enemies," Ephraim warned, "I am friendly to you now because I do not know you, but I still do not trust you. Stay away from our tribe and leave quickly."

"We hoped to stay here for several years…" Carlisle said.

"Then don't do anything to make us kill you," Ephraim said, rather offhandedly in Edward's opinion.

When none of the vampires said anything against Ephraim's treaty, he signalled the other men in the forest. They walked back around, releasing the Cullens from their confinement. Ephraim turned his back and started to walk away before looking over his shoulder, "Remember vampires, bite a human or step onto our land, and we'll kill you or run you out of town."

As Ephraim walked away Edward grappled with the odd emotions he was experiencing. Something deep within him wanted him to follow the man. He wanted to stay with him, knowing there was something important and precious that he had. Edward just didn't know what it was yet.

So with a final glance back, Edward followed his family to their house.

They stayed in Forks for three years before deciding to move to Alaska with the Denali Clan. It had been a great three years and they all were sad to leave Forks, but it was time. Carlisle had set up a meeting with Ephraim Black to inform him that they would be leaving and they hadn't decided when they would come back. After coming home the night when they made the treaty, Edward had told his family about what he had learned and how the tribe had the capability to turn in the wolves. They were more cautious after that, and it was one of the reasons they were leaving Forks so soon. Esme and Rosalie were still relatively new to the vampire lifestyle, and they lived in constant fear of a slip up.

So after years of worrying, they decided that to be safe and honour the laws of the treaty, they would leave Forks and return at a time when they were more confident that they wouldn't accidently entice the tribe's wrath.

Edward and Carlisle waited at the border for Ephraim and any other tribe's men to show up. Even after all these years, Edward was still reluctant to see Ephraim. Late at night he would sometimes hear a whisper or feel a pull, drawing him towards La Push. A few times he even found himself standing at the border, fighting with himself not to cross and discover what it was that made Ephraim so important. Leaving now would be difficult for Edward. He wasn't upset that he was leaving Ephraim. Ephraim himself didn't matter. But Edward knew that by leaving Forks he was living something important behind. Something connected to Ephraim. What that was, Edward couldn't even begin to contemplate.

Ephraim emerged from the woods, again followed by a group of men. "What do you want Cullen?"

"I wanted to let you know that my family and I are leaving Forks for the time being."

Ephraim's brow furrowed, "What do you mean? Are you leaving for good?"

"We love Forks and have found a home here. However after much discussion, we have decided that it is better if we leave. My wife and Rose are still new to this lifestyle, and we would hate to break the treaty because of an accident. So we will leave for now. But we will return. We are keeping our house and much of the furniture that can be saved will be put into storage."

"And you will return?"

"Yes, though we don't know when. It may be decades before we return. But I'm sure one day we will."

"Fine, but remember Cullen, the treaty still stands. When – If, you ever return, that treaty is binding," Ephraim warned.

"Of course, I understand."

"You're in our books now, future generations will know of you. Don't think that you'll be allowed to come back and not abide by our rules."

"I would expect nothing less."

Without a parting nod or farewell, Ephraim turned away and disappeared into the woods. Carlisle heaved a heavy sigh, Are all Wolves so difficult? He wondered, before starting back for the house.

Edward started to follow but was stopped by the odd tugging trying to keep him there. Edward took another fleeting glance in the direction of La Push and wondered what was there that drew Edward. What was calling him? He stood in the quiet forest, surrounded by the sounds of birds, bugs, and wildlife. And he waited, desperately wanting to know what it was he was missing.

"Edward?" Carlisle called. "Hurry up, Kate is expecting us by two."

Edward stood another moment longer then gathered all his self-control and walked away from the La Push Reservation. Had he known that it would take another sixty years before he would return, he might have waited a moment longer.

A/N: Well I hope you enjoyed it! Obviously this is just the prologue. Jake comes in the next chapter. I'm not sure when I'll post that. It's done, but I need to space out my posting times a bit. (If you're a first time reader of mine, you'll realise very quickly that I take a while to update. I'm working full-time, writing my own book, and getting ready to move to Scotland to get my PhD.) Unless, of course, my excitement gets the best of me or a lot of people seem interested in this story. Then I might post it sooner. I guess that's my way of conning/convincing/bribing you into reviewing, but I hate when authors hold chapters hostage until they reach a certain number of reviews, so I'll never do that.

Anyway, tell me what you think! Interested? ~AJ Kelly