How great life was, Emily thought. She was lying on a lounge chair by the pool, her eyes were closed, and she sighed in contentment. The sun was beating down on her, warming her skin. She could feel it tickling her eyelashes.

Emily smiled as familiar lips pressed softly against hers. They were Jake's. For once in a long while, she felt at peace. She savored that moment for she was certain it would not last long. She would enjoy it for as long as she could. 

Suddenly, Emily yelped as cold water splashed on her bare stomach, bringing her back to reality in an instant. She jumped off the chair to see Jake and George holding water pistols at her. They were grinning at her most evilly.

"Oh, you'll pay for that!" Emily laughed, and ducked behind a chair, as Jake squirted water from his Super Soaker at her. She squealed as the cold water hit her bare back.

Emily grabbed a smaller gun, which she had hidden under the lounge chair. She squirted back at Jake, showing him no mercy.

Many months had past since all the ugliness. It was all a distant memory for them yet it preyed on her mind every day. It was too quiet. And she felt the presence of...something. Yet the days passed by one by one, week by week and nothing happened.

Isabella, Trey, and Tony had left for most of their summer break to spend some time together in Italy. They had needed the time away from the rest of the group to get to know each other as the family that they were. And they needed to put behind them the centuries of hurt and anger.

They had recently returned from their trip, and all was still well. It worried her; it worried her immensely. Emily tried not to think about it, but it was hard not to do, knowing what she knew. Knowing what was to come, but not knowing when or how or even why.

Their first college year had ended and they were now letting the stresses of the year out of their minds. During the first weeks of summer, they had built another bedroom downstairs for Trey. And an additional bedroom in the attic next to Emily's room for Sam, Jake's sister, who would be moving in with them. Sam would be starting her freshman year at the University.

Emily's grandmother had left her the huge house when she died and Emily desperately needed it to be filled up. Without her grandmother, and her parents, she felt so alone even though she had her biological father, Brian.

Emily was still getting used to the idea of Brian being her father, after all the years of him just being her "uncle", the best friend of her parents. It had been a couple of years since she had learned the truth that her "father" hadn't been able to have any children. Her parents had asked their best friend to donate his sperm to help them make a baby. Emily still found it disturbing she was made in a test tube and not in the natural way. But more importantly, it still hurt that they had covered up that Brian was her real father.

"I can't believe that we can cram anymore people in this house," Raven said, stepping out of the house to join them by the pool, which brought Emily back out of her thoughts.

"When there's a will there's a way," Emily told her, offering her an understanding smile.

"Thank you." Raven hugged her tightly.

"For what?" Emily asked with a slight laugh.

"For letting Trey stay," Raven told her, giving her a look that said she knew that Emily knew what she meant. And of course, she had.

"He needs to be here. He needs to know that he has friends and that he's loved," Emily stated firmly.

Her heart hurt from the feelings she got off of Trey. All the hurt, anger, and betrayal that haunted him for five centuries was overwhelming. They rolled off of him, hanging in the air, and Emily was surprised she was the only one that could feel it.

"I think he knows that now," Raven answered solemnly.

"He's scared to trust. For that, we must give him time and understanding," Emily answered just as seriously.

"How can you talk like that? Like a... Guardian, while you're standing here in a bikini?!" Raven asked with a laugh, looking Emily up in down, taking in her near nakedness except for the tiny bikini she wore.

Emily smiled softly. "That's what I am," she said, touching Raven's arm gently.

Emily went inside suddenly rethinking her choice in a bathing suit. Perhaps it had been a bit much, but she had wanted to look good for Jake.

"Are you done cooking yourself?" Tony asked, looking up from a book when Emily came in. He turned his head swiftly away from the sunlight. Emily quickly shut the door closing out the light as his jaw was clenched tightly as if in pain.

"Thank you," Trey slipping his sunglasses down to look at her from his place in an armchair with one leg thrown over the arm and the other rested languidly on the floor. His arm was around the back of the armchair as he leaned back as if taking a nap.

"You're welcome." She grinned at him.

Emily was genuinely pleased to see Trey so at home in her house. It had taken her a long time to get Trey to relax, even in the slightest way, and to feel like her house was even remotely like a home to him. She waved and went down the hallway.

"I'm surrounded by beautiful women. This is the life," Trey sighed, leaning back on the chair as he watched her walk away.

The doorbell rang. "There's another one," Tony said with a secretive smile.

"You're kidding me." Trey peered down the hall curiously at the front door, just out of his view.

"Go answer it." Tony gestured with his hand for him to do so and also indicating he wasn't getting up anytime soon from his place on the couch nor from the book in his hand.

"Sure, if there's another beautiful woman on the other side, I certainly will," he said, getting up in one fluid motion and walked down the hall to the front door. He opened the door and leaned on the frame to admire the indeed beautiful woman that stood there.

"Wow," the girl said, dropping a suitcase on the floor of the porch in front of her. "Hi!"

"Hello," he said with a grin admiring the petite girl with the pretty face, chin length blonde hair, and amazing green eyes.

"Uh, is Jake here?" she asked hesitantly. She bit her lip and looked over his shoulder into the house.

"And whom shall I say has come calling?"

She blinked and shook her head as she took a second to understand he was asking who she was. "I'm Sam. Samantha," she clarified with a friendly smile.

"Ah! You're Sam," Trey grinned, looking her over even more curiously. She was Jake's adopted sister. Jake was adopted as well, several years before Sam had been. This little sprite of a girl was a year younger than her brother. "Come on in, then, little one." He picked up her suitcases.

"Uh, thanks," she replied, following him in.

He set the suitcases down on the floor in the hall next to the door. He took her hand in hers and kissed her knuckles lightly. "I'm Trey."

"Trey, be a doll and bring those upstairs," Emily said, coming down the stairs, dry and dressed.

He sighed dramatically, "Excuse me, Samantha, I must earn my keep," Trey winked and released her hand. He picked up the cases and headed up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and not the least bit slowed down by the heavy baggage.

"Sam!" Emily hugged her enthusiastically," I'm so glad you're finally here!"

"Me too!" Sam hugged her back. "Wow, he is so hot. He lives here too?" Sam looked up the steps to where Trey had disappeared.

"Yeah, he's one of the ones we keep in the basement," Emily said with an amused smile. "Here's another one," Emily said as Tony joined them.

"Oh, hi, Tony," Sam said recognizing him from the visit Jake's friends had made to her parents farm at Thanksgiving.

"Hello, Samantha. Welcome," Tony said politely. His eyes looked over her hungrily.

"Thanks," Sam told him, glancing at Emily nervously.

"Em, I need to go out. Are we doing... the thing tonight?"

"Yes. Around eight. That okay with you?"

"Wouldn't miss it." He kissed Emily's cheek lightly. "Until later," he said to Sam as he passed by to walk down the hall to the front door.

"Sam!" Jake rushed in from the back of the house. He was soaking wet and eagerly came over to embrace her in a bear hug.

Sam gave him an awkward hug as to not get wet herself. "Good to see you too, bro." She patted his damp shoulder.

"Hey, did you bring your swimsuit?" Jake asked her, taking a step back to look at her.

"You told me you had a pool. What do you think?" Sam asked him, snatching his towel and swatting Jake with the end of it.

"Great! Most of us are out back. Why don't you change into your suit?" he insisted, grabbing towel back.

"Yeah, okay." Sam looked at Emily for confirmation that that was the plan.

"Let me show her around a bit first. Then we'll join you," Emily told him. She knew Jake was excited to see his sister again. And he was anxious for Sam to like California, the house, and their friends.

Jake nodded in agreement. "Do you mind if Emily shows you around or do you want me to?"

"Emily's fine," Sam said with a shrug not caring either way. She liked Emily and she couldn't wait to get to know her. However, Sam was happy to see her brother again. She couldn't wait to spend some time with him to catch up on the year they had missed living apart.

"I could show you around, beautiful," Trey chimed in, his voice low and seductive as he leaned on the railing of the stairs, looking down at them with a charming smile.

"Trey, behave," Emily told him. "Reel it in."

"Yes, mommy," he said with a wink and a grin.

"Ignore any flirtations from him. He's perfectly harmless," Emily told Samantha loud enough for him to hear from the stairs.

"That's because I'm not trying," Trey said as he came down the last step of the stairs. "If I tried..." he trailed off with a slow, smug, smile that led to Emily and Samantha both to be blushing at the gaze he sent both of them.

"Hey, Sam!" Raven called, coming in from the back door and rushed over to give her a quick hug.

"Rave, control your so-called boyfriend, he's trying to make moves on my sister," Jake said with a scowl.

"He already has." Raven slipped an arm around Trey's waist and kissed him on the cheek.

"The other one," Jake said, rolling his eyes.

Raven punched Trey lightly on the stomach. "Behave yourself."

"Man, tough room." Trey rubbed his belly.

"Besides, Sam's my sister now, too, right?" Raven put an arm around her.

"Oh, wow. I hadn't thought about it. But yeah, I guess," Sam said in shock.

They had all just learned that Raven was Jake's biological twin sister and they had been separated at birth. Sam had been stunned when she heard the news. And honestly, a bit jealous as Jake was her brother. But now, when she thought about it, she broke into a smile, "Cool! I always wanted an older sister."

"Well, now you've got one! And if you play your cards right, I just may lend you some of my clothes." Raven gave her a hip bump.

"Now you're talking!" Sam grinned.

Raven dressed fabulously and though they probably didn't wear the same size, she would love some fashion advise from the gorgeous girl that was her brother's sister. Her sister, in a way.

"I never minded sisters..." Trey said and then trailed off with a wistful smirk.

Raven slapped him again. This time hard.

He rubbed his shoulder and looked at her wide-eyed. "What?!"

"Do you even hear yourself when you talk?" She demanded. He shrugged and smiled again dreamily. Raven growled at him.

Trey laughed and put an arm around her to calm her down. "I'm only teasing you."

"Suddenly, I'm all alone out there!" George's voice called from behind them. "What's going on?" His voice came closer as he walked down the hallway. He came to a halt when he reached them. "Oh, hey, Sam!" he broke into a smile when he saw her.

"Hi, George," she said blushing, remembering how he'd kissed her in the barn on Thanksgiving.

Sam hadn't forgotten about him since and he was one of the major reasons she had decided on joining Jake in California. George was someone she really wanted to get to know more.

"I thought she was coming later," George said accusingly to Jake, his smile turning into a frown.

"I got an earlier flight. I was anxious to get here," Sam explained. "Mom and Dad were driving me nuts," she turned to Jake, rolling her eyes.

"I bet. Their baby has left the roost," he said with a chuckle.

"Not soon enough!"

"Come on, Sam, let me show you around. We can start with your room," Emily told her. "Once you're settled in, you can have all the time in the world to catch up with everyone."

"My room?" Sam asked confused. "I thought I was sharing with someone."

"We made some...new... arrangements," Emily explained.

"Oh, I don't want to put anyone out," Sam protested

"You're not."

Jake put an arm around her shoulders. "Emily built another room next to hers for you. It was just some extra attic space."

"You built a room for me?" Sam asked amazed and flattered.

"Well, you're going to be here a while, right?" Emily asked, shrugging like it was no big deal.

Sam hugged her. "I sure am!" Sam pulled back to look Emily in the eye. "Thank you so much! That was so, so nice of you. It's no wonder my brother likes you. You are amazing!"

Emily squeezed Sam's hand. "Actually, you should be thanking Trey. He paid for it."

"Emily..." Trey protested, trying to stop her as she mentioned his name. He sighed as she finished her sentence.

Sam turned towards Trey, her eyes huge in shock. "Wow. Thanks, Trey! That had to cost a lot of money and you don't even know me."

He shrugged. "No problem," he said, looking away. "Had to build a room for me, so what's one more?"

Jake put a hand on Trey's shoulder. "Hey, uh, thanks, man, I didn't know that." He sent Emily an accusing glare. He'd argued with her about building the additional room for his sister.

Jake didn't know how much Emily's grandparents and parents had left her when they passed away, but the house was already huge and probably cost a lot to maintain. He doubted the rent they all paid made a dent in Emily's bills, but she was too sweet to ask for more money. He just hoped that they weren't taking too much advantage of her generosity and ended up putting her in dept.

Trey shrugged,"I enjoy spending money on beautiful women," he said winking at Sam, then grinned and backed away when Raven tried to hit him again.

"Mom and Dad wanted to build an extra room on the house a few years ago and..." Sam's mind whirled with calculations in her head. Her parents hadn't been able to afford the extra room. She looked around the house. It was a large house already but, she looked at Trey, he was a college student, how could he afford to pay for a new room? Two rooms?

"Come on. Let's go," Emily took her by the hand and led her upstairs. "We can answer any questions you have later."

"You!" Jake pointed at Trey accusingly. "Behave around my sister," he said, and then added as Trey started to smile, "Both of them!"

Trey laughed. "I cannot help myself around beautiful women- they bespell me."

"Help it! Or I'll start hanging garlic all around the house," Jake gestured to the ceiling.

"You will just stink up the place," Trey said forlornly. "Garlic doesn't keep us away. It's just a myth," Trey grinned at Jake's annoyed look. He shrugged. "I'm afraid you're going to have to stake me, and frankly, you haven't the guts," Trey said smugly, crossing his arms over his chest.

Raven yawned dramatically. "Can we leave this conversation alone until after tonight?"

Trey and Jake fought all the time, so she was well used to it, and bored by it. Either one or the other had to prove they were manlier than the other. Unfortunately for Trey, Jake kept pointing out he wasn't exactly a man. And not only Trey, Jake fought with Tony as well. At least with Tony, it was starting to be a bit better as they were on friendlier terms these days after Jake and Tony had some little heart to heart, which Raven was thankful for.

Jake turned back to face her. "What's tonight?"

"We're telling Sam what we all can do," Raven answered simply.

"No way!" Jake protested, his face showing that he was horrified at the suggestion.

"Jake, she already knows about you," Raven said gently.

"No, she doesn't. Not really."

"If she's going to live with us, she has to know. We talked about this." Raven set a reassuringly hand on his arm.

"Couldn't we wait? Just a few more days?" Jake asked imploringly.

"I sort of told her about me over Thanksgiving," George put in.

"What?! Why?" Jake practically shrieked.

"She caught me having a conversation with your dog. It was either that or let her think I was nuts," George explained, running a hand through his hair. The others burst out laughing. "What?" George asked dumfounded. "I can't talk to your dog?"

"What'd Molly have to say?" Jake asked curiously after he stopped laughing.

"She was trying to convince me to give her a steak that your mom was hiding in the fridge."

"She's sneaky that way," Jake said with a reminiscent smile. He missed his dog. They didn't have any animals at Witch Hill and he was used to being on a farm surrounded by many different varieties of animals.

George scowled. "I'm serious. God! See, no one believes me! You had no trouble believing he's a vampire," George gestured to Trey, who wasn't paying attention, but staring into space. George blew out an annoyed breath. Another person ignoring him. "But a guy talking to animals?! You can't accept that?"

"We believe you, George," Raven said softly, putting a hand on his arm.

"Yeah, sure," he muttered, yanking his arm away in frustration. He moved around Trey and went up the stairs two at time.

"George!" Raven called after him.

Jake wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Just leave him be. He's been cranky since the whole Isabella/Ray thing. He just needs some time to adjust to all the changes around here," Jake told her. Raven nodded.

Jake frowned, noticing that Trey had turned pale and was sweating. He opened his mouth to say something.

"Hey, um, Rave?" Trey asked before Jake could speak. He put a hand on her arm.

Raven turned to him in concern. She gasped. "What's wrong, Trey?"

"Can we talk about something?"

"Of course, you know that. What is it?"

He glanced at Jake, "Alone."

"Let's go upstairs," Raven glanced at Jake. She took Trey by the hand and led him upstairs.

***********************************

"Emily, it's awesome!" Sam entered her bedroom of sea green and white.

"I'm glad you like it," Emily said, looking around the room, pleased with the way it turned out.

Sam sat on the bed and bounced a bit. "Like it? I love it!"

"Great. Why don't you unpack and get settled, then I'll show you the rest of the place." Emily headed towards the bedroom door.

"Okay." Sam unzipped a suitcase that Trey had left on the bed. "So, is Trey, like, Tony or Isabella's brother or something? He looks a bit like them. Or is he another cousin?"

"All will be explained later," Emily smiled reassuringly and left the room.