『 chapter xxxviii: GEMINI SEASON. 』

JUNIPER, A SELF-PROCLAIMED PESSIMIST, although often righteous intellectual, could feel Gemini Season gutting her like a ton of swords. It's element was air, so everyone was at liberty to think open, abstract, and even a bit chilly. But the season was the epitome of its sign, inconsistent and flexible, and able to adapt. June's sister was not as clever as a Gemini, but she did border on the ocean of being a lowkey psychopath. Bella's abrupt and okay-ed trip to Florida with Edward ( in the fucking early summer, with sun, a vampire in Florida seemed like a bad movie June wouldn't watch ) was the first example of Gemini season at its finest. She means that with all the sarcasm she can muster. Suddenly Bella was Bella the adventurer and all about taking rando trips everywhere, granted it was to see Renee and her husband, but June was stumped to think of why Edward had to go?

June thought about it as she picked up another missing persons sign on the diner window. She thought about Riley and how his sister Emma and little brother Nolan came in the diner the other day, looking blank and defeated, it had been a year already. Riley has seeming disappeared off the face of the earth. Gemini Season indeed.

"It's getting worse," April's melodic voice piped up as she came up next to her, wiping her hands on her apron. "My parents are freaking, my dad has a sister in Seattle, she's pretty scared."

"Hope she's stays okay," June tells her with a smile.

"Well no, she's a mega bitch." April waves away.

"Oh." June hums. She faces the window and tapes the sign on the wi Dow for it to get a better chance at being viewed. "Well, make sure you got yourself a knight an shining armor or mace or something. Who knows how far these sickos have spread, April."

April smiles at her concern, "I got two things," She picks up her fists. "Thunder and lightning; you're looking at a black belt, baby, yes, what a stereotype but it's better than getting my ass kicked by a white guy."

"That's my girl!" June high-fives her.

The bell from the front door of the diner chimes and April murmurs a farewell and goes to another table to help them and June focuses on who comes through the door. Star Levinson is wearing a large shirt with some workout pants, her long curly hair down and her eyes alert as she scans the diner before she finds who she's obviously looking for. Star senses something, her eyes downcast after she meets June's. All anger that she had for Star not telling her this huge things fades in an instant — everyone has secrets, some bigger than other people's, June knows that more than anyone. Star had her reasons.

June walks up, a soft hand grabbing Star's. "Hey, sweetheart," Her voice is low and soft. "You in the mood for a burger or two? Even some milkshakes? Your fav. My treat. It's my duty to spoil my future godchild."

Star's eyes hold realization, "June, I was gonna tell—"

She laughs a bit, "Oh, twinkle Star, don't start. I didn't need to know," June tucks a curl behind Star's ear. "You don't owe me anything, ever. Now, wanna talk?"

Star nodded eagerly, "More than anything."

After Star had finished a whole burger and was on her second and downing her first milkshake, they sat at the last booth at the far end of the diner and talked. June saw the noticeable bump that was beginning to swell on Star's y'all flat stomach. It made her heart burst with some emotion she couldn't name in the moment.

"Tell me I fucked up," Star says firstly.

June blinks at her best friend. "What?"

She sighs, shutting her eyes for a moment. "Tell me I royally fucked up, tell me I'm irresponsible and I'm reckless and that I've ruined my life," Star urges. "Please."

"Star," June tilts her head sympathetically. "You didn't fuck up, okay? Who knows? Only you?"

Star shakes her head, "I couldn't hide it from Ezra; his uncle tuition was just too strong, he knew when I could t keep down anything. He wasn't angry ... not even a little, maybe disappointed, I'm still so young ... but he was just surprised by the father choice, or lack of thereof."

June nods, the blue in her eyes swirling. "Jared doesn't know?" She asks quietly.

Star looks down at her hands for that question. June notices right away that tears are streaming down her face, "No," She cried out a bit. "No ... I didn't mean – Jared and I, it's complicated okay? I hate him and he loves me and it works. But then that night that your sister left for her boyfriend, I was little vulnerable ... Jared was there, he didn't start anything, I was the one who kissed him, he kept asking if I was sure and I just kept kissing him ... next thing I know I'm writing a note in the morning that says forget about this, I mean it, and jumping out his window before he can wake up." Star starts crying again and June reaches over to grab her hand softly. "Oh, June, I really fucked up didn't I?"

"Depends," June says softly. "Despite what you're rationally thinking, what's really on your mind?"

Star looked at June, her hazel-gold eyes holding so much love and tenderness, it made June sigh. "I really, really, want her. Your grandma says she thinks it's a girl ... it's how I see her. A girl," Star smiles proudly. "I'm scared as hell but I know I won't be a bad mother, June ... I'll give her everything I can. I'll go to school in Olympia, I'll get a nice little house and name her Fiona, for my mom, and Phoebe can live with us and Ezra can finally travel with his boyfriend like he always wanted. It'll be perfect."

"I'm glad," June tells her honestly. "But, where would Jared fit into all of this?"

Star's joyful expression falls. "Jared ..." Star says his name slowly, as if she's trying to think of him. She eventually gives June a soft look. "He and I would never work, June, never. And what? He's just leave his pack to play family? I don't think so, he can't decide for himself, he's Sam's lap dog — No, I can give Fiona everything she needs by myself."

"Star, firstly, don't think I'm not on your side, because I am, always ... but, maybe, don't you think that he deserves to at least know?" June prompts softly, hopeful to not get her angry.

Star looks at her likes she's a child, like she doesn't understand a mom and dad fighting. "I think that would do more harm than anything," She says with a sigh. "Besides, it's Jared we're talking about. He'll find someone else to fill his quota of puppies, but it's not me, June."

"Your daughter might have spirit magic," June says with a heaviness in her voice. "We know it's possible that girls can transform too, look at Leah ... look how hard it is for her to accept it. I'm drained just trying to keep her from phasing on accident ... you don't want that for Fiona, do you?"

Star seems to barely acknowledge that her child would not be just any other baby born of a teen pregnancy. This was a spirit warriors child, blood of the tribe, family. She stays quiet for a moment, "Alright."

"Alright ...?" June asks.

"I'll tell Jared," Star proclaims and it looks like she doubts herself but she says it anyway. "But, I'm not gonna fucking let him order me around. So, if your boyfriend values his pack brothers life, tell him to not fuck with a pregnant Star Levinson."

June smiles, more at ease. "Of course. I'm the fucking Mender of the pack," She says proudly.

"Oh I legit forgot," Star says. "But it explains why I haven't been nauseated the whole time since I've been with you. Must be your holy magic."

"Yup, pregnant hoes love me," June says.

Star gives her a flat look.

"You're my pregnant hoe."

She laughs. "June?"

"Yes, twinkle Star?"

"Thank you."

"For?"

"Just." Star shrugs. "I didn't know how much I needed to talk until I did ... I'm scared, honestly, to be a mom. I don't even remember mine, her voice, the way she smelled, her smile ... everyday it's harder to remember." She stops herself. "I'm scared something will happen and I won't raise Fiona like my mom didn't get to raise Phoebe."

"Nothing will happen," June assures. "I got all the magic in the spirit world to make sure you and the baby will be okay, yeah?"

Star looks more at ease. "Yeah, you're right. Okay. Everything will be okay."

June smiles.

"June? I love you so much, don't forget it."

"I love you, too, twinkle Star."

•—•—•—•

JUNE ROLLED HER EYES AS SHE HEARD PAUL'S story about why Emmett and he got into a fight. They had gotten a trail on Victoria for the first time in months and it was meant with a testosterone fest that led them to lose her; the Cullen's had been hunting her at the same time and even with the combined forces, Victoria's power of self-preservation was too much for any of them to expect. Her attacks were calculated and she was making a statement that she didn't like to lose.

"—I COULD'VE GOT HER!" Paul slammed his fist onto the table.

"Paul, calm down, please." Sam pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "She was too fast, the Cullen coming onto our land was more important."

"It was neutral ground, actually," June reminded as she sat on Jacob's lap, her boyfriend eating the biscuits that Emily had placed before them. "If y'all got your head out of your asses and let go of your pride, that bitch could've been dinner."

Jacob chuckled, his hand unconsciously trailing the marking on her back that matched his. She had to bite her lip to keep from shuddering under his touch. She glared at him. He smirked.

"Please we don't need another puppy on the way," Quil groaned.

Everyone laughed. The news about Star's pregnancy had flew around the pack the second that the pregnant girl had stormed over to Jared's house and dropped the bomb on him and subsequently slapped him when he impulsively kissed her out of joy. The whole pack got a front row seat due to their telepathy, and no one was letting it go for the foreseeable ever.

"The more the merrier!" Jared said smugly, sitting down as he winked at June and Jacob. June flipped him off. "Anyway, I hope my title as daddy spreads for everyone alright? Feel free to call me that, I'm looking at you, too, Junie."

Jacob growled while everyone rolled their eyes, throwing a biscuit at Jared which he caught. He chuckles. "Okay, everyone expect June," Jared clarified.

"I can't believe you're gonna be a father," June scrunched her nose in distaste. Jared winks at her and his joy is so high that he can't be phased by any insult. She looks Jacob while everyone begins chatting and eating. "How about we adopt the kid?"

"Or we can just make one ourselves? When we're a bit older, of course, and I got my own mechanic shop." Jacob suggested easily, like the topic was nothing. His mocha irises meet hers and he doesn't take the pain, only the momentary breathlessness as a good thing. He kisses her with a laugh. "What? You don't want any?"

"Oh, No, I, um," June wondered what she could say to make him satisfied. She didn't want to lie. She didn't want to say the truth. She didn't know, she really didn't, so she said what she wanted and the answer surprised her. "Of course I do. I think you'll be the bestest dad ever."

Jacob's smile makes her heart hurt, "I think I'd be close second behind the kind of mom you'll be." He confesses. He rests his forehead on hers. "I hope they have your eyes ..."

June's throat feels tight. She smiles, faintly, it could be mistaken for joy. "I hope they get your smile."

"We're that couple?"

"Oh, we've passed being that couple." June laughs.

Jacob smiles, holding her hand and seeing the fading bruise that rests on her forearm. "You've been taking it easy, right? I told you that Quil could take the pain, he said so himself."

"No, he's fine, he was born to phase," June assures with a easy grin. "It's Leah ... she's ... I don't want her to feel even more bad, okay? Please don't tell her anything in the Wolfpack group-chat."

Jacob gives her a look, "You know you come before anyone to me, right? Before my dad, my sisters, my pack ... it's you. I don't care about their feelings, less Leah's," He says honestly.

"But I do," June corrects, cupping his face. "And you're hurting me if you neglect them, keep that in your little possessive-bossy-wolffish brain."

Jacob leans to kiss her, but she moves her head so he kisses her cheek. She giggles when he growls. "Fine. You know what? I'll help Leah out if it means you don't have to be hurting all the time." He says in a compromise she knew he'd have. "Oh, by the way, I think she might be doing fine on her own anyway ..."

"Why'd you say that?" June frowns.

"Because she imprinted."

June's eyes almost bulge out of their sockets. She gets off Jacob's lap and she pulls him up and they rush out of the house with a few crude remarks ( to which they both flip off ) and June gestures for him to continue.

"Leah imprinted today," Jacob confirms. "On that Sandoval guy that moved here a few months ago, the older brother of the girl that Seth imprinted on last week. The guy who kept staring at you at the diner."

"First of all, Maya and Seth are precious and they're the cutest thing on the earth. Cuties. Second of all, Troy wasn't staring at me, but whatever," June rolled her eyes, this argument still running. "And the Sandoval's ... nice, Troy's hot. Wow, yay, Leah!"

Jacob gives her a flat and angered look.

June rolls her eyes, "Oh please, you know you're the only one that I'd drop my thong for." She shakes her head.

Jacob's eyes widened. "Maybe we shouldn't talk about you dropping anything for me," His eyes glow a golden. "Not when we're alone."

June flushes, "Hahahaha," She laughs nervously with Jacob who can't keep his eyes off her. "Anyway, okay, Leah imprinted, amazing. This changes things ... she'll be okay."

"Told you." Jacob winked.

"Whatever." She has her hands on her hips and she looks around mindless before she says what she knows is hanging in the air. "Wanna go make out?"

"What kind of question is that?" Jacob asks at the obviousness, he smirks, already capturing his lips with hers.

•—•—•—•

ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, THE DAY AFTER BELLA had arrived back from Florida from her moms, Juniper and she sat in the living room watching 27 dresses and ate popcorn while their parents were in Port Angeles for date night and Willie was at June's grandmothers house on the Rez. It was just them for the night and honestly, June missed this. It had been over a year since Bella lived them. And it had been only a handful of times that they could do things like this — dead girls walking didn't have much time to be normal and it was nice to just have these little moments that made June feel normal.

"Oh, how was your mom?" June casually asks when the movie ends.

        Bella hugs her legs to her chest as she smiles, "She was fine. Happy. She loves it there in Jacksonville. She's gotten tanner, if that's possible." She laughs. "Phil's still charming as ever, it was nice to see him."

June nods, "That's good."

"I was just glad to see her that way," Bella goes on, her eyes looking faraway. "To know that her life was content, that she wasn't gonna miss me a whole bunch when I was gone. She's never been fit for the mothering life ..."

Just that like, June's hope at Bella staying human fades. Charlie would lose both his daughters in a matter of months. Bella wouldn't want to stay human after June died, she knew this, she knew it in her core.

"So you've decided then?" June asks numbly. "When you said that nothing changed ..."

"I still want to be one." Bella nodded.

June nodded as well. "Oh."

"Don't worry," Bella says. "It's not gonna soon. I'll wait a year or two after graduation. It was my deal with Edward ... he kinda wants to be married first."

June's eyes widened. "You're marrying him?"

"I know it seems impulsive," Bella admits. "But it's what he wants ... I looked him in the eye and asked if he wanted me, if he wasn't still haunted by Melanie ... he told he he wasn't. Not after what happened."

June looks at her hands. "So just like that? I'm never gonna see you again?"

Bella stiffens. "I'll always be your sister, June. No matter what I am." She tells her. "You'll always be my little sister ... I don't care about treaties. We can meet in the space between that, yeah?"

"The space between? Hmm." June smiles at that. Maybe some imaginary purgatory where the undead souls and teen spirits rest eternally. "Yeah."

They flick to the news channel and there's more stuff about the terror reigning in Seattle. Something about it makes June's heart sink a whole ten feet underground. Bella's face is even more crestfallen and June can't help but notice.

"It's getting worse," Bella murmurs. June catches it and gives her a curious look. She sighs. "Edward told me that they've been monitoring the situation for a while, the disappearances, the killings and everything ... he said that if it gets worse that the Volturi might step in."

June knows all too well of the danger that could contain. Some royal vampire assholes coming to Seattle could easily come to Forks. Where Bella, who was promised to become one of them, was still human.

"Oh ..." June cursed. "They could see you're human."

Bella nods numbly, "They could. But Edward insists we wait, so we wait, he says that they won't come that far. I think he underestimates them."

"He's stupid to do that," June admits.

Bella agrees. "I'm just a human. What do I know?"

"Exactly. You're human," June says with fierceness. "You're better than any of us."

There's a knock at the door that startled both of them. Bella gets up first, making her way over. June gets up and sees the door opened and Edward standing at the front of it. His golden eyes are wide and he stares at both of them, analyzing each thing before he's vamp speeding up stairs.

Bella shuts the door, "Hey, to you, too, babe!"

They share a look and follow upstairs. Edward's in Bella's room, his face contorted in worry. He looks at them, "I came to see you but I smelled ... someone been in here," He says troubled. He rushes over to June's room where Patrick Verona starts barking.

"Good boy," June claps as the dog rushes to his owner.

Edward looks around June's room the same way and nods to himself, "Here too,"

June's heart sinks again and she tries to be funny. "Without knocking? That motherfucker—"

"A vampire?" Bella asks, worried and then opens other doors. "Check my parents room and Willie's, please."

Edward does as she wishes and it takes him seconds. He shakes his head. "The scent isn't there. Only in your rooms." He tells them, much to their equal relief and worry. "I don't recognize it ..." He looks at them. "Let's go to my house, I'll need to tell Carlisle and the others."

June winces. "Ahhh, Jacob doesn't like the smell of vampires."

Edward raises a brow, and Bella, too.

"Well, you see kids, when you make out, it involves heavy touching and my boyfriend can't touch me if I smell like a damn sugar jar," She says sarcastically.

Edward rolls his eyes. "Let's go."

June is already annoyed that some vampire would dare have the balls to go into her room and house. But the realization sinks in deeper as she sits in the back of Edward's fancy at and thinks of how that vampire couldn't have been just some friendly neighborhood vampire. He or she was sent, most likely. By Victoria? It seemed far fetched and at the same time, just her style. She sent Laurent after all ... but surely she knew her mistake when June's wolves ripped Laurent to ice cubes. It terrified her how easy it would've been for that vampire to go into Willie's room or her parents ... June sighed. Gemini season continues ...

a/n: 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 wrote this while taking a bomb shit