When they all got home Athena made her way down to the kitchen in a bathrobe and found Jasper.

"Your emotions are becoming clearer," he said. Looking at her without revealing any emotion.

"Is that a good thing?" Athena asked, feeling tired.

"I'm not sure," he answered and looked back at the television.

She just nodded thoughtfully and took a glass of water. She didn't pour salt into it like she usually did, not feeling like it was the right thing to do this time. She found bread, cheese and ham she smiled at her small victory and prepared a small meal for herself.

Jasper raised a brow. This was unusual. No salt. No seafood. He left silently and made his thought clearer to Edward. Something is wrong. It did capture Edward's attention and they exchanged a look. Jasper told Alice while Emmett and Rosalie listened closely. Something was changing within Athena and none of them could tell what it was.

The weekend came and Athena had mostly kept to herself. Her food habits had gone back to normal before they found out she wasn't human. Neither had her skin felt tight around her.

Athena was quiet in the car with Rosalie and Alice. Edward, Jasper and Emmett in the car behind them.

"Aren't you excited?" Alice asked and looked to the backseat.

"yeah," Athena said giving Alice a small smile.

"Athena, if you don't want to, you just have to tell us," Rose said, concern clear in her eyes.

"It's not that. I really want to," Athena reassured.

"Then what's the matter?" Rose asked.

Alice kept quiet. She had had a vision of Athena previously that she would not change in the water. It was as if her supernatural parts had just disappeared. Without any trace at all.

"So I have this fantastic dress..." Alice started. Turning the conversation away from Athena. In turn she got a relieved look of gratitude and she smiled it off.

The beach wasn't that much of a beach this time of year. It was still early and somewhat winter. But no snow and no ice. It would be a fine temperature for the vampires and Athena anyway. They had chosen a more closed off area and no passing cars could see them. Neither many people that decided to take a walk along the shore if anything.

Athena stood in a dark viridian swimsuit and close to the edge where the water was washing up on the sand.

Emmett ran straight into the water and spread water around him, half covering Athena in drops of water and she stood gaping. Then her eyes narrowed and she stalked out between the small waves and followed after the huge vampire. She dove under and opened her eyes. Seeing well where Emmett was in front of her, swimming away. Her legs kicked and she started to swim, however, no tingling sensation.

"Should we go after them?" Jasper asked aloud.

"They're fine," Alice said and arose, skipping over towards the two.

"Nothings happening with the salt water. her skin isn't tightening like when she poured the salt water on her skin aa few days ago.

"Her emotions were confusing as well. It was like she was able to block half of them while the other half I could feel clearly," Jasper muttered.

"There they are," they all heard Rosalie say and their attention turned to Emmett and Athena who were making their way out of the water.

"There's nothing we can do about it. I guess it happened for a reason," Athena then said and received a towel to dry off. At least I got it confirmed now, she thought, as she slowly got dressed.

Jasper sent her a wave of calm, feeling how upset she really was. She sent him a grateful look and he let her lead to the cars so they could continue their weekend. She smiled as if nothing was wrong and acted cheerful, however, her true emotions could not fool him. Deep within she was weeping for what was lost and she deeply missed that part of herself. As if one part had died with her. Her powers felt like they were gone.

...I don't understand what I will need a dress like that for... Edward heard an unfamiliar thought behind him and he turned his head turned towards Athena who was dressed in a long red evening gown later that evening. He had just heard more of her thoughts and he tried to see if he could listen more. I'm dressing like this for dinner? She thought after Alice told her where they were going. He suppressed a smile and kept his gaze locked on her. It can't be helped. Be brave Athena! You can survive this dinner, being the only one eating and all that stuff... her train of thought stopped and he frowned. At least it was something. But he wanted to hear more.

Silently he made his way over to her. She caught him just in time by the corner of her eye and turned towards him before he could utter a word. Her head slightly tilted.

"May I?" he asked and held out his left arm.

Athena rolled her eyes but grinned as she took hold of his arm.

"I take that as a yes," Edward muttered.

"Hm. Yeah," Athena replied as they started walking after the rest of the Cullens.

Their eyes kept meeting ever so briefly through the evening. Neither of them admitting to anything. It was not awkward and it kept the pull at bay within them both. It was peaceful and nice. Both of them wanted a closer contact. Both refused to make any move though, confused over their own feelings. Edward sighed to himself, going unnoticed by Athena.

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