Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Note: I sincerely recommend that you read "Second Life" before you jump into "Life Resolute."

Also: Comments are appreciated.

…

It happened.

Esme and I were stocking up at the grocery store for a pack of wolves that Esme fed on a daily basis when we overheard Jessica Stanley's mom make The Comment.

She was talking to another human four aisles over. "None of those Cullens seem to get any older. I've said it to Jessica before and I'll say it again—plastic surgery is not the way to go! How could Dr. Cullen let his kids do that to their faces?"

The other human added, "The better question is where does Cullen get that money? He's a doctor and all, but that is a lot of money! Do you think the hospital gives him a two for one special?"

Both women started to cackle.

I was not amused, but… People were starting to notice: we were more or less, but definitely not… human. We Cullens had lived in Forks, Washington for more than a decade, which was longer than we had ever stayed in any one place before, or so I have been told. Forks was important to everyone, which was why no one was going to like the conversation that I knew was coming soon.

Esme nodded in agreement. She may not have my brother's mind scanner, but her abilities were derived from her mothering gene.

We were packing away the groceries into Esme's Navigator when Esme broached a subject I cared to avoid. "So Logan, will you ask Seth to meet with use when we discuss the move?"

I gulped and said, "The paint on this Navigator has a real nice sheen to it." I had given vehicle to Esme last year as a gift. I was insistent that we have at least a few domestic vehicles in the family. Esme was content with it and I think the reason being it was a stereotypical Mom vehicle, the showy-ness notwithstanding. The car aside, Esme wasn't trounced by my misdirection.

She eyed my suspiciously. "Logan…"

I stood as still as a statue and pondered her original question. Since about the time I came back from the Edward-induced exile, Seth had become my friend; more like my best friend. We kept a look out for each other when we fought Victoria's newborns and the almost-obliteration by the Volturi. Despite the wolf-vampire hostility thing back then, I had tutored him and he was able to graduate high school eventually. The whole wolf thing was a drain on his personal time to do important things like study or go to school. I know I earned an eternal altar of gratitude from Seth's mom and even his sister, Leah when they watched Seth cross the stage at graduation. I hung out with Seth everyday now and the thought of leaving my best friend saddened me.

"Logan, honey." Esme stared at me. She tapped my arm. "Logan!"

"What?" I muttered coming back to reality.

"Will you ask him to come over?" Esme asked again.

"Ugh, I don't think so. It isn't a conversation I want to have with him just now," I answered. It was a half-truth. I didn't want to tell him at all.

"This bromance you have going on, you know it makes Emmett jealous," Esme cautioned. I was impressed that Esme even knew what a bromance was. I would have to thank whoever taught her that.

"Yeah well… jealousy is good in our relationship. It keeps Emmett on his toes." Silently however, I thought, And attentive to my needs. My body tensed at the thought of Emmett touching me in all the ways I sincerely preferred.

"Ew!" Esme shrieked.

"Are you sure you don't have a mind scanner too?" I asked.

"Supernatural abilities are left to my children," Esme retorted.

"That is funny that you don't think the mothering gene isn't supernatural," I commented.

"You make it sound like I'm weird."

"No, just spooky sometimes. Really spooky how you just know sometimes."

"Oh lover," Esme pinched my cheek. "I always know. I think you should invite Seth to join us."

…

The sun was setting in the horizon when we got back to the house. I wasn't looking forward to this night.

As Esme put the Navigator into park, a blissfully unaware Ness barreled into the garage. "Did you get it? Did you get it?"

I rolled my eyes. "Dearest niece, I got it so long as you help your old uncle carry these groceries in. He isn't as young as you."

"Nice to see you too, dearest uncle!" Ness gave me a quick peck on the cheek and grabbed the heaviest stuff without a second thought.

"Hey, save some for me!" I knew who said it without having to turn around. It was his sweet scent that got me. It is always their scent that gets us vampires; I was no different.

"I hope you mean some loving and not Ness's venison," I said as I spun on my heal. Before I could focus on my mate, my lover, my everything, Emmett lifted me into his arms and kissed me with the passion of Romeo and Juliet on steroids. I will say that I am not Juliet so I don't know whom Emmett would be playing. I didn't take the time to figure it out because Emmett's sweet scent washed over me again and I became… distracted.

Coming out of the kiss, I smiled. He was wearing nothing but jean overalls and workman boots. Emmett was in mechanic mode and the grease slick across his forehead was hot as hell.

"Nice to see you too," I groaned.

"Need help carrying in the stuff?" Emmett wrinkled his nose. He didn't care for the proximity to human food that Esme and I had grown accustomed to. It had become a family joke that we operated a regular cafeteria line. The smell didn't attract me, but it didn't gross me out either. Think of what dirt smells like. I could appreciate it, but I surely didn't want to eat it.

"Nah, Ness got most of it in one swoop. She's itching for the Venison Parmesan I promised to make for her tonight." I gave my mate another kiss on the lips and then pulled away from him to grab whatever was left in the Navigator.

"Hey, Logan," Emmett grabbed my hand. "Do you want to go to the La Push tonight? There is a storm coming in so the beach should be pretty deserted." Emmett knew me too well: time with my mate—at my favorite beach—alone.

I nodded. I knew I would need some happy time after what I knew was going to be an ultimately depressing conversation. Esme had already called Carlisle at the hospital and he agreed that The Conversation should go down tonight when he got home from work.

"Logan! I don't hear the succulent sizzle of venison! And make extra! Jake is coming over!" Ness's voice carried across the house like a foghorn.

I looked to Emmett. "Jake is coming over. Shocking."

Emmett hunched his shoulders and left me to help Rosalie with her latest auto project: repainting Edward's Vanquish. They convinced Edward that a coat of silver would be a great change of pace.

I entered the kitchen and saw that Esme was already dicing away at onions, tomatoes, and garlic. Homemade marinara sauce was the way to go. Esme was as quick as opening a jar of premade so buying the premade was superfluous. Esme believed there was more love in a dish made entirely by scratch.

I pulled a knife from the drawer and began to cut up the meat.

I whipped out my phone and sent a group text to all unaware Cullens. "Time to have the conversation tonight. 7:30." I didn't receive any responses, but I didn't expect any either. We all collectively knew the time to move was approaching, but I think we all avoided The Conversation thinking that bringing it up would induce the move would happen sooner than later.

Ness fluttered into the kitchen, pirouetted, and elegantly landed herself in a chair at the breakfast island facing Esme and I.

"Dearest niece, we should review your human food choices: Venison Parm, any type of egg…" I quipped with a smile.

"Not Benedict. She hates the hollandaise," Esme interjected.

"Right," I responded brandishing my knife like a pointer. "So we got v-parm; eggs, no Benedict; anything involving more than 75% cheese; and to get at your sweet tooth, aside from mountain lion, Sue Clearwater's double chocolate chip chocolate cookies. So if it's not processed or an animal product, it's not for consumption." I laughed.

"Yeah, well let's analyze your diet: animal blood. Yep, that's it," Ness said snidely.

"I could re-open the pallet to human blood, you know." My throat ached at the thought. I gulped hard and tried to think of something else. I winced a bit, which betrayed my attempt to be funny.

"Don't let Seth let you hear that! He'll probably backhand you." Ness broke the awkwardness with her joking demeanor. It amazed me how she reminded me of Emmett.

"Yes, well, I'd just phase everything, but his head, into the ground and do Ness-style pirouettes upon it," I threw out.

Ness and I laughed together.

Esme wasn't pleased. "No pirouettes unless it is on the ground minus a head or body for that matter!" she commanded.

I looked to Ness who knew better than to laugh. I didn't and when I did laugh, Esme laid on the guilt. "You joke Logan, but let me remind you of the time when we were mortal enemies, of when we couldn't go to La Push, of when Seth was told to hate you."

"Come now, Nana, we were only kidding around," Ness pleaded.

"I know, but still…" Esme's last word had all the guilt a mother could put into it. It was like she squeezed a dollop of guilt over a spoon and threw it in our mouths. "It is just I think you both need to be more appreciative of what you have here, because who knows, um, how long it will last."

I knew what Esme meant. Ness didn't so I brought her up to speed on Mrs. Stanley's comment. The mood in the kitchen became somber. Even Ness, the rambunctious and perpetually joyous, felt it too. The last person I wanted to see come through the window at that moment was of course none other than Jasper. He flew off the outside tree and into the kitchen. Immediately, he felt the sadness emanating from all three of us and took it as his own. Damn sponge!

"Whoa, why so glum, family?" he asked.

"Have you checked your phone?" I eyed him cautiously.

"Uh, got destroyed in the woods today. I took down a buck, but his antlers took out my phone in revenge." Jasper pointed to a hole in his jeans pocket.

"Better not let Alice see that," Ness cautioned.

From across the house, Alice responded for Jasper. "Already did. Jazz, I have something for you."

Even I didn't need to be a sponge to know what that meant. I rolled my eyes in disgust when some vision of Jasper doing a striptease routine for Alice took over my brain. "Yeah, ew," I said involuntarily.

"Gotta go, ladies and gentleman." Jasper took a bow and was off to his wife.

I dropped the Venison Parm into the oven and as if on cue, I heard Jake's Rabbit scurry up the winding driveway. How that thing had survived all these years, I'll never know. The sound of the Rabbit hit Ness's ears and her eyes lighted up like two suns. She didn't get up to greet him, which surprised me. Jake shut off his car and that was when I heard the slightly faster than a normal human heartbeat of the shapeshifter known as Jake Black. His heart would putter faster as the proximity between his imprint and him decreased. I smiled inwardly over how they orbited each other's universe.

I was also glad they decided to take it really slow too. I mean part of me was the horny teenager that I was frozen as so I could completely understand all the urges swirling through each of their bodies. On the flip side however, I became the overbearing and protective uncle who took his orders from the ultimate-overbearing and protective father. I, like the father, didn't understand what the rush was about! The two parts of me have tangoed over the years but in light of Ness's full maturity, I was attempting to lessen my protectiveness.

Jake popped into the kitchen and grabbed Ness into a hug. He chastely kissed her cheek, to which I approved. I checked the oven and asked Jake if he was hungry.

"I ate dinner with the Swan's tonight, but sure man, smells good!" Jake rubbed his stomach. "You know I'm always hungry and when you and Esme get cooking in the kitchen, watch out! Oh by the way, Seth's coming over for that conversation you mentioned in your text."

I gritted my teeth, which didn't go unnoticed by Esme.

"Logan, will you help me get some ingredients from the pantry?"

I rolled my eyes at Jake and Ness because of how obvious Esme was being. I followed her to the side of the kitchen nonetheless.

"I don't understand why you don't want Seth here," Esme stated.

"It's just, I don't want to leave because he's my best friend. The wolves and our family make up a larger interwoven family. I just don't want Seth here because I know the conversation we are going to have is going to be a shock. Imagine: 'we're leaving and we can't come back until you are all dead.' What a great conversation!" I spat.

"It isn't like you can't visit!" Esme rationalized.

The thought of visiting warmed my silent heart, but I knew that the risk inherent in being seen here as the years go by would increase even at La Push. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter now does it. Seth's probably on his way anyways," I said as I grabbed some red pepper flakes from the pantry.

Jake and Ness destroyed the venison. I broke a wooden spoon over Jake's wrist when he went for fourths. "Save some for Seth or so help me…"

"Chill out, psycho," Jake cradled his hand to his chest.

"Please, if you want to cradle that wrist for real, I'll use the cast iron skillet," I threatened.

Jake laughed at my threat.

Carlisle waltzed through the door at 7:30 on the dot. The rest of the family had taken seats in the living room. Each couple had perched themselves near their other half. I nestled myself into Emmett's side and he threw an arm over me.

Carlisle was about to start, but stopped when we collectively heard a motorcycle turn up the long winding driveway. That would be Seth. I groaned internally as he barreled through the door and apologized for being late. It wouldn't be Seth Clearwater if he weren't late. Before he took a seat at Edward's piano he gave me a quick fist bump.

"Sup, Logan?" he asked.

A quick nod was all I had to give in return.

Carlisle reacquired the attention of the room and began The Conversation. "As many of you know already," he glanced at Esme and me. "And for others who do not, our presence here is beginning to attract an unacceptable amount of attention."

A collective groan circulated the room.

"I know, I know," Carlisle crooned. "I don't want to talk about it either, but the reality is that we must."

"Talk about what?" asked Seth. No one moved, but Carlisle.

"We have to discuss where we are to move to next, Seth. We have stayed in Forks for much longer than we might otherwise would. But now people are beginning to question our appearances, which leads me to suggest moving. We occupy an awkward precipice here and we get closer to the edge the longer we are here." When nobody responded, Carlisle concluded, "I will take it that no one disagrees so the question remains where should we move?"

"What do you mean?" Seth asked.

I looked over to him and caught his gaze. "Seth, you see me, Emmett, and all of us everyday so of course we're not going to look any different. But for others who may see us once or twice month like Jessica Stanley's mom, they notice that we are indeed not changing, that poses a problem." I turned to Carlisle. "If no other law, we must abide by one: keep the secret."

"Logan is right," Edward added. "I'm sorry Seth, but we must go. The sooner the better."

"I'm going too," Jake said. "I knew one day this would come. I spoke about it with my father years ago and he agrees it might be a good idea if I go as well because I'm not aging either." Jake looked at his Imprint and smiled.

"Well, if you're going, then I'm going," Seth announced.

I couldn't control my mouth if I wanted to. "Really?"

"Don't sound so surprised, buddy. I mean I'm not exactly aging myself and it isn't like it was in the old days when an old man was allowed to look like a eighteen year old and get away with it."

Jake looked concerned. I knew what it was about. "What about the pack, Seth?" I asked.

"Well, that would have to rest on the Alpha's decision and if he'll let me go. I mean—we do have a huge pack already because of the, um, vicinity to you all, no insult intended." Seth treaded lightly. We all knew that our proximity to the tribe triggered the shape-shifting gene, but no one expressed animosity to us over it. "I guess what I'm saying or rather asking is can I come? I would like to see what life has in store. My Mom has already pushed me to get out of the house."

"Yeah, you need to get your own place. Pushing 26 are we?" I asked.

"How about I just move in with you," Seth replied.

"And the bromance continues," Emmett laughs.

"Jealous?" Seth retorted. He could be so perceptive.

Emmett looked miffed. A kiss on his cheek took the pouty look from his face though.

"I am sure we can find a suitable out of the way town to move to. Perhaps upstate New York again?" Carlisle suggested.

Rosalie growled. She had little interest in returning to any location near Rochester, New York. Almost eighty years later, I could tell the wounds were still fresh.

"Across the country?" Jake asked. "Could we do something a little closer to home? If not for the pack, then for my Dad and Bella's? They aren't getting any younger."

Bella grimaced, but Jasper was unconvinced.

"It would give our alias a chance to cool down if we were to vacate to the east," Jasper informed. He was always the best tactician even if he did receive his training during the Civil War.

Esme shifted slightly and smiled to herself.

"That is a wonderful idea, Esme," Edward said. "Would you care to elaborate?"

Esme grinned at the room. "About fifty years ago, Carlisle and I were vacationing in the northeast. The fall colors are absolutely breathtaking. We were up in Maine exploring the coast when we came upon this old Victorian house. It was empty and Carlisle and I stayed there for a week.

"It was right on the coast near Bar Harbor in the Acadia National Park. Oh, it was beautiful. The fall colors contrasted so perfectly with the blue waves crashing at the rocky beach. We would walk on that beach every morning and watch the sea crabs run about. Oh, it was a magical time. So peaceful.

"After we left, Carlisle surprised me with the deed to the house and property. Turns out it was a summer home of one of the big Texan oil tycoons of the early twentieth century. The property was owned privately before the national park was created so there could be no further development outside the property lines. So, no neighbors," Esme boasted.

Jasper was the first to inject his thoughts. "No neighbors means smaller risk of uninvited guests."

"But Bar Harbor is on an island," Bella noted. "We'll have to go to the mainland to hunt. I'm sure the locals would know the decrease of wildlife on the island."

Jasper nodded. "But the island isn't too big and rural Maine is similar to here and has an abundance of wildlife. Upstate New York would have slimmer pickins' than Maine."

I looked around the room and saw a consensus forming. The only two that looked weary were Seth and Jake. I could empathize with their situation: Duty to protect their tribe and be close to their family versus going off into the unknown with us.

Edward noticed Seth and Jake's worry in the more literal sense and attempted to give them some comfort. "Do not worry, I'm sure we can set up something so that you two can hop on the next flight to Washington at the spur of the moment. It won't be a problem to fly your families out to Maine either—for the holidays or whatever. They will always be welcome wherever we are."

Jake nodded and Seth's smile returned.

Carlisle took one last look at each one of us in order to root out any discontent with the possibility. Seeing none, he announced, "We'll be moving to Maine then."

A few hours later, Emmett and I jumped out of the woods and onto a secluded strip of the beach outside of La Push. I was reminded of when Sue Clearwater told me of the Tribal Council's decision to allow my family to use the beach whenever we wanted. In exchange, we offered to run patrols around the Reservation ever so often so the wolves could get rest or engage in other activities. I assisted Seth on his every patrol. Only once did we have any trouble, a nomad about three years ago.

Seth about died when the nomad got his clutches around Seth's neck. Thankfully, the nomad was too distracted by an open wound on Seth's leg and the blood that was gushing from it to sense my approach. I quickly dispatched the nomad with my ability. Those who voiced opposition to the treaty change were silenced that day. The fact that I didn't attack Seth because of his open wound also helped matters. Few knew what really stopped me from killing Seth myself though. I almost died myself. Recently, I had become acutely aware of the limits of my telekinetic ability, but these were thoughts I didn't want to endure right now. It would take me away from this moment.

"Beautiful night," Emmett said, which broke me out of my reverie. The clouds swirled around and the wind smelled of salt. A storm was about to break over the horizon and wash over this area. I was looking forward to the lightening. I could already hear the thunder in the distance. It was growing in decibels and approaching fast.

"That is because I have you hear—with me—alone." I hopped onto Emmett's shoulders.

"I like being here, in between your legs that is." Emmett could take a beautiful moment and make it dirty in about 0.3 seconds.

"Oh really?" I responded. "What about this position?" I hopped off his shoulders but pulled his hands down upon me as I fell into the sand. He pinned me to the sand with his titanium-reinforced body.

"Little Emmett like."

"Oh my God, seriously?" I yelled.