Leah Clearwater : Fire, redemption and salvation

by RuthS

Leah Clearwater is left without a happy ending at the end of Breaking Dawn. This is a story about how she might have found happiness. She must endure despair and fire before she can make a new life for herself and in the process find her true love.

3. Part 1 Chapter 3 Fire

All Twilight characters and storyline belong to Stephanie Meyers

Leah Clearwater: Fire, Redemption and Salvation

Part 1 Chapter 3 – Fire

At first I slept soundly then the dreams started, different this time. There was still the burning in agony but this time I could see my father in the flames and he was shouting at me. What he was shouting at me I could not hear above the roar of the flames but he looked desperate to tell me something but what ? At last the burning faded and once again I was on the moonlit plain, only this time there was a road by me, stretching into the distance, white in the moonlight. There was a tall dark stranger and music, we were dancing to the music, an old fashioned type of dance and I danced as if my life depended on it. I pinched myself awake to escape the nightmare.

I woke to the smell of frying and a cheerful whistling. I uncurled and stretched my legs, trying to shake off the dreams. Tall dark strangers, whatever next ! Must be a throw back to an old Sunday afternoon B movie. I poked my head out of the tent to find Jacob frying up breakfast on the primos stove, "Hey there she is, come and get it." And with that he emptied the contents of the frying pan onto a plate and handed it over to me. Eggs, mushrooms, cheese , ham, tomatoes all mixed in together and smelling so good. My tummy growled in appreciation. Jacob laughed and handed me a carton of milk.

"Well sleepy head how are you feeling this morning ."

I stretched and flexed my muscles, "All's good in the 'hood. Is there a plan for the day ?"

"Sort of, apparently they spent all night arguing about you and could not reach a consensus so there are three basic plans, Jasper, Rose and Carlisle's. It's best if they explain them to you themselves."

As we finished breakfast Edward, Bella and Nessie walk across the lawn together. "Good morning Leah", says Bella, who must be the spokesperson. Nessie hid behind her mum and peeked out at me as if I am some kind of dangerous wolf. I smile politely, "Good morning Bella, Good morning Edward, Good morning Renesmee."

Bella smiles at my using Nessie's full name. "Good morning Leah, are you feeling better ?" asks Nessie in her clear high pitched voice. I'm honoured, normally she does not bother speaking, preferring instead her gift of vision through touch. "I do feel better thank you Renesmee, Jacob makes a wonderful breakfast, would you like to try some ?" She makes a face and Jacob laughs.

"Renesmee can you stay with Jacob while your father and I walk with Leah." says Bella, offering me her arm. How very old fashioned, must be Edward's influence. "You can always play wash up." Both Jacob and Nessie laugh as we walk away.

"Thank you for telling us your story last night. It was very moving and provoked much discussion. We, Carlisle and Esme want to help you and would like you to stay with us for as long as you need. "

"I thought you were moving to New Hampshire?"

"Yes, we are leaving later today after we have said goodbye to my father and our offer is for you to come with us. You are practically family and well I would like us to be friends, sisters."

Shocked I glanced at Edward, "Whatever Bella wants." He said quietly.

"We all feel that you have great potential and while you think of yourself as excluded from normal people, your own people and us, we actually see you as being a part of each, a bridge between all our worlds."

I looked at her sceptically and she turned to face me. "Carlisle and Esme will talk to you later, they are staying until you make your decision, whether you come with us or stay here. Whatever you decide is fine for us, I just want you to know that our door will always be open for you."

Jasper appeared and walked to the centre of the lawn beckoning me over. Bella sighed, "Jasper and Rosalie have rather different views, Jasper thinks you just need a good workout, get it all off your chest as it were. Said it's worked for him in the past." I heard Edward chuckle and figured he was with Jasper more than Bella on this one.

They walked off to the porch where the others were gathered to watch. I noticed that Jacob had phased and was watching me intently. I turned towards Jasper uneasily, what was he up to ? "Good morning Miss Clearwater, how are you feeling this morning ?"

"OK I guess."

"Good, I've been thinking about you and it seems to me a waste to see so much potential languish." He watched me carefully "I think you need a good work out, get rid of some of that petty angst."

"and if I don't want a work out ?"

He started walking round me "Surely you would like to take me on wolf girl, you hate us remember, you blame us for everything that's gone wrong on you, so here's your chance to take it out on me."

I growled defiantly and I felt my anger rising.

"That's better, go on tag me if you can" like lightning he danced in, punched me on my shoulder and danced out again.

"Oww that hurt you idiot". Anger rose in me and I spun to defend myself.

He grinned and shifted position, the next moment I was flying through the air upside down and landed on my back.

"Too easy", he mocked me," come on you can do better than that." Anger rose in me again, possibly he was altering my emotional state but there was nothing I could do about that. I rolled over and staggered to my feet, this time I saw his move and spun out of his lunge but he rolled grabbed me by legs and spun me up into the air.

I twisted and turned ready for my landing, only to land in the river !

That did it, now I was really mad, mad at the lot of them. I phased as I crawled out of the river, shaking the water and mud off my fur and stalking up the lawn.

about bloody time Leah, I've been waiting for you to phase !

you can piss off too.

Jacob chucked, now we get to see how good he really is, remember the moves he taught us for the new borns, and he played back his memories of Jasper teaching the other Cullen's how to fight. He wont bite you so don't bike back, just play tag.

I watched Jasper carefully, watching the way he moved his weight, and lunged. He parried and spun me round.

I dug in my claws and sprang again, feeling him somersault over me as I arched my back and spun again, twisting and turning as fast as I could but he was so fast it was impossible to tag him.

I made a mistake, stumbled and he grabbed my hind legs, hurling me into the air, onto one of the huge cedar trees.

I'm not a bloody ape I thought as I fell through the branches desperately trying to grab something.

Focus Leah thought Jacob you can do this.

I dug my claws into a branch, used my tail as a counterbalance and leapt down the tree branch by branch like a cat, going faster and faster as my confidence grew and the branches got thicker. I shot out from under the tree straight at Jasper.

Our figures blurred with speed and I felt Seth's voice in my head encouraging me to go faster faster.

I caught Jasper on his side and he staggered back. I lunged forward but he was faking, in a flash he was over my back, grabbed my back legs and I was airborne. I twisted and turned only to land in the river AGAIN.

I was beyond mad now as I crawled out of the river. Jasper stood there grinning, beckoning me on. As I shook out my fur a distant memory surfaced, one of my father's stories about our legends, of the time before we became wolves, when we could influence the animal spirits around us. I paused at the edge of the lawn and let my mind reach out.

I could feel the little insects in the lawn, the bigger insects in the bushes beyond the lawn, the pigeons on the branches of the cedars and at the top of one of the cedars, a hawk watching the pigeons. This had possibilities.

I reached out to the hawk and saw the lawn through her eyes, the wolf by the river, the creature in the middle of the lawn, the hawk was fearful of that creature but we could work together. We dived off the tree soundlessly, as I sprang across the lawn digging my claws in for maximum grip as I hurtled straight at Jasper, who posed as a matador and waved me on. We screamed in terror and broke away but the scream was enough to distract Jasper as I lunged. He moved so fast, his understanding so quick, but I still caught him in his ribs as he twisted.

Ahhh it was like running straight into a brick wall. My neck and shoulders ached in agony and I sat back on my haunches my vision blurred.

As my vision cleared I saw Jacob in front of me, growling, his back to Jasper.

Traiter

Leah he snarled, back off

As I backed off I saw Alice and Carlisle with Jasper, a good 30 feet away lying on the ground. Hah serves him right I thought.

How did you do that

Do what ?

Take him out like that !

I blinked but before I could answer a Barbie doll's voice laughed right behind me. "That will teach him not to under estimate you wolfie, but I will not make the same mistake."

I spun snarling to face a grinning Rosalie. "I heard you think you are fast, well catch me if you can !"

And with that she was off like a shot from a gun.

Go Leah go, yelled Jacob in my head, I'll be right behind you.

I launched myself after Rosalie, slowed by the river then building up to full speed in the woods. I was on her trial, her scent clear ahead of me. I could feel Jacob's presence behind me urging me on ever faster. I concentrated on speed, on stretching myself further and faster. I might have been the fastest wolf in the two packs but Rosalie was just as fast, sprinting through the forest, heading for the mountains. We left Jacob behind us even though I feel him racing as fast as he could.

The ground grew more and more undulating but that did not slow Rosalie who seemed as adapt racing through the trees as along the ground and I fell back a little but picked that up again as the ground levelled off below a steep rock cliff. My stride faltered as I realised that Rosalie was heading straight for the rock face, but I was going to go wherever she was going to go and I charged on. She seemed to slow a little, letting me catch up to within a few paces then as approached the rock face she took a long stride and jumped upwards. I skidded round watching her plant both feet on the rock face and using it like a giant trampoline to spring herself back over my head showering me with rock fragments and laughing as she went. I dug furiously with my claws but the rocky ground gave little traction and I slid sideways into the rock face. Oshhh that hurt, as all the wind was knocked out of me. Leah are you OK ?

Yeah I'm OK, or I will be in a minute when I've had a chance to recover.

What happened ?

Rosalie and I played chicken with a rock wall and I lost.

Rosalie reappeared watching me warily. I growled and tried to move, my front legs were Ok but my back legs, well they weren't working right although it didn't feel like I had actually broken anything.

"Let me know when you have recovered and a straight race back to the house. Then everyone will see who is the fastest, OK ?" asked Rosalie.

I nodded and lay down, stretching my back and legs to help my body recover.

Jacob arrived panting. Hey kiddo, how r u doing ?

I'll live, Barbie wants to race me back to the house when I am back on my feet !

Why ?

How the hell do I know ? says she wants everyone to see whose fastest, but what's she trying to prove ?

I pulled myself to my feet and took a couple of steps to make sure everything was working again. There was still pain in my back legs but I feeling much better. My stomach growled, all this exercise and healing must really be burning the calories !

Rosalie tilted her head, "Ready ?" and with that she was off again flat out down the hillside.

I groaned and went after her with Jacob shouting encouragement in my head. I heard other wolf voices shouting encouragement as well.

Once we were clear of the mountains I opened right up almost flying through the air and with a last burst and a long long leap cleared the river in one bound. Exalted I spun round to watch Rosalie casually leap the river and walk up the lawn.

"Clearwater you are the fastest thing on 4 legs that I have ever seen. You win. As you are the one who is naked and stinking of river mud, your prize is that you get to shower and clean up in my bathroom and you can have any of the clothes in my closet."

"Noooo shouted Emmett, she will stink out our bathroom ,and our bedroom !"

"She won fair and square Emmett." and carried on walking straight past me to the house. Turning at the front door she grinned at me "come on then !" and went into the house.

I looked round bemused, trying to get my breath back. Jacob was just coming into view, his tongue hanging out and panting, a happy grin on his face, Emmett was on the porch scowling, next to Carlisle and Esme who were watching me cautiously, waiting to see if I would do. Go on Leah, take her up on her offer urged Jacob. Well why not, could be fun trashing their bathroom !

I paced forwards and realised that I was not going to be able to open the front door as a wolf. I sighed and phased back, opening the front door to a long wolf whistle from Emmett. Oh well every wolf in the pack had seen me naked at one time or another. I followed Rosalie's scent upstairs and through the door of her bedroom, where I hesitated. Rosalie was sitting on a window seat gazing out of the open window into the distance, she waved me towards where I presumed their bathroom was.

Their shower was large, hot and just what I needed after two landings in the river, one collision with Jasper and one collision with a rock wall. I felt myself relaxing and had to remind myself that I should be hating this, hating them. Reluctantly I switched off the shower, wrapped myself in a towel and walked back into the bedroom. Rosalie was still sitting in the window seat, still looking out of the window.

"Errr thanks, how is Jasper ?"

"He's alright, it takes more than that to injure one of us. Actually he's better than alright, keeps saying that he knew you had talent. Alice was very upset though, he had to persuade her not to shred you to pieces."

I shuddered, fighting Alice would be a whole different proposition to playing tag with Jasper.

"Jasper persuaded her to calm down as you had only done what he had asked. She relented but insisted that they leave. It's been driving her mental not being able to predict our future with you around and she has never seen Jasper laid out like that before, it really scared her."

"They are leaving because of me ?" I remembered Alice's phone call to Carlisle when we were at my mum's.

"They have already left"

She beckoned me over to sit next to her.

"When Carlisle changed me I was mad at him, at the others, at the world, at everything. Carlisle let me take my revenge on the men who assaulted me and left me for dead, but that did not ease the ache, or the sorrow. Then I found Emmett and he changed my life, saved me from myself."

"I like Emmett." I said, "He's like the big brother I never had".

She turned to face me, her face shining in the morning light. "He likes you too, he was proud of you for taking out Jasper, he and Jacob bet Jasper that you could do it. I thought he over estimated you but I was wrong about that."

I grinned, "My life would be a lot happier if I had someone like Emmett to share it with."

"I carried him over a hundred miles for Carlisle to save, 100 miles with the scent of his blood in my throat. I don't believe you are ready to do that."

Facing me now she continued. "l don't believe that you have ever had to struggle for anything Leah Clearwater and until you can you are not worthy of an Emmett."

She gestured in the direction of her closet, "Take your pick."

"Thanks, but we are not really the same size and I do have clean clothes in my tent."

"OK, whatever you prefer. Get dressed and we will go into town, there is something I want to show you."

With that she slid off the window seat and walked out of the bedroom. I followed, still wrapped in a towel. Carlisle and Esme were deep in conversation with Jacob. Emmett looked up and wolf whistled again.

I growled "In your dreams cub"

He chuckled "You looked better without a towel pup."

At the tent I grabbed some clean clothes and hung the towel on a branch. She looked at my shorts and tank top and made a face, "ready to go out ?" she asked.

I grinned "I guess so."

She sighed and led me to their garage. "You can drive, pick the vehicle of your choice !"

I gazed along the line of high performance autos, the big Mercedes, the shiny Volvo, the flashy BMW convertible, the mean looking Aston Martin and what looked like something fast and red at the far end, but the one that caught my eye, the only one for me was the Jeep. Big, powerful, go anywhere, it made the others look like toys and reminded me of Emmett. Rosalie saw me looking at the Jeep and sighed yet again, "Emmett is going to kill me, but the keys are in the ignition."

"Really, you mean really I can drive this", my voice moved up an octave. There was a growl from outside, Emmett had overheard our conversation.

"You are coming too Emmett." said Rosalie as we jumped in. I adjusted the seat and switched on the ignition as Rosalie bleeped the garage doors open. I felt the thump as Emmett landed in the back and twitched as he whispered in my ear. "Not one scratch pup".

I laughed and hit the throttle, we roared out of the garage and spun towards the driveway spraying gravel everywhere. The jeep was amazing, a joy to drive and Emmett need not have worried, I had no wish to scratch this baby.

We cruised into Port Angeles under a dull gloomy autumn day. Looked like it was going to rain any time now. Rosalie directed me to a parking bay on the broad walk. The town was bustling, people shopping, going to meetings, going to the docks, going about their normal everyday lives.

I turned to Emmett. "Thank you."

He looked surprised. "Thank you for believing I could beat Jasper." He chuckled and I grinned. "and thank you for letting me drive your Jeep."

"That's OK pup but don't do it again." We laughed

"Enough" hissed Rosalie.

I shrank back from her ferocious glare. "So why have you brought me here ?"

Rosalie composed herself, "Well if you are going to find your own Emmett to play stupid games with then it might help to have a plan. Look at all these people and there's billions of them on this planet."

"I don't know, I haven't thought about it."

"I can see that, so start thinking now !

I looked out the window at the stream of people walking by and remembered my dream the previous night. "Tall dark stranger, good dancer."

Rosalie scoffed, "So Mills and Boon, can you not be more original than that !"

"I got one, I got one." Emmett bounced up and down in excitement rocking the whole Jeep. Rosalie and I looked round but I could not see what he was getting so excited about. I heard Rosalie giggle, "Where ?" I asked.

"She's right there, dancing down the street to the music that's playing on her headphones."

She must have caught sight of us staring as she blushed, pulled her headphones off and darted into a shop.

I sank into my seat dropping my head until it rested on the steering wheel.

"You didn't say man or woman." Laughed Emmett and ruffled my hair again.

I just moaned, "Noo, not a woman."

Emmett stopped laughing and the Jeep was quiet. After a few moments he spoke in a much softer voice, "Why's that Leah ?"

I took a deep breath and sat up, looking straight ahead. "Ever since I first phased I have had to live with the thoughts of the other wolves, their thoughts of the women around them, their fantasies and as they imprinted, their feelings, their hugs, their kisses, their sex. It was awful, there was no escape. At least when I joined Jacob's pack I only had to deal with Seth's thoughts about women, but I still have nightmares about women."

"Edward could help you with that, he has a similar problem with hearing other people's thoughts, whether he wants to or not. Took him years to get the hang of ignoring them."

Rosalie asked, "What sort of nightmares Leah ?"

I leaned my head back against the head rest and closed my eyes, tears were forming. The Jeep was quiet again as they waited for me to speak. In the end the silence was too much for me. "Maybe I wont have a choice."

I tried to explain "Look every wolf that has imprinted so far has imprinted on a woman. I'm a wolf so does that mean that I will imprint on a woman even if I don't want to ?"

"Hmmm, interesting thought" murmured Rosalie, "But if Jacob is like a big brother to Nessie then perhaps you would be a big sister if you did imprint on a woman."

"Maybe." I agreed, but it's a reason why I'm not so keen on going looking for my Emmett, I might find his sister instead."

Emmett laughed, "That would be different !"

Rosalie smiled, "Hey,the right person is the right person, doesn't matter who or what they are. So let's be positive. Hobbies ?"

I wiped my eyes, "Outdoors life, hiking, camping, hunting that kind of thing."

"Education ?"

I made a face, "I never even finished school so that's not an issue."

"Emmett had a degree in Geography and a master's in Geology before I met him so you might want to rethink that."

"Really ! and since he's met you ?"

"Post grad psychology and sociology."

"Wow Emmett" I said turning to him "I would never have guessed." He pulled a face and I giggled. "so have you been psychoanalysing me ?"

"Of course, that's why Emmett bet you would take Jasper this morning."

"Really !"

"Aww Rosalie, you spoilt the game !"

Rosalie changed the subject, "Why don't you just go college somewhere like Washington state, you could still have gone home holidays if you had wanted. That would have got you out of La Push and away from the pack."

"I thought of that, but I was afraid, afraid that if I tried to suppress the wolf in me then it would jump out if I got angry or stressed. I might expose the pack secret, or worse hurt someone."

"How would your mum feel if you moved to New Hampshire with us ?"

I was surprised by her suggestion, the same one Bella had made.

"I thought you didn't like me !"

"I don't but Emmett likes you and we could teach you how to control your emotions, keep an eye on you until you were able to strike out on your own. The sooner the better."

"I don't know how mum would feel about that, she would want whatever is best for me but it's such a long way."

"Right, drive to your mum's, drop Emmett and I off at the end of our driveway and you bring the Jeep back later."

"I don't know where my mum is, she might be at Charlie's house."

Rosalie's hand had a phone in it. "Call her."

Mum was at Charlie's house and said to come right on over. It was a quiet drive back to Forks, I simply concentrated on my driving, trying not to think of leaving. When I dropped them off Emmett just said to take care of his Jeep and they were gone.

When I got to Charlie's house mum was surprised to see the Jeep but over the moon to see me and wanted to know how I was and what I had been doing. She had made sandwiches and cakes, guessing that I would be hungry, as we ate I briefly told her about my storytelling, playing tag with Jasper this morning and the drive to Port Angeles. "Mum, there are a couple of things I need your advice on,"

She settled back in her chair and waited for me to continue.

"They have invited me to go stay with them in New Hampshire."

"How do you feel about that Leah ?"

"It's not what I planned, but I didn't really have anything planned and maybe it would work out."

"Then you should go."

"But mum I don't want to leave you !"
"Leah, I have Charlie and Seth to look after me, or perhaps me to look after them !" Just stay in touch, let me know what you are doing and that you are safe."

"I don't know how long I will be away for, all I know is that they are moving soon, today even."

"So soon !" she pursed her lips, "Well come and see us before you go, to say a proper goodbye."

"Yep sure."

The door burst open and in flew Seth.

"LEAH you were amazing, you totalled him, how did you do it ? Both packs are over the moon. Mum, any food ?

I rolled my eyes and mum laughed. "Help yourself to whatever's left."

"Actually mum that was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about."

Seth sat down next to mum, with a heaped plate."

"Tag with Jasper wasn't going too well. He threw me into a tree, can you believe it ! And he threw me in the river TWICE. The second time I was beyond mad at him. Mum I swear I heard dad's voice, the voice he used to use when he was telling us the old legends round the camp fire. It was the time before we were wolves, when we could reach out to all the animals around us."

Seth stopped eating.

"Well I reached out, found a hawk at the top of one of their trees. I forced her to swoop down at Jasper at the same time as I charged him. Her shriek of fear distracted him just enough for me to catch him full on. I feel awful mum, I put her life at risk just to play tag with Jasper."

Seth spoke first, "Wow you talked to a hawk !"

Mum was more measured, "Why was the hawk in danger ?"

"If I had got my timing wrong Jasper could have killed her before turning back to me and her death would have been my fault."

"Then you should go find her, apologise and make sure she is OK."

Seth choked, "Apologise, to a hawk !"

Mum turned to him, "Son you have much to learn about the ways of the spirit world. Leah is quite right to be concerned. " and she smiled at me. "Also Leah tells me she is moving to New Hampshire with the Cullen's."

Seth's jaw dropped, not a pretty sight as his mouth was full of half chewed food.

"But you hate them."

"I like Emmett and it was never personal, more an abstract hate. Consequences of their actions, so maybe it will work out OK. Speaking of which I had better get back to them and find out what's going on. Seth, you want a ride ?"

"Errr I wish, but Jacob said to meet him at his dad's", he's calling in to say goodbye before he leaves with Edward, Bella and Nessie."

"OK, mum catch you later."

She waved from the porch as I backed the Jeep onto the road and drove off.

When I got to the Cullen's there were a couple of trailer vans parked up in the driveway. Must have been a challenge to get them down the lane, but already they were half loaded, I could see the grand piano safely strapped down and covered with wrapping.

Esme came out as I stopped and walked over to me.

"How was your mum ?"

"She's OK, said I should go with you. All she asked was that I stay in touch. How do you feel about this, my coming with you ?"

"It will be a pleasure to have you stay with us. I hope I will get to spend more time with you. Today has been rather busy and as you can see the packing is not yet finished."

"Is there anything I can do to help ?"

She looked surprised, "Why thank you Leah, yes I would like that." And we spent the rest of the afternoon working with the haulage guys packing up everything that was not nailed down and even some things that had to be un-nailed.

Twilight, probably the best time of day for creatures like us, packing done, trailers escorted to the highway. All that was left was their Mercedes, Jasper's Jeep, my tent and the shell of a house. We stood in silence as darkness fell, Carlisle, Esme and I. All the others gone.

"What are you going to do with the house?" I asked

"Joiners are coming out in the morning to board it up." Replied Carlisle.

"Sounds like you plan to come back"

"We will wait until no one remembers us, that is our fate, to always be on the move, one house to the next so as not to draw attention to ourselves."

"If you come back you will create a whole new generation of wolves."

"Maybe, or maybe the genes will die out."

"As long as this house stands the pack will not relax. You are too closely bonded to this house, to much has happened here."

"Humans forget."

"We don't, we tell our legends to our children, to our children's children, we keep our memories alive."

Esme spoke up, "What do you suggest ?"

I knew then what I must ask them, even if it cost me their offer of a new life in New Hampshire.

"Ideally, take it down and grass over, let nature take back this place."

Carlisle took Esme into his arms and whispered, "It's our home."

"I know and I am sorry. I only ask this so that there is never another one like me, who has to go through what I have been through."

"Esme ?"

It sounded like Esme would be crying if she could, "My beautiful house."

"We can build again."

I waited for a few moments. "If you build again it needs to be far enough away that you do not trigger any more explosion of wolves."

Carlisle sighed. "How about outside the Olympic peninsula ?"

"That should be OK, we never patrolled that far out."

"Then I have a proposal for you Leah Clearwater, you can have our house and we will not rebuild on the Olympic peninsula as long as you agree to dedicate your life to helping others and be part of our family, a bridge between vampires, wolves and humans."

I gulped and looked back at the house. Was a building really that important ? Was I overdoing this ? I closed my eyes in contemplation and I knew my answer.

I nodded and reached out my hand to shake Carlisle's cold hand. Esme hugged me, her cold stone arms wrapped around my chest and I hugged her back, ignoring her vampire smell.

"Esme, we should be going and Leah you need to say goodbye to your mum and Seth. In the Jeep is the address of our house in New Hampshire, a cell phone and a family charge card to pay for fuel and any expenses. If you keep up a steady pace you should reach us within 5 days."

Esme pulled back from me. "Leah, I don't want the house knocked down by a stranger. After we have gone, would you set fire to it and arrange for the remains to be grassed over ?"

I stared at her in disbelief. "You want me to burn your house down ?"
She winced but nodded. Carlisle spoke up. "You will understand Leah, in time. For now would you do this for us."

I nodded and Esme quickly kissed me on the cheek and they were gone.

I slumped against Jasper's Jeep, lost in thought. I heard a voice, she was calling me. I lifted my head in time to see a shadow flitter across the lawn. She flew to a branch near the Jeep and eyed me intently. I reached out with my mind and we were together again.

I'm sorry little one, are you OK ?

Good, the evil ones have gone now and will not be back. Tonight I am to burn this house down so stay well away but from tomorrow this will be your land and you can hunt in peace.

Go now, thank you

As I pulled back she was gone and I smiled, relieved to have made my peace with her.

In the garage I found a spare fuel canister for the Jeep and walked back to the house, where I poured the fuel over the ground floor and threw a match in. As I walked back to the garage I heard a Whump as the fuel ignited. I did the same at the garage and walked back to the Jeep where I pulled the cell phone out of the glove box and called mum.

"Hi mum, the Cullen's are having a going away bonfire, just burning old rubbish. Could you get hold of Charlie and ask him to make sure the fire services don't respond. As soon as I've finished here I will come over to crash for the night. Then I can set off in the morning with a clear head.""

Then I called Sam's house. "Hi Sam, sorry to disturb you but I am at the Cullen's house and I need help. Could you send a couple of the boys over ?" Sam was surprised and wanted details but I simply said it would be clear when they got here.

I put the phone back and sank to my knees in prayer. I asked the spirits of my ancestors to forgive me for what I had done and hoped that my father would understand. The flames shooting out of the house looked similar to the flames in my dreams, maybe I could even see my father's face. Was he happy ? proud ? sad ? I cried as I grieved for my father.

Quill and Embry found me kneeling there, they must have been on patrol, Sam was not far behind. As soon as he saw me he phased back and walked over. "Leah, you OK ?

I got back to my feet and faced him, a little unsteady. "Hi Sam, thanks for coming over so quickly." I glanced up at the flames. "I'm OK Sam, it's over now, they are gone and they are not coming back." I paused. "Better send one of the boys to the end of the drive and make sure no fire engine or nosy neighbour comes looking." Sam turned to Embry, who nodded and vanished into the darkness.

I continued "They have promised not to rebuild within the Olympic peninsula." Sam looked surprised but waited for me to continue."

"They would like the site cleared and grassed over. Could you arrange that with the council ?"

"I am sure we can sort something out but what about you Leah ?

I took a deep breath, "I am to go with them Sam, that was part of the deal." And gestured to Emmett's Jeep.

"How do you feel about that Leah ?"

"It's a new start from me Sam, I've spoken to my mum and she agrees, so I will leave in the morning as soon as I am packed."

"What about Bella and Edward's cottage ?"

I had forgotten about the cottage. "I don't know, I guess that they will keep that to visit her dad as long as he is living here. I will ask next time I see them and let you know. As long as they plan their visits in advance I don't see it as being a problem."

More wolves arrived, news had spread. When the roof caved in it got too hot to be this close to the fire and Sam suggested that it was time I went to my mum's, they would look after the fire and make sure it did not spread. As I drove out the Cullen's drive for the last time, I heard the wolves howl into the night in celebration. The Cullen's were gone and they were not coming back.