Chapter 4

Nessie and Jacob had put the children to bed hours ago. I had been sitting under my tree thinking about Jalie. If Carlisle was right her growth would double now that she had started to phase.

"It's happening tonight." I jumped when Alice spoke. I hadn't heard her walk up. "Sorry, I didn't mean to surprise you."

"I thought you said we had two more days," I could feel my body started to tremble the familiar warmth was moving up my back. I was already starting to phase.

"Stop that!" She sapped at me. "I said they will be here for us in two days. They will take Jacob tonight." I closed my eyes and worked on calming myself. I needed to get in touch with Sam and let him know that his pack needed to stay close to La Push. Alice didn't see any of the Volturi getting close to them but we didn't want to take any chances. I ran into the trees to phase and called the rest of the pack.

'What's up?' Leah was the first one to ask. She was Jacob's second in command and it was time for her to take over.

'It's happening tonight.' I told her.

'Go to the house and stay close to Jake.' She told me. 'The rest of us will spread out in the woods and wait.' I ran to the house and laid down out side. I heard Bella knock on Jake and Nessie's door. This was the excuse Jacob needed to leave the house this late. 'Here we go,' I told the others.

'Stick close but don't interfere,' she growled at me. I hope I can stand by and let this happen. 'You have to or he'll die.' She growled again.

'I know what I have to do Leah, that doesn't mean I have to like it.' I growled back.

"Come in," Jake called to Bella.

"Jake, did you remember to talk to Sam tonight?" She asked him.

"Man, I forgot," I heard him get out of bed. "I'll go talk to Sam and be right back, don't go anywhere." I could hear him go down the steps and out the door I was waiting next to the porch. "Let's go." He phased running through the yard not stopping to take off his shorts. I ran next to him until we were almost to the clearing Alice told us they would find him in. I slowed down.

'I can't go any farther or they'll find me.' I told him softly. We both stopped.

'Jake man,' Quil spoke for the first time. 'This really sucks; I can't believe we are going to do this.'

'Really Jake, isn't there another way?' Embry said.

'Shut up you guys.' Leah growled. 'You know if there was another way we would be doing it right now.' She focused her thoughts to Jacob. 'Keep your head and don't loose your temper. You know they will lie to you so don't believe anything they tell you.'

'I know,' Jake sounded defeated already. Being away from Nessie was already working on him. He walked to my side and nudged my shoulder. 'You remember what I told you?'

'Yeah Jake,' I told him. 'I'll have things covered with them.'

'Good.' He took a deep breath and walked away from me deeper into the forest. I lay on the ground and closed my eyes. I could see him going through the trees; I could fill the burn in my nose when he caught the scent of the vampires. He growled low in his chest as he was being surrounded; they had him in a circle. I felt the fire when Jane hit him with her gift. Jake collapsed to his belly.

"Hello again, dog." I could hear Jane speaking to him. "Where's Nessie?" I heard him growl. She hit him again. One of the guards got close enough to kick him in the side. I could feel the pain of ribs cracking.

'Why doesn't he fight back?' Embry whined.

'Shut up and stay out of his head right now.' Leah whispered.

"Jane?" I heard Demetri's voice. "I know we have to send him back alive but why do you get to have all the fun."

"Have your fun but don't kill him." She backed away to let Demetri closer.

"Where is your pretty wife, dog?" he had knelt down to get in Jacob's face. I could hear him growling louder. "How sweet she smelled the last time I was here." Jacob lunged at Demetri's throat, but Jane hit him again with her fire. Jake howled this time. I sank into the cold wet ground as far as I could trying to cool the burn. The fire finally went away. I could hear Jacob panting as he lay on the ground.

"Don't worry dog," Demetri stepped closer to Jacob again. "I'll keep her company once you're gone. I wonder if she will respond to my hands like she does your." Jacob got to his feet.

'Come on Jake,' Leah told him. 'Don't give him what he wants.'

'You know he'll never touch her.' Quil spoke next.

'I want to rip him apart.' Jacob growled at us, he was weak from pain.

"It might be just as fun if she doesn't," Demetri was handed a thick chain. "I have never had someone so warm that will be so strong. I think I would prefer her to fight me, it will be worth it when I sink my teeth in her neck and let my venom burn out the human in her." Jacob started to jump at him again but everything went black. He couldn't see or feel anything but he could still hear what was happening around him.

"Alec, why did you do that?" Demetri said laughing. "He was just starting to get fun."

"I hate to take away your fun," we could hear Alec speaking and chains rattling. "But a few more hits from anyone and he wasn't going to last the trip back and Master wants him alive." Alec laughed. "Goodbye dear sister, I'll be waiting at home for you."

"Do take care of my new pet, and don't forget to feed him." She let out a little giggle.

'I can't let them take him.' Embry started to run toward Jacob.

'Stop!' Leah reached him seconds later knocking him to the ground.

'Take care of my family.' Jacob got out before he went unconscious. We made it back to the house and told Edward that Jacob was gone.

"Mom wake up!" I heard Masen and Jalie say from inside the house a few hours later. "Where's Dad, Mom?" I hadn't been able to phase. I just paced along with the rest of our pack the rest of the night.

"I don't know." Nessie said.

"We haven't seen him this morning?" Masen and Jalie said together.

"Let's go find him," Nessie was speaking again. "Go get dressed and we'll see what everyone is doing this morning." Masen and Jalie ran down the porch stairs a few minutes later and climbed onto mine and Embry's backs. Leah and Quil had their noses to the ground.

"What is going on?" Nessie knew something wasn't right. Edward and Jasper were walking to her. She could see Bella's tearless crying as Esme held her. Edward spoke.

"They have Jacob." Edward caught Nessie before she hit the ground.

"Renesmee" Edward brushed her hair from her face. "Nessie, wake up." He was worried. I ran around the house to phase and was back to her side before she could wake up.

"She can hear you," Alice told him. "She will open her eyes soon."

"Nessie," I called her name as I knelt beside her.

"Jake," Her eyes flew open and look at me. Jalie hung onto my arm, Masen was peeking around Edward.

'Mom?' I heard in a double voice. 'Mom are you okay?' She looked around at the guilty faces of her family.

"Alice how long have you known?" She growled at her.

"Nessie, I'm sorry. They wouldn't let me tell you." Alice came to Nessie's side.

"They wouldn't let you tell me?" She looked at all of us again.

"Esme," Carlisle was talking now, she turned to look at him. "Take the children inside please." Nessie stood up and started to back away from everyone. Jalie wouldn't let go of my hand so I followed Esme inside. I went to the window and felt the Masen take my other hand.

"It's not what you're thinking," Edward was telling her. She was still backing away. "He is alive."

"You knew and you didn't stop them," She growled again.

"He told us not to." If Jasper was trying to clam her down she was fighting it.

"I don't believe you." She said shaking hear head.

"Alice saw him there," Edward said while he moved closer to her. The wolves had moved behind her.

"Why didn't we stop them?" She asked. Jasper's affect was beginning to work she sounded calmer.

"Jacob would have died protecting you," Jasper explained. "He is alive. Alec has him blinded but he can still hear what is going on around him. The wolves can still hear him."

"When are we leaving?" None of them would look at her. "I'm not letting him stay there. I'll go alone if I have to." She was backing to the garage Jacob was right about her trying to go alone.

"Renesmee just listen," Edward was trying to reason with her. "It won't work Nessie just listen to us." Emmett and Jasper were moving on either side of her, she hadn't noticed them yet.

"I can't live without him Dad." Bella was still crying, she was leaning on Alice. Nessie was getting closer to the cars. She looked around and saw the wolves had moved into a loose circle behind her.

"We will go get him, we just can't go now." Jasper spoke again. She stepped away from him and growled again.

"Why. Not." She looked up to the house to see me and the children at the window.

'Mom,' I heard a double voice, they were letting us hear. 'Listen, please.' They begged. I could see the tears that filled her eye to spill over onto her cheeks.

"We have to deal with Jane and Demetri first." She looked at Emmett when he spoke to her. "Then we will go after Jacob." She stumbled.

"They will hurt him," her voice was sounded like she was in pain.

"He will heal." Edward was walking forward. Jasper made a step closer. Edward was still slowly walking forward he was almost close enough to reach her. She turned and bolted for the garage. The three men hit each other when they all made a grab for her at same time. She got away from them and was running as hard as she could. Just a few more feet and she would be at the cars. Rosalie hit her from the side sending both of them so the ground. Jalie hid her face against my side. I could feel tears on her face. She let go of my hand and wrapped her arms around my waist. I pulled her closer to me.

"Let me go!" Nessie screamed. "Let me go!" She started to cry. Jasper's hand touched her shoulder and she went still in Rosalie's arms. Edward picked her up and walked into the house with her.

"Lay her on the couch," I told him. "I'll stay with her." He gently laid her down. Masen and Jalie sat on the floor by her head. 'Take the kids outside.' I thought to Edward.

"Jalie, Masen let your Mom rest." He was making them stand up and follow him. "Let's go see if you two can beat up Emmett some more." Jalie stopped at the door.

'Seth,' I could hear Jalie's voice. 'Are you coming with us?'

'No,' I thought back. 'I'm going to stay with your Mom for a little while.' She ran to me wrapping her arms around my waist. I hadn't noticed this morning that she was taller. She looked up at me and her face was thinner, she looked older today.

'Thank you,' I heard and she was out the door with Edward and her brother. I stood at the window watching Masen and Jalie train with Jasper and Edward. The men were showing them how to attack or get away from an attack. Masen had taken his shirt off and I could see the muscles that were starting to develop.

Carlisle was right, their growth had gotten faster. They could pass for ten years instead of the six years that they look like yesterday. I heard Nessie behind me and went to sit in the closest chair. She sat up and looked around.

"Sorry," She told me.

"For what?" I was acting like nothing had happened.

"Seth, I don't know what I'm going to do." She put her hands over her face.

"I do."

"What?" She took a big breath and held it. I leaned up with my elbows on my knees.

"You're going to get up, go outside and listen to Edward." I stood and offered her my hand.

"Why?" She sounded like she was feeling sorry for herself I had to snap her out of this so we could get to work and get Jacob back home.

"Damn it, Renesmee!" Grabbing the tops of her arms I pulled her off the couch and gave her a little shake. "Stop it! We will go after him. One of us is in wolf form all the time. They haven't found a way to make him phase back yet. He is alive, and he is waiting on us. We have to take care of the ones that will be here in the morning first, and then we are leaving." By the time I had finished talking I was hugging her. She breathed in deep and pulled away.

"Let's go find Alice." She told me and gave me a hug "Thank you. I guess I just need someone to shake some sense into me."

"Anytime," I pushed her toward the door. It was a nice day today, nice for Forks anyway. There wasn't any rain and the sun was throwing shafts of yellow light through the clouds.

"Mom!" Masen and Jalie ran to her knocking her over onto the ground. "You okay Mom?" I wonder how long it will take for her to notice they were getting older much faster.

"I'm fine." She sat up on the ground and pulled them beside her. "What have you guys been up to?" Their clothes were filthy. Masen's jeans had a rip in the knee.

"We've been practicing with Uncle Jasper." They said together. "He's more fun than Uncle Emmett."

"Why?" They had her smiling.

"Uncle Jasper is faster." Masen spoke first. "He's harder to catch." She watched her family walking up to her. The sun was throwing rainbows off their skin. Edward sat down facing Nessie.

"I'm sorry we didn't tell you." He raised his hand to stop her from interrupting. "I will tell you everything but there just isn't time for that now."

"How long have you known." She asked again.

"A while," Edward smiled.

"How long is a while?" She wasn't giving up.

"For a few months now."

"A FEW MONTHS!" She screamed in his face. "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that. How could you keep this away from me this long?"

"You've been a little busy," he reached out to take the twins in his arms. "Seth, would you go with Jasper please. Make sure the little monsters don't hurt him." They giggled when he squeezed them.

"Sure thing, come on you two," I told them. Masen climbed onto Jasper's back and Jalie took hold of my hand. We walked away with Emmett and Rose. When we got farther into the yard I went behind the trees to phase. I got back in time to see Masen jump at Jasper and land on the ground when his target took a step to the side.

On the other end of the yard I stopped closer to the river, I watched Jalie jumped into the air phasing into a giant white wolf. I braced myself before she slammed into me; we rolled into the water barking with laughter. She won't learn anything if I keep letting her win.

The fight will be hear near the house. Masen and Jalie will be on the porch. They were to talk to and confuse the guard. They would phase into whomever they need to but not leave the porch. Embry, Leah and I would stay close to them.

I was sitting in the big front room with the rest of the family after everyone had hunted. Those of us who needed sleep were getting ready to go to bed.

"Jasper, I hadn't thought of that." Edward pulled my attention to him. "Jalie, sweetheart, I know you're tired but can you try one more thing for me." Jalie was setting in my lap reading a book; she was letting me hear her thoughts as she read, her voice no long had the high pitch of a child. I had my head laid back against the chair with my eye closed. King Author was just knighting Lancelot when Edward called her name. She look up at him bring us both out of our story. He had to repeat his question.

"Sure Grandpa," she cocked her head to one side as she listened to him. "I need to see her first and feel what she can do."

"Not a problem, lets go outside." Jasper had told her. I got up with the family and went outside again. I was curious to see what they were up to. "Okay Jalie, can you see her." Jasper asked.

"Yes," there was a shimmer. Where my Jalie had been standing was a small figure. She was dressed in a dark cloak.

"Jane." Bella said quietly. I remembered her.

"I need to see what she does almost feel it for this to work." Jalie told them and Edward walked to her side.

"Watch," he told her. He closed his eyes I could see Jalie take a quick breath when he opened his mind to her.

"I think I have it." She told him after a few tense moments.

"We need to test it out," Jasper wanted to be sure.

"On who?" Edward asked. "I don't want to feel that again."

"I'll do it. It was my idea." Jasper stepped a few feet from us and nodded at Jalie.

"I don't want to hurt you Uncle Jasper." There was worry on her face. Was it that bad?

"Its fine Jalie, I'm sure I have had worse." Jasper smiled at her.

"I don't know about that Jasper." Edward was shaking his head and backing away from Jalie.

"I'm ready Jalie." Jasper told her and I watched as she pushed her eyebrows together in concentration. Jasper screamed and hit the ground. Jalie ran to him.

"Sorry Uncle Jasper. I told you I didn't want to do it." She helped him stand.

"Well Edward," Jasper was panting from the pain. "I should have listened to you. Did she get it right?"

"I do believe she does it better," Jalie smiled at Edward's praise.

I woke up early not that I got much sleep. I could hear a soft whine deep in the trees and knew it was Embry. He kept talking to Jake, letting him know everything was still okay and trying to keep him calm. I was up before the sun could peek through the storm clouds that were gathering. Slipping on my shorts I made my way downstairs to find that everyone wore matching clothes.

"Don't ask," Edward said as he past me. I sat in the chair closest to the window. I don't know how long I sat there just looking out into the dark morning. The next thing I knew Jalie came bouncing down the stairs.

"Seth," Jalie called my name and landed in my lap. She was in the same dark jeans and thick shirt as the rest of the family. She had tucked her shirt in and left the top two buttons undone. I could feel her body was softer when she landed on me this time. She gave me a smile and handed me a brush and a tie. "Mom wants my hair up, do you mind helping me."

"Why not?" I rolled my eyes and let out a big breath teasing her. Her black hair was down past the middle of her back, she had to scoot forward to sit on my knees so I could brush all the way down it. Each time I pulled the brush through it the smell of wild roses would hit me. I closed my eye and breathed in deep. I separated her hair into three sections and quickly put it into a braid. Out of the corner of my eye I caught Nessie watching me; all I could think to do was shrug my shoulders.

"We have ten minutes," Alice came around the kitchen door. "We need to get in out into the yard."

"Be right back." I told the twins and was out the door.

Walking outside the huge sunny yard that we were in yesterday took on a new personality. The clouds that were absent yesterday were back hovering heavily above us. Masen and Jalie were standing on the porch and Leah, Embry and I were lying on the ground in front of them.

"Five minutes." Alice told us. I saw the Cullens and the rest wolves lined up with Edward in the middle, Bella behind him. She would be their first target. Nessie was on his left. Next to her was Jasper then Alice. Carlisle, Esme, Emmett and Rosalie stood on Edward's right. Quil and Sam with his pack were on the ends. Quil didn't want to miss a chance to sink his teeth into one of the Volturi.

"Two," Alice counted down to us. I couldn't lay still any longer. I started to pace.

Like a dark cloud they moved together swaying in time they came toward us. I knew which one was Jane. She was in the center of the line Demetri was on her right just behind her shoulder. They stopped closer than I would have thought letting the hoods covering their heads fall back away from their faces.

"Edward, Bella," She spoke in a voice that made me want to growl. "How good it is to see you again."

"Sorry I can't say the same for you, Jane." Edward growled her name. I echoed his growl along with the rest of the wolves.

"I see you still have you pets. I do believe one is missing." Her eyes were on Nessie. "Dear Renesmee you have grown into a very pretty woman. Don't you think so Demetri?" She reached her tinny hand toward him. He took it stepping to her side.

"I would have to agree," he licked his lips and winked at her. "She is very lovely, for a half breed." He inhaled deeply through his nose. "I must say you do smell wonderful. I don't see your husband Nessie, did you get tired of him? You could always come back with me." I heard growls erupt around me and I remembered what Demetri had said to Jacob. I could feel Jacob's low growl join us. He was listening close.

"Demetri," Jane scolded him with a smile. "Don't tease her so." Then she tuned her red eyes on Nessie again. "I did have the privilege of meeting your husband. Jacob is a beautiful dog, to bad my master wouldn't let me kill him, it would have been easier for him. I did ask them to throw him a few table scraps; he won't be any fun if he is too weak to put up a fight. I was promised I could have what was left of him when I returned. I see your puppies are doing well." She pointed her tinny finger toward the house making sure the guard knew that the children were going to be part of this. I growled and took a step forward.

'Stay where you are,' Leah reminded me.

'Be careful Seth, ' I heard Jalie in my head. 'Stay with me.'

'I'm not going anywhere Jalie.' I answered her. No matter how much I wanted to seek revenge I would to stay at the porch and protect the twins. 'I hope one of them gets stupid and tries to make it to them.' I started my pacing again backing up closer to the porch.

"Edward," Jane turned back to him. "My master wants to know if you and your dear wife have changed your minds about joining us."

"No." How could Edward stay so calm? "We haven't changed our minds." She gave a sigh and turned to Alice.

"Alice, what about you? It would be such a waste to loose you also." Jasper reached out to take Alice's hand. "Of course you can bring Jasper with you. I'm sure my master can find a use for him."

"Go to hell," Alice just hissed at her.

"You have your answer, Jane." Edward was looking at his favorite sister with smile on his face.

"As I said, such a waste." Jane sighed again as if she was board.

'Everyone get ready,' I heard Masen's voice. 'She is getting tired of playing with us.' I could see the nameless vampires of the Volturi starting to move around, they were ready. 'Jane and Demetri don't plan to fight. They will move back when the fighting starts. The rest are picking their targets.'

'They are too confident.' Jalie had a smile in her voice. 'Two are planning on circling around to take out Grandma. Three will come after us, don't worry we can handle them.' I heard Edward growl and two massive wolves, Sam and Paul, moved to flank Bella on each side. 'Here we go, as soon as Jane and Demetri move back they will attack.'

"As you wish," Jane and Demetri took a step back and the guard jumped the short space between them and the Cullens.

"Stop!" I heard Jane's voice. The guard froze. Jalie had phased and none of the guard knew what to do.

"Kill them!" Demetri screamed his order. Emmett and Quil took out two of the guard before they could move again. A fire was set. "What are you waiting for?" Demetri screamed again. I saw two more go down when the wolves stopped them before they could get to Bella. They were thrown onto the fire. Edward had jumped over their line and was fighting with Demetri; he held one of Demetri's arms in his hand. The dark purple smoke from the burning vampires hung above our heads. The clouds were to think to let it rise. I let out a growl when I spotted the vampires coming closer to the house.

'There's one for each of us.' Embry was existed.

'Just don't let them past us.' Leah warned.

'Not a problem.' I growled and leaped at the one closest to me. I took great pleasure in tearing him apart. I could feel Jacob's mood lifting with our victory.

'Do you see Nessie?' He asked, worry was flooding his thoughts. I looked up in time to see her flash into the trees behind Jane. 'Stop her.' Jacob barked at us. We were off. Masen and Jalie right beside us.

'Edward.' I called to him. He was throwing what remained of Demetri in the fire. 'Nessie followed Jane into the trees.' Everyone seemed to look around at the same time the fight was over here. We ran into the trees following Nessie scent. They hadn't gone far.

"I want you to scream, Renesmee. Just like your dog." Jane was taunting her. "He would howl when I hit him. Then again it did take some time to wear him down." We could see Nessie go down when Jane hit her again. She body arced off the ground until Bella threw her shield around her.

'We're here Mom she can't hurt you anymore.' It was Jalie's voice. Nessie could hear us now. Jane was standing next to Nessie's foot; she hadn't noticed she was being surrounded. Nessie kick Jane's feet out from under her and she landed with a very satisfying thud on her back. Before she could get to her feet Nessie put some distance between them. She was furious. Jane focused her eyes on Nessie, her eyebrows pulled together. Nessie smiled. Jane started to run but we had made a circle around them. She skidded to a halt inches from Embry's muzzle. He growled and bared his sharp teeth at her.

'Just one bite,' Embry was pleading.

"Mom?" Jalie said in Jane's sticky sweet voice. She had climbed onto my back and was playing with the hair on my neck.

"Yes Jalie," Nessie asked. What was she up to? She wanted something, then it hit me she wanted to make Jane burn.

"Can I, please just once?" Jane was looking at herself on the back of a giant wolf. If I had been human I would have laughed at the look on her face.

"Jane, I would like to introduce you to my daughter, Jalie." Nessie was walking to us. Jane backed to the middle of the circle and continued to look at each face. Her eyes lock one a very big red eyed vampire; Emmett had an arm around his shoulders.

"Demetri?" Jane's voice cracked. Emmett's booming laughter shook the trees.

"Jane, this is my son Masen." I had to laugh at the look on her face when Nessie told her that, it came out as a bark.

"How?" Jane whispered.

"It's just a little something they inherited from their father. You know, the dog you keep going on about?" Nessie walked up and slapped Jane across the face, she hit the ground.

'That's my girl,' I could hear Jacob in my head again. He sounded so weak.

"Mom, you didn't answer my question," Jalie's had a little pout to her voice. I knew she would have her lip pouched out.

"What question was that?" Nessie told her trying to sound sincere. "I'm sorry, I think I forgot."

"Can I just one time? Please, for Dad." Jalie begged her mother.

"What is she talking about?" Jane sounded terrified.

"You see Jane," Nessie walked over to stand beside us. "When Jalie phases into someone she also takes on their powers." Jalie twisted her fingers into my fur as Jane hit the ground and screamed.

Jane's small body twisted and her hands clawed at the ground. Esme had covered her ears and was hiding her face in Carlisle's shoulder; he wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes.

"Jalie that's enough," Nessie said softly. Jane curled in on herself and was breathing hard. Nessie walked to Jane and knelt down waiting until she looked into her eyes. "That was for my Jacob, and this is for my family." In the next second she was holding Jane's head in her hand and Jasper and Emmett was ripping the rest of her into pieces. The wolves howled as we ran the pieces back to the house and put them in the fire.

"When is our flight?" Nessie asked her dad. It was time to go get Jacob.

Two hours later we were sitting in the airport waiting on our flight. Carlisle had called ahead and got us a privet jet. Sam and some of his pack were coming with us. Edward handed us our ticket and passports and we sat down to wait for our flight to get ready.

Jalie sat between Leah and me. Leah was telling Jalie the history of our people. I was only half listening to what Leah was telling her, I had heard all the stories before. I was watching Emmett flirt with a rather plain looked woman. The woman stood up and motioned for him to follow her, Rosalie reached out and kissed Emmett making the woman plop back beside a man that I was sure was her new husband. His sudden laughter made some of Sam's pack jump. It was loud if you weren't use to it.

Masen was sitting beside Embry talking; I could hear his voice was deeper. I wonder if Nessie has noticed yet. Jalie shifted next to me pulling her feet under her. She had taken her hair down out of the braid, she preferred to wear it down; she was pushing part of it behind her ear when I looked over at her.

Jalie always did that when she was really focusing on something and right now that something was what Leah was telling her. She was chewing on her bottom lip and I couldn't resist poking her in the side. I laughed when she jumped and slapped at me. She grabbed my hand and pulled over her shoulder.

'You can't poke me if I hold onto your hand,' she was trying to be smart so I reached around with my other hand and was about to poke her in the side again when Nessie got up and started walking away with Esme and Bella. Jalie noticed to. 'She was crying again.' She told me.

'She just really misses your Dad.' I thought back, trying to reassure her. She leaned over and put her head on my shoulder.

'So do I,' she whispered inside my head. She still had a hold of my hand and my arm had wrapped around her when she turned. I gave her a squeeze and she snuggled deeper into me. 'Don't ever leave me Seth.'

'Where did that come from?' I asked her, it was much easier to talk to her in my head. She was growing so fast both in body and mind I had to remind myself she was only six months old instead of the thirteen years she could pass for now.

'I don't know,' she was still whispering. 'I just can't see myself without you.'