A/N:
Thank you to the reviewers in my last chapter. Out of 23 visitors to this chapter only three were valiant enough to tell me what they thought. Staggering...I mean, really? Do I really gotta ask for them? Am I that bad of a writer? Is the concept that horrible? There is people out there making Jake or Edward of all people the ones to actually commit the rape and other unsavory acts...here I am actually making the ones capable of such acts be the despicable ones and this is what I get? Not that I'm complaining about the wonderful comments, but Jeez people! Is it too hard to ask for a single word. Good? Not good? Like? Not like?
SAY SOMETHING!
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
KarinV (very intuitive, my dear. Indeed.)
LackOfImagination (have no worries, I got you)
Tanya83 (special thanks to you for rev'ing both ch 5 & 6. believe me when I tell you this. I appreciate it.)
Your loyalty to the story, keeps pushing me forward, I am now done with CH 20 and starting 21. You keep my spirits up. Thank you! ^_^
This Chapter is tame as well but still full of drama...about the disclaimer...Blah blah blah...
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Chapter six:
Too much - too little - too late,
but just maybe...its enough
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The morning was overcast, as was the usual in Washington. Forks and La Push residents shared in sorrow their last goodbye to Bella Swan and Her Jake. Many small stories were shared about their antics and moments caught. They had been so blind...everyone had noticed what they had felt for each other. It was only Bella, really, who needed to realize the truth.
But she knew. And now Embry knew she did. They were just so involved in each other that they lost grip on what they both search for the most.
Embry held on tot he letter till it was his turn to say goodbye.
Once in front of the box, he sniffed, wiped his nose with the napkin and stuffed it back in his pocket, "Hey guys, I am gonna miss you two. You guys were so stupid, you should have known...all that lost time. Jake, brother, she wrote you this letter. It was about that night. The one you spoke so dreamily about, remember? She wanted you to know she was being selfish by giving herself to you. Can you believe that? I know, that's just so Bella! She wanted you to follow your heart. To find your imprint and be happy with her. I wonder at times if you ever knew. I mean, you pursued her worse than Sam did with Emily...or when Jared was like a lost puppy after Kim. No matter now, here you are. You got her buddy. Right beside ya. For-forever. Bella, honey..you hardheaded, white chick...you knew he was in your heart all along didn't you. And you were strong enough to let him go. I will never understand this need for you to be the heroine. All I can tell you is thank you. You stupid girl, thank you for making sure our pathetic lives were worth more. Your death has given my life value I never know I had. But I am still mad at you. At least you took him with you. Take care of each other in the Great Grasslands guys. Wait for me there." He placed the crumbled letter inside by Jake's hand and retracted his hand quickly when he felt the cold stiff digits. Then retreated to the treeline, where an obscured form was hidden from everyone else but him and his brothers.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to pay my last respects to-" Edward began but stopped speaking when Embry's thoguhts screamed obscenities at him and his shape began to blur at the seams.
"Charlie said he didn't want to see me, but your father lifted the treaty so my family and I-" Before he could continue Embry became eerily calm.
"Your family was allowed here because they cared enough to try and show remorse. You-" he leered at the marble statue, "only feel regret that those bastards didn't turn her for you. You, selfish bastard, have one last chance to leave my land before I tear you apart. You...have no right to be here. Leave. Its your last chance. Don't let the branches hit you on the way out."
And just like that Edward was no more. That was the last everyone ever saw of him...at least for now.
Embry returned to the shore a bit of ways from the funeral. He smelled the perfume before he put a face to the scent.
"you must have been friends with them. Hi. I am Angela. I knew them too." He turned to say something to dismiss her easily when her he found that his world now revolved around her. She was his Northern star and anchor to this world.
"Angela..." he whispered, with a slowly growing, goofy smile adorning his face as he spied a slow, beautiful blush begin to decorate her cheeks, "my name is Embry."
Only the Elders, Charlie, the pack and imprints...now including Angela, were permitted on tot eh island to finish the burial. The way to the cave was unnecessarily illuminated by torches. The pack carried the box carefully and skillfully through the sand while the mortals followed behind. Old Quill drumming a slow beat chanting in Quileute. The imprints sniffled and whimpered every so often.
Once inside the cave, in the chosen chamber that would become their resting place for eternity, Charlie and Billy were given a moment alone to say their last good byes.
Outside of the cave, the pack disrobed and phased, to howl for their fallen brother. The haunting sound ricocheted and echoed as the light of the sun rose high in the sky. They phased and redressed as both Chiefs made their exit from the cave, tear-stricken and looking exhausted.
That day they spent at the Clearwater home, where a bonfire was lit in the patio surrounded by lawn chairs, filled with people. The kitchen table and counters littered with many dishes brought over by neighbors and friends. Ten turkeys, six large picnic roasts, six hams and plenty of hamburgers and hotdogs, plus side dishes as far as the eye could see. Plus the deserts that were kept in the refrigerator for the time being.
More stories of the two departed were told in merriment, in honor of their memories. Their name sake foundations were revealed, much to the shock of the people, forks residents had been allowed to partake of the benefits of them.
All present received a keepsake with a hidden hair piece with in it. To alert the Volturi of the treaty and given a way to contact the Cullens should anything came to pass. A warning that was light enough to not cause any alarm amongst those who should remain ignorant, at least for the time being.
As the guests trickled out, only those in the know where left behind.
Old Quil spoke of contacting other tribes in search for other shape-shifters to aid them, in case of a war up-rise with the royal trio.
Sam and Paul were to leave in the morning as emissaries of peace and ambassadors to the tribe in search for these. Jasper was to accompany them to help not only with tranformation of those who needed a slight brush with the enemy, but to help ease them to the idea. They were not dumb enough to not use every trick they could use to gain troops in this endeavor.
Embry sat in a corner with Angela, revealing the secrets of his tribe with the help of Emily and Kim. Leah joined in a minute or two later. After Bella's and Jacob's death, she had realized that life was just too short to stay bitter at something none of them could control. Now watching as Embry lit upon the sight of his mate, she had something to look forward to. Once again, she felt hope.
