Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or its characters.
Thanks for all the reviews, favorites, and alerts! You guys are the best!
Chapter 7
BPOV
"What the fuck is a Volturi?" Sam stood with his arms crossed over his chest and scowled.
"They are the rulers of our kind." Carlisle then went on to explain everything that had happened in Volterra and the promise that was made as a result.
"Well, that's just fucking great isn't it? We go from one war to another! And what happens when these Volturi find out about the pack? All it would take is for this Aro leech to touch one of you and he would know!" Sam was furious, and with good reason. Everything he said was true, and once again I was the catalyst for everything wrong in the whole fucked up situation.
"We have time," Alice stated, stepping into the room. "I'll see any decisions before they make them and we'll be able to formulate a plan."
I sighed, knowing that when the time came I would simply go to Volterra and surrender myself to protect the Cullens and the pack. Alice hissed and glared at me, probably seeing a vision stemming from that very decision, but said nothing.
"Well, I guess that's all we can do, right? I just want this all to end!" Sam dropped himself onto the couch in Carlisle's study and I went to his side.
"I have a plan. It will be fine. Stop worrying." I tried to soothe him and even though he huffed he let it go.
"Bella, dear, I think it would be best if you got some sleep," Carlisle prodded, but I had no idea where to go. I couldn't bear to sleep in the bed that Edward bought for me.
"Come on, Bella, the guest room is all set up." Alice took my hand to lead me but was stopped by Sam.
"No fighting. I'm too tired. Sam, just come with me." I didn't wait for an answer, choosing to instead just grab his hand and lead him up the stairs. I paid no attention to what he was doing as a wave of lethargy hit me hard. I gave a nod of thanks to Jasper who stood in the doorway and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
I awoke, covered in a think sheen of sweat with a heavy weight on my chest. Looking down, I saw that the heavy weight was Sam's arm and the sweat was from the heat his body was putting off. He was snoring softly and as much as I didn't want to wake him, my bladder felt like it would explode. After about five minutes of wriggling I was able to free myself from his hold and made my way to the bathroom.
"Sleep well?" I jumped and let out a squeak of surprise as Jasper's quiet voice greeted me.
"Yes, thanks for the help, Jasper. I haven't slept well since… well, you know." I looked at the floor and felt Jasper push some sympathy at me.
"We're all here, you know. You don't have to do this." Jasper tilted his head toward the open bedroom door.
"I know, but he lost someone too. Not just someone… he lost a child, Jasper. I know you all think that he's a monster, but he's just grieving. How would you feel if you and Alice had a chance at being parents and not only was Alice taken from you, but that one chance at a real family."
"I would probably kill anyone who crossed my path. But you are my sister, Bella… You are family and we don't like seeing you hurt. Edward always trusted us to take care of you. I can't let him down again." Poor Jasper still hadn't forgiven himself for the events of that fateful birthday.
"Jasper," I began, but he held up a hand to stop me. Instead of speaking he approached me cautiously and slowly wrapped his arms around me. I immediately began sobbing, letting the grief and guilt wash over me like a flood.
Out of nowhere, I was out of Jasper's arms and he was crouched in front of me in a protective stance.
"Bella, come here," Sam ordered and I immediately began to obey before Jasper stopped me.
"Bella, he's enraged right now and not thinking rationally. I can't let you go over there." Jasper warned.
"Let her go, leech!" Sam bellowed.
"Jasper, please. You're going to make this so much worse. He'll calm down. Please," I begged. He nodded and let me go, but not before growling at Sam.
As soon as I reached him, he pushed me behind him into the bedroom and closed the door. Sam paced back and forth, muttering under his breath. I knew better than to speak when he was like that, so instead I sat on the bed and picked at a loose string on my shirt. Finally he let out a long breath and sat down next to me.
"I don't know what to do." His voice was small, reminding me of a child. "Emily said… she wanted us to help one another, but I feel so much hate! I don't know how to get past it."
"Sam," I whispered, a sob breaking free from my mouth. This was what everyone else couldn't see. Yes, he had been cruel with me, but he was barely even in control of himself at all. I was the reason for the end of life as he knew it and he needed to feel like he was doing something to avenge Emily and his child, even if it meant going against everything he had always believed in.
"It's all right to be confused and angry. I understand, and so will everyone else. You just need to sit them down and explain. I'll help you – I'll talk to Jake." He looked at me through watery eyes before nodding his head.
"Okay, well, I'm going to go downstairs and get some food then I'm going to talk to the pack." I stood up and he grabbed my arm.
"I'm coming with you." His tone told me that it wasn't up for discussion so I just nodded my agreement.
"Morning, Bells!" Emmett boomed as we reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Morning," I mumbled.
"Sam, eat your breakfast then go and run patrols." Jake's voice was cold and sounded nothing like the boy I had once known. This had taken a toll on him as well. Sam shook and growled, but I could see that his body was being forced to obey.
"Jake," I pleaded with my eyes for him to take it easy but he just gave me a tight smile and pushed a plate full of food in my direction.
We ate in silence and Sam and Jake continued to glare at one another. When Sam finished eating I could tell that he was fighting to resist the Alpha order but with a sharp reprimand from Jake he was out the door.
"Jake, we need to talk about the way you and the pack are treating Sam." I looked around the room. "We all need to talk about the way Sam is being treated."
I took a deep breath and continued. "I know that you all think that he is a heartless bastard, but he lost everything. He is just dealing with this the only way he knows how. Rose, how would you feel if your child was killed because of someone else's choices?"
She growled and I knew that she understood.
"And how would any of you feel about losing your mate because of someone else? You would want to kill everyone responsible, right? Well, Sam just lost both, so cut him some slack. I know that he is not himself at the moment, but he is getting better. He is trying… we both are. Just let him have his way for a while and things will get better."
"Bells, it's no excuse. I don't care what you say, and you are too forgiving for your own damn good. If you aren't going to protect yourself then it falls on us to do it for you." Jake was stubborn, he always had been but there had to be a way to make him see.
"As much as I hate to agree with the mutt on ANYTHING, he's right Bella-boo. We can't just sit by and let him hurt you. We love you and Edward would want you safe." I cringed at Emmett using Edward's name.
"I understand that, I really do, but you have to trust me on this. I promise to protect myself as much as I can, but things are going to get better. Tell then, Paul."
Paul looked startled that he was being brought into the conversation at all.
"He's calming down. I think the worst is over. You just have to all give in to him for a little while. Don't fight him when he wants to be close to her. It will only anger him and make everything harder for everyone. And now that he's seen Emily…" he trailed off, unsure of how much I wanted revealed.
I sighed and told them the whole story of our time in the cabin, skimming over the more violent parts. They all listened as I told them of the appearances of Edward and Emily. Esme fought back a sob and I felt Jasper trying to calm the room.
"Look, I don't care what you think you saw, I can't let you be around him, Bells." Jake stood his ground.
"It's not your choice Jake! Emily wants me to help him and if I can give her this one final gift then why not? She wouldn't ask me to do it if he was going to really hurt me."
"Look at you, Bella! Look at your scars! He already has hurt you! No! I'll banish him if I have to!"
"Jake, come on man," Paul tried to reason with him but I could see that Jake was going to fight me every step of the way.
"Jake, either you ease up on him… or I'll leave. Whether you believe it or not this is my fault and I am going to do whatever I can to make it right. So if you banish him then I go with him."
Jake shook his head, defeated and let out a sigh. "Fine, have it your way, but he cannot hurt you anymore. I draw the line there. He hurts you again and he's gone. The Cullens and I will physically restrain you from leaving if we have to.
I nodded my agreement and smiled softly before running out the door and calling for Sam. Somehow I knew he hadn't gone far. When the giant black wolf stepped out of the tree line I ran over to him and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"I got them to listen. Things will be better, I promise! I'm going to help you through this for Emliy." He whimpered a little then growled as Jake made his way toward us but eventually nodded and went back into the woods to finish his patrol. Deciding that I had enough excitement for the time being, I made my way to Edward's room where I sat on the floor and cried.
Don't forget to let me know what you think! And for all my Paul lovers out there, I have written a new one shot… it's sort of smutty so it's for adults only, but I hope you love my tattoo'd Paul as much as I do!
