Song Inspiration:One Sweet Love by Sara Bareilles

Banner by: Mist

Crazy Glue: Chapter 10: The Tragedy of Time...

Bella held the lukewarm glass of champagne firmly between both of her hands as she casually made her way around the room. Everyone smiled politely at her as they took turns greeting her. Seth stayed glued to her side for the first hour of the evening. She eventually insisted he go and mingle with some of the single ladies. It wasn't lost on her the envious looks that the ladies were giving her when Seth held out his arm to hold onto while they walked around the room.

She enjoyed watching him work the room. He was all smiles and constant politeness. She wondered why he went to Veterinary school when he could have just as easily become a politician. People swarmed around him like bees to honey. His smile put you at ease and those boyish dimples gave him such a sweet demeanor, you just naturally felt warm and safe when he was near.

Her heart skipped an extra beat when it dawned on her that all the qualities she liked about Seth, were some of the same that had drawn her to Jake.

Smiling sadly she also realized that unlike Seth, Jake made her crazy with desire and she seriously doubted that she would ever find herself reacting that way with Seth.

"Hey gorgeous." Paul stepped up next to her pulling her out of her deep thoughts.

"Hi Paul." Bella still found it funny how they were family now when once upon a time she hated his guts.

"Why aren't you dancing? I know you're dying to get out there and show us how to do it." Paul smirked.

Bella smacked him on the arm and rolled her eyes playfully.

"Ass." Bella laughed.

"A fine ass." Paul twirled around to show off his sexy attributes.

"I'm glad that Rachel loves you so much because I seriously don't know how she puts up with you." Bella teased.

"I have my ways of keeping her happy in the bed and out and that is why she puts up with my shit." Paul wiggled his eyebrows.

Bella nearly choked on her drink.

"Are you bothering Bella?" Rachel asked walking up to the two of them.

"Hardly. I'm chatting her up." Paul winked at Bella.

"Chatting uh? Probably more like giving her a hard time." Rachel shook her head in dismay.

"He was actually just telling me how much he loves you and doesn't know how he lucked out to find such an amazing woman like you." Bella watched as Paul's cheeks turn a light shade of red while Rachel gave her a puzzled look.

"He said that?" Rachel wasn't buying it.

"I sure did." Paul nudged Bella, playing along with the game.

"Well, if you feel that way then you won't mind taking me out on that dance floor. " Rachel gave Bella a quick wink before Paul happily led her away.

Bella exhaled softly.

She missed hanging out with Paul and Rachel. In the past her and Jacob preferred hanging out with them the most out of all their friends. They took family vacations together and often just hung out at one another's house on the weekends.

Bella scanned the room for someone she might be comfortable to chat with to help keep her mind from wandering into the past. Looking at the large clock that was purposely set in center of the room to display the time, she realized it was drawing closer to midnight and she didn't want to be in the room when all the happy couples would turn and kiss one another with hopes of sharing another year with each other.

No, she planned on sneaking out one of the exits and finding somewhere tosit quietly until things calm down. She was starting to like the idea even more that Seth brought her tonight. She would want to go home shortly after midnight and knew he planned to relieve the guys patrolling.

"Excuse me."

Bella felt an elbow hit her in the rib. Looking up in pain she didn't recognize her assailant.

"Ouch."

"I'm so sorry." The stranger apologized.

"It's okay." Bella tried to walk away but he grabbed her elbow and pulled her back toward him.

"Are you okay? I didn't mean to hit you. I was trying to get away from someone and wasn't watching my clumsy arms." He asked.

"I'm fine. Really. It's okay." Bella gulped hard as she looked at his eyes. "Did you get away?"

"Uh?" He frowned at her before it occurred to him what she was asking about. "Oh yeah."

He looked behind him and then gave her a relieved look.

"I'm scared to ask why you were running away from someone." Bella chuckled nervously and then looked at his hand that was still holding onto her arm.

He dropped it like it burned him.

"I only agreed to come to this party tonight to appease my mother. She thinks that it's necessary for me to mingle among the living." He ran his hand through his dirty blonde hair with a frustrated look in his eyes.

"Do you usually hang out with dead people?" Bella joked.

"Ummm...no." He laughed roughly.

Bella got a bad feeling suddenly in the pit of her stomach when he didn't sound convincing enough for her.

"I really don't." He cried out when he saw she wasn't buying into his earlier answer.

"Then why would you put it that way?" Bella took a step back.

"I work in a museum. I get really involved with my work. Sometimes when we get a new attraction in I will stay in my office for days cataloging and she fears that I don't get out into the real world enough." He explained further.

"Oh. That makes more sense." Bella laughed softly, feeling a little less nervous around him.

"Good. I didn't want to leave you with the idea that I hang out with dead people." He chuckled.

Bella found his laugh appealing. Her eyes traveled over him from head to toe. She was impressed. He look to be close to her own age maybe a few years older. He was dressed in a dark blue button up shirt with a pair of black trousers. His hair was a bit messy but in an adorable way. He stood at least six foot and although he looked more on the lean side, she could see the outline of his upper arms through the shirt and knew there was some muscles beneath the material.

"No, that wouldn't be a good impression." Bella agreed.

"I'm sorry where are my manners? My name is Alex." He extended his hand out to her.

Bella took his hand and shook it quickly before responding to him.

"I'm Bella."

"Bella. That's a lovely name. Do you live here in Forks?"

"No. I used to before I got married." Bella replied automatically. She caught his smile falter before he put back in place.

"Is your husband here tonight?" He looked around the crowded room. He didn't want to get mixed up in a brawl. He knew how territorial some married men could be.

"No. I'm afraid...well...he died." Bella gulped hard as the words made her heart ache terribly with pain. It was like getting a brain freeze. The pain would sneak up on her and leave her almost paralyzed in agony.

"I'm terribly sorry." Alex felt awfully embarrassed. He could see the toll it took on her to say it.

"It's okay." Bella licked her lips before taking a big sip on her drink.

"I should ….well...it's drawing close to midnight and I should go find my mother." Alex looked awkwardly around the room.

"Yeah, I should find my friend." Bella sighed heavily.

"Bella do you live near here?" Alex found himself asking.

"I live in La Push. It's an Indian Reservation." Bella answered and then hated herself for doing it. She knew it wasn't wise to tell someone she just met where she lived.

"Interesting. You don't look like an Indian." He teased.

"I'm not. I ….my husband was." Bella said.

"I see. Well, I will be in town from time to time. Mainly on the weekends. Maybe we could catch a movie or a cup of coffee. My sister is getting married and my mother expects me to visit more often than I normally do to help with the arrangements."

"Who is your sister?" Bella was curious about this family of his here in Forks. She knew most of the residents in town and she knew she hadn't seen him once in the years she lived here.

"Caroline Spencer for now but in a few months time she hopes to become Caroline Smith." He said it like he had something horrible in his mouth.

"Haha. Do you not like the young man she plans to marry?" Bella asked curiously.

"He's a nice guy but honestly I just think she could do better. I'm a bit bias, after all, I'm her big brother and no guy has really ever been good enough for her in my eyes." He admitted with a guilty smile.

"I understand. Well, I need to be going." Bella glanced at the clock and saw there was less than ten minutes until midnight and although she liked talking to Alex, she didn't want to be in this room when the new year came rolling in.

"Sure. Oh so would it be okay to call you up sometime?" Alex asked.

"Umm...well...okay." Bella chewed on her lower lip while they exchanged numbers. She was relieved when he let her go soon after.

She quickly found an exit to the back yard and made her way to the garden where she found a marble bench to sit on. Looking up at the moon she couldn't help but shiver from the freezing temperature.

She didn't know why she didn't bring a jacket before she left the house.

She found herself unexpectedly pleased with her new found friend Alex. He seemed like a nice guy and she wondered why she hadn't met this Spencer family before now?

Closing her eyes and rubbing her bare arms she found herself thinking about Jake. It happened less often but when it did, she would try to find good memories to think about. She didn't want to always look back at the times they shared with sorrow in her heart.

Opening her eyes she felt a eery feeling grow in the pit of her stomach. Looking around her environment she realized that not far away there was a tree line that led to the forest. She didn't know why but she suddenly felt like she was being watched.

Standing up she turned around in a slow steady circle but saw nothing that should give her cause to be alarmed. Still her heart beat was racing and her skin grew colder.

"There you are." A deep voice called out, making her jump nearly a foot off the ground.

Looking at the intruder who nearly made her pee all over herself she found the voice belonged to Seth. He strolled casually up to her.

"Damn it you scared me." Bella put her hand over her chest where she felt her heart beating frantically.

"Sorry Bella. I wanted to make sure you were okay." Seth explained as he took her hand off of her chest and warmed it between his.

" Your freezing Bella. Here." Seth pulled off his coat and put it over her shoulders.

"Thank you." Bella's teeth rattled as she trembled.

"I'm just glad to get it off. I'm wasdying in there." Seth lifted his arm up to show the perspiration starting to form in the pits of his shirt.

"Gross." Bella laughed.

"I know right." Seth dropped his arms to his side and looked out at the forest. He preferred being outside. The cool winter air felt refreshing. Tilting his head back he took a big sniff of air into his nostrils.

"Are you sniffing for something?" Bella wondered how no one ever suspected there was something wrong with the men from La Push. They acted strange enough and often in public so it surprised her when no one mentioned their oddity, at least not to her.

"Weird. For a second I thought I smelled a vampire but it was so faint I can't say that it really was a vamp." Seth answered.

Seth put his arm around her shoulder and was trying to lead her back to the house where it was warm and safer.

"What are you doing?" Bella asked with annoyance in her tone.

"I'm taking you back inside." Seth replied automatically.

"Umm...no you aren't." Bella shoved his arm off of her shoulder.

"Don't be stubborn. It's too cold for a pale human like you." Seth hoped to make her laugh and remove the frown she was wearing.

"Human or not I'm staying out here. Any second now that whole room is going to be loud and filled with people kissing one another. I don't want to be a part of that."

"I'm sorry. I didn't think about that." Seth took her hands and held them between his. Bella looked at their hands. His was so much larger and completely covered hers. When had Seth Clearwater gotten so big? When did he grow up and where was she when it happened? Oh yeah she was busy being a wife, lover, friend, and mother. She laughed in her head as she lifted her head to look into his eyes.

"I know I have said it before but it still amazes me how much you have grown up." Bella whispered in awe.

"Yeah, everyone keeps saying that like they are shocked that I finally came into my own." Seth chuckled.

"It sucks being one of the youngest, doesn't it?" Bella thought out loud.

"It has its advantages and disadvantages. Like for example when I screw up they would say it's okay he's just a pup. Give him time to grow up. Now, they expect more from me. They see potential and I just hope I don't let them down."

Bella wondered if he was referring to his new position in the pack or life in general.

"I know you will do well with your life Seth. You are very intelligent. You are also very sweet and patient, especially with me." Bella stepped up closer to him to draw from his heat. The jacket prevented the cool air from her upper body but it did nothing for her bare legs.

"It's not easy at times but I know that Jake would want me to help you through this and I won't let him down." Seth saw the pain that flickered across her face before she replaced it with a smile.

"I just hope I don't let him down either." Bella needed comfort. She had been so strong all day and now it was starting to take its toll on her. Laying her head on his chest she listened to his steady heartbeat and then suddenly the sounds of people crying out "Happy New Year" came flowing out to them.

"Happy New Year Bella." Seth spoke softly as he held her hands while she continue to just stand next to him with her head lying on his chest.

"I hope it can be." Bella mumbled as tears poured out of her eyes and down the front of his shirt.

"It will be. Together we will find away to endure it." Seth assured her.

Bella lifted her head away and took a step back, pulling her hands free.

"What would I do without you?" She wondered .

"We will never have to find out." Seth meant it. He didn't have any plans of leaving her side now or ever. He knew that Bella was somehow always going to be a part of his life.

"I sure hope not." Bella wiped the tears from her face and gulped hard.

"Do you want to go home now?" Seth knew she was tired. He could see it her eyes.

"I really do but if you want to stay longer I would understand." Bella pulled the jacket around her tighter.

"I need to get back anyways. I'm sure Collin and Brady are chomping at the bite to have some fun."

"True. Thank you Seth."

Seth didn't want her to thank him. If she only knew how many times he laid in bed and daydreamed of her, she wouldn't be so quick to think he was such a great guy.

Leaning in he softly kissed her forehead. He let his lips linger on her cold skin and savored the moment before he reluctantly stepped back and looked into her eyes. He saw her questioning his silence but she didn't seemed alarmed by his gesture of love for her.

"Ready?" He took her hand and quietly they walked side by side.

XXX

Edward stared out his window at the fireworks flashing against the dark sky. He wondered what Bella was doing tonight. Did she go out? Did she stay home with her son? He knew it wasn't wise for him to allow his mind to wander in this direction. She made it perfectly clear that she wanted nothing from him. Her life was forever intertwined with the wolves.

There was no chance for a future for them. It hurt him to think of the opportunity he let pass by him the day he left her stranded in the woods. He honestly thought she would turn around and head back home. It never occurred to him she might try to follow him and somehow manage to get lost.

Still, he couldn't help but wonder what his life might have been like if he chosen to remain in Forks and gave her what she desired the most. Immortality.

It hurt him to think that he couldn't do anything to help ease her pain. There was no money, power or any other material object that he could obtain and give her to relieve the misery of grief. Nope, life just had to take its own natural course and someday she would find a way to let it go and move on and unfortunately it wouldn't be with him.

He picked up the folder off his desk and flipped it open.

Alice called him after Bella's visit to warn him that Jake's death might not have been an accident. She couldn't of course see all the details because when it came to looking at Jake's future it was either blank or really fuzzy. She stopped watching Bella's decisions after she saw Bella's future happiness with Jake. She didn't feel it was necessary or proper to continue.

His own curiosity got the best of him and although he knew Bella no longer loved him he needed to make sure that she wasn't in danger.

He found a way to hack into Seattle's police department and retrieve all the information they found about Jake's death. He was starting to suspect foul play. Why would anyone want to blow up the pack's mechanic shop? Was the bomb/fire intended for Jake alone or for all of them? So many questions filled his mind and he wouldn't be able to rest easy until he knew without a shadow of a doubt that Bella and her son were completely out of harms way.

XXX

A/N: So Bella went to the party and met someone new. What about that eery feeling she got? Was there someone out there? No, Bella and Seth wasn't the passionate kind but I think the moment and the kiss was tender. Last but not least it would seem that Edward is getting involved once again in Bella's life. Do you think he will help her or make matters worse for her?

A/N/N: I'm leaving town Friday and won't be back until mid next week, so this is the last chpt I will be posting until then. Hope you enjoyed it. Xoxo August