A Fire to Keep Me Warm
Disclaimer: I am not the owner.
AN: I hope that you liked the last chapter. This story is going to end in a few chapters. I have planned the end and I think that you are going to like it. Thanks for putting this story as a Favorite and for Reviewing. I am very thankful for everyone.
You and Me
Seth's POV
"You gotta be kidding me!" Mom shouted, when she stood behind me and read the papers that I was filling out. "You want to go out of the states to visit Brazil for a semester. It's a long time, Seth, it's like being four months away from me. Leah would be sad. The pack will be incomplete, Seth." she said, her voice tearing.
"Um, Mom," I said, turning my head to face her. "It's going to be fine,"
"It's just that," she said, her voice breaking, as she covered her mouth with her hand. "I will," she paused.
"What?" I asked worried.
"Leah," she began and paused again.
"What did she do?" I asked rolling my eyes.
"She, ugh, why am I crying? I knew this was going to happen. My kids are growing and they need to live their lives. I can't be selfish. I need to be happy for my children. They are great individuals." she said, as she reached her into her pocket and retrieved a wrinkled facial tissue. "Ugh, I'm such a mess."
"What wrong, Mom?" I said worried. She gave me a sad smile and then kissed my forehead. "Why are you so sad?"
She pulled out a chair that was next to me and sat. "She is moving out of the house. Leah, she decided that La Push wasn't enough for her."
"She is, but," I paused, drying the tears that were falling down her face. "Mom, I'm sorry."
She nodded and took my hand in hers and gave it a motherly kiss. "Jake and Leah decided to move in together." she stopped and wiped more tears that were falling down her face. "Le-Leah, she is so strong and I am glad that she is taking control of her life. She is a great girl. I'm just worried about her decision to move in with Jacob." she said, as she inhaled a deep breath.
"Why? Jake's still in high school." I said puzzled. "He has Nessie, she is still his imprint."
"I know, but he wants to be near your sister." she said. "I don't know Seth, but maybe imprinting is not so important. He cares for Nessie, but he just can't be away from your sister. I am worried about them. What if-"
"Don't say it, Mom." I said. I feared that if my mom said the words, she was going to jinx Leah's and Jake's relationship.
"She got accepted into the University of Washington."
"She did? I didn't know that she'd applied. I'm glad for her. She needs a change."
"She did and she is moving to Seattle. I mean, the school year doesn't begin until January and that is in three more months. "
"Oh," I said, feeling sorry for my mother's pain. "Mom, I won't be leaving to Brazil until January. We still have some time together."
"I know," she sighed. "I know." she paused, placing her hand on my forearm and smiling dejectedly at me. "It's just that, you leaving, Leah and Jake moving out of La Push... I feel lonely and sad. I miss your father. The anniversary of his death is today and I just feel so sad. I loved him very much. I lived with your father for almost twenty three years, Seth. I can't just start a new life and forget him."
"I know, Mom. You won't be alone," I said, smiling sympathetically at my mother.
"I have friends, Charlie, you and Leah, I know." she said, bobbing her head.
"Mom, you have Charlie," I said, kissing my mother's forehead. "I know you care for him."
"Seth!" she said surprised.
"Mom," I chuckled. "I know about you and him. There is no need to hide it. Leah and I know. We've seen you and Charlie get closer and I swear that I don't mind. You deserve someone that can make you happy. I've seen you smile so happily when you are with him. It's been a long time since you've been happy, Mom. You should give yourself a chance... I know that Dad would be happy if he knew that you are moving on."
"I'm not hiding anything, Seth. Charlie and I are just friends."
"Sure," I said, returning my attentions to the papers in front of me. "So, are you going to sign the papers to let your son go to Brazil."
My mother sighed and laughed heartedly behind her tears. "Why do you want to go to Brazil anyways?"
"To become educated." I said, as I filled in my address in the portion provided.
"Why, Clearwater?" My mother said, as she jabbed my side with her elbow.
"Because I want to see the world and learn and about life."
"Is Cheskie going?"
"Yeah," I nodded.
"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" she asked seriously. I looked down at the paper and bit my lip. Was it the right thing? Yeah, anything for my girl was the right thing.
"It is," I said solemnly. "If I don't go, she will be stuck here in La Push and not live her dreams. I'm just trying to push her... she won't go anywhere if I'm not there."
"That would be her choice." my mother said, shrugging.
"I don't want that to be her only choice. I want her to live a happy life. I want her to explore the world and live her life. And the only way that dummy will do it is if I am beside her."
"Wow," Mom laughed. "You must really love her."
"With all my heart." I said seriously.
"Your father always thought that she was your soul mate, but he feared that he was wrong and you would've hurt her if you imprinted on someone else."
"He did?" I asked curious.
"Yeah," Mom said, as she took a paper from the pile that I had set to the side and began skimming through it. "Your father loved that girl as much as he loved Leah. He said that you and her were kindred spirits. I always saw how attentive little Cheskie was to you. You were her personal sun. You used to follow Mercy when she was pregnant with Francheska around. Anywhere she went, little Seth followed. Mercedes (Cheskie's mom) always joked around that you two were going to be married. I should've seen it coming." Mom said, her voice trembling.
"Mom," I said, turning my body so I was facing her. "Don't cry, please." I took her hand in mine and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I can't help it. I miss the simplicity of our lives, sweetheart."
"I miss it too, Mom, but things change and change is good."
"Not always," she sobbed.
"Mom,"
"When was the last time you visited your father?" Mom said, changing the subject.
"I don't know." I said, letting go of her hand and shaking my head. "It's been a while. I've been busy." It was a lie. I still felt the guilt of causing my father so much pain. I should've been able to help him. I could've carried him in my arms and taken him to the hospital, but all I did was stare at him dying. I couldn't even bring myself to change and phase back into a human. I was a coward and his death will forever fault my dreams.
"Seth," Mom said, as she snapped me out of my reverie.
"Mom," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "I have to finish filling out this papers by Friday. Can you sign here and there, oh, and here?"
"Sure," she said, eying me. "Only if you promise me that you are going to visit your father's grave."
"Fine," I said annoyed.
I grabbed the papers from the table and placed them on a neat pile and sighed. She would only sign them if she knew that I went to visit my father's grave. I had to bring back at least five pictures that proved that I had gone to visit my father's grave. I agreed, because I knew that I needed to dedicate sometime to my father, or at least, meditate on his life. Secondly, I wanted my mother to sign the papers. I wanted to go to Brazil and be with Cheskie.
After agreeing to do what my mother wanted me to do. I went upstairs to take a shower and get dressed. When I was done, I had something to eat and headed out the house. I drove to Cheskie's house and parked my Mustang in the driveway and tried calling her cell phone, but she didn't answer. I walked up the cobblestone pathway and up the front porch steps and knocked on the door.
"Coming," I heard Dai's voice. He opened the door and stared at me quizzically. "Dude," he said confused. He folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorway. "What a little liar!" he whispered.
"Dai," I asked, raising an eyebrow and staring at him confused. "Where's Cheskie? I tried calling her on her cellphone, but she didn't answer."
"I don't know." Dai said, shrugging. "I thought she was with you."
"With me? No, I've been at home filli-um, doing some things. I haven't seen her since I dropped her home after school."
"I don't know where she went. She told my mother that she was going to be with Clearwater." he said, shaking his head.
"She said that?" I asked puzzled. Damon nodded and sighed.
"She is not with Leah, because Leah and my mother are out shopping for furniture."
"Why would she lie?" I muttered.
"I don't know. Have you tried calling Claire?" Dai said, as he opened the door wider and gestured me to come in. "Maybe Ches is with her."
"No, I saw Claire at the Ateara's store when I drove by it." I said, raking my fingers through my hair. "She was with Quil."
"Do you think my sis is in trouble?" he asked worriedly, as he trudged to the kitchen and grabbed his plate of food. He offered me some, but I politely declined.
"No, thank you." I said, walking to the middle of the kitchen and smelling Cheskie's scent lingering in the room. "She might be sad." I said, when I saw the calendar that hung by the back door. It had today's date circled. Yes, she was sad and I knew where she was.
"Why do you say that?" Dai asked, as he chewed on his food. "Can you feel her? Is your bond to her that strong that you can actually know how she is feeling?"
"I think," I said, suddenly feeling the pull of my imprint. "She needs me."
"Wow," he said, as he grabbed a spoonful. "Maybe your bond is stronger than the one I have with Emma,"
"I doubt it, it's all the same thing." I said casually. "I know where she is. I'll call you later, letting you know that I found her."
"OK," Damon said.
I ran out of their kitchen and hurried to my car. My heart was beating hard, because I knew that Cheskie needed me. She was in pain and I needed to console her sad little heart.
I literally, followed my heart and it led me to the cemetery where two years and a half ago, we laid my father's lifeless body to rest. I parked my car and slowly made my way to his lot. It was a hard journey. The last time I came here, was with my sister and the parking lot was as far as we made it. Last time I was here, the rain fell softly, mixing with my tears as I remembered my father. Today, it was raining, but the sadness that I felt was doubled. I was feeling Cheskies' sadness too. I armed myself with strength and made my way to his grave. I was a few meters away, when I found her sitting under the rain, her hair covering her face, as her little shoulders shook as she cried. I placed my hand over my heart and swallowed hard. I continued to make my way to where she sat, facing my father's unkempt grave site. She had a bouquet of yellow daisies, my father's favorite, on her lap. I got closer to her and listened to her speak.
"I," she cried, as she leaned forward and buried her face in her hands and sobbed. "I love Seth so much, Uncle Harry. He makes me happy. You would've been happy knowing that he imprinted on me. I told you that he was my soul mate. You knew that we belonged together." she mumbled, as she laughed through her tears. "I am happy with him. You raised an amazing son, Uncle Harry."
There was a brief silence and she shivered and sighed. "Well, enough about, Seth. You probably know all this. He's tall, handsome, he probably weighs like two hundred pounds of muscle. There are girls at school that like him, but he's mine. All mine." she giggled. I could smell her tears mixed with the rain. I should console her, but this was her time to be alone with my father's memories. "He spoke to the girls that were bothering me, because they don't do it anymore. He protects me and I feel so blessed."
"Um, well, I really should stop talking about Seth. Well, let see, oh yeah, my dad. He stopped going hunting. He says that it's not the same without you. Paul tried to go with him, but they returned the same day. Paul has no patience. Sweet-cakes is dating Rachel Black. Oh, and Dai, I know that he is a werewolf, just like Paul and Seth. Dai is dating Emma Young. They make a cute couple. They all look cute together. I like Rachel and Emma so much. They are fun and they make my brothers happy. You know how crazy I am about my brothers... I still have that brother complex, but it's not as bad as before. Now I have Sethy, he is, wow, my happiness... I don't have anything else to say... oh, I forgot, I want to go to Brazil. I got accepted to go for a semester to Brazil. I want to go there, but I can't leave him. I can't leave Seth. I can't leave him alone. What if I break his heart? What if he gets so sad that I- no, I can't think about it. It hurts too much to imagine a day without him. If I go to Brazil, I might die of sadness... I won't leave him. I won't make him sad!"
I sighed and walked closer to where she was. "Cheskie," I whispered, when I was close enough. "You are gonna get sick, princess." I said, as I sat behind her and accommodated my legs around her petite physique and brought her back against my chest. "Francheska," I whispered in her ear. The rain was still falling, but somehow, it was good. It was good to hold on to her and wrapped my arms around her. I was holding my life source. I felt complete and somehow, just somehow, my heart felt at ease. She snuggled closer and sobbed quietly.
"Seth," she sobbed. "What are you doing here? How did you know I was here. I didn't tell anyone."
"I needed to come and visit my father's grave. I also knew that you would be here."
"Why?" she said over her shoulders. Her wet black hair clung to her pretty face. I tucked a few loose strands of hair away from her face and kissed her cheek. "You never come to visit your dad's grave..."
"How do you know that?"
"I try to visit him every Tuesday in the afternoon." she said. "I have been busy with school in the last couple of days and since I started dating you, I haven't been able to keep his grave pretty. Plus, Sue tells me to make you come and visit your father."
"She does?"
"Yes," she nodded. "In the summer, but I don't want to force you. I think that you should come on your own."
"Thanks for understanding." I said, kissing her lips. She wrapped one hand around my waist and brought me closer to her.
"Anytime." she said against my lips.
"Where did you get those flowers?"
"I bought them." she said shyly. "I usually steal Ms. Smith's daisies from her garden in the summer. She is mean and she hated your dad for not helping her clean the gutters of her house one fall. So I don't feel sorry for stealing them. Uncle Harry didn't like her, so it's fine." she laughed sadly. "But during the fall and winter, my mother buys me yellow daisies for Uncle Harry. I bring them here and we talk about things that are happening in my life."
"Sneaky girl." I laughed, gently kissing her lips. "Why didn't you tell me that you came here to visit my father's grave? Maybe I could have come with you."
"I don't know."
"Well," I said, my face turning grave. "I think that you should've told me. I could've come with you to keep you safe. I could have carried your burdens, shorty."
"I, there are things that only he can hear. Things that you can't know."
"Like what?"
"Seth," she laughed. "It's personal. I can't tell you. They are about you and only Uncle Harry and I know."
"So, it's so personal that your boyfriend can't know."
"Yes, that personal."
"Fine,"
"Seth, hold me tight, please." she said sadly. "Give me your heart, your hand and soul." she said, as she leaned her head against my chest. I did as she asked and leaned my head on the crown of her head. She smelled like a field of flowers mixed with the ocean breeze and the saltiness of her tears. "Feel my heart. It beats just for you. I love you." she said, taking my hand and placing it against her heart. "I've only loved you, Seth and I will die loving you. It's always been you and me."
"I love you too." I said, hugging her tightly. "It has always been You and me, Cheskie."