Ness POV
"Yup, let's jump into the lion's den," I sighed into Seth's chest. I was at the same time the happiest person in the world and the most scared. I held everything I could ever want in my arms. He pulled me towards the door and I could feel a weight fall on my whole body. It's not like they could say no, I tried to reason with myself. They would have to be alright with it. I really wasn't their little girl anymore. We stood outside the front door and I stared at Seth.
"Lets do this," he muttered. I kissed his cheek. I opened the door slowly. Mom and Dad were on the couch watching a movie. They looked over and smiled. Their faces dropped at our somber expressions.
"Hey guys," Mom tried to sound happy, "What's up?" Dad dropped his gaze as his jaw went tight. He already knew.
"We have something we need to tell you," I started. Seth squeezed my hand and stepped in.
"Edward, Bella, I asked Nessie to marry me," he paused and I saw Mom's jaw drop. It was deathly quiet in the house. I felt my heartbeat flutter nervously as it precariously drummed on the edge of a heart attack.
"Seth, I think you should go home now," Dad finally muttered through clenched teeth. I clung to Seth's hand tighter than before.
"Edward, I'd rather stay and talk about it. I know you understand this and how I feel about Nessie. I can't leave her here to fight with you guys," Seth gulped as Dad growled gently deep within his chest. We stood locked in this position for a few minutes that felt like an eternity.
"I see lots of things Seth. I see what just happened with my daughter and I have to admit, right now it is taking all of my energy not to rip your head off."
I shuddered at the thought of my Dad seeing what had just gone on at the main house. Dad snapped to Mom. "Why would you put your shield up now?" He stormed around the house. Mom just stood there looking at us grimly.
"I love him, Mom," was all I could manage to mutter. She continued to stare at me as Dad slumped into the couch with a furrowed brow.
"Then you can wait, at least until after you graduate," she sighed and looked at Dad, "That seems like a reasonable plan right? She's going to get married one day Edward, you can't stop her, and I don't think we should try." He huffed even more and turned to us.
"Do you even have a plan? What are you going to do? Just live with us and keep going to school year after year? Our family is getting hard enough to hide."
"Dad, why are you doing this? This is one of the best days of my life," I couldn't hide the whimper in my voice and tears starting to spill form my cheek. I could feel Seth tense next to me, unsure of what to say or do. Dad just stood there, stoic. Mom grabbed his hand and stared at him.
"I think you're too young! This is ridiculous! You've been alive for eight years. Thats it. A fraction in time," he stormed. I stared back, narrowing my eyes.
"What do you want? Me to wait a hundred more years? Then its perfectly acceptable?"
"No, he doesn't want that," Mom growled and shifted her eyes at him angrily, "I think it would be best if you waited though. This is a huge step. Why don't we take a step back, make a plan, see where this takes us before we jump in." Dad heaved a heavy sigh. I felt Seth relax. I wish I could have.
"You're going to loose me over this," I whispered as I turned to walk out the door. Seth looked sheepishly between my back and my parents faces. Mom's shoulder's slumped as she looked at my dad eagerly. He set his jaw.
"We just need some time to relax and get used to this," Mom muttered. I pulled Seth out of the door and towards my car. He climbed in silently as I drove down the driveway, not sure where we were going. The only thing I felt was a tearing at my chest as the tears cascaded down my cheek.
Edward POV
I watched Bella flop on the couch, her head in her hands, still and unmoving. I felt as if my chest were going to burst. My little girl wanted to get married. She wanted to leave, to grow up. I closed my eyes and sat down next to my wife.
"Why?" She whispered. I just shook my head. "Why Edward?!" she yelled. I just sat there as she stared at me, anger radiating from her body. I couldn't stand the hurt look in her eyes. I felt my chest get more weight added to it. "Fine Edward, I hope you're happy to drive our daughter away. It must be some reason." She got up to walk away. I grabbed her hand and looked up at her. She grabbed my hand in her palm and stroked my chin. "I am not going to choose between you and my daughter. I know you'll do the right thing." I scoffed under my breath and pulled her onto my lap and held her against me. I kissed the top of her head as she tucked herself under my chin. I could feel her sob gently.
"I, I don't want to loose her," I whispered.
"Then just be supportive," Bella muttered into my chest.
"I mean, I don't want our family to be separated anymore. We all can't stay together anymore if more members are added to the family. Look at us now! Rosalie and Emmett live in another city, people barely believe that we're nineteen. Ness looks older than we do! I don't know how long we can keep this up for. I don't want our family to disappear." I heaved a sigh as Bella raised her head to look at me.
"You're going to separate us if you don't fix this. Even if you're against this Edward, you have to let them do what they want. You of all people should know how much they love each other."
"I know. She's just so young. If we were normal, she'd be eight. She'd me running around playing. We got that taken from us, I don't know if I can handle her being taken from us so soon." My beautiful wife stared at me and her eyes penetrated me deeply.
"Edward, if life was normal, I wouldn't have you. We had her. That in itself is a miracle that I feel blessed for everyday. She isn't being taken from us. We could take a vacation, travel, see everything I haven't yet. She won't leave us unless you make her think you hate her decisions."
"I think we need to talk to them," I whispered. She smiled and brushed my lips. I tightened my arms around her.
"Let her vent for the night. She'll be home tomorrow and we can figure this out." That sounded reasonable. We sat there in silence, drowned in our thoughts. My phone vibrated, "Come get Ness," from Seth. I showed it to Bella and she jerked me along. I never thought I'd hear her asking me to drive faster.
Seth POV
We zoomed along empty highways and I yearned to reach over and hug Nessie tightly. She gripped the wheel tightly and tears glittered on her cheeks. After an hour of driving and silence, she parked outside of a gas station somewhere in Canada. She still held the wheel tightly as sobs shook her whole body. I leaned over and tugged at her hands on the wheel. It took more energy than I thought to pry them off. She grabbed my arms and I pulled her to me instinctively. I could feel her tears on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her snugly and she clung to me. I tried to console her, but words escaped me.
"This will not be ok, Seth!" she yelled between sobs, "my father hates me right now. I just left my own mother standing there. I don't even want to see the look on her face. They hate me. I'm losing them." She whispered as she pulled away from me. I stared at her, her deep brown eyes searching mine. I couldn't help but hurt over the pain in them. "I love you Seth. Why won't they just be happy for us?"
"I, I uh, I never meant to do this. I didn't think about your family's reaction," I started to utter. I stumbled over words and excuses. "You don't have to choose." She stared at me as tears filled her and her jaw set.
"It seems I can't have both. My family is who I am," she told herself. I stared at my hands, not realizing what was happening. "but I love you and I need to follow what I know is right." she whispered.
"I wish you wouldn't say that right now," was all I could muster. She stared out the window more.
"I need my family Seth, I won't be the one who tears them apart, but they need to understand that I need you in my life." Silence sank against us. I sat there with my brow furrowed trying to figure out how today I had everything I never knew I wanted, and now I was going to be leaving it. "I love you, and you are my family, and life now." she confirmed.
"I won't be the one who makes you choose, or tear you all apart." I whispered as I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out.
"Seth?" Ness stared at me and reached to grab my hand. "What are you doing?" I stared into her eyes.
"I'm making your life easier, and keeping your family together." I heaved a sigh and looked into her eyes one more time. She caught her breath and her bottom lip started to tremble.
"No," she repeated for a minute, "No, no no, no. You are my family. I, I need you Seth. I don't care what they say or if they approve. I know what I want. You're what I need." She pleaded as tears glazed her cheek. I couldn't handle this.
"Ness, you need your family. I love you, but I won't be the reason for you to abandon them." She started to plea. I turned and started to walk away. As soon as I ran far enough away I heaved myself onto the ground and let my chest crush upon itself. She would understand one day, but for now I needed to run. I texted Edward before I shifted, "Come get Ness" and left the address. I threw my phone as I shifted and ran away from my whole world.
Leah POV
"Jake," I pushed his shoulder to wake him up, "Jake, go check the door." He mumbled and wrapped his arms around me tighter as his breathing remained steady. "Jake!" I yelled in his ear. His eyes shot open.
"You're just as much of a werewolf as I am, you can take whoever is there." He smiled and closed his eyes.
"You're right. I guess I can handle myself in other areas as well, for a really long time," I smugly retorted as I started to get up. He shot up and pushed me back in bed as he pulled on a pair of shorts.
"Um, no let me get that." I smiled in victory. I waited for what seemed like forever.
"Who is it, Jake?" I questioned as i threw on Jake's boxers and a shirt. I shuffled into the dimly lit living room. Seth sat on the couch, eyes sunken in, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts.
"Seth! What are you doing here? What's wrong?" I looked back and forth from Jake to Seth. Jake just shook his head. "Seth! Tell me!"
"Leah, I asked Ness to marry me," I stared into his eyes, now filled with pain at the mere mention of this fact, "Edward flipped, Ness was afraid, so I did what was right, I won't separate her family, so I left." He hung his head. I reached over and wrapped my arms around him.
"Shh, its ok," He sobbed against me.
"I love her, Leah, I love her," was all I heard. I looked up at Jake and nodded towards the guest bedroom. He walked away to get sheets and clothes to put in there.
"Seth, we can figure this out in the morning. You need to go to sleep. You can talk to her tomorrow." He started to shake his head.
"I can't do that. Clean break. She needs to get along and not hear from me, so her family can stay together." I rubbed his back and led him to the back room. My little brother looked like a haggard mess. His hair was messier than normal, his eyes were black, and pain stuck around his eery movement.
"You'll see clearer in the morning light," I whispered to him, "But you're welcome here as long as you like." He hugged me and I turned to leave.
"Thank you," he muttered. I walked into my bedroom to find Jake sitting on the end of the bed with his head in his hands. I swept in and put my arms around his shoulders and kissed his cheek.
"What's wrong?" I begged. He turned to me and I could see hurt in his eyes.
"Why is he doing this? Why is Edward ruining things again?" he rested his head in his hand. I shook my head, not understanding. "He is just going to let Nessie get hurt. She loves Seth. He loves her. Why is he doing this?" I rubbed his back as we sat there in silence.
"We will call Bella and Edward tomorrow and get this straightened out, but Jake, this is between Ness and Seth. I hate to see him hurting, but he feels he's doing the right thing. He doesn't act impulsively. He thinks things through, and if he's made up his mind, I know there is a slim chance of changing it." Jake started to shake with anger.
"I can't believe how easy it is for that bloodsucker to ruin everything constantly." He wrapped his arms around me. "I thought we were all finally free from this. I thought we were starting fresh. I guess the past haunts you no matter how far you run." I tucked my head against his shoulder and nodded in agreement.
"I've never seen Seth so hurt," I whispered.
"I know this has to hurt you," he kissed the top of my head. "But I promise that this will all work out." I couldn't help but think of how much more likely that our family was already fractured and wasn't going to be fixed.