I realised I don't do this enough, so here goes: A BIG, HUGE, MONUMENTAL THANKYOU to my reviewers. Seriously, whatever you write, I'm grateful. Just knowing you take the time to press that button and tap on those keys means so much to me. Thanks, Love and Cheesy Grins; Gina xxxxxx

"It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is you."

—

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Chapter Twenty-One: Forks

I couldn't hear the chatting people, the screaming kids or the shouts of the kitchen staff. Time had stopped, but there were a hell of a lot of people in this burger bar.

Too many.

In that split second after I noticed Al's switched composure I was scared to touch him, scared to act in case the slightest movement set him off.

When his body straightened, and set in a frozen stance that I knew could turn into a pounce at any second, time was up, and I was right. As soon as my fingers encircled his arm he was gone, thrashing forward into the crowd of people before us. Someone shrieked and I threw myself in front of him, pushing my hands down on his shoulders and digging my feet into the ground as I pushed him back. He was snarling past my shoulder, his eyes dark and distant. As I fought him backwards I took a breath in. There was no exposed blood, but there were at least a few people in here who smelled exceptionally good. For me all this was no unbeatable temptation, but for Al, who'd never experienced this before it had to be too much.

He lunged forward again and I felt my footing slip. Instead of letting myself drop to the floor I pulled up on where my hands gripped Al's shoulder, swinging my knee into his ribs with all the force I possessed. He snarled, buckling momentarily, just enough time for me to wrap my arms around him and wrestle him through the parting crowd and out of the door.

Outside he was too strong for me. I couldn't hold my arms around him as he squirmed and thrashed, so I just settled for clasping both my hands around one of his wrists and dragging him round the back to where there were only dumpsters.

There was nobody else around but Al continued to pull against my desperate grip on his wrist. I tugged against him until the resistance disappeared and he spun, crashing into me and sending me flying to the floor.

When he was on top of me I became very aware of my own heartbeat.

I tried to wrap my leg over his so I could flip our positions but he was too strong, and my grip keeping him a safe distance above me was starting to fail. I could hardly recognise the hungry eyes that gaped down at me, and with the strain of keeping him off me I couldn't shout or try and calm him. So with the last amount of energy I had I pushed my palm harder against his head and projected a deafening scream for him to stop what he was doing. Al shuddere, the force he was putting against me weakened and I used it to flip him and wrapped my legs over his chest pinning his arms beneath my knees. He still thrashed and grunted beneath me, his legs pounding painfully against my back. With a screech I pushed both my hands against his forehead projecting whatever came to my mind.

I showed him himself, and stressed that he was not the person squirming beneath me now. I showed him his family, and I told him he could fight this, I told him he didn't want this, he wasn't a killer and I used my lack of thirst to try and hide his. After a while he was still, and the sense of relief that my gift had proved useful for once was short-lived as I looked down into his eyes. Though they were less angry, more focused on me, they were still onyx black.

"Come on, quick." I jumped up, tugging Al with me and raced across the back of the lot to where a mass of trees started. When I eventually caught the scent of an animal I let go of Al's hand and watched as he raced towards it. Clapping my hands on my knees I bent over and tried to steady my breathing.

After making sure Al had fed twice, I caught the first thing that I came across for myself before leaning back against a tree, closing my eyes and taking deep breaths.

"I'm so sorry." Al stood a few feet away, staring at the ground beneath my feet, a look of pained guilt across his face.

"Al, don't be. It wasn't your fault, I should have thought, I should have been more careful." I alone knew the effect Al's separation from Brice would have, yet I'd been careless enough to think he'd be okay.

"But what I did, what I wanted to do. I've never felt that before." He shook his head, and the expression of disgust he felt for what he did made my heart wrench.

"Exactly. It was new to you; you didn't have time to suspect so it just took you over. Don't beat yourself up over this, Al."

"But I would have killed them all! I didn't care, I could've, and wanted to kill them all. What does that make me?"

"Give me your hand." His eyes darted up to meet mine, before they sunk back down again and he shook his head. "Al, come here and give me your hand." I held mine out to him and he complied, walking towards me slowly his hand slightly outstretched. I took it, wrapping his fingers around my wrist. "Do you feel that?" He inhaled deeply through his nose and nodded slowly, "That's my pulse. That's my blood, the blood you've lived with all this time and never had trouble with."

"Because of Brice."

"No! Because of you, because you're a good person. What about in the car when you took me to Bigfork, or on the way here? Al what about when you first found me? Brice wasn't there those times. And then Sonny, you were alone with Sonny when he was a baby and Brice had to go away with Oz to help him adapt. It was you, Al."

"And if you weren't with me then, Smee, what would have happened? You got me out of there and you calmed me down, you were the one who stopped me then." He shook his head and started peeling his fingers away from my wrist, with a disgruntled sigh I pulled him back, spinning around and backing him against the tree trunk. "Listen, I'm not gonna let you mope about this. Nothing happened, nobody was hurt. Everything's fine, let's just forget it ever happened, okay?" He looked into my eyes, his finally that gold that I'd so greatly missed in the mere minutes it had been gone. "Okay?" He nodded and I wrapped my arms around his neck, scoffing when he rubbed my back and murmured,

"I didn't hurt you did I?"

"Barely. You're not as tough as you think, pretty boy."

{--}

We dashed back to the car, eager to avoid running into anyone and steering clear of the burger bar, needless to say I'd lost my appetite for a Cheeseburger. Al was silent for a while, but I didn't mind too much, he was allowed to process, just not to feel guilty.

"Can I ask one thing?" He'd been quiet so long that it made me jump a little,

"Depends what it is." I grinned when I saw a smile sneak across his face, glad he was doing as I told him.

"How did you know what to do? I mean, one second I could've …." He looked over and his eyes travelled me, his fingers tightening around the wheel. Killed me, that's what he could've done. "And the next, what you did and what you showed me just bought me back."

"I'm not sure. I just, I know that when that happens, it's impossible to think, let alone think about what you're doing. I guess, I just did your thinking for you. You're welcome!"

"So when you think about it, us, all of us, we're like a perfect combination to control thirst. Like, you can appeal to the better nature, Brice can take the burn away …"

"Cora can hide the smell, and then if they ever lie about feeling the thirst, you'd know about it, which in turn, would lead to Oz dragging them miles away from civilisation in a second flat. But what about Sonny?" Al laughed,

"Sonny's the bait. We slice him, and stick him out there to test our theory."

{--}

The sky turned grey with the arrival of the evening and my stomach started to do somersaults as the magnitude of what was happening started to hit me.

"How far do you think you could run?" I twisted my head, chewing my lip as I pondered Al's question,

"I'm not sure, why?"

"I was thinking we just park the car somewhere now, if we run we could probably get the rest of the way faster." I shook my head quickly,

"No, that's not the plan. We're stopping outside a place called Port Angeles. You're staying with the car, and I'm running into Forks." He exhaled through pursed lips, shooting me a sideways smile,

"What, you embarrassed to take me to meet you're Grandpa?"

"Whatever my motives, Al, you're gonna do as I tell you." He chuckled, raising his palms against the steering wheel and shrugging in defeat.

"Okay, okay. How long do you think you'll be in there?" I sighed, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. There were things … people, I could run into in Forks that would make whatever time I spent there very difficult. But I had to see Sue and Charlie. I had to feel something for those who loved me so much. Sue must have been so scared when she heard of Charlie, especially after losing Harry to a heart attack less than ten years ago.

"I have no idea. Just give me twenty-four hours and promise you won't come looking for me."

"Twenty-four hours! A whole day?"

"Yes! This is important, I need to do it right, it can't just be some quick visit." He shook his head and dropped back against his seat, "Look, I'll be fine, and if I'm not, trust me I'll be straight out of there." He bit down on his bottom lip and shook his head again,

"What do you mean if you're not fine? You'll be safe there right?"

"I guess, I mean yeah, of course. But, it's been a while, I really just don't know what to expect." I was suddenly terrified. I had no idea who'd be in Forks when I got there. He twisted in his chair, averting his eyes from the road to stare into mine,

"Put your shield down and tell me nothing in Forks can hurt you." I bit my lip, not sure what saying that would do, not sure if it was a lie or not. When I hesitated he twisted back in his seat and stared back down the road, "This is ridiculous. This isn't okay, Smee."

I pulled my knees under me onto the seat and leaned over resting my arm on Al's shoulder,

"I'm going to my Grandpa's house in the town where I grew up, what bad could happen to me? Okay, so there may be things there that I'd find upsetting but that's it, nobody there wants to hurt me. I'm a big girl, Al. I can take care of myself." He looked me over from the corner of his eyes before sighing and nodding.

"So, you're Grandpa knows what you are?" I scowled and dropped my chin on my arm where it rested on Al's shoulder. This was him seeing how much he could find out, and for once I wasn't completely uncomfortable with telling him.

"Nobody's ever flat out told him, but he knows I'm … special." Al smirked,

"Well you're definitely that! So, he's your mom's dad?" I sucked in a deep breath,

"Yeah, yeah he is."

"And how long has your Mom been, y'know, a vampire?"

"Since the day I was born." As I answered I removed my arm from Al's shoulder and moved to sink back into my seat. He stopped me as he wrapped his fingers around my wrist and pulled me gently across the console that was between us until I was sharing his seat; half sat on his leg. The arm he didn't keep on the wheel snaked around my waist and he pulled me tight.

"The day you were born?" I let my head rest against his chest, feeling the exhaustion of today finally catching up with me.

"Yeah." He nodded and I saw the knuckles of his hand go white as he clenched them around the steering wheel.

"Dya think she'll be there? Is that what you're worried about?" I recalled what Renee had said, she and Edward were "travelling", so I doubted she'd be in Forks, she hadn't been back there in years anyway.

"I don't think so. I'm pretty sure she won't be."

"What about your dad?" I snuggled deeper into his arms. Though being close to Al was comforting, the temperature of his body added a surreal feeling of irritation to talking about Bella and Edward.

"What about him?"

"I dunno, you've just never mentioned him so I don't know if you even know him. I mean, are he and your Mom still together?" I was surprised when I giggled a little,

"God yes. I'm sure they're very much still together, I'd never doubt that for a second." His head fell back and she shook his head again,

"You're such a little mystery, Smee."

"Are you done questioning me for now then?" He smirked, leaning down and kissing the top of my head,

"For now."

{--}

I fell asleep with my face against Al's chest as the sky turned dark.

For the couple hours rest I got I didn't dream of anybody attacking me, or hurting me, but that night I had the most painful dream of my life.

That night I dreamt of arms, wrapped around me just as Al's had been when I drifted off. But in my dream I didn't sleep, I couldn't, I didn't want to miss one second of smiling up at the beautiful face sleeping inches from mine. Though Al's arms were comforting, I could feel they were cold. But the arms that covered me in my dream were warm, warmer even than my own.

That night I dreamt of Jacob Black.

{--}

I woke, gasping and breathless, an ache in my chest almost reducing me to tears.

"Woah, Smee, it's okay, it's me, it's Al." I blinked and looked across to the driver's seat, where I was no longer seated. Al leaned over, "We're here. Port Angeles, just like you said." Outside was a mass of trees and the sky had fallen into complete darkness.

"What time is it?" I rubbed my eyes and arched my back, stretching in my seat.

"Almost eleven, we made good time." Eleven. Too late to go knocking on my Grandfather's door? I considered waiting until morning, but the anxiety was already creeping in and I figured if I attempted to wait in this car until morning, I'd just end up asking Al to take us back to the Mausoleum. I popped down the overhead mirror and ran my fingers through my thick hair and looked down at my clothes which had a fair share of wear and tear to them after having to scrap with Al. The bag I'd packed with Cora's help was on the back seat and I grabbed it before pushing open my door and sliding from the car.

We weren't even in Forks and I could smell it. It had rained recently, of course, and the forest was damp. I'd run through these woods so many times as a kid. When images of who I'd run with came to my mind I pushed them back.

"I'm gonna go change." Al nodded from inside the car and I started a slow stroll into the trees, not bothering to go too far in.

I dressed quickly and avoided having to sit in the mud to pull on my treasured flat, black boots. Shoving the clothes back into my bag I rolled my eyes and smiled when a little voice in my head told me to fold them neatly, a voice I could only assume was born from Cora. I ignored it though, and jogged back to the car.

"How do I look?" Al's eyes darted up to me quickly, before dropping nervously down to the steering wheel.

"Uhhh … great, yeah, you look great." I eyed him suspiciously as I threw the bag back on the back seat, then looked down at myself. I wore skinny grey jeans, a white tee and dark jacket. I sighed and wrinkled my nose when I figured I could have chosen my ensemble better.

"Oh no, I look like a biker or something." I groaned and brought my palm to my forehead, I should have dressed nicer, worn something people are supposed to clean up and wear when they go visiting Grandparents. Al got out of the car and rushed over to me, resting his hands on my shoulders.

"You do not look like a biker. You look beautiful. And this is not you worrying about clothes, Smee, clothes don't matter." I looked up into his eyes and smiled,

"You're right, I'm just nervous I guess."

"Don't be. If you're nervous then I'll panic. Now, you have you're phone right?" I pulled it from my back pocket and waved it before him. "And I have mine. So if you need me, you call me, promise?" I nodded and let him pull me into a hug. "Good luck."

I ran through the woods, all the time breathing through my mouth as much as I could in an attempt to block out any familiar scents. I avoided both the Cullen, Black and Old Swan houses by taking back routes; routes I could take blindfolded I knew them so well. I slowed to a stroll when I reached Charlie and Sue's house. Staring up at the light that came from the kitchen it all felt so unreal, I could hear Sue humming slowly, and a sound of splashing water that I figured was her cleaning dishes.

I approached the steps to the familiar house slowly. Taking a second to breathe deep and gather my thoughts. The door swung open before my fist could knock on it, and a deep growl came from the one who had opened it,

"What are you doing here?!"

{--}

Though the snarl was slightly suppressed, the intense anger across the face of my greeter was severe.

"Hello, Leah." I was only slightly surprised at the confidence in my tone. I was more so surprised with the confidence I actually felt. I wasn't fazed by the surroundings, or Leah's aggressive presence, just inches away from me. She backed away slightly when a call came from inside.

"Leah, who's at the door?" It was Sue. Leah bent back towards me quickly before whispering,

"I swear to God, Cullen, if you hurt them again I'll rip you to pieces." I wanted to delve deeper into her threat, to find out what she meant. But just then Sue came behind her. She had not changed at all, but for a few extra inches to her hair. When she readjusted her eyes to the waning evening light, her mouth slipped open. She stood frozen for a second, before quickly sliding past Leah, wrapping me in her arms.

"Oh Renesmee, my girl, we've been so worried." I felt it then, a slight pang of guilt. It was only small, but it was something. Sue pulled away, cupping my face with her hands. She studied me meticulously as though she were looking for any damage. I could have been brutally deformed and I doubted she would have been able to notice through the tears swamping her eyes. She pulled me back to her, kissing my forehead repeatedly and sobbing, "Oh Sweetheart, thank God you're alright."

Sue led me past the glaring Leah and into the Kitchen. I stood still with my eyes shut, breathing deeply to gather in the scents around me. Through the open window flowed the piny scents of the woods, mixing in with the ocean breeze. A vanilla scent, probably originating from some recently distinguished candle came before the scent of Apple Pie. Sue's Apple Pie. I waited for any emotion the reminder of this scent would bring, but none came. The final scent however, did cause my breathing to freeze. The musky scent was undoubtedly familiar, though it was laced with something strange, something medicinal. I opened my eyes and looked in the direction of its source. My Grandfather was sat in the chair on the other side of the small kitchen. His elbows rested on the table before him and his mouth hung open in shock.

"Hi, Grandpa"

Sue took my hand and guided me over to him. Leah came in and hovered in the doorway, for this I was glad. Now I could keep an eye on her, make sure she wasn't sneaking of to inform anybody of my presence.

I screamed at myself internally for thinking like that, this was my Grandfather, I should be feeling was my Grandfather, though not as I knew him. His skin was paler than usual, and there were dark circles under his eyes. His familiar moustache now spread into an untidy stubble that covered his gaunt cheekbones. Beneath the blanket that covered his thin frame, a thick cast covered his right leg. He turned towards me, dropping his hands into his lap, his shocked eyes fixed on mine. He was entranced by my eyes, and their similarity to his daughter's just as he had always been. Sue leaned closer to him to speak.

"Look Charlie, its Renesmee. She's come home." A second wave of guilt hit, this one stronger than the last. I prayed to whoever may be listening that they would not have their hopes set too much on me being back for good. I placed my hand in Charlie's as moisture filled his eyes. As he squeezed my fingers in his, as though checking I was real, he blinked, releasing the liquid as one tear down each cheek. He swallowed hard and swatted the tear away, shaking his head a little before clearing his throat.

"I can't believe it's you." His voice was strained, almost unfamiliar. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling myself close. As I buried my head into his neck I begged myself to feel something. It used to be so simple. I'd hug my Grandfather and be so overcome with love for him. Immeasurable love because he was the one human element in my life. The only one, who despite the fact did not fully know what I was, loved me unconditionally. But there was nothing, and as I brought my forehead against his, I was forced to pretend.

"I missed you so much, Grandpa."

{--}

There was a lot of silence.

I sat firmly upright in one of the wooden chairs, Leah directly opposite me, leaning against the wall, her glaring eyes never moving from me. In her current state it was very hard to recall the overwhelming sorrow I had once felt for her. Sue's chair was pressed against Charlie's, both their eyes fixed on me. I just waited, twiddling my thumbs, desperate for somebody to break this horrible quiet. I hated myself for what I was feeling, but in that moment all I could think of was Alvar, and how much I wanted to run to him, to go home. I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my teeth, this was my home one, and nobody here had ever done me any wrong. I was unbelievably grateful when Leah decided to speak.

"Well, refreshing as this silence is, I think it's about time the Princess filled us all in a little. Where the hell have you been?" She spat her words out violently, lacing them with an aggressive sarcastic undertone.

"Leah, stop." Sue sounded tired as she pleaded with her headstrong daughter.

"Mom, no!" Leah banged her fist against the wall, leaving a deep dent in it without even flinching. "After everything she's done, everything her selfishness has caused how can you just sit here and welcome her back with open arms?" Charlie spoke in his strained voice again, his eyes still fixed on mine.

"She's our Nessie, Leah." It was a short, simple statement, but it sent a bolt through Leah; causing her to briefly double over in frustration before she launched herself out of the back door. Sue leaned over to me, taking one of my hands in hers.

"I'm sorry you had to see that sweetie, she's just been very worried about you."

"It's ok, Nanna," the term seemed so unnatural to me that I repulsed myself, but I forced it out with a smile. My internal hatred was building for my indifference to those who so clearly loved me. Along with my building hatred came my building unease, my body felt giddy in its want to run to Al. I had to try and keep from shaking as the want to be in his comforting arms almost consumed me. "I think I should talk to her." I raised myself slowly, my knees slightly unsteady. As I turned towards the door left open by Leah's force, Charlie cleared his throat.

"Renesmee, this is um, well it's up to you but, is there anybody you want us to call?" I span quickly at his question, realising who he meant by somebody.

"No!" I adjusted myself quickly, realising my tone had been too firm. "I mean no, I'd prefer it if nobody else knew I was here." Charlie just nodded slowly, as did Sue.

{--}

Outside Leah's scent took me to the beach, where she sat on the edge of a huge rock, her legs swinging gently. The smell of her, the scent of what she was caused me to double over a little as the memory of last night's dream burned through me. I approached her; the scene's likeness to the one I had been shown of her by Victor adjusted my attitude slightly. Though it felt like another lifetime ago, the reminder of the broken Leah, sobbing on the beach, was enough to spark a familiar sympathy. When I walked behind her, she threw a glass bottle to her lips, gasping a little as she swallowed the liquid, which reeked of alcohol. I could sense her words cumulating as she turned her head slowly to me. No doubt she was ready to fill me in on everything I had missed since I'd been gone. I stood waiting, until a hardly distinguishable whisper passed from her lips.

"You have no idea what you've done."

Nessie's in for a bit of a rude awakening Next Chapter;
Leah Clearwater tells it like it is, and where Renesmee Cullen is concerned she has a lot to say.