Characters aren't ours, everything else is.

Chapter 24 Fresh Perspectives

-ε- Bully

Several hours, a fair amount of sweat, and one hell of a workout later, I felt good. As good as I could under the circumstances. I hadn't been able to talk to Bella yet, and I was anxious to hear from her. She had to know about this Demetri guy being dead. Plus, she had her visit with Kate, and if my conversation with Garrett was any indication, I assumed it couldn't have been easy.

The locker room was filled with typical banter. The fencers in the club were all at different levels in the sport; only a few of were at the international level. Everyone followed though. Buzz was particularly loud surrounding a German guy. I knew him; I'd faced him. I'd defeated him. Apparently, he was surging though, practically unstoppable. I smiled to myself, but I could see the glances toward me. Then the whispering began.

"He did win Nationals."

"Yeah, but he's got too much going on."

"He looks pretty good."

"Pretty good isn't World Champion."

"I suppose. Good old Team USA still isn't quite there yet, are they?"

"How could we be? We can't compete with football."

I waved and nodded to them all when I left. I knew their eyes followed me out the door, and I maintained my usual swagger. I was used to pressure and speculation. This was nothing new. But I made a mental note for my upcoming meeting with my agent. That was the sentiment we all had; we were a second rate sport. It was time increase our value. I was starting to believe I could play a role in that.

"Edward, got a minute?" Laurent was standing outside the locker room door. It was almost déjà vu from my meeting with Irina earlier.

"I have somewhere to be in about a half an hour."

"This will only take a minute," he insisted. He blocked my path and glowered at me. "Worlds is coming up so when you coach asks to talk, you might want to check your priorities."

I resisted the urge to attack. His move was a clear offensive strike, but I didn't know whether it was a feint. I could parry and riposte, but I had a feeling he'd redouble. He might be a good coach, and I might be known for my offensive strategies, but he had to know better than to underestimate my defensive ability.

I opted for a pass and followed him to his small office.

"What do you need, Laurent?" I stood by the door, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.

"Why don't you sit down?"

"You said this would only take a minute, and I have a meeting."

"With?"

I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes. "What difference does it make?"

"Just asking," he retorted.

"My agent."

"Oh good. Did Irina talk to you about some of her ideas?"

"Briefly."

"She knows a lot. Amazing what she's picked up taking care of you all these years."

The language did not escape me, and it didn't impress me. A big part of me wanted to tell him to fuck off. I knew that my success had to be good for the club and for him. He'd seen a steady trickle of up-and-comers knocking on his door. He'd come to depend on my success; it was the best marketing tool he had. The problem was, it wouldn't help our coaching relationship, and I still needed that. Unless I was willing to move, this was the only place I could train, and obviously, moving wasn't on the table at the moment.

"Was that what you wanted?"

"No, but I'm glad you're taking more interest there. You really could bring a lot of attention to the sport." He seemed to wait for a response. When I gave none, he continued. "I thought we should watch some tapes soon, and work up a bit more competition for you before Worlds."

"Fine. Whatever you think is best."

"Edward, get rid of the chip; you wouldn't be where you are if it weren't for me."

It was a final straw of sorts. "And Irina right?" I said.

"It wouldn't hurt you to show a little humility."

"And it wouldn't kill you to give a little praise. Listen, lots of people helped get me here, and I don't discount that. Don't act as if I am some kind of slacker who got a free ride. Anyway, right now, I'm going to be late. I'll be in same time tomorrow. Have a revised schedule ready then."

It was weird. If it weren't for Bella, I would have transferred clubs already. I would have gone anywhere. Then again, if it weren't for Bella, I wouldn't give a shit about Laurent. I saw things differently. I'd always responded to his negative strategies in the past; they just didn't motivate me anymore. They hadn't since before Nationals. He could gloat; he could take the credit; he could take on clients, but he wasn't responsible for that win.

Garrett was. And I think Laurent knew it. He was grasping at straws to keep me in place, but each time he reached out, he just pushed me further and further away.

I shook it off. I checked my messages one last time to see if Bella had called, and I headed off to meet with my agent. I still wasn't posing naked for a calendar, but Irina did have some good ideas; I was going to need some help to pull it off, though.

-β- Comfort

We stopped outside of Kate's room. Jasper's hand clasped tightly in mine.

"You okay kiddo?"

"Not really, but it's not about me right now," I could hear the hum and clicks of machinery through the open door. "J, I don't know what to say. This is all my fault…"

"You know I love you, but you really need to cut that shit out. It's as much your fault as it is mine. If it didn't happen to us, it would have been someone else. They weren't going to stop until they got to Alec. Simple as that. Now stop beating yourself up. We have a friend who needs us."

Jasper pushed me forward into Kate's room with the promise to wait for me in the lobby. She was propped up in her bed, eyes closed. An angry purple bruise marred her left cheek, a sharp contrast to her pale skin and blonde hair. Dark, angry moons were carved out under her eyes, making her appear so incredibly fragile.

Before I could take in anything more, Garrett leaned forward into my view. He sat in a large chair by the window, his usually immaculate hair disheveled, his clothes wrinkled.

"She just fell asleep," he whispered.

I nodded and moved toward the bed, trying not to over analyze the myriad of tubes attached to Kate's body. I brushed a strand of hair away from her face, and sat down in the chair by her bed.

The monitors continued to hum and click. There were so many of them. I had never spent much time in hospitals, which was ironic given both of my parents suffered violent or drawn out deaths. I had so much experience dealing with loss, but had no clue how to deal with someone who needed to fight, who was going to live.

"He's not going to hurt you anymore, Katie," I whispered. "He can't hurt anyone anymore."

I let my head rest on the edge of her bed, suddenly too tired to fight anymore. This was all so wrong. All we had done was try to help a defenseless kid who had been getting the shaft. And what had we gotten in return? Nothing but grief and heartache. Nothing but loss.

A hand on my back pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Come on, she's going to sleep for a while. She needs it." Garrett held his hand out to me, waiting for me to stand.

I grasped his fingers and stood, letting him guide me out of the hospital room and into the hallway. Garrett hesitated, running his hand through his hair, totally at a loss for what to do. It was odd to see such an assertive, confident man lost. He truly did love her, and without her by his side, he foundered.

"Come on; let's go grab something to eat. I could use some caffeine, to be honest with you." I pulled Garrett forward, down the hallway toward the cafeteria.

"I can't leave her," he insisted, his eyes focused on the door to Kate's room.

"She's sleeping; she'll be fine. Come on, you need your strength if you are going to stand watch around the clock."

We walked slowly toward the cafeteria, and I never released Garrett's hand. It felt strange, holding on to someone who wasn't my brother, Edward, or one of my kids. But I felt an odd connection to Garrett. A kinship. He was just as wrapped up in this mess as the rest of us were, and outside of Kate, I wasn't sure if he had anyone to lean on. We all had someone. Family, friends, spouses. They only had each other.

"Sit. I'll grab something," I instructed, taking charge in the in only way I knew how. "Coffee?"

"Black, please." His voice was rough, raspy, and it brought back fuzzy memories of waking up after the shooting. The anger, bitterness and abject despair when he spoke had been so tangible. Now it was just a ghost, a lingering glimmer of a man devastated by loss.

I hurriedly put together a small tray of food and coffee and returned to Garrett. He sat staring out the window, not really seeing anything.

"My mom was a big believer in comfort food. Whenever I had a bad day, she'd make me something special to help me feel better," I pushed the tray to the center of the table. "I didn't know what you liked, so I got a little of everything."

"What do you do when you have a bad day?" Garrett asked quietly.

"Well, on a regular bad day, I have been known to go after the hot fudge with a spoon. I also keep an emergency stash of thin mints."

A flicker of a smile lit up his face. "I used to dip bread in warm milk and honey."

"You have to eat, Garrett. She needs you to be strong."

"She's so much stronger than I could ever be, Bella," Garrett leaned forward, his face hidden in his hands. "She didn't even know she was pregnant. Chalked it up to stress."

"I could tell you stories that would make you cringe. Let's just say I'm not surprised; she was always late. I used to tease her that her menstrual cycle was as laid back as she was. That typically earned a 'shut up, Swannie.'" He smiled again, but it was so sad, and I felt impotent to change anything. "What did the doctor say about her injuries?"

"Just that she was lucky to have Felix there. He saved her life. If he hadn't stopped the bleeding and applied pressure to the wound, she wouldn't have made it. Bled out, cardiac arrest, six of one, half a dozen of another." He glanced off in the distance, his gaze growing contemplative. "I owe him her life. I owe him everything."

"But she did make it, Garrett. She's going to be fine, right?" It wasn't a question, more of a statement. Kate would be fine. There would be other chances. And if they wanted them, other babies.

He sighed and leaned back in his chair, one arm draped loosely over the side. "Yes, she'll be fine. But I can't let anything get near her again. I've almost lost her twice. Once due to my own stupidity, once due to my own arrogance. I won't risk a third time."

"Garrett, you can't take responsibility for this…"

"Why not, you are." his eyes were narrowed, waiting for me to deny it. "When she's out of the hospital, I am taking her away from all this. Somewhere I can take care of her and keep her safe."

"You might want to talk to her about that before you go Cro-Magnon man on her. Kate doesn't usually like not having a say."

He actually smiled at that. "True. She doesn't like being bossed around. She'd probably tell me off right then and there."

"And you wouldn't have it any other way." I reached out to grab his hand. "You are a good man, Garrett. She's lucky to have you. She loves you a lot."

"You love her too. That's what makes her so strong. People always underestimate the impact that love has. Amazing how something so simple, so intangible can have such a far-reaching impact on people's lives."

"Is that a bad thing, Garrett?"

He shook his head and stared out the window. "No, Bella. It's not bad. Just new for me."

"It's new for me too. But like you told me once, we figure things out. You two aren't any different than Edward and me. You belong together. So long as you focus on that, nothing else matters."

Garrett squeezed my hand, but didn't meet my gaze.

"You never cease to surprise me, the two of you. You may actually be worthy of this after all."

-ε- Loyalty

I knew it was coming, and intellectually I had prepared myself for the fact that travel was imminent. When the days passed, and my training schedule ramped up, the reality hit harder than I expected. Things were settled, but not settled, if that makes sense.

"Are you sure you can't come along?" I pleaded again. I knew Bella joining me on the road trip wasn't at all logical. It wasn't as if I had tons of free time to spend with her, but I simply despised the idea of her being so far away from me. It went against everything in my nature not to pull her in close and not let her out of my sight, but my desire to protect her had to be tempered with what worked in reality.

"We've been over this. Yes, I'm sure. I have to work, and if you want me to come to Worlds then I have to sit the rest of these trips out. We made the decision, and pretty soon I'm going to buy that damn ticket to Turkey just to shut you up."

"I know, but still . . ."

"Edward. I'm staying at Jasper's; everything will be fine."

"You keep saying that."

"And you don't appear to be listening. It really doesn't seem like I'm a target anymore."

"No one knows for sure."

"No one knows anything for sure, but we can't just stop living. I have plenty of people looking out for me here, and friends I want to look out for myself. You need to focus on you right now."

"It almost seems like you want me to go." I meant it as a joke, but I wasn't entirely sure how it came out.

"Well if you keep up this whining and moping, I'm going to kick you out." For second I thought she was serious until she couldn't hold back her smile anymore. "You know I'll miss you like crazy, but you go do what you do best, and I'll be here waiting when you get back."

"Are you sure fencing is what I do best?" I asked leaning in to kiss her neck.

"You're going to miss the plane at this rate."

"It would be worth it."

"From emo to perv in ten seconds flat. Must be some kind of record."

"Hey!"

She shook her head and laughed at me. I raised my hands in surrender, and kissed her one last time before heading out the door.

In the grand scheme of things, the shooting had only been a couple of weeks ago. Normal things like road trips should stop, shouldn't they? It was a constant struggle for me to figure out what to do with that. Big things were happening. Life-changing turning points, and I just kept fencing. And you know what? I liked it. All of it. Despite the awful things we'd been through, I liked my life. I was enjoying fencing too. More than I could ever remember.

Part of the fun was in the efforts I made to hook up with other members of the national team. The 'fan' base wasn't huge, but if we could combine them, network them, make strides, maybe we'd become more visible. Irina helped me set up a blog. So on this road trip, I had to take pictures and journal my experience. It was picking up traction. At least in the insulated world I knew. I had hits from all over the world already. I had always been so completely inside myself when I competed, and I found that having the external focus was good. It made me see it all so differently, including the competitors. I still planned to kick their asses, but they weren't just "them" anymore. There was an "us."

Things with Laurent had not improved much. Mostly, I was avoiding him. I'd gotten pretty good at it. Quick showers, packing up rapidly, going to bed early, ordering room service.

I assumed that's just how it would be. I thought it was probably for the best. Maintain status quo until after Worlds, and then see. I admit a part of me was hoping Garrett would my reconsider my offer to train with me. He might be something of an unknown, but I almost wondered if down the road, he and I couldn't start our own club. In the meantime, I thought we could have a good coaching relationship, even if he had no international experience; he motivated me more than any coach ever had. But it was all just a pipe dream. He had worked with me a few times, but he simply refused to go on the road with me. He would not leave Kate. A part of me was jealous of that freedom.

"You're the talk of the club."

I had been packing up equipment when Laurent approached me.

"Why?"

"Your blog. It seems to be attracting attention."

"That's good right? What we hoped for?"

"Yes what 'we' wanted. Speaking of 'we,' have you thanked Irina for the idea?"

I couldn't say why it took me so long to put it together. When I looked back, she'd been central to every conversation we'd had in the past few months. It was probably the combination of so many emotions that led me to react the way I did.

"Why are you so concerned about her? Are you fucking my stepmom?"

"She's your ex-stepmom, Edward," he said.

"First of all, even though she's divorcing my dad, she'll always be my stepmom. Secondly, that didn't answer the question," I urged.

"No, and I don't intend to dignify it. If you think she's the kind of woman to hop into bed with another man that quickly, then you're looking at the wrong mother."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Don't you think it hurts her? To give all of those years? To see them together all over the place?"

"It isn't like that." I didn't know what it was actually, but it was so natural, something beyond their control. He made it seem so contrived or strategic.

"Really, how is it, Edward? Are you really telling me there isn't something between them?"

Of course, I couldn't deny that, and I knew it had to be hard on Irina. But it wasn't anything I wanted to justify with Laurent.

"This is really none of your business."

"I'm making it a goal to be my business. She's too classy to go out with me now, but I'll bide my time."

"You know what? I can appreciate you defending someone you care about. I get that, but you're my coach, Laurent. You will not attack my family or me again. It has nothing to do with fencing. And you sure as hell better stop bringing whatever personal feelings you have toward my mom and dad into my training. "

"Or what?" he demanded.

"You already know the answer to that."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's whatever you want it to be. I'm simply stating the facts. I'm not going to work with you if you keep attacking me every chance you get. I know Irina got screwed over. I know I treated her like shit. We're working on it. Our way. Our time. This is a family matter, and you need to stay out of it."

I stormed out. I was so pissed I ended up going for a run despite being exhausted. I felt like a damn seventeen-year-old being scolded. I'd made so many changes, and he didn't see any of it. It took me hours and a phone call to Bella to calm down.

And when I did, all I wanted to do was sleep. Before I did, I managed to update my blog. In it, I thanked Irina for the help setting it up. Laurent was an ass, but even I could recognize a good point when I saw one.

-β- Family, Friends and Acquaintances

"You know, I am really getting used to seeing your mug around here, Felix."

He stood in my doorway, two cups of coffee in hand.

"What can I say, I like you guys," he placed the paper cup on my desk and settled into my visitor chair. "Willing to share an update?"

In the three weeks since the shooting, Felix had become a consistent fixture in my professional life. He stayed in close touch, offering help as I wrapped up the report on Demetri Pushkin's failed paternity claim. He and Rose had also helped to expedite the exhumation of Harry Clearwater so that a posthumous DNA test could be performed. Pending its outcome, the way would be clear for Vera to adopt Seth formally.

Over the course of our working relationship, Felix began to ask questions about Edward. At first it was awkward, and I suspected an ulterior motive. That was until I realized that Felix was a closet fencing fan. Very simply, he was a fan boy.

"I was one step worse than a military brat," the term seemed so odd coming from him with his usually formal, proper speech. "My father was a career diplomat, so I grew up all over the world. He was assigned to Greece when I was young; that's where I was exposed to fencing. I always enjoyed it, but I was never good enough to make anything of it. I follow the sport where I can and had the good fortune of attending the summer Olympics in Beijing with my father before he passed away."

"It must have been cool growing up all over the world," I observed as I took a sip of my coffee. "And quite a nice experience to have with your father. I am sorry about his death."

He bobbed his head in acknowledgement. "In a way, I am sure my childhood appeared glamorous. It was isolating, though. I have friends all over the world, but nowhere really to call home. I keep an apartment in Maryland, but I'm at headquarters so rarely it feels like a hotel room. So much about my life is transitory."

"What will you do when this is over? Will you be assigned somewhere else?"

His smile was enigmatic, and he didn't answer.

"Yeah, I get it, you could tell me but then you'd have to kill me. I've had enough death and destruction for one day, so you are off the hook, Felix."

He smiled and leaned back in the chair. "No, I'd just put you in witness protection. Speaking of which, any results on the DNA test yet?"

"No, they were rushing it, so I am hoping later this week. When it all comes back like we expect, Vera will be able to file a formal petition for adoption next week. They'd already gone through screening and placement reports as his foster parents, so another sixty to ninety days and he could officially be theirs."

"Just in time for Christmas," Felix observed. "I can't think of a better present than that."

"I can't agree with you more. He's doing so much better lately. Vera says he's really coming out of his shell."

"I'm glad there is the potential for a happy ending for him."

"You and me both. It was scary there for a while, but he's going to a happy, loving home. I refused to settle for anything less with him."

"He's lucky to have you in his life. I am a big believer in fate, karma, whatever you want to call it. Someone pushed you in that boy's direction. You helped save him."

I pushed my chair back from my desk, laughing. "Don't go getting all metaphysical or philosophical on me. I simply did my job. Now come on, you can walk out with me. I have a meeting with Seth's new teacher. He's a big fifth grader now, you know."

We filled our walk with simple pleasantries. Edward's competition status, rankings going into Worlds. The conversation was easy, comfortable. I don't know what surprised me more, how at ease I'd become talking about Edward's world, or the fact that Felix was genuinely interested.

"I'm parked this way, so I'll…" I broke off as a familiar form caught my attention.

"Hello, Bella."

"Hi, Tanya. What are you doing here?"

"I was meeting an old friend for lunch, but plans changed."

Shifting her attention from me to Felix, she smiled politely and extended her hand, "Tanya. I'm an acquaintance of Bella's."

"Felix, acquaintance of Bella's also." He took her hand, squeezing it gently.

I caught a slight narrowing of her eyes at the contact, and a faint blush tinged her cheeks.

"The one who saved Garrett's Kate, no?"

"I'm not so sure about save, I simply helped until the paramedics arrived."

"You're very noble. Most men would run with that sort of credit."

"I'm not most men."

Their verbal rally moved faster and faster, Tanya pushing, Felix refusing to be thrown off course. I quickly faded into the background as they traded questions and responses. It made me feel like a strange sort of voyeur.

At the first opportunity available, I interrupted their conversation. "I'm sorry, but I really need to excuse myself. I'm going to be late," I turned quickly to Felix. "Thank you for the coffee. I'll pass along your well wishes to Edward. Goodbye Tanya, it was nice to see you."

As I walked away, I could hear them continue to banter back and forth. Each one trying to push the other, to provoke a response. I couldn't help but laugh at how much they sounded like Edward and me. It made me laugh. That could be one hell of a pairing if their verbal sparring was an indication.

It would have been so easy to become jaded after the experiences of the summer. But as I looked around me, it seemed like everyone had fallen into their natural place. Jasper was nuts about Alice. I had Edward. Carlisle and Esme continued to try to work things out. Kate had Garrett, her knight in shining armor. If things worked out, Seth would have Vera.

And maybe, just maybe, Felix might have some motivation to stick around now, too.

Yes, everything seemed to be working out for the best after all. What was the old saying?

Everything in life happens for a good reason?

Maybe it was indeed the case.

- τ - Speechless

I don't. Um. Well, I just didn't know what to think. I guess I felt a little, uh, flustered.

Whew. Deep breath. What was it with these humans today? Or maybe it was me. I'd never seen them as anything but pawns in a very intricate game before. I'd reaped plenty of benefits over the years, don't get me wrong, but whatever happened when I met Felix was weird. I actually hunted down the winged arrow shooter and demanded the little weirdo tell me if he'd been commissioned.

I suppose he could have lied, but he'd dealt with my wrath enough that I doubted it.

Was it possible that the instant connection came unassisted? I wasn't entirely sure I could trust it. If anyone knew how quickly love could become a distraction, I did. Felix didn't appear to be a mole, but then again . . . he had begun weaving his own threads, saving Kate, befriending Bella. Charming me. It was possible that it was all a coincidence. Yes, sometimes that happened; I just needed to be cautiously optimistic.

The Fates will be expecting the usual from me, and I understand that. While there are different kinds of love, I am really at my best when it comes to passion. It's what I was made from and for. The Fates had put this little boy in the middle of so much chaos, and somewhere in the middle of it all, I realized, I wanted to try something new, something special. In part, it was to prove I could, and in part it was because he deserved a love story too, a different kind of love story, but still a happy ending all the same.

Regardless, I was definitely going to have some fun while it lasted.

E/N:

Do you hear that maniacal laughing? That's the three of us sitting back and laughing…all those bad vibes about Felix, eh? Hehe…And we are extra evil, as the Tanya's fourth challenge went into play, and only a handful of folks guessed it

MastaBeta Legna's fabulous One Shot – the Good Mother is in competition over at http://www [dot]fanfiction [dot] net/u/2043851/LesFemmesNoires – go show her some love!

1. Tanya – Love Life

- Edward and Bella DONE

- Alice and Jasper DONE

- Carlisle and Esme

- Seth & his adopted parents

2. Garrett – Get a Life

- Win Nationals DONE

- Edward grows up DONE

- Jasper grows up DONE

-?

3. The Fates – Save a Life

- SUV 'accident' DONE

- Attempt to get Seth DONE

- Attack at the Diner DONE

-?