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Chapter 25

Jasper Hale

"That couldn't have gone much worse." Billy said despondently.

I could almost taste his disappointment.

"I'll go after her." Seth offered.

"No, Seth. Let her be. She needs some time to come to terms with this." Carlisle was firm in his refusal.

There were so many emotions in the room at that moment. I had to try really hard not to let them overwhelm me. Esme was almost as disappointed as Billy, but for a completely different reason.

"Rosalie, Emmett." You need to talk to Bree about her language. I just won't tolerate that level of cursing in my home.

"Mom," Rose retorted. "I think we have much bigger fish to fry here than Bree's emotional outburst.

She was right, for once. I doubted I'd ever felt anything like the amount of fury that came from Bree when she realised what she was being told. She'd also felt very let down by all of us. We had to question whether or not we'd handled the whole situation appropriately. Right now, it didn't feel like we had.

"I understand that Rosalie," Esme retorted. "But you and Emmett... you allow Bree to get away with far too much at times. She needs to know her boundaries. She overstepped the mark tonight."

"Rose is right, sweetheart." Carlisle told Esme. "I'm sure they'll speak to Bree about the way she reacted and tell her that cursing is not acceptable, but she was very upset. We need to sit down and discuss where we go from here."

The tension in the air was palpable. Everyone was feeling a multitude of different emotions. I just hoped that I'd cope with all of them.

"I'm so sorry," Billy began. "I was wrong to think that she'd consider all of this as good news. I guess I was just hoping that she would at least accept the situation for what it was."

"It's not your fault, Billy." Bella assured him. "I'm sure Bree'll come round. She's a smart girl. She's just been given huge news. It will take her some time to process all of it."

"Bella's right, Billy. Bree will come round." Alice went to Billy and put a soothing arm around his slumped shoulders.

I felt genuine affection from both of them in that moment.

I felt Carlisle's slight nervousness before he asked his next question.

"Emmett, Rose, you're the closest to Bree. What do you think we should do now? How should we progress from here?" He asked.

I felt he was anticipating one of Rosalie's epic tantrums and he was relieved when it didn't come.

"I think we should take your advice, pops." Emmett answered. "I don't think she'll go far. She just needs to clear her head a little. We'll give her an hour, Seth, would you mind going after her then? She might talk to you; tell you how she's feeling?"

"Of course, Emmett," Seth agreed immediately. "I'll do whatever I can to help."

Emmett looked at Edward who nodded. I reckoned I'd understood their silent exchange. Seth wouldn't want to break any of Bree's confidences. He'd do his utmost to hide his mind from Edward. He'd be unable to help himself when he phased though. Edward would be able to extract that information from either Jake's mind or directly from Nessie as Jacob would tell her anything she wanted to know. Sneaky.

Bella spoke next.

"Jake, have you taken all of this in?" She asked.

He looked a little bewildered. His emotions were confused.

"You've found my aunt. Dad is happy. Bree is angry? Is that about the size of it?" He asked.

"Jake, son," Billy implored. "I've met my little sister again, she's sick but she's getting help, thanks to Bella and Edward. I can't thank them enough for that."

"Alice," Jacob looked at my wife. "Can you see where this is going?" I felt Jacob's desperation. He didn't want to take any side in this.

I felt Alice concentrating on the future beside me.

"All I can say, Jake is that there are tough times ahead." She said. "Bree will not be as accepting of these changes as we'd like. But my feelings lead me to believe that it'll all work out okay in the end."

Jacob nodded. "Well, like Seth. I'll do whatever I can to help keep things as peaceful as possible."

"I appreciate that, son." Billy told him. "I'd love you to come visit your aunt with me tomorrow. Would you like to do that?"

"Sure, dad. That'd be cool." Jake answered, not quite mustering the level of enthusiasm that Billy was hoping for. Billy hid his feelings well though.

I felt total confusion from our youngest family member. Nessie had no idea what had just happened and she was a little afraid too.

I shouted my thoughts to Edward, who picked up on them instantly.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" He asked her gently.

"I don't know, daddy." She said quietly. "I don't really understand. Who is Nadie? Why is Bree so angry? Will she come home?"

Her confusion and worry for Bree saddened me.

"Oh Baby," Edward soothed. "You have absolutely nothing to worry about. Let me explain. Nadie is Billy's sister. She ran away from home a long time ago because she phased when she came across your Aunt Tanya. She was very frightened by that experience and so she fled. Then she met and married Bree's daddy. He wasn't a very nice man and once she had Bree, she left her with her daddy. Since then she's felt very, very guilty about leaving her little girl. She feels so bad about it, she drinks alcohol to forget. She is really a nice person, but she's sick. Your mom and I found her. She's seeing doctors now, in a hospital. They'll make her all better and Billy is very happy about that. Bree, on the other hand is angry at her mom for leaving her. It might take a while for Bree to forgive her momma."

"Mom," Ness started. "You won't leave me, will you. I love daddy to the moon and back, but I don't want you to leave, not ever."

Nessie was sitting in Edward's lap with Bella beside them both. I heard Bella's breath hitch and she gathered Nessie to her in a flash.

"Renesmee Carlie Cullen," she almost cried. "I love you and your daddy to the moon and back too. I will never, ever leave either of you."

"So why did Bree's mommy leave her then?" Nessie asked.

Carlisle stepped in.

"Nessie, what you need to remember is that Bree's momma was very young. She had no money of her own and Bree's daddy wasn't a very nice person. She felt she like had no choice but to leave for her own safety. She believed Bree would be better off with him, because at least that way, she had a place to live."

"Grandpa, do you mean that Bree's momma had nowhere to live when she left?"

I felt Nessie's shock at something she clearly found incomprehensible.

Bella took over, her maternal instinct to protect her daughter rolling off her.

"Darling, what you need to understand is that not all people are as fortunate as we are. We have a lovely home and a lot of money but some humans are a lot less well off. You know that Bree and I are starting up a drop in center?"

Nessie nodded.

"Well that's to help people like Bree's momma. They might be homeless or just a little bit down on their luck and need somewhere to get a meal or just get out of the cold." Bella continued.

Nessie's confusion increased.

"But mom, if you and Bree want to help people like Bree's momma, then why is she so mad at her?" It seems to me that she'd want to help her own mom more than anyone else?" Nessie questioned.

"Sure, you'd think that, but Nessie, Bree is angry with her mom for leaving her. So this situation is a little more complicated. Do you understand?" Bella asked

"Not really," Nessie replied honestly. "But it doesn't matter. I know Bree, she won't stay angry for long, will she Jakey?"

"What... er., no. I don't think she will." Jake answered, giving the answer he thought Nessie would most like to hear, as always.

I for one hoped he was right.

Emmett turned to Seth then.

"Seth, do you want to go see if you can find Bree?" He asked.

"Sure Em. I'll go now. I'll find her and bring her home, even if it takes all night." Seth replied.

"Thanks Seth." Billy said sincerely.

"Do you want any help?" Jake asked.

"No, thanks but I think I should go alone. I wouldn't want her getting scared off. or running further away." Seth replied, heading out the door.

Seth Clearwater

I'd never seen Bree so angry. It seemed to me that she felt more annoyed about being kept in the dark about what had been happening with her mom than she was about the fact that she'd been found. Only time would tell. I hoped I'd find her quickly and prayed that she'd talk to me, let me in and help her if I could.

She hadn't gone far at all. I found her in the woods next to Charlie's house. She was sitting on a large tree stump just staring up at what used to be Bella's bedroom window.

"Penny for them?" I asked as I approached.

She budged up and allowed me to sit down next to her. I ran my hand through her hair and left it sitting loosely on her shoulder.

"Why was it so different for Bella? Her parents broke up but they both loved her enough that she had a room in both their homes."

She looked utterly despondent and my whole heart went out to her.

I rubbed her arm gently, thinking about the best way to respond. I turned towards her and kissed her forehead.

"I don't know, sweetheart." I told her honestly. "I guess their circumstances were different. I... I mean Charlie didn't beat on Renee, did he? Renee wasn't frightened of him and she had somewhere to go when she left him. Somewhere she could take Bella and make a home for them both."

"So why didn't my mom take me with her? Why did she leave me with him? He was a monster, Seth. He made me do all the chores and he hit me when I didn't do them to his satisfaction. When I got old enough and he started to... well you know, make other advances, I knew the time had come. I had to leave. I didn't have a cent but I didn't care. I had to get out of there."

My temper soared. I had to fight the urge to phase. I was just glad the Bastard was dead because it saved me the trouble of having to kill him. Which I undoubtedly would have.

"It seems to me that your mom didn't have much of a choice either, Bree." I felt her take a sharp intake of un-necessary breath, so I continued quickly. "I bet she thought that he wouldn't ever hurt you and that he'd step up to the mark once she left. What I'm saying is I don't know, can't know why she left you behind. You have all of these questions in your head. There's only one person who can answer them Bree. I know you don't want to see her or have anything to do with her but maybe you'll have to see her, even if it's just the once. When you get your answers, then you can decide how you feel about her." I shrugged my shoulders.

Suddenly Bree turned and kissed me. It was a long, lingering, passionate kiss and I enjoyed it immensely. When her body pressed right up to my own, I pulled back from her. It felt wrong. I knew where this might lead and I also knew that this was a great opportunity because none of the rest of them were looking for us, or expecting us back any time soon. But I was well aware that I could be accused of taking advantage of her emotional state. I was determined that when we made love for the first time, it wouldn't be down to an irrational reaction to something. It would be because we loved each other and wanted to show our love in the most natural way.

"Bree, I should get you home." I said. "Rose and Emmett are worried sick. They all are." I assured her.

"Even Uncle Billy?" She asked. "I bet he hates me right now."

"No Bree," I answered, standing and offering her my hand. "No one hates you. They understand that you are angry. They know they didn't handle things in the best way either. They're upset that you feel let down by them. But mostly, they just want you home."

"Well, I suppose I'll have to face the music at some point." She sighed, taking my hand. "It might as well be now. Will you stay with me Seth? I don't want to face them on my own."

"Of course I'll stay with you, silly." I promised. "Oh and you should maybe prepare yourself for a lecture on your choice of language. Esme was not happy about that."

"Yikes." She said. "Thanks for the warning."

And with that we headed back towards the Cullen home.

A/N so how did I do. I really liked this chapter and hope you did too. Please send some love to Courtney0624 who pre-reads for me and even more to Kymbersmith90 who is the best and quickest beta out there.

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