Hey Readers!!! Ok, so I tried to upload this yesterday, however, it wouldn't work. I was so upset that it wouldn't work! So, after much aggravation and time away from the computer, here it is. Thank you to all of you that have taken the time to review! I love you all!! Also, a big thank you to those of you that have put me on your alerts and/or favorites lists. Now, here is the next chapter. I hope you like it.
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Disclaimer: Nope! Still don't own Twilight!
Chapter Twenty-Three
SPOV (Seth's story)
I watched as my mother's limp form crumpled towards the ground. In that instant, everything seemed to stand still. In that instant, my world appeared to be tearing at the seams.
I quickly lay down, signaling to Nessie that she needed to climb down. After she was safely off my back, I quickly phased back into my human form; I really didn't care that I was naked in front of all these people. I quickly threw on my cut offs and collapsed on the ground.
Nessie quickly ran over to me, and I scooped her up into my arms and clutched her to my chest for dear life. Sobs shook our bodies and tears streamed down our faces as I rocked us back and forth, desperately trying to hold us together. My eyes never left the lifeless form of my second mother.
I could tell that the others were talking, but I had no idea what they were saying. I was unable to make out the words, and to be honest, I really didn't give a damn. The world around me no longer existed. I just held onto my little sister, trying to calm her, even when I was incapable of doing the same for myself.
I hadn't even noticed I had been picked up off of the ground until we started moving away from where Bella lay.
"NO! We have to stay here! You can't take us away! We need to stay with her! We need our mother!" I screamed franticly as I panicked. She wasn't going to wake up if we weren't here! She had to wake up! She had too.
"Mom! Mom, wake up! Please, mom! We need you!" I begged her unconscious form as we moved farther and farther away from her.
"I want my momma! Take me to my momma! Please, Sethy! I want my momma!" Nessie shouted as she clung to me for dear life, her little body shaking. But no one listened to her.
I had no words to answer her, so I tightened my hold on her and curled around her protectively. She may have the intelligence of that close to an adult's, but she was still really only ten months old, and right now that showed.
In her mind, I was sure that she processed and knew the same thing that I did. Our mother was dead. But she just couldn't handle that, couldn't accept that.
She is so young, too young to be left without a mother. Bella is the only parent Nessie had known for the first eight months of her life. Yes, she has Edward and the rest of his family now, but no one could ever replace Bella or the bond that the two of them shared.
Before I realized what was happening, we were set down. I looked around and noticed that we were in the guest room, or Sam and Emily's room, of Bella's house, my house.
Immediately, Nessie flung herself at Emily, calling out to her. Her little voice held so much pain, so much anguish.
"Auntie Emily! I want my Momma! Why won't Auntie Rosie let me see Momma? I want my Momma!" She cried as her tiny fist clutched onto the front of Emily's shirt.
I stood there staring at them as Emily began to rock back and forth soothingly, as tears streamed down both of their faces. Emily was at a loss for words, not knowing what to say to the tiny child she held in her arms that would provide comfort.
There were no words.
"Momma wouldn't wake up! Why wouldn't she wake up? She always comes when I call her! I want my Momma!" Nessie cried in a more agonizingly subdued tone.
As I looked on, I saw Rose fall to her knees, dry sobbing. She had no idea how to comfort her niece, let alone how to come to deal with her own pain and loss. Leah, Quil, Collin, and Brandy had tears streaming down their faces, in agony over the loss of a pack member, a sister.
As I stood there, I found myself getting sucked into a memory. A memory that I was able to keep hidden from the rest of the pack, a memory that only Bella knew of. The day my life changed and I was given a second chance, and a second mother.
Flashback
I was in human form and sitting on the edge of the largest cliff. It was two in the morning and I was alone. I had snuck out of the house and slipped off into the darkness unnoticed. I would be fine as long as I stayed in human form. The others couldn't see my thoughts or that I wasn't where I was supposed to be, as long as I stayed in human form.
I was lost. Depressed. Life held little meaning anymore. Ever since my father passed away, nothing seemed right. He was my hero, my role model. We shared a special bond, having to band together against the girls. Sure, I loved my mother and sister very much, but they weren't my father.
I am so angry inside. Angry at God. Why did he have to take my father away from me? What did my father or I ever do to deserve that.
I pushed everyone I knew away. I didn't want to get close to anyone else, just so they could get taken away from me too. I don't think I could handle that pain. The pain of losing someone else I loved, I respected.
It hurt to see the pain in the eyes of my mother and sister every day, knowing that it was I that caused that pain. I was only a burden to everyone, I could only bring pain.
So, that is why I now sat on the edge of this cliff, holding one of my father's old hunting pistols. I would no longer hurt the ones I love.
"Seth?" I heard her bell like voice whisper from behind me. I kept my eyes on the horizon and my hand griping the gun.
"I know it hurts, Seth, but this is not the way." She whispered soothingly as she slowly made her way towards me.
She slowly sat next to me, always keeping her eyes on me, always cautious not to upset me.
I shook my head slowly. There was no other way.
"Talk to me, Seth. Let me help you." She whispered. "You can't keep pushing people away."
"Why not?" I crocked out. "They will all leave anyway, in the end."
"Death is a part of life, Seth. No matter if you are human, werewolf, or vampire, we all can fall prey to it. If we could never die, we would never live." She explained in a calm soothing tone.
"I don't want to feel alone anymore." I cried as I finally broke down, sobs shaking my body. As soon as I loosened my grip on the gun, as quick as a flash, Bella had grabbed it, empted out the bullets and threw it into the ocean.
"You will never be alone, Seth. You have a mother and a sister that love you very much. Pack brothers that are worried sick about you. Renesmee, that just adores you. And you have me." She reassured throwing an arm over my shoulder and pulling me to her. I rested my head on her stone cold shoulder as I cried.
I knew she was right. I wasn't alone. I still had many people who cared for me, a large family. My father would want me to live a full life. But I had to make sure of one thing first.
"You promise that you'll always be there?" I asked as my sobs died down. My voice was small and pleading, even to my own ears.
"I promise." She whispered, planting a motherly kiss on the top of my head.
"Anyway, as I am a vicious kick ass vampire. Just ask Paul." She teased causing me to chuckle.
"Come on. Let's get you home." She said as she lifted me up.
End Flashback.
After I came out of my memories I felt myself drop to the ground, landing on my knees. A load heartbreaking cry of agony left my lips before I could stop it. She promised! She promised she wouldn't leave me. That she would always be there for me. She was a vampire for God sakes. The most powerful vampire! She was supposed to be immortal!
"Leah!" I cried out to my sister as I started to shake uncontrollably. "I-I-I-I can't do this again! I-I c-can't lose her! Not my m-mom!"
Leah was at my side in an instant, pulling me into a hug as sobs shook her own body.
"Shh, Seth. You're ok. Shh!" She cooed to me as she rocked my back and forth. But she didn't understand. No one did because no one knew of that day on the cliffs. Bella didn't just break though my walls and get me to open up. She saved my life. I needed her. She was my mother, my protector, my guardian angel.
"I want my Momma!" I cried out desperately at the same time as Nessie.
I don't know how long we sat there, but I could hear the others whispering. Again, I couldn't understand what they were saying. It didn't matter. But then someone said the one thing that could break through the fog.
"She's alive! Bella's alive!" Jake and Embry screamed at the same time.
My head snapped up and my eyes locked to Nessies. Without a word we shot up and took off towards mom and Edward's room. That is where she would be.
We barreled down the stairs and though the living room, ignoring all the people gathered there. We flew into the room and slammed the door shut, before anyone could even have the chance to address us.
We swiftly made our way over to the bed, where Edward cradled Bella to his chest. We quickly claimed on the bed. Nessie curled up into a ball next to Bella's head and gently laid her hand against her check, as if to tell her something; while I curled up next to her and grasped her arm tightly, silently pleading with her to wake up.
I don't know how long we lay there as we waited for her to wake. Everything was quite, except for the constant low hum of a lullaby from Edward.
Then in a second, everything changed and our prayers were answered.
Bella took a deep breath and then her eyes fluttered open.
EPOV
I felt my world righting itself when I heard the one small sound I had been waiting for.
Bella took a breath.
My eyes locked onto her face just in time to see her eye lids flutter open. Her newly revealed eyes were not the warm golden color I loved, but dark taupe almost black. She needed to hunt; she had used too much energy during the fight.
"MOM!" Seth yelled, relieved.
"MOMMA!" Renesmee squeaked out, full of love, as a picture of her and Bella colored with so much love and longing flashed through my mind. Renesmee was telling her mother how much she loves and missed her.
"BELLA!" Embry and Jacob said at the same time, jumping up from the ground. Their eyes full of relief.
She's awake!
She is alright.
I got my daughter back. My baby girl!
Everything will be ok now.
Oh, thank God!
All is as it should be.
She's awake!
YEAH! My sister is back in action.
Thoughts from the other room were flying through my head. Some I recognized as those of my family, but others I had no idea who they came from. And some were downright confusing. But I didn't feel like getting into that right now. Right now all my energy was on my Bella.
"Bella." I whispered relief and love shining through in my tone.
"Hi!" She said in a small voice, causing Jacob and Embry to start laughing.
"Hi, yourself." I chuckled before turning serious. "You really had us worried."
"I know." She whispered eyes still locked with mine.
"You will never do anything like that again. Are you stupid? You could have been killed!" I said, angry that I almost lost her.
"I'm sorry." She whispered softly, her eyes shown with pain. Pain I caused. God, I am such an ass!
"I'm sorry. I just can't live without you. You are my life, Bella." I whispered, burying my head in her neck and taking in her scent. Reassuring myself that she really is right here, in my arms.
"I love you." She whispered, kissing the side of my head.
"As I love you." I whispered back, kissing her neck.
I sighed after a minute. The thoughts from the living room were screaming in my head. They wanted to see Bella for themselves, and Alice was telling me that she was going to burst into the room and drag us out if we weren't out there within the next two minutes.
"We better go meet the masses. The pixie is threatening to come in here and drag us out if we don't come out soon." I sighed. Alice growled when I called her a pixie and Bella laughed.
"Ok. There is much to talk about anyway." Bella said as if she knew something that the rest of didn't, before wiggling out of my grasp and standing up.
I growled and recaptured her waist. Renesmee jumped into Bella's open arms and nuzzled right into her neck. Seth was on her left, clutching her hand. Jacob and Embry fell into step right behind her as we left for the living room.
"BELLA!" Alice called as soon as we came into view and launched herself at us. Her tiny body was wrapped around Bella, and subsequently Nessie.
"Hi, Alice." Bella chuckled, kissing the pixie on the head.
"Don't do that to me again!" Alice said sternly, before releasing here.
"I promise." Bella pledged.
"Bella." Rose said through a sob as she hugged Bella.
"Shh. It's ok, Rose." Bella cooed as she rubbed Rose's back soothingly. She looked to Jasper for help and I felt a wave of calm as he gave her a small smile. 'Thank you.' She mouthed back.
"Thank you, Bella. For everything." Rose said brokenly, but her sobs were gone.
"You're welcome, but that's what family is for, big sister." Bella cooed, kissing Rose on the forehead.
"Bella Boo!" Emmett said relieved, pulling her into as much of a hug as he could.
"Emmie Bear." She answered giving him a warm smile. Emmett's smile lit up his whole face; those were the only words he needed to hear.
"I'm glad you're back with us, little sister." Jasper said wrapping us in a warm glove of love, happiness, and contentment.
"Me too, Jazz. Me, too." Bella whispered as something flashed in her eyes; it was gone before I could place it.
"Mom. Dad." Bella called her voice full of love. Esme came rushing forward as a sob escaped her lips. Carlisle was right behind her.
"I was so worried we were going to lose you. We just got you back!" Esme cried, kissing Bella on the forehead.
"Sorry to worry you, Mom." Bella replied, she hated worrying Esme, she really thought of her as her mother.
"We're just happy that you're ok." Carlisle replied as he placed a fatherly kiss on the top of her head.
"Bella?" Tanya asked quietly. As I looked over to her, I saw that she had Irina wrapped in her arms. Irina's eyes were darting around nervously. I hope she is true to her word and holds nothing against Irina.
"Yes, Tanya?" Bella replied with and encouraging smile, I knew she could tell that Tanya and Irina were nervous.
"Thank, you so much for saving our sister. After everything that happened, we –" Tanya started, but Bella cut them off.
"Like I told you before, nothing is Irina's fault. And of course I saved her, she is family." Bella said, her tone ringing finality.
"Thank you, cousin." Tanya smiled. She is so selfless, so caring.
Irina just locked eyes with Bella, but didn't say anything. She didn't have too, her eyes said it all. Thanks, love, regret, apology, respect, and a small bit of happiness.
After that Bella hugged and reassured the rest of the Denali's. She hugged Sam and they made plans for the wolves to stay for awhile, and they would talk over dinner; they refused to leave their sister right now anyway. She then thanked all the other covens for their help before she turned to the guard members that she saved.
"Lady Asima." Marcus said with the upmost respect and reverence as he bowed to Bella.
"Lady Asima." The others echoed with just as much respect and reverence as they too bowed.
What the hell was going on? Why were they calling Bella Lady Asima? Their minds showed how much they respected, loved, and . . . worshiped, Bella. They worshiped her?
Upon their declaration, I heard Carlisle, Jasper, and Eleazar gasp; their thoughts were incoherent. Then they bowed to Bella too! What the hell was going on?
When I locked questioning eyes on Carlisle, I saw that his eyes were burning with love, pride, respect, reverence, and awe.
Well, kiddies! That is the end of this chapter. Why is the guard calling Bella Lady Asima? Well, you will just have to wait for the next chapter to find out. There is a reason, and we will also hear the reason as to why she saved these particular members of the guard, along with the rest of their identities! Thanks for reading! I hope you liked it.
As Always,
Thank You!!!