A/N Firstly thank you for an amazing number of reviews. I am sure that I'll get past 500 before this story is finished.

A HUGE thank you to Courtney0624 and Cutie1695 who nominated my stories for an Emerging Swan Award. I love you both.

Chapter 26

Jasper Hale

Seth had been gone a little over an hour, and already Rosalie was getting irrational and it didn't look like her mood was going to improve anytime soon.

"Emmett, maybe...," she started, more than once whilst pacing the floor frantically.

"Rosalie, love, calm down. Seth will find her and bring her home." Emmett promised repeatedly.

Alice tensed beside me momentarily, a sure indication of a vision overcoming her.

It didn't last more than a few seconds and I doubted that anyone other than Edward and me would have noticed.

"Rose, it's going to be okay." Alice assured her. "Seth has already found her. They're talking." She continued.

Rose calmed visibly, her manner instantly relaxing. She accepted Emmett's offer of the seat beside him.

"I know I'm being ridiculous," she said apologetically to the rest of us. "It's just so out of character for her to act like that."

Everyone nodded, both in agreement with Rose's statement and in acceptance of her apology.

"Do you know how long they'll be, Alice?" Billy asked. I sensed that he was really tired now and wanted to know whether or not he should wait to see Bree again or just go home.

"They should be home in about half an hour." Alice replied. "It's getting late. You must be tired. Would you like me to take you home?" She asked.

"I don't really know what to do for the best," Billy conceded. "I don't know whether being here will just annoy Bree further. I really wouldn't want that. Maybe it would be best all around if I just went home now. Maybe you could call me in the morning and let me know what transpires?" He looked towards Carlisle for a reply.

"I think that might be a good idea, Billy." Carlisle said, before throwing his car keys at Alice, who caught them deftly. "Alice, would you do the honours please?"

"Of course, pops." She replied, laughing. "Are you coming too Jake?"

Jake's ears pricked up when he heard his name.

"Sorry... what?" He'd been too busy amusing Nessie to hear the question.

"Alice was just asking if you wanted to go home with Billy." I re-iterated my wife's question.

"Is it okay if I wait for Seth, dad?" He asked. He'd been enjoying his time with Nessie and wasn't keen for it to end any time soon.

"Of course, son, that's fine." Billy laughed at his son's obvious adoration of the youngest Cullen girl. "I'm pretty sure that I will be fine in Alice's capable hands."

"You will." Alice assured him.

"Do you need my help?" I asked. Unsure if Billy would want a tiny female vampire assisting him with his night time regime.

"I don't need your help," she smiled. "But I'd love the company."

"Let's go then." I said.

Billy wheeled himself to the door and I felt his slight embarrassment at what would happen next.

Someone would need to carry him downstairs to the car. Normally Jake would do this but as he was pre-occupied with Nessie, I volunteered to step in. I thought that it would better if it was me that did the honors rather than my petite wife.

"Night all." Billy addressed the room.

"Goodnight, Billy." The others replied.

"I'll call you in the morning." Carlisle promised.

With no more ado, I lifted the old man into my arms, whilst Alice folded his wheelchair and carried it to Carlisle's Mercedes placing it carefully into the trunk. Once Billy was settled in the back of the car, I jumped into the passenger seat. Alice was the driver out of the two of us. I much preferred my motorcycle that Edward gifted me when he realised that buying it for him to ride with Bella wasn't one of his better ideas.

The drive to La Push was short. No-one said much. We arrived at Billy's small home in less than 10 minutes.

Alice took Billy's keys when he offered them to her. She unlocked the door and took Billy's chair into his house.

I carried him in and placed him in his chair as gently as I could manage.

"Thank's guys," he said. "I should be okay from here."

I was confused. Billy's emotions were conflicted. I sensed that he needed more help than he was willing to admit.

"Don't you need some assistance with getting washed and changed into your night clothes?" I asked.

I felt his acute embarrassment. It was humbling to know that this proud man was ashamed to ask for the help that he clearly needed.

Alice, clearly having 'seen' this at some point in the drive here decided to step in and take control.

"William Black, you are so not going to bed in your day clothes." She announced. I got you some new PJ's the other day when I was shopping for Jacob. I forgot about them when we were together. I will be insulted if you don't use them. You have a seat in your shower, right? Jasper, can you please help Billy get ready to have a shower. I will get his PJ's ready for him." She commanded. She was actually quite scary when she took charge.

Billy was taken aback by Alice's outburst, but, like me, knew it would be futile to argue. I went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Alice went into Billy's bedroom, clearly looking for the aforementioned PJ's.

"I'm sorry about...well you know." I told Billy. He understood immediately that I was referring to the whirlwind that was my life, my wife.

"She's quite a handful," Billy laughed.

"She is." I agreed. I felt a sudden need to quantify though. "I wouldn't change her for the world though."

"I don't blame you." Billy smiled.

I got a sudden sense of uneasiness from Billy. I realised that he needed help in getting undressed and into the shower.

"Did you know that I was a Major in the confederate army, Billy?" I asked him. "We had to share showers all the time. So please don't be embarrassed by me helping you. I'm almost 150 years old. I've seen it all before, trust me." I implored.

He chuckled.

"I didn't know that Jasper. I'd love to hear more about your human life. The civil war fascinates me." He said.

"Tonight's not the night for my story." I told him. "Let's just get you washed, changed and into bed. I'd like to get back before Seth and Bree get home."

He nodded in understanding. I got him stripped and left him to shower alone. He called me when he was done and I helped him into the PJ's that Alice had provided.

"Are you good from here?" I asked. Keen to make sure that he could get from his chair into his bed un-aided.

"Thanks Jasper, Alice. I can handle this myself now." He said sincerely.

I knew that he was telling the truth.

"Let's get back, Jazz." Alice suggested. "Seth and Bree are headed home. We should be there when they arrive."

Seth Clearwater

"Shit, Seth." I don't know if I'm ready for this?"Bree told me as we reached the house.

"You'll be fine babe." I told her. "They understand why you said what you did and why you ran."

"Are you sure?" She asked me.

"Of course I am. Would I lead you like a lamb to the slaughter?"

We stopped briefly before going into the house. I kissed Bree, hoping that this would calm her nerves a little. She tried to lengthen the kiss, pressing herself up against me wantonly. I had to force myself to ignore her advances, knowing that she was just trying to put off the inevitable.

"Let's get this over with." I told her.

"Okay," she conceded. "It's time to face the music."

I took her hand and led her indoors.

It was fairly obvious that the living room was slightly less crowded than it had been when I left. A quick check confirmed that Alice, Jasper and Billy had left.

I had no sooner had that thought when I heard a car draw up. Seconds later, Jasper and Alice stepped in behind us.

Bree was standing next to me, holding my hand, her head down, both embarrassed and slightly ashamed.

"I'm sorry." Bree said quietly. "I know that you are angry with me and that I overreacted. I'd just like the chance to explain myself please?" She asked.

Rosalie got up and opened her arms. Bree ran into them instantly.

"I'm so sorry, mom." She said, her breath hitching slightly.

Rose held her and ran her fingers through Bree's long dark hair.

"It's okay, sweetheart. You had a shock, we know that. We just didn't expect such a strong reaction from you. Can you tell us how you feel now?"

Bree took a few moments to get her head together before speaking.

She looked around the room, her eyes resting on Esme's

"Grandma, I should never have spoken like that. I know my language was completely unacceptable. I promise I won't ever speak like that again."

Esme nodded her acceptance of Bree's apology.

Bree continued.

"I know that Uncle Billy is happy to have found his sister. If I am honest, I am happy for him. I know he missed her a lot and felt guilty about her leaving in the first place. I just need some time to think about how I really feel about all of this. She was supposed to be my mother. She was supposed to take care of me and instead she left me with him."

She almost spat out that last word and if it was at all possible, I hated him more in that moment.

"Bree, I need to tell you something. Explain if you like." It was Edward who spoke.

He proceeded to tell my love about how he'd read Nadie's mind. That he knew that Nadie had lost all interest in life and that she'd wanted to die.

"Bree, I know you think we let you down, that we should have told you what was happening and maybe we should have. But you have to believe that none of our actions were meant to hurt you. I blame myself for starting this, but I don't apologise for saving Nadie's life. If you choose never to see her or get to know her, then at least you'll have had that choice. If we'd left her to die, you'd never have had the chance that you do now, or the choice."

Edward's words seemed to have had a calming effect. I understood that Bree was processing all of this new information at vampire speed.

She nodded.

"I understand, Edward. Really I do." She conceded. "It will just take me a bit of time to decide what I do next. What choice I will make."

"Jake, Seth, thank you for everything you've done for us tonight." Emmett said.

Nessie was asleep in Jacob's arms.

"I think we should maybe give each other some time now to have a think about what's transpired here tonight." Carlisle spoke with a definite air of authority.

"We should get Nessie home." Bella said.

"Can I come with you?" Bree asked. "I have some questions for both of you."

I took that as my cue to leave.

"Jake, bro, you ready to go?" I asked.

"What... oh... yeah." He was on the verge of sleep. I'd caught him in the nick of time before he started snoring.

He passed Nessie to Edward and we bade everyone a good night. I gave Bree a quick peck on the cheek before we headed off into the night.

A/N (2) This chapter would not have read the same if it wasn't for my amazing Beta Kymbersmith90. Please send her some love. As always thanks to Courtney0624 for pre-reading.

Finally I have a couple of recs for you all. Please read When It rains by Idealskeptic; Torn by Dooba and Take my hand by Kokocat23.

You will see why I am rubbish in comparison

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