A/N Firstly. Thanks to everyone who voted for me in the emerging swan awards. I will let you know how I got on in my next update. Voting has closed now and I should hear the results tomorrow.
Secondly and much more important. This chapter is going out un-beta'd. My wonderful friend and beta, Kymbersmith90's little boy is very very poorly. So if there are mistakes, please excuse them. My thoughts and prayers are with Kym and her family, especially little Dex. If any of you want to send love or a message, do so in a review and I promise I will pass them on...
Chapter 28
Rosalie Hale
"Emmett, what if she changes her mind, wants to be with her mom?" I asked for what seemed like the millionth time since our daughter left with Bella, Edward and Nessie.
I was standing at the large glass window in our bedroom, staring out into the darkness in the direction of my brother and his wife's tiny cottage.
My husband came up behind me and encased me in his brawny arms. He gently kissed up and down the side of my neck, trying to soothe me.
"You heard Bree, love. She was mad at all of us because we've brought Nadie into her life. That doesn't sound like someone that's about to forgive the woman who abandoned her and leave parents who adore her to be with her."
"I know," I replied. "But she might change her mind. She's a smart girl Emmett. She's also kind and compassionate. She will forgive Nadie. It's what's going to happen when she does that worries me."
Em lifted an arm and ran his fingers through my hair.
"Please don't worry, Rosie." His tone was gentle. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. If we come to it."
I loved this gentle giant that was my husband so much. Sometimes I'd been overly harsh with him and after those times I'd felt that I didn't deserve him or his love. But no matter what we had faced over the years, we'd faced it together. He was my rock, my guiding light. He grounded me. Since Bree had came into our lives, our relationship had changed. I wasn't as much of a cow as I had been, our passionate love making, whilst still there, had mellowed into something more quiet and intense. We'd become more sensitive to the others around us. I supposed that came with being a parent. We no longer threw caution to the wind. I was no longer the Martini girl with an any time, any place, anywhere attitude. I'd come to appreciate our alone time.
I turned into his embrace.
"I don't expect Bree to be back any time soon. Would you like to take a walk with me McCarty?" I asked, using his own name in a teasing manner, so he'd know exactly what I had in mind.
"Don't mind if I do Ms Hale." He replied.
We joined hands and headed downstairs and out into the forest.
Carlisle Cullen
To say I was proud of my family would be the understatement of the millennium. I'd stood as head of my family since I changed Esme, so long ago. Before then, for a few years, it had just been Edward and myself, hardly a family unit. More like a guard and his prisoner. Edward's first couple of years in this life had been difficult. Once I changed Esme, things changed. Edward helped me to help her through the newborn stage and to an extent it grounded him. Then there were the others. Rosalie first. I often thought that changing her had been my single biggest mistake. Even when she brought Emmett to us and fell so deeply in love with him, I still sensed her regret. It pained me greatly. That is until the whirlwind that was Bree arrived in our midst.
The changes I'd seen and felt in Rosalie were unimaginable. She was a completely different person, somehow like Edward had changed when he fell for Bella.
Now the family unit as a whole has changed again. We were no longer the enemies of the Quileute tribe. In fact they were family now too. Who knew?
It was in my nature to worry about my family. Right now my biggest worry was how Bree would cope with everything that had happened.
She was so close to Bella. Their idea of setting up a drop-in center for Native Americans was pure genius in my opinion. Christ, I'd be happy to bankroll the whole thing if it would help. It's not like it would be a slight stretch for me.
Edward and Bella finding and saving Nadie had changed things though. I knew that Jasper could feel Bree's pain. Jesus, she must now be re-living the abandonment she'd felt when her mother left her. I just hoped she could get past that. I also hoped that she would consider Rosalie and Emmett's feelings when she made the necessary decisions.
My main concern was what would happen if Bree chose to be her mother's daughter again. If she chose that path, as would be her right, it would destroy Rosalie. I had no idea how we could bring her back from that. I don't think it would be something even Emmett could fix.
In the meantime, all we could do was wait. We'd all know more tomorrow, once she'd had a chance to process everything and ask Edward and Bella about what they'd done.
For the first time, in a very long time, I prayed.
Alice Cullen
"I foresee...," I said.
Jazzy laughed. So used to those words.
"What do you see darlin'." he asked, he was always so attuned to me. Sometimes it was frightening.
"I see fun in our future Jazzy. Bree will accept what's happened and she'll demand to come shopping with me, Billy, Seth and Jake."
"Well that sounds like your kind of day out, honey." Jasper smiled. "Don't I get to come along for the ride?"
"You can always join us if you want to baby. But I know shopping is so not your thing."
"I know, but I felt how happy you and Billy felt after your other expedition. It was quite addictive."
"Well feel free to come along." I told him
I was worrying about Bella and Bree. I didn't want to search too far into their future but I couldn't help myself. I needed to know that they would get over their differences. I could see that they would. Their joint project meant so much to them. I couldn't wait to help with my own second hand boutique. That's how I chose to see it anyway.
They'd go to Seattle tomorrow. Jazz and I would visit Nadie. I didn't quite know how I felt about that. I'd never met this lady. I had no idea how she'd react to me. Once I met her, then I was sure I'd see more of her future. I wasn't sure that that was a good thing. What if I saw her relapse. Should I try to prevent it or just let everything take it's course? This was definitely a journey for all of us.
Dawn broke and the sun came up, as almost always masked by clouds and the constant drizzle of rain that seemed to be the normal for Forks.
I knew that Bella, Edward and Nessie would arrive in a couple of hours or so to pick up Bree. She'd arrived home a couple of hours ago and told Rosalie and Emmett about the plans she'd made for them for today. Emmett was, of course, delighted to be included and his excitement was catching. There was much more of a happy vibe in our house this morning.
Esme and Carlisle came downstairs. They picked up on the cheerful atmosphere immediately.
"I'm glad you all seem to be much happier this morning." Esme commented.
Bree beamed. Her smile could light up a room.
"Bella and I are going to visit our shelter this morning, Grandma." She smiled.
"Oh, that sounds like you'll have fun, Bree. Remember to take some measurements. That way us girls can get together and start designing the interior." Esme was clearly happy to have a new project to work on.
"Bree," I said, hesitating a little. "Jasper and I are going to see Jenks this morning. We'll find out how the negotiations are going and if he's managing to get around the planning department and stuff. We...we were considering dropping in on your... er.. Nadie once we finished. Would you mind?" I asked, never taking my eyes from hers. I wanted to see her reaction and not just listen to her response.
To her credit she just shrugged. "Why would I mind, Alice? I get that you are all concerned about her and I understand your reasons. Just please don't try to push me into meeting her. I am not ready for that and don't really know if I'll ever be."
It seemed that her talk with Bella and Edward had cleared more than just the air. Bree seemed much more accepting of the whole situation now.
"While we are on the subject of Nadie," Bree continued. "I was pretty vile in front of Uncle Billy, wasn't I? Alice, do I have time to go see him before Bella gets here?"
I closed my eyes and concentrated.
"They will arrive in just over an hours time, Bree." I answered. "So you have time if you want to go see him. I reckon he'd appreciate the gesture."
"Mom, Dad, is it okay for me to go?" Bree asked politely.
"Of course it is sweetheart, you go right ahead." Rosalie told her. "We'll be ready to leave when you get back. Say Hi to Billy for us."
"I will, Mom." Bree laughed, already half way out the door.
Billy Black
I didn't sleep well. I guess that wasn't entirely surprising given what had happened at the Cullen's last night. I suppose I'd been extremely naïve to expect Bree to be happy that her mother had been found. I realise that now. Of course she'd been upset and rightly so. I just hoped that she'd understand and forgive me in time. I'd hate to think that finding my sister would mean losing my niece. I had even given some thought as to which one I'd choose, if it came down to a choice between them. I prayed it wouldn't come to that but if I was being completely honest with myself, I knew I'd choose Bree. Nadie was a grown woman, she'd made her choices, most of them bad ones. But Bree had no choice in the horrific life she'd been left to, and yet, here she was, happy and secure in the love of the Cullen family. I'd choose Bree every time. Of course I'd ask Carlisle to make sure my sister was cared for. I wasn't a proud man. I'd need to ask for help. I had no finances to speak of. I'm certain that Carlisle would help. If necessary...
The shrill ringing of the telephone brought me out of my reverie.
"Billy Black," I said as I answered.
Sure enough it was the head of the Cullen household on the other side.
"Billy, I just wanted to warn you that you have incoming." Carlisle laughed. His mood clearly much better than it had been when I'd left last night.
"Incoming? Incoming what?" I asked, slightly confused.
"Incoming little vampire, goes by the name of Bree." He chuckled down the line.
"Oh, I see." I said. "Should I be worried?" I asked.
"I don't think so." Carlisle assured me. "She seems to have managed to process everything now. She's a little ashamed about her outburst last night."
"Well thanks for calling to warn me." I laughed back.
I'd just replaced the receiver when there was a soft knock at the door.
"Come in.." I hollered.
A/N (2) I hope you enjoyed. We will be getting back to Nadie really soon but I just felt the story needed a little light relief for a bit. The next chapter is almost ready and will go out un-beta'd too.
Thanks as always to Courtney0624 for pre-reading. Please pass your love and best wishes to Kym. For once I don't really care about your reviews (well okay I do) but when a small child is sick, reviews and stories pale into insignificance in comparison. Dexter will be 1 year old on Monday. God Bless Him.
Thanks for reading.
