The Twilight Series belongs to S. Meyer, no copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing with the characters.
Humanity (noun) the quality or state of being human: having human form or attributes
Thankfully Alex realized I wasn't going to say anymore on the subject. He'd left me to finish putting things away. There wasn't a doubt in my mind about what he was going to do next. He'd tell Quinn what I had slipped up on. Maybe my big mouth hadn't done all that much damage. It might make the truth easier to swallow.
At eleven, I found them sitting in the living room watching a movie. "You ready to go?"
They nodded. Alex turning off the TV while Quinn picked up the snacks they'd been eating. It never ceased to amaze me how they picked up after each other. It was very rare for them not to and they rarely fought about whose job it was. I suppose it could be because I'd made a game of cleaning up when they were little.
I followed behind them; they veered off to the kitchen and I made my way to the entryway. I found my shoes and grabbed a light jacket. I wasn't yet accustomed to the weather here and remembered how changeable it could be.
The three of us walked outside together. This time I was alone in the front of the vehicle, both of them opting for the backseat. Turning the engine on, I backed out of the driveway and started the drive to La Push.
"What if they don't like us?" Alex asked.
My worrier I thought shaking my head. "They'll like you both. You're very special. Just like how I talked about how I was special in the tribe many years ago?"
"But you said they don't know about our dad…couldn't that mean they won't accept us?"
"Quinn, Alex – please don't worry about it. Anyone who blames a child for the sins of their parents is a very narrow-minded person. I made a choice and it resulted in you two. I wouldn't change that choice because I love you and I loved your dad. If I had to do it all over again – the only thing I might change was facing up to what I'd done. But I can't sure I'd have stayed here. I don't know that I could handle the stares and whispers."
For the rest of the drive, I shifted our topic of conversation to our planned visit to Renee and Phil. The mood in the car by the time we reached the tribal center was improved. The kids' earlier nerves calmed.
The pep talk I'd given myself during the drive was only partially effective. The confidence I had yesterday had run away. Or I'd used it all up. Either way, today would be the day I faced my past head on. I couldn't be weak or timid – they'd eat me alive if I was. I looked at Quinn and Alex – my strength bolstered by their presence. I wouldn't let their lives be ruled or ruined by the traditions.
There were several cars already parked in the lot. I quickly found a spot and parked. I got out of the car while the kids reluctantly looked around.
I opened the door, a half-faked smile on my face. "Come on, let's get this done. Sooner we're done with this – the sooner we can finish getting settled in. Maybe we'll even have time and we can stop at First Beach. I have a feeling you'll recognize it."
I walked in the center of our group with an arm around each one of them. Not much had changed with the tribal center in the past 15 years. Some new paint and updates to the furniture, but the layout was the same. The same glass cases lined the walls with things from our history. Pictures and artifacts – bits of our past which explained who we were and where we came from.
There was a larger room which people rented out for gatherings along with two smaller meeting rooms and several offices. The council used the offices here for maintaining records of the tribe and also discussing how federal funds would be used. As a tribe we might not have much, but we had a council who carried about our future and how the funds were used.
That wasn't the case with all tribes. Some had crooked councils and funds were misappropriated, leaving members living in abject poverty. People in La Push weren't rich, but we survived.
I heard the sound of voices coming from one of the smaller meeting rooms. I picked out the lilting tones of Leah's voice and Billy's deep voice which was softer than I remembered. Leading my kids, we walked toward the set of double doors which were propped open.
Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and we walked through the doors. The tables and chairs had been arranged in a square. My eyes flitted about the room and I quickly picked out who'd they had sent as the tribe's representatives.
Billy was here – that wasn't surprising as he was still chief of the tribe. Leah had taken Sue's place as the Clearwater representative and my fears for Old Quil must be right as Quil appeared to be the Atera member. I noticed Embry was by Leah's side and I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I didn't mind. Jared was present and I assumed the reasons behind that were that they didn't know these weren't his children. Sam wasn't present, so either they didn't have a Uley representative or he'd been told to stay away.
Lastly, Jake and Nessie rounded out the group. I wanted to roll my eyes at the insinuation that Nessie was part of this tribe – much less one who should be present during tribal business. In the end I didn't need to say a word as it was my kids who spoke up, or rather reacted.
Quinn tugged on my arm and whimpered. Turning toward her, I saw her eyes wide with fright. Before I could say a word to her, I heard Alex's low growl. Its sound sent a shiver down my spine. It was a sound I'd never heard from him.
It felt like the next few moments were moving in slow motion. I saw as Leah and Jared stood, stepping closer, but that only seemed to anger Alex more. What had set him off? He had been so calm only moments ago. And Quinn, she'd been scared by something. What?
"Mom," Quinn whispered. "It burns."
Burns? I racked my brain trying to figure out why that word stuck out. What it meant. It seemed to take me years to find the memory I'd long since buried. Quil, during one of our many talks – he'd told me how the scent of vampires burned their nose, but Jake no longer complained about it – not since he'd imprinted on Nessie. Nessie – she was the key. Fucking dumbass brought Nessie here even knowing my kids were close to phasing.
"Don't move," I commanded and then turned to Alex.
His face was filled with anger and it took me a moment to see my son underneath his fierce expression. His eyes glowed with animalistic rage, his lips pulled back to bear his teeth. I put my hands on his cheeks, forcing him to look at me. His entire body trembled and I wondered if this was similar to the moment when Emily had been scarred.
"Alex, honey. Please you have to calm down," I pleaded softly.
"Kim, you need to move away from him before you get hurt," Jared stated.
"Shh, be quiet," I answered without turning to him. I wasn't going to move away, not now. "Alex – Q's scared. I can't help her but you can. You just have to stay human. I know the wolf's angry, but you need to tell him it's okay. You're safe here. Please."
My words seemed to reach him as he shook his head, his expression clearing. He blinked several times before glancing around the room and back to me.
"It's okay," I reassured him. "We'll be okay."
He inhaled a shaky breath and turned to his sister. She whimpered and he pulled her into his arms. "Sorry, Q – I didn't mean to scare you."
Satisfied that the crisis had been averted, I turned back to the room's occupants. A single raised brow and my haughty words expressed my thoughts, "What the fuck were you thinking bringing Nessie here? Just because none of you notice her smell – doesn't mean they wouldn't. Or was that the plan to see if I was lying by having Nessie here? If they didn't react then I was a liar? Fuck you! I asked for your help. I knew exactly what I'd be facing by returning – everyone's judgment. These are kids and not just any kids, but mine. I'm trusting you to help us, but maybe I was wrong."
I turned, ready to walk out the door and never come back. It was Leah's voice that stopped me, "I'm sorry, Kim. We weren't thinking. I wasn't thinking."
FF_9072904_28 05/04/13 2:19AM
