Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.

Rated M for several reasons.

Chapter 28 Fixing Things

FPOV

The fine point of my super computer mind was no match for Jazz's sadly.

And my weird certainty missed him by a country mile.

Neither were my legs, propelled though they were by fear, fast enough to outrun him.

He caught me outside some piddly ass town that even my raging thirst hadn't distracted me into.

And in the absence of snow he buried me in mud.

It wasn't exactly a happy reunion.

It took the others almost two hours to arrive and I could almost imagine the conversation they had about not bothering to rush on the way.

I can't exactly say I'd calmed down by that point. Just that Jazz had been honest, repeatedly, about the reality of the situation and the stupidity of little ole newborn me rushing off to try and fix it on my own without at least attempting to get my facts straight first. He also said a few blunt things about my lack of faith in my own Mother, who's been on this earth a lot longer than I have and, given the circumstances, done just fine thank you very much. The jury's out on whether he helped me get a grip or bored me into submission.

…..

"You ready to come out?" He drawls, shaking one of my exposed legs.

Yeah he buried me head first, he's not big on pandering to a person's dignity, especially not after they tried to rip his head off with their teeth.

I can't answer but it doesn't seem to matter, with some laughter on Em's part they pull me out by the ankles.

I hastily scrub the muck out of my eyes and glare up at them all mutinously.

I don't care if I appear ungrateful to the people who saved my life and have been helping me adjust to this one. No matter what's ever happened to me Mom's always been there and I won't apologise for wanting, needing, to return the favour.

"Rose explained to me what happened." Carlisle says with quiet sympathy. "And I have read Garrett's messages to her. It is not as bad as you think."

"Can I see them?" I ask.

"Yes, if you come home with us, of course you can."

"We were never trying to keep anything from you." Rose assures me, Em grinning in agreement. "We just didn't want you to see anything that would upset you like this. We told you she was okay because she is."

I blow out a breath. I want to believe them, of course I do. I'm so out of my depth at the moment I don't want to lose my anchor. And I really, really, don't want there to be anything wrong with Mom.

"I have known Garrett for over a hundred years." Carlisle states, hunkering down to my level. "He is the one I trusted to look out for your Mother. Not least because he's a friend to the whole family, he probably talks more to Rosalie and Emmett than he does me these days. Would you like to see the text messages he sent me about your Mother?"

I nod quickly and he fishes his cell out of his pocket and fiddles with it for a moment before handing it over.

Quickly I scroll down the lengthy exchange.

'Found her. She's a beautiful woman. Can't believe Edward left her. G.'

'Is she alright? C.'

'Seems to be physically okay. You never said the dog would stink this much.'

'You get used to it. Are you sure she's okay?'

'I've never met her before C. I can't really tell. If she smiles I'll let you know.'

'I should come back.'

'Jasper's right C. She's surviving. Her people are looking out for her. And I won't let anything happen to her. Give it time.'

'Thank you Garrett. I owe you one.'

'That's what friends are for C.'

..

'Your Edward really fucked up.'

'What do you mean? Is she alright?'

'She's miserable C. And she talks in her sleep.'

..

'I spoke to the dog. We have an understanding but he wants to know where the fuck you are and why you haven't been in contact with Bella.'

'What did you tell him?'

'I explained the plan. He looked like he wanted to bite me but managed to restrain himself.'

'How is she?'

'Jesus C. If there's anything wrong I'll tell you.'

'Sorry. I hate doing this to her.'

'It's the right thing under the circumstances what with that newborn kicking off in Nebraska and The V over here snooping around.'

"The Volturi were here?" I gasp.

"Yes." Jazz answers. "The month before you 'died'. We didn't know at the time but one of my friends told us later. It's one of the reasons we've been so cautious about contact with Bella."

"You could have told me." I huff. "I would have understood."

"Agreed." He says and I gape at him for a moment before returning my attention to Carlisle's mobile.

'How is she?'

'Same as she was an hour ago. Working hard.'

..

'How is she?'

'She's sleeping.'

'Is she alone?'

'Yes.'

..

'I'm kind of in awe of her C.'

'Why? What's happening? Is she alright?'

'Don't panic old man.'

'WHAT'S HAPPENING?'

'Is that Caps Lock or are you shouting at me?'

'Garrett.'

'She's not a happy bunny but she's still got time for everyone else. It's kind of impressive.'

'Do they know that, are they taking care of her properly?'

'Yes C.'

..

'The dog's leaving at the end of the week. She cried.'

There was no response to that one and I flick a glance at Carlisle.

He can't see what I'm reading but he speaks up anyway.

"Sometimes I call him, after he texts."

"Jake's gone." I murmur, noting the date.

"Yes."

I nod and then return my attention to the cell.

'How is she?'

'Watching True Blood.'

'Is she okay?'

'The bossy one made her eat something and gave her a pep talk. She told her to fuck off. She'll live.'

I snort back laughter because I can picture the moment and the look on Bren's face. Tolerance and pride. Mom almost never tells anyone what she really thinks.

I carry on scrolling through the messages, there's an exchange every single day. Some make me smile and some have me gasping and worrying . . . .

'I bumped into her today.'

'What?'

'She's a slow walker, even for a human.'

'Garrett!'

'Don't worry. She didn't realise what I was.'

'She's neither stupid nor unobservant.'

'I know she's not stupid C. Beautiful and intelligent.'

There's no reply to that one and I glance at Carlisle again before continuing until I come to the end.

'She cries a lot C.'

'I should come back.'

'Call me . . . .'

That last one was dated yesterday.

"I don't understand." I admit.

Some things I do. But others, like whether or not Mom's really okay, I don't. His messages to Rose on Facebook . . . .

"She's okay Freya." Carlisle assures me, laying a hand gently on my knee. "Come home and read the messages Garrett sent to Rosalie. They will explain a great deal more."

I don't respond, deep in thought.

"Goddess." Em urges, also dropping down in front of me. "Garrett can be a complete dick. Come home and read the messages. If I thought Bells was in danger I'd have been a hundred miles or so ahead of you."

I want to make a joke about how slowly his bulky ass can actually move but I don't have it in me. However, I do trust him and so I emit a small sigh of defeat. Just a small one, which seems to amuse Jazz for some reason.

And because a moment's hesitation is a lifetime's capitulation to Em, he has me on my feet and heading back north before I can even blink . . . .

..

Nobody suggests I shower or clean myself up.

Instead Rose takes my hand and leads me through my latest hole in the wall, dropping into the chair in front of the computer but not releasing me. Which I'm kind of grateful for.

It takes a few seconds for her to bring up her Facebook page and scroll to the start of the 'Suicide Watch' thread and I'm aware of the others crowded round us, waiting with me.

'So what's the deal toots? Why am I here on Suicide Watch?'

'You know why and don't be fucking stupid.'

'Fine. I'm bored.'

'At least you're not in Alaska.'

'Point taken.'

..

'Where's Edward? Shouldn't he be doing this gig?'

'Still bored?'

'She's no party animal.'

'Never was. Just look after her, okay?'

'Not hard, she's not doing an awful except work, sleep and stare and the TV . . . .'

'How bad?'

'What am I, the human expert? I just eat 'em toots.'

'How are you getting on with the dog?'

'He ain't dead.'

'Lol'

..

'I'm so bored. The food here tastes like coal.'

..

'How's the daughter doing?'

'Destroying my life and my house.'

'Ah Rosie, you're so warm and fuzzy. No wonder Emmy Bear loves you . . . .'

'Fuck off.'

…..

'She's pretty entertaining when she talks in her sleep.'

'Is she okay?'

'You sound like Carlisle.'

'Whatever. Is she?'

'She's not in any danger toots but she's kind of making me depressed.'

'What do you expect? We have her daughter.'

'You sound like a kidnapper.'

'I fucking feel like one. Em's going demented.'

'Em's always been demented.'

'Just take care of her Garrett and let me know if we need to come.'

…..

'Tell me about her.'

'You should know more about her by now than I do.'

'Lol. Your brother's an idiot.'

'This I already know.'

'What's he up to?'

'Drowning in his misery by the sound of it. I can't get him to come home.'

'Worried about him?'

"Garrett and I talk on the phone too." Rose supplies, scrolling down so I can read on.

'She's kicked the dog into the curb.'

'I'm conflicted.'

'It was bound to happen. In fact I'm surprised he waited around for it.'

'I hate to admit this but he's been quite decent.'

'Yeah. If he wasn't so pungent I'd have been inclined to like him myself. Anyway, he's gone.'

'Was she upset?'

'She cried.'

'Did she make a mistake?'

'Not according to her sleep talking toots.'

'Call me . . . .'

…..

'How much longer?'

'Still bored?'

'Unfortunately not.'

'Why? What's happening?'

'Nothing. I feel for the poor woman, okay? And I think you guys have under estimated her. She's as tough as old boots. And I don't think talking to the daughter she suspects is alive and well but out of reach is going to improve her mood enough for anyone to notice.'

'And if she still wants to be changed?'

'I'll gladly do it myself.'

'I don't think either Carlisle or Edward would like that.'

'Ah toots, I wish you could see my evil scheming smile.'

I look up, unable to believe they're letting me see this.

"That was yesterday." I observe pointlessly.

"Yes." Carlisle answers.

"So she's okay?"

"No better or worse. Jasper has a plan, if you'd like to hear it?"

My eyes dart to Jazz's and he manages something like a reassuring smile. Which is scary enough to make me swallow.

…..

We plotted late into the night and Carlisle, Em and Rose left in the morning.

Jazz put up with my relentless pacing for an hour to two and then forced me out of the house to hunt.

Then he helped me fix my latest indiscretion because repairing stuff is strangely therapeutic.

"How long?" I ask when we're done.

"Another couple of hours." He replies without bothering to check his watch.

"We could have just called her." I fret.

To my intense surprise his hand falls gently on my shoulder.

"We've waited this long. It's better to remain cautious than throw it all away at the end."

"She's not your Mom." I huff, avoiding his eyes.

"Would you like to see something?" He asks suddenly.

"Um, I guess?"

"Wait here."

He darts away to his room, the one I've taken to calling the bat cave because nobody would dare go in there, and returns in moments with a photograph.

He hands it to me and I take it carefully, afraid of tearing it.

It's Mom, standing in front of a line of trees in what looks like a hayfield, being hugged by a tiny girl with short spikey black hair and the wildest fashion sense I've ever seen.

Mom, a really young Mom, looks embarrassed but happy, the other girl however, her smile is blinding and even the fact that it's only a photo can't hide the sparkle in her eyes.

"That's Alice." Jazz says quietly. "She loved your Mom something fierce, having her in her life made her so happy. We all loved her Freya, she was always meant to be a part of this family, Alice saw it. But we made mistakes. None of us can take them back, but we can try to make up for them, if she'll let us."

"Jazz, I . . . ."

"You can keep the photo." He says, turning and walking away.

I trudge down to the kitchen, something I always seem to do when I'm at a loss, and perch on one of the stools set against the gleaming unused counter.

God, this mess is going to be way harder to fix than I imagined.

I don't know how long I sat there staring at the photo before Jazz appeared and shoved his cell in my face.

"It's for you."

"Freya?"

"Oh my god . . . . Mom?"