Note: I do not own or have rights to Twilight or it's characters, they are the property of their creator.
Chapter 34
Lady Montague and Lord Capulet
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Juliet:My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy.
Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, Act 1 Scene 5 lines 138 - 141
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Sarah sat on the porch listening to the sounds of the new morning. In the house she could hear Nessie singing softly to the baby as it suckled contentedly. She couldn't help the grin she wore or the warm fuzzy feelings that washed through her in repeating waves like the ocean tides.
Her mother and Bella took Bart and made a foray to the local Wal-Mart for a few last minute baby supplies, extra diapers, baby wipes, and the like. Bart had been so excited when Papa took him up to see the new baby that he could barely contain himself. According to Edward it was like a reunion of old friends. When Bart spoke, her brother said, Abigail instantly turned to the sound of the boy's voice.
Sarah's joy was tempered with a healthy measure of apprehension, however, as she didn't fully understand the meaning of Imprinted. Earlier, when she finally managed to corner her father alone for more than five minutes, she asked him.
"It's nothing for you to concern yourself with, honey," he had dismissed her easily.
"Then why did Billy Black sound like a hanging judge handing down a sentence when he mentioned Ramifications?"
Papa did answer her right away; instead he closed his study door. She heard the latch click before he walked back to where she stood.
"You must promise me that you will remain calm," her father insisted. When she nodded he went on. "You've probably heard that when Nessie was born, Jacob imprinted on her."
She nodded again.
"Imprinting is the method by which the Quileute shape-shifters find their . . . um, mates."
"What?!" Sarah couldn't believe what she just heard from her father's mouth. "They're only children, Papa, how could you possibly consider . . ."
"Now Sarah, you promised to remain calm," Papa reminded her gently. "I assure you, there's absolutely nothing improper going on here."
It had taken her several seconds to regain her composure, but when she did, her father continued his explanation. Imprinting, he told her, didn't usually take place so early; ordinarily it occurred after puberty and the initial phasing episode. The bond between Abigail and Bart, at this point, was purely innocent; they would be playmates and best friends for now. It wouldn't blossom into anything remotely romantic until both Abby and Bart were of age.
In spite of her father's assurances, she was still a little unsure of the whole situation. Behind her, in the house, Jacob was hearing about his daughter's imprinting for the first time from Billy. The elder's voice was gentle and even as he explained things. Jacob's reaction on the other hand was explosive; his temperamental outburst would have made Vesuvius look like a lazy mountain spring.
The front door burst open and suddenly Jacob was on the porch. She could feel the heat of his rage radiating off him.
"You listen to me bloodsucker," the young Quileute warrior barked at her. "Keep that freaky half-breed son of yours away from my Abigail, do you hear me? If I find him anywhere near my daughter, I'll . . . I'll do to him what I did to those two friends of yours."
The memory of Vincent and Skeeter lingered in her mind like the ghostly rumble of distant thunder. It was another life and another time, but she hadn't forgotten them. The night they died filled her thoughts once more, the sound of their laughter as they set up camp in the little meadow by the stream, their last words to her as they headed out to gather firewood, and the sound of their agonizing screams interlace with the haunting call of the wolf song. It all made since now, the Pack had killed her two best friends, Jacob Black just admitted to their murders.
"That's right," Jacob continued. Her expression must have betrayed her internal turmoil. "We took down those two pathetic leeches that you were so attached to. They begged, did you know that, the sleazy little maggots begged for their sorry lives."
Anger settled like a white hot brand in the void where her heart once beat. Sarah leapt from the rocking chair; she was completely phased before her feet hit the floor boards. She looked at the young warrior through feline eyes clouded with the crimson haze of blood lust.
"If you hurt so much as a single strand of hair on Bart's head," she roared as she projected her thought loudly into Jacob's mind, "I'll teach you why cats rule and dogs . . . drool!"
"Is that a threat?" Jacob snarled.
Before she could project an answer, the bronze skinned warrior was transformed into a hulking wolf. He took two steps toward her and growled, baring his long white fangs.
Sarah hissed and growled back at him, raising one forepaw to display her razor sharp claws. "You killed my two best friends, you mangy cur, and you threaten to do the same to my son."
"That's what the Pack does to bloodsuckers, we kill them," Jacob's voice sneered in her head. "I'd tear you apart here and now, if it weren't for my father and that stupid treaty. But then again, you've already broken the treaty haven't you, leech, when you turned that helpless child into a half-breed.
"Dragons my ass! I'm sure if he knew the truth about Mommy Dearest and what you've done to him, he'd throw himself off the nearest cliff."
That was the last straw, the crimson haze engulfed her. With an ear splitting roar, she leapt for Jacob's throat.
The front door flew open again and her father, followed by Edward and Billy, rushed out onto the porch. A strong hand caught her by the loose skin at her nape as she sailed through the air. Suddenly Sarah found herself suspended above the porch by the scruff of her neck like a naughty kitten. She turned her head shamefully and found it was her father who held her. Honey colored fire burned behind his eyes but his face remained a mask of serenity.
"What's going on here?" her father asked sternly. His gaze continued to rest on her with the weight of a fully loaded river barge.
"It seems Jacob has taken exception to Abigail's bonding with Bart," Edward supplied. "Some of the old prejudice about vampires still lingers I see, in spite of being married to one of us." Her brother glared at Jacob and then shook his head in disgust. "And you had to dredge that up, hasn't anyone ever told you . . . let sleeping dogs lie. You're a real idiot, Jacob, you know that. I think we should let Sarah use you for a scratching post just for being stupid."
Her father cleared his throat. "In case you've forgotten, Edward, the rest of us can't read minds. How about filling us in?"
"He threatened Bart," Sarah projected on what she recently discovered was an 'open' channel that allowed her to share her thoughts with all the minds in her immediate vicinity. "He said if Bart ever came near his daughter again he'd do to him what he did to Vincent and Skeeter."
Papa sighed heavily as he released Sarah from his iron grip. "Old friend, what should we to do with these two?" he asked Billy.
"Maybe you could grab both of them by the scruff of the neck and bash their heads together." The elder suggested as he animated the gesture. "You might manage to knock some sense into them that way."
Her father snickered at Billy's suggestion then in a serious tone he addressed Edward. "Could you get some clothes for Sarah so she can phase back, and while you're at it, see what you can find for Jacob."
"No need." Billy pointed towards Jacob's truck. "Jake keeps a couple of extra pairs of jeans behind the seat." Then the elder regarded Jake and Sarah severely. "When you two knuckle heads are on two feet again, we'll discuss this like adults . . . that is, if you can manage to act like adults."
* * * *
When Sarah emerged from the trees, Edward was waiting to escort her back to the house. To her surprise he didn't seem angry, instead his voice held notes of a strange dark humor as he greeted her. She took his elbow and allowed him to lead her.
"How much trouble am I in?" she asked him as they walked.
"I don't know," her brother answered casually. "That entirely depends on the mood of the patriarchs. The delicate peace that exists between the House of Montague and the House of Capulet is very important to them.
"If it's any consolation though, I did hear what Jake was thinking, and personally, I would have let you chew on him just a little. In my opinion he deserved it after that crack he made about your friends and for threatening Bart, but then again, I suppose that's why Carlisle is the leader."
"Did I really break the treaty?" The thought embarrassed her.
"You mean when you bit Bart?" her brother asked mildly.
Sarah nodded.
"Well, technically, yes," Edward sighed, "but don't let it worry you. A, you didn't know about the treaty at the time, and B, Carlisle and I had it all worked out with Billy and the tribal elders before you and Bart returned from Italy."
Inside the house, her brother led her to the large dining room table where Family Council was held. He pulled out the chair for her, seating her next to her father. Though she knew he was upset with her, she still found Papa's strong presence beside her comforting.
"Who wants to start?" her father asked; only silence followed.
Sarah decided to make the first move; after all, Papa was disappointed enough with her and she didn't wish to disappoint him further.
"I was sitting on the porch minding my own business," Sarah began shakily. "Billy had just finished telling Jacob about Abby and Bart when suddenly he stormed out onto the porch and threatened to kill Bart if he ever came near his Abigail again." Then she dropped her voice and added, "Just like he killed Vincent and Skeeter."
"Is this true son?" Billy inquired sternly. By the sound of his voice Sarah could tell the elder was not at all amused.
"Well . . . well, yes, but she offered a counter threat," Jacob stuttered. "The little bloodsucker conveniently left that part out!"
"Enough! I don't care what Sarah said to you in response," the elder growled. "You've admitted to threatening the life of an eleven year old boy, I find that appalling! That sort of behavior is completely unacceptable for a tribal leader."
"Excuse me, Revered Elder." Sarah begged pardon in the same reverent voice she used when speaking to her Uncle Hezekiah. "Jake is right, I did threaten him in return. I told him, if her ever hurt Bart that I would . . . well that I would . . ."
"It doesn't matter," the elder interrupted. "Jacob knows better. Imprinting just happens, and when it does there's no undoing it. He had no right to threaten your son."
"But I wasn't very nice Elder and it was wrong of me," Sarah whispered. She was starting to feel more than a little guilty, if only because her actions were upsetting to her father. "Deux faux ne font pas un vrai." The phrase tumbled from her mouth before she could stop it.
"Deux . . . what?" Billy questioned. "That's not Choctaw."
"It's French," her brother supplied, a smile rang in the ivory keys of his voice. "It means: two wrongs don't make a right."
"I'm sorry for interrupting this very important meeting of the minds," Nessie's voice drifted through the room like a gentle sea breeze, "but isn't anyone going to ask what I think, or does my humble opinion not count?"
Sarah had been so distracted by everything that she hadn't heard her niece descend the stairs. She listened as Papa sighed before getting up from his seat. His feet played a somber march as he crossed the room to where Nessie stood.
"What are you doing out of bed my dear?" he asked her gently. "Come, let me take you back up to your room."
"No. I've laid up there listening to all of you and I'm sick of it," Nessie grumbled. Her voice was none too steady and, by her scent, Sarah could tell she needed to be back in bed. "Jacob how could you, threatening the life of an innocent little boy like that?
"It just so happens that I like Bart, very much. He's kind and intelligent and, when the time comes, I think he'll make a wonderful mate for Abigail."
"But, Ness, he's . . . one of them."
"I'm one of them!" the young mother protested, it was the closest thing to a growl Sarah had ever heard from her. Nessie always seemed so calm and even tempered, this was surprising.
"You don't understand. It's not the same thing, sweetheart," Jacob dismissed.
"Really?" Edward chuckled wickedly. "If memory serves me, and it usually does, I recall a very similar . . . debate, regarding your imprinting on our Nessie. That bit of unfortunate business very nearly ended with my Bella slaughtering you in the backyard." Her brother paused and she heard the mahogany table groan as he leaned on it. "Forgive me Jake, but I was under the impression that the union between you and Nessie helped our two families move beyond the whole us and them issue."
Sarah stood to her feet, her silent heart hurt so badly she thought her chest might burst. "I'm very sorry that my son isn't good enough for your daughter, Jacob. I promise, just as soon as Benjamin and I are married, we'll move as far away from here as we can, all the way to New York if necessary . . . I wouldn't want Bart to be a problem."
"Nonsense." Nessie's feet shuffled weakly across the hardwood as she made her way to Sarah's side. "This pregnancy was hard on me and Grandpa Carlisle says I shouldn't try it again, so there's no chance for Abby to have any siblings . . . but I can't think of a better big brother for her than Bart. I want them to grow up together, Sarah. They won't be happy without each other, I know that from experience."
"I'm sorry, Ness," Sarah's voice cracked when she spoke and she was close to sobbing, "but I don't think your husband shares your sentiments. I love my family, all of them, and I won't see it torn apart over this."
Nessie wrapped a weak arm around Sarah's slumped shoulders. "You leave Jacob to me, Aunt Sarah, and don't give Bart's safety a second thought; no one is going to hurt him or anyone else in this family. I guarantee it."
The harsh clamor of a chair being dragged against the wood floor accosted her ears. Jacob was on his feet, his breathing ragged with anger.
"I meant what I said," the young warrior growled. Then he stormed from the house slamming the door as he went. Soon the sound of Jake's truck engine roaring to life filled her hearing and he sped away from the house.
The angry universe was at it again, she groaned mentally, trying to snatch her family and her hard won happiness away from her. Old pain and new melted into a single throbbing ache that seated itself at the core of her being. In the back of her mind, the gaping black maw of gloom and despair that had so often threatened to devour her in the past licked its fiendish lips once more.
"Don't worry, little sister," Billy's voice soothed, drawing her momentarily from her darkness, "Jacob can be hot headed and as stubborn as a mule, but Ness and I know how to handle him. As the senior tribal elder, I personally guarantee Bart's safety. He's welcome on our land and in my home and he's free to visit Abigail anytime. In fact," Billy paused and took a deep breath, "I extend that same welcome to all of you. It seems the Creator has decided that we belong together so who am I to question such wisdom. We're family and that's that."