Chapter 47

Familiar territory began to make itself known, and when Caleb recognized the terrain and the wilderness of Washington, he tugged on Jacob's arm.

"Hey, I thought we were going to Canada."

"Change of plans," Jacob said, not breaking his stride despite Caleb's attempt to pull him back.

"But my mom-" Nicole began to chime in, but Jacob pressed on.

"Trust me," he said, glancing over his shoulder.

"You don't think they'll check Forks for us?" Caleb asked.

"Don't worry about that." Jacob's jaw was stern, but Renesme turned and raised her eyebrows with a smirk to offset his harder emotions.

"We've got specific instructions and reasoning," she explained in a tone far more calm and friendly than Jacob's.

Caleb, Nicole and Salvatore didn't argue; they simply followed the remainder of the way until a group of familiar faces came into view along a beach they knew rather well - La Pushe.

"It's okay," Jacob shouted aloud, noting some of his family members were in their animal forms.

Seth and Quil were the only Quileute boys who stood on two legs. On Seth's arm stood another immortal figure; one that Salvatore immediately made eye contact with before looking away almost shamefully.

Luciana stared through the darkness that was highlighted only by a small fire made up of three or four small logs. Neither of them said anything at first, but she quickly stepped forward, releasing Seth's arm for a moment.

No one knew what to expect in the exchange. The brother and sister hadn't ever been formally introduced, and last they'd left off they were on opposing sides of a decade-long battle. Now, things were different.

"Salvatore?" her timid asked.

Salvatore swallowed and looked at his sister but didn't move otherwise.

Luciana tucked a few strands of hair behind her ears that flew into her line of vision from the wind that blew off the ocean.

Everyone stared for a moment, and the real reason they had traveled halfway across the country back to the reservation was forgotten for a moment.

"Sister?" Salvatore asked, already knowing the answer to the question.

Luciana nodded once, a range of emotions plaguing her face. "I wasn't sure what to expect."

"And?" He fidgeted nervously and Nicole inched closer to his side.

Luciana looked at Nicole first and then to Caleb before returning her gaze to Salvatore. "It appears as though you've favored love... over hate." She glanced over her shoulder at Seth for a brief second.

"I've been informed of your past, as well," Salvatore informed her. "So, I can see the paths we've taken are somewhat paralleled." He kept eye contact with his sister while linking his fingers through Nicole's.

Luciana paused before tipping the corner of her mouth up in a smile. "Indeed."

Salvatore let a smile creep onto his face and then snapped out of the temporary daze he found himself in. "I, uh, we..." He huffed and then continued, "There's a bounty out on Caleb. Dad has orchestrated this witch hunt and Alice saw that immortals were going to show at the house we've been living at."

"Caleb hasn't done anything wrong," Nicole added, "All he did was escape from being held captive."

"With the help of Benjamin," Renesme stated, asking for confirmation with her eyes.

"That's right."

"So, are we going to be a hiding ground for the guilty vampires?" Quil asked, half kidding in his tone. He chuckled to himself and then grew serious again. Behind him, one of the wolves barked and let out a low growl, prompting a look from Jacob.

Renesme put a hand on his chest and then looked at her extended family members. She then looked over at Quil, who gave her a suspicious look.

"I was kidding," he claimed.

"I've contacted the Denali coven," Renesme explained.

"They just love us," Seth said, rolling his eyes with a grin.

"Seth..."

He smirked, "You didn't see the dirty looks we were getting at your parents' wedding."

"I think we're long past those days." Renesme sighed and turned to look at Nicole. "They're going to be here soon, too."

"Okay," Nicole said, "Did my mother see this happening?"

She nodded, " I must say she is very good at coming up with foolproof plans on the fly."

Nicole smiled and laughed lightly. She then looked up at the starless sky above them. "Cloudy days and starless nights... it feels good to be back in Washington."

"Home," Caleb said quietly. He exchanged a glance with Renesme. "What if others start to come here? What if they find us?"

"They won't," she assured him.

"Nobody is coming on this reservation without our permission," Jacob stated boldly.

"That's right," Quil confirmed.

"And with Lucy's gift no one will be able to sniff you guys out," Seth reminded them.

"My gift and Salvatore's," she corrected.

He nodded subtly and eyed the sand beneath his sneakers.

"Sit down," Luciana encouraged them, "Relax. You've had a long journey... and a stressful one I'm sure."

"Should we call our parents?" Caleb asked, "Let them know we're here?"

"Already done," Renesme said. "I contacted my parents with the code phrase Alice told us to use."

"What's that?"

She chuckled and looked at Jacob, who finally smiled and rolled his eyes.

They waited, and Renesme laughed another time, cuddling her head against Jacob's chest as she did. "The phrase was, we've reached the dog pound."

"Alice..." Jacob grumbled lowly, but continued to smile. He looked at Renesme from the corner of his eye before the two of them shared a laugh.

"Alice." Caleb breathed out her name.

Nicole couldn't help but smile, picturing her mother's little joke despite the heavy nature of the situation. "Alice..." she echoed the two of them.

Luciana patted the seat next to her by the fire, and Seth sat down. She seemed satisfied when the rest of them followed her lead and sat down around the fire together.

"God, I miss you guys," Renesme said aloud, shaking her head. "I miss my parents... I miss your parents... Emmett, Rosalie... Charlie, Sue..."

"The good old days," Jacob said, kissing her on the cheek before finding a place behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and Renesme sunk into his embrace.

"The days are still good," she said to him.

"Leah and Mason are living with the other shape-shifters now," Jacob said to no one in particular, "You guys are all halfway across the country. Charlie and Sue are..."

"In Maine," Renesme and Seth said at the same time.

"The Washington of New England," he commented.

"Should have gone with Florida," Nicole said with a smile.

"Nah," Seth argued, "They're bred for the cold weather."

Quil smiled and leaned back in his seat.

Caleb looked around the area and listened to the waves for a moment. "We're safe here?" he asked. "At least for the night?"

"You're safe here," Renesme assured him. She looked him in the eye. "Try to relax..." She smiled and decided to joke with him, "And get some sleep."