I took a problem recently forgotten

Don't know who I had been before I slipped

I want to change it

I will live a life that makes you smile

Miss You - Foster The People

Chapter 48: Whatsoever Things Are True


Regan

I was on the cusp of something. I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew I was there, teetering on the edge. Was it adulthood? Or something else? I wasn't sure. Graduation - no, freedom - was so close I could taste it.

I reached out, touching the soft layers of tulle on my prom dress. It was of course beautiful and everything I had dreamed of. The bodice was covered in jewels that would surely reflect the bright lights at prom, and the fluffy layers of the skirt would be great for my short frame to dance in. The dress left nothing to be desired - it was the perfect prom ensemble. I had worked some long, hard hours at the bakery to be able to purchase the dress, but somehow….thoughts of prom were lackluster and dull.

I couldn't take an almost twenty eight year old shape shifting cop to my prom, no matter how many ways I had tried to justify it.

Sighing, I hung the dress on the back of my closet door and flopped on my bed to stare at it. Somehow, I had pictured the weekend of my senior prom….differently. Doesn't every girl dream of skipping off to her senior prom with the guy of her dreams? Or at least a date?

I think Zeke knew he didn't need to ask me as a pity date again this year. Turns out he had imprinted on someone. He wouldn't tell me who, but…for some reason it was a big secret. I knew she didn't go to Forks High, so I thought maybe she went to La Push. Either way, appearances by Zeke had been sparse the past few weeks. He came school and sat with us at lunch, but it was like his mind was somewhere else.

My phone buzzed at my side, making me pick it up and look at it. It was a text from Seth.

Be out front in five. I have a surprise for you.

I immediately beamed. Thoughts of prom had me a bit down in the dumps, and I could sure stand to see my smiley best friend for awhile. Or…whatever he could be labeled right now. It had been a few weeks since our hike to the meadow, and things had been slowly getting steamier between us since then. There had been several late night visits where he came to the yard in wolf form and hopped through my window. We had only made out - he stopped things before they got too far, much to my disappointment. He was keeping me at an arm's length, and I wasn't sure why. Was he waiting for graduation? Or would I have to move out of Charlie's house altogether before things would pick up again?

I sighed as I changed my clothes and ran a brush through my hair. I knew girls couldn't get blue balls, but….damn. I could only take so many more nights of having a half naked Seth climbing in my window and teasing me silly before I combusted.

Feeling his warm skin against mine, inhaling his wild, newly phased scent, running my hands over his sinewy muscles…..I swallowed roughly as I felt my underwear dampen. There was no denying I wanted him.

Badly.

I tried to calm myself as I made my way down the stairs. Even in human form, Seth's sense of smell was extremely sensitive. I had been embarrassed a few times during our make out sessions when things had gotten heated. Seth would look at me hungrily, his eyes darkening and his nostrils moving as he inhaled the air around us. I had been confused at first, but then it had become clear what had happened. I had nearly died of embarrassment and frustration as I realized he could actual smell when I was aroused. Talk about a mood killer.

But, if it meant I had a werewolf best friend I would happily tolerate it.

"Going somewhere with Seth….I'll be home before curfew," I mumbled to Sue before grabbing my light jacket. It was still chilly out in the evenings as it was the middle of May.

"Hey wait!" Sue called after me. "Regan….graduation is next weekend. I think it's alright if we push curfew back a few hours."

I slid to a halt in front of the door, my eyes nearly popping out of my head. I had my 4pm curfew since before Christmas, with the exception of work at the Piggly Wiggly. Even then, Charlie picked me up in the cruiser and took me straight home.

"Wait…what?"

She smiled at me as she walked into the room. "Your curfew. I think we can maybe push it back."

"To…."

Sue swallowed nervously, licking her lips. Her dark eyes sparkled for a moment before she continued. "Eleven. But not a minute later Regan!"

I beamed at her and flew out the door. As promised, Seth was parked out front in the Bronco. I practically skipped down the sidewalk the street, jumping into the car with a bright smile.

"Hey," he laughed, taking me in. "What's got you so bright and happy?"

"Curfew got pushed back. I have until eleven tonight!"

"Wow….Charlie home?"

"No, he was going shopping for some new fishing line after work. Why?"

He grinned before putting the Bronco in park and leaning over to me. His lips crashed against mine in a welcoming kiss, and I felt myself turn into jello. He kissed me again and again, his hand finding its way to my hair. His tongue sought out mine, and together we began to taste and explore each other as we usually did. His mouth molded to mine so easily and I soon began to lust for more than just a few steamy kisses. I moaned in surprise, feeling my underwear dampen again.

Shit.

Seth leaned back, his eyes widening slightly. I watched him inhale sharply, licking his lips. I was turned on, and he could definitely smell it. "You're gonna kill me."

"I'm sorry," I squeaked, giving him my best apologetic smile. He nodded good naturedly and cleared his throat, jerking the gear shift into drive. We sped forward and soon were on our way to his house.

"So how's things?" he asked casually, glancing my way. I shrugged, fluffing my hair.

"Same old. Just glad to almost be done with high school."

"I'll bet. Prom tomorrow, huh?"

I swallowed, nodding. "Uh, yeah. Got my dress."

I watched his hands tighten against the wheel, turning white with his grip. "I bet it looks really pretty," he mumbled as we sped along.

I shrugged. "It's nice but….kinda sucks to go stag again."

"Zeke going?"

"Oh yeah. He'll be there and probably humor me with a dance or something. How is he? I see him every day, but….I mean…you get to see inside his head."

Seth nodded, grinning. "He's fine, trust me."

"He imprinted, right?"

Seth bounced his head happily, giving me a wide grin. "Oh yeah. He's so happy he's about to bust, trust me."

"So, it's a big secret who he imprinted on?"

"No, just….it's not…..really what you think it would be. She's….different, I guess."

"Different how?"

He sighed, gripping the wheel a little as we flew down the highway. "Erm….it's really his secret to tell. I only know because I've patrolled with him a few times since it's happened."

"Oh, okay," I said slowly. "Will he tell me?"

"He might."

"Well, is be bringing her to prom?"

Seth snorted. "No. But….he'll be there to dance with you, I'm sure of it."

"Oh."

I couldn't help sounding a little pathetic. Of course I knew Seth couldn't show up at my prom. The teachers and students would go crazy, and Charlie would probably have to show up and haul him off in cuffs. Wait, could cops arrest other cops? I shook my head, trying to clear my strange thoughts.

"Regan…..I'd go if I could. Believe me, I….that was one experience I didn't get. But I can't."

"I know you can't. I know you would, too, if it makes you feel any better."

He glanced over at me again, his gaze lingering on mine. "That's the important part," he said quietly, turning his eyes back to the road. We drove in silence for a little while before I thought of another question that had been burning in my mind for the past few days.

"How's….how's Brady?"

He shrugged, his eyebrows knitting together. "He's fine. Just being himself. A real joy…."

"I'm sure he's really sad. Even though Lexi….I mean, she's…."

"You can say it," he said softly. "Vampire. It's not a bad word."

"I know it isn't. I'm still getting used to it in my everyday vocabulary."

"Right, sorry."

"Well…he should be upset. Maybe try to give him a free pass to be an asshole right now."

"Oh, he's not bothering anyone with his crazy antics or anything. He's not being mean. The opposite, in fact. I'd be glad if he was back to his old ways for once. I mean, he's been….comatose."

"I know the feeling," I muttered before I could think. Seth shot me a rejected look as my mind took me back in time five months to when he left me to go to Seattle. "I'm sorry….I didn't mean that."

"No, it's okay."

I shifted in the seat, trying to move past my comment. "I hope he feels better soon. I…I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy," I admitted.

"Neither would I," Seth agreed. "But still….he's not himself. I wouldn't be either if….." he trailed off, shaking his head to himself. I knew what he was thinking. If it was you that bad been bitten. I shuddered at the thought.

We were silent the rest of the ride to his house. Stepping inside, I instantly knew something was different. It didn't feel empty; the air was sweeter if that was at all possible.

"Come on, I have something to show you," he promised, taking my hand with a happy smile. Moving quickly up the steps to the living room, I stopped in shock as I realized we were not alone.

They were all on one side of the living room, pale statues as beautiful as anything I'd ever seen. The Cullens were all lined up on the couch and chairs, some of them standing and some sitting. Running my eyes down the line, I realized they were all there: Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett, Edward, Bella, Esme, and even Carlisle.

"Seth…." I breathed, gripping his hand. "What….?"

"We're back from Denali," Edward finally said, moving out from behind the chair where Bella sat. "We've decided to return from Alaska a few weeks early."

I smiled and became entranced as I stared at them, watching their golden eyes focus in on me. They were all so beautiful that I had forgotten how shocking it could be to see them all in the same room. I wondered if Lexi was suddenly as beautiful as they were.

"One way to find out," Edward murmured. I hadn't even realized he answered my thought until Seth squeezed my hand. This was only the second time I had seen them the since I had found out what they really were, so I was in a state of awe. How was it possible that they were once human? They seemed to perfect to be real. What would Lexi be like?

"There is someone who wants to see you, actually," Edward spoke up. "And you can find out for yourself."

My eyes darted to Edward's, and my stomach did a flip when I remembered what Seth told me about his vampire best friend: He could read minds. With a nervous bob of my head I gripped Seth's hand harder as I waited to find out what he was talking about.

What on earth?

Seth gripped my hand back, looking down at me with an excited smile. "What is it?" I whispered.

My eye caught a slight movement in the corner of the room where the living room met the kitchen. I strained my neck to see what it was before my eyes widened in surprise.

"Lexi?"

I saw her blonde head of hair before I really got a good look at her, but I knew it was her. Stepping out slowly, she paused in the doorway and smiled at me.

"Hi."

Excitement wracked my body as I realized my friend was truly back in Forks. I had hoped she would return one day, but there was no way to be certain she ever would. I mean, I wasn't sure what to expect now that my best friend was a vampire. I gulped from across the room and began to bounce on the balls of my feet. "Hi!" I called back. She took a small step forward and smiled again, bigger this time.

"She's still new….so we're taking baby steps," Edward explained. "She's done so wonderfully with everything that….we decided we could come back early."

"Good to see ya Lex," Seth said softly, nodding at her. She grinned again, her eyes darting to Edward's. He gave her a soft shove, moving her further out from behind the post. "I…I'm back," she said softly, stepping the rest of the way into the room. I took in her appearance as my mind rapidly catalogued the changes in my friend. She still dressed the same, and had the same blonde hair. Although, it appeared slightly longer, and….shinier? I was confused as I tried to picture the old Lexi as opposed to this new one. Her tan, slightly freckled skin had been replaced by skin that was so pale she almost blended in with the white post she stood by. She was beautiful, as she always had been, only now in a different way.

Most importantly - she was still Lexi.

"Lex….Lex we missed you so much," I said softly. She nodded, her eyes suddenly sad. Wait….her eyes. I blanched in shock as I registered the strange amber color of my friend's eyes. They weren't the normal golden yellow of the Cullens - they were almost a yellow orange. They were still beautiful like the rest of her, but they were quite different from the bright blue eyes she had always had.

"It's a shock…I know. I didn't know what to think the first time I saw myself either."

"I don't care what you look like Lex…I'm just glad you came back to Forks to be honest."

"I know. I'm sorry Regan, but I had to go away for awhile….it's just so that I wouldn't hurt anyone," she said, her voice ringing out in the large room. It was still the same, but this voice seemed to be so much prettier and lighter….almost like bells. "I would have never forgiven myself if I would have hurt someone…especially you or Claire."

"She's done so well with everything," Bella spoke up softly. I smiled briefly at my cousin before turning back to Lexi.

"So…but you're back? For good?"

She smiled, nodding. "For awhile."

I beamed up at Seth and tried to not cry from the happiness I felt. I had missed my friend so much, and I knew it was a lot to ask him to visit her. My friend was a newborn vampire - Seth had educated me on how dangerous they could be, so I knew this couldn't be easy for him letting me stand in a house full of vampires and a newborn. Edward gave me sympathetic smile, and I realized he had heard my thought.

I'm not afraid of you. I trust your family for some weird reason, I thought at him.

"You are very much like Bella," he replied quietly, squeezing his wife's shoulder.

"Thanks?" I laughed. Turning my attention back to Lexi, I smiled warmly at her. "I have so much to tell you Lex. I….we missed you so much. I'm so glad you're back."

"Regan wants to talk to you alone," Edward said quietly to Lexi. She glanced over her shoulder at him, her eyes a little frightened. Then, with a determined sigh, Lexi bobbed her head and turned back to look at me.

"Well….I'm trying to get used to all this still. You won't hold it against me if I bring a chaperone with me? We can still hang out," she offered meekly. She glanced to the side at Rosalie, and I saw the two of them share a tiny nod.

"Of course not, no. I….I can only image how hard this is for you. I…don't smell like a meal, right?"

She giggled, flashing her white teeth. "Actually, you must have been in close proximity to Seth over there….Regan…you stink."

Seth burst out laughing with the rest of the Cullens, throwing his arm around my shoulder. "I'm told it's like a wet golden retriever."

"I'd say that's about right," Edward agreed, wrinkling his nose.

"What do they smell like to you?" I blurted out, not thinking. "Er….sorry, don't answer that."

The Cullens all laughed their musical laughs, enchanting me for a second. They were like watching a painting of some magical group of people - it didn't look real. They were so whimsical it was like getting lost in a good book and not realizing six hours had passed. I could see how easy it would be to become fascinated with the eight of them.

"Like vinegar mixed with a sicky sweet frosting. It burned my nose at first," he laughed. They all smiled, so I took it they weren't offended by his description.

I looked back at Lexi, still unable to believe that one of my best friends was a vampire. A real life vampire. Since when did I live in a story book? And she was back! What did this mean for her? Would her family know? Did Brady realize she was home? Were they speaking? What did that mean for them? Did her becoming a vampire cancel out the imprint, or just make things more complicated?"

"Um….Rose, why don't you take the girls out on the deck," Edward suggested. "Regan has about…oh, about a thousand questions for Lexi."

Rosalie, the tall blonde vampire stood and nodded at the doors behind us. Lexi floated along beside her as they made their way to the door. I felt like I fumbled along behind them as the two of them moved gracefully onto the balcony.

"You'll be fine," Seth said when I looked back at him questioningly. I trusted the Cullens, but….they were still vampires, right? Seth wouldn't let me go if it was dangerous, I reminded myself.

We stepped outside into the crisp spring air, the early evening light casting a pale glow on the back deck. Rosalie leaned on the railing a few feet away, giving me a tight smile. Lexi was beautiful, but not as beautiful as her vampire chaperone. Rosalie was tall and lithe, with blonde hair down to the middle of her back. It hung in perfect ringlets next to a face that I'm sure men had drooled over and girls had been jealous of for decades. She looked like she was maybe eighteen or nineteen, but I couldn't help but wonder how old she really was. Turning to Lexi, I waited for her to speak as I thought about her appearance. Would she look the same way in a hundred years? My mind could barely wrap around the thought.

"So," she said slowly. "Here I am."

"I'm glad you're back…..if it helps, you look amazing," I offered meekly. What do you say to one of your best friends when she suddenly turns up a vampire? I tried to picture all of the new experiences she must have had since her change. What if I was boring to her now? What if I made her happy she had been changed? I bet she would pity me and my silly human life….

"Do I? It's not….freaky?"

"No, not at all. I mean, you actually make pale look good. Me being pale? Ulgh….it's awful. People just ask if I feel alright."

Lexi burst into a giggles, covering her mouth with her hand as her amber eyes danced. As strange as her new body was, she still….laughed like the old Lexi. Rosalie chuckled to herself, but remained quiet. I knew she was trying to give us our space and also keep me safe while trying to blend in with the scenery.

"I was worried," she laughed.

"So….are you coming back to school? Prom is tomorrow….I would love it if you would come," I offered.

"No, I can't," she said sadly, her somber face returning. "It's too dangerous. Too many humans and…" she trailed off, a sad look on her face. "it's just better if I stay away for now. Besides….we're going with the story that I…."

"That you what?"

"I guess that I was hiking by myself and just….disappeared."

"What? Hiking by yourself, Lex….that doesn't even sound like you."

"No, but that's what the Cullens made the police believe. When the FBI got involved in searching for me, they had to do something so that it wouldn't look like foul play. They set a false trail for them to follow and…and I had to pick a time when I knew…. Brady was at work to really get my story together. I had to make sure he looked innocent in all this."

"But….your dad, shouldn't he-"

"No, Regan, he can't know. Him knowing what I am would put him in danger. The only reason you know is because you're in on the secret. You have the protection of the pack behind you and they would never come after you if they knew that."

"They?"

"Just….trust me, you're safe. I wouldn't have it any other way. I know this is really all very weird, but…."

"No, it's okay. I'm getting to be really good with weird."

"Good," she said, giving me a sad smile. She reached up, gracefully pushing her blonde hair over her shoulder. She was so beautiful she almost hurt to look at her too long. She was like the sun or something. I sighed and looked at my feet, dreading my next question.

"I want to stay friends, Regan. I….I could really use a friend right now."

"I'm here for you. Say the word, Lex."

"I really appreciate that. You'll understand this whole….learning curve though? I mean…I could still hurt you. And that's the last thing I want."

"I know. But I know you can do this."

"I sure hope so," she laughed to herself.

"So….have you talked to Brady?"

Rosalie made a hissing sound and snapped her head up, making me jump.

"Rose," Lexi said firmly. Rosalie turned away, casually twirling her hair around her finger. Turning back to me, she offered me a small, lopsided smile. "Rose isn't Brady's biggest fan."

"I….uh….see that," I said, gulping. I had a feeling that angry Rosalie would be most frightening of them all. With a shiver, I turned back to Lexi as I gripped the railing on the deck.

"Seth said he's been really upset since you left. Does he know you're back?" I asked gently.

"No…I….I haven't talked to him. I don't really think it's the best thing right now."

My shoulders slumped in defeat as I gazed at her very perfect, very still vampire frame. I could tell she wasn't completely comfortable in her new body yet - not that I could blame her. It was like her brain and personality had been transferred into a new body. A better, stronger and ice cold pale body.

"Well….I just felt obligated to say something. Take it for what it is."

"Why do you say that?"

I sighed, shrugging. I didn't want to get in the middle of their relationship, but I also knew that I would want someone to say something to me if I was in her shoes.

"Seth says he just mopes around. He's not himself. He misses you."

"Regan…." she pleaded, shifting on her feet. She glanced at Rosalie nervously as the other blonde vampire stared blankly forward. I could tell she was trying to give us our space and privacy, but I couldn't help but feel like she had obviously influenced her one way or another. "What?" I asked, still slightly oblivious. I didn't get what I was missing. Brady had imprinted on her. As far as I knew, the strange force that was imprinting pretty much trumped anything and everything. Would becoming a vampire change that? Wasn't the imprint bond stronger than that? I wasn't sure of the supernatural rules involved with this satiation. Based by the look on her face, Lexi was.

"Regan….Brady and I….well….wolves and vampires….Cullens….get along. They tolerate each other. But…..but they don't try to date."

Her words hung in the chilled spring air as I stared at her dumbfounded. Well, that answered my question of whether or not becoming a vampire trumped imprinting. It obviously did. Lexi talked about Brady like he was left a bad taste in her mouth. But how could she forget how imprinting felt? I knew how I felt when I was with Seth- there was no denying how happy I was when he was present. Was it so wrong that I wanted my best friend to share the same thing? I didn't think so. But she didn't seem like she wanted really anything to do with him. I was so confused about all of this that I didn't even know where to start asking questions.

"So…what does that mean?"

"It means….I don't know what it means."

"So, you're just going to break it off?"

"There wasn't anything to break!"

"Lex…."

"Regan, please. Believe me, I've thought about this more than you can imagine. I don't sleep anymore, so that gives me about nine extra hours a night to just think. I've spent that last four months in the Alaskan backwoods doing nothing but chasing Bambi and his friends around the forest so that I can suck them dry and just try to get a grip on myself and all of these crazy emotions. I've thought about Brady and every single possibility about what I could do to fix things between us, and you know what I came up with? Nothing. Nothing, Regan, because nothing will ever fix the fact that…I'm a vampire now. I'm technically a crime against nature in fact, when you think about it. The last thing I need is to try to go to dinner and a movie with something that is genetically programmed to rip me to shreds. Because no matter how I look at it Regan, he is. He is made…put on this earth…..to kill things like me."

I stared at her, speechless. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"I'm sorry, I…."

"No, Regan….none of this is your fault. I know you just want me to be happy. I want to be too. But I've looked at this a million ways….literally my mind let me look at this situation a million ways. Nothing seems to want to work."

"But….but Seth likes the Cullens. I think Edward is his best friend," I pointed out. "I'm sorry Lex, but…I just don't want to see you give up on this. I know how it feels to want to give up on this whole crazing imprinting thing and it's not easy. I don't want you to feel that way."

"I think Seth is a bit of an anomaly in and of himself, honestly. I mean, a werewolf who has a vampire best friend? The whole thing is too Sci-Fi channel for me. "

"I know," I laughed to myself. She sighed and shrugged her shoulders in defeat.

"I tried to stop him from leaving, you know that right?" she asked quietly, her eyes flicking back toward the house.

"You did?"

"Yes. I told him that you wouldn't ever forget him leaving."

"I haven't."

"But…you're still here with him. Pretty quick to forget about it, don't you think?"

"Lex…..I've forgiven him. I'll never forget, you're right. But all that's in the past now. I know Seth would never hurt me like that again. I trust him."

I watched as Lexi's face seemed to grow even paler if that was even possible. She nodded, glancing inside where everyone was still sitting in the living room, talking.

"The irony of this isn't lost on me. I know you think I can just forget that I'm a vampire and that Brady is a wolf and live out our freaky yet happy life forever after. But I just can't. It's not that easy."

"But-"

"-I wouldn't expect you to understand," she said softly. "I mean….you're still human. I wouldn't expect you to. I don't mean that in a bad way, it's just that…I'm different now."

"Well….I can accept that. I just want you to be happy and…I'm just glad you're back."

Her face softened back into a look that resembled the old Lexi and I found myself able to relax a little.

"I'm glad to be back too. Before I was changed, I was starting to think of Forks as my home. Even thought things are so different I….I still feel like I belong here," she said meekly.

I cocked my head to the side and looked at her closely. "So….can I ask what it's like?"

Lexi cracked a smile, flashing her perfectly sculpted, white teeth. "What….being a vampire?"

I nodded. I had met werewolves and vampires, but never had one of my best friends been turned into one. I was curious.

"It's…..difficult. I mean….everything is just magnified. Every thought, every emotion, every….urge. It was so much at first; I just needed to get away."

"That's good. Erm…be honest. You're not like….tempted to eat me, right?"

Lexi beamed, shaking her head at me. "No, I'm not. I was telling the truth in there, I swear. I'm really controlled for a newborn they say. Practically every day in Alaska the Cullens helped me learn how to…abstain," she said meekly. "And actually, some of Seth's scent rubbed off on you Regan and…well, you smell kinda like a wet dog."

My eyes bugled. "What?" I gasped, sniffing my shirt. I frowned and looked around as if a hideous green odor was surrounding me. "You're kidding I hope?"

"Um, no," she laughed, looking over her shoulder. She and Rosalie shared a smirk, and I felt myself blush.

"I can't believe I stink. I just showered an hour ago."

"It's nothing you did," Rosalie finally spoke. Her golden eyes twinkled at me, and I suddenly found myself with my tongue caught in a knot. Both of them were so unearthly beautiful it wasn't human. Well, I guess because they weren't.

"Well….so I stink and you both would make supermodels cry….great," I muttered, wrinkling my nose. Lexi gave me a sympathetic look and I fought the urge to throw my arms around her.

"Regan, you're beautiful. And better yet, Seth knows you're beautiful too," Lexi offered.

Rosalie nodded. "There's nothing more lovely than a woman in love," she stated poetically, the words rolling off her tongue. She gave me a warm smile before turning her attention back to the woods.

"Well….I think we're all going to run up to Canada tonight to go for a hunt. Emmett's been hankering for some bears, and well….I'm partial to Bambi, like I said," she said bashfully. "I'll be back tomorrow. I want to get a picture of you before prom."

"Really?" I asked, smiling. It was hard to fathom all of it; my newly turned vampire friend wanted to take my picture.

"Really. Um…I know this sounds crazy, but I want to live through you for the night. Promise me you'll take lots of pictures yourself?"

"Um, yeah, sure. Although, I'm probably going stag," I laughed.

"Right, right," she laughed with me. "Well….honestly Regan, going stag to a prom is a heck of a lot better than…well, this," she said, gesturing to herself.

"I guess you're right," I agreed, nodding. It was true; I felt awful for worrying about my own petty problems when Lexi had a whole new life to adjust to. Her old life had been ripped away from her without her consent, and now she was living it as graciously as she could. Her family, her humanity, and Brady had all been taken from her with one bite, and it had all been against her will.

Suddenly, my problems didn't seem too huge.

"Wow, talk about a pep talk with a vampire to put things into perspective," I said quietly, biting my lip. "I'm sorry I was whining earlier. It was stupid of me, and-"

"-no, it's not Regan. You have a life - it comes with problems. Just live it. Do the best you can with it. You're going to have problems, but…they're yours to have. Just live your life to the fullest….for those of us who can't," she said sadly, shrugging her shoulders.

I nodded, gulping back a wave of emotion. "Lex, I'm so glad you're back. I know it's not under the best circumstances…but I missed you so much."

"I missed you too," she said quietly, her amber eyes blinking softly.

I stood still for a few moments, just staring at her. She was beautiful yes, but I knew she wasn't happy. My heart went out to Lexi - none of this had been her choice. None of it had been her doing, and yet here she was - trying to be happy and exist anyway.

My problems were nothing compared to hers.

"I think we're going to leave," she said softly. "But I'll be back tomorrow."

"Well….I'll see you then?"

She nodded brightly, turning to Rosalie. I heard a few voices below us on the ground, and I peered over the railing. The rest of the Cullens stood on the mossy ground, spaced out in pairs. Rosalie nodded at me before hurling herself gracefully over the railing and landing soundlessly on the mossy floor. Lexi grinned at me.

"Time to go I guess. Tell Seth I said bye," she replied.

"Sure," I said, jamming my hands in my pockets. I watched as she turned toward the woods, spying the rest of her newly formed family on the ground below, waiting.

"See ya," she said, and with a laugh, disappeared over the railing just as Rosalie had. I watched as she hit the ground with no noise and beamed up at me.

"It does have its perks," she giggled before shooting forward. Edward caught my gaze before giving me a quick wave. And then off they went, darting into the black night. Before I knew it, the woods were silent again, as if it had all been a dream. Gripping the railing, I stared into the darkness as I let my conversation with Lexi sink in. She was right; my troubles were nothing compared to hers.

I needed to stop worrying. At least I was still human.

Seth was supernatural, but hey - at least he would eventually stop phasing and age.

My problems were nothing compared to Lexi's.

"Kinda crazy, right?"

Seth's voice on the deck behind me made me jump. Turning around, I smiled as he stood in the last remaining lights of the sun and grinned at me. It was nearly black out, but I could still see his outline in the darkness.

"Yeah. Did you hear all that?"

He nodded yes, jamming his hands in his pockets. "Yup."

I stared at his outline in the dim light, my heart warming suddenly. I flew at him without warning, throwing my arms around his warm body. I hugged him tightly, his arms circling my body without question. Squeezing his body against mine, I inhaled his warm, woodsy scent that had become so familiar to me in the past few years.

"I'm not complaining, but….what's this for?"

"I just….just hug me. Please," I stuttered, digging my nose into his shirt. He obliged, embracing me back tenfold.

We stood there holding each other for several more minutes; although…..it felt like we were healing each other. I knew Seth had hurt me in the past and we had our problems, but….honestly, Lexi had made me realize that was all nothing.

I had no real problems compared to hers.

"Can we watch a movie?" I asked, turning my head up to look at him.

"Um, sure?"

"I just want to sit with you. Is that….okay?"

"Hey, they left until tomorrow. It's just you and me. I think they knew we wanted some…privacy."

"Don't take me home until ten fifty nine, okay?"

"Deal," he chuckled, scooping me up. I screamed jubilantly and gripped his neck, giggling as he made his way back inside the Cullen house.

I needed just enjoy my time with Seth. If I had learned anything from Lexi, it was that I needed to live my life to the fullest and love with every ounce of my heart. I never knew when one breath would be my last, and I wanted to live with no regrets.


If you want to know more about Lexi and Brady, please check out their story 'All of Me', which is now posted! I'm also going to update it again *soon* (wink wink) so be sure to add it to your alerts! I also have a fun, Jake/Nessie AU/AH summer project that I will be adding here soon.

Everyone keeps thinking that this story is over - it's not. Come on people, I still have some of my best scenes left that I've been waiting a year and a half to share with you! I still have about 2 more chapters planned, including an epilogue. There will also be a special bonus chapter that will be pretty exciting, and I know most of you will want to see this milestone in Seth & Regan's lives.

Special thanks to ElvenIvy for Beta-ing and for bouncing this back to me in like 58097seconds. It was awesome.