The big night had finally arrived, Graces second gallery show. The Cullens were already inside the showroom strolling around looking at all the paintings, they refused to look at Graces without her with them. Nessie kept scanning the room for Grace and Seth who were suppose to come together but still haven't showed up. Grace was currently in the alley behind the gallery hyperventilating while Seth tried to calm her down.
"What if I don't do as well this time?" Grace was pacing back and forth, the sounds of her heels echoing against the bricks. Her high-low black dress flowed behind her. She wrapped her arms around her body for warmth, the sleeves on the dress were see through so they didn't help.
"You'll do fantastic sweetheart and if you don't then you don't give up. You just paint more and keep going," Seth stood by the back door as he watched her pace. They weren't dating officially yet but they would now call each other pet names, see each other every other day and kiss when no one was watching. Seth was happy with the progress, slow and steady would win the race.
"I'm just...I...my parents called this morning and they told me that if I didn't do good this time just to pack it all in. It's like they can't even try to pretend to support me. All the care about is me coming home," Grace rubbed the curve of her nose. She had argued all morning with her parents when they learned the Cullens would be attending the second showing and that they were convinced she wouldn't do good this time. They called her a 'one hit wonder'.
"Your parents are just being parents. Overprotective and overbearing," Seth knew the real reason that they were worried about Grace cutting them off once she learned the truth. Carlisle had kept in touch with Frank who was trying desperately to get his daughter away from the 'strangers'.
"Maybe they're right...maybe I should just-," Grace didn't get to finish her next few words because Seth grabbed her and placed his lips on hers. Gently but full of passion. His hands rested on her waist firmly holding her to stop the pacing. Once they broke away from the embrace Seth took her by her hands and kissed her forehead.
"Don't. Don't you ever say those next words. You are living your dream and if they can't accept that then that's on them. You just keep on keeping on...my fathers phrase," Seth gave a huge grin before pulling her towards the back door and inside the showroom. Grace instantly reached out and grabbed a glass of champagne from a tray, calming her nerves.
"Grace! Over here!" Alice called out from across the room. The whole family stood by Graces wall not wanting to turn around until she got there. They were all excited to see what she had in store for them.
"We were wondering where you were," Edward gave her a hug before passing her off to Bella. He was trying not to glare at Seth as he replayed the last few minutes that happened outside.
"Freaking out but much better now. I'm so glad all of you made it," Grace smiled at the group wondering how she got so lucky to have friends like them.
"Come on, come on. We all want to see what you did this time. We waited for you!" Nessie grabbed her twins hand as Rosalie counted down from three before everyone turned. They all let out small gasps when they realized that some of the paintings were from Christmas and New Year's Eve, which meant that she had been working nonstop to get these done.
"Oh my," Esme covered her mouth to keep the smile from taking over her entire face. There was six paintings lined up on the wall. One was a painting of Edward playing the piano with a bunch of people around him but no one had any feautures on their faces, it was just blank swirls, but it all looked magical with the fairy lights hanging above them. One was of Claire and Quil laying on the lawn near the woods looking up at the sky and pointing, the faces just color swirls again, like auras. There was one painting of Brooklyn but overtaken by trees, buildings covered in moss and the sidewalks covered in wild flowers. Another painting was of only Seth's eyes surrounded by black paint, eyes that Grace couldn't ever shake from her head, eyes that were full of compassion and love. The fifth painting was of Jaspers hands laid flat on the kitchen table, scars all over them but his wedding ring gleaming in the light. The last photo took them all by surprise, it was a self portrait of Grace who looked perfect and flawless as she was but there was cracks in her molding, puzzle pieces falling off of her body and down into the abyss.
"I'm sorry if I used you guys as reference but I thought of how beautiful you were and wanted to share certain ascents of that," Grace mainly spoke to Jasper but all that man did was hug her tight.
"No one has ever saw my scars as such beautiful things," Jasper laid a kiss upon her head before moving to go with Alice and make a bid. Alice wanted it to remember how amazing her husband is, how much he went through to get to where he was now.
"These are beautiful," Bella gave her daughter a tight squeeze before dragging Edward to go and bid on his painting. Never before has Edward been painting in such a way, his face wasn't there but the grace he held within his body was.
"You are quite the artist my love," Esme held Grace tightly as they both stared at the artwork. The rest was taking closer looks and making sure people bid on them, there was no way hell they were going to let Grace go home tonight thinking she wasn't good enough for them. Carlisle was beginning to think that the people they had chosen to take care of Grace was not the best pick. Or at least he knew Frank was good, always had the best intentions but Beth had her own agenda. She tried to make sure that Grace never could fly, Frank was the one who secretly pushed her to be herself. To live.
"So, my eyes huh?" Seth whispered in his imprints ear. He watched her shiver before she turned to him with a blush across her pale cheeks.
"I wanted other people to also look at them and see what I see," Grace told him as she took another champagne glass and took a sip. She was starting to feel less nervous now as she watched some people place tags on the paintings.
"And what do you see?" Seth asked her as he intertwined his hand with her free one. He stared down as a peice of bronze hair fell in her face, framing her cheekbone.
"Love, compassion and kindness for all that's around you," Grace told him before turning to him and began reaching up for a kiss. He was about to fill in the gap when a shriek cut across the room.
"Grace Katherine Addams! What do you think you're doing!?" Beth Addams yelled from the front doors causing everyone in the room to momentarily pause and look before carrying on. It was Seattle, crazies everywhere. Grace quickly pulled away from Seth and hid her glass, Seth took her glass and held it instead so she wouldn't catch any shit for having it. He stared at the people he only met once before, when they were taking his imprint almost twenty one years ago. Carlisle and Esme walked over catiously with Edward and Bella following. Rosalie, Emmett, Alice and Jasper stayed put by the painting of Grace.
"Mom, what are you doing here?" Grace was shocked. Her parents had told her this morning that they rather her just came home rather then following this silly dream and now her mother was standing in front of her. Which also meant her father was not far behind. Damian was not with them, he would have given her a heads up.
"What am I doing here? What is that man doing trying to kiss you?" Beth walked across the room, fists balled up white and her long curly hair swaying behind her. Grace took a moment to take in her mothers apperence and then search for Bella. How strange, she thought, Bella had more relatable features.
"Ma'am, I'm Seth Clearwater," Seth held out his hand as he watched Grace look between the two woman. Questions written all over her face.
"Yeah, I know who you are. The man who is taking up all of my daughters time," Beth shot daggers at him as he began to take his hand back.
"Beth, what is going on?" Frank asked as he finally made his way inside and over. Frank made eye contact with Carlisle, giving him a slight nod.
"I'm just interrupting your daughter kissing this man," Beth waved her hands at Seth who took a step closer to Grace just in case, his protective needs rising to the surface.
"Well, our daughter is almost twenty one. She can do as she pleases. Hi son, I'm Frank," the older man held out his hand which Seth gratefully took. Frank was going to make sure that once his daughter found out the truth that she would still love him as her dad. He would not loose her.
"Seth Clearwater," Seth gave his award winning smile as they shook hands.
"But Frank, he's probably the only reason our little girl is staying here. She only had one show, it's not like they'll ask her to come back again," Beth knew she was being harsh but she had to make her point clear. That Grace was meant to just come home and go to a normal boring college instead of chasing this dream. Especially around these people.
Beth had never been comfortable with the Cullens, with what they were. But she was aware that Carlisle was the only reason her husband and was still alive and for that she had to be thankful.
"Oh hush. We came out here to just see how she was doing. Now, Grace where are your paintings," Frank gave his daughter a smile. He noticed though how she was looking between him and Edward. Edward tried to keep his eyes trained on Frank, reading his thoughts.
She's going to find out. How could she not? I don't look a damn thing like her but Edward does. Spitting image.
Edward grilled Bella's hand tightly, tight enough to break a humans. They all walked with Grace who was now silent, wishing for her drink back and Seth's hand. They all stopped in front of Graces wall and stared. All the paintings had biddings on them, Grace was too scared to go look at the amounts though.
"These are what you painted?" Beth looked at the Seth's eyes canvas before moving on to the other. Taking in each one slowly.
"These are wonderful sweetheart. We wanted to surprise you but you know your mother. We leave tomorrow morning so don't worry, Damian has a recital," Frank gave his daughters shoulder a light squeeze before following his wife. Grace felt the tears well in her eyes before she quickly turned and rushed to the bathroom. She locked herself in a stall and let the tears roll. How could her mother do this? Make her feel like nothing in front of her new friends? In front of Seth? At her gallery showing? She couldn't even be happy knowing all her paintings were selling tonight.
"Grace?" Nessie called out as she walked into the bathroom. Seth and Jacob stood outside the doorway making sure Beth would not enter. Esme was already scolding the woman about how she should support her daughter even if she didn't agree.
"In here," Grace called out inbetween tears as she unlocked the middle stall. Nessie entered and locked it again before wrapping her twin in a hug. They stayed like that until Grace stopped crying. Nessie wiped her face off with a makeup remover that she keeps in her purse and touched up her mascara and lipstick.
"She's just a bitch. You did amazing tonight and those paintings are sold," Nessie have her a pep talk as they exited the stall and washed their hands in the sink.
"Like deja vu," Grace joked with a weak voice. She took a dee breath before turning to Nessie.
"He said they leave in the morning, you just gotta make it through this," Nessie looped arms with her like the first night they might and marched out the bathroom. Both of the boys took a hold of their imprints free hands and went towards their group again.
"They are all sold Miss Amazing Grace," Seth told her as he pointed at all the blue tickets marking the highest bids have been accepted. She still didn't move to check the prices, she'd just collect the checks later.
"Of course, she's my girl," Frank smiled at his daughter before rising his glass to her. Grace smiled back before scanning for her mother who was staring at Seth's hand.
How could they? Just walk into her life like this. Just make her believe that she was just meeting them. Like this wasn't fate. One of them had to have told her to come out here and do this.
Edward was biting his lip hearing Beths thoughts. No one reached out to Grace, they all made that a rule when she first left. Jacob had to alpha command Seth into not doing so.
"I think it's time to get going. Grace why don't you go talk to the director and by the time that conversation is done Seth will have pulled the truck up to the curb," Edward nodded at everyone in the family making it clear that it was time to go.
"I was just thinking that," Bella chimes in while giving Beth a dirty look. How dare that woman be so mean to her daughter?
"I'll be right outside when you're done," Seth kisses Graces forehead quickly before racing out the front door. The other boys following suit while the girls were left with Beth and Frank as Grace walked over to the director.
"How dare you Beth! How dare you talk to her like that!" Bella whisper shouted once Grace had started talking to the director who Edward already heard say that Grace would be welcomed back for a third time.
"She's my daughter! I raised her! I held her when she vomited or got sick! I kept her sheltered and safe! Now she's out here with that boy doing who knows what and hanging out with you all the time. She should be in college," Beth whisper shouted back while pointing fingers. Before Bella could open up her mouth again Esme stuck a hand between both of the women.
"Enough. Grace is all of ours. My granddaughter. Both of your daughters. Nessie's twin. Etc. Grace loves us all and she appreciates us all in her life. Beth you're just upset because you don't have her all to yourself now. Tonight was about her and you ruined. Made her cry in the bathroom. Go home and you think about what you've done," Esme flicked her hair behind her shoulder once she was done scolding the woman again and led the Cullen clan out of the gallery and into the rain to meet the man. Grace was slowly walking back to her mother who instead of saying anything just walked right past her and left.
"Grace," Seth called out by the front door with a smile upon his lips. She turned and looked into his eyes and knew that all would be okay, one way or the other. Things would be okay.