AN: Hi everyone!
Thanks so much to everyone that has been reading and enjoying this story.
Thanks for all the lovely reviews.
We're nearing the end of the story though. I think there will be about four or five more chapters after this one...
I'm still struggling a bit with the ending, not sure how I want to do it yet...
but for now enjoy this next chapter!
oh and disclaimer; i don't own twilight!
some of this chapters is similar to Eclipse, so of course SM owns all of that!
Chapter 28 - Apologies
BPOV
'Brace yourselves.' Edward muttered. 'They've been holding out on us.'
We all glanced at him confused, but his eyes were trained on the forest edge in front of us. We all turned to look as well and as if on cue the wolves walked out. I'd expected six, but out stepped thirteen wolves. My mouth dropped open in shock.
Emmett let out a low whistle.
'They didn't trust us enough to come in their human forms.' Edward said, with a roll of his eyes.
Jasper shrugged. 'This is fine, they only need to watch and listen.'
the wolves reached the clearing and stopped a few yards away. Sam, the largest and blackest wolf stepped forward and nodded his massive head.
'We're here to observe.' Edward said in a detached voice. 'We'll not participate, that will be too much for our self-control.'
Carlisle stepped forward. 'That is fine. We thank you for being here and wanting to help us with this.'
'We're not doing it for you, but for the humans.' Edward said, adding an eyeroll to give his own opinion about that.
'Still, we're thankful.' Carlisle insisted. Then he gestured towards Jasper. 'My son Jasper has most experience with newborn vampires. He'll be the one instructing all of us.'
'Why do you need instruction?'
Jasper stepped forward. 'Because these newborns won't be anything like regular vampires. They're only a few months old, some just a few days. They are chaotic and dangerous. They ar ruled by their senses.'
'She's only a few months old.' Edward pointed out in his detached voice, indicating towards me.
'Bella is different. We think one of her powers is control. She is not a run of the mill vampire new born. You can't compare bella to a newborn really, she's more like a fifty year old vampire than anything else.'
'Why?'
I shrugged. 'I'm nice and freaky. Can we get on now?' I sniped.
although Jacob and I had mended fences pretty well, and I held no hard feelings towards Quil or Embry, I still felt pretty peeved at Sam. He'd been the one to decide to let me change and then abandon me. he'd been the one responsible for my crap start at this new life… I couldn't help but feel animosity towards him for that reason.
The wolf bowed his head and Edward stifled a chuckle. I quirked an eyebrow at him but he shook his head.
'Alright then, let's start.' Jasper said, stepping in between us. 'the most important thing to know about fighting newborns is to not let them get their arms around you. if they manage that they will crush you easily with their brute strength.' He turned back to us, 'Emmett.'
'What?'
'a demonstration please?'
Emmett got to his feet and went to stand across from Jasper.
'Now Emmett too relies on brute strength, his fighting style is similar, albeit more controlled and logical, than that of newborns. Still it's a good comparison.'
'Alright, so just attack you then?' Emmett asked Jasper, shuffling his feet excitedly.
Jasper nodded once and before he could brace himself Emmett had set off across the clearing with a furious yell. He threw himself at Jasper and tackled him to the ground. Jasper was taken by surprise but quickly regrouped. He kept himself just out of reach of Emmett's crushing arms and eventually managed to pin his arms behind his back.
'Always keep out of their reach and try to rip one or both of their arms off as fast as possible.' Jasper concluded.
"Again.' Emmett barked, getting frustrated at losing the wrestling match. A collective eyeroll travelled through the group at that.
'Later Emmett.' Carlisle chided. 'Everyone needs to practice.'
'fine.' He grumbled, getting to his feet slowly.
we spent the next hour training like that. Each of us got a chance to face Jasper in the clearing. He would attack us like a newborn would and show us what to be careful of and what to watch out for.
Emmett was glad to get a second chance at Jasper, but still didn't win.
Alice of course was untouchable. Seeing her fight was amazing and frustrating at the same time. Jasper seemed to dance around her, pivoting left and right trying to get hold of her, but alice managed to stay one step ahead of him the entire time. She kept sidestepping at the last possible moment, until finally she managed to jump into the air and then land on Jasper s back, putting her lips at his throat.
'I win.' She exclaimed. They grinned at each other and Jasper gave her a small peck on the cheek before waving the next person over.
When it was my turn I was slightly apprehensive. I was the one with the least experience. I had wrestled with Jasper and Emmett over the past few months. But that was for fun. They had taught me some things, but nothing really life saving or impressive. It wasn't that much of a surprise then when Jasper had his arms around me in a restricting embrace within three minutes of the match.
I growled in frustration.
'Come on, Bella.' He ground out. 'Get it together. Don't let your emotions get the better of you.'
'I'm trying.' I bit back.
'try harder.' He snapped.
we went again. And again. And again. But still I didn't get much better.
When we'd collectively been at it for at least four hours, the wolves stood up.
'We have to go. You've taught us much.' Edward said again acting as spokesperson.
'We'll be practicing here every night until it's time to meet them.' Carlisle said. 'you're welcome to join us whenever you want.'
Sam nodded his head.
'thank you.' he said, but he didn't give any other indication that they would join us again.
the first of the wolves turned around and started running back into the woods again.
'Bella.' Edward said. 'Sam would like to speak to you, if that's okay.'
I looked over at Sam, who was standing hesitantly next to Jacob and another wolf, who I guessed was either Quil or Embry.
'Why?' I asked.
'He'd like to tell you himself.' Edward said, shrugging.
'Well then he'd better change.' I said looking pointedly at Sam. He nodded his head once than headed into the forest.
'I'll be over here if you need me.' Edward said, squeezing my hand once.
I nodded and walked over to the remaining wolves.
'So did you enjoy the show?' I asked Jacob once I was closer to them. He nodded his head and gave me a woolfy grin.
'You do know you're quite ridiculous that you don't trust us enough to come as humans?'
he shrugged one of his massive shoulders. I rolled my eyes.
'Will you at least practice everything Jasper told you guys?'
He nodded his head.
'We will.' A deep voice said from the forest. A moment later Sam stepped out again, dressed in a pair of cut off shorts.
'Good.' I crossed my arms over my chest defensively. 'Wouldn't want any of you to get too overconfident and get yourselves killed.' I muttered.
Jacob gave a snort.
'You can go now.' Sam said sternly, looking at Jacob and the other wolf. They both gave a small whine. The other wolf turned and headed into the forest but Jacob remained a moment longer looking pointedly at Sam.
'Go, Jacob.' Sam ordered again. And with one last look to me he too went back into the forest.
Sam turned to me. He gave me a once over and then crossed his arms as well, mimicking my stance.
'What?' I asked after a moinute of uncomfortable silence.
'I'm sorry.'
That threw me for a moment.
'what?'
'I've always blamed the Cullens for what happened to me, but I realize now that that was unfair. It weren't the Cullens that did this to me on purpose… but I did this to you on purpose.'
I frowned. But stayed silent. I had a feeling he needed to get this off his chest.
'Jacob told me what you said… and you're right. we have no right to decide anything about you or your life. you were attacked, because we weren't fast enough to save you. you were turned against your will because we ripped him off you. you became a vampire because I was too much of a coward to kill you.'
I heard Edwrad's warning growl from across the clearing. Sam looked over for a moment but then turned back to me.
'I know he broke your heart and that you were a mess. I knew it could be very bad for you, to have to spent eternity alive… and I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry that we forced you into this life. but I just… I couldn't force myself to give the command to kill you. I'm glad that you found your mate again and seem to have settled into this life well enough. But I know it could have gone differently and that is my burden to bear. I am truly sorry for what I put you through.'
I blinked in surprise. 'I won't lie, Sam. I do blame you. I also blamed Jacob. You pretend you're all so much better than the Cullens, but what you did to me… it was worse than anything the cullens have ever done to you.'
He hung his head in shame.
'It could have gone bad for me indeed, if I'd not been this controlled… you'd have been in serious danger. If Alice and Jasper hadn't found me, I don't know what would have happened to me. I was a mess and that was all your fault.'
he nodded.
'Although I blamed you, and I gave Jacob a piece of my mind, which I'm sure you got a frontrow seat to, I don't anymore.' I finished softly. 'Thank you for apologizing. It means a lot. And if you promise to keep your nose out of my business from now on, and help me protect Charlie… than I guess we're good.'
Sam let out a big breath. 'Thank you. that's more than I could have hoped for.'
I shrugged. 'just stop being so pigheaded and we'll be fine.'
he gave a short chuckle. 'I misjudged your kind, I think. I've just been told so many stories about the cold ones… it's hard to not be prejudiced you know.'
'I think that's one of the problems on the Rez… you only rely on legends, passed down from generation to generation… stories get distorted like that. I'm not saying it's bad or anything, and I'm definitely not saying that all vampires are good… they definitely aren't. But if you'd just listened to the Cullens the first time around, you'd have had a lot less animosity in your tribe.'
Sam nodded thoughtfully. 'I guess you're right.'
I shrugged. 'Just promise me you'll keep an open mind about the Cullens from now on, and keep joining us at training?'
'I'll do my best. I'll make sure at least one of us is here every night.' He promised.
'Good.' I gave him a small smile. 'that's all I ask.'
he smiled back and then nodded over my shoulder to Edward.
'I'll head off now then. I'll see you tomorrow.'
I nodded and with a wave he headed back into the forest at a jog.
Two arms snaked around my waist.
'And you're dead.' Edward said in my ear. I rolled my eyes and put my head against his shoulder.
'I wasn't paying attention.'
"that's the problem.' He said, though I could hear the smile in his voice. 'you can't get distracted on the battlefield.'
I sighed. 'I'm never going to survive this.' I muttered.
Edward pulled me around to face him. His hands cupped my jaw. 'You will.' He said fiercely. 'I didn't marry you just to become a widow.' He added jokingly.
'Just make sure to train with Jasper as much as you can.' Alice added. 'You and Esme both need the extra training.'
I glanced at Alice and the sudden anxiousness she exuded made me suspicious she'd seen something.
'what did you see Alice?' I asked.
she fidgited for a moment and Edward winced beside me.
'Tell us.' I insisted.
she sighed. 'Before the wolves decided to help… I saw twenty newborns descending on us… Esme was the first to be killed, that sent Carlisle into a grief spin which made him virtually useless around the battlefield. Edward was trying to protect you as much as he could, which made him vulnerable and made him wounded. Then a newborn gets his hands on you and as Edward is fighting to get to you, your head is ripped off. Edward dies soon after and the rest of us… we're pretty much toast by then as well.'
it was silent in the clearing after that. The mates were all clutching at each other.
'WE all knew this was going to be dangerous.' Emmett finally said. 'nothing changes, except for the wolves helping us. If anything we're better off.'
'On one hand yes.' Jasper said. 'the newborns will never have seen anything like it, so they will be confused. But Alice is blind now. We don't know how many vampires will descend on us, or if the Volturi are coming our way or not… it leaves us vulnerable for other reasons.'
I sighed. 'Why couldn't she just come fight me one on one.' I sighed heavily. 'that way you all would be safe at least.'
'It's not enough in her favour.' Carlisle said. 'she's a flighty vampire. her gift is escaping. She'll never put herself in a position where her cahnces are low.'
'Well she's not getting out of this alive.' Emmett growled.
'Come on, Bella, Esme.' Jasper called out. 'Let's get back to it.'
Esme and I looked at each other then nodded determined. We were going to do this. We were going to train our asses off and we were going to make sure we made it out of this alive.
