"You'll have to tell them sometime, Alice."

Edward's words flew through the house like a silent whisper, drawing the entire family, wolf pack included, into the living where both he and Alice stood. She shot him a disapproving glare, knowing full well that he had 'accidently' forced her in to this. Leah Clearwater laughed. Although she hated vampires, she liked watching the Cullen's bicker with each other. It made them seem more normal. Or at least as normal as a family of leeches could be. Whatever the little one was hiding probably wasn't important. She and Emmett, the giant one, always seemed to be getting into some sort of trouble. And Leah loved to watch Dr. Fang attempt to parent his nearly adult children. This would be good, she settled comfortably.

"Tell us what?" the doctor furrowed his brow, a protective arm around his wife.

"Alice is something wrong," Mrs. Fang's worried expression caught the female wolf's attention, "If something is wrong, you know you can tell us."

"I don't want to," the little pixie shook her head, "Especially not with you, Esme. I'm sorry. I just…just can't!"

Ok, so maybe this was more serious than she originally thought. Leah leaned forward. Typically the bloodsucker mother was the one her kids could confide in. What could be so bad that she wouldn't want to share?

"What is it?" Jacob interjected, his arms instinctively grabbed Nessie. He'd been jumpy ever since the altercation with the Italian Vampire Mafia…or whatever they were called.

"Darlin'" the soldier grabbed his wife's shoulder, "You can tell them. They're more worried about you than anything. "

"No Jazz," she shook her head, "It's over. It doesn't matter anymore."

"Was it a vision?" Blondie folded her arms across her chest.

"It's the vision she showed Aro," Edward turned to his family, "And if you don't want to tell them, I will."

"It's her vision," her husband snapped, "Just because you saw it too doesn't mean that it's yours to share."

"I was just trying to give her an alternative option, Jasper," the bonze haired leech bit back.

"Enough," Momma Vamp stepped between her two sons, and took her daughter's hand, her tone softening, "Whatever it is Alice, we can handle it. If it's weighing on you, it's weighing on us. We're stronger together."

Shortie looked as if she was going to cry, as she attempted to find the words, "Carlisle died. He died trying to save me from the Volturi."

Whoa, Leah's eyes went wide. That was like dropping an atomic bomb. Momma Vamp took a step backward, almost losing her footing. News like that would have put any human woman on her ass. The doctor was immediately at her side, gripping her shoulders tightly. She closed her eyes and nodded for the pixie to continue.

The little dark haired one dove into the story of what the she showed the creepiest vampire of all time. It was fascinating to Leah that she could know all this just by the simple choice of yes or no. The aspects of the battle sounded pretty cool, but the fact that he doctor wasn't the only casualty was a little alarming. The solider was the next to go. He squeezed his wife's tiny hand, obviously having heard this before. However, nothing shook Leah like hearing that Seth perished at the hands of that blonde little witch and one of her goons. Her heart began to break as turned to look at her brother's distraught face. A few solitary tears rolled down his cheeks, as he quickly wiped them away with his sweatshirt sleeve. And for the first time since hearing of the possibility of her husband's death, Mrs. Fang pulled away from the doctor's grasp. Her bone pale hand reached over lightly touching Seth's shoulder. Leah watched as her brother raised his own to lightly grip her fingers.

"And we were almost orphans," the tiniest Cullen, spoke quietly.

Momma Vamp lowered her head, almost in acceptance. She knew she had never been then best fighter. It was Dr. Fang's turn to be upset, as he rested his chin on his wife's shoulder. Seth looked up at her with pained eyes, for some reason he always felt the need to help protect her. Leah adverted her gaze. With both the doctor and her brother dead, of course Mrs. Fang was the next target. Basically a sitting duck, which wasn't fair. The woman was all heart, the female wolf admitted reluctantly. No one else in this family of leeches went out of their way to make this pack feel welcomed like she did. And even if Leah didn't want to accept her kindness, it didn't mean that she wasn't trying. Mrs. Fang was a mother after all. And all mothers, even vampire ones, have to have some sliver of goodness.

"You said almost," Bella looked from her in-laws back to the pixie, "Why almost?"

Shortie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "It was Leah," hearing her own name caught the female wolf's attention, "She sacrificed herself to save Esme."

Leah glanced back as Momma Vamp's golden eyes met her own. The dark haired woman could already see it in her expression, the admiration and thankfulness was plastered all over the matriarch's face. Even as the retelling of the vision continued, Mrs. Fang's tender and caring look never faltered. Not even once. As soon as story time was over, Leah bolted out the back door and into the safety of the dense forest. Before she even had time to phase, she could hear the soft footsteps coming her direction. Of course the vampire mother would have followed her.

"Leah," she shouted, "You ran off so quickly, I didn't have an opportunity to say…"

"Don't" the female wolf cut her off coldly, "You don't need to. It didn't really happen. So you don't have to say anything."

"But, it could have!" Momma Vamp shouted back, preventing Leah from phasing again, "And for that I say thank you. I know you don't like it here very much. And I know that protecting my family is an order from Jacob, but choosing another's life over your own isn't a demand. It's an act done out of heart. I'm just glad that…"

"Don't make me a hero," Leah spat, "I don't want you to thank me. You don't owe me anything. Please, just forget that it could have happened. And if you can't, focus on loving your husband or caring for Seth. They're the ones who need your time. Not me."

Mrs. Fang was quiet for a moment, "I think you're wrong, but if that's what you want. I can do that."

"Thank you," the dark haired woman turned away again.

"But before I do, I'd like to know why you put my life above your own," the matriarch's voice was more assured than before.

"I told you it didn't really happen. So how would…" the female wolf began.

"Why, Leah?" it was the caramel haired woman's turn to cut her off. Leah spun to face her, the tone in her voice and the look on her facing eerily reminding her of her own mother.

"Well, for starters you are the worst fighter," Leah sassed just as she would if she were talking to Sue, "And with the doctor burned and my brother…dead," the last word caught in her throat. The thought of losing her baby brother slowly consumed her, "Who else would make sure something horrible didn't happen to you. I mean, jeez, do you really think Jake and Sam would let your surviving children stay here? Especially if you and Dr. Fang weren't here to keep them in line. I mean by that point in the battle they had already lost their father. I couldn't leave them without a mother."

Leah tried to hold back the oncoming sobs, but was failing miserably. She thought of Seth, lying there on the cold ground, deader than dead. He would have wanted her to protect Mrs. Fang because she had become a second mother to him. The female wolf then thought of her own mother, who had been so strong during the loss of her father. Sue was tough as nails, holding her two children together, being the brave face even though she had lost her partner in life. Leah recalled how lost she was in the wake of her father's absence and even though the Cullen's were lifeless bloodsuckers, no one deserved the grief of losing two parents. And certainly not in the same day.

The dark haired woman then thought of her own life. She wasn't wanted anywhere. And the one person who she cared most about would have already been died in this battle. Momma Vamp had so much more to live for than she did. Sure, Sue would have been utterly devastated losing both of her children, but they would be leaving anyway when the Cullen's moved. Jacob was their alpha. He imprinted on Nessie. The Cullen's were her family. That meant she had to follow these bloodsuckers forever. That alone was enough to break her mother's heart. At least with both children dead, they could have been buried next to their father, Leah thought darkly as sat with her head in her hands.

"You are so loved," two frigid arms wrapped around her shoulders, as the sickeningly sweet smell of vampire overcame the female wolf's nostrils, "Please. Tell me you know that."

Leah couldn't speak. Somehow Mrs. Fang knew exactly how she was feeling. She so badly wanted to pull away from the embrace. To lash out at the vampire mother for being so bold. To hate her naturally created enemy. Those who brought out this gene she thought she couldn't inherit. But, she couldn't. The she leaned into the mother's chilled grip, accepting the hug she so desperately needed. And for a moment the two just sat on wet snowy ground.

"Listen," Leah finally spoke, shaking off any emotion, "Thank you. But, I don't need another mother like Seth does. I already have a great one."

"I know," the vampire mother pulled away, "How about a friend? And perhaps a home cooked meal and a night in a warm bed," she arched her brow letting the female wolf know that the latter was not an option.

"Alright," the dark haired woman sighed begrudgingly, "You know, you're tougher than I thought Esme. Most people just leave me alone when I lash out."

"Esme? Not Mrs. Fang?" she giggled, as Leah rolled her eyes, "Thank you, dear, most people also underestimate the power of a good hug. If you ever need someone to talk with, I hardly ever leave the house. I may be able to understand more than you think."

"I don't doubt that," the female wolf smirked, "I'll come inside in a minute. I just need to run. Plus I know if I don't you'll have Seth and Jacob come drag me in kicking and screaming."

"Oh, without a doubt," the matriarch smiled back, as she walked back towards the home.

Then Leah ran. She ran for what felt like an hour, knowing that if she went any longer, it would seem as if she was breaking her word. As she reached the lip of the forest, just before the Cullen's home, she noticed a small bag sitting on top of a box. She quickly phased, running over to grab the contents, when she noticed a beautifully written note.

Leah,

Brand new. Untouched. Had Seth bring them to the clearing.

If you don't like them let me know. We can always find something else.

-Esme

Leah snickered, and she thought the little pixie did all of the family's shopping. She quickly slid on the black cotton leggings and cozy olive colored sweater. Inside the box was a pair of tan, fuzzy, winter boots that hit just below the knee. She slid them onto her feet and walked quickly into the house. The putrid smell of vampire hit her nose as she opened the sliding her glass door. But as she turned into the kitchen Leah caught a sweet scent of chocolate chip cookies. She turned her head to see Seth and Jacob, waiting with bowls in hand as Esme spooned in chicken and dumplings. Leah's favorite. She sat up, and gave the matriarch a genuine smile. Yep, Leah sighed, vampires suck, but Esme's alright.