Authors Note:

Well, everybody, I'm back with another chapter. I've been writing this story late at night, I genuinely hate insomnia, but hey, you guys get another chapter. Sorry it's a little late. Anyway, I hope you'll liked the last chapter. Things are heating up very soon, and it's going to be a whirlwind, but you just have to wait. Oh, and that note, this chapter and then next might be slightly shorter. Legally I must state that I do not own Twilight.

Gloxinia

Lily POV:

(May 19th, 2006)

I took a deep breath, "Reneé, can we talk?"

I waited in a nervous state. I had so much to say, but I wasn't sure if I could fully let it out.

"Sure, Liliana. What do you want to talk about? Is everything okay?" Reneé replied with a smile, sitting down across from me and handing me an ice pack for my back.

I smiled gratefully and placed it on my back, sandwiching it between the chair and my body. "I was wondering about your thoughts about Bella and Edward's relationship."

Yes, this was a safe place to start.

Reneé's face lit up. "Oh, they're a lovely couple. Edward is such a handsome young boy, and I can tell he really loves our little Bella."

I scowled, "Don't you think it's a little strange that they're so dependent on each other?"

"It's puppy love; why are you asking? Do you think somethings wrong? I'm just so happy with how protective he is of her. She's such a klutz she needs someone to be there when she falls. It was like they were meant for each other." She responded with a frown.

"I just say that it's not healthy. I mean, they're never away from each other. Just think about Sam and me we're able to survive being away from each other."

A sly smile came across her face and moved the conversation to talk more about what was happening in my own life. "Who's Sam? Don't think I haven't noticed that pretty ring on your finger. I've just been waiting for you to bring it up."

I felt a blush rise up. "He's my world. He's a good man. Charlie loves him like a son. Anyway, back to Bella and Ed – "

"Well, he has to be to gain Charlie's approval. That man is hard to win over." Reneé squealed and rapidly threw out questions. So how did you meet? What does he look like? What does he do for a living? When are you two getting married?"

I sighed as my hands came up to cover my face; it was apparent that the Bella/Edward topic was thrown away. "It's not the prettiest story of how we met."

"I'm sure it's not that bad." She replied.

"He was Leah Clearwater's fiancé. It was about a year after they broke up that we got together. She recently found out about us and well . . . she cut me out of her life."

Reneé could probably hear the hurt in my voice as she leaned across the table and placed a hand on top of mine. "I'm sorry, Liliana."

"I'm pushing through it every day, but I just have to remind myself that I gained the one person I can always rely on and the person who will always be by my side," I responded while retracting my hand, uncomfortable with her touch.

"So what does the mysterious Sam look like?" She said as she changed the subject to something that would hopefully pull me out of my head.

"I have a picture of us on my phone; let me go get it." I stood up, wincing a bit. My back still hurt from Edward's shove. I headed towards the room Bella, and I were sharing. There was a small pull-out couch in the room, and I had claimed it as mine, giving Bella the actual bed. My hand froze as I went to knock on the door. Should I go in? Or just leave her alone?

I decided on the first option. Maybe I could explain that I didn't really mean to say that. I didn't think before I responded; I just let my mouth unleash the fury that I was feeling. "Bella, I'm coming in," I announced as I opened the door.

My brow furrowed as I saw both Edward and Bella lying on the bed. Edward's arm's wrapped gingerly around Bella's frame. "What do you want?" She hissed.

"Ummm . . . I'm just getting my phone," I said, walking over to where my phone laid charging.

I only heard a scoff in response. "Well, get and get out."

"Bella, about what I said . . . I'm sorry, I didn't really mean it," I whispered with my back facing her.

"Yes, you did, Lily. It's so refreshing to hear what you really think. I've grown tired of the false façade you put on." She snapped.

I turned around and saw both of them looking at me with hate-filled eyes. I cowered under the force of their gaze. "I really didn't, Bella. Look, I know you're mad, and you probably hate me at the moment. I know I haven't been the best sister to you. But please believe me when I say I only want the best for you, and I truly do love you. I would do anything for you."

"If that's true, then get out of the room. In fact, go back to Forks. I never want to see you again."

Edward chuckled in agreement. "She's right. You are nothing but a nuisance."

Tears filled my eyes as both of their statements stabbed me in the heart. I wiped away the tears viciously. "Fine. I'll book a flight back if that would make you happy."

"It would make me ecstatic to not have to see your ugly face," Bella said with a mocking grin.

My throat closed up, and I nodded as I swiftly left the room. I leaned against the door and let tears fall from my face for a few moments. I wanted this trip to be a way to reconnect, a way to bridge the gap, but instead, a single phrase has made the wedge between us just grew larger. I slowed down my breathing in an attempt to calm down before I went back to the kitchen.

"Liliana? Is everything alright?" Reneé's voice called out from the kitchen.

I put on a brave face as I walked back into the room. "Oh, everything's fine. Just the pain kind of is making it hard to move quickly."

"Well, come sit down again. You need to rest your back." She said, getting up to help me sit back down. I prayed she wouldn't see how red my eyes were becoming or the mist that grew in them.

As I sat back down, I went through the pictures on my phone. I had recently upgraded to the Sony Ericsson K800i. It was a smallish phone with a slick black design. I had chosen it because it held one of the best cellphone cameras on the market. The only downside was the keys were kind of cramped to fit such a large screen. But I made do. It was just a learning curve.

I settled on two pictures, one of the night that Sam had proposed. That photo was a side profile of the both of us wrapped in each other's arms, simply staring at each other's eyes. "Oh, Liliana, I can just see the love you two hold for each other," Reneé said with a breathless tone, but it soon turned into a giggle. "He towers over you, though, and looks like he would eat you for lunch with room to spare. How tall is he?"

I gave a smile. "He's 6'5. Easily trumping my 5'4 standing."

"I can see that. Now I just need a clearer look of his face, although, from the side profile, he's obviously a catch."

I pulled the phone back to me and scrolled back to the other photo. It was a recent photo of Sam on the beach wearing nothing but his swimming trunks. His eyes shut as he enjoyed the sun's rays on his body.

Reneé took the phone from my hand to get a closer look. "My oh my, you and your sister sure know how to pick them. I mean, look at that jawline and his chiseled masculine features. God, how often does he work out?"

I winced at the comparison between Sam and Edward. My Sam looked like a healthy, strong man, a down-to-earth man, a man who isn't afraid of hard work. While Edward looked like a sickly, stick-up-the-ass, sleep-deprived little boy who had never worked a day in his long life. "His job with the council requires a lot of physical activities."

"I'm guessing since you mentioned the council that Sam is Quileute? I didn't want to assume."

"He is. He works hard for his people. I'm so happy he is dedicated to his heritage." I responded to the question with a smile. Sam's love for the tribe brought me joy. He was so protective of not only me but everyone. He wanted to keep everybody safe. But of course, I couldn't express the entire reason for my pride.

"Do you guys live in La Push together?"

I gave a bright smile. "Yes, I moved in after he proposed. He actually built his own house, and it's perfect. I love it with every fiber of my being, and it's not too far away from Allison's house."

Reneé returned my smile, "Allison? Is that his mom?"

"His and mine."

"So I'm guessing you three are close?"

"Yes. She's a safe space. She is my been my confidant for years now." I replied with a sigh. It was true she was heaven for me. No matter what was happening to me, she would always be there to support me.

Reneé's smile dropped a little. "I can hear the love you have for her in that one statement."

I took a deep breath. I was ready to confront her; I was prepared to tell her what she has done to me and, like my therapist said, make peace with my past. "She's my mom Reneé. She's been there ever since we've met. I've had some hard times, and she's always been by my side. I'm proud to call her my mother."

Reneés' eyes fogged up. "I know that I haven't been the best mother to you."

"No, you haven't" I was ready to confront her. I was ready to open that dialogue. "Do you know what you did to me? When you left without even saying goodbye? When you ignored me for most of my life? Reneé, you scarred me, deep down to my soul. For years I would wake up in the middle of the night and creep into dad's room to make sure he hadn't left me too. I couldn't trust anybody for the longest time. I was afraid to get too close to people because I figured they would just leave me too. My childhood was shattered." My voice broke as I crossed my arms around myself; I was shattering at the seams. "Did you even think about taking me too?"

Reneé laid her head down in her hands, "I did consider it, yes. But I knew I could only support one of you. You had always been a daddy's girl through and through. I realized that I couldn't do that to Charlie. I couldn't take both of you away from him. So I chose Bella." Her head snapped up, tears streaming down her face. "I couldn't take being there anymore, but there's not a day that goes by that I don't regret leaving you behind."

I felt a sudden drop of water fall on my hand, and I realized that I was crying. I didn't want to believe the words she was saying. I had spent so long just thinking she wanted nothing to do with me, and here she was crying and accepting responsibility for her actions. My heart was pounding out of my chest, and all my repressed emotions came forward. But the small voice in me said to believe her. "Why didn't you ever try and contact me. For 7 years, I was alone with nothing but my heartbreak."

"I just figured that you wouldn't want to have contact with your failure of a mother. So I left you alone, but it killed me. Every time your birthday came around, I would look up at the sky at exactly 4:34 AM and hope you were looking too. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore, and I needed to see you, to see who you had become."

My shoulders started to shake. "Why do you act like nothing had happened after so long? I felt like you didn't truly care, that I was nothing but the spare, and Bella was the perfect child. The one you always wanted."

Reneé violently shook her head. "It wasn't that, believe me. I never wanted to make you feel that way. After so long apart, I didn't know what I should do, how to act. I figured that we weren't ready for this talk. I could see you still held so much hatred towards me, and those feelings were valid. So I acted like nothing was wrong, and for that, I acknowledge I messed up. Hell, I messed everything up, and I have no one to blame but myself. I never wanted to cause you so much pain. Liliana, I'm so sorry for what I did to you. I won't ask for your forgiveness because I don't deserve that."

"I can't forgive you for what you did to me, Reneé." I took a shuddering breath. "But we can't take back the past yet without your decision, I probably wouldn't have the life I have. I can accept that you made the best decision for me now. Dad gave me the best childhood that he could; he raised me to be who I am. Lessons that are engraved in my heart molded me. I learned to work hard, to care for your fellow man, and to keep family, whether they're by blood or you chose them, close. If you had taken me, I wouldn't be me."

I raised my head and held it high as tears ran down my face. I stared into her eyes. They were like reflections of my own. "I'm ready to move on, though. I'm ready to start trying to have a relationship with you. I doubt that it'll be as strong as mine with Allison or dad, yet I want to try. But it's going to take a long time for me to fully let you back into my life. I hope you understand that."

She sobbed for a good couple of minutes, accepting the words that I had spoken. She settled down after a few moments and nodded her head. Her eyes puffy and red, with a few stray tears falling. "I do, and that's all I can ask for. I won't pressure you to give me more than you want to."

We sat in silence. Neither knowing what to say after such an emotionally charged conversation.

"Liliana? Ca . . . can I give you a hug?" Reneé said as she wrung her hands.

Was I ready for that? Really prepared to start the healing process with this physical symbolism?

I took a large breath and let it out slowly. I needed to do this. I wanted to do this. "Yes."

With shaky legs, she got up and walked around the table. She got on her knees and embraced me. I turned and returned the hug. My mind and heart were at ease again. I felt a wave of acceptance and weight that had been pulling me down for so long lift off of me.

"Reneé, I'm going to need to use your computer, if that's alright?" I asked after we broke apart from our embrace.

She looked puzzled at my question, "It's fine. Can I ask why?"

"I'm going to try and catch a flight out tonight. I'm sorry to cut our trip short, but I need to head back home." I replied with a white lie. If I told the whole truth and explained that Bella told me to never see her again, Reneé would try and force us to make up, which would only make things worse.

"Go right ahead, Liliana. I'll drive you to the airport no matter what time you have to leave."

"Thank you. Let me call dad and tell him to expect to be picking me up late tonight," I said with a weary smile.

Sam POV

(May 19th, 2006)

I snarled as I whipped through the forest at break-neck speed. This little fucking bitch of a leech played the pack as fools, constantly evading our attacks as if she knew exactly what we were about to do. I was tired of playing this catch and mouse game. It was bad enough that I was in this constant state of anger and worry over my people, but the pain radiating through my chest made it hard to focus.

"She runs up to the border! If she crosses the line, we won't be able to continue chasing her!" I heard Paul thinking with nothing but a drive to end this madness.

"I know, Paul. Leah pushes past our formation and try and heard her back to our land." I ordered. It was the only way she would actually help out in this situation.

"Fuck you, Sam." She said as she ran forward with the speed of a bullet.

We continued on the chase, each one of us growing more bloodthirsty and focused at the thought of finally getting rid of the present danger.

Seth's voice broke through the heavy silence. "Sam, the smell of bleach and sugar is getting stronger from the right. It's close to the treaty line, and it's coming in quick."

I snarled. "It's probably the Cullen's. I don't care why they're here; just stay focused on catching the bitch."

Everyone but Paul shouted in their mind in agreement. Paul was too lost in the chase, the hunt. I stayed focused on keeping a close watch on my brothers, making sure they were safe or as safe as they could be. It was my responsibility as alpha.

In an instant, Paul's dark silver fur was suddenly flying by me. He gained speed quickly, too quickly to stop. As the flaming red-haired leech jumped across the line, Paul was jumping with her. At the exact moment that Paul's back legs left the ground, the largest Cullen was in the air flying to catch our collective enemy. But the woman that should have been caught swerved in the air and landed in the middle of the river. The two air-borne men collided and an enormous clap radiated through the air. Both of our groups paused, not knowing exactly who had the right to get her, and in that hesitation, she bolted away.

My brothers and I snarled, but at the fact, she had gotten away. We had been so sure that tonight would be the night we would catch her. I didn't have long to radiate in the feeling of anger because I soon hear a deep and violent growl.

I snapped my head to the left and saw both Paul and the ginormous Cullen in attack positions. Both standing directly on the treaty line.

I had to diffuse the situation, or there would be a blood bath. "Paul, get back on our side! Now!"

Paul's body began to move on its own, fully obeying my command. He was still in full defense mode, not taking his eyes off the male vampire, ready to attack in an instant if allowed.

One of the females stepped forward and placed her hand on the male's shoulder, leading him back to the group. I knew we must discuss what had happened. Neither side knew if this altercation would cause the treaty to be broken.

"I'm phasing back," I said as I walked a few feet away to change back into my human form.

I rapidly slipped on my shorts and slowly went to the edge of the treaty line. The leader of the group stepped forward and stood on his line.

Carlisle got straight to his point but what he said made me shake. "Samuel. I am asking for you to allow us to cross the line to chase Victoria."

"So that's the bitch's name," I murmured under my breath, knowing both sides could hear me. I stood firm, though, and in the following sentence, I said with the tone of a leader. "No. I am not going to allow you on to our lands. The treaty was made, and that treaty will be upheld. The only reason I am not ordering my brothers to kill you is that you didn't actually cross into Quileute land, you member-only landing on the line."

"If you hadn't been in the way, I would have gotten her." The vampire that had collided with Paul growled out. My brothers growled at the implication that it was our fault. It made the atmosphere of tension grow to a close breaking point.

"Emmet, be quiet," Carlisle said sharply. "Please see reason. If we work together, we will be able to catch her easily."

My eyes were set firm in my decision. "I am not going to break the 70-year-old agreement. We can catch her on our own."

A member of the "family" who looked as if he was being stabbed came forward to give his insight. "She is resourceful and tricky. Your pack alone will struggle to try to get her. But if you agreed to work with us, she would be no match."

"My answer is no," I shouted while the pack started to growl behind me. "You will never be allowed on Quileute lands."

As I turned to go and change back, Carlisle spoke up, trying one last attempt to make me change my mind. "She's after Bella that means Lily and Charlie are possibly endanger too."

I whipped around, and with a snarl, I responded. "I can protect them just fine."

"But if we revise the treaty, you would be able to protect her in Forks." The tiniest one said.

I gave no response as I walked away. Ana would be safe with me; I just have to believe that they would protect her when I couldn't.

I stripped and phased back, giving my orders. "Jared, Seth, you two will be patrolling with me for the rest of the night. Everyone else stay on alert. Paul and Jacob, you will relieve us at 9."

"Yes, Sam." With that, I felt the shivers of everyone phasing back.

"Jared, take the west and south. I'll take the north and east. Seth, you'll take the right."

Both of them agreed to my plan, with no questions needing to be asked.

And with that, we set off into the darkness.

Sam POV

(May 20th, 2006)

I staggered forward, dead on my feet, just looking forward to slumping into my cold bed. I sighed as I thought of that bed. The bed that would be lonely tonight, lonely without my Ana in it

Ana, the scent had grown stale in our house with her being gone. It didn't feel right without her there.

Going to unlock the door, I immediately realized the door was already unlocked, and my body instantly grew tense. But as I opened the door and observed the room, eyes, scanning with laser focus, landed on a figure on the couch. I slowly walked forward to get a better look at who was lying on my couch.

"Sam? Is that you, babe?" Ana's voice came out with a tired groan.

A smile rose up on my face as I rounded the edge of the couch to see my lover lying down, looking up at the ceiling.

"What are you doing home so early? I thought you wouldn't be back till tomorrow?" I said, crouching down to her side, taking her tiny hand into my large one.

"I missed you, so I caught an earlier flight home." She replied without looking me in the eye.

I sighed. "Tell me the truth, Ana. Why are you home early?"

She frowned and attempted to sit up, a look of pain crossing her face. "Can you help me up?" She asked with a tight voice.

I went to place my hand on her lower back, but the second my hand made contact with her skin, she let out a yelp of pain. "What happened? What did I do?" I said, retracting my hand like it had just touched lava.

"Nothing, it's just my back."

Something in her voice said that wasn't the whole story. "Can I look at it?" I asked as I slowly helped her up.

When she was fully up, she gave me a slight nod in agreement. I slowly pulled the back of her shirt up and sucked in a deep breath when I got to the middle of it.

There in the middle was an expansive bruise, dark blue and purple swirled in a splotchy pattern. It all radiated in a center point which was almost black in color. "What happened, Ana?"

"I fell and landed on a coffee table." She said quickly and with an uneasy tone, a clue that always told me when she was lying.

"You're a terrible liar Ana, what really happened?"

"I'm not lying, Sam." She responded, looking away.

"Yes, you are, and you're not clumsy enough to fall backward. Now, what happened?" I asked again, rubbing her shoulders.

She took a deep breath, "I chased after Bella after I said something I shouldn't have, and Edward shoved me backward; I fell against Reneé's coffee table."

I gritted my teeth, "I'm going to kill him."

"No, Sam, it's nothing. It's just a bruise. It'll heal eventually. It's my fault."

I got up to stand in front of her. "He should never put his hands on you in the first place; it's not your fault."

"But it is Sam; I shouldn't have started running after Bella." She replied with her head held low and voice broken.

I hooked my finger underneath her chin and rose her head to look me in the eye. "I had a feeling this Florida trip wasn't going to end well, and from your voice, it sounds like something else happened while you were there."

She just looked so small before me, so broken. "They're getting married. He told me that they're getting married. She's giving up her human life for what? For a few couple decades together, and if worse comes to worst, he'll change her. She'll be giving up her humanity. So I snapped, and I fear I just drove her away for forever."

My brain immediately snapped to attention to the idea that Bella would become a leech. "Did he outright say she'll be changed?"

It was like she could read my mind. "No."

I nodded my head. "You know what will happen if she does get changed? You know what I'll have to do?"

"Sam, can we not talk about this right now. I don't think I can focus on that possibility yet; I just want to keep up hope that she'll stay human." She said with a brittle voice, staring up at me with tear-filled eyes.

I sighed and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Alright, my love. Now let's get you into the tub, help you relieve some of the pain in your back."

"Thank you."

I'm hoping to get the next chapter out soon. Feel free to comment!