Chapter XXII

Alaska

We had been settled into our new home in Alaska for seven months, life beginning to take on a pattern. Seth, Edward and I stayed in touch through phone calls and Emails at first. The La Push pack had sent their final message by burning the Cullen house back in Forks. It was just as well. I didn't think we could ever go back there anyway. It would cause Emmett too much pain.

Seth had been devastated by the news about the house. His Email had been apologetic, and indignant. It wasn't until he called soon afterwards that I realized what was bothering him so much. Seth had decided he liked being a werewolf, and he didn't want to stop changing. Carlisle and Edward had had many discussions about Seth and his feelings. Seth had told us Billy and Sue were getting married. He didn't feel like he was needed anymore.

"I'm all used up already Bella, and I'm barely sixteen." He'd told me on the phone, making me chuckle. "You're hardly used up Seth, it'll be fine."

Eventually we were assembled around the dining room table, with Carlisle making the appeal. "I'd like to invite Seth to come and live with us. I think we all feel the same about him, and he truly dislikes the idea of ceasing his phasing. As we're no longer welcome in Forks, this is the only alternative. So I'm putting it to a vote. Should we invite Seth to Alaska to live with us? Esme?" he turned to her, Esme smiled and nodded her head, Carlisle turned to Alice next, who was sitting beside Esme. "Alice?" She was frowning. "I have only one concern, if he's here, I won't be able to see. Still, I do like Seth...hmmm? Not for any reasons of personal dislike, but I'm going to have to say no."

Carlisle looked serenely at Jasper, "Should I assume your vote is also no, Jasper?" Jasper was looking at Alice, his expression blank. He turned towards Carlisle, "No, I genuinely like Seth, and I'd like a reprieve from Alice's abilities." Alice gasped, and glared at Jasper, making everyone smile. Carlisle then turned to Edward and me. "Edward?" Edward didn't think about it for even a moment. "Absolutely." Carlisle nodded, then looked at me. "What do you think Bella?"

"I think having Seth with us would be fantastic. It would be nice to have someone actually sleeping in the beds in this place."

Esme had chosen a ridiculously huge house, that boasted 8 bedrooms and a 2 bedroom guest house. Each bedroom was decorated, although we only used half of them. But she'd fallen in love with the house, and it's surrounding 72 acres, which in turn was surrounded by wilderness.

Carlisle turned to Emmett, who sat at the opposite end of the table, alone. "Emmett, how do you feel about it?"

Emmett looked up at Carlisle, his expression indeterminable. He smirked to everyone's surprise. "Yah, sure, why not. He could be a good partner for sparring, and besides, I need to teach him a thing or two about name calling." I turned to Edward, and then across the table to Alice and Jasper, we grinned at one another. We'd all been worried about Emmett after Rosalie had been destroyed. He hadn't been the same Emmett. Frequently he'd hide in his room or leave for extended hunting expeditions, always on his own. Just recently, he'd begun showing signs of his innate Emmett-ness once again.

Carlisle nodded, "My vote is yes, so it's decided. Edward, Bella, will you two convey the invitation to Seth please?"

Edward answered, "Yes, of course."

Edward and I stepped outside onto the patio to call Seth, he let me dial since phone calls from Edward tended to put Seth on edge, who was always expecting more bad news. An unfortunate result of the last years events.

He answered after the second ring, "Hello." He said in a disgruntled voice.

"Hi Seth." I said. Seth's tone improved immediately. "Bella! It is so good to hear your voice, I can't tell you!"

I chuckled, "You sounded grumpy when you answered. What's going on?" I asked.

"Nothing really, I just can't take being third wheel in my own home anymore. Mom and Billy are always talking about the wedding, and Charlie's always coming in offering whatever help they need..I'm not good for anything." He said, in a disgruntled tone.

"Well, I'm calling with an invite which will hopefully provide something better for you,"

Seth's voice was so happy, I could almost see his grin, "Anything Bella! Anything, seriously!"

"Well, the family got together and held a vote, and we've decided that we just can't go on in Alaska without a werewolf around to keep things interesting. So, Edward, Carlisle and I, as well as everyone else were wondering if-" The phone falling to the floor and Seth's celebratory yell drowned me out, leaving me laughing. I looked at Edward who chuckled as well.

Seth continued yelling, "Yes! Woooo! Woohooo! Thank G- Oh NO! Hey..." I heard the sound of the phone being handled and Seth's voice suddenly came back on, "Bella! Bella?" He called out, worried.

"I'm here Seth. I'm here." I answered.

"I'll have to ask my Mom, and the elders, but I don't really see what Sam can say to stop me. I'm so coming! Ok, I have to go, I have a lot to do and take care of, and lots of people to talk to, this is really great Bella, OH! Tell Carlisle and everyone else I said thank you..really, THANK you!" I couldn't help chuckling again at how excited he was.

"Ok Seth, take care of everything, if you need any help with anything, let us know. We'll give you a call tomorrow."

"I will Bells-" I gasped and Seth's voice dropped completely out. No one had called me that since Jacob during the battle with the Volturi, "Bella, I'm sorry," he mumbled, "it slipped, I swear."

I took a deep breath. "It's alright Seth, you're the only person I think I can allow to call me that still. It's sort of like paying respect to Jake when you do. We'll talk to you tomorrow."

"I'll be here! Thanks again...I guess, I'll talk to you later then...Bells." he said timidly, making me smile. "Yes, Bye now Seth." I answered.

I turned around to Edward, his eyes had deep concern in them, he reached out for the phone, and taking it, he wrapped his arm around my waist.

"My Bella, is it still hurting you?" he asked me.

"No, well, yes, I suppose of course, but my change seems to have dimmed the pain somewhat. Let's go inside and tell Carlisle that Seth said yes, he's thrilled." I smiled and gave Edward what I hoped was an excited smile. It must have been enough, he smiled back at me, and we turned to the door and walked into the house.

As I came in, Emmett walked past me on the way to the stairs. I warned Emmett, "You be nice to Seth, or I'll be your new sparring partner." I smiled at him.

"I'll be careful little sister, I promise." He smiled back, and I beamed. He hadn't called me that since long before my change, and I was secretly worried he blamed me for Rosalie, or resented me for being here still.

Emmett chuckled, and then said, "I promise not to hurt him too bad." I frowned and gaped at Emmett as he ran up the stairs grinning, leaving Edward, Jasper and Alice laughing behind me. "He's not serious is he?" I asked the others, making them laugh harder.