A/N: So. I'm back. I have a weird sort of integrity; I realized I wouldn't forgive myself if I never finished my old fanfics. Particularly the ones I felt passionate about, which were most of them. This one has a special place in my heart, because of the culture surfeit mentioned in the Chapter One A/N, and because of Jacob canonically ending up with Renesmée, which is just not right. So here I am. =3

This chapter is ridiculously short, but the next one's nice and long (already got it written; write me some nice reviews if you want to see it soon). I love you all. Big hugs all 'round, I've missed you.

Chapter Eight: Deeply

"So, do they know?" she asked.

The girls were now back to normal and currently walking along the stream that led to the longhouse. School had let out for the day, and they were on their way to hang out with Jacob. Edward was already down there, and Bella had taken the opportunity to ask a question of Maya.

As it was rather a private question, Bella had decided to be blunt, and had been successful. In the next ten minutes, she heard all about how "they didn't even have to say anything—it was like he just knew—and he was so—and she'd never have believed that there could be anyone like him, anything like this feeling, etc, etc."

After a while, the gushing died down, and Maya admitted that no, they (the Quileutes) didn't know everything. For that matter, neither did her grandparents. The latter had made it clear that she was here so they could have her company and ensure her education. They liked Jacob, but with their united strong wills and joint bank account, they were giving her the best of opportunities for her future. The thing was, Maya was sure her future was on the Quileute reservation.

"Not that I don't like learning, and I've worked, but only things I like. Everybody wants me to go into PR, some kind of high-class customer service, and I love people, but there's a limit, you know? I don't want to spend my life making friends for my job. I want a few people I can have around me, some I can visit every once in a while. I want kids, I want a home. I don't want some demanding job that would take me away from all that."

"What have we been fighting for all this time, then?" Bella bit out, willing herself not to fly into a rage. "Women, I mean."

"Some women are good at that sort of thing. I'm not. I want something small, just for me."

Bella sighed, exasperated. "You're pulling us fifty years back."

"I can't help it," Maya replied, her eyes limpid.

They sat down for a moment, Maya fluttering and delicate so as not to soil her skirt, Bella flumping down in a second and sitting cross-legged in her jeans. "You're gonna have some time explaining that to everybody."

"I know. I don't know what to do."

"The way I see it, you can either go the American way and do whatever you want once you're eighteen, or you can go the traditional way and do what the grownups tell you and be miserable."

"That's not fair."

"No. Things usually aren't. Just because they're going fine now doesn't mean they always will. No matter what kind of magical powers you have that make everybody love you." Bella wished she could chew her tongue out once she'd said that last sentence. Maya was still hurting over Jacob's second cousin rejecting her and the Cullens. She stole a glance at Maya and saw her staring forlornly at the ground, but whether it was due to her own faux pas or the topic of conversation Bella couldn't tell. "Maya? Look, I'm sorry, I guess I just—"

"It's fine," Maya whispered. "You're right."

There was a long, though not uncomfortable pause, and then Bella felt an arm being thrown over her shoulder, and a squeezy-hug. "I'll figure it out. But enough about me." The smile was coming back into Maya's voice. "You and Edward."

Bella flushed. "Yeah?"

"Well? Any news on that front? Any plans? Or not, whatever you want."

Bella laughed nervously. "Yeah, well, let's just say our situations are kinda completely different."

"Mm?"

"…You do remember Edward's immortal?"

"Oh, right." Maya laughed guilelessly. "I forgot. I'll miss you."

"What?"

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, I love you but I wouldn't be immortal for all the tea in China." She wrinkled her fine brow. "Wait a second, there isn't that much tea in China anymore. But you get the idea."

"So if I—I'd have to watch you grow old and die?"

"Yes. Do me a favor, watch over my family, will you? I mean, my descendants."

"Sure. Wait—" Maya started laughing and Bella stared at her. "What are you on about? Or just on?"

"Nothing, it's just a little fun. I mean, if you do, I would ask you to do that, but you—" She suddenly sobered and put her hand over Bella's. "You don't have to, remember. Don't let anybody influence you in this. It's your decision." She leaned back. "Unless, of course, you're not thinking of anything long-term with him. Which is fine, too."

"No—no, believe me, I want to, I just—" Bella pushed a hand through her hair. "I mean, yeah I wanna be with him, I can't stand the thought of him leaving me," Maya decided to address the issue of And I'm the one setting us back by fifty years? later, "but at the same time immortality is—"

"A heavy deal," Maya finished.

"Yeah."

"Well, it's ok. You have time to think it over."

"All the time in the world."

Maya smiled. "If you want."