Yay! It's the second to last chapter! As you well know, I do not own Twilight. Enjoy!

Chapter 12.

Abby's POV

I pondered refilling my mug as I sipped the last few drops of hot chocolate out of it. For a moment I actually wondered if anyone would notice if I slipped some alcohol in it, but then I figured that not only would it taste nasty, but they would definitely notice. Still, it would be nice to be able to forget what just happened. The only reason I knew it wasn't just a dream or hallucination was the huge bruise hidden under my sleeve.

Looking up, I saw that Kelsey was continuing to stare silently at the wall; her expression was still hard, determined, protective. The only thing that gave away how she might be feeling were her eyes. They looked tired and frightened. Now that I knew why she was acting this way I didn't blame her. I even felt bad for her, having to go through all this and keep it a secret for so long. Before I thought I knew all of Kelsey's little dark secrets, because she certainly knew most of mine, but after this I wasn't so sure. I thought I knew her so well, but I guess not.

Most of it I believed. Despite the illusion I still trusted her. She was just trying to protect me, it was something she would do, it was all believable. The wolves, the vampires, all of that I had seen, all of that passed as real in my book, but the last thing she said; that Ava was our mother; that I wasn't so sure about. My mother had been dead my entire life and her name wasn't even Ava. I saw the headstone. Nowhere on there were the words "Ava Cullen" or "does not age" or "is still living as a vampire".

On the other hand, everything else she had said was true and our mother was not a subject Kelsey took lightly. Ever. Still, it was a lot. Even if she was telling the truth I wasn't ready for it.

Kelsey's expression was still hard. I wished she would change it. I wanted to see her smile, wanted the reassurance that everything would be okay. I slipped my hand over hers. The warmth reminded me of my childhood. It made me long for simpler times when problems could be solved so easily. She finally looked at me and her expression softened. She unclenched her jaw and her face relaxed. I didn't know why it surprised me so much to think that she was looking for reassurance too. I smiled gently. She returned the smile and sighed.

"Tired," she muttered, throwing her head back and resting it on the back of the couch.

It was one of those afternoons. Even Ivy and Declan had fallen asleep sprawled out in front of the fire place. The snow had stopped falling of course, but the skies were clouded over and the fire was just too inviting. It seemed to draw everyone to the living room. Luke was on the other side of me. He was so funny when I got home. He lectured me on not exploding on people like I had and that I had basically made Kelsey cry, which to him was a difficult thing to do, but he's never seen her when we watch "The Notebook" or "A Walk to Remember." Still, at least in my experience, aside from movies she's pretty hard to break down. If I hadn't known that all was forgiven I likely would have broken down then and there. I had to explain to him over the lecture that she'd caught me on the way and that we'd worked everything out although I didn't mention all the mythical stuff. He would have called an ambulance or something.

Everyone else was cuddled up with their respective spouse, and the only one missing was Dad. Honestly, I was grateful. I didn't think I could look at him the same way. I mean, I guess I couldn't have expected him to stay celibate the rest of his life, but he could have at least hooked up with someone his own age. It was disturbing. The thought was dancing in the very back of my mind that Kelsey was making up that Ava was our mother so she wouldn't have to accept that Dad was sleeping with women far younger than himself. If that were true, and if I refused to believe her then that would mean that Kelsey had some sort of psychological problem, and I loved her too much to hope in any form that that were true; even if it meant hoping that by some stretch of fate that Ava was in fact my mother.

"Do you want some more?" Kelsey mouthed, pointing at her own cup.

I smiled and nodded as I handed her my empty mug.

A few minutes Dad came in. When he saw me he got the biggest smile on his face. I couldn't help but cringe internally, but on the outside I smiled back.

"Good to see you," he whispered since talking would have broken the room's sleepy atmosphere. He leaned down and kissed the top of my head. "I'm sorry you walked in earlier, I should have locked the door."

I bit my lip as not to say anything. This was strictly a matter between me, him, Ava, and Kelsey should she decide to get involved.

The minutes passed and Kelsey didn't come back. At first I just figured time was going slowly because I was waiting uncomfortably for her return. Not only were my hands cold, but her spot was the space between where Dad and I were sitting, so she would ease the awkwardness that way too. After awhile though I got tired of waiting and got up from my spot to go check on her, but she wasn't in the kitchen.

I looked around confusedly until I finally heared very faint shouting over the crackling of the fire. The shouting sounded like it was coming from outside and I peeked out the window. It appeared that Kelsey and Ava were having some sort of shouting match. I was glad that Kelsey wasn't mentally insane, and wanted to get my fair share of derogatory terms that normally I would never say in, so I went out to join her.

"Go back inside Abby," Kelsey growled as soon as I opened the door.

"What? Why can't she be out here? It's really not what you think," Ava protested.

"It's below freezing outside and she doesn't have a coat on," Kelsey objected.

"That is true," Ava agreed. "But what should it matter otherwise! I didn't do it!"

A growl that wasn't human erupted from Kelsey.

I ran over to her and wrapped my arms around her. I had to keep her from turning for both of our sanities. It was also good because I was starting to get cold, and she was nice and cozy to press my arms and cheek against.

She didn't back down much though. Her stance went from about to attack to defensive, but she was still tense and twitchy. "Abby, you should really go inside," she said through clenched teeth.

"I promise it's not what you think!" Ava repeated.

"I saw you; you were definitely doing what we think you did," I said. Had she forgotten already?

"Not that," they said simultaneously.

"There is no way the two of you could have…done that…without you losing control! It's just not possible!"

"Kelsey, I'm telling you it is! It really wasn't as good as you think; it was pretty easy to focus on not killing him."

"What?" I asked. Since when did sex imply killing people?

"She…bit…Dad…"

"And…" I didn't think she had rabies, but maybe, who knew anything anymore? Not me.

"When a vampire," she spat the word with a special hatred, "bites someone and they actually survive it they become one too."

Oh, that was bad. I didn't want Dad to be a vicious blood sucker. Then I remembered. "I just saw Dad in the living room. He wasn't a vampire."

Kelsey didn't comprehend it for a second, but then she was motionless, a look of shock on her face.

"Kelsey?" I asked, shaking her a little.

Her expression turned from shock to remorse. "Oh," she said, blushing a little. "I…I'm sorry then."

"How could you even think that?" Ava scolded. Scolded. How strange considering that Kelsey was so much older than her.

"I know. I said I was sorry. I was just…"

"Worrying incessantly?" Ava offered.

"That's always a safe guess," I interrupted.

Kelsey shot me a look.

"Oh, hi by the way, sorry if earlier was…um…yeah," Ava said, looking down a little, her face showing both sorrow and amusement.

I shook my head. I couldn't think of anything to say that I would actually mean in some way that didn't involve a long string of cursing or basically beating her up myself although I knew from experience with Megan that wouldn't be possible. Besides, I was still cozy right where I was. Kelsey had adjusted herself so it was no longer an awkward position, and allowed the maximum amount of heat transfer so I didn't freeze to death.

"Does she know about me?" Ava asked Kelsey.

"Well, I told her, but she claims she doesn't believe me," Kelsey replied, shrugging slightly.

Could it really be true? After all these years could my mother have been right in front of me? I just didn't know. My head was swimming with confusion. Why did she never write or call or contact us to let us know she was alive? Did she even know how much we had missed her? Did she not care how many nights Dad and Kelsey spent up crying or even just looking gloomy?

As far back as I could remember it was like that. Never in front of me though. I only knew because I was a very sneaky spy. Kelsey and Dad tried so hard, all the time, not just to keep things running but to do a good job of it and to try and give me as normal a childhood as the could give me. I hadn't even questioned how my mother had died until I was being a sneaky spy at the age of six and found her death certificate and saw that it had my birth date as the death date.

And now she was just back? She didn't look like the pictures anymore, but she hadn't aged any either. When I looked for it I saw the resemblance, and although I had never known her, her actions, her expression, even the way she held herself, leaning forward with concern and anticipation, seemed right. It seemed like what Kelsey had told me about her.

I just didn't know what to think.

"So Megan's moving up to Alaska, at least until Caleb graduates high school," Ava said, trying to make small talk with Kelsey while she was obviously waiting for a response from me. I couldn't give her one.

"Good," Kelsey pouted.

"She's going to live with the Denali clan, she's going to try and be a vegetarian."

"It's the least she could do since she oh-so-rudely tried to kill us then fell in love with my son."

"I know, if it makes you feel better I tore her arms off and threw them into the woods."

The picture in my mind was horribly graphic. Hopefully vampires could put their limbs back on or something.

"It does make me feel a little better," Kelsey said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"I knew it would," Ava smiled, taking a few steps closer so it was less like they were about to fight and more like they were chatting.

The smile was familiar, I recognized it. I finally saw it and knew beyond a doubt, but I was too stunned to do anything about it. Part of me wanted to run up and hug her, part of me wanted to go slap her face for leaving no matter what kind of damage it might cause my hand, but because neither side was particularly winning I just stayed where I was and stared while they made a little more small talk about things I could only halfway follow.

Finally Dad came out looking for us as well. "What the heck are you doing out here? It's cold and people are starting to think you fell down the sink."

"Well, your older daughter just had a fit because she thought I did what you want me to do," Ava said.

"Oh," Dad said. It was obvious he wished he had never come out.

Kelsey stared blankly at him. "You. Wanted. That?" she said.

"Try to understand Kelsey, what if it were you and Seth?" he asked. This did not help Kelsey "understand".

"If it were Seth, someone would get an ass kicking, and I would try to be with him as much as possible, but under no circumstances would I screw up my life like that. No offense Mom."

"It's not like I chose it," Ava/Mom shrugged. "I won't do it, and I doubt Carlisle will either so that's that."

"Good," Kelsey said.

"Girls can I speak to your mother privately?" Dad asked.

I was going numb. Both on my body that wasn't covered, and inside too. I couldn't think. Kelsey had to basically lead me inside. It was so much warmer inside, but I really didn't want to let go of Kelsey, and she didn't make me until I got in the way of her pouring the hot chocolate back into our glasses.

"Where've you been?" Luke chuckled as I took back my spot.

I shrugged. "Kitchen," I mumbled.

He kissed my forehead. Ivy had woken up from her nap but still in a sleepy stupor got up, walked over to the couch and climbed into my lap. I looked over at Kelsey, down at Ivy, and I thought about Ava and what I knew now. There was only one thought resonating in my mind.

Mom?

Oh goodness, I'm somewhat saddened now, just one more chapter to go :( ...okay, well, I'm gonna try and post within the week, but I've got a lot of school work then exams, so it may be a while...thank you shout out to Megan and Shelby as always...thanks for reading and please review!!

Hufflepuffbrunette :)