The world of Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I like to play in it. In this story, I wondered what would have happened if Bella was worried enough about Carlisle and Edward's attempt to save her by aborting the baby that she felt compelled to flee the household to save her unborn child. Who would have helped her? How about a homeless girl in Seattle and the youngest member of the wolf pack?

This story takes place during Breaking Dawn, and occurs after the honeymoon, as Edward and Bella return home early from Isle Esme after they learn she is pregnant.

Chapter 7 – Running with Seth

(Bella's POV)

I answer the unexpected phone call, "Seth?"

"There you are," he says. "Please just give me a minute and listen. I don't know what's going on. I just know everyone is looking for you. My job as wolf is to protect humans, so though I don't know your circumstance, I will help you. I'm at Cal Anderson Park, waiting by the fountain. If you come to me, I won't tell the others where you are. I will stay with you until you are ready to go home. If you decide not to go home, I won't leave you."

I pause and think. "But don't you have to obey the orders of Sam, the alpha of your pack?" I ask.

"Only if I phase. If I have to take happy pills, or whatever, I'll just keep my temper under control so I won't phase. He can't control me while I'm in human form," he answers.

I consider our options. We left the hospital with my purse containing the pills and phone, and that's about it. I can't risk going back for the car I left parked in the hospital garage. I decide to take up Seth on his offer. Since we will be leaving Seattle, I stop at an ATM and take out the maximum amount of cash allowed in a single transaction. Obviously Jasper knows I'm in Seattle since he found us at the hospital, so when the Cullens get the transaction record, it won't give away our location.

Bree and I go to the agreed upon spot, and I'm startled to see Emmett's big red Jeep Wrangler waiting by the curb. I'm about to tell the taxi driver to floor it and get us to another location, when Seth appears by the taxi door. He gives the driver some cash and then opens the door for us. His eyes widen at the sight of me, and then he gets control of himself.

"Emmett leant me the car while I'm in Seattle," he said, shrugging his shoulder in the direction of the flashy red Jeep, answering my obvious question. It is a relief to see a familiar face, even if it is the youngest member of the wolf pack.

Seth explains that Jasper is running the search operation. Working together, Jasper and Sam have laid out corridors for the individual vampires and wolves to search. His plan is to run me south down his corridor, as no one will suspect him.

Seth doesn't seem to know about my phone call to his mother. So Sue can keep a secret, good to know.

Seth is obviously interested in Bree. They are exchanging shy glances in the mirror. I make introductions now that we are on the road. What do I say, 'Bree, this is one of my werewolf friends, and Seth, this is my homeless friend who has a knack for breaking into cars and pharmacies?' I decide to leave it at names, as it is clear that they will talk at the first opportunity.

"What's the plan?" Seth asks.

I take a deep breath and launch into my story. When I tell him I am pregnant, he says, "Yeah, even I could tell that." I run through our recent flights and tell him I just need a safe place to stay for the next few days. I skip the part about his mother though. I tell him Carlisle has given me some pills, but that someone recommended herbal healers. Seth tells me he believes his mother may know someone in Oregon, a woman herbalist she has ordered supplies from for the tribe.

"Well, it looks like we are headed for Oregon," he finally says.

I say OK and doze off.

When I wake up, it is dark outside, and Seth is carrying me into a Travel Lodge hotel. Bree is pressuring me to eat and take Carlisle's pills. I do both, then text Edward and fall asleep on the bed without removing my clothes.

I wake up to the sound of Bree and Seth in the next room.

"What's your favorite color?" "What's your favorite movie?" All those questions that fascinate the young. Although I am only about 2 years older than either of them, I feel I have aged a decade over the past few weeks.

Seth comes in to check on me and tells me he hasn't explained the "supernatural" aspect of himself or the Cullens, though Bree has her suspicions. I sigh, and say I'll break it to her tomorrow.

The next day, Seth calls his mother, Sue Clearwater, and gets the name of the herbal healer who has a shop in Bend, Oregon. This time I go in to see her, instead of sending Bree, as I did at the hospital in Seattle.

The shop, Jane's Natural World, is located on the main street of the small town. A bell tinkles as we open the door, and we enter a store filled with shelves holding bottles and bags of herbs. It smells of sandalwood and licorice.

A woman with long black hair which she wears in a ponytail comes out of the back room as we enter, and she holds back a gasp at my haggard appearance. Seth introduces us, and tells her that his mother, Sue Clearwater, has recommended her. The woman nods, and says her name is Jane, and that she is the owner of the store. She gestures for me to sit on a small sofa placed near a few bookcases holding pamphlets and books on natural remedies.

She asks me what is wrong, stroking my hand. I relax, until I realize she has paused over the scar left by the vampire James attack at the dance studio. She looks at the scar and then looks at me. She looks at Seth as well.

She reflects for a moment, before finally saying, "I have seen many things in my life and have heard of many more from grandmother. Now, please tell me the truth about how long you have been pregnant."

I tell her the truth. She strokes the scar in the form of a bite mark, remarking quietly on how cold it is.

She finally says, "I have something, a special preparation that was passed to my grandmother by her own grandmother. I have never prepared it myself. Please give me a few minutes. We'll see if you like it."

Jane comes back thirty minutes later with a strange looking drink in a coffee mug. Seth wrinkles his nose at the smell and looks puzzled.

The tea is thick and nasty looking, but I'm here to be helped, so I take a sip. It tastes good, despite its appearance. I finish the hot drink in a few gulps, burning my mouth.

Jane looks at me and nods to herself. "This is a treatment for extreme anemia. It contains dried deer blood, which is rehydrated by the hot water."

I want to choke, but I am actually feeling better than I have in days. Bree looks at me, and comments, "It's like the color is coming back to your face."

The healer gazes at me thoughtfully, with her hands folded under her chin. "What would you like to tell me," she asks.

"I can't…"I begin.

"I thought not. Are you and your friends safe?" she counters.

"Yes," interjects Seth. "I can handle whatever comes along".

She takes a long look at Seth then takes him aside and gives him a bag of supplies, including something that appears to be a knife, and a lot of verbal instructions. He tries to give her money, but she refuses.

"May God bless you all. And good luck," she says, as she closes the door behind her, the bell tinkling again as we leave.

"What did she say?" I ask.

"She asked me if I knew how to drain blood from a deer carcass," he replies, "among other things."

"Oh," I say, unable to come up with anything else.

We leave the downtown area and return to the Travel Lodge. Seth says he needs to return Emmett's Jeep, so he goes out to look for a new car. He comes back with a young man who had a car with a sign in the window "$1,999 or best offer". He pays the boy cash for the car, gets the pink slip, and then offers him $100 to drive Emmett's Jeep back to Seattle. The kid accepts the offer quickly. I have visions of the number of speeding tickets he'll get, and how much off-roading he will do. Well, good enough. Emmett will get his Jeep back, that's all that matters.

The car is a clunker, a golden 1977 Impala with a rapidly eroding paint job. But it's big and easy for me to get into and out of. So we head south looking for somewhere else to stay, in case the Cullens or Sam somehow trace the jeep.

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