A/N I think the general consensus was that Sue's reaction was surprising. Honestly, I was surprised, too. It made sense, though, when Edward explained it, and this chapter should clear things up even more.

After a lot of drama, I settled for a fluff chapter. There's still action, especially at the end, but it's much more relaxed than it was.

And true to form, after making up my mind twenty different times, I have decided...at long last...to write a sequel! It's too soon for the Volturi to make an appearance-and they most certainly will-so I hope to continue this basic storyline in the sequel and throw in some more of the good times: high school, the pack, and, of course, Jake/Nessie moments. My tentative title right now is Redefining Soul Mates. I'll likely segue to the sequel in the next few chapters.

Anyway, enjoy as always, and please review! :)

Jake and I walked silently along the shore of First Beach, musing about the meeting that had just occurred between the Elders, Sam, Jake, Elena, and my family. Even Charlie came with Sue, and it was one of the strangest diplomatic gatherings La Push had ever seen. In the end, it was resolved that Sam's pack would join forces with us if, or when, the Volturi attacked Westhope, and that Jacob would facilitate Sam's connection with the other shape-shifting tribes. They would continue to guard La Push, though, until it was certain that the Volturi were coming.

I whirled around so I was walking backwards, facing Jake. "Do the Elders resent my family?"

Jacob looked shocked that I would come to that conclusion. "What do you mean?" he wanted to know.

"The Volturi are always looking for an excuse to attack us," I explained. "I understand that you felt the need to defend my family when Bella was human, but now that she's a vampire—"

"That doesn't matter," Jacob interrupted. "What's important is that you are my imprint, making you family, and we would die to protect our family. The same applies to Seth and Elena. Now that the two of them have bonded, we are obligated to protect her herd, and her herd will also protect our pack." He cupped my face in his hand. "What brought this about?"

I lowered my head. "I was thinking about Sue's reaction to Elena, actually," I admitted.

Jacob raised my chin with his hand and stared at me in confusion. "What does that have to do with you?"

I couldn't turn my head away, so I averted my eyes. "Well, think of how her life has been affected by the existence of vampires." I began to tick off events with my fingers. "Her first husband dies from a vampire attack…a vampire who tried to kill my mother. Leah and Seth both shift into wolves to fight the same vampire. Then the Volturi attack my family, dragging the Clearwaters into the action again because of your connection to me."

My voice dropped a few notches. "I understand where she's coming from, not wanting Seth to leave due to another supernatural reason, even if it's something as beautiful as imprinting."

Jacob's face lit with understanding. He gently tugged me into a warm, comforting hug. "We've all had to make adjustments for the supernatural world," he said softly. "Even your family has to take measures to remain inconspicuous. The fact that they do so because they refuse to be monsters has greatly helped with the current situation."

"But?" I prodded, guessing that there was more.

Jake sighed. "To those humans caught in the mix, it's not the most desirable option," he admitted. "Sue is happy that that Seth found his soul mate, I'm sure of it, but when you add to his relationship with Elena the distance from home, the existence of new shape-shifters, his inevitable appearance in the next war with the Volturi—"

"He was going to fight anyway," I interrupted. "Your pack has always sided with my family."

"But now Seth has his own imprint to be worried about," he reminded me. "Regardless of Elena's fighting abilities, Seth will protect her at all cost, even if it means sacrificing himself. If she were a normal human, outside of the battle…" He trailed off.

"Seth would be safer," I realized. Of course Seth would still throw himself into the fight, were Elena not involved, but he would be focused on his own self-defense and picking up loose ends from anyone else. With an imprint in the picture, he would be constantly distracted by her safety.

Something occurred to me. "You know that I can protect myself, right, Jacob?" I ventured slowly. "In the event of a war, you don't need to risk your neck for mine—"

"You won't even be there," Jacob interjected, looking suddenly fearful but determined. "We'll find you a safe place during the battle."

"You're joking!" I exclaimed, staring at my boyfriend. "I can fight just as well as the rest of the family."

"You're more breakable, though," Jacob responded, his brow furrowing.

"Not as breakable as Mom was," I reminded him. "And taking her to a safe point ended up being disastrous, because Victoria found her anyway and she was in even more danger than before."

I was so grateful to know my family history, because Jacob was certainly disappointed that that argument wouldn't work. "Edward will back me up," he muttered, more to himself than to me. Still, it was definitely a threat. Who knew which of them could be more protective of me on a given day?

I dropped the subject for now, knowing that, as the day approached, we would discuss it thoroughly.

In the next few minutes, we found ourselves at the Clearwaters, where Seth and Elena were talking quietly outside. Elena glanced up as we approached and smiled widely. "Jake! Nessie!" she greeted happily. She stood to give me a hug and Seth followed behind her.

Seth looked meaningfully at Jake, who sighed. "Right, now's as good a time as any," he answered.

I frowned slightly. "What's up?" I asked.

"I told Sam that my pack would run a circuit with his, get a feel for the land again and see if we smell anything that they've missed," Jake told me. "As long as Seth's here, we might as well head out now."

I wasn't terribly bothered by this new development—after all, the guys and Leah frequently ran patrols back home—but Elena seemed concerned. "How soon will you be back?" she wanted to know. "Should I phase and come with you?"

"It won't be long, Lena, and I don't think phasing is the best idea right now," Seth said sadly. I smiled briefly at his new nickname for her. "We haven't told the younger members of the pack about the new shape-shifters yet. Having your scent close by would throw them off." Despite the fact that he was about to leave, Seth wrapped a protective arm around his imprint's waist. I didn't blame him; the newbies lost control easily, and even with Elena's strength, it wouldn't be a pretty fight.

I took Elena's hand soothingly. "We'll just hang out around here until you guys get back," I suggested casually, already walking backwards towards the house.

Jake, Seth, and Elena stared at me like I was insane. "Nessie, Sue hates me," Elena whispered furiously.

"This'll be good, I promise," I said easily, praying that Jacob would take my side. "I haven't gotten to spend time with Grandpa Charlie yet, and we can interact in a fairly normal setting."

Although there was nothing "normal" about having two humans, an elk, and a half-vampire in the same room, Jake and Seth relaxed a bit. "Just stick with Nessie, Lena," Seth encouraged. "Charlie's a great guy, and I know that between the three of you, Mom will like you, too."

Elena smiled tentatively. "I'll do my best," she promised.

"Be you," Seth countered. "That's all you need to do." He kissed Elena lightly on her mouth and went back to stand with Jake.

"Wait!" I called as they started to walk away. The guys turned. "Aren't you going to say good-bye, Jacob?" I asked flirtatiously.

Jacob's eyebrows rose and, with a devilish smile, he swept me into his arms, princess-style, and kissed me passionately, his lips pushing pleasurably against mine. When we came up for air, Charlie and Sue were on the front porch, eyes wide open in disbelief.

"Oops," I giggled, letting myself fall to my feet.

Jake hugged me close to him. "I hope you don't regret it?" he teased.

I grinned seductively. "With you? Never," I avowed, my voice carrying the hint of a laugh.

Jake smiled and kissed me once more, on the forehead, before joining Seth and running to pick up Leah and Chad from Sam's house.

I grabbed Elena's hand again, sensing that she needed the friendly assurance, and strode toward the entryway of the Clearwater house. I put on an appropriately abashed expression for Charlie's sake. "Hey, Grandma and Grandpa," I greeted sheepishly.

Charlie chuckled and hugged me around the neck. "Can't get used to the fact that you're all grown up," he said quietly. "But it does me good to see Jake with such a gem after so long." I blushed at his praise.

He smiled at Elena. "Hello, Elena," he said good-naturedly. "It's great to see you again." He tugged her into a loose side-arm hug, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. Sue coughed softly.

I turned to address my grandmother. "Sue, do you mind if Elena and I hang out here for awhile? The guys are off doing pack business and you and I haven't really caught up since we moved."

Sue moved to answer but Charlie beat her to it. "Please, come on in, girls," he welcomed quickly. "We were just getting started on cooking dinner."

Sue frowned slightly but covered it up to usher us inside. I hadn't been to the Clearwaters'—well, I guessed that it was Charlie's house, now—for awhile, because the two of them usually visited us at the white house. It was slightly bigger than the average house, with a lot of couches and chairs to accommodate the growing wolf pack and a nice kitchen with spacious countertops. I could see the hallway faintly lit from where we stood in the living room; around the corner were three bedrooms and two bathrooms for the family to share.

We settled onto the plush chairs and tried to chat normally about life, which was difficult because Sue would give only one or two word answers and Elena was too scared to speak about, even about her herd. Charlie and I carried most of the conversation, so I took the time to tell him about my freshman year of high school and the friends I had made, minus Tamara, and he listened with unforced interest.

After a short span, Sue excused herself and took a mug of tea out to the porch swing, where she sat in silence. Elena visibly relaxed and began to open up about her life in North Dakota. Charlie was intrigued by her tribe, understanding that she was like Jake but transformed into an elk instead.

Listening to Elena tell her story again, it was like I had never heard her speak before. She assumed her usual Hart tone, and her voice carried an authority and enthusiasm that compelled Charlie and me to pay attention. We were so enraptured by the histories of her tribe that the high-pitched scream from outside startled us.

"What was that?" Charlie cried.

The three of us leaped up from our seats and ran to the front door. Elena and I paled in fear, and Charlie gasped, "No!" under his breath.

Across the front lawn, an unfamiliar vampire circled Sue, who was clutching her mug close to her chest, bent over in fear. At our approach, he glanced up, his red eyes narrowing menacingly.

"How did he get here?" Elena whispered angrily.

I was at a loss for how to answer. Both packs were running circuits and my family was living only a few miles away; shouldn't they have smelled this nomad's trail? But I didn't hear any howls or even footfalls to indicate the pack's approach.

The vampire stepped closer to Sue, his arms widening protectively about his prey. "This human is mine," he hissed. "Leave her to me, and I may spare your blood."

Instinctively, I crouched in front of Elena and Charlie, letting loose a feral growl. Behind me, I heard Elena convincing Charlie to go inside.

My reaction was a sufficient distraction. The vampire lost focus, straightening rapidly to stare calculatingly at me. He hissed again, this time out of surprise. "You're the hybrid," he realized. "You're the half-human Cullen girl the Volturi attempted to end seven years ago."

I remained in a crouch, allowing my feet to slide slowly forward as I did during a hunt. "I may be half-human," I responded ominously, "but I'm half-vampire, too. And I will not hesitate to tear your head from your body if you refuse to leave Sue and never return."

The vampire laughed gratingly. "I'm afraid that I can't do that, hybrid," he informed me. "Because once I'm done sucking her dry, I plan to incapacitate you and hand you over to the Volturi. I'm sure that the capture of the Cullen hybrid would garner a special reward." Sue whimpered in fear.

"You'll have to get through both of us, then," Elena's voice declared from behind me. I turned in surprise, and saw my friend changed out of her former sundress into one of the shifts she often wore. I mouthed at her to leave this to me, but she ignored me and strode forward.

"What's this?" the vampire gasped in disbelief. "You really think that a half-vampire and a mere human can survive this fight?"

I could hear Elena's wicked smile as she replied, "I am no mere human." With a loud rip from her cotton shift, Elena transformed into a majestic elk and, in sync, we launched ourselves at the vampire.

The fight was over before it began. Elena's antlers bore through the vampire's marble skin with a metallic screech, and I leapt onto his shoulders to remove his head from his neck. His hands scrambled blindly, but we ripped him apart until he was a pile of limbs. Elena tossed me a box of matches with her mouth, and I started the fire.

As we watched the unknown vampire burn, we were vaguely aware that Charlie had run to Sue and collapsed beside her. He wrapped his arms around her shaking frame, whispering comfortingly and crying into her hair. Sue sobbed, too, and dropped her tea mug with a dull clink.

Next to me, Elena soundlessly shifted back to her human form and slipped her dress over her head. She faced me seriously. "We fight well together," she simply stated.

I nodded wordlessly. Then, with a soft cry, I collided with her and we hugged each other fiercely, not crying, but not happy, either. It was my first non-animal kill, and Elena's first in a new territory. Our presence was comforting to one another, and we slowly calmed down.

When we released each other, we saw Jacob, Seth, and Leah running toward us, staring at the fire fearfully. Jacob and Seth joined us quickly, while Leah spoke quietly with Sue and Charlie. "Ness?" Jacob asked with uncertainty, placing his hands on my shoulders. "What happened?"

Before I could answer, Sue spoke up. "A vampire attacked me while I was getting some air," she answered. "Renesmee and…Elena…saved me."

Jacob met my eyes. "You fought the vampire?" he asked lowly.

"I beheaded him," I said matter-of-factly. "Elena gouged him first, though, to distract him."

Seth stared at his imprint with wonder and relief. He struggled with what words to say, until Elena shook her head and pressed her lips against his. He responded with vigor, capturing her in his arms with a gasp and moving his hands over her back, as if checking for wounds.

They soon parted, each keeping one arm firmly locked around the other. At their movement, Sue slowly stepped closer to them. She nodded at Seth, before smiling softly at Elena. "You truly did save my life," she murmured, her voice resonating in the quiet moment. "And you are also, truly, a strong young woman, more than capable of leading and protecting your people. I am…grateful that you and Seth imprinted."

Elena smiled widely, tears streaming down her face, and ran to Sue, hugging her future mother-in-law with genuine love. I intertwined my hand with Jake's and smiled at him. He was right, as usual. Sue came around, and all Elena had to do was be her beautiful, powerful, enchanting self.