DISCLAIMER – The Twilight saga and all the characters mentioned in it are the undisputed property of Stephanie Myers. This story was written entirely for non-profit and the sheer love of the series and its memorable characters. Spoilers are included from pretty much included for every single book associated with Twilight. Proceed with caution if you haven't read everything, particularly The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner.

I hope everyone enjoys reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Naturally, feedback is always appreciated but never demanded.

The (Not So) Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

By: Oy! Angelina

-Chapter 5-

Trust Exercises

I delivered Karen straight to her mother's arms just before dawn budded on the horizon. The news of Karen's running away had reached her mother via her ex-husband and she was upset that Karen could be so reckless but was ultimately relieved that she was safe. Both mother and daughter invited me to stay, eat and get some rest after my long drive but I was forced to decline. The sun would be up soon and it looked like it was bringing a clear sky with it. I didn't want to end up stranded at their house for the entire day and wear out my hero's welcome.

Karen's mother insisted on repaying me at least for the gas I used to drive Karen to her. Since it seemed apparent she wouldn't let me leave unless I accepted that small token of her gratitude I begrudgingly accepted the money. I didn't need it, not with the generous allowance the Cullens gave me thanks to their myriad of lucrative financial investments, so decided to donate the money along with my own contribution to an organization for runaways. It was a cause the three of us could all agree was worthwhile.

I continued driving until all signs of civilization receded into the Denali National Park. Just as Forks existed in a perpetual state of gloom Denali was under the constant threat of winter. Now, even in August, a thin blanket of snow covered the landscape. This was where my cousins hunted but, like the Cullens, they kept a normal residence as a staple of their permanency and humanity. Similar to my family's home, the Denali coven enjoyed their privacy and didn't have a neighbor for miles. Working off Alice's directions, I found and maneuvered a stretch of road as icy as it was inconspicuous. At the end was a house that might have served as a hunting resort before my cousins acquired it. I parked the car and went to greet my extended family waiting to receive me on their wide porch.

Tanya, Irina and Kate – the sisters – were hard to distinguish at a glance since all three were some variation of blonde. One had a curtain of hair like corn silk, another curls of strawberry blonde and the last's was silvery and cut close to the chin. The sisters were so pale and shimmery in the morning light they could have been carved from snow or angels from heaven. Carmen and Eleazar were easier to distinguish since they were as dark as the sisters were fair but all had the same liquid gold eyes. Introductions were quick but informal; we were supposed to be family after all.

"You drove?" Kate lifted an eyebrow to my borrowed transportation as she flipped her silken hair behind her shoulders.

I shrugged. Only vampires would consider driving an inconvenience. "It's sort of a long story."

"Why not tell it to us?" Tanya suggested. Her curls bounced slightly as she inclined her head and gestured inside.

"Yes, Bree, tell us all about yourself," said Carmen warmly.

I entered my cousin's home and admired their modern but rustic accommodations then followed them to the living room where we continued the illusion of normalcy by taking seats. I got a chair to myself while the others shared sofas. Irina decided to make herself an odd one out as well by curling up in a chair that kept her on the fringes of the group but still somewhat removed. I caught her staring at me more than once as if wary to have me in her home. I wasn't sure if this was because I was a stranger or affiliated with the Cullens but, since there was no polite way to ask, I did my best to ignore the attention.

I explained the circumstances that led me from the Cullens' doorstep to their own. Everyone listened intently and maintained friendly, understanding expressions even through the darker points of my story. It made me glad I decided to visit my cousins. Even though we just met I felt I had a lot in common with these vampires, the least of which being a desire to live more humanely.

The discussions shifted to the Cullens and how they were doing. I chatted happily about each member of my family while my cousins hung on every word. They seemed relieved to know everyone was okay and I sensed a little guilt that they hadn't done anything to ensure that when Carlisle asked for their help against my old coven. If living with the Cullens taught me anything it was how important forgiveness was and it wasn't like I was in a position to hold grudges on behalf of my whole family. Hopefully everything would work itself out over time because time was all we vampires had.

"How is Edward doing?" Tanya asked, smiling as she said his name. "Ever since that time he ran away from the Cullens to stay with us here I've been so worried about him. It seems like his life has been nothing but stress lately."

"I'm sure things will settle down for him after the wedding," I said, genuinely wanting to believe that was true.

"Well, we can certainly hope so," said Tanya as she twirled a coil of her hair. "My sisters and I know how fragile the human condition is and how hard it would be to sustain a relationship with one. If only Edward had fallen for a vampire then he could simply enjoy his love rather than constantly fear for it."

After comments like these it became pretty evident that Tanya harbored a questionably appropriate level of interest in Edward regardless of the fact she was attending his wedding in a couple days. Hopefully Tanya didn't have any objections to Bella marrying Edward otherwise Alice might tear off her head to ensure Tanya forever held her peace.

In general it was weird for me to view Edward as anything but a brother considering the fact he and Bella clung to each other like koalas. I also had to acknowledge that it might just be impossible for me to ever feel the same affection I did for Diego with another boy ever again. The thought was so depressing I sighed. Unfortunately I wasn't the only one affected by this talk of ill-fated love.

"If Edward had fallen for a vampire then Laurent would still be alive," said Irina bitterly. "We would still be together if Laurent hadn't been tempted by Bella's blood."

"Or, maybe, you never would have met him to begin with," said Kate, flashing her sister a frown. "We're all sorry Laurent died, Irina, but you need to stop looking for people to blame. Even if you could kill the werewolves and anyone else you held responsible would that change what happened to Laurent? Revenge is an empty wish."

"It's true," I said without thinking. I should have kept my mouth shut but everyone was staring at me now so I was pretty much obliged to continue. Unconsciously my hand cupped the crystal necklace resting against my shirt. "Riley and Victoria killed Diego and they're dead now but I'm no better for it. I still hate them, I still miss Diego and I don't want that to obsess over either anymore."

"I am so sorry for your loss, child. It was a cruel introduction into our world," said Carmen sadly. "I hope you've found some peace now."

"I'm better than I ever thought I would be," I said, managing a smile. "The Cullens saved me; not just from the Volturi but myself. I don't think I could have carried on if it wasn't for them."

"We would all be lost without our family," agreed Eleazar, smiling at the members of his. "There was a time I wouldn't have believed it was in the nature of our kind to live as one and I am eternally grateful to Carmen, Tanya, Kate and Irina to have proven me so wrong."

I nodded earnestly. "I thought the same before meeting the Cullens."

"When Carlisle explained how you came to join his family we were very surprised," confessed Tanya. "Considering the circumstance I wouldn't have expected the Volturi to show mercy to anyone responsible for the trouble in Seattle."

"I wasn't as destructive or reckless as most of the members of my old coven," I said, frowning.

That fact hadn't played any part whatsoever in my reprieve but I still felt like stating it. Even with my slip the day before I maintained I had far more personal restraint than the bulk of coven and didn't want my new cousins to assume I was just another unstable newborn.

"Why didn't the Volturi kill the werewolves?" Irina asked suddenly. "Newborns risk exposing our kind but those creatures would destroy all of us, like they did Laurent."

I shifted awkwardly in my chair, unsure of what to say. I was hoping to avoid discussing the reasons Irina's family had estranged itself from the Cullens but we just kept going back to it. "The werewolves were gone before the Volturi arrived."

Irina was unhappy to hear that. "How else will our kind be able to protect ourselves if the Volturi don't know of the danger they pose?"

"Irina…" Tanya cautioned.

I didn't like where Irina was heading with this like of thought. Family or no family, I needed to nip it in the bud.

"The werewolves are not our enemy, not if we don't give them reason to be," I said adamantly. "They're people – kids, mostly – who want to protect humans, especially their own families. Some of them try to understand our kind, too. Seth is a werewolf and he thinks of the Cullens as people because they value human life. If werewolves are a threat to our kind it's only because most of us live like monsters. How can we blame the werewolves for our own shortcomings?"

Irina straightened in her chair and gave me a cold look. "Seth was the one who helped Edward kill Riley and Victoria, right?"

"Yes, he was," I said stiffly. "He also helped protect Bella."

"From Riley and Victoria or Laurent as well?" Irina asked.

I narrowed my eyes. "Just Riley and Victoria but I think the fact you acknowledge Laurent would have killed Bella given the chance proves vampires sometimes reap what they sew."

I probably shouldn't have been so blunt but Bella would be my sister soon and if I had the choice between her and a vampire who helped Victoria of his own volition then I picked Bella. She was the true victim in all this and I wasn't going to blame her or the werewolves for Laurent's poor decisions. Irina, however, not only refused to acknowledge this but wouldn't even stay in the same room as me.

"I'm going to go hunting," Irina said as she stalked out of the house.

The chill I got off her made me suspect Irina had no plan to return from her trip until I was gone. I couldn't help but feel a little resentful. I only spoke the truth. It wasn't my fault that Laurent wasn't the victim Irina seemed to think he was and I was troubled by how much her feelings echoed Victoria's. From the way the Cullens told it James's demise was entirely his own doing by provoking Edward and the others like he had. Unless Victoria thought stupidity was worth avenging she was as cruel and crazy as her mate. I wanted to think better of Irina but her refusal to see Laurent's role in his own death was disconcerting.

"I'm sorry," I apologized to Irina's family. "I shouldn't have upset her."

"No vampire fully recovers from the death of a mate and Irina's reasoning is clouded by her grief," said Eleazar as if offering his own apology. "Under better circumstances she is a loving, gentle soul. Please don't think ill of Irina for not being herself."

Tanya glanced to the door and looked sorely tempted to follow Irina. "She's such a stranger to us now I miss Irina even when she is in the same room. I would do anything to give her even a fraction of peace."

Kate patted Tanya's hand. "Irina is still our sister. It may take time but she will remember that she was loved dearly by us before Laurent and that love is not lost to her."

Despite our tense exchange I felt pity for Irina's situation and hoped I would be able to someday meet the person her family described. Eager to find something else to discuss than Irina's grief I turned my attention to Eleazar and Carmen in the hopes of learning more about the world beyond my family.

"Eleazar, what was it you did for the Volturi before you met Carmen?"

Perhaps Eleazar knew a side of the Volturi and their sense of justice that I didn't appreciate but my limited experience hadn't left such a noble impression upon me. If the Volturi were truly only concerned with peace and secrecy they would have put an end to Victoria and her revenge plot rather than use it as a convenient means to settle their petty vendetta against the Cullens. Although if the Volturi had done their job to the letter of the law it would have meant neither Fred nor I would have survived the destruction of our then-coven. As relieved as I was that hadn't been the outcome it still irked me that the Volturi passed their personal agendas off as righteous justice. It also worried me how much my cousins respected the Volturi despite their transparent desire to decimate the Cullens.

"I suppose you could say I acted as a consultant for Aro to help him distinguish talent and assess potential threats," said Eleazar. I suspected he was being modest about his role in the Volturi. Any organization that kept someone as frightfully powerful as Jane in their ranks didn't employ mundane individuals.

"Eleazar has the ability to sense whether a vampire possesses gifts beyond the ordinary," said Carmen with loving pride. "He can also determine if a human has a latent talent that would flourish if they became a vampire."

"It requires considerable consecration, though," Eleazar amended.

From the way the Cullens spoke the Volturi loved to acquire talented vampires and someone like Eleazar would be extremely valuable to those means. As odd as it seemed that the Volturi would be willing to part with Eleazar I was far more curious of Eleazar's talents than the Volturi's intrigue.

"I heard only about one in fifty vampires are extraordinary talented," I said.

Eleazar's nod proved this statistic true. "Be that as it may I like to believe all vampires are exceptional in some respect or another. While vampires have uncommonly distinguished abilities all are blessed with at least one prominent trait or skill that becomes more pronounced, even immortalized, when they are changed."

Carlisle's peerless compassion and Esme's inexhaustible love flashed into my mind along with Emmett's formidable strength and Rosalie's aching beauty. Edward, in addition to his telepathy, was swifter than anyone else in the family and was a virtuoso with the piano. I felt mildly jealous that one vampire could be so gifted while some of us were so average.

"Kate has a talent," said Tanya, her silky voice crashing my pity party. "She can shock people with a current of electricity."

"Like an eel," said Kate, nodded. She smirked at me and waggled her fingers. "Want a demonstration?"

I cringed away as vivid memories of Jane's torturous ability pushed to the front of my brain. "No thanks."

"Kate, be nice to your new cousin," Carmen pleaded in a way that reminded me a bit of Esme. She smiled at me apologetically. "You'll have to forgive Kate. Her sense of humor takes some getting used to."

"And she enjoys showing off because Kate's the only one in our family with a talent besides Eleazar," Tanya mingled her irritation with envy as she chided her sister.

"Excuse me for having a healthy self-esteem," Kate rolled her eyes. "Maybe I should move in with Carlisle, where I will be more appreciated."

Tanya scoffed at Kate's obviously empty threat. "You may as well. He's already got three talented vampires living under his roof."

"Four, actually," Eleazar corrected.

I gave Eleazar a bewildered look. The only preternaturally talented members of the Cullens were Edward, Alice and Jasper. Maybe Eleazar was speaking in the future tense. "Do you mean Bella?"

"Likely she is from what I have heard about Bella but I wouldn't know for sure until I've met her," said Eleazar.

"Who do you mean then?" I asked, now utterly lost. I wondered if Carlisle, Rosalie, Emmett or Esme could do something that I hadn't noticed yet until I realized Eleazar was staring at me. I balked. "What? No, I can't do anything special."

"I could see why you might assume that. The talent you posses is a subtle one but it is there nonetheless," said Eleazar with that sage-like tone Alice sometimes used.

A thrill shot through me. I was talented! As far as I knew I never did anything particularly special in my second life but why would Eleazar lie? Unless he was mistaken - which seemed unlikely since a vampire's talent seemed as flawless as the rest of them – then, perhaps, I could do something that somehow escaped my notice.

"What is it? What can I do?" I leaned in closer with shameless amount of eagerness. Next to the Cullens taking me in this was the best news I heard since becoming a vampire.

Eleazar was amused by my enthusiasm. "If I had to label your talent I would say you're empathic."

"Like Jasper?" I said, getting more excited.

"To an extent, yet. You must appreciate that no two gifts operate the same way," said Eleazar. I nodded emphatically along, hanging on his every word. "Jasper's talent is inclusive to those in proximity to him where as yours is exclusive to yourself."

"Are you saying I manipulate my own emotions?" I asked, not grasping his meaning.

"That doesn't sound like much of an ability," Kate interjected.

"If it is then we all possess it," Eleazar chuckled and shook his head. "No, Bree. Your talent allows you to validate motives. Right now you are capable of detecting whether someone is trustworthy or deceitful but that talent may develop further with time in ways I'm unable to anticipate now. More so, you aren't limited to merely sensing sincerity, you inspire trust when you are your most earnest. This power of persuasion is likely just an inkling of truth in the minds of other but that too might expand in more potent and discernable ways. As I said it is a subtle talent but a useful one if you don't second guess yourself."

My face fell slightly. That was my talent? I could tell whether people were decent or not and make people believe I meant what I said? Basically my superpower was not being gullible or suspicious, which sounded pretty lame considering I lived with a mind-reader, a psychic and a mood manipulator. Eleazar made it sound like my talent was about as cool as Raoul's ability to make incompetent losers hang out with him.

Eleazar must have noticed my disappointment because he said: "You mustn't assume some talents are superior to others. If a vampire has a stunted or 'useless' ability then that is because they lacked motivation to improve upon themselves or assume they are inferior to others. We define our talents, they do not define us. I believe you have a gift for good intentions, Bree, and that ability will become more potent if you embrace it and attempt to share it with others."

I begun to see the truth I had missed the first time Eleazar described my talent. As a human I ran away from home because I sincerely believed my father would kill me if I didn't. When I met Riley I knew he wanted something from me in exchange for his kindness. That skepticism toward Riley only intensified as a vampire but I suppressed and ignored that instinct because Diego felt he was trustworthy. If I had listened to myself and made Diego listen to me I might have saved him. But I didn't. Instead I did what I always did – cower near Fred because he was the only person besides Diego I felt meant me no harm.

The only reason my gift was useless was because I hardly cared to use it and I resolved to change that.

"Were you the only vampires in your old coven that was talented or were there others?" Eleazar inquired politely.

"As far as I know there were only two talented vampires in my old coven but I'm pretty sure he only thought he was special," I said. Maybe it wasn't polite to speak ill of the dead but Raoul would have toasted me like a s'more if not for Fred. "Riley thought Raoul might have had the uncanny ability to attract violent idiots but I just think they knew who their alpha-moron was when they saw him. Fred was really talented, though. He could make people stay away from him and could practically clear a room if he wanted. His ability sorta made him invisible, too. Like you would forget Fred existed for about twenty minutes if he didn't want to be noticed."

If I could have picked any power to have it would have been Fred's. Maybe I wasn't as antisocial as Fred but it would have been nice to have that added advantage when I was stuck with Riley's coven. The Volturi probably wouldn't have even noticed me if I could do what Fred did. Most of all I might have been able to save Diego from Riley and Victoria.

"Fred?" Carmen repeated as she and Eleazar exchanged surprised glances. "Do you think that was the same Fred we met a week ago?"

"It would be too much of a coincidence if he wasn't," said Eleazar thoughtfully. "The talent I detected in him matched what Bree just described. Renata was the most potent shield I encountered until meeting Fred. The range of his ability was remarkable! The fact he could compel others to give him such a wide berth was impressive in and of itself but repelling even thoughts of him…"

Eleazar cut himself off, shaking his head in wonderment of Fred's repulsive talent. I, on the other hand, was dumbstruck that I stumbled across Fred's trail completely by accident. Finding him after two months would have been a long shot but a week? Depending on where Fred went and how long he lingered in any given place I could probably catch up to him within a day or two.

"I was looking for Fred before I got…sidetracked," I said, quickly glossing over my lapse in control. "How did you even find him? Even without his talent, Fred's not the type to let people get too close to him."

"He made us work for it, that's for sure," said Carmen, sighing. "We crossed his trial while hunting. It was so fresh we decided to investigate to be certain he wasn't causing trouble."

"Like Carlisle and his family we prefer not to have nomadic vampires hunt in our backyard," said Tanya, firm on the issue.

Eleazar nodded absently to those sentiments, still absorbed by his encounter with Fred. "Carmen and I were downwind from him, which allowed us to get close enough for me to see him. After I knew what he was capable of we kept our distance and called out to Fred, introduced ourselves and assured him we merely wished to talk."

"Eleazar and I got as close as his aura would allow but it was quite potent," Carmen continued the story. "He wasn't hostile towards us but I could tell he was extremely wary. I felt so sad for him. I could only imagine what might have happened to make him so suspicious of other vampires."

"I don't have to imagine," I said tartly. "Riley lied to and manipulated us from the moment we were created. Fred was the only member of our coven besides me to realize Riley couldn't be trusted and he broke off the first chance he got. He invited me to go with him and I would have if I had known Diego was dead."

"I am shocked anyone would try to recreate the chaos in Central America," said Eleazar somberly. "The Volturi were very unforgiving of the attention that drew to our kind not to mention how unconscionable it was to create a vampire merely to treat them like a disposable commodity."

Carmen gave me a sympatric look as she placed a hand on my shoulder. "You poor children. It pains me to think of how you were so callously used."

"Especially for the sole purpose of killing our cousins," said Kate gruffly.

I knew she wasn't blaming me but I still felt ashamed to even be associated with Victoria's plot, no matter how ignorant I was. I forced myself not to dwell on the worst of time and focus on what was important – reconnecting with Fred.

"What happened after you convinced Fred to speak with you?" I asked.

"Eventually Fred realized we meant him no harm and stopped trying to repel us," said Eleazar. "He was curious of our yellow eyes and we explained that they came from our humane diet."

"We're used to more questions when conventional vampires learn of our eating habits but Fred was a man of few words. He just nodded and said nothing more," Carmen mused.

I smiled at that. "Fred's more of the 'sit back and observe' type. I consider him a friend but we only had two conversations in the whole time I knew him. Even so I always felt comfortable around him, which is a little ironic considering his talent. The reason he asked was because Riley told us that vampires who had yellow eyes were old and weak. Just another example of how much misinformation Riley fed us."

Eleazar and Carmen seemed tickled by Riley's fiction but Tanya and Kate took noticeable offense. I wondered if one description upset them more than the other but I wasn't about to ask. Frankly, all Riley's lies upset me equally at this point.

"Despite his reserved nature Fred seemed nice and we invited him to stay for a while," Eleazar went on. "He was reasonable enough that Carmen and I hoped that we might persuade him to consider an alternate to human blood; however, Fred didn't appear ready to settle in any one place yet."

"Newborns can have such wanderlust," said Carmen with a tone of understanding. "It's to be expected. The allure to experience the world with such keen senses and few limitations is almost as irresistible as the thirst. I wish we knew you were acquainted with him. Perhaps he would have stayed if it meant seeing you."

"He probably thinks I'm dead," I said remorsefully. I hoped he didn't like me enough to actually miss me but, on the off chance he did, I needed to catch up to Fred and let him know was okay. "I wished Fred decided to hang around a bit. He's not going to make it easy for me to find him."

"It was apparent that Fred was trying to find his own way in the world and we didn't wish to detain him longer than we had," said Eleazar, though he obviously would have preferred a different outcome. "Carmen and I made him aware he was always free to return if he liked, which he was gracious about. I didn't expect him to say much more after that but Fred did ask us if we knew where he could find credible information on our kind. We were willing to answer any questions he liked but Fred seemed intent on gathering knowledge on his own."

"He was probably afraid we would lie to him like others had," Carmen said, shaking her head in disapproval. "I hope he comes to realize that not all of our kind is so dishonest."

"Fred's a smart guy who believes what he sees more than what he hears. After a while he'll figure out that not everyone is as untrustworthy as Riley," I said confidently.

"We hope the same for him," said Eleazar earnestly. "Which is why we told him to visit Romania?"

I arched my eyebrows. "You told Fred to go to Transylvania? I thought all the stuff in vampire legends was nonsense."

Tanya chuckled. "Most of it is but Romania is where first vampire civilization was established. At least until the Volturi overthrew them and brought true order to our kind."

The reverence Tanya spoke with for the Volturi and their laws made me was the retch. They sounded like a bunch of power-mongering fascists to me instead of high-minded peacekeepers. Unless the Volturi had more members like Eleazar than they did like Jane I refused to believe they were the good guys.

"That is why I recommend Fred speak with the Volturi if he could find them," Eleazar told Tanya. "They better than anyone can impress upon him the principles of our kind, although I wouldn't be at all surprised if Aro offered him a place amongst the Volturi guard. Fred's defensive skills could be put to great use as a bodyguard for the Volturi leaders but Aro may wish to have him serve as protection for Jane and Alec when they distribute justice on behalf of the Volturi."

I gaped at Eleazar too horrorstricken to speak as his words rolled inside my head. He sent Fred to the Volturi? He wanted Fred to join? He was hoping Fred would protect Jane during her double-dealing and sadistic torture sessions? Of course that was assuming they didn't just kill Fred like they would have with me.

It was too much. A feral howl sprang from my throat as I leapt to my feet, startling everyone else in the room.

"How could you?" I screamed at Eleazar, trembling as my fingers flexed compulsively. "Don't you understand what they'll do to him?"

I lost it then. My vision tunneled and was red with fury. I lunged for Eleazar and heard Carmen gasp in horror. I don't know what I would have done to Eleazar and, thankfully, Kate kept me from ever learning the answer. She tackled me out of the air and sent us both crashing through one of the bay windows. The momentum drove me into the ice and snow outside with a force that let Kate ride me like a screeching toboggan for a quarter a mile. Before we slowed enough for me to try and turn my attack on her Kate showed me just how talented she was.

When the jolt of Kate's current hit me every joint locked into place as it the shock ran its course. It wasn't as bad as Jane's power but it was still one of the most painful experiences I could recall in my second life. The electricity moved through my veins like they were insolated with copper. I couldn't do anything but shake with agony until the current passed and left me feeling totally boneless. It all lasted a second at most but it was enough to break me from my rage-induced stupor.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I moaned in embarrassment. By now Tanya, Eleazar and Carmen were standing around me and Kate with anxious expressions. I lolled my head to Eleazar and looked at him with raw remorse. "I'm so sorry, Eleazar! I shouldn't have lost my temper, I shouldn't have lost control. Please, forgive me."

"No need to apologize, Bree. We all understand how susceptible newborns are to frenzies when their emotions run high," said Eleazar. He was noticeably stunned by my outburst but managed an undeservedly civil reply. "I know your encounter with the Volturi was not under the best of terms but there's no reason to think they would mean Fred harm. I served the Volturi for years. I wouldn't have sent Fred to them if I didn't have faith in them. "

"Kate, let her up," Carmen implored, already extending a hand to me.

Kate continued pinning me to the ground as she gave me a long, scrutinizing look. Once she decided I would behave she leapt off me to join her sister. I accepted Carmen's hand, not because I needed help to my feet but to acknowledge her trust that I wouldn't rip off her arm. I stood in the snow and hugged myself like I thought I could crush the guilt inside.

"What about the fact Fred was created as part of Victoria's army? The one they came to eradicate?" I asked. However bad I felt about attacking Eleazar that didn't mean I would be easily convinced that the Volturi's intentions towards Fred were as harmless as Eleazar's. "If they find out Fred was associated with that…"

I didn't want to finish the sentence. No, I couldn't let that happen. Not to Fred. Besides my new family Fred was the one vampire in the world I felt was worth protecting. Fred didn't deserve to die for Riley and Victoria's crimes, not after he turned his back on their horrible cause.

"Bree, I assure you that your fears are unfounded," Eleazar tried to sooth me. "The fact you are here now shows the Volturi are not unforgiving towards vampires who were tricked into wrongdoing and admitted their error. You said yourself Fred refused to participate in Victoria's war. Why would he be destroyed when you were spared?"

"It's true. The Volturi do not punish those ignorant of the transgressions of other; no matter how grievous," Tanya insisted in a tone that made me think she knew too well what she spoke of. "Aro can determine Fred's innocence with a single touch. You needn't fear for him if Fred is truly blameless."

Tanya's lovely face reflected absolute certainty in her claim as well as unfathomable sadness. The pain didn't belong to Tanya alone. Kate folded an arm around her sister to offer comfort but leaned in, as if in need of support herself. In that moment they were identical to Irina; three sisters in sorrow. I didn't doubt the sincerity Tanya and Kate spoke with but I also couldn't doubt myself. Not ever again.

"Even if the Volturi don't try to kill Fred how could I allow him to be used all over again by people who would promise him only a life of violence?" I asked.

Eleazar gave me an exasperated look. "Bree, you speak of the Volturi as if they are all villains! Yes, there are times that they must enforce justice and they will destroy immortals who threaten the peace and safety of us all but it's not as though they seek out carnage or indiscriminately hurt their own kind. I speak from my own experience here."

"So do I, Eleazar," I said firmly. "You claim I have a talent for sensing the motives and sincerity of others. Unless you doubt my gift or your own you need to trust me when I say at least some of the Volturi abuse their authority to further their own agendas."

Eleazar considered that with a grave expression. I could see him debating where he could most confidently place his faith – in himself and his talent or in the Volturi and the sanctity of their laws. Part of me felt bad to make Eleazar question an institution he believed in enough to devote years of service but I couldn't placate him; not after what happened to Diego.

"Perhaps what you say is true and some members of the Volturi have ulterior motives," said Eleazar with a tone of resignation. "But you cannot say all are corrupt, not without meeting them first."

"No, I can't," I conceded bitterly.

I knew Jane was untrustworthy and her companions were willing to follow her lead without question or complaint but I wouldn't know if Jane was serving her own agenda or her masters' without meeting the leaders of the Volturi and that was something I never wanted to do.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble my visit has caused but I need to leave," I told my cousins, certain of what I had to do next. "I must go to Romania and catch Fred before he finds the Volturi. I will share my concerns so he can make an informed decision. Fred has a mind of his own and that's one of the things I respect most about him. It's not in his nature to conform and he won't follow someone unless he believes they deserve his loyalty and respect. He'll listen to me, like he listened to you and Carmen, but in the end Fred will do what he wants."

"If that is so then the Volturi would hold little appeal to him regardless of your suspicions," said Eleazar. "Obedience and duty are expected of any who wish to serve with the Volturi guard."

For Fred's sake, I hoped Eleazar was right.

"I know I haven't done much to deserve any favors from you all but I was wondering if you might do something for me after I leave?" I asked my cousins meekly.

"You need but ask. We are family, after all," Carmen said, scandalized I assumed for a second they would refuse me.

I smiled to show her how touched I was but that. "Would one of you please return the car I borrowed? I intended to do it but I need to find Fred as soon as I can. I sort of promised myself that I would make sure it was cleaned, fueled and all tuned up before I dropped it off as a way of saying sorry for taking it in the first place. I know it's a lot to ask –"

"Oh, stop worrying, I'll do it," Kate said, rolling her eyes. "It's not like I had a hot date tonight or anything..."

"Thank you, Kate," I gushed my relief. "And thanks shocking me back to my senses earlier."

Kate beamed. "No, thank you. I don't get to use my talent nearly as much as I'd like to."

"You're a sick person," Tanya told her sister as we all headed for the house again.

"Hear that, Bree?" Kate said as she threw an arm around me and jerked a thumb Tanya's way. "That's what jealousy sounds like."

If that was true, jealousy sounded an awful lot like growling.

AUTHOR'S NOTE – I hoped you all enjoyed the longest chapter yet in Bree's ever-unfolding tale and I promise exciting things to come in the next update. Again, thank you all for the overwhelming support through reviews and story alerts that make me feel like this is a story that needs to be told and people want to hear it. Nothing makes my fingers want to type faster than knowing that people can't wait to see what happens next.

Some of the feedback I've gotten has expressed a little skepticism here and there about how the Cullens would handle Bree as well as some of the decisions she's made for herself and that is 100% okay! Part of writing is knowing you're never going to live up to everyone's expectations and all I can hope is I'll make up for these little disappointments some other way.

On a related note I am currently working on a supplement story to fill in the gaps of The (Not So) Short Second Life of Bree Tanner from a different character's POV. I will be sure to let you all know when that's up and the narrator might surprise you. Until then, enjoy seeing the world through Bree's eyes and thanks so much for making this story worth every ounce of effort!