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.

Also, be sure to check out my other fanfic Ashes through an Hourglass, gives Alec's side of the story along with original content featuring the Volturi. (It's sorta what Midnight Sun is to Twilight)

The (Not So) Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

By: Oy! Angelina

_Chapter 8_

Uncharted Territory

"You know, Bree…imagine my disappointment when you decided to end our pleasant little chat on such a down note…"

Great. I knew Alec would take that personally. He undoubtedly some grand explanation for why he got the literal boot but I didn't have one. Even though I strived to maintain my composure instinct had a nasty habit of occasionally overriding common sense, which was how I ended up in awkward situations like this from time to time. Hopefully Alec's sanity wasn't as fragile as his ego; otherwise, things were going to get a lot more than just "awkward" pretty quick.

Now that the numbness had entirely ebbed away I took full stock of my predicament. The rays of sunlight seeping through the canopy came in at an angle that suggested it was late afternoon. Based on the thinness of the trees and air, it seemed likely Alec brought us to the Carpathian Mountains but it was just a guess. The last were hours were a total blank so who knew where Alec took me or how he got me here. That begged another question – how did Alec get me out of the hotel I was staying in during the middle of the day?

I had lots of questions for Alec but I started with something simple. "Can you please let me up?"

Alec arched an eyebrow as if amused. "If I do that, what guarantee do I have that you won't attack me or run away? Again?"

"None whatsoever," I told him point-blank. "Why are you holding me down, anyway? Isn't that what your power is for?"

"It's hard to carry on a conversation with someone dead to the world," Alec sighed as if I failed to meet some expectation he had for me. "Now, would you mind explaining why you kicked me and ran away like a common playground bully?"

"Sure, right after you tell me why you had to drag me into the middle of nowhere to have this conversation," I spoke through my teeth.

"I wasn't expecting the warmest of welcomes considering how we parted ways and didn't want to risk another overreaction on your part with so many humans around," Alec said calmly.

"Yes, I can see why you would think sedating me, breaking into my room, abducting me and holding me against my will would make your presence far more endearing to me," I answered with the utmost sarcasm.

Alec chuckled richly. "I'm starting to think that instead of just being cranky when you're hungry you're always somewhat surly."

"I get that way when someone makes me a member of their captive audience."

I shrugged from my prone position and used it as an excuse to shift my body in search of an escape. Unfortunately, the way Alec positioned himself across me had my shins trapped beneath his. The rest of his weight was put behind pinning my wrists shoulder width to the grass to keep me from sitting up. Or that was the theory, most likely. The reality was I was a newborn precariously close to losing my temper that was liable to beat Alec senseless himself if he didn't let me up of his own accord.

"So, now that I answered your question, will you tell me why you left in such a hurry last night?" Alec asked as if oblivious to my fidgeting and foul mood. "Did drinking animal give you rabies?"

I released an angry hiss of air through my teeth. "You were knocking my family and trying to tempt me back to human blood when I made it repeatedly clear I wasn't interested. So I left before you could talk me into doing something I didn't want to do. What more do you want me to say?"

"An apology isn't uncommon, all things considering," said Alec dryly.

"You're right," I said begrudgingly, then softened my tone with sincerity. "It wasn't nice of me to do and I spent the whole day wishing I hadn't. I wasn't something I planned and I wouldn't have done it under normal circumstances. I just lost my temper and you caught the brunt of it. Believe it or not I am sorry I kicked you, Alec."

Alec must have figured I wouldn't offer an apology so easily or, at least, expected a few more rounds of banter because a flash of surprise cut through his generally serene face like lighting through clouds. I didn't know whether my talent was something I could switch on or off but I wasn't trying to sell Alec on my remorse; I did feel bad.

"Well, believe it or not I was trying to help you," said Alec, quiet and earnest.

I nodded as a show of understanding and sighed. "Unfortunately, I don't need anyone's help to want to eat a human."

The look in Alec's burgundy eyes plainly said he didn't consider that a problem. Rather than debate the point, Alec slipped his fingers off my wrists and grazed their tips against my palms. The path Alec traced made my skin forget how cold and unpenatrable it was supposed to be and gave me distinctly human sensations, like urgency, vulnerability and yearning. My vampire body never wanted for anything but blood yet now my flesh stirred with itches and aches that nagged for attention and relief. It reminded me of the effect Diego had on me but different and not in an unwelcomed way.

I eyes moved to Alec's face to see if he was experiencing anything similar but I couldn't read his expression well enough to tell. In a swift motion, Alec rolled off of me and deftly landed on his feet. Wordlessly, he extended a hand to help me up. It echoed Carmen's gesture after I nearly attacked Eleazar; an offer of goodwill rather than assistance. I accepted Alec's hand with less reservation than I ever thought I would show a member of the Volturi, which compelled me to rationalize why Alec invoked such confusing feelings in me.

It had to be some weird aftershock of Alec's ability and now – after hours of numbness – everything felt over-stimulating. That made more sense than me suddenly developing a soft-spot for anyone loyal to the Volturi and I made a conscious effort to keep my suspicions intact.

Speaking of intact, I needed to make sure I still was. It didn't feel like I was missing any body parts but – after almost losing an arm – it was better safe than sorry. I patted myself down from head to toe until I was sure not so much as an earlobe was missing.

"What are you doing?" Alec asked while watching my paranoid performance.

"Checking to make sure everything's still here," I said, wiggling my fingers and toes just for that added reassurance. That was when I noticed what was on my feet. "Did you put these sandals on me when you were using your ability on me?"

The edge to my voice made Alec wary. "Yes. You didn't have any on when…"

"You rendered me helpless and kidnapped me?" I suggested savagely. This wasn't new knowledge but it still upset me and learning Alec did more than just relocate me in my oblivious state made me feel deeply uncomfortable. If I was still capable of blushing I would have done it then out of embarrassment and anger. My voice came out shriller than I intended. "What else did you do when you were using your roofi powers?"

Alec's eyes popped wide as he drew a sharp breath over my words. The satisfaction of Alec's shock was short-lived, though, as his expression clouded over like a fast-brewing storm.

"Roofie powers?" Alec spat back as his tightly knit self-control began to unravel. "Exactly what are you implying? Do you think I molested you?"

Hearing it phrased like that made me think I was just picking a fight with Alec to remind myself of why the Volturi were not to be trusted but why should I give Alec the benefit of the doubt? No honest, totally innocent person would have gone to such insane lengths just to get an explanation, apology or whatever it was Alec wanted from me.

"How would I know what you did or didn't do?" I answered back lamely.

"Why not use your knack for weeding out truth? Hmm? Unless your ability is severely defective you should have no problem telling whether I can be trusted or not," Alec hinted harshly. "So we are positively clear – I did nothing perverse to you while using my ability."

Alec made such a good point and his words rang so true I had no choice but to feel embarrassed. "Okay, I'm sorry I implied that. Just because you're a remorseless killer, a stalker and a kidnapper doesn't mean you're also a sex offender."

Alec ground his teeth so hard I thought he might chip a tooth. "Your apology leaves something to be desired."

"Hey, you're the one who insisted we keep the facts straight," I said curtly. "Are you going to pretend the rest of that isn't true?"

"It's neither here nor there," Alec made a dismissive wave with his hand before reaching into his pocket and producing my star pendant. He held it out for me by the leather cord. "I better return this before you accuse me of thievery as well."

I snatched it back with a snarl. "Why did you take it off me in the first place?"

"I didn't want to risk it getting damaged while I transported you," said Alec with a petulant pout on his lips. "See? I might not show much regard for your personal boundaries or human life in general but I am capable of respecting your property."

"Wow, if only all sociopaths were as sweet as you, Alec," I said, slipping my necklace back on and throwing Alec a resentful look as I folded my arms. "Are we good? Because I need to figure out where the hell I am and what you did with my passport before I catch my flight home."

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Alec asked, sounding both irritated and mystified.

"Seriously, what part of our quality time together so far makes you think I would want to hang around?" I leveled my gaze on him and ticked off points on my fingers as I named them. "We have nothing in common, we spend more time fighting than we do talking, I don't trust your coven and you don't respect mine, you keep encouraging me to eat humans, your twin sister tortured me twice – is that enough reasons for you or should I move on to the next hand?"

"That's hardly fair, Bree. How do you expect to find any common ground by dwelling on all the negative subjects already touched upon?" Alec demanded.

"Screw this. I'm just going to swim home," I said, already stalking west.

"Hold on one moment, won't you?" Alec said as he grabbed the crook of my elbow. I stopped walking and peered at Alec over my shoulder. The look I gave him encouraged Alec to release his hold on me while he continued. "I realize I personally haven't given you much incentive to spend any more time with me than you already have and – given your history with the Volturi – you have every reason to be wary of me. I'm willing to take responsibility for my part and apologize for it if you would give me a chance to."

"Why do you care what I think of you, Alec?" I asked, truly bewildered. "You're one of the most important members of one of the most important covens in the world while I'm just some AWOL cannon-fodder both your sister and the Cullens considered too pathetic to kill. I am not someone you need to worry about impressing."

Alec scowled fiercely at my assessment even though I didn't say a single bad thing about him. He worked his mouth like he was biting back some undesirable words as he pinned his eyes to mine.

"I honestly don't know why it matters to me but it does nonetheless," Alec said with a shocking amount of honesty. "Look, Bree - I believe there is a lot more to you than your diet or the coven you associate with but how can I know what that might be if you rush off? Are you honestly telling me that an immortal can't put her travel plans off a little or are you that content to write me off for eternity?"

I labored a sigh. "Even if I did agree what is there to learn about one another that could possible overshadow all the rest?"

"There's more to life than who you know and what you eat," Alec said evenly. "All we need to do is avoid those hot-button issues and we're bound to have more civil discussions."

I studied Alec with skeptical expression. "So if you want to talk about books and movies instead of the fact you're comfortable killing humans and that your coven wants to rip mine to shreds?"

"It's called compartmentalizing. Give it a try; you might like it," Alec said somewhat patronizingly.

I had no doubt someone like Alec could readily divorce himself from inconvenient truths and uncomfortable emotions. It was probably part of the Volturi orientation program. I wasn't nearly thrilled about suppressing my humanity in the interest of chitchatting with Alec but he did have a point - I was immortal with nothing but time to waste. If Alec was willing to play nice and not act like a total agent of evil then what was the harm in just talking with him for a while? A little friendliness might even improve Cullen-Volturi relationships and that was worth taking a later flight home.

"Okay, I'll stay for a while," I agreed while drawing a deep, bracing breath. "Provided you give me my phone and passport back, tell me where I am and promise to keep your powers to yourself."

"We're in the Carpathian Mountains along the Ukrainian border," Alec said all too accommodatingly.

"Why here of all place?" I asked, thoroughly confused.

"I was traveling with another member of the Volturi guard before I came across you. I want to make it easy for Corin to find me once she's finished cleaning up after some careless nomads," Alec said, inclining his head ponderously. "I think you would like Corin. She has a humane attitude towards eating."

"She eats animals?" I asked, surprised.

"No," Alec admitted. "But she isn't cruel and prefers to have me numb her meals whenever I'm available to."

It felt like we were drifting back to the unfriendly territory of Alec persuading me to drink human blood so I smiled and said as sweetly as I could: "So where is my phone and passport?"

"I packed it with your luggage," said Alec, motioning towards the valley below.

"You packed for me?" I asked, once again unhappy with how Alec occupied himself while I was left unawares. "Why?"

"I believe we've already established I'm a very sweet sociopath in that respect," said Alec, smiling.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't resist smiling myself. "Alright then - tell me something about you that I don't know."

AUTHOR'S NOTE – Wow! Thank you everyone for the overwhelming interest and encouragement you guys are offering. Your heartfelt words and continuing support make checking my email the high-point of my day. I'm thrilled you guys seem to like the story as much as I enjoy writing it.

Aside from my undying gratitude, I have a couple things to throw at you.

1) I have a poll going pertaining to this fic that can be accessed here - .. I'm curious to see what people are crossing their fingers for.

2) I have opened a forum pertaining to this fanfiction at .net/forum/The_Not_So_Short_Second_Life_of_Bree_Tanner/76536/. I'll throw up random whatevers for people to chew over so I can get a sense of what people are most invested in regarding the story. Feel free to post any of your own topics. My only request is to try and keep it relevant to or in the spirit of this fic and Bree Tanner (i.e. No Team Jacob/Edward debates, discussion about how hot the film actors are) since there are PLENTY of general Twilight forums out there. Otherwise, post to your heart's content!