As Sue turned into her driveway some time later, the tune she was whistling abruptly died on her lips. There, rooted to the spot and crushing Seth's black tee shirt to her chest, stood Paris. Her face was colorless as always, but she wore a stricken expression as she stared intently toward the woods.

Sue threw the car into park and ran up the steps. She grabbed Paris by the shoulders and looked straight into her eyes. "What happened to Seth, Paris?" Paris blinked but did not reply. Sue shook her gently and raised her voice. "Please, Paris, talk to me. Where is Seth?"

Slowly, she turned to face Sue. "I…uh…we were playing around, and I took his shirt off. I'm so sorry." She still seemed dazed.

Sue looked as if she had been slapped. "Oh, no," she breathed. "Paris, didn't you know that he's never allowed anyone to see his arm? Not even me or Leah. Did he phase?"

Paris nodded mutely. She looked so completely miserable that Sue couldn't help feeling sorry for her. "He'll be okay, Honey. It had to happen sooner or later." She attempted to reassure Paris, trying not to shudder as she wrapped her arms around the girl's cool, thin shoulders.

Seth had run for miles before he stopped to drink from a stream. At first he had stumbled over rocks and logs, falling often and scraping his legs in his haste to get away. His breath came in short pants now as he stared at his reflection in the still water. His coat was tangled with briars, and though his feet were already healing, there was blood matted in his fur. He had become more sure-footed as he ran, falling less frequently and slowly adjusting his gait to maintain his balance on his three good legs.

The water was cool and clear, and Seth drank his fill. He emitted a low, menacing growl when he sensed he was no longer alone.

"What the hell happened to you, Seth?" He raised his head to look at the giant black wolf. Sam. Terrific. The perfect end to a perfect day.

Before Seth could block Sam from his thoughts, or concentrate on some mindless poem or nursery rhyme, Sam had seen the day unfold in his memory. At least the Alpha wolf had the good sense not to laugh. On his best day, with four good legs, Seth knew he'd never be able to fight the older, larger wolf.

Sam took a moment to digest the situation. "Have you decided what you're gonna do next?" he asked gently. Seth shook his shaggy head miserably. He hadn't taken the time to consider his options.

"I just need some time, Sam. Everybody just has to give me TIME! Is that too much to ask?"

"No, it's not. I'll see to it that the pack gives you all the time you need, Seth. But you'll have to deal with the others." And without a backward glance, Sam ran off in the direction of LaPush, his sharp claws ringing on the rocky terrain.

Seth was surprised to find that he was hungry. He hadn't had much of an appetite in the months since he'd phased, but his wolf self recognized his body's need for nourishment. He sniffed the air carefully, his delicate nose picking up the scent of a herd of deer nearby. He began to stalk his prey patiently, moving slowly and staying downwind to avoid alerting them until the last minute.

Lying low in the grass with his chin on his paws, Seth selected a young doe, slightly behind the herd and off to one side. He tensed, his muscles coiled in anticipation, and sprang. As the herd scattered, he fell clumsily on his side, raking his claws ineffectually down the doe's hind leg. She leaped gracefully to safety, out of reach of his lethal claws and teeth.

Sam heard the howl of frustration in the distance and, shaking his massive head, continued on his way. "Don't give up, Seth," he telegraphed across the forest. "Learn from your mistakes."

"I don't need your fucking hunting lessons, Yoda," Seth growled, but he continued sniffing the air until he located an antelope that was apparently separated from its herd. This time he figured the disabled paw into his calculations, and he sank his teeth into her jugular on the first strike. As the large animal twitched and its dying eyes glazed over, he filled his stomach for the first time in months. He headed back to the stream to slake his thirst and wash the blood from his fur, then curled up under a tree to sleep dreamlessly while he digested his meal.

Sue Clearwater walked out onto the back porch for the twenty-third time since Paris had left. She scanned the woods carefully for any sign of Seth, then sighed and went back inside, ignoring the squeaky hinge on the screen door and the sharp bang as it swung closed. Charlie looked up from his newspaper, frowning as he recognized the familiar expression on Sue's face. "He's a big boy," he said gently. "He'll be fine."

Sue accepted his platitudes, recognizing them for what they were and knowing that he was trying to make her feel better. Charlie put down the newspaper and stood, wrapping his arms around her shoulders as she leaned her head on his chest. "I know, Charlie, I know," she murmured, hugging him tightly. "He just didn't need a setback right now, after all he's been through."

Charlie kissed the top of her head, smoothing her hair back from her forehead. "Come on, Sue, try to get some sleep." She nodded obediently and walked up the stairs with him.

The morning dawned cool and rainy, and Sue shivered as she pictured her son wandering, wet and miserable, through the thick forest. She heard the familiar 'squeak-bang' of the screen door as Charlie walked out on the porch to stand beside her and said softly, "This rain won't bother the wolf, Sue." She turned and forced a smile, hugging him lightly before going back in the house to cook breakfast.

After Charlie left for work, Sue sat on the porch nursing her second cup of coffee. When Paris appeared at the foot of the steps as if by magic, Sue jumped and sloshed coffee over her hand. Paris looked miserable. "Oh, Sue, I'm so sorry! I did it again, didn't I?"

Sue smiled at her as she mopped at the spilled coffee with a napkin. "No harm done, Paris. I'm afraid we're just not used to vampire speed around here…yet." She quickly added the last word, not wanting to hurt Paris's feelings. "I'm sorry, but there's no news from Seth."

Right on cue, Sam Uley strode out of the woods, clad only in his trademark denim shorts. He smiled at Sue and nodded curtly to Paris.

"Come up here out of the rain, Sam," Sue suggested. "I'll get you a cup of coffee."

"Thanks, Sue, but I'm on my way home for breakfast," Sam said softly, oblivious to the chilling rain. "I just wanted to tell you that I ran into Seth yesterday. Has he come back?" He glared at Paris, and Sue stepped in front of her protectively, sensing that he'd read the whole story from Seth's mind. Sue shook her head.

"I just wanted you to know that he's safe. And well fed," he added with a chuckle. "He took down an antelope and…well, I guess you don't need to know all the details," he amended quickly. "He'll be fine, and he'll come back when he's ready. I promised him that the pack will give him all the time he needs to adjust to things. That's what he says he needs."

"Thanks, Sam. I appreciate your coming by to tell me that," Sue said softly. With a wave of his hand, he loped off and was immediately swallowed up by the lush green forest.

Paris spoke quietly. "He doesn't like me very much, does he?"

Sue wrapped her arm around Paris's shoulders. "He just doesn't know you like we do, Paris, and he's very protective of his pack members. I'm afraid it will take some time for him to learn to trust any vampire. I don't mean to be blunt, but that's a fact of life here. I know that Seth loves you, and that's good enough for me."

"Thanks, Sue. That means more to me than you can possibly know." Paris brightened slightly. "Hey! Aren't the honeymooners due back today?"

Sue smiled. "Yep. Leah called yesterday, and it sounds like they had a wonderful time." She sighed. "It's so nice to see her happy, Paris. It's been a long time."

Paris looked thoughtful. "I hope I can make Seth that happy some day, Sue. I love him so much, and I feel so helpless." She smiled wryly. "I've felt a lot of different things in 63 years, but helplessness was never one of them."

Sue patted her hand for a moment, then stopped. "So, you've been 17 for 46 years? Weird."

Paris grinned. "Tell me about it!" She moved toward the stairs. "Will you call me if you hear from Seth?"

Sue nodded. "I promise. But I can't make any promises for Seth."

As she walked slowly down the steps, Paris nodded somberly. "Understood. Thanks for everything, Sue."

As the long day wore on, Sue kept herself busy. She baked cookies, washed clothes, scrubbed floors, and still the hours dragged slowly by with no sign of Seth. As she started down the stairs, trying to decide what to cook for dinner, she heard the unmistakable "squeak, bang" of the screen door. "Seth?" she called anxiously.

Leah's throaty laugh floated up to her. "No, Mom, it's just us! Is anything wrong?"

Sue hurried down the stairs and threw her arms around the pair, who were standing in the kitchen and grinning widely. She kissed Leah's cheek, then motioned for Jake to bend down so she could reach his cheek. "You both look great," she beamed. "Looks like marriage agrees with you!"

Leah grinned. "It definitely does, Mom. It's wonderful!" Jake just beamed, sliding his arm possessively around Leah's waist. "Now what's going on?"

Sue explained what had happened with Seth, and Leah simply looked at Jake. He nodded, instantly understanding. "Want me to come with you?"

Leah shook her head. "No, I think I should go alone. But thanks. I love you." Sue busied herself at the sink while they said their good-byes. Leah rested her chin on Sue's shoulder briefly and murmured, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll find him and make sure he's okay."

Suddenly, everyone's attention shifted to the back door, where they heard a soft whine and a scratching sound. Leah slipped out the door alone, grabbing the clothes Sue had left on the counter for Seth. She threw her arms around him and hugged his furry neck, then turned away to give him a chance to phase and dress. As she stared out at the driveway, she tossed over her shoulder, "It's a good thing you came in when you did; I was just going out to look for your sorry ass."

His arm wrapped around her shoulder in a one-armed bear hug, and she turned to embrace him. "Sorry, bro, sounds like you had a tough day. But Mom was getting kind of frantic. You know how she is." She grinned and rolled her eyes. "Are you okay?"

"No, Leah, I'm not okay," he sighed. "And I know you mean well, but I wish everybody would stop asking me that."

Leah looked at him, compassion brimming in her dark eyes. "I understand how you feel, Seth, but when I ask if you're okay, I'm not asking if your life is perfect. I just want to know that you're able to put one foot in front of the other, for today at least."

Seth offered her a sad smile. "In that case, Leah, I'm fine." He hugged her again, then went in to face the music.

Squeak.

Bang.