Sue Clearwater was never at a loss for words. At least she managed to close her mouth as she stepped back to let Paris in. Paris looked like a fashion model in a short, tight blue dress. Sue mentally calculated that her shoes had to have cost several hundred dollars.

"I'm sorry to barge in, but I was visiting the Cullens and Carlisle just came in with your news. I hope you don't mind," she said softly, "but I just had to stop by to congratulate you." Her eyes shifted to the baby in Sue's arms and her lovely face softened. "He's beautiful," she breathed.

Leah had regained her composure, and she sank back down on the couch as Jacob continued to hover over her. "Thank you, Paris. His name is Tommy, and (looking at her watch) he's three hours old. Remembering her manners, she motioned to a chair. "Come in, sit down. Are you just visiting, or are you moving back to Forks?"

Paris bit her lip and answered in her soft, melodious voice. "I'm just visiting. I'd like to see Seth if you don't think that's a bad idea." She looked at Sue, whose jaw was twitching dangerously.

"I think that would be a good idea, Paris," she said coolly. "It seems you two left a lot unspoken. Don't get me wrong – I understand why you left, and I admired your courage at the time. But Seth hasn't been able to move on. He was devastated, and I think he needs some kind of closure."

Paris took the seat that Leah had offered, though she still looked uncomfortable. "I suspect all of you know why I left, but I'm aware that I handled it badly," she admitted. "I was trying to spare Seth's feelings because I do love him," she added miserably, "but it seems I only made it worse. I'm not looking forward to this conversation, but it's time we both confronted the elephant in the room."

Paris looked at Sue, her lovely golden eyes troubled. "Is he home right now?" Paris asked quietly. Sue nodded. Paris heaved a sigh. "No time like the present," she continued, her hand on the doorknob. "I'm happy for you, Leah. I know how much you wanted a child, and he's a beautiful baby. I've kept you from your rest long enough." Her smile had a touch of sadness, and she closed the door firmly behind her.

As Paris approached the Clearwater house, she could see Seth's profile through the window. A lamp burned in the living room, but the rest of the house was dark. He appeared to be reading a book, and the night was almost completely silent – the kind of darkness that you can feel, thick and impenetrable.

She tapped lightly on the door, knowing that he would hear. She knew without a doubt that he would also know who was there. He carefully placed his bookmark between the pages and gently laid the book on the coffee table before standing and going to the door. He hesitated for several seconds, his mind awhirl, before he opened the door.

There she was. Just like he had dreamed a thousand times, and even more beautiful than he remembered. "Paris." He breathed her name as if it were a prayer.

She flashed that smile that could still melt his heart. "May I come in?" she asked quietly. He stepped back, unable to find his voice. She glided into the room and perched on the edge of a chair. He inhaled, her familiar and intoxicating scent filling his head.

Seth finally found his voice. "I always knew you'd come back some day." He tilted his head. "But you're not back, not really, are you?" he asked with a touch of sadness.

"No, Seth, I'm not here to stay. But I decided I owed you a face to face conversation, and I'm sorry it's taken me this long. I had hoped to find you in a happy relationship by now. You're quite a catch, you know," she added wistfully.

Seth sat across from her on the couch. "I've wished for this moment for months, Paris, and now that it's here I don't know where to begin. I've never stopped loving you, even when I hated you for taking my life out of my hands," he said softly.

"I'm sorry, Seth. I should never have let myself fall in love with you," Paris murmured. "I have a new life now in London. I won't lie to either of us and say I don't miss you. But there's a small coven there, vegetarians like the Cullens." She watched his face as he struggled valiantly to keep his expression neutral.

"I'm glad to hear you're happy, Paris. That's all I wish for you…for both of us. But I'm not happy. Unfortunately, my happiness seems to depend on you." His knuckles were white as he gripped the arm of the couch, and a wry, humorless smile slashed across his handsome face. "I can't turn my feelings on and off like you do," he said, his eyes flashing as he tried to pierce her impenetrable armor. "You are my life, Paris." He looked down at his feet. "I wish that wasn't so, but there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it."

Paris moved so quickly, he was only aware that suddenly she was sitting beside him. She took his hand between hers and spoke softly. "Please, Seth. It's time for you to realize I'm not coming back. Do you know how easy it would be for me to stay here and let you love me?" Her voice was almost a whisper as she added, "I never expect to be loved so well again."

"Then stay!" he almost moaned. Somewhere inside he knew he was wasting his breath, but the pain just wouldn't stop. And seeing her again had just reopened the old wounds. He thought his heart would break if she walked out the door again, yet he knew it was inevitable.

"No, Seth, I can't do that. And I think you know, somewhere inside, that it just won't work. I won't take away your life, and I hope some day you'll understand that I'm not being selfish. In fact, I hope we can be friends some day."

Seth shook his head stubbornly. "I don't want to be your friend, Paris. Don't you get that?" He could hear his voice rising, but he couldn't stop it. "I love you. My heart aches for you when you're not here. When I manage to sleep at all, I dream about you. Do you have a cure for that?"

She looked like he'd slapped her. In that moment, she would have gladly traded her immortality for the ability to cry. Instead, she shrank in on herself, her shoulders sagging under the weight of his words.

"I'm so sorry." She shrugged. There was nothing more to say. "Good-bye, Seth." He flinched as she kissed his cheek, and he watched her walk to the door.

The click of the latch resounded in his head like cannon fire. He wiped angrily at the tears that threatened to spill over until he heard Emmy calling his name. He sighed and turned, walking slowly down the hall to her room. As he peeked around the door frame, she squealed in delight and held out her arms for him.

He held out his arm, and she clambered onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he lifted her from the crib. After a year of dealing with Seth's handicap, they had perfected a system. He braced his arm under her and swung the stump of his left arm around to steady her, and she clung firmly to his neck. As always, he leaned his face down and she delicately kissed his cheek, murmuring "Sef." He couldn't help smiling. "Good morning, Sunshine," he answered, resting his face against her dark curls. That was when a single errant tear leaked out of his eye and dripped onto her chubby hand.

She stared at it for a moment, then looked lovingly up into his face. Her smile disappeared, replaced by a small frown as she touched his wet cheek and exclaimed, "No, Sef!"

He forced a smile back to his face, hoping it would convince her. "Let's get you some breakfast, Emmy. Would you like to have breakfast with me? We'll go find Mommy and see what's cooking."

Sue was coming in the back door as they entered the kitchen, and she looked from one to the other. "You okay, Seth?" she asked quietly.

He breathed in deeply. "I will be, Mom. In a while."