Transcendence

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Anyone is welcome to my student loans if they want them.

A/N: Thanks again to my amazing, patient beta.

Chapter 14

"Do you mind stopping at Charlie's on the way back?"

"Absolutely. He'll love this."

I wasn't sure if she had seen his reaction or if she was guessing, but I knew as she drove us home, my mood was completely different.

I had reached one conclusion through my day: everything that was in front of me, all the trials and potential hardships, were just things I would have to wait for. I would just sit back and wait for my future, good or bad, to come to me. There was no point in worrying about things I couldn't change or stop.

Of course that was easier said than done.

Alice was so excited to show Charlie her handiwork. I think she would have been excited to show anyone and everyone how she had improved me.

He was pleased, as I knew he would be. Charlie's weakness when it came to Alice only grew each time she did something to make me happy; the thought that she had helped me relax only endeared her to him more. Sue was another story: she was polite enough, but she eyed Alice warily from her place leaning against the counter at the other end of the kitchen.

It was such an awkward moment. Charlie was making conversation; Alice always seemed to be able to convince my usually reticent father to chat. Sue seemed to remember there was a charade to be maintained and offered coffee around but, after we refused, she glared at the vampire over the rim of her mug. I was terribly thankful there were pieces of the Quileute myths Charlie either hadn't put together, or chose not to put together. Ten minutes seemed to drag on like eternity.

After what felt like an endless stream of small talk and pointed sighs I jumped away the entrance area as the kitchen door burst open, slamming hard into the countertop behind it, the glass rattling in its frame. "Charlie? Mom?" Seth's eyes examined every inch of the room assessing everyone. He gave off this feeling of frenetic panic underlying his hunter's instincts. Finally, his gaze leveled on Alice.

I had never seen Seth's eyes so hard – Alice wrinkled her nose as she took him in. They were sizing each other up, evaluating each other's weaknesses.

"Seth, this is my friend Alice." My tone was very even as I spoke to him and stepped between them.

He took the hint and dialed back his stance. "Nice to meet you." He addressed her with measured words; the warning was still in his voice.

"Likewise." She responded.

Charlie was giving us a curious look.

I kept thinking, please don't let him wonder why the werewolf wants to kill my friend.

Thank God Alice was thinking clearly enough to notice the growing tension and create an excuse for us to leave. "Well, we said we were going to meet Esme for dinner." She created the reason for us to slide out of the house.

Seemed like as good an excuse as any to leave to me. "Yeah," I snapped out of my moment of panic and smiled back to Charlie and Sue, hoping Charlie would brush off this new tension. "I have that thing you wanted me to look for in the car. Walk us out?" I asked Seth, pointedly meeting his eyes. I needed to talk to Seth before he ran off to fetch the cavalry. His first instinct would be to run back, to phase and warn the pack of the new danger, well, old danger returned. Every movement of his body screamed tension: he was standing there waiting for the attack to come. Seth at least would let me talk about what was happening – I didn't think any of the others would.

Out of earshot and sight of the kitchen, he sprung forward and pulled me away from Alice putting himself in the space between us.

"What the fuck, Bella?" The force in Seth's voice startled me a moment.

"She's my friend, Seth." I yanked my arm back. He could have held me still, I knew I only managed to pull away because he let me. "Please don't do this."

He sighed and paced in a circle, running his hand through his cropped hair. "At least now I know why Sam is calling a pack meeting." He was still assessing the situation. "You know I almost kinda hoped that vamp trying to kill you was back." He gave a half-growled sigh as he ran his hand through his hair again. "I don't mean that. You know I don't mean that." Seth squeezed his eyes shut a moment. "This is bad – this is so bad. You really trust them?" He scoffed, still disbelieving.

I reached out and caught his chin turning his face to meet my eyes. "With my life." It came out almost solemnly when I spoke.

He snorted and shook his head. Alice, for her part, remained silent and let us talk it out.

"How long are you all staying?" he turned on her.

"We haven't decided. A while, likely," she answered and circled around us. There was something so predatory in the way she placed herself between us and the house. It was almost like she was calculating the fastest way to grab me and get out should things turn.

"I don't like this, Bells. I really don't." The hard edge had disappeared from his voice, exasperation and worry replacing it.

Of course he was worried. The vampires were back.

"Seth," I looked straight into his eyes again. "Seth, trust me. They aren't here to do me or anyone else any harm."

"Are they why…?" Of course the vampires would be to blame for me leaving Jake.

"No, they only came back to town yesterday. It was just a coincidence."

"Is he back?"

Of course, everyone was worried about Edward coming back – if I never heard anyone ask anything about Edward Cullen again it would be too soon! I was convinced that, if Seth's next words had been 'how do you feel?', I may have lost my mind once and for all. "No. I don't know that he will be."

He nodded studying the ground. "I trust you Bella. I trust your judgment. And until they do something… bad, I will trust them. But you know how Jacob is going to react to this…"

"The minute you phase he'll know everything and freak out. I know. He'd react the exact same way whether I was still with him or not." I paced in a small circle. Saying Jacob was going to freak out was a vast understatement and I knew it. "Just don't let him do anything too stupid." I might be unhappy with Jacob now, but I still cared about him. I knew deep down that the problems I had with him had been my fault as much as his; if he was a little controlling sometimes, it was because I let him be. Nothing between us had come up overnight and we were equally responsible.

Seth had a slight twist to his lips as he spoke. "You know Jake."

Yeah, I did. That was what creating the nagging worry growing in my mind.

I looked back toward the house where Alice had been standing. The space was empty and when I turned my head to look for her she was standing beside the driver's door of the car. Seth was already approaching her slowly, still wary – of course he had noticed her move. The human wouldn't notice the vampire speed. I joined them as quickly as I could.

"Just so you know," he called to Alice over the car, "if any of you hurt her I will kill you."

The idea of my sweet, goofy step-brother making the threat was foreign and little disturbing. I'd never really rationalized the idea of Seth, the werewolf, with Seth, the boy; seeing this side pushed the point home.

"I know. I would expect that from her brother," she answered. "Thank you for taking care of her out at the house. Don't worry about the treaty."

"What are you...?" He tried to deny it, maybe for his pride, maybe out of habit to deny or refute anything any vampire said.

"Your scent tends to linger." She cut him off. "Thank you for watching over her when we were… were too blind to realize we needed to."

He just nodded and headed off toward the forest. He hesitated a moment and stopped and turned back just before entering the trees. "Keep your phone on, Bella. I'll let you know if…" he gestured vaguely but there was a seriousness in his voice. He was concerned for what Jacob would do. So was I.

"Yeah." I answered back waving. "Yeah, I will."

I sighed and got into the car.

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