If you already know it, you didn't hear it from me.

Small Problem with the Plan

A few days after the girls went shopping, Sage came running down the stairs.

"Can someone tell me why I saw Renesmee leave for Jacob's party without her gift?" she asked.

"Alice sees the future," Emmett replied mundanely.

"Oh, she is evil!" Sage announced running back upstairs to change. "'I found the perfect gift,'" Sage mimicked Renesmee in a high mocking voice. "'I would just die if Jacob didn't get my gift. I can't wait to see him cry!'" She changed into a high low-back dress that innocently flowed out past her knees and tied her hair up before running out the door.

"Tell Jacob I say happy birthday!" Emmett yelled after her, his eyes never leaving the football game. Edward was ready to hand her the beautifully wrapped gift when she arrived at the cottage, accompanied by a note addressed to her. Thank you, Mr. Edward.

Have fun. Sage read the note as she walked.

I made Jacob Alpha-command the pack not to attack you under any circumstances for coming to their land, even though they already can't because of Seth. So don't eat anyone, and you'll be fine. Thanks for falling into my brilliant trap. See you at the party! (Follow my scent there.)

Love,

Ness

Oh yes, Evil, thy name is Renesmee. Sage chuckled and nervously approached the reservation boundary. She took a deep breath and crossed the threshold. She let her mind wander to Seth. She replayed the thoughts Renesmee's family showed her. She saw Edward's and Bella's memory of his valiant fight against the newborn when Bella was human. He chose his integrity over his allegiance to Sam when he ran off with Jacob to protect Renesmee. He took up his role as the man of the house when his father passed away and admirably stepped aside to welcome a new man into his home. Seth was too good for her; she understood. She was nothing and had nothing to give him.

All these wonderful and revolutionary thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a family scent that stopped Sage dead in her tracks. She knew this scent. It had driven her from her father and sisters and ripped up and burned her brother and aunt. It can't be.

"It's been a long time, my angel," the voice taunted her. She felt it, the fear only he could inject. "Did you know I had a brother? Best tracker alive. It's how I found you last time, too." She could see him now as he stepped out of the shadows, lust clouding his deep blood red eyes. "You could've saved your family, you know," he said. His paces were slow, yet he still approached her too quickly. "It didn't have to be this way. You have no idea how much I love you. All I wanted was for your heart to make the pain of wanting you worthwhile. It's so hard to be close to you when you smell the way you do." He was close enough to stroke her cheek. "They don't want me to kill you, you know. You could be useful if you joined us." He backed her up against a tree with his body pressed up against hers, his hands caressing her neck. His lips neared her ear and faintly hissed. "But accidents happen." His hands moved from her neck to the neckline of her dress and tore it at the same moment Sage's ear piercing scream shook the air.

"You're going to be proud of me," Renesmee exclaimed to her beau. She gave him a kiss and a hug as she ran up to him. "Happy birthday, Jacob Black."

"Why thank you, Miss Cullen. And where will this pride come from?"

"Sage is coming," she announced, a name that Seth didn't fail to overhear as his took a giant step over to be a part of the conversation.

"And how did you manage that?" Jacob probed skeptically.

"Oh, it took some careful planning and timing, but I guarantee that she's coming," she said confidently. "And if I'm not mistaken, she's on her way right now." Seth's face lit up.

"How did you get her past the whole werewolf thing?" Jacob asked.

"I've been working on that one all week. She's coming around."

"Seth, stop smiling like that," Jacob shot at him. "You're creeping out the children." Seth ignored him.

"Do you think it'd be okay if I met her on the way?" Seth asked Renesmee a little bit too excitedly.

"Uh, sure. Just be human." Seth almost giggled.

"In all meanings of the word," Jacob added.

"She's following our trail, so stick to that and you should catch up to her," Renesmee told him. Seth gave her a kiss on the cheek and a hearty sock on the arm to Jacob before prancing away.

"He's going to shoot himself in the foot, isn't he?" Jacob predicted.

"We did the best we could."