Hi guys! I'm finally updating. Sorry for the long wait. Hope this chapter will make it all worthwhile. Enjoy!

Finding Home

"Hey," Seth said as he entered his bedroom and sat on the bed beside Sage.

"Good morning," Sage said as she rubbed her eyes.

"So, is there something you want to tell me?" Sage took a minute to recall what happened before telling Seth about her midnight stroll.

"Nothing bad happened, right?" Sage asked. Seth smiled.

"No, everything is fine. But Sam isn't too happy a vampire was in, especially from the Volturi." Sage sighed.

"Another reason for them to hate me." Seth put his hand to her cheek.

"They don't all hate you." She sneered.

"You can't lie to me, Seth," she said quietly.

"I don't hate you."

"I don't hate you either." Seth tackled his mate and smothered her with kisses, causing her to yelp and laugh.

"Come on," Seth said when he was done tackling, just before the bed decided to collapse. "You must be hungry." They got changed and Seth got to down some breakfast before going with Sage on a hunt.

Sage finished off her third kill, followed closely by Seth who tossed her another one. As she drank, Seth put a paw over his eyes, their signal that Sage wasn't allowed to look. She smiled and bent low to drink. When she came up, Seth was already changed and clothed. She grunted in pleasure of her meal.

"I am all for regular food, but there really is nothing like a good buck," she said wiping her mouth. She smiled and chuckled. "You know, even when you succumb to your vampire side, I've never seen anyone more beautiful." She smiled and closed the distance between her and her mate and pulled at his shirt.

She had been entertaining a thought. A thought that she knew Seth would not like. She had been able to ignore it all day, but he saw her lose her composure for a moment as it again crept through her mind.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said too quickly. She knew she couldn't keep it from him; it wasn't their way. She sighed. "I don't think I should stay." Seth was thrown back. Leave? She wanted to leave him again? "I know it's terrible for me to ask you, but you were willing to come with me before. And clearly I am not the forgivable type. Can't we just…. Go somewhere where we both belong?"

"Sage," he started, "I'll go anywhere you want, but La Push is my responsibility." She nodded.

"I know it's a lot I'm asking of you, and maybe it doesn't have to be now. I can leave for a bit, and then you can join me later. We have all the time in the world." Seth sighed and looked away. Sage leaned into Seth's chest. He wrapped his arms around her. He knew the sentiments of his family, and though he believed that they'd one day come around, he also knew they would cause her a lot of grief until then.

"Seth?" Seth's mother calmly called as she entered the door. Sage went back home to visit Emmett and Rosalie briefly. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah, what's up, Mom?" he looked up and pointed to his bed for her to sit down. She took a seat.

"I wanted to give you something." She pulled something out of her pocket.

"Mom, I can't take this," he said. She smiled and nodded.

"Leah told me that Sage wants to leave." Damn that stupid mind reading thing.

"We haven't decided anything. She's just really upset."

"But where she goes, you will too. And I want you to have this for when the time is right." He finally took it and stared at his mother's gift.

"Thanks, Mom."

Sage loved the feel of the cold water against her skin. She and Seth were splashing around like children in the shallow waters of the beach a few days after their hunt. The sky was overcast, but there was no wind. For a few moments, both of them forgot about the world and the troubles that awaited them, just enjoying each other, at least for awhile.

"Hey Seth," Paul whistled. Both of them turned around to see Sam, Paul, and Jared approaching the beach. They all had boogie boards. Seth took Sage's hand and they walked out of the water towards the men.

"Hey guys," Seth greeted them. Sage timidly smiled, but said nothing as they didn't acknowledge her. "You guys going boarding?"

"Damn straight," Paul said jokingly. "You gonna join us later?" Seth shrugged.

"I didn't bring my board." Sam smiled and extended his board.

"Here, take mine for a few runs." Seth almost refused, but he knew that look that Sam was giving him. He looked over at Sage, who was doing her best to smile and be supportive.

"I'll be fine, go have fun," she said reassuringly.

Seth accepted it and leaned forward to the other pack leader.

"She's my imprint, Sam. Be nice." Sam gave him a smirk and Seth kissed her on the cheek before leaving with Paul and Jared.

"So it seems we're stuck with you," Sam spoke up as the two looked at the three floating figures wrestling with the waves. She took her time in responding.

"So it does."

"You know it almost killed Seth, the kind of mess you put him in. That's just not what an imprint is supposed to do, to allow happen."

"He's too good for me, I know," she said meekly.

"You don't belong here." The words cut and rendered her silent. They stood side by side in disdain until the guys came back. She put on her bravest smile to welcome Seth back. He could see through her, but he didn't say anything.

That night, Seth was asleep as sound as a fallen tree. Sage, having a little trouble falling asleep, sat at his desk, staring at his peaceful face. Now more than before, she knew she had to go. Seth would forever be torn between her and the pack. Sam had confirmed any doubts she had of leaving. She didn't belong here. Her mind was made up, yet she couldn't shake the guilt of what she was asking Seth to leave behind.

She glanced at his bookshelves, running her fingers across the numerous titles and yearbooks he held in his memory. Her eyes wandered to the memorabilia of his boyhood: the baseball mitt and basketball, the picture frames of his family and even her. This wasn't just the place he lived. This was his home. His roots went back generations on this reservation, in this very hosue. Him leaving here wasn't the same thing as her staying. She sighed. She knew what she had to do. Even if it meant the place she lived wanted to swallow her alive, she must stay. She wanted to, had to, make him happy. A nervous peace settled within her, and she fell asleep in the chair she was sitting in.

By the time Sage woke up, Seth was already gone, but he had brought her from the chair to the bed and covered her. She got up and washed up.

"Sage?" Seth's mother stopped her in the hallway just as she was about to enter Seth's room.

"Oh, good morning, Mrs. Clearwater," she said shyly.

"Sam called earlier so I had to wake Seth. Did you sleep okay? That chair isn't very comfortable." Sage laughed.

"I'm fine," she said. Seth's mom gave her a look that said she knew better.

"I'm told you're considering leaving us."

"I was. But I think Seth will be much happier here than anywhere else. And I really think that will make me happy, too."

"May I assume that the wolves are giving you some trouble?" Sage nodded meekly. "And you're willing to put up with them for my Seth's sake?" Again, she nodded.

"I will stay," Sage said, "but I don't belong here." Seth's mother smiled and put a hand to Sage's cheek.

"I want to show you something." She pulled out a photo album from a bookshelf in her room and gave it to Sage with two hands. Sage reluctantly took the book and started flipping through its pages. It was her wedding album to Seth's father. "I love Charlie more than anything, but my marriage to Harry was just as magical as the world you and my children are involved in." She flipped through the happy pictures and stopped at a photo that was a close up of Seth's father's and her hands entwined, showing off their wedding rings. "My grandmother gave me this ring. It's not as valuable as the one Leah has her eye on, but I've always loved it."

"It is a beautiful ring," Sage confessed genuinely.

"I am glad you like it. Because I gave it to Seth, and I suspect since he doesn't wear rings very often that he might want to give it away." Sage's eyes widened and then brightened. "It may be soon, it may be years from now. But I wanted you to know that from a family's standpoint, you are welcome into this family, and you are where you belong."

"Thank you. That really means a lot to me." She touched Sage's cheek.

"You are a part of this family, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Sage stood out at the edge of the cliff, letting the wind pass through her hair and through her fingers. She thought about Seth and the words his mother had given her. Put up against the pack, their love was everything and enough. She smiled at the thought and turned her back to the world out there towards Seth's home. She wandered through the darkened forest, listening only to her own breathing and the crunching of twigs and leaves under her delicate feet. She took a deep breath of the cool, crisp air and smiled when she caught a familiar scent.

"Hello, my love," she said. Seth came out in his human form with his hands in his pockets.

"Hello, Sage. Are you feeling better?" She smiled and nodded.

"Sadness can only do so much when you're near me."

"So, you want to stay?" She nodded.

"It doesn't matter where I am. It can only be home with you there." He smiled and kissed her with a hand on her cheek.

"I am happy you think so." Seth wrapped a long arm around her. "Come on. There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

THE END

Thank you everyone who has enjoyed my story. I was really having the HARDEST time coming up with a way to end the story, but I think I did a good job. I'm at least happy with it. Hopefully you guys thought it was worth the wait. Thanks again everyone!