Thank you to twilight's tATu, Cashman626, deltagirl74, Marshmellow, sarah, note4, aurike, ja4ever, livi harkness, Illucida, angelica171439, music16, Lindsabelle and Laiye Laiye for your reviews.
I'm so sorry I have been neglecting this over the past couple of months. My life has become insanely busy and I don't seem to get much time to write anymore. I haven't forgotten this story and I will update it whenever I can.
XXX
"Oh she didn't?" Brandon groaned as Sierra's anger and Letty's fear slammed into him, causing him to wobble on his feet a little.
"I think she did," Lucas sighed as he heard Letty's screams. "You going to break it up bro?"
"Yeah, I think I better," Brandon nodded. The two boys headed out to the back yard but as they stepped from the house Brandon saw a streak of colour burst from the forest and lunge towards the two girls fighting on the ground.
"See, watch out!" Brandon screamed as Angel slammed into the two girls and shoved Sierra off Letty.
"Don't hurt my sister!" Angel snarled as she crouched, ready to pounce on Sierra.
"Get out of my way Angel," Sierra snapped as Letty cringed behind her big sister.
"No!" Angel snarled again, her angry eyes locked on Sierra. The two girls glared at each other, neither of them willing to back down when suddenly another form stepped out of the forest.
"Girls!" Rosalie gasped and moved over to them quickly, placing a hand on each girl's arm.
"She attacked Letty!" Angel hissed, her eyes still locked on Sierra. "I won't let her do that."
"No one is going to hurt Letty," Rosalie assured her daughter and turned to look at Sierra. "Are they?"
"I guess not," Sierra murmured.
"Now, what is going on?" Rosalie asked firmly.
"Sierra got into trouble for something," Alice informed her and Brandon turned and noticed his family behind him for the first time. Behind Alice stood Jasper and Oliver and none of them looked very happy with Sierra. "Letty told Stella about it, which is how we found out. Sierra is blaming Letty. Which she has no right to do. See, Letty did the right thing. You and your brother could have both been hurt."
"You saw this coming?" Rosalie asked.
"Just now," Alice nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't get out here in time."
"That's okay," Rosalie smiled before turning her stern face back to the teenagers. "Letty, go inside and find your father. Stay with him until I return." Letty nodded her head and scurried off, giving Sierra a wide berth as she moved into the house.
"Alice, Jasper?" Rosalie continued. "Do I have your permission to sort this out?" Alice glanced at Jasper and he slowly nodded his head.
"She isn't listening to us," Jasper agreed. "You may do whatever you need to do Rose."
"Thank you," Rosalie nodded and turned back to Sierra and Angel. "Angel, no matter what Sierra did it doesn't justify using violence."
"She attacked Letty!" Angel fumed.
"We don't attack each other, we are family," Rosalie said firmly. "I never want to see you threatening your cousin again. You hear me?"
"Yes Mom," Angel whispered.
"Good, now get inside," Rosalie nodded and turned to look at Sierra. "See, come with me."
"Daddy?" Sierra murmured as she glanced at Jasper.
"Go with your aunt!" Jasper growled.
"Mom?" Sierra added.
"Just go Sierra," Alice sighed tiredly. Rosalie ignored the fear coming from the teenage girl and grabbed her arm and pulled her into the forest.
"Aunty Rose…" Sierra started.
"Not yet," Rosalie snapped. "The others can still hear us." Sierra instantly closed her mouth and let Rosalie pull her deeper into the forest, far away from the house where their family waited.
XXX
When they had travelled a fair distance from the house Rosalie stopped and waved her hand towards a rock and Sierra walked over and perched on the edge of it gingerly.
"What's going on See?" Rosalie sighed as she sat down opposite her.
"What do you mean?" Sierra frowned.
"The last time I saw you and your family you were a sweet girl," Rosalie murmured. "But ever since you got to Forks I have been hearing disturbing things. You are risking your life needlessly, partying with your brother and disobeying your parents. And now you are attacking your cousin? Something is wrong See, and I want to know what it is."
"You're angry about Letty," Sierra whispered.
"Not really," Rosalie smiled at her. "I want my daughter to feel safe amongst her family but I am more concerned about you right now. You are my niece and I love you. And even without your Mom or Dad or Uncle Edward's gifts I can see something is amiss."
"It's kind of silly really," Sierra sighed. "I'm just so bored Aunty Rose. Brandon is too. Lucas, Angel and Letty seem content with their lives but we aren't. All we do is hunt, hang out with family and study. I've only been alive for seventeen years. I can't take an eternity of this."
"It would get boring," Rosalie agreed. "Your parents and I enjoy it because we have lived through so much. But for you there isn't anything different. I think your brother and yourself have inherited your mother's zest for life and you feel stifled in the life you are living."
"We do," Sierra nodded.
"I'll help you with that," Rosalie decided. "Right now the family is at a crossroads. With the voting less than a month away we don't know where we will all be after that. Can you behave until after the voting if I promise to help you then?"
"I suppose," Sierra nodded. "How would you help me?"
"We'll work out what you would like to do with your life and I will convince your parents to let you do it," Rosalie promised.
"That might be a big job," Sierra smirked.
"I know how to handle Jazz," Rosalie grinned, knowing Sierra was thinking of her father's overprotectiveness. "In return, do you promise me you will apologise to your cousin and not repeat today's behaviour?"
"I promise," Sierra smiled.
XXX
When Sierra and Rosalie returned to the house the family was gathered in the living room. As soon as they walked in the door Sierra walked over towards Letty, and Angel moved closer to her sister.
"Angel," Rosalie warned softly.
"I won't hurt her," Sierra murmured as she glanced at Angel before turning her gaze back to Letty. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry Letty."
"Me too," Letty smiled with relief. "I didn't mean to get you in trouble."
"You did the right thing," Sierra assured her. "What we were doing was dangerous."
"That's the only reason I did it," Letty murmured.
"I know," Sierra smiled and stepped forward and hugged her cousin.
XXX
Once the family had drifted off in different directions Jackson moved to sit on the couch beside Rosalie and smiled at his sister.
"What magic wand did you wave to cause such a change in Sierra?" he asked cheekily.
"Don't be mean," Rosalie laughed. "She's a lovely girl. She just needed someone to treat her like an adult and listen to her."
"Why?" Jackson frowned.
"She's bored," Rosalie sighed. "Her life hasn't been very exciting."
"That's a good thing," Jackson murmured. "After all the excitement you had when they were little she is very lucky."
"She still needs something stimulating to fill her days, they all do," Rosalie pointed out.
"I guess so," Jackson sighed.
"She isn't a bad girl," Rosalie added.
"I know," Jackson nodded in agreement and Rosalie turned and looked at him for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as she noticed a flicker of interest in her brother's eyes.
"Don't look at me like that Rose," Jackson warned.
"Jack, do you…" Rosalie gasped.
"Don't Rose," Jackson snapped.
"You like her?" Rosalie grinned.
"She's Jasper's daughter," Jackson growled. "She's my best friend's baby sister."
"You like her," Rosalie smirked.
"Rose, she's the same age as Angel and Letty!" Jackson snapped.
"You do!" Rosalie grinned.
"I am not having this conversation with you Rosalie!" Jackson growled and got up and stomped out of the house and Rosalie giggled as she watched him go, intrigued about what she had discovered.
XXX
The next day the family were all relaxing in the living room, the tensions from the previous day forgotten. Everyone was engrossed watching a heated chess match between Jasper and Emmett when Carlisle walked into the room, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Oh no!" Alice gasped, instantly seeing what was bothering Carlisle and Jasper jumped up and raced to her side, feeling her alarm.
"Do we need to go back to Volterra straight away?" Edward asked, also seeing Carlisle's thoughts.
"Not yet," Carlisle murmured as he walked over to join the family.
"What is it?" Emmett demanded, the chess game forgotten.
"I have been on the phone with the other council members," Carlisle told them as he looked around the group before his eyes settled on Esme. "The Southern Wars are flaring up again."
"Again?" Rosalie groaned.
"There has been some concern amongst the council for a while," Carlisle admitted. "But in the last week there have been three separate altercations between armies and the humans are starting to notice things."
"Do we need to intervene?" Jackson asked quickly, reminding the group that Jackson, Oliver and Emmett had been dealing with rogue vampires on the American continent for the Council.
"Not yet," Carlisle assured him. "And if we do it will take more than just the three of you."
"What do the others want to do?" Esme asked softly.
"For now just wait and watch," Carlisle explained. "After the voting the first item of business for the new council will be to decide what to do about the situation."
"What if it becomes worse before the voting?" Rosalie asked.
"Hopefully that won't happen," Carlisle sighed and turned to look at Alice. "Alice, can you keep an eye on things and let me know if there is a change in the situation?"
"Of course," Alice nodded instantly. "Right now all I can see is the voting will take place before it spirals out of control. If things change, I will let you know straight away."
"Good," Carlisle smiled. "Unless Alice sees different I don't see any need to worry yet." Despite Carlisle's words Jasper could feel worry and fear flowing through the room and he glanced at his children, knowing they would be feeling it too.
XXX
Later that evening Brandon wandered into the kitchen to grab a snack and he noticed the silhouette of someone standing on the back porch. He checked his senses and smiled when he realised it was Angel. He bypassed the fridge and stepped out the back door and watched her for a moment as she looked at the stars, her slightly upturned face bathed in the moonlight.
"It's pretty isn't it?" Brandon commented as he walked over beside her.
"It is," Angel nodded and turned to smile at him but he noticed her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Is everything okay Angel?" Brandon asked worriedly, automatically scanning her emotions, and he was shocked to feel a sliver of fear and worry.
"Do you think this Southern Wars thing will affect our family?" Angel asked softly.
"It may," Brandon answered carefully. "We have members on the council and people trained to fight vampires. If it comes to it our fathers and uncles might face them."
"Will you?" Angel whispered.
"It would depend," Brandon sighed. "My father has taught me to fight but I don't have any real experience. Probably not."
"That's good at least," Angel murmured. "I don't like the idea of you being in danger."
"I won't be," Brandon smiled at her.
"Good," Angel murmured again and Brandon felt his heart skip a beat as she leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder and turned her eyes back to the stars.