Leah had snorted out a derisive sound that was best described as a "tcha," when Seth suggested she call, or go by and see Bella.

"What, love me that much little brother? Send me off to the nest of vampires."

"They're not that bad, c'mon." Seth genuinely liked Edward. Struggled with Sam's ingrained animosity towards the Cullens.

Heck, pretty much all the other wolves' animosity towards them.

"Fine," he said, "I'll go." Then, because he was young, and his sister still knew how to get his goat, muttered out a "tell mom I loved her if I don't come back."

Leah just rolled her eyes, and said, "don't do anything stupid."

Because he was young enough to not be able to drive, he had few options but to hitchhike, catching a ride with some older kids heading to Forks. They dropped him at the edge of the drive, and he began a long, slow, human walk towards the house.

- 0 -

The fire that had started with labour, and rested briefly with the birth, became a raging inferno that blistered from inside.

It consumed her, physically, and mentally, flying out to the ends of her nerves in her fingers, her toes, and in the very strands of her hair.

Carlisle, and then Edward, tried talking to, explaining what was happening, but screaming was her only release, and even this faded as its effectiveness waned with wear.

The blessing was that her change, already progressing by degrees, was almost complete, and it was a matter of hours—not days—before the fire began to recede.

Edward refused to leave, giving Claire to Esme, trusting her instincts.

Bella's thoughts remained mute to him, in all forms. She'd withdrawn, not seeming to hear, or see anything.

It terrified him.

None of the other changes he'd witnessed had been like this.

He feared she wouldn't emerge, that her mind, already silent, would become more silent still.

Or absent.

Alice showed him that she would rise safely from the blackness her transformation, but she couldn't pinpoint when.

Even so assured, he waited anxiously.

So when Bella opened her violently red eyes, and whispered his name, he gasped her name in relief. "Bella." He wanted to lean into her. Press his face to hers, and hold her in gratitude.

She reached up and grabbed him, nearly crushing him instead.

"Bella," he said again, this time with the whisper of compressed air and lungs.

"Oh, sorry!" she said, letting go immediately.

Jasper was suddenly there, as was Emmett, and behind them, Carlisle.

"Claire?" she asked anxiously.

"She's fine," Edward said, "just fine."

"How've you been feeding her?" she went on, standing, seemingly shocked to find herself so. She'd moved so quickly.

"Formula," Carlisle said, his voice even and low, as if trying to provide as little stimulation as possible, "she's only eaten a few times."

"A few times? But Babies need to eat—"

"It hasn't even been a day since she was born, Bella. She's doing very well, I promise you," Edward murmured.

"But—I thought, I thought it was—"

"You've been changing for weeks already, Bella," Carlisle said, still behind Emmett and Jasper.

Then Edward saw Bella's eyes register her brother-in-law.

"Jasper!" She looked horrified. Then abruptly, and extraordinarily calm.

"Scars," he said. "More noticeable now, hmm?"

Bella nodded, processing this, and then set her jaw in a firm line. "I want to see Claire."

Edward tentatively put his hand on hers. "Let's hunt first."

Suddenly, Bella's own hand was at her throat. "OK."

Jasper murmured to Edward, "how's she doing this? Can you hear—?"

"No, I can't hear," he said, "and I have no idea."

"Do what?" Bella asked, suspicion colouring her voice.

"Be so in control," Edward explained. "Most newborns are...not so calm."

"I'm...OK," she said. "Everything is just…"

"A lot?" Jasper suggested.

"Yes," Bella said, smiling a little. "But I want to see Claire, so—"

"Let's go, yes," Edward finished for her. Then he stopped, mid-step towards leading her to the window.

"What?" Bella asked, seeing Jasper straighten.

"We have a visitor," he murmured, wishing he could keep this from Bella. "Seth Clearwater."

"What?" Emmett asked. It was more of a growl than a word.

Everyone else's thoughts echoed this question.

"Oh God," Edward said, "The deputy. He mentioned his visit here to Seth. He's come to make sure Bella's OK."

"I am," Bella said. "And we have their agreement, right? It was what Sam agreed...after."

Everyone else in the room seemed less certain of this sentiment.

"Yes, but I'm concerned for his safety," Edward said, his attempt at a reassuring smile flickering and then falling completely off of his face.

"Won't he be?" Bella said, "I mean, you've always told me that they repulse you, so..?" She shrugged.

"It wouldn't be wise to risk it," Carlisle said, shaking his head. "Go. Hunt. I'll explain...something."

Then Claire let out a loud, and protesting wail.

Edward swore.

"What?" Bella asked, alarmed, feeling the full range of her new, and powerful emotions. Edward never swore.

"Seth heard Claire."

Bella repeated the profanity that had freshly fallen from her husband's lips.

- 0 -

The wail had reached Seth's ears. Lifting his nose, and cocking his head, he knew there was no question as to what direction it came from. And that it wasn't a vampire. How could it be? It was a baby, after all.

If he'd heard it earlier, he might have turned around. Gone home. Got Sam.

But the Cullens must know he was coming. Have smelled or heard him.

No, he decided, he'd press on. Maybe a friend was visiting with a baby.

By the time he got to the door, though, his nose had told him there was no human present...but there was something there he didn't recognize. He knocked softly, knowing it would be heard.

His eyes, too, took in the recycling still neatly set by the garage. Edward had been too distracted with Bella's transformation to make a full inventory of Deputy Mike Littlefoot's thoughts, to safely catalog the human questions needing tending to.

So Seth wondered why the Cullens would need a carseat. Or diapers. Or...yep, he recognized the brand stamp from stocking it at the store: formula.

"Hi Seth," Carlisle said politely. "This is a surprise. Sam didn't tell us you were coming."

"Oh, no," Seth said, "Just um, Charlie's work buddy mentioned he'd come by. Said he'd come to see Bella. Then left confused."

He raised a set of very young, but clearly challenging eyebrows at Carlisle.

A brave boy, Carlisle thought. With a big heart. He wasn't so certain of the wisdom of this trip.

"Bella's not been well, Seth. She's resting right now."

This tugged at Seth's suspicions. He'd trusted the Cullens, but he also knew an evasion when he heard one.

"When would be a good time for me to see her?"

"Perhaps she can call you later, and arrange for a visit then?"

"Maybe," Seth said, frowning a little.

Edward and Bella waited some distance away, still within hearing range. They'd started their run, but he'd pulled Bella to a stop, needing to know what Carlisle's plans were. To know that Seth was directed away from any trouble.

That Claire was in no danger.

As a family, they hadn't even considered what the wolves would do, if they found out about her. They'd planned to leave as soon as they could, stringing Charlie along with tales of illness and recovery, until he was well enough to hear the news of Bella's 'death'.

But now Edward was hearing and seeing things in Seth's mind that would not be easily shooed away.

After a moment, Seth swallowed, and said, "Whose baby?"

He gestured to the boxes by the garage.

"Oh, we've taken on a foster baby," Carlisle lied smoothly, "they needed someone on short notice. I volunteered."

Seth didn't believe it for a minute, but he let the lie ride. "Oh, cool, can I say hi? Mom says I've got the touch with the little ones."

There was no safe way to tell Carlisle no. Seth would hear any words that would reach him, so Edward closed his eyes and prayed.

Fervently.

Balancing on the pinpoint of his decision, Carlisle said, "of course. Do come in."

Edward choked on the "no!" he wanted to scream, swallowing it, knowing his silence was fundamental to this sliver of hope Carlisle was riding on.

"Hi Seth," Esme called, walking over slowly with the baby. "This is Claire. Do me a favour and go wash your hands if you're going to come close."

"Sure," Seth said, watching Esme with some wonder. That was a real baby, in a vampire's arms. He could hear her heartbeat, fluttering. Very fast.

Washing his hands in the kitchen, he listened to it. As he walked closer to Esme, he asked, "um, should her heart beat that fast?"

"She's a bit of a special case," Carlisle lied expertly. "Heart problems. They couldn't find a medical placement for her. Why they asked us." He shrugged.

Seth's mind begrudged some plausibility here.

"Can I hold her?"

No, Edward thought. Say no.

But it would have been strange to say no. After welcoming him. After asking him to wash his hands.

"Certainly," Esme said, and passed her sleeping charge over to Seth's sturdy arms.

The movement unsettled Claire, and she blinked, opening her deep brown eyes.

Then she smiled, revealing her full set of perfect teeth.

Seth blinked.

"How old is she?" He stammered.

"A few weeks," Carlisle lied again.

And, as in slow motion, Edward watched in Carlisle and Esme's horrified thoughts, as Claire reached up her little hand to Seth's face.

His gasp seemed to go on forever.

If his arms weren't so used to the firm commitment needed to hold a baby, the shock would have made him drop her.

Finally, he pushed out words. "What was that?"

Outside, Edward closed his eyes, and then, opening them again, looked at Bella. She'd watched him intently during the few minutes they'd been away, knowing something was wrong, but trusting him enough to wait. "I need to go back," Edward said. "Can you wait here?"

"No," she said, "I'll go with you."

"Bella, no," he said, "it's not safe. Not for Claire. She's half human love, and—"

From the house, they could hear Seth's voice, now raised in anger. "What happened to Bella? She was screaming."

"He thinks we've hurt you somehow, Bella. He thinks Claire has something to do with it."

"Then let's show him you haven't." Her cheeks couldn't flush in anger anymore, but the line of her jaw told him all he needed to know.

Then she was gone, ahead of him by a fraction of a second, moving back to the house.

When she reached the entranceway, Jasper and Emmett blocked her way to Claire and Seth.

"I'm fine, Seth," Bella growled. "But if you hurt my baby, I'll kill you."

"Seth," Esme said, approaching him cautiously, arms out, "give the baby back to me, please." Her look was fraught with an anxiety not often seen.

Edward was glad Bella didn't realize it was in response to her.

"She's fine," Esme assured her.

Bella turned her gaze fully to Seth, Edward now standing behind her, his hand on her arm.

"Your baby?" Seth asked, confusion squashing his eyebrows together.

"Yes. Mine."

"Ours," Edward amended.

"But you're—"

"It changed me," Bella explained.

"But—"

"But what, Seth?" Bella challenged, an angry curve in her forehead sliding up.

Edward sincerely hoped Seth did not ask any of the very specific, and personal questions currently populating his mind. He doubted they'd be received well.

"So, she's—" and he swallowed, looking at Claire, then he stopped, not quite sure.

"Half human, half vampire," Edward supplied.

Seth mumbled the words back to himself. Then he asked, "and she can...communicate? Was that what that was?"

"Yes," Carlisle said, rubbing his forefinger against Claire's cheek, himself another barrier between Bella and Claire.

Edward asked the question that was on all their minds. "What will you tell Sam?"

Seth shrugged. If the circumstances had been anything else, it would've been sweet, hearing the innocent trust of his thoughts. He saw the Cullens as good, so different from the rest of the pack. "The truth," he answered simply.

Edward and Carlisle exchanged glances.

They had no idea what Claire was, really, or what she would become. But she was half human, and clearly intelligent. And half Vampire too.

"She doesn't seem dangerous," Seth said, "and she can communicate. Um, what does she eat, though?"

Rose has slipped in behind Esme. "Formula, obviously," she snorted. "She's a baby, Seth."

Claire's thoughts had made her opinion on formula clear. She couldn't stand it, but it had been the only thing presented, so she tolerated it.

Seth was chewing on a thought that made Edward's eyebrows rise in true surprise.

"He can't know," Edward said suddenly, staring at Seth.

"But he already knows you're not human. And what we are. Why does it matter if he knows that Bella is too?"

Jasper's growl had grown in magnitude, trying to manage the feelings Bella was rollercoastering through.

"I think Claire might require some explanation. And the fact that Bella might eat her father, could be problematic." Edward said icily.

He was done with the wolves. After everything that had happened, he'd had enough of their interfering and bumbling disruptions.

"It's time to leave, Seth. Now. Bella needs to hunt."

"'K," Seth said, turning. "Congrats, by the way."

"Let's go," Edward said to Bella, pulling her away, finally, far into the woods.

Their hunt was fraught with worry, and Edward had to pull Bella away from her distracted thoughts to focus.

"It's going to be alright," he told her. "Just be here, with me. OK?"

"OK," she nodded, trying to imagine the worries evaporating off of her. They would rise, and then return, settling heavily.

Finally, catching a scent of something, Edward lifted his chin in the direction it had come from. Then the wind shifted, and it wasn't deer that Bella was smelling.

"No," Edward said, horrified, "don't!"

But she was gone, running, following the smell that appealed above all others.

The hikers, far off of the trails, were just coming into view.

And there weren't just two of them, there were three. One was a baby, strapped to the man's back.

Its little cry made Bella stop, horrified.

"Oh my God," she managed, trying to hold her breath. "Get me out of here!"

"Go!" Edward said, pointing away from where they were.

They were far from home now, and Edward ran with her, leading her to the first game he could find—a small deer.

She shredded its throat with her teeth, spilling much blood before swallowing any.

When she finished, she dropped the carcass, startled by the lack of weight she perceived.

"More?" he asked.

She nodded, and they went on, he showing her how to puncture neatly, absorbing all her kill.

"This gets neater, right?" she asked, looking at him, spotless in his tidy clothes.

He chuckled. "Yes. You did beautifully."

Then he leaned over and kissed her.

The action was soon reversed, Bella pushing him into the dirt, lips hard over his.

"Claire," he whispered. "More of this, later."

She growled over him, body pressing him into the forest floor. "I'm holding you to that."

The he grinned, one of those unbalanced facial productions that had made her human heart flutter. Now her solidified form shivered, storing his promise in its harder substance.

- 0 -

Sam and Emily stared at Seth.

"A baby?" Emily repeated. "They had a baby?"

"Uh-huh," Seth said, not helpfully.

"Phase. Now." Sam ordered.

Stepping outside, they found the dark of the treeline, and Sam saw everything that Seth had seen. He repeated, over and over in his mind, the interaction he'd had with the...baby.

He had a hard time wrapping his head around the concept for such a creature.

She's just a baby, Sam, Seth thought, hearing the bent of his thoughts.

A baby, Sam thought again.

By now the other pack minds had joined them.

Leah's thoughts were more of a pained contraction, and then a more easily worn disgust.

Paul scoffed. God, you're not going to let that ride, are you? Bad enough we have a treaty with those things.

Shut it, Paul, Sam ordered.

The remaining voices were less certain, waiting on Sam's judgement.

We have a treaty with them, Seth thought clearly. They've never broken it. Even when we gave them permission to.

They changed Bella, Leah spat.

No, they didn't, even though they could have. Seth thought. She...got pregnant.

There were a lot of muffled cringes there.

Seth thought the thing that made him cringe: Jacob raped her. And no one believed her.

Sam acquiesced. We leave it be. But if anything happens with—

Claire, Seth thought.

Their...offspring, Sam begrudged, then we remove the threat.

There were murmurs of agreement around, Seth the one, uneasy dissenting opinion.

We remove it, Seth, Sam thought at him.

Seth mumbled, you're the Alpha, and left it at that.