Three Months Later

September

Renesmee's pregnancy looked even more optimistic as she no longer had problems eating so long it was solid foods. She started drinking water now as well. The diet change took some getting used to, but she didn't mind.

She finally formed a tiny little bump on her belly and was excited that her clothes started fitting tightly enough that she needed to shop for maternity ones. Carlisle checked her routinely making sure everything looked good.

Everyone seemed more at ease now - even Edward. Though he certainly wasn't ready for his little girl to be a mother so soon, he couldn't help feeling a teeny bit excited about himself. The important thing to him however, is that she was healthy and happy. Bella told him he should feel blessed; not only to have fathered a child but also to have two grandchildren on the way - something he never dreamed even possible just five years ago. When he truly gave it some thought, he realized how it must've looked from Esme and Carlisle's perspective as well as the others who would never have the same opportunities he has been given. He decided to change his outlook on the situation and display a more supportive attitude.

Alice only had a month to finish planning everything for Seth and Tara's wedding. Originally they considered a beach ceremony but since Alice predicted grim weather for the month of October, their plans needed to be changed to an indoor wedding instead. Alice was relieved that none of the clergy in town were willing to perform a ceremony on Halloween so they opted for the day after which was November first; All Saints Day.

Not only did Alice insist that Tara wear a traditional white gown, she volunteered to design and created it herself. Tara spent most of the month going back and forth for measurements and fittings, mostly while Seth was sleeping so he would never see.

That lasted only until a recent occurrence of murders began happening. Carlisle had been keeping tabs on them. They originally stared in the neighboring cities but then there had been two killings within city limits that had Charlie and his force working day and night trying to track the killer. Carlisle knew though when the papers finally reported that the victims were all drained of their blood. He suspected they weren't all from the same attacker however. Some of the murders were happening nearly at the same time but in different areas, far too stretched out in distance to be the same vampire. Carlisle worried that with the Volturi being gone now, there would be a rise in new born killings and no one to control it.

EQUINOX

Carlisle's shift at the hospital started out pretty simple. He was covering for another ER doctor that had called in sick with the flu. It was going around and most of the patients he saw were coming in with it too. There were four children and three adults all with symptoms of fever and nausea in the waiting room. He was the best one to treat them since viruses had no affect on him.

The Forks hospital was extremely glad when Carlisle returned after leaving Fork just a few years back when the whole family disappeared for several months. This was during the time when Edward decided to leave Bella following her disastrous birthday party. Carlisle decided to explain his absence and transfer to a California hospital as an excuse to have some cosmetic procedures done. He claimed he discovered a very good plastic surgeon there that was really quite amazing and well worth the money. Everyone bought the story of course. It gave them a perfect explanation for having such youthful appearances.

Just before Carlisle's shift was about to end, the paramedics rushed in with a young man on a gurney. He was experiencing severe convulsions and screaming in agony.

The paramedic started to give Carlisle a full report.

"We got a male; approximately forty-years of age, found at the scene of an animal attack on a campsite. Only injury we found on his body is a laceration on his left arm."

Carlisle started to examine his body as they rolled him into the ER, moving him to an enclosed area.

Carlisle looked at the wound on his arm under his shredded clothing. It was precisely what he was looking for; the bite mark of his attacker. He now knew exactly what was wrong with the man but he wasn't sure what he would be able to do to treat him, knowing there was no way to relieve his agony and no cure for what was happening to him. He also wasn't sure how long exactly the venom had been spreading. He hoped there might be time to get it out of his system before it started the transformation but didn't know if he could even get him alone long enough to even try. He had to think fast.

Though the paramedics had strapped him down, the man still screamed and thrashed on the table.

"Can you tell me your name?" he asked him.

His eyes were already darkening and the tear ducts had been sealed by the venom. He heard the doctor's voice through the pain.

"I'm burning! Please! Make it stop!" he hollered.

"Do you know what did this to you?"

"His eyes!" he bellowed.

The nurse tried to get an IV in his arm but the man struggled so much they had to get another aid to help hold him. Carlisle knew his veins were already sealing up and hardening, they'd never be able to get a good line in.

The screaming started disrupting the other patients now but they were unable to get his pain under control.

Carlisle wished he could use his phone to contact Edward to let them know he had a serious problem here. Soon the man would start showing obvious signs of her transformation. His eyes were already turning black but it wouldn't be long before they began transitioning to a deep crimson and his strength would increase during the conversion. Carlisle worried he might harm one of the nurses or aids.

As the one of the male nurses tried to drive an IV into the guy's arm, he unexpectedly grabbed his wrist. The nurse screamed as he began to twist it but Carlisle was fast enough to grab his hand and free the nurse. He backed away clutching his wrist.

Then he clawed at Carlisle begging him for to stop the agony.

"Help me!" he shouted as the venom burned his veins.

Carlisle knew this had to be the doing of a vampire who was either careless or had malicious intent. It was rare a vampire would leave its victim alive, especially any newborn. They were would usually be too tempted by the blood and drain them to the point of death and then obscurely hide the body. Whoever bit this man had to have either been interrupted or they showed a great amount of restraint by biting but not drinking their blood. Carlisle possessed the ability to do so, but not without difficulty. Edward had even done it once with Bella but it was only because of the love he had for her was more important to him. He doubted whoever was responsible for biting the guy had any compassion for human life however. One way he knew of being able to turn down a meal, is if you were full. If you fed and then immediately bit another, resistance would be easier. He wondered if any other bodies had been found nearby where they discovered him.

As he tried himself to get an IV line in with the hopes of pumping him with pain meds, a high pitched buzzing began echoing through the hallways.

Someone had pulled the fire alarm. People in the ER began scrambling about wondering if there was a fire somewhere in the building. The nurse's station was buzzing with phone calls and PAs, nurses and aids were all suddenly trying to clear out the people that sat in the waiting rooms and also those that were being treated but could be moved.

Carlisle's patient was the only true emergency they had at the moment and he took control, discharging the rest of the staff so he could figure out what to do. No one even noticed the man's loud screams now with the piercing alarms going off.

As Carlisle strapped him down and started to move him out, he got an unexpected but thankful surprise. It was Edward, Alice, Jasper and Tara. Alice had gotten a glimpse of Carlisle struggling with a new born just before he was brought in. They gathered and came as fast as they could to help. Unsure of what they were up against, they brought everyone, but the others all waited outside nearby just in case.

They needed Tara to perform the illusion of a lifetime now. All three of them were cloaked already as they came in passed the rush of people trying to get out. The three of them liked not being able to be seen. It was quite a handy gift to possess they all thought.

Before Edward could even read her thoughts to stop her, Tara was behind the gurney.

"Wait!" he shouted.

But it was too late. She'd snapped the man's neck, instantly killing him.

Alice gasped.

"I'm sorry. There's no time. We need to get him out of here and dispose of the body," she said very coldly. It wasn't something she wanted to do, but they couldn't afford the time to try and save her at the expense of being exposed. Her first priority was to cover up the evidence and get rid of him.

"She has a point," Jasper said. "A screaming patient would indeed attract attention and we need to move quickly."

The others agreed realizing they were right.

Tara's had the unpleasant duty of destroying other vampires when she lived with the Volturi. Whether it was at their command or by personal request she would rip them apart without them even seeing it coming, just as she did with Derek. Edward realized had she still been there when he went to the Volturi, she might've been waiting for him in the shadows to step out into the sunlight and end his life.

"Does this hospital have an incinerator?" she asked.

"Yes. It's in the basement," Carlisle answered.

They quickly moved the girl out of there and while Carlisle fabricated a story that the man assaulted him and escaped. He realized that if for any reason their plan didn't work they might have to skip town quickly and start over again but the staff seemed to buy his story. They had no reason to distrust the good doctor. He was a saint to them.

As soon as Tara and the others finished what they needed to do, they left unnoticed before the staff was allowed reentry into the building.

The Cullens thought the worst of their troubles were over but the really had really only just begun.

While Tara and the Cullen's were preoccupied with the man at the hospital, Jacob and his pack had problems of their own.

While Quil and Embry were on patrol near the border, they tracked a rouge vampire they caught hunting near a camping area. They chased him onto their land to try and trap him but he headed north for the Canadian border. They alerted the others for back up and the chase began.

They stayed in pairs trying to surround him and close in from all directions but he was fast. New borns possessed great strength and this on seemed to have speed as well.

Seth was the fastest runner in the pack and his long legs put him ahead of Jacob.

He's heading for the river! He's gonna get away if he makes it! Jacob thought.

We're almost there. We'll be waiting for him if he does! Sam replied.

I'm on him! Seth shouted in his head.

The young vampire they chased was a college graduate from Seattle University. He had been passing though the town of Forks on his way to meet his girlfriend that lived in a nearby town. He never showed however. He stopped to get gas and something to eat before he continued on his trip but something attacked him. His only last memory was being thrown into the trunk of his car where spent the next three days in unbearable agony. No one heard his screams or the banging and kicking from the inside of his trunk as he endured the excruciating torture; his veins seared shut by the venom until it finally reached his heart, hardening it into a solid stone. The man awoke with his throat in flames and with a thirst that was maddening. As soon as he tracked the scent of human the blood to camp site he was on an uncontrollable path to slaughter the helpless victims that wouldn't stand a chance against him.

Seth trailed him closely. He pushed himself even harder to try and catch the vampire winding in and out of the trees and over small ravines. His desire to take out the murderous savage drove him even harder.

He thought the vampire would continue on a straight path, but instead he turned and headed east trying to dodge them. Seth skidded in the dirt as soon as he noticed the vampire made a change in direction and turned his body to chase after him.

Jacob turned as well and started to follow. The others all linked to their minds finally realized they needed to turn as well. Jacob knew the direction they were headed would lead them straight for a canyon though.

Seth, he's not slowing. He doesn't know the area. If he makes it he'll either try and jump or fall in.

Good, maybe we'll get lucky and he'll get trapped!

Seth tailed the vampire again. He was less than a hundred meters from him how and closing. The vampire wasn't slowing however. When it neared the edge of the cliff it actually started increasing speed, if it were even possible and took a leap over the canyon.

Seth wait! It's too far!

No, I can do this!

No dammit! Don't! Let it go!

Seth didn't listen however. He leaped in the air soaring towards the edge.

"SETH!" Jacob shouted, coming to a sliding halt at the ledge.

Jacob could see that he got enough momentum to make it, however something happened he didn't expect. As Seth was mid air he saw the vampire land on the other side but as soon as his feet touched the ground, Derek appeared out of nowhere and stopped him in his tracks. He grabbed the vampire by the throat and crushed his neck into pieces, all while at the same time he felt his body changing. It started shrinking and the fur disappeared until suddenly he realized he was no longer the wolf. His arms reached out for the ledge in front of him and his body slammed into the side of the cliff. He grasped for the earth to hold on for his life. He groaned, struggling to pull himself up.

Derek casually walked over to the edge and knelt down. He wore a victorious grin on his face, that made Seth panic.

He cruelly watched as Seth tried to keep himself from falling. He seemed to have a grip on the rocks but his muscles trembled from the fear and the exhaustion.

Derek stood back up and looked down now.

"Gotcha." Was all he said just before he kicked his face.

Seth's body went flying back into the canyon, landing on the rocks below.

"SETH!" Jacob thought. A giant tear ran down his fury face.

He watched helplessly as his friend plummeted to the bottom. There was nothing he could do.

Derek looked down and then turned and disappeared. His job was done.

Jacob frantically paced on the rocks above then suddenly he let out a sorrowful bellow.

After the fire department finally cleared the alarm, discovering someone had falsely activated one of the pull stations, the hospital finally returned to its normal function. Carlisle was busy filling out a ton of paperwork on the crazed man that was brought in and supposedly ran off during the chaotic evacuation. The police department sent a unit over to investigate his disappearance and a form a search. The man had been the only remaining witness the killing of two other campers whose bodies were reported by hikers in the area. It was believed to be the result of an animal attack but they had to be sure.

Carlisle couldn't imagine the situation getting any worse for until he received a private call from Charlie who was currently at the scene of the incident. The news he was about to receive however was far more tragic than anything he could have envisioned. As soon as Carlisle hung up, he immediately redialed. He called Edward's cell.

Edward and the others all regrouped together once their mission was completed, leaving Carlisle to finish picking up the pieces. As they were heading back to the house Edward pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the number. Upon realizing it was Carlisle he took the call hoping for some good news and that their plan worked. It had nothing to do with the bite victim. In fact that problem seemed trivial in comparison to the information he was trying to digest at the moment.

The alarming looking on his face instantly worried Bella, thinking there was something wrong with their daughter.

"Edward, what is it? What's wrong? Tell me!" she demanded to know as he ended the call.

He didn't need to read her mind to know what went through it. He put his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. "It's not Renesmee. She's fine." He assured her.

Then he slowly turned to face Tara. "We need to return to the hospital. It's Seth."

The words hit her like tidal wave.

The park rangers responded to a call about a hiker that had fallen into a canyon. When the rescuers arrived, finding his crumpled body in the bottom, they were shocked to even find a pulse on him. He barely held on as they airlifted him to the hospital.

Carlisle was ready with a team of doctors as they brought him into the trauma unit. They immediately put him on ventilator and started a full assessment of his injuries. Seth sustained severe head trauma, broken ribs, multiple lacerations to the body, and compound fracture on his lower right leg. His outlook appeared extremely grim at the moment. They immediately controlled the bleeding and set his leg. Once he was stable they continued with X-rays and gave him blood.

Friends and family instantly starting pouring in as they heard the news. They anxiously awaited for an hear an update on his condition. Only Sue and Leah were allowed to be in the room with him, though Tara let herself in anyway. She could have just told them she was his wife but she didn't want to add more tension to the heap of stress they were already dealing with.

Carlisle hoped he would see an indication that Seth's body was already beginning to heal, but there was no such sign. Even the minor abrasions on his face and arms were still visible.

He showed no improvement over the last several hours and Carlisle began to worry. His pupils were still unresponsive to light indicating there was no brain function. Seth was clinically dead; his body only being kept alive by the machines that pumped air into his lungs. He was also still bleeding internally and if they didn't do something to stop it he would eventually go into cardiac arrest and die. Carlisle was doubtful however that even if they performed surgery he would recover. Without his ability regenerate, and lack of brain activity, there was no hope for him.

He entered the ICU with them and closed the door to give them the tragic news. Sue nearly collapsed and Carlisle grabbed her before she fell. Leah looked like someone has just ripped out her insides. The tears began to run down her face and then quickly wrapped her arms around her mother. They both clutched each other sobbing.

Tara envied them. All the pain and grief built up inside her like a balloon; expanding and stretching till the sides became weakened and ready to tear from the pressure. She slowly stepped towards his bed, looking upon his broken body, covered in tubes and wires. She couldn't take it any longer. Her feet were moving before she even had time to think about it. She ran out the doors and headed for the forest till she was far enough away that no one could hear her. When her legs no longer felt like they wanted to carry her, she fell to her knees and screamed as loud as she could.

Concerned for her safety and mental state, Edward grabbed Bella's hand and ran after her. He was the only one who heard her mental cries. They found her crouched next to a small tree that looked as though it had been split in two. She breathed heavily and her body trembled.

As soon as she heard their footsteps she quieted herself and became motionless.

"Tara?" Bella spoke softly.

She cautiously approached her and knelt down beside her friend. Bella put her hand on Tara's shoulder. "What is it?" she asked fearing the worst.

Tara's head dropped and she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Carlisle wants to take him off life support." Edward explained. "He doesn't think there's any hope."

Bella looked at Edward with a doleful expression and then back at Tara.

"Oh no." Her heart sunk. She couldn't imagine never seeing his chipper little smile or the sound of his energetic laugh ever again.

Edward felt just as crushed. He loved Seth like son. He had no idea how he'd even begin to explain this to Renesmee. She completely adored him.

Edward knew what Tara would be asking of him soon. He hoped this day would not come for a very long time. He almost felt regret for agreeing to it now but as he watched felt the torment she was experiencing and seeing the unbearable agony of losing him, he couldn't imagine allowing her to live like this for an eternity.

Edward knelt down next to her as well and put his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry Tara. Please know how grieved I am and that I understand everything you feel right now. I'm ready to take care of whatever needs you have, anything I can do to ease you pain. Just ask and it'll be done."

Tara knew exactly what Edward's words offered. Her expression suddenly went from sorrow to blank cold stare. She thought for a moment and then stood up and finally looked at him.

"There's something I have to do first."

The nurse tried to stop the three of them from entering the ICU but Carlisle allowed it. The nurse started to protest when they didn't suit up in masks and sterile gowns but he knew it was pointless anyway.

Edward was arguing with Tara as they came through the door.

"Tara, you need to think this through. You don't know what could happen and you know his family won't allow it. You could cause a war!"

"I have thought it through Edward and we discussed it. He gave me permission. I would never consider this if he hadn't suggested it to me."

"Suggested what?" Sue asked curiously, over hearing the conversation.

Both she and Leah were staring at her now, waiting for a reply.

"I wish to take Seth home with me. If he dies, I want him home with me in our house."

"It's not your house." Leah snarled. She still didn't accept the idea that her brother lived with a vampire, especially in the house she grew up in.

"It's my home." She hissed.

Sue stood and wiped her face. "What are you planning on doing Tara?"

She took a deep breath before speaking. "I want to try and save him." She said.

"What do you mean?" Sue said confused.

Leah understood however. She realized what Tara was planning.

"NO! You will not! That would kill him! I swear if you even touch my brother…!"

"It's what he wanted! He told me!"

"You lie!" she spat.

"He said he wanted to be with me and if this is what it would take than he was willing. It was his idea, never mine. I actually told him no and he insisted. I swear to you."

"When did he tell you this Tara and why would he tell you this? What would prompt him to even consider such a thing?" Sue asked.

She crushed her lips together at first, afraid to tell them. She had no choice however. She did her best to keep Edward's part in it secret however, in case she needed the backup plan still.

"We had a discussion. It was on his birthday. It was …death. I knew there would come a day when he would eventually pass on and leave me here. He saw how much the thought of it bothered me and he made the offer but it was something we thought we would be dealing with decades from now. I never imagined I would have to face this now. It kills me to see him like this..."

"You just want to turn him into one of your kind! You don't even care what it will do to him!"

"That's not true! If I could have a choice I'd want him back just the way he was. I didn't want this for him! I want him to live a normal life."

"If you wanted my brother to live a normal life you would have left him!"

Edward grabbed Tara the instant she thought about ripping Leah's head off. He caught her just in time and held her down.

The noise level attracted the attention of the nurses and they were forced to move the conversation to another room. Edward pulled Jacob into it since he would certainly have a say in the matter. He knew this could cause huge problems for both sides and start a battle between them.

Tara explained the conversation she had with Seth on his birthday. She swore to him that Seth wanted this and if it could save his life she begged him to allow it. It was like De ja Vu. It was the same situation when Bella wanted to be turned so she could be with her husband, Edward…forever. Jacob couldn't even fathom the idea of it; not until he finally witnessed her die as she gave birth to her daughter. His best friend wouldn't even be standing in the room right now if Edward hadn't pumped her heart full of venom to save her. It was her only hope and now his other best friend was dying as well. No one ever tested they theory. No one ever tried to turn one of them. It was truly a mystery if they'd die or not. Jacob was afraid to even think about what could happen.

"If even dare try this I swear I will kill you myself! I will never let you do this to him!" Leah shouted.

"Leah!" Jacob cut her off. "You can't do that. She's an imprint!"

"It won't matter …when he's gone," she mumbled.

Jacob cringed when she said it.

"You'd rather let him die?" Tara said venomously.

Leah said nothing. She bit down on her lip when it began to tremble.

Tara snarled clenching her teeth. "Well, I won't allow it."

"Tara…" Carlisle spoke. "Legally Sue has the right to decide. I understand your pain but you won't be able to get him out of here without a legal battle and that could draw attention to us. Are you willing to cause a conflict that could possibly expose us?"

Tara stood silently thinking; debating her next move.

Edward's eye grew wider as he listened to her thoughts. Finally she spoke again.

"I'm terribly sorry Sue, but you do not have legal right to decide for Seth. I do."

Tara pulled off the chain from around her neck and also took the ring off her thumb and showed it to her.

"I don't have the paperwork with me right now but I can prove to you that we are married. We got married on his birthday, also by his request. He wanted it as a gift."

She put her hand to her face and a tear fell from her eye.

"I don't wish to do this against your will. I know how dearly you love your son. I love him too. More than anything. If I could give my life for him right now I would do it without hesitation."

"But Tara…you'll kill him if you do this," she whispered sadly.

"No… he's already dead."

She teared up even more. Tara took her hand and held it in hers.

"Just let me try. If it doesn't work, it won't matter. It won't change anything… but if it works, you have the chance to see his face again. He'll be a different but he'll still be Seth….Please Sue. I beg you to permit this. I don't wish to fight you on this but I can't bear the loss."

Sue had never seen Tara looked so frightened or anguished before. She looked more like a helpless girl than a monster. She knew Tara's intentions were not malicious. She also knew Tara really loved her son and she loved him too. The thought of seeing him again was belong tempting. She couldn't bear the thought of having to bury her son so soon after burying her husband. When she envisioned Seth's tombstone right next to Harry's she started to cry uncontrollably. Tara dropped her hands feeling lost. She didn't want to start a war. She didn't want to hurt her friends and cause hatred between the families. She was willing give up and allow Edward to just take her out in the forest and destroy her, putting her out of her misery.

Before she could even turn to him Sue spoke again.

"Tara…" she said in a crumbling voice.

"Yes Sue?"

"I don't want to be there to watch this even take place. I don't think I can but I'm not willing let go yet. You may go ahead. I'll release him to you."

Tara cupped her hands in her face.

"Mom! No!" Leah shouted.

Sue grabbed her daughter. "Leah, don't! I know this is hard but I don't want to lose him. Please baby, don't make this harder for me than it already is."

The anger on Leah's face turned to sadness when she looked in her mother's eyes. She started to cry and Sue held her in her arms.

"But mom, you don't even know what this will do to him. What if he wakes up and tries to kill someone? What if he tries to kill you? I don't want to have to hunt down my own brother."

Bella stepped over to the both of them and touched Sue's shoulder.

"Mrs. Clearwater…." She said. Sue faced her.

"Can we talk?" she asked.

Sue was not blind to the events that took place just a few years ago. Though she didn't have all the minor details, she always knew what the Cullens were and she knew about Bella and her relationship with Edward, and of course their child together Renesmee. Seth kept her filled in on a lot of the stories, though he was careful not to tell her about the times he risked his life to save them from a eminently dangerous group of vampires, come to annihilate them, or why he left for Italy to go after Tara. For the most part, she accepted Seth's relationship with Tara and his friendships with the Cullen's. They'd always been good to him. She also adored Bella, who was now also her daughter-in-law. If anyone could out her at ease about Seth being turned, it would be her.

She and Bella spoke privately for a few minutes. When they were done, Sue told Carlisle to allow Seth to be moved. She didn't even force Tara to show a marriage certificate. She didn't want to fight it. She could only hope to see her son again, even if he would no longer be human.

Leah wasn't about to agree to it so easily however. While Sue went to go sign the necessary paperwork, Leah stood by Seth. She held her little brothers hand and said goodbye, knowing this is that last time she would probably ever see him. She couldn't bear the thought of what they were about to do or think about what might happen to him if the plan succeeds.

Within minutes, a crew of paramedics came in the room to get him ready for transport.

Leah stood up and moved out of the way. She scowled at Tara across the room then quickly left before they put him in the ambulance. She barely made it to the border to the forest when the wolf exploded out of her, and she ran as fast as her legs would go.

A mournful bellow could be heard coming from the forest and echoed through the night.