Yeah, I know; theres over 6.7 billion people on the planet, and this one person happens to be in the exact same grocery store as Ness at the exact same time, (I was channeling a Casablanca quote me thinks). Anywho, the odds are about the same, perhaps less, of a sexy-ass vampire starting my school and deciding after 100 years, I'm the one. Anyway, suspension of disbelief and all that. Enjoy.


"We're fated to pretend" MGMT


Chapter Twenty: Old Tricks

I took a deep, nervous breath before turning round and putting on my most convincing smile.

"Mrs Dwyer! What are you doing here?" I tried to sound casual but really I was anxious and suspicious. This was too much of a coincidence.

"Oh Vanessa, How many times must I tell you to call me Renee. We're family after all." I took another deep breath to steady my thoughts. It felt like forever since I'd had to do this. Being somebody who had to hide who I truly was felt like another existence, and as I was faced with the need to do it again, my thoughts were jumbled and I was struggling to process what it meant to appear normal. She extended her arms and I leaned in for a hug, staying close to the freezer door I was still half-hidden behind so that I might cover my temperature.

Renee's eyes wandered me and I did the same. I kicked myself internally for leaving the house on a day as cold as today in just a short flannel dress and pale denim jacket. I'd gotten careless. "You look wonderful! So grown up" I grinned and ran through some numbers in my head. It'd been two years since I was first introduced to Renee, and we'd only seen each other one time since then. Though my aging had levelled out by then, I could still be labelled a fast grower. "You know, I would probably never have recognised you if you didn't look so much like Edward." I bit my lip and smiled again, Edward was my cousin, at least as far as Renee knew, and I'd been taken in by the Cullens just like him. Her eyes narrowed a little as she looked into my big brown ones. I took a deep breath; my eyes had always been an almost give-away. Renee smiled after she was done staring, smiling and shaking her head.

"So what are you doing here?" I was still reeling from the shock of her presence. Renee just smiled pushing her cart back and forth absentmindedly.

"Phil's younger sister lives here, she just had a baby, so we're in town helping out. I'm an Aunt!" I smiled and wished her congratulations. It'd never really occurred to me how sad it was that Renee would never know who I was. She'd never know I was her granddaughter. Standing before her now, she was completely unfamiliar to me.

"And what about you? Are all of you in town?" First Renee had shown confusion, but when the topic of the Cullens came up, excitement washed over her.

"Um, no. No, they're not with me. I'm actually travelling with some other relatives for a while, and we're just kind of passing through" She shrugged and smiled, and I took a second to search my brain from where that came from, how easily I'd formulated the lie. Renee looked at me and her eyebrows furrowed,

"Aren't you getting cold, Ness?" She pointed to my hand, still deep in the freezer, clutching a tub of Chocolate Fudge ice-cream. I grimaced, but forced a laugh as I pulled my hand out. It had been in there the whole time, so I forced a little shiver and rubbed my hands together in an attempt to look freezing, like I should be. Renee chuckled,

"So like my Bella." Her face fell to sadness as she spoke, "How is she doing?" I turned to drop the ice cream into the cart and searched for the right answer, as well as wondering why Renee would needto ask me that.

"Uhh, I can only assume she's fine, I guess. I don't really know, I can't say. I haven't spoken to her recently." Renee nodded and rolled her eyes, her expression seemed to state that she wouldn't expect me to have to known. The curiosity bubbled up inside me before I had time to quash it. "Why? I mean, haven't you spoken to her or anything?" Renee nodded and smiled, a forced, insincere expression.

"Not recently. She and Edward have been travelling a lot, much like you I guess." Travelling? Where? Why? Is it just the two of them? "And you know, given everything that's happened, I just worry about her, you know." I clutched the rail of the cart, doing my best not to crush it.

"Everything? What do you mean?" She shrugged and sighed, running the fingers of one hand through her hair.

"Just since her Father had his accident. I just know it must have been so hard on her."

"Charlie! What happened?" Renee looked startled,

"She didn't tell you?" I rocked back on the heels of my feet and took a deep breath,

"No, I mean we don't talk much. I only really see her when she and Edward visit Carlisle and Esme." Renee barely saw Bella. She hadn't aged in over seven years, and Renee would notice. I remember how many times her 'fake death' had been put off. Every time the issue came up, it was shot back down again.

"Really? I can't believe she wouldn't tell you. Whenever she spoke of you I could just tell she adored you. She may have been protecting you though; I know Charlie worships you too. He was in his cruiser, because, you know Charlie; he'll wear that badge 'til he takes it to his grave. He had a heart attack, lost control and got in a pretty bad accident." I gasped and shook my head. My Grandfather. My harmless, loving Charlie. "Anyway, that was a few weeks ago now. Sue keeps in touch with me, God bless her. She says he's in bad shape but getting better." I waited. I waited for the tears or the pain. But none came.

"Oh my God!" Renee smiled sympathetically and nodded. I bit down hard on my lip, waiting for the pain to spark something. When I tasted blood I relaxed and looked back to Renee.

We walked together around the rest of the store, talking about general things. When it came time for us to part she hugged me tighter than before.

{--)

I had been numb my entire run home. After I'd thrown all of the shopping bags on the counter in the kitchen, I stood stone still as everyone moved around me, unpacking the things only two of us would eat. I still didn't feel anything, only the aftermath of the nerves Renee's presence had thrust upon me. I didn't feel sad, or worried. I felt nothing for Charlie, and that unnerved me so much. I was broken from my stupor by a hand waving inches from my face. I focused my eyes on Alvar's grin.

"Earth to Smee, do you read me Smee?" I shook my head, focusing my thoughts and forced an uneasy smile, noticing that the eyes of everybody were fixed on me. Sonny stood a few feet away, his hand frozen in a bag of newly opened chips, waiting for any of the vampires in the room to notice anything he would miss. Alvar now rested both his hands on my shoulders, a look of concern in his eyes. "Smee, you're shaking, what's wrong?" I hadn't noticed and clearly neither had anyone else, because after Alvar spoke they all dropped whatever was in their hands and encircled me, looks of worry sketched over each of their faces. I stood looking round them for a moment before Al shook me gently, trying to provoke me to speak. I took a deep breath, my decision finally made.

"I have to go." I heard them all mumble, but I blocked them out, focusing only on Alvar's enquiring eyes.

"Go where?" I took a deep breath, my head shaking involuntarily,

"Forks." A gasp escaped Cora, the only one in the room who knew the relevance of that small town in Washington. She drifted quickly to my side, wrapping her arms around my shoulder, and Alvar's hand switched to my cheek. There was a momentary silence, broken as usual, by Sonny.

"What the hell's a Forks?" Cora glanced down at me one eyebrow slightly raised, I suspected she was offering to explain on my behalf, but I shook my head slightly, fixing my eyes back with Al's

"It's in Washington. It's where I was born." There was another flow of murmurs, and Al's head tilted slightly in curiosity. Sonny spoke again, retrieving his bag of chips from the counter with a loud crumple,

"Ohhh Forks. So you were actually born then, Smee? See, you were always such a mystery, I figured you just hatched somewhere, then went about getting into trouble." I heard Oscar chuckle, but Alvar didn't seem to be listening, his eyes narrowed in a suspicious wonder.

"Why? Why now? What's happened?" Cora bent her head closer, just as curious to the answer to Alvar's question as he was.

"At the store I ran into my, well she's my Grandmother basically." Sonny spoke through the pile of chips he'd just pressed into his mouth.

"Holy Crap! A Grandmother too! You're full of revelations today aren't you Smee."

"Sonny, Shut Up!" Alvar's tone was firm, but he stroked my cheek gently, his eyes urging me to continue.

"She said that my Grandfather's sick. My human Grandfather that is. I just, I really think I should go and see him." I didn't feel the need to go deep into my reasoning. I was scared of what they might all think of me if I told them it was an attempt to save myself from becoming a cold-hearted, uncaring vessel, void of emotion. Alvar nodded slowly, bending his bottom lip in a look of acceptance before pulling slowly away from my face to address everyone.

"Ok, if this is important to Smee, then we should leave right away. Sonny pack all the food you think you'll need, it will be a long journey. Cora, can you go and pack the things she'll need?" I dropped my face into my hands; I should have known this wasn't going to be simple. As everyone set off to prepare for the journey I snapped my head back up.

"Stop!" They did, each of them freezing on the spot. "I'm going on my own." Alvar span on his heels, back to face me and Cora let out a deep sigh at my side. Sonny just laughed as Oscar murmured to him,

"Un-likely" Al let out a chuckle before speaking, though I suspected it was more for effect than due to him actually being amused.

"You cannot be serious, Smee, even if that lunatic Victor wasn't still out there there's no way I'm letting you go that far alone. No, we all go, or nobody goes." I felt my eyes almost bulging in his direction; I crossed my arms firmly across my chest, mimicking his stubborn stance.

"Let me? Al, what ever gave you the right to assume I need your permission to do anything? I am going to Forks alone, and you're just going to have to deal with it." I was seriously angry, but I was glad that Al was provoking this reaction; it let me cover up the numbness I had felt since hearing about Charlie.

"I don't think so." A smug grin spread across his face, flaring my temper even more. My mouth dropped open to argue further, when Brice took the floor.

"Ok, enough. Alvar, Renesmee is right." I grinned wildly, a sense of achievement spreading over me as I nodded teasingly in Al's direction. "But Smee, Al has a point too. None of us could sit by knowing you were so far away alone. We care for you too much." At Brice's words, Al returned the smug gestures I'd delivered to him only moments before. I took a deep breath, rolling my head onto Cora's cool shoulder.

"Fine, I understand. But you're not all coming. I think Cora should accompany me, she can keep me undercover, and she understands some of the ….situations, in Forks, whereas the rest of you don't." Cora looked slightly confused, so I pressed my hand against her cheek, projecting her one solitary word:

Werewolves.

The argument shouldhave ended there, but it didn't. Alvar refused to let it go. It didn't help that Cora showed some hesitation in leaving Brice. When her hesitation developed into pure unrest, it was clear she would not be the one coming to Forks with me.

"Fine then, Sonny will be my guardian." I wrapped my arm around the tall teenager. "You'll protect me, right Sonny?" Oscar grabbed his brother from my arms, wrestling him into a head-lock.

"Sure, Smee. I'm sure the dweeb would come in mighty handy if you were attacked by say, butterflies or bunny rabbits. Other than that kid, I'm afraid he wouldn't be much use. I think you should take Alvar." I just scowled in return. I knew Brice could not leave Sonny and he and Cora were now inseparable; take one, take the other.

I span on my heels, Al stood behind me, his arms folded and an expectant smile on his lips.

"Come on, Smee. I take it you're not planning on running there. And you don't even have a licence." I sighed,

"Fine! We leave in an hour." I just glowered at his smug smile as I stormed up to my room.

{--}

"You'll get that all crumpled!" Cora blew through the door and snatched the shirt I was shoving in a bag from me, refolding it before placing it in gently. I flopped down onto the bed as she went on packing for me. "You shouldn't be hard on him, Ness."

"But he makes me so mad! I'm perfectly capable of going by myself."

"Nessie, you just come home and spring on us all that you want to go on this trip. They don't even know about where it is you're going, who'll be there; of course they'll be worried about you." I dropped on my back and sighed running my fingers over the comforter. "Besides Ness, I'm sure this is going to be difficult for you. Do you really want to go on your own?" I groaned and pulled a pillow over my face,

"You don't have to be right all the time you know!" She giggled and pulled the pillow off my face,

"But it's so much fun! Now, I'll give you both one of the cell phones so you can call us and each other if needs be."

"Don't go, Smee!" Sonny yelled as he dived onto the bed beside me, throwing his leg over me and squeezing me tight. "You can't leave me with these bloodsuckers!" I laughed as he rolled us over, tickling my sides. "You better bring me back a present or something."

"Sonny, it's not Disneyland. There won't be anything in Forks exciting enough to merit bringing back as a gift."

{--}

Al was down at the car with Brice and a large map spread out over the bonnet that they were both leaned over. Cora pulled me into a hug,

"You take care, okay."

"I will." She squeezed me tighter and over her shoulder I mimed 'help' to Oz, who cleared his throat, pulling me from Cora and walking me to the car.

"I'll uh, I'll see ya soon then … I guess." I smiled and gave his arm a squeeze,

"I guess you will." Brice hugged me before I climbed into the passenger seat beside Al, and Sonny's head came through my window.

"This sucks. It's gonna be weird not having you around."

"Sonny, I'll be gone two days, tops."

Al cleared his throat, waving the hand he rested on the top of the starring wheel at Sonny. "Sonny, you've known Smee a few months. I've not spent a day away from you in over seventeen years, where's my heartfelt goodbye?"

"Oh Al, everyone knows you're my favourite." Sonny grinned before pulling his head out of the car and miming to me, 'No, you are.' I grinned and winked, waving as the car started up and we pulled away.

{--}

We were still in silence once we'd gone past the lake and deep into the woods.

"You're sulking." I relaxed my arms from their folded position across me,

"I am not!"

"Did you really not want me to come?"

"It's not that, it's just I don't like that you just assumed you could, or that I needed you. I get that you want to look after me, and I appreciate that, believe me I do. But I'm not a baby."

"I know you're not a baby. I know you're strong and independent, but regardless of that, I don't like the idea of you being far away on your own. I don't like the idea of you being far away period." He turned to me and smiled, "So am I forgiven?"

"There's nothing to forgive, I promise. You're here and I'm happy. But this trip is my trip, so there are conditions. Well, one condition."

"I'm listening."

"You're not allowed into Forks." He took a deep breath, scrutinising me through the corner of his eye,

"Why not?" I chewed my lip. It was better not to tell him about the possibility of wolves, if I did, there was a chance he'd turn the car around right now.

"Because, that part, I really need to do alone."

{--}

After a several hours we pulled in for gas. I left Al by the pumps and went across the lot to a fast food restaurant to grab something to eat. The place was packed out so I stationed myself at the back of the long line and prepared to wait, my only source of amusement the menu above the cashier desk as I debated with myself over and over whether to go with a double or triple cheeseburger; one of life's great questions.

I tapped my foot as I waited, scowling to myself at every human in the building who didn't have the sensitive senses I did. The smell of so much greasy food was overpowering, not to mention that the place was filled with people on the road, people not so wonderfully clean at the present time.

"So are they killing the cow for you or what?" A hand came to the small of my back and I turned to Al who was grinning as he whispered.

"I know right. And I'll definitely not be eating this in the car; we do not want this smell sticking." I turned back to the menu board, my decision not yet made as Al chuckled and drew a deep breath through his nose.

His hand tightened quickly around my jacket, pulling tight.

"Ouch, Al …" I stopped in my tracks when I turned to him.

His jaw was set tight as the rest of his body shook, and his golden eyes had turned black.


Yah....
Well next chap there will be Forks.
Though don't expect any "Welcome Home, Nessie" banners hung out.
The only thing being hung out will be Ness.