Chapter Forty One

Bella

Emmett got back just in time, in fact he was busy telling Jasper what they had discovered when Carmen pulled up outside and we all rushed to greet the children. Emmett almost ripped the car door off its hinges in his haste to pick Charity up and she clung to his neck then seeing Rose she shouted for her at the top of her voice and the three of them stood huddled together exchanging kisses, Charity busy chattering, trying to tell them everything that had happened between the kisses and hugs.

Caden got out of the passenger door looking a little apprehensive and I understood he was scared I might blame him in some way for Charlie's death. I stretched out my arms and saw a look of relief flood his face as he ran to me and I picked him up to hug him.

"Caden, you've grown. I missed you so much darling."

"I missed you too mommy but you've changed. What happened?"

"I'll explain everything once you've said hi to your dad."

He turned to Jasper and flung himself at his dad's legs but Jasper crouched down and held his son close patting his back and listening as Caden told him how much he had missed us both.

We went inside with the children, Rose and Emmett taking Charity upstairs to have a bath and change. I hadn't even noticed the children were in strange clothes that smelled bad but then Caden asked if he could take a shower and put on his own clothes.

"These smell funny."

"Sure, use the shower in our room and I'll get you some fresh clothes out."

"Thanks mom. Can I speak to dad for a few minutes?"

I nodded, he was getting to an age when emotions were something you kept to yourself as a boy I guessed.

"Sure thing, I'll be back in a few minutes."

Jasper

I could feel Caden was trapped in an emotional whirlpool and I was glad he turned to me to work things out with. Once Bella was out of the room he pulled me through to the bathroom, he was more like an eight or nine year old now and looking extremely serious.

"So, what's up Caden? Did something happen while you were being held? They didn't hurt you did they?"

"No, they were OK, the Quileutes weren't very nice but Rachel and Annie were fine. Dad I feel like like I let mom down. I couldn't save Uncle Charlie for her."

As he undressed he told me the story of their escape and recapture and I was proud of my son. He had worked out where Charlie was, how to get him out and then found his way to Eleazar's, or almost, before being recaptured.

"You did everything you could Caden, you are only a child, it wasn't your fault they caught up with you. I think you did incredibly well. I'm proud of you and no one blames you for Uncle Charlie's death. I just wish you hadn't had to witness it. Was Charity there too? Did she see the attack?"

"I tried to distract her dad, I don't think she really understood but there's blood on Daisy's dress, Uncle Charlie's blood. It came off my hands."

"Your hands? You got that close?"

"I wanted to save him dad, like Grandpa Carlisle saved Aunt Rose and Uncle Emmett."

He had heard that Carlisle saved both who were dying without the grisly details and finally I understood.

"You tried to change Uncle Charlie into a vampire? You bit him?"

The sight that conjured up, of my son kneeling over a bloody and dying Charlie and biting him made me even more proud and I pulled him into a comforting embrace,

"Caden, that was the bravest thing I have ever heard."

He pulled back to look into my eyes,

"But it didn't work dad. When the other went back to find him there was only the scent of bears and blood on the snow. The bears got him, I couldn't change him into a vampire and the bears got him. What good is it if I'm only half and half? The guardians don't like me because I'm half vampire but I can't save someone I love because I'm half human. I wish I were one or the other instead of a useless freak."

"Hey, you aren't useless or a freak. You got yourself, Charity, and Charlie out and almost made it to safety, then you stood up to Johnny H and told him the truth. Sometimes we have to accept we have limitations."

"But now mom is a vampire too I am the odd one out, do you think she still loves me as much?"

There was the sound of rapid footsteps and he was swept up in Bella's arms.

"Of course I do, I love you with all my heart, you're a part of me, like daddy. We both love you and don't you ever think anything else."

"And you don't blame me for Uncle Charlie's death?"

"No, of course not. Sometimes we just have to accept we can't do everything we want to and I'm just proud you managed so much."

Carmen didn't stay saying only she had to get back as they had an unexpected visitor and left immediately with our thanks following her out. The children didn't seem any worse for wear after their ordeal except for Caden's feeling of guilt over Charlie's death and I hoped he would soon understand he wasn't at fault there. When I told him that I was leaving to hunt down the Quileutes who had kidnapped them Caden wanted to go too and only agreed to stay home when Bella said she would stay too. He just couldn't bear the thought of losing both of us so soon after getting back. Rose also decided to stay, Charity was much more precious to her than ever and she knew Emmett would make sure they paid for the pain and distress they had caused both of them. Also, Charity was feeling unsettled and clingy, refusing to leave Rose's side once Emmett disappeared.

Peter came back that night to report that they had found the Quileute position and that the pack was alone. So, Johnny H had been telling the truth when he told me he would call his guardians back.

"They are royally pissed at being set adrift by their esteemed leader. It seems their Alpha has lost his mate as a consequence of his actions and there's some disagreement about the new Beta so it must have been the old Beta James killed. Justin is staying to watch them and if they make a move he'll warn us. Apart from two wolves watching the perimeter the others were in human form and they are still arguing whether to go back to the res or run for it. They know we'll be hunting for them and they're worried about how many of us there will be. So, when do we leave? I haven't had a good fight in too long and I'm really looking forward to killing me a few dogs."

Carlisle was staying surprisingly silent through all this and I waited for him to ask for clemency for the Quileute pack but he shocked me by his next comment.

"I don't think we should wait too long before we act, it's a miracle the Volturi haven't become involved but I'm pretty sure our luck will run out soon."

"Us? You're going along too?"

He smiled at me a little sadly,

"I may be a pacifist in your eyes Jasper but even my sympathy extends so far. The Quileutes tried to rip this family apart by stealing the children and they are ultimately responsible for Charlie's death, after all they took him to Denali in the first place. Like you I believe they deserve to pay for their actions. I did not believe the elders were responsible which is why I spoke up on their behalf but the pack is another matter entirely."

In the end we were a large party who left to join Justin for the showdown. Emmett, Peter, Charlotte, Carlisle, Esme, Alice, and myself, leaving only Bella and Rosalie behind but I knew they and the children would be safe enough, the danger was with the pack.