Yep, it's back! What will be Sam's reaction to Gwen and Seth's sudden appearance? Huh. I'm the author, and I don't even know!

I only own Gwen, blah-blah-blah, you get it. Review please! Prepare for some cheesy romance in this chapter!

Gwen sat in her black wheelchair in Sam Uley's kitchen. A Native American women watched her out of the corners of her eyes. She was one of the most beautiful women Gwen had laid sight on, (Of course, the Cullen girls were the exception. Gwen got the feeling they would always be the exception.) if you were on her left side. If you were standing on her right side, gruesome red scars traced down her hairline to her jaw. Gwen kept her gaze on her hands and tried not to stare.

Her queasy stomach felt like it was stabbed with a needle whenever the dark thought of Bella entered her mind. She tried to shut out the images that haunted the edges of her thoughts like some nightmarish creature. Gwen felt sick, and worry tainted the joy of being out of the Cullen house.

A small blue clock ticked each second with precise tocks. The soft voices of Seth and Sam echoed from outside, and pronounced the awkwardness between the woman and Gwen.

" I take it your Gwen?" The woman asked. Her voice was soft and high. Gwen looked up and then back down at her hands.

" Yes." She murmured. " What's your name?"

" Emily. It's nice to meet you." She paused for a moment, and placed her elbow on the counter. Emily supported her head with this hand, and pulled tan fingers through her hair. She tried saying something once but closed her lips around the word. With force she resumed her sentence.

" What happened?"

With a shudder, Gwen gave a vague recollection of what she had seen. With each word it became harder, and harder to continue. She didn't want to remember the things that had just occurred, but it also felt like a release. It was almost as relieving as talking to Seth.

When she could no longer continue, Emily came over and placed a hand on Gwen's shoulder.

" Are you sure?" The man asked. Seth nodded with certainty. The two had been talking and deciding for an hour now. The tension had eased, and the unbreakable bond of brotherhood had resurfaced.

" Yeah. Jake was giving the…baby that look." Seth folded his arms and looked up at Sam sheepishly. " So, are you going to attack?"

" No. I'm not."

" Good."

" Gwen can stay with us, if she has no where else to go. We have an extra room." Sam said after a moment.

" Wow. Seriously?"

" Do I look like I'm kidding?" Sam asked with a wry smile.

" Thanks man! Mom probably wouldn't be too thrilled on Gwen and I sharing a room." He chuckled then became serious.

" She does have nightmares though, and they are pretty bad. Carlisle is certain they are from her past."

" I think you should tell her."

Seth eyes bugged.

" Everything? Are you crazy? I mean, what about that insane vampire army? What if they found out about Gwen? And Carlisle said that she would shatter if she found out what happened before she was attacked…"

Sam interrupted.

" Seth, I didn't mean the whole truth. Just enough to explain a couple things. It must be hell for her to be living in a place full of questions but no answers."

" Oh."

" You said that there was a lot of blood." Sam said, referring to Bella. " Do you think there is any chance…?"

The boy swallowed and looked at his dirty feet.

" I don't know."

Suddenly the screen door opened. Emily and Gwen sat up a little straighter as the two boys walked in. Gwen noticed how Sam had a protective russet hand on Seth's shoulder. It reminded her of Carlisle and Edward.

" So?" Emily asked. Sam strode over and kissed her temple. When he lifted his face away, Gwen felt something in her chest flutter like a bird. That look. She had seen that look before. But where?

Seth leaned on her wheelchair, and gripped the handlebars. She turned her head and moistened her lips. Ah. That's where she had seen it.

" Looks like you are going to stay with us for a little while, Gwen." Sam said with a warm smile. Guenevere looked back at Seth again with a puzzled expression.

" Is Carlisle okay with this?"

" He doesn't know, but he would probably be fine with it."

Gwen seriously doubted this, but didn't say anything. Nobody listened to what she had to say.

" Do you think we could call Esme? I need to know what happened." Her mouth went dry.

Sam gave Seth a pointed look that Gwen caught easily.

" Now?" Seth mouthed, startled. Sam nodded once. Looking slightly flustered, Seth walked around to face Guenevere.

" Hey Gwen, how would you like to go on a walk tomorrow?"

She gave him a strange look.

" I would love to." Gwen said with forced brightness. " If I could walk. Everything is a bit mushy outside, and I don't want to ruin Carlisle's chair."

" Nah, don't worry about that." Seth swatted the air like there was a fly. " I can carry you. I'll be careful not to hurt your back."

She raised her eyebrows.

" I don't know, Seth. I'm kinda heavy…"

" I'm stronger then you think."

" Ah…" Gwen wasn't completely comfortable with the thought of being lugged through a forest.

" Don't you trust me?" His expression was pleading, and she couldn't deny him.

" Okay, you win. Tomorrow we will go on a walk."

A contagious grin bloomed across his face, and Gwen answered it with a thick, wavering, close-lipped, smile.

" Awesome." He nodded enthusiastically. Lightly he placed his hands on Gwen's shoulders. She ignored the urge to pull away.

" I'm going to drive back down. And don't," The grin came back when he caught her interruption before it began.

"-Interrupt." He finished. " I will be back soon, 'Kay? And no," He started, catching her again. " you can't come."

" Why?" Gwen demanded.

" Just trust me."

Easier said then done. She thought testily.

" Fine. Bye."

He did not take any offense to Gwen's hostility. Instead he patted her arm affectionately before trotting over to Sam. Seth whispered something in a nearly silent voice in Sam's ear. The man sighed and nodded. Seth gave him a grateful look before leaving the small house.

Gwen sat in the kitchen with the people she had just met.

" Hello, Gwen." The man said. " I'm Sam."

" That's what Seth said." Gwen muttered quietly. " I heard your name around at Carlisle's house."

" Yeah I guess you would." Sam said with a dry laugh.

" Don't worry. Things have calmed down."

" It didn't look calm when I left." Gwen's nastiness surprised her, and she quickly tried to cover it. This young couple's ignorance could prove useful.

" So I saw a ramp outside. You know somebody else in wheelchair?"

" Yes." Sam answered. " Jacob's dad comes here sometimes. Excuse me for a moment." Sam left the room and pulled Emily with him. Guenevere got the feeling they were sharing more secrets that she wasn't allowed to hear.

The sound of the back door closing reached her ears. Their arguing chattered like a pair of squirrels.

Awkwardly she looked around the room. It was a friendly little kitchen. Completely with sunshine walls and white cupboards.

Gwen's eyes connected to the door.

She could leave. She could wheel herself out to the nearest house and call home. She could find a way to call the cops and let them know where she was. She could call her family.

What if there was no family?

Of course there is, silly! Gwen thought, drowning the horrible thought before it could surface. It was too awful to contemplate.

As quickly as her arms would allow, she wheeled herself to the screen door that seemed to glow. Her heart throbbed in her chest and a pulse began in her neck. The sound of her wheelchair seemed as loud as a firework. It seemed to signal Gwen's sneaking out! Gwen's sneaking out!

Opening the door wasn't particularly easy. Gwen had to strain her spine when she stretched out to grab the doorknob. With difficulty she turned it and realized her chair was in the way.

Cursing herself, she readjusted the wheelchair and went through the painful process of reaching the knob again. She could feel her fingers beating with her heart as she pulled it open with a creak.

The door banged against the side of her leg when she rolled out. It was going to leave a bruise, but she didn't care.

There was icy and left a trail of gooseflesh on her arms and legs.

Gwen's arms trembled as she coasted down the ramp and onto the crackling driveway. She could not remember when she had felt so slow. It was as if her weak arms could never pump fast enough.

The ride was downhill, so she picked up speed quickly. Something deep in her stomach was turning with the wheels. It couldn't be this easy. It couldn't be.

Gray water traded for mud when she entered the road. Gwen no longer cared that the once clean mobile-chair was getting coated in mud. The only thing that mattered was finding help.

No cars passed; much to Gwen's frustration. This small town did not have a large enough population. She would have to wait until she encountered a house.

It took a while. She was grateful the street was a hill, so she did not have to tire her arms pushing. After seven minutes of nervously coasting, her patience was rewarded.

A home slightly larger then Emily and Sam's house, stood at her left. The paint was chipping, and children's toys sat in the yard, but it appeared a haven to her eyes.

" Help!" Gwen shouted, and her voice cracked. " Help! Help!"

A Quileute woman opened the faded brown door. Her forehead had permanent lines etched in waves, and her mouth was pulled down on the corners. Her graying-black hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail.

" What's wrong?" She called, rushing to Gwen's aid.

Gwen opened her mouth, but nothing came out. A laugh that was dangerously close to a sob erupted from her chest. A small hand reached up to her snarled hair. Where to begin?

" Can, can I use your phone?"

" Of course sweetie!" She seemed surprised. " What's your name?"

Before Gwen could answer, the women began shouting.

" COLLIN!" The women shouted. " GET OUT HERE!"

A boy who looked to be Seth's age bounded out the door. No, he was a little older.

A pang lilted in her chest at the thought of Seth. She inwardly shook herself and reasoned. The Cullens might have lied to him, or something. Maybe Gwen wouldn't press charges.

" Yeah, Mom?"

" She needs help getting inside." The women jerked her head towards Gwen."

" Uh, okay. Sure thing." Hesitantly Collin moved to pick her up, while his mother disappeared into the house.

" No, its okay." Gwen said quickly, edging herself back in her seat. " My back is injured."

" Oh. I can carry the whole chair if you want."

" No, its okay, WOAH." The kid picked up the entire wheelchair like it had no weight at all. This too reminded Gwen of Seth's strength.

" You're okay." Collin mumbled, lugging Gwen through the walkway and into the door. She never released her death-grip on the handlebars.

" Goodness, Collin!" The mother cried, and a hand flew to her bosom. In the other, was the prized cell phone. " Couldn't you have carried them separately?"

" Her back was hurt."

" Oh my." Collin's mom exclaimed. She dropped the wireless into Gwen's lap, and touched a recently-healed cut. (Carlisle had told Gwen that most of the cuts on her face would heal, but two would scar.)

" You have been through something haven't you?"

Gwen did not answer. She merely gave a breathless thank you, and flipped open the phone.

While the nameless mother closed the door, Gwen dialed the well-known numbers.

It rang four times.

" Hello?" An exhausted voice asked.

" Mom?" Gwen whispered. Her heart had begun pounding again.

" Guenevere?"

The sound of Mrs. Gordon's sobs fuzzed through the phone.

" Where are you? Are you all right?"

Gwen tried to get herself under control again. She needed to let her mother know she was okay.

" I'm in a wheelchair, Mom. I have no idea how I got here, or-or what happened."

" Where is here?"

" A city called Forts."

" Forts?"

" Forks." Collin's mother mouthed, but Gwen did not get a chance to correct herself.

The loud bang of a door opening shattered Gwen's thoughts.

She didn't have to turn her head to know who it would be, standing in the doorway. After all, her luck could only last so long.

" Gwen? What's happening?" Guenevere's mother asked, but Gwen could only sob " No!" while Sam took the phone out of her hand.

I should have called the police. Gwen thought absentmindedly. She was thumping her small fists against Sam's bare chest, but she might as well have been patting him.

" Sam?" The boy asked in confusion.

" I'm sorry." Sam said to Collin and his stunned mother. He raised his voice over Gwen's shouts. " This is my cousin. She's a little confused." He shot a meaningful look to Collin, who took the phone from Sam's outstretched hand.

" Oh, yeah. Right. Call us later, okay?" Collin stammered.

" I will."

Sam picked up Gwen's chair and carried her out of the house. Stiffly he closed the door behind him silently.

" YOU LET ME GO! YOU LET ME GO!" Gwen shouted.

" Seth was right. I'm going to have to watch you closer." Sam murmured.

Gwen covered her face. She wanted to do something to Sam. She wanted to make him listen. She had never felt so helpless in her life.

Something in her began to spin. She realized that her breaths were coming far too quickly, and far to shallowly. Struggling for a grip, Gwen filled her chest with the cold air.

Two thousand miles away, Mrs. Gordon completely broke down.

A few tears dripped down her chin to the sink. Each arm was braced on the counter to keep herself steady. The dropped landline beeped loudly to alert her it needed to be turned off. Margaret slowly sank to her knees and sobbed.

" Chris." She moaned. Then louder, " CHRIS."

Heavy footsteps banged down the wooden steps like drums.

" Is everything okay?" He asked. His wife's voice had frightened him.

" Gwen called."

" What?" He was dumbfounded.

" Our missing daughter called from some city called Forts." Sharper now.

" Guenevere called." Chris Gordon was dubious. He walked to his wife and raised her up by the arms.

" She was crying, and, and she said she was in a wheelchair, and that she didn't know what happened."

Chris's eyes went wide at this last statement. His grip on his wife constricted.

" What did she say exactly?"

" I already told you, she was crying."

" And?"

Mrs. Gordon wracked her memory.

" She doesn't know how she got to Forts, or what happened. She said she was in a wheelchair…"

She gulped and continued.

" I heard a bang in the background, and then Gwen said 'no'. Then the line disconnected."

Gwen's father had gone very pale.

" We should call Mr. Lewis." He said.

Gwen was very quiet.

A blanket had been tossed over her shoulders by Emily, and a cup of hot cocoa had been set on the table in front of her. After a few minutes of ignoring the warm drink, her hunger made her cave. Silently she sipped on it.

They were stiffly set in the cozy guest bedroom. Seth sat in the chair opposite of Gwen and stared at her. Gwen kept her eyes on the fingers that were wrapped around the mug.

" Why did you run?" He sounded injured.

Gwen placed the cup on the small table. She was no longer hungry.

" In case you haven't noticed, I am in a wheelchair."

Seth didn't answer. He simply leaned forward with his elbows on his knees.

" You didn't answer my question."

Gwen met his eyes incredulously.

" And you won't answer any of mine!"

Seth's jaw clenched.

" Have you ever thought that I keep secrets to keep you safe?"

Fingers curling into her palms, Gwen leaned forward.

" My mother had no idea where I was, or, or what happened to me!"

" I thought you said you trusted me!" His voice had raised. Gwen forced herself to look at his hurt face.

" Why should I?" Gwen shouted. " You have given me NO reason to trust you!"

" I haven't hurt you, have I?"

" How can I know that? I know something's wrong, Seth. The nightmares, the scars…"

" No, no." Seth's voice was horribly sarcastic, and he stood up.

" You are this way, BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID TO YOU!"

Gwen sat completely still and watched him with wide eyes. She had never seen him so angry.

Sam was suddenly in the room.

" Seth, let's go." He murmured, placing a hand on Seth's shoulder.

" Relax." He was firmer now, gently pushing him out the door, like you would with a misbehaving child.

When they left, Emily knocked softly on the door.

" You might as well come in." Gwen mumbled. " Its your house anyway."

Emily's scars were still a mild shock. Luckily, Gwen was skilled in hiding her expressions.

" Sam wanted me to talk to you." Emily said softly, seating herself where Seth had been.

" Ah." Gwen swallowed loudly. " Are you going to explain what Seth meant?"

Emily placed her hands in her lap. " I don't think its my place to tell you."

" Then what do you want to talk about?"

" Seth and Sam."

" I'm listening."