Was at Granny = no internet = later chapter update. But don't worry the next one will be on time (30th…hopefully). Thanks for all the awesome reviews! Adore you peoples. Kleah for the win!
A half hour before my shift Hayley storms through the door of Klaus' house.
At first I can hardly believe my eyes, but when she tackles me, demanding where Klaus is there's no uncertain doubt that she is real. And that she is here looking as if someone had just ridden over her puppy. In Mystic Falls.
With some – a lot of – persuasion, I get Hayley to calm down enough that the words out her mouth are more than incomprehensible babblings. Apparently the supernatural grapevine had twisted Klaus and Tyler's fight to such an extent that it was the Original who was mauled to death and not the wolf.
Klaus, I assure Hayley for the hundredth time when she threatens to crush my hand in hers, was as alive and frustrating as he's always been.
Strangely enough I don't think I've ever seen the hybrid as happy as when she found out Tyler's guts now decorated a section of the forestry instead of the Orginal's. Although she'd once been friends with Tyler, her devotion to Klaus has surmounted it.
As subtly as I can (which isn't subtle at all, I admit) I query after the details of Hayley's arrival. But I get the same story as before – the mangled tale of Klaus's death. Eventually I come to the rightful conclusion that Hayley is too far gone in her own delusion to make any sense. I let her psychobabble run its course.
She loves him, this much is clear, even though the love reminds me more of religious zeal than romantic interest. But her blatant worry – despite all my reassurances – makes me wonder. Could the love run both ways? Klaus had been distraught when she left, although he would never admit to it if asked out right. There is no doubt in my mind that there's something there; yet whether it's a sense of responsibility or the 'sisterly' concern Klaus had professed for me, I have no clue. I'm not sure if I want to know.
Reluctantly I repeat the events of the other day: explaining in as much detail as I can in spite of my not being there for the most of the action.
Hayley's face contorts in anger at the mention of Caroline's part in the events. "I never liked that blondie Barbie doll." The way her eyes shine in disappointment says otherwise though. "Klaus's fascination in her was pointless, it was clear she'd never return his feelings."
On this I had to agree.
Hayley makes a dramatic turnaround and changes tactics to moaning about food instead.
"How was your search?" I ask as Hayley proceeds to make herself burnt toast.
She pauses for a second, shakes her head, and slathers a thick layer of butter. "I ran in to some interesting characters, but it was a dead end, they're always dead ends."
Silent we stand as the werewolf eats her toast. The minutes tick by - ten until my shift. I drop my head against Hayley's shoulder and she relaxes into the contact, her free hand reaching up to pat my cheek. This is probably the gentlest touch I've received since Elena gave me that hug months ago. My heart swells, "I'm glad you're back. We missed you." I'm sorry about your family.
Hayley sighs, "Yeah, I missed me too."
I snort and straighten, squeeze her hand once before turning to the door. "I have work. I guess I'll see you when I get back?"
There's a short moment's pause before Hayley hums, "Where else would I be?"
Ignoring the question I pose a last one of my own, "You'll tell me about your disappearance later right?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Not really."
X|X|X|X|X
I nervously wait the tables, my eyes flickering to the doors every few seconds in anticipation of Jacob's arrival. It's already eight and despite his word I begin to fear that he'll not show up.
I place a bowl of soup at a table of Mrs Hendricks. Before my concern and distraction can drive me to another table, the elderly woman clings to my hand. Her milky brown eyes look up at me with familiar interest.
"I met my husband right here, you know?"
I do.
"He was a dashing young man," her sigh is interrupted by a spoon of corn soup.
Recognising the familiar lead off, I lean my hip against the table, well aware of how the story continues and ends, but not having the heart to stop the woman from telling it to me again. It's exactly when she ends with a 'and that's why Mrs Greenwood stole my ironing board' that the door opens to the Grill and lets in a gust of flurrying white air.
I cannot help the gasp of breath that freezes on my lips, the burn in my eyes.
Standing tall Jacob takes up most of the door space, on his right is a familiar bob haired vampire who wears nothing to keep the cold from claiming her. But what grabs my eye and pierces my heart is the young girl to Jacob's left. Renesme's curly caramel head reaches just below the wolf's shoulder, if anything she looks like a twelve year old out with her brother.
Across the room the girl's eyes find mine – eyes that in the months that passed haven't changed the slightest. She smiles and lifts a hand in a demure half wave.
"I'm sorry, Mrs Hendricks, I really have to see to the other customers."
The woman grins, that denture revealing smile, and pats my hand. "That's all right, dearie; bring me another slice of bread would you?"
"I'll do so right away,"
When I close the distance between myself and the Forks residents Jacob's already helped Nessy from her snowflake speckled coat and the girl has changed position to cling to Alice's hand.
"Hi," I breathe when I'm close enough.
"Hi," Renesme beams back at me.
Thankfully the evening calms down enough that there are only two other patrons than the Forks vampires and wolf. I steal a few minutes to sit by them – with Matt's happy affirmative of course.
Renesme plays me a movie spiel of things back home, the colours vivid and soothing as they flash through my head. I find myself crying through most of the girl's memories concerning the pack. Emily, Nessy reveals to me, makes pregnancy look radiant.
Every question I ask Nessy answers with a glimpse of a memory. I don't know how the child doesn't get tired of using her ability, but I certainly don't get tired of the sharing.
"You're going to see Leah, right?" Seth's face is doubly serious in this particular memory.
Judging by the motion of the memory, Nessy nods.
My brother sighs and wraps the child in his arms until all that can be seen is the tips of his hair and a slither of his neck. "Give her this hug for me, okay? I want her to feel how much I miss her."
Another memory features Jacob running forward and snatching the child up, spinning her around before they're swarmed by the wolf pack in human bodies. "Welcome back, kid!" They chorus as they slap Jacob on the back and ruffle his hair. The camaraderie is tangible through the smiles on their faces, the lingering sense of joy in Nessy's mind.
"Where'd he go?" I question, blinking myself out of the warmth of the reminiscence.
Jacob grins, "I got into Uni for mechanical engineering."
"He's really good," Renesme supplies and takes a small sip of orange juice. "He even beat Uncle Emmet in a race to fix a motorbike."
"He wasn't happy," Alice supplies with a twinkle in her eyes, "Emmet hates loosing."
My brow crumbles in concern as my eyes flicker to Renesme and back to Jacob. "How long are you away for?"
He scratches the back of his neck and shoots a grimacing smile at his soul mate. "A few weeks at a time. It isn't too bad actually; it's just enough time for Bella to quit being annoyed with me and for Nessy to experience life without me by her side. Edward keeps telling me I need to give her space."
"I don't mind," the child chirps happily. "I have fun with Jacob,"
"That's the problem," Alice scolds in that adorably not-really-angry way of hers. "More studying and less games,"
Renesme rolls her eyes and pouts, "I don't really have a time limit."
"To keep you caught up with your age's school education level-"
"I have a photographic memory, Aunty Alice," she whines into her juice.
Jacob clears his throat, looking guilty. "I try to do homework with her,"
"Try being the operative word." Alice rebukes with humour lining her lips.
"At least I try!" Jacob whines in the same tone Nessy had used.
Alice chuckles and Jacob flushes, Nessy follows with a giggle of her own.
Somehow we spend a good hour talking.
"You actually wore it!" Alice cheers, clapping her hands and grinning like a loon.
I shrug a shoulder, managing a measure of guilt. "Thank you for that. But I'm sorry I ruined it, I didn't think before I ran into the woods." The frown on Jacobs face sits ill in my belly – he has questions about this, about the 'animal attack'. Jacobs smart enough to know it wasn't a rabid forest dwellers.
"Oh, pish posh, that dress cost hardly anything. I'm just glad you actually used it. You don't perhaps have any pictures of you in it, do you? I'd love to see how you looked, I had a feeling you'd look amazing."
I shake my head, "I don't think there were any photos, if there are I can find them for you."
"Hm, it's all right, I am simply curious."
Nessy starts yawning and Jacob shoots her a concerned glance.
"It's getting late," Alice states and digs out her purse. "Nessy should get to sleep."
"I know, I know," Jacob sighs and he helps the girl back into her coat.
At the door Jacob pauses while Alice rearranges Renesme's hair under the hood of her coat. His eyes are pleading when they lock on mine. "Even if it's only short for a short while," He presses a piece of paper into my hand, "Come home, Leah."
Happy Christmas! Christmas will be happening in this fic too in a chapter or two's time. See you the 30th! But no, really, spend time with your family, get off the internet!