Disclaimer: Twilight, and those characters belonging to it, are property of Stephenie Meyer and I profit none whatsoever from using them for the fan fiction I write.

Author's Note: This chapter has been combined with the former chapter 2 and 3 when I realized the length wasn't sufficient. I've removed some out of character inner monologue that was had by Carlisle as well as changed some dialogue between him and Edward in response to those thoughts.

"Not in town even five minutes and your friend is in with 'The Man'. Nice," Embry grinned as the police cruiser slowed down to pull up outside of the shop, "Where has she been hiding?"

Seth knocked his pack mate's shoulder, rolling his eyes; "Shut up..."

Looking out one the store's front windows, the group could hear the conversation within the car, even if they couldn't see its occupants.

Charlie's voice was gruff, probably from leaning over the seat to look at the girl in the back as he spoke, "Remember, the Cullens are dropping your truck off at the diner. Those kids work quick, so it'll probably be waiting for you soon but take your time, don't need you getting in any more trouble."

Kady's voice seemed much softer than it had been earlier that afternoon when Seth had heard her over the phone, but he chalked it up to being tired, "Thanks, Chief Swan."

Unbuckling, the young woman moved from the backseat as soon as the Police Chief let her out and shut the door behind her, pulling off with a wave. Looking towards the shop she noticed the group of faces in the window, rubbing one elbow as she walked up, the other hand pushing her hair from her face.

Embry moved a hand over Seth's shoulder when his friend didn't move, "Hey, hey Seth come on..." but the sandy haired kid didn't seem to hear him, eyes on the small figure in bloody clothes, not moving.

Seth couldn't speak, couldn't move, senses temporarily out of his control as his focus; all his thoughts, his awareness shifted towards one being, one person. He hadn't seen her in a few years, and then they'd been younger, before he'd thought about girls, before when he was her mom's friend's son. Back before... before the change... before his come to age as one of the Quileute Wolves more than a year ago.

Seth was only aware that his friends had moved to greet her when he heard her voice, straightening to move behind Quil and Embry who were still shaking her hand. Or at least Quil had...

As Embry grinned, pulling her in for a hug that caught the girl off guard, a low sound drew his attention to look over his shoulder where Seth stood, eyes on him. Quil's gaze flickered between the two and then roamed over Kady and back to Seth again whose growl had gone undetected by human ears.

Kady grinned seeing Seth, he was so much ... more than she remembered. "Jeez Seth, your huge!" Without a moment's hesitation she moved arms around her tall friend, head burying into his chest and then pulling back, "Wow... hot too."

In the two seconds it had taken for the girl to move from Embry to Seth his posture had changed drastically, calming. Arm now draped over her shoulders and looking down with a lopsided grin he blushed only slightly, "Yeah well... grown up on you."

Kady smiled poking him in the ribs, more muscle than the sinew she'd expected meeting the end of her finger, "Not what I meant, your skins burning up."

Seth hugged her, arm squeezing around her shoulders, "Nah you're just cold." He nodded toward Embry and Quil for example, "There just as warm as me."

Head shaking, Kady's scent tickled his nose, toes curling in his shoes, "You say so..."

Looking up again Kady paused, momentarily lost in the depth of his eyes. Oh...

….

Rosalie held the truck bed up; changing its tire, while Renesmee drank what was left of the doe's blood nearby, copper-colored curls contrasting against the animal's lifeless coat. Just beyond them, Bella stood with Carlisle who was explaining that the girl, Kady, had not been injured and Edward stood silent with his arm around his young bride, for once his attention not solely on comforting his wife but listening to Carlisle's thoughts with grim set features.

When Renesmee sat up, finished, Bella moved from the group to clean her face. Stepping closer, spoke quickly, "I know you think it's a problem, but you didn't do anything wrong. You wouldn't."

Carlisle made no outward remark, not wanting to alarm his family but his thoughts kept Edward's response between thin lips, "We'll hunt, you'll see, it's ok."

Carlisle sighed, but Edward shook his head, hand running along the back of his neck in habit, "You're the best of us." Moving out from the truck's body, Rosalie set the vehicle down, finished with the tire. A look passed between the original members of the family, agreeing it was a discussion best had privately... away from their family where whispers where equal to fog horns with their acute hearing.

Gesturing, Carlisle let his daughter know that the truck would need to be delivered back to town, the blonde's nose crinkling in distaste at having to do more than she'd already agreed to, " I did my deed, the tire is fixed."

Carlisle sighed, "Rosalie..."

Edward moved between them, "I'll take it," he cast a glance over his shoulder, "You said one of your sons would bring it. People would wonder how someone like Rose could manage to change a tire."

Shoulders drawing up, Rosalie glared at Edward, "Even mortal women can change a tire, Edward."

The younger looking of the siblings slid into the driver's seat, "It'd spoil the image you've built for yourself, Rose, and those women certainly can't."

Hair ruffling around her shoulders Rosalie turned, disappearing quickly. By Carlisle Bella now stood holding Renesmee's hand, "See you soon?"

Edward nodded and with a grim smile glanced towards Carlisle once more before heading into town to deliver the truck as promised.

…

Walking along the road, Embry and Quil moved on the outside of Seth and Kady whose arms had stayed around each other as they walked. Seth's gaze never strayed from Kady's as she spoke, rehashing her morning's experience feeling at ease in his presence before again apologizing for upsetting him, "I really didn't mean to scare you before... Just you know," hand flying up, fingers spread wide a fraction of an inch from her face, "DEER! and then," she waved "well... yeah..."

Glancing up with a little grin, her eyes again found Seth's, cheeks tinting pink once more. The young man's smile was instantaneous, teeth gleaming in a clean row, "Just relieved that's all it was."

Kady rolled her eyes, "Yeah, crash collisions, nothing too big."

Embry and Quil chuckled, the shorter of the two at her right commenting, "Round here... yeah. Happens all the time."

Embry looked around Seth's body to see her, "Got to remember all you have here is woods." The wink that followed his remark had Seth's arm moving around Kady's shoulders again, as if re-affirming she was there.

Kady stuck her tongue out at the darkest of the russet-colored boys, her own arm shifting around Seth's waist as they stepped off the road and onto the gravel that served as a parking lot for the diner. Front and center, waiting with her keys dangling in on a chain off her rearview, was her truck.

….

Part of Jacob's attention was pulled from watching over Renesmee, his ears flicking to the side to pick up on the conversation of hushed words that passed from Edward to Carlisle. The concern in Edward's voice had the great wolf's head turning to study the exchange.

While the elder vampire never verbalized his reply, Jacob's eyes caught the subtle change in his expression as Edward went on, Carlisle's sigh indicating turmoil. Breathing deeply, Jacob tested the air, guilt causing him to stand, fur shaking out around his body leaves dropping from his sides.

A presence made itself known in the forefront of his mind, suspicious and angry, what has he done?

Jacob closed his eyes, head turning away from the scene; he should have known she'd be in wolf form. Leah preferred it so much more over her human one... Even with her away at college she still listened for trouble through him.

Of course I do! Leah snapped in his head hurting the inside of his temples with her anger, like I could trust those blood suckers with my brother in town. Just because he loves them doesn't mean I do.

Jacob's fur ruffled with anger at the insinuation. His Renesmee was among 'those vampires.'

The feelings behind Leah's thought cooled instantly, I wouldn't insult Renesmee like that... I just meant-

I know what you meant! Jacob snapped, growl in the back of his throat kept quiet before ripping from his form and into the next, human and naked standing in the forest.

Left alone with his thoughts Jacob looked back to where Renesmee stood with his best friend the rest of the Cullens. From the distance, in this form, they were fuzzy at best, but he couldn't fight the unease the half spoken conversation caused. Whatever had happened, guilt from the coven leader couldn't possibly be a good thing and it left Jacob with the distinct impression Carlisle's concern was blood related meaning he would have to face the pack... or worse, have them confront him when Leah jumped at the chance to tell one of them when they phased next.

…

After lunch, Seth stood in the opening of the driver side door as Kady sat behind the wheel, his arm slung out the window nonchalant, "So I'll see you in the morning?"

Kady smiled, hand brushing her hair behind her ear, "Yeah, soon as I'm done unpacking."

Seth straightened up, grinning from ear to ear as he shot the door for her, "Alright."

Waving towards the diner where Embry and Quil waited, lounging against the outside wall, Kady called out, "Later boys!" before putting the truck in reverse and backing up.

The two friends pushed away from the wall and watched after Kady's truck as she sped off before Embry punched Seth in the arm with a teasing grin, "Get that look off your face, stupid."

…

Being apart from Kady, even the short amount of time it had taken the 3 boys to travel from the diner back to LaPush, was more than enough to bother Seth. Watching his friend from the corner of his eye, Quil sympathized, "It doesn't get easier, but you'll learn to manage."

Not understanding, Embry looked confused as he leaned around Seth, "What are you jabbering about?"

Quil rolled his eyes, "Nothing you know about yet," glancing at a still silent Seth he moved his arm around the guy's shoulders, "We'll lay off tomorrow. Let you have your alone time with her... maybe let you break the news?"

Seth's eyes bulged with the thought, his hand coming up to scrape through sandy hair, "I hadn't thought about that," for the first time since joining the Pack, Seth was upset with what he had always considered a gift, "What if she hates me? What if she's so disgusted she..." Seth shook his head, "I don't think I can handle that Quil..." He looked at his pack mate for guidance, "How are you going to tell Claire?

Catching on, Embry stared, "No - no you did not!" Annoyed, the other boy pulled his fist back to hit his friend, "You couldn't have -"
Quil stepped in as he saw Seth's muscles coil and he raised his hands, fingertips touching each friend's chest, "Cool it," he took stock of both, tone firm, "You know how Jacob feels about fighting over these kinds of things. You want him on your tails?"

The last word was bit out and both friends continued to stare at each other, gazes not tearing away for several moments until Embry stepped back, hand raking through his short hair, "Sorry man... I'm happy for you, she's cool..." Reluctantly he added, "She'll prolly take the news well at least..."

Looking off, the youngest of the three didn't reply, Seth only turning on towards their pack leader's house.