Chapter Warnings

briefest of mentions of abductions, murder victims etc (referencing the stuff that happened in Seattle)

Next update: August 1st

18. 80 Years

Sascha was leaning down on the balcony rail, propped on her elbows, another larger stone in her hands. Yet again carving away at it to pass the time. She tried to ignore her sparkling skin that kept catching in the corner of her eyes. But she did want to enjoy the slowly setting sun before it vanished behind the tree line. She was content in that quiet moment.

It had been five days since the fight and a careful sense of normalcy was starting to settle in their routine again. Excluding the now deemed unnecessary patrol around Bella's house of course. Though, with how much time Edward was secretly spending at his girlfriend's - no, fiancee's - house, no patrol on top would have been needed anyway.

Fiancee. Sascha was not surprised they were getting married, she had congratulated Bella warm heartedly. However, she couldn't help but think that there was still some growth needed, especially on Edward's part. And probably on Bella's too. She was only 18 after all. Why rush…?

Sascha shook her head once to herself. As though to abandon the thought. It wasn't her place to put any kind of judgment on their relationship, or their decision to marry. Bella was marrying into a wonderful family at least. That much she was sure of. They would make it easier for her to spend eternity with Eddy Dearest. She still had to smirk a little remembering Edward's face when this thought had crossed her mind the first time.

His own fault for snooping into her head, really.

A soft knock brought Sascha out of her musings. She wondered for a split second who it could be. Alice and Jasper were still out for a hunt.

„Come in." She turned to look over her shoulder and smiled when Carlisle entered her room. „Hi."

Carlisle gave her a soft smile of his own. „Do you have a moment, Sascha?"

„Of course." Sascha stood straighter and leaned her back against the rail instead.

Carlisle closed the door behind himself and joined her on the balcony, eyeing the half finished sea shell in Sascha's hands curiously. „I see you're being creative again."

„Yeah", Sascha chuckled, „Have to keep these hands busy."

„A healthy habit", he nodded, then a sense of seriousness settled on his face. „I come to ask you about how you want to continue from now on."

„Oh… yeah." Sascha felt stunted for a second. Of course she had been thinking about it. Every day. But she had also expertly pushed any kind of progressive thinking away. Only stressing about having to decide soon and make a plan. Never actually thinking about what she could do, and when.

„I've been observing the news in Seattle and since there hasn't been any more… occurrences, it seems the situation is going to relax soon."

Sascha nodded as she listened to him. „I see. Yeah that makes sense."

Carlisle obviously noticed her hesitation. „Of course you can stay here with us for as long as you like and need. We deeply enjoy having you around."

„I appreciate that. I really do. I think it's best if I maybe stay for another week or two? To kind of wait and see how the media and police are going to handle all this. I'm supposed to be in protection by the police after all."

Carlisle nodded at her reasoning. „I agree. I would've suggested the same at the very least. Returning before the police know the attacks have stopped would raise some uncomfortable questions."

„Yeah", Sascha nodded too, before lowering her eyes to her hands. „But then… then I need to go back again, I'm afraid."

„Would you like someone to accompany you? So you wouldn't be left alone with all the questions?"

She snapped her gaze back to him in surprise. „Would you?"

„Sascha", Carlisle reached a hand out to put on her shoulder, „of course. That's not even a question."

His kindness, all of their kindness, would be the death of her some day. Continuously making her heart melt in her chest. They were doing so much for her. She gave Carlisle a tiny smile. „Then I would like that a lot."

He gave a comforting squeeze, like he did so often. „It will give us a sense of peace to see you off safely as well."

And so they agreed to wait a little while longer to find a fitting moment to announce Sascha's return. She would be giving her father a call before going back, of course. She didn't want to risk him suffering a heart attack if she were to just stand in front of his door suddenly.

When Jasper and Alice returned from their hunt that day, she informed them of her plans and talk with Carlisle. They seemed to mirror her own inner turmoil. Happy for her to be able to return to her family, though also downcast in the face of her leaving.

Sascha noticed she was starting to feel weirdly lost in time, in a way. After anticipating the end of their problems at hand for so long, she found herself wishing to be able to go back into a state of waiting. Not having to decide anything. Like she had told Jasper - now she had to get used to another phase again. And it scared her.

If possible, she spent even more time with Jasper and Alice. Though, she had been doing that before a lot as well. On a couple afternoons she also found herself finally joining Emmett for some rounds of his beloved video games. She wondered why she hadn't done that sooner. However, after hearing how absolutely livid and loud Emmett would get during a game, she came to the conclusion that Emmett couldn't have picked up a controller after she had arrived at their home. Sascha would have heard.

Alice started filling her in on some things Sascha would have to keep an eye on when among humans. Mannerisms, ways to regulate her strength or situations where she'd need to pretend straining, simple explanations for questions that would surely come concerning her appearance, and the like. Alice had found it extra important to speak to her about the latter in most detail. According to her, Edward had done such a horrendous job at being subtle back when he had met Bella, Alice wanted to make sure that Sascha would be equipped with better wit. Sascha had to laugh at that. Grateful for the teaching and confident in her own creativity, she didn't doubt being able to conceal the most precarious things about her state of being. Though at times exhausting, masking and adapting did come quite naturally to her.

At night, Alice and Sascha took to taking strolls around the more closely inhabited neighbourhoods of Forks. Testing out how Sascha would do with more humans, more heartbeats in her vicinity. It was still too big a risk to go out during daytime. They had managed this long without any stranger recognising her face, they really didn't want any complications right before it all came to an end anyway. So night would have to make do. It was good enough, though. Sascha did feel the strain, did feel how it made her feel more uncomfortable compared to just one human. However, there were no signs of her wanting to act on that strain. Luckily. At least it gave Sascha a sense of what to expect once she would be surrounded by humans again.

And so, June turned to July. The panic in and around Seattle started to settle down. Investigations were diverted and focused to victim recovery more than going after suspects. Of course, no victims would be coming back.

No victims, except for Sascha, that is. The thought still felt sour to her.

Now that leads weren't falsified to keep the police off Victoria's and Riley's trail, it didn't take the police that much longer to find the ruined and abandoned factory where Sascha and the others had been kept all those months ago.

Sascha was sitting in the living room with Alice and Jasper when those news were released to the public, the TV running quietly in the background as they spent some quiet time together, all three of them reading on their own. Sascha felt the mood shift the tiniest bit when the news section came to an end and a commercial for cereal started running instead. She lowered her book, as did Jasper who sat next to her.

„This is it." Alice's voice was so small, so vulnerable. But she spoke with a sense of finality. Sascha could guess this was not the first time Alice had seen the news.

Sascha nodded, almost absentmindedly. „It looks like it." She fell silent, trying to process… everything. As seemed the other two.

Suddenly, again, action was inevitable. She had enjoyed repressing the reality of the situation for long enough now. A thought crossed her mind, causing her to breathe out a laugh. She raised her head a little, meeting Jasper's and Alice's already expecting eyes.

„Had anyone told me, that at the end of this, I would actually be reluctant to leave…", she trailed off, not exactly knowing how to finish that thought. It had seemed too impossible then, almost still seemed impossible in that moment. And yet, it had happened.

„Well I, for one, am not surprised at all." Alice pursed her lips, trying to hide away the smile there.

The trio shared a laugh then, lifting some of the tension that had started to settle down.

„I'll definitely come visit you", Sascha finally closed the book, that she still had resting on her lap, and set it aside, „and who knows. Maybe, if after 80 years I grow dreadfully bored, I'll just stick around to pester you for a little longer."

Jasper hummed. „Maybe don't wait 80 years."

The sincerity in his eyes, as well as Alice's, hit Sascha in the depths of her heart. She thought herself silly to feel yet again surprised that they, and the others, actually liked to have her around. It wasn't like she had never been made to feel like she was wanted around, or that she belonged. However, no matter with who or when, it still had always come as a surprise to her. Silly enough.

She nodded finally and tried to swallow, a lump threatening to grow. „I'll make sure to not let you guys forget my face."

Alice tilted her head in confusion. „You're definitely coming to the wedding, right?"

„I don't even know if I'm invi-"

„-Of course you are!", Alice exclaimed immediately, at the same time as Jasper laughed with a shake of his head. „Sascha, honestly."

Sascha could feel embarrassment burning in her chest, glad to not have it show in a blush anymore. But then she felt defeated again when a mere glance at Jasper, who had even more trouble concealing his mirth, showed her she was beyond transparent either way. „Well, I-"

Suddenly her face was held firmly around the cheeks with dainty hands. Alice had gotten up from her seat, for a change the tiny vampire now towering over the other. Her hands were almost shaking with strain as Alice was trying to refrain from squeezing Sascha's face with more force. „You are invited. And your dress will be gorgeous."

„You already saw it, huh?" Sascha felt her cheeks squish the tiniest bit as she spoke, eyes locked with Alice's.

„Of course."

„Will you tell me where to get one?"

„Not a chance. You'll find it yourself."

Sascha saw Jasper's arm reach into her field of vision as he leaned forward to ruffle Alice's hair with a snicker. „Look at you not taking control what people wear all the time."

„Jasper Whitlock!" Alice removed herself quickly, immediately pushing his hand back and fussing over her hair frantically.

Sascha couldn't help herself, she burst out laughing, joining in on Jasper's chuckles. It was so silly, so carefree.

Maybe 80 years really were too long a time to wait.

Sascha stood in the woods awkwardly, wringing her hands.

„This is not a good idea."

Sascha merely hummed in reply, not knowing what else to say. It probably wasn't a good idea. And yet, it felt necessary.

Sascha and Jasper were standing right at the edge of the treaty line. The sun was slowly but surely dipping into dusk, blue hour would be starting soon. Sascha wasn't sure whether to just try and step on the pack's land and have them come or wait there instead. She didn't want to break the treaty on some weird technicality. That's really nothing she needed on her toll to fill her last days.

„Knock, knock?", she called out awkwardly, her voice echoing off the trees.

Jasper almost gasped out a laugh. „You cannot be serious."

„Shut up!"

Luckily, the distant sound of heavy paws running along the forest ground hit their ears not a moment later, rapidly closing in and saving Sascha from her embarrassment. Rather replaced it with tensed anticipation. She took a step back, closer to Jasper.

The footsteps got closer, their smell reaching them seconds after. They were running with the wind, not concealing there position.

Sascha could feel Jasper's more than extreme discomfort rising, it was emanating off of him in almost tangible waves. The air around them was bristling, as though it could cause blisters. She took one more step back, standing next to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

„Try to relax."

Before he could reply, both gazes snapped ahead of them as three big wolves appeared. One of them was Sam, Sascha assumed. She had recognised him before as the one with the darkest fur. The others she wasn't sure.

They came to a stop several metres away from her and Jasper, ears snapped back and shoulders taut. Sam gave an annoyed huff, baring his teeth ever so slightly. Sascha found at least a little comfort in the fact that she actually knew how to read and understand a dog's body language. And though it deviated from wolves body language, there was enough crossover in that Venn diagram for her to still see that Sam, flanked by his two other members, was putting up a front for the most part. He wasn't actively threatening her or Jasper.

However, that had really been the only thing making her comfortable enough to state her case.

To say that Sascha felt out of place… must have been the understatement of the century, as cliche as that might sound. At least not as out of place as she had felt the first months with the newborn army (that would also be just plain rude to her current company). However, running along side the wolves, on their territory, did feel surreal on another level.

She was still dwelling in her own surprise that Sam had even allowed her to step foot on their land, not to mention the fact that they were leading her back to their reservation. When she had thought about trying to talk to the pack, she had been more than convinced the wolves would barely even share a word with her, were they even to appear.

That had really been the only thing making her comfortable enough to state her case. She had wanted to talk to them about her leaving, and plan how a possible return should come to pass.

They hadn't changed to their human forms, after a good minute of silent, obviously quite agitated telepathic discussing, they had motioned for her to follow them. Though, they had grown rather aggressive in demeanour when Jasper had tried to follow as well. It had needed a good amount of convincing on Sascha's part to make him stay behind - promising profoundly that she'd return as soon as possible. He had listened to her eventually.

And that's how she found herself actually running along with those three wolves, for the first time seeing the reservation in daylight. She found it incredibly peaceful looking. Serene.

Sascha almost felt her skin prickling when they were 'welcomed', or rather expected really, by the rest of the pack. All in wolf form, standing in a protective formation in front of the houses. Billy and Jacob stood behind the line of wolves. The latter wearing a shirt for a change.

Sascha slowed down immediately, her hands raising to her mid, fidgeting, unsure how to proceed from now on.

„Uhm… hi?" She received several annoyed ear flicks only. „Yeah, I know."

Billy cleared his throat, clearly aiming to catch everybody's attention. Successfully so. „I understand you have a request to us?"

Sascha straightened her back ever so slightly. She tried to keep her eyes fixed on Billy, but she couldn't blind out all the others from her periphery.

„I'll be leaving Forks soon. I just want to talk about how we should deal with me coming back? For visits?", she saw some of the wolves let a hint of confusion slip past their facade, ears twitching forward in a telling way, „I know you wouldn't allow a stranger back on your lands. Since I'm not a stranger anymore, I think we should at least have talked about it. I'd really rather my head remain on my shoulders next time I set foot here."

While the others kept quiet and unmoving, Sam growled lowly, but not in a threatening way. It seemed like he was contemplating. He had his dark eyes fixed on hers. Sascha was sure he was sizing her up. At the same time, Jacob nodded.

„Why didn't you bring the mind reader when you came to our border?" His voice was gruff, but Sascha felt like there was some hesitance pulling at his words, even if just the tiniest bit. He was stalling.

„It's none of his business. I can talk to you myself."

Billy squinted his eyes at her. „You don't trust him?"

„Not when it comes to making civilised decisions, I don't." Sascha couldn't fight off the eye role as she spoke.

„I see", he hummed, „However, you seem to have much to learn about our kind and yours. And our ways"

Feeling uncomfortable, Sascha hugged herself around her mid. „Can't we just talk as people? I think it's rather insulting to us all to reduce us to our… species, no?"

Jacob scoffed. „If we aren't around to keep you blood suckers in check, we'd-"

Billy quickly raised his hand. „-Jacob", his voice was calm, but firm, „Sascha, wasn't it? I have not forgotten the service you did to us. I think it is fair to pay it back to you. What do you propose, should you come back here? How would you let us know?"

Sascha tilted her head, arms dropping to her side again. „Uhm, I don't know. I guess I'd just call? Or send you an e-mail?", Jacob scoffing once more had her eyes snapping to him, „What? You prefer I send a messenger pigeon?"

One wolf let out a short, but excited yip. Sascha recognised him to be Seth. His and some of the other wolves' posture quite visibly relaxed. Checking back on Jacob's expression and Sam's laid flat ears told her everything. To their great misery, the others had found her jab funny.

What next? Hell will freeze over?

„A phone call would suffice, I believe", Billy replied quickly, a smile twinkling in his eyes.

End notes:

I didn't see this chapter coming, but I do like it. We are officially coming to the end of the storyline of Eclipse.

At this point I am considering to either finish the story off here and open a "sequel" of sorts to continue the story - or should I just keep on adding to this? I'm still in between those two. Although I do feel like leaning a little bit to splitting the story into multiple parts. I feel like sometimes people get intimidated when one story already has a too high word count hahah I don't want overwhelm anyone.
Let me know what you think though.

And of course, as always, do tell me what you thought of this chapter - I'm always curious. I hope you liked it~

See you guys in a month. Take care ✨

Next Update: August 1st

Posted: 01.07.23

Last Edit: 01.07.23