Post Breaking Dawn.

Jacob never imprinted on Nessie - the whole idea behind Jacob being in love and making out with Bella before discovering he really loves her baby is just too weird for me. The wolf pack didn't expand either.

The images of the coffin being lowered into the ground are still burnt into my mind. I was afraid to close my eyes, afraid to remember. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop memories of my mother flooding every broken thought that crossed my mind. It was hard to string more than a few words together. It was easier to sit, and feel nothing. Easier, to watch dust particles drifting around the room, glittering in the weak sunlight that streamed in through the solitary window.

I was sure, had circumstance been different, I would have found the sparkling show beautiful. I would have glanced out the window and admired the forest that stretched on forever, covering distant snow capped mountains. As it was, my eyes traced the wooden patterns of the floor.

"Claire." A soft voice called from the other side of the door making me jump, "Can I come in?" I cringed at the question, furrwing my eyebrows. I didn't want to once again, see the pity in my aunt's eyes. Emily was a genuinely caring person, and no matter how much I wished I could pretend that I hadn't heard her, I knew I had to let her in. I couldn't shut my Aunt out, I could shut my Uncle out, because anyone I met in La Push would be shut out before they even had a chance to make an impact on me. The world slowly follow in their footsteps, and I knew my Mother wouldn't have wanted that. I slid my legs out from beneath me and climbed off the bed.

"Claire?" Emily called again, her voice slightly louder. I scuffled my feet on the floor boards in a deliberate attempt to let her know I was coming to open the door. I didn't call out to her. I knew my voice would crack, and I hardly wanted to burden Emily with anymore sorrow. I pulled the door open and offered her a half-hearted smile, avoiding her eyes. My Aunt was a beautiful woman, even with the three faint white lines that marred her face. The scars reached down from her hairline and ended at her chin. One scar pulled down the corner of her right eye and another twisted the right side of her mouth downwards into a permanent frown.

"How is the unpacking going?" Emily's voice trailed off as she noticed my suitcase standing upright in the corner, left in the exact same place she had put it before leaving me to settle into my room. My room. It didn't sit right, no matter how I ran through the words. I didn't belong here. My Mother and I may have belonged to the Makah tribe, but she had left behind the traditions and the lifestyle, fleeing to Australia when I was two. I knew nothing about this place.

I had grown up with sun and the surf my entire life, and this constantly dreary weather was suffocating. My mother and Emily hadn't spoken in fifteen years, some disagreement pulling the two sisters apart. I didn't really know that much about the reason my Mother had wanted to put so much distance between us, our tribe and La Push and I honestly didn't really care all that much.

I Shrugged, a delayed response to Emily's question and drifted back to the bed, sinking down and wrapping my arms around my legs. My Aunt followed me silently and I briefly glanced towards her, a knot growing in my chest when I saw the redness in her eyes.

"Emily," I started quietly, my voice croaky. My Aunt glanced at me, her eyes kind and patient. I had barely spoken two words to her since she had picked me up from the airport. I didn't know what I wanted to say and I glanced at her, my eyes blank. She nodded her head lightly, trying to encourage me to continue, but nothing came to me. I wanted to convey something like gratitude. Surely, that was what I should have expressed to her by now. Still, I could string anything together and I shook my head, turning to stare out the window and dismissing the conversation.

Emily stood there silently for awhile, both of us offering each other nothing and staring blankly at the walls, slaves to our own sorrow, guilt and hopelessness. Emily sat down on the bed next to me eventually, and perhaps it was the need for comfort, or an attempt to give her something other than my empty words and silent glances, I leaned into her side and Emily, joining me, broke into sobs as she leaned into me as well.

I started this story years ago. I published it under my other username and I have recently decided to re-write the whole story and finally finish it!

I hope you enjoy it. Comments, criticism and encouragement are welcomed!

R&R

PJ Butter