Disclaimer: We still don't own Alec and Renesmee, for reasons we don't understand. That doesn't mean we can't pretend and pull the strings on their puppets, though. Happy reading, darlings!
-Cee and Tiff ~DTV~

Chapter XVI: Confrontations

"I can't go back there," I said quietly as we walked back through the woods, our breath fogging around us. As the sun was setting behind us. "The cottage. I can't go back there. I won't."

Adriel stopped beside me and looked at Seth. "Perhaps it's time for you to become a real boy again, wolf."

"His name is Seth," I snapped, defensive. Seth made a low whining noise, as if to say it's okay.

Somehow though I felt protective over the guy from my past. Like he was a precious gem. Even if he was older than me and can care of himself far more than I could. I was just feeling so emotional over everything that's happened recently. And drained.

"Whoa," Ade held his hands up, palms facing outward. "Easy there. I didn't mean any offense."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," Ade replied. "You've been through hell. Anyway, Seth, why don't you go shift and meet us back here. You can fill her in on what happens now."

Seth nodded, his dark brown eyes grave. He nuzzled his head against my side and took off, kicking up snow as he did so. Jake used to nudge me like that when he was in his wolf form. For a moment I wasn't seeing Seth retreating, but Jacob.

God, I missed him.

"I hate this place."

I did hate it. I hated the memories it brought back, both good and bad. I hated the scenery, the scent of the giant red cedar trees, the moisture in the air. I hated how it made me feel... like I was both a child again and yet older than the roots beneath my feet. Vulnerable but resigned. Terrified yet infuriated. I wanted to leave. But I couldn't leave. Not yet. It wasn't right.

We must have been standing there for a couple of minutes in silence because all of the sudden there was Seth in his human form, approaching me with caution, like he didn't want to startle me.

He looked like he'd barely aged two years. At the most he looked like he was seventeen, though I knew by now he must be in his mid-twenties.

I'd forgotten how tall he was. He still towered over me. He wore ripped jean shorts that cut off just below the knees and nothing else. Of course standing in the freezing cold half naked didn't affect him. Under different circumstance I might have admired how beautifully built his body was...but all I could see was his face...it still held the soft features, the gentle brown eyes.

I closed the distance between us, nearly crashing into him as I wrapped my arms around his neck. Seth returned the gesture, holding onto me in such a tight embrace that I wondered if I would stop breathing. I didn't care.

We were both crying. I felt his hot tears on my neck. I heard Adriel walk away, giving us some space. I would try to remind myself to thank him later.

"I can't believe you're here," I choked out. "How did we not know before? That you were alive? How come Jake never…"

"He didn't know," Seth said. "He had no way of knowing. When he left with you...well, he left the pack. It severed that connection. We couldn't hear each other anymore."

Of course. I'd known that. It had bothered Jake to no end that he could no longer hear Seth and Leah, having no way of knowing. It had been too risky to investigate who was and wasn't alive. But now? Now I was dying to know who all made and who was all here.

But when I looked at Seth he looked at me in sadness as if reading my thoughts. I suddenly found that I didn't want to hear. Because hearing it would be I would also know who didn't make it. And I don't think my brain could handle that now.

"Leah–" was all I had to say, and Seth changed the subject.

"You're welcomed to our tribe celebration we're having at nightfall. I even managed to include your friends for tonight. But by morning–"

"We have to leave."

"They do at least," said Seth. "The Cullen agreement still stands since you're still breathing, and even if he's gone you're still his imprinted. We honor that even in death." Seth said as I looked down at my feet.

When I was younger, being imprinted on was just a fact, Jake was my best friend. My family. Which, at the time, was everything I needed. We never got to the in love part. It just wasn't how we saw each other. But in the tribe? I wondered if they thought of me as a widow of some sort. The way Seth was talking, I could only assume so.

"We never, you know... I loved him as a brother." I tried to explain.

Seth held out his hand. "Not my business. You are his soulmate. What that meant to you changes nothing."

I nodded.

Soulmate.

There were two types of soulmates. At least in my mind there were. Jake was definitely one but the other? It wasn't sure I had one of those. I once read in Greek Mythology that Zeus made people with two of everything. Two arms, two legs, and two heads. Eventually, Zeus came to fear the power they had and he cut them in half. And thus, one part is always in search of the other half. And once together they become whole.

Not sure if people actually believed that back in the day. However, the romance of it was a nice thought.

My parents were definitely what I considered soulmates. My mom once told me that when she was human my grandmother Renee thought of them as magnets.

And in the end they died. Maybe that's why I didn't know if there was a soulmate out there for me. What if I found my actual soulmate and that's what gets me killed too? Did I really want to risk that?

Seth continued to walk me to the rez and once we got there I was greeted with eyes, all staring at me in wonder and some filled with hatred.

"Nice welcome." I muttered to myself.
Seth chuckled a bit and shrugged. "Some have never seen someone like you, and others...they kind of-"
"Blame me for their families dying."
"They'll show you respect, regardless," Seth rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. "This is equal ground tonight. And they know that."
We continued to walk. Everyone was out of their houses tonight. All walking to gather around the fire in the center of the square. Once I saw Ade come back from the woods, I asked Seth if I could bathe in his house. He just nodded. Obviously he knew as much as I that it was needed desperately, and like the good soul that he was, he showed me his home.
It was homey. Small, but comfortable. I loved it. Before I got into the shower, Seth gave me some sweats with a hoodie, all of which I knew belonged to Leah. I didn't dare comment on that, I just simply thanked him and found myself alone at last.

I started the hot water and peeled off the clothes that had been picked for me by the monster. Felix, who I knew would haunt my nightmares.
I stepped into billowing cloud of steam and streaming hot water. I closed my eyes and let the water run down my body. I breathed a sigh of relief as I felt the water slide down the bite marks that would never leave my skin.. The thought made me close my eyes tight as tears fell along my cheeks. They were ugly, repugnant. They were something I would always worry about when I saw myself naked. Yet, somehow, I knew I should have been grateful just to be alive. And although I knew I was safe, I could still feel that panic in the back of my mind. Echoing into my ear in silent fear. I had a feeling it was always going to be there. I knew now I wasn't going to be the same now. I was always going to wondering if more Volturi members were lurking around the planet. Looking for me. I thought back to Felix's last words. Aro was alive. Or so he said.

I couldn't bring myself to even picture the possibility.

How was it even possible? Where was he? And why hadn't he looked for me? One would think that I would have seen him by now. But yet, nothing. I had lived naively for many years thinking I was safe, yet now I knew that wasn't the case. Not anymore.

Once I was clean, I stepped out and quickly got dressed. I looked around and found a brush and a hairband laying next to the clothes that had been picked for me and pulled my wet hair up and out of my face, into a messy bun.

I looked into the mirror and sighed.

I looked tired, weak, and very pale. Paler than usual. But I was the most comfortable I had been in days...maybe even years. The soft fabric of the sweats held against my skin a little loosely, but it felt heavenly and warm. I needed to invest in more layers from now on. Clearly I was missing out.

Seth was waiting for me in the small living room, his arms folded and a gentle grin welcoming me as he looked me up and down.

"You look better," he said softly, "a lot like your father actually, I'm noticing."

"Thanks, I guess."
I thought back to Felix again in that moment and how he kept saying I looked like my mother. And I just cringed.

A knock at the door filled the air. Seth and I both looked to see a younger boy in the doorway, looking from me to Seth.

"The old one is back." He said by way of greeting. I looked at Seth and knew whom the stranger was referring too.

Alec. My Alec.

Before Seth could say anything to me I was out of the door and running as if my body were on fire. Everything was a blur except the object of my desire. The gravity that held me to this earth. My hero.

I don't know who reached for who first. But I knew that moment my body was pressed into his. And I was being held in his arms. My heart was singing in my chest, and the worry and fear that were in the back in my mind suddenly vanished.

He was exactly what I needed. And when we finally parted to look into each other's eyes, I knew he felt everything I was feeling. We were everything the other needed.

I didn't say anything at first as he brushed back a strand of wet hair from my face. I didn't want to ruin this moment with talk. But yet I knew we needed to. Desperately.

"Is he–"

"Not a problem anymore." He his eyes drifted to my lips and back to my eyes. His candy apple eyes made me melt with security. They were so warm, like fire. They made me feel like I was in front of a hearth and everything associated with such a place. Home. Safe. Comfortable.

Who knew this was the man who took me out of New York against my will? I suppose there was a story behind such a action. As much as I hated to be dragged away at the time, in someway it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Minus the run in with Felix.

"Let's go for a walk…" Alec said, motioning towards the road that would lead to the beach if I remembered correctly.

I only nodded.

For the most part, we walked in silence. Hand in hand, his cold fingers made chills lick down my spine in the best way possible. I kept our fingers laced together as we finally found our way to the beach.

I was a bundle of nerves as my feet touched the sand. It had been so long since I'd been here. The ocean was always beautiful in it's mystical way...and yet, being here again felt so foreign..

The wind was bitterly cold but it affected neither of us as we found a semi dry place to sit.

I sat down cross legged next to him in the sand, never letting go of his hand.

For what felt like the longest time neither of us said anything. We stared out into the ocean, the waves crashing into the sand, leaning into each other. The moon was rising high behind our backs but giving us an illuminating glow.

Finally I whispered, "I'm scared."

He tensed beside me, and I turned to find his eyes assessing me. Seeing through me, into my shredded heart.

"I'm scared to have this conversation. To...confront everything." I finished, losing a shuddering breath.

He squeezed my hand gently. "I know," his voice was low, grave. "I am too."

"It's so stupid of us to be scared, though. It's not like we don't know the truth anymore. You're a Volturi, and I'm a Cullen. That's just the facts. There's no changing it."

The words felt odd to say out loud. All of our time together...deep down I think we both knew the truth. And now that it was out and in the open, I felt so weak and fragile.

But what I said was true. No matter how hard I tried not to be, I was Renesmee Cullen. Not Vanessa Wolfe. Not some nomad by choice. I was the daughter of a vampire and a human. And he was one of the most powerful vampires to roam the earth. And the idea that he was just sitting next me, taking it all in, and not killing me with this knowledge. Well, that was a miracle in itself. And though I knew he could very well kill me, or simply blame me for everyone dying like I had for so many years, I couldn't bring myself to run.

"I guess I'm pretty stupid then." Alec said, finally looking at me. The glow of the moon made his eyes seemed like they themselves were glowing too. Like big glorious rubies.

It was breathtaking.

"We both are..."

"Maybe, but I should of known who you were." He shook his head. "I did know and chose to ignore it instead because of what you represented to me."

"I killed Jane." I whispered.

I could feel my eyes wanting to tear up as I realized why all this time if he knew, why he acted like he hated me. Why he was so cruel. It was because to him I deserved it.

"No, Aro killed Jane. Using you as a tool to do it." He said with a sigh. "However unintentionally, it was him. I may have been an asshole to you but it wasn't for the reason you think."

I blinked, confused.

"You see," he continued, "when Jane died...I lost the one person who ever mattered to me. The only one who saw me for me. And loved me. My parents never loved me. My village feared me. I only had Jane. I lost myself when she died. And you, well..I thought I should blame you. But deep down I knew I didn't. And I was angry for it. Instead, I couldn't get you out of my mind. Since the moment we met."

"The park? You were a jerk, and wanted to kill me."

"Yeah, but I never did, did I?" He let out a long breath. "I didn't understand it then either, but as time went on, you began to matter to me. The more I cared, the more I fought it. I thought I deserved to be alone for caring about you. That I was dishonoring my sister for feeling things for someone else and I was trying to push you away. And in the end it didn't work."

"When did you realize I was their daughter?"

Alec chuckled to himself, moving dark strands of hair out of his eyes as he thought back to the moment.

"Well, the pool situation confirmed it." I couldn't help but laugh a little. That seemed so long ago. Yet it was only days ago. "But I suspected it from the beginning. Your eyes give you away."

I looked down, almost as if I were ashamed.

I felt his fingertips on my chin, tilting my head back up to meet his eyes. They were gazing at me in a way that they never had before. And I realized it was just...just him. The real him staring at the real me.

We were both stripped bare of all the bullshit, all the lies and antagonism. And what I saw in those eyes...the longing there. My heart catapulted in my chest.

One corner of Alec's mouth twitched upward. "Your heart is always so pounding so fast."

I felt my cheeks heat. "It's the half human..half vampire thing-"

"No," he whispered, shaking his head. "I mean, yes. It does beat very fast compared to humans but...at other times it starts racing so fast I get worried it's going to give out on you."

Now I was really blushing. "Yeah, me too."

Slowly, so slowly, Alec trailed his fingers from my chin down to a top my chest, over my breast, placing it over that thundering heart.

I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Couldn't do anything but stare into those eyes, that slightly parted mouth.

"I've wanted you for a long time," he whispered, his breath brushing my cheek, "too long, Renesmee."

I closed my eyes. My heart giving away all my feelings. As I'm sure my thoughts were too, at our contact.

I loved hearing him say my name like this. My real name. The sound of it brought me back to a time of family, and home. And for the first time in years it wasn't painful to hear.

"Even when giving me to Adriel?"

Alec shook his head, and smirked. My heart leaped again at the sight.

"Adriel was helping me get rid of you. He desired your company, a one of kind half-breed to add to his coven of sorts. He said if I could convince you to join him, that he would do a favor to me. I saw it as beating two birds with one stone."

"What was the favor?"

Alec closed his eyes, and his thumb caressed my cheek. I looked down scared of what I would hear. What could a broken Volturi want as a favor? I could only imagine it being something horrible.

"It doesn't matter now." My brows furrowed, about to press the issue but he shook his head firmly. "I'll tell you...but not now. Okay? I just...don't want to talk about it."

"Alright…"

His lips pursed, and my attention was once again snagged on them.

"What are you thinking?" He asked suddenly.

I was still staring at them as I said, "let me show you…"

I placed my palm on his cheek, finally dragging my eyes away from his lips to meet his gaze.

I'm thinking...about how long I've wanted to kiss you. Which, basically, has been from the moment I laid eyes on you…

I sent a memory at him, of how he'd literally emerged out of the shadows in Central Park. He'd looked so cold, yes...but that didn't take away from the breathtaking beauty of him. I'd been floored by him, trying to cover it up with false bravado and my ridiculous behavior.

In front of me, Alec's eyes shuttered closed. I followed suit.

I'm thinking about how I feel when you touch me.

I remembered how how his mouth felt at my ear at Barney's, how he'd kissed my neck at that stupid bed and breakfast, the thrill of feeling his hardness against me. The sensations it sent through me, right to my core.

Alec made a sound that was like a whimper, but I continued.

The first time I heard you laugh...when I made you laugh…

"This is the worst honeymoon ever." I'd said in the darkness of the bed and breakfast after we'd been fighting. And you laughed, and it was the most wonderful sound...I knew then that all I wanted to do from that point on was to hear it again. To make you laugh. To make you smile.

"Hersheys…" He whispered, his voice a plea, a prayer.

I opened my eyes and I felt tears sliding down my cheeks. Alec watched them, and leaned forward, kissing them away one by one. The feeling of his lips on me...so close to where I wanted them. So soft on my warm skin. It sent a shiver down my spine.

I went loose and taut all at once. My breath was shaky, my body practically trembling.

And when his mouth pulled away, and I saw his eyes dart to my lips. I knew it was coming. I knew we were finally caving in. His mouth finally met mine, and when I felt the softness of his lips on mine, I lost any sense of who I was, where I came from, and where I was going. I didn't care.

His lips were like velvet as they slid against mine and my hands were suddenly on him, shaking from nerves as they clutched loosely at his hair. I couldn't believe this was actually happening.

But it was happening. Slow but building, it was like waves of a fire growing inside of me as his tongue gently flicked at my top lip, I shuddered against him. I opened my mouth wider for him in welcome, a silent plea to continue his ministrations and met his tongue with the tip of my own, a low moan escaping my throat. The sound seemed to unleash something in him and he pulled me closer so that I was practically in his lap, sliding his hands over my waist, my hips, as his lips continued to crash into mine, filling my body with a need that woke the animal inside of me.

He tasted sweet, so absurdly sweet. I didn't know it was possible for someone to actually taste like this, how it could completely unhinge me.

It was becoming difficult to ignore the heat that had pooled in my core, the aching there. I had never felt it like this, had never felt so completely desperate to be touched, to be consumed. And we were only kissing.

It was such a simple act, however I felt it with every cell in my body. I'd never been kissed like this. Of the men I'd been with, none of them matched up to Alec. He knew me. And somehow that made all the difference in the world. He was the fire that I never knew existed.

As our lips danced together, taking turns tasting one another. A thrill ran through my body, all the way to my toes. I wanted him so much. Craved him in not only a physical way but in all ways. Emotional. Mental. A part of me was scared as the irrational thoughts passed through my mind in a blur but at the same time, I couldn't deny what I wanted with him. Not anymore.

My heart leaped in my chest as he began kissing my neck. The tingles that went down my spine at the contact grew with every moment that past. The urge to bring us together grew with every touch he gave me. his hands went up my back, under the hoodie, touching my bare skin. His cold hands on my warm body made me burn even further as my lips quivered at the sensations coursing through me. I arched my neck up to give him better access, and let out a heavy breath. Gasping for air. The wind blew a chill to my wet hair. But all I could feel was flames.

"Alec…." I breathed.

Alec just groaned in response, but when his cold hands came around to my navel, he froze solid for what felt like forever. And I knew. He could feel the bites on my body.

Alec pulled away from me just far enough that all I saw were his eyes. The expression there were a mixture of confusion and anger. I got off his lap, and pulled my knees to my chest. Alec seemed to be in a daze of emotions, as I'm sure a million questions flew through his brain.

"Renesmee-"
"I'm fine, Alec."
"That's not fine. That's ...I'm so sorry I did this to you."

I blinked puzzled. How could he think this was his fault? He wasn't even there. Sure, when I first met Alec, I probably expected such torture from him, but I knew him. He would never hurt me like that. He was all talk and no bite it seems. The only reason he did act that way before was because he didn't want to like me. Which when you think about it, it is messed up. But deep down so was I. Alec were two sides of the same coin it seemed.

"You didn't do this to me." I reasoned. Alec just shook his head.

"I gave you too him."

"You had no choice."

"That doesn't matter Hersheys." He closed his eyes and looked like he was going to be sick. I could only imagine how he pictured my last week. I admit, I don't blame him for being a little freaked out. It wasn't exactly a trip of the Bahamas for me. I was fed on, nearly raped. And mentally tortured all around the clock. And though I knew Alec gave me up to the monster. I knew he really didn't have a choice. We would of died. Both us, and yet here we were. Alive, and together. I think.

"Alec…" I said, pushing on to my knees and held his face in my hands. "Your not to blame-"
"Don't. I am a broken monster who deserves nothing but death. It's not just what Felix has done to you, it's everything. How I've treated you. Trading you to Adriel, making you my prisoner, forcing you to eat food you hated-"

"I don't hate you." I snapped. Annoyance filling my veins. He was so stubborn, and pigheaded here I was happy to be alive and with him, and all he could think about was the past. Things that didn't phase me anymore. I don't want to think about the bad things that happened to me anymore. I didn't want to think about all the deaths I've caused. I finally wanted to live in the present. I wanted what was right in front of me. In the now.

"You should. You should be running from me, as far as you can-"

"But I don't. And I'm not going too."

"You don't understand, You think you deserve someone like me, but you don't trust me."

I looked at his eyes and knew he truly believed he was the monster he claimed he was. He was broken. A shell of who was once the most powerful vampire in the world.

I looked down at the sand surrounding us. For a second I thought about how this was the one place I never wanted to be. But now, I never wanted to leave it. How was that possible? How could so much as changed in short of time? Easily I suppose. It was Alec's doing.

I thought back to when I met him the first time. He only saw himself as a monster, but I don't think I ever truly did. He was anything but. Sad. and damaged but never a monster. Me? I've been a monster. Despite being raised better, I had killed people, some for sport. Hell had it not been for Alec, I would of tried to kill Adriel back in New York. yet somehow I knew that if I told Alec I was a monster, he would argue it the way I have with him. In truth, compared to normal people in the world, we were monsters. We belonged to die in hell for what we've done. There's no escaping that. But in the end, we're not. We're here. Doing the best we can with what we've been dealt.

I slowly lifted my hand and reached for his slowly. His eyes casted down and watched confused as I laced my fingers with his. His marble skin chilled against my warm hand.

"I know." was all I said, Alec just stared puzzled and after a moment of silence I continued. "I don't deserve you and you don't deserve me. We're both not good for each other or deserving."

"You don't-"
"I'm Renesmee Carlie Cullen, Daughter of Edward and Bella Cullen. I have baggage. What's your name?"

Alec's lips turned upward. It was the cutest thing I've seen in days.

"Thats cute." he said with light in his ruby eyes.

"Cute Isn't a name." I grinned, biting my lower lip, and raising an eyebrow. Alec just shook his head. And groaned.

I love winning arguments. And I did win this one. Because despite everything, all the monster talk and everything, we could start over. No more fighting, or lies. We can be honest with each other, and open about who were we were with each other, and ourselves.

I think Alec knew what I was getting at too, because he just smiled his pearly whites at me, making me die a little inside and squeezed my hand a little.

"I'm Alec, of the Volturi guard. I am a murderer.."

"That's blunt.."

"We'll if we're to be honest." he said. I shrugged and nodded. Because it was the truth. He was.

"What a small world, so am I." I said mockingly. Placing a hand over my chest.

Alec didn't laugh. His eyes only grew more solemn.

"I have a lot more blood on my hands than you, Hersheys. Centuries worth of blood. Humans and vampires alike. I can hardly remember a time when I wasn't a killer."

"And now?" I dared ask. "How do you feed?"

His ruby eyes cut to mine. "Don't these speak for themselves?" He asked, motioning to his face.

"I meant...who? Innocents? Criminals?... People who operate tall carnival rides?"

He made a noise in his throat that I suspected was a chuckle.

"After Jane died and the remaining members of the guard scattered to the corners of the earth, I attempted to live off of animals, as your family had. I felt like it should be punishment. A way to appease my guilt for...for everything. I quickly learned that wasn't an option. I'd retch up any animal blood I consumed immediately after feeding. Didn't matter what kind of creature it was. They were repulsive."

I could understand why. After one-thousand years of feeding on humans and humans only…

Feeding on animals would torture after so long like a lion doing a bird diet. I wouldn't even wish that on my worst enemy, not even Feli-wait.. Yes I would.

There was very few people I hated in this world. And he was definitely on the list. I closed my eyes to push back the thought of him away, and mentally cursing him for ruining this moment for me. But I guess that's just what I'll have to deal with for a while. Always thinking of him.

Alec caught where my mind was headed, and he cupped my chin, and tilted my head so that I would look him in the eyes.

"Stay with me Hershey's."

I blinked away the dry-tears. His voice was so tender, and full of compassion that it made me catch my breath. I considered myself pretty strong for not breaking down till this point. But now? Being this close to him, when I thought I never would again only hours before now, it just knocked the air out of my body as I tried to fight a sob that wanted to escape.

"I didn't mean to think-"
"I know." he whispered, as he squeezed my hand in his. My thoughts had past down from me to him so quickly, and were so dark I didn't even think about how we were physically touching anymore. Sharing what was in my head was just becoming a thing between us now. And with all our secrets opened, I wasn't scared of what he'll learn about me anymore. "Renesmee. If you want to talk about what all happened-"

"I don't. I mean….I do, or I should, but I can't. Not right now. It's to fresh. I just want to forget about it. About him."

I cried for every second I spent in that house. I cried for every touch he ever gave me. And I cried for my parents. For the first time in years I cried for them, because I actually missed them. I missed them all so much. And it hurt.

This wasn't a normal run of the mill cry coming from me now. It was a sob.I don't know how long I cried but I knew that Alec wasn't leaving me. He held on to me as tight as ever, I feel like I had been holding on to this need to cry for years. Ever since that terrible day. But I wouldn't let myself. I couldn't. And it was because of this feeling that came with it. This feeling of wanting to die. It was so real. So painful. I wanted to be with them, in whatever afterlife awaited me. May it be heaven or hell. I found myself wanting to just a moment with them again. Feel my mom brush my hair, or play piano again with my Dad. I want to see their faces so bad that my chest felt like it was caving in. I had nothing here for me, or at least I didn't before. Now? Now Alec had unknowingly became my achor to this life.

After a moment of ugly-sobbing and feeling as if the waterworks will never stop, they slowly began lighten up.. my breathing returned to normal as I focused on Alec's arms around me. I zoned in on what all this meant for us. Because I knew now what it meant for me, it was so simple but yet that was something that caused wars. Death, so much death especially for me. but I couldn't deny it any longer.

I loved him.

Before I could stop the thought, Alec froze. I heard and felt him stop breathing.

"Alec, I'm sorry…" I said in a whisper as I pulled away and looked at him. His eyes were looking forward at the ocean. Looking distant as if he himself were miles away from me. After a quiet moment, he finally spoke. But I was panicking so he didn't get much out, wordwise.

"No, no it's fine." His voice sounded strained. "I mean it's-"
"I get 's crazy. I barely know you. And we aren't exactly been upfront with each other on who we are-"

"It's okay, really, you've been through a lot, and I understand why you think you found love."

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

"I think?"

"Well yeah, anyone would be in your mindset if they experienced the horrors that you have."

I pushed myself away further, and started to stand up and brush sand off of my clothes. It was everywhere, but I couldn't let that be a bother to me right now. My mind was just focused on what he said, and what they meant.

He thought It was all in my head. My feelings. That I was too dumb and too young to know the difference.

And maybe I was. I hadn't felt love in a long time but that didn't make them less true.

"What's the matter?" He asked, fully concerned as I began to walk back to the campsite, his feet hot on my trail. "Renesmee-"

"No." I felt his arm touch mine as I turned to face him. "Did we not just start over here? Are we not to be honest with each other?"

"We are." he said, his red eyes looking bewildered. As the cool breeze flow through his brown locks. He looked so beautiful. I hated him for it. I hated him for making me feel things but thinking I was just a stupid kid. Like a fangirl with some stupid crush. He blamed my past for my feelings. Of all things. It made me want to punch him.

"Then why are you so cruel?"

"How am I being cruel?" His voice remained calm but his eyes flashed. "I'm trying to comfort you."

"Comfort me?" I exclaimed. "You must have a messed up way of thinking. If you think telling me my past excuses me from love is comforting."

"That's not-"

"Maybe your past prevents you from loving anyone but I know the difference! I've felt it before, unlike you and the rest of the Volturi!"

Suddenly Alec's eyes turned sad. And then angry. We were silent for a long time. None of wanting to say anything. I must of really hit a nerve with Alec, because as someone who usually very quick with insults he had nothing now. I've stunned him to silence.

"Renesmee?" I turned around to see Seth standing a few feet away from me. Adriel standing with him. He was looking at Alec and then me. No doubt wondering what was transpiring between us. But I was done being Ade's entertainment. I was done with all of it for tonight. I turned away from Alec and grabbed Seth's hand, making him walk with me, leaving Adriel with his friend.

I was so emotionally drained. That I could barely hear what Seth was saying when we got back to the compound.

"Nessie, did you hear me?"

"What?"

"I have a surprise for you." I can hear the happiness in his voice and I just couldn't deal with it tonight. I was about to drop.

"I'm not really in the mood for surprises tonight, Seth. I just want to sleep and then leave tomorrow." I said, as I made my way to Seth's house. I opened the door to the livingroom and froze dead in my tracks.

"Leaving already?" I saw his face before he spoke. Dark brown hair, touched with some grey now, along with his mustache. But that's not what made me froze. It was his chocolate brown eyes.

They matched mine.

"Grandpa…" I breathed.

~Despite The Void~

Hello all. We have risen like the phoenixes that we are. We are Despite the Void for a reason. Because despite the drastic gaps in the timeline, we carry on. We aren't giving up. Even if all of you have, because we're pretty sure you're the void and there is no one else is left. But we're still here.

Tiff had baby #2 and Cee runs an office where catastrophes are prone.

We hope you enjoy this chapter. There is only one left to go. Whether or not there is a sequel is up in the air right now. We'd love to start something fresh for now.

xoxo

DTV