Supernova c15: Sunrise (part 2)

 Amirah Cullen

It took a few days to sort my loose ends in Las Vegas and sober up apparently. Whilst my initial thought process was to head back to Chicago as soon as possible, with a sober mind I concluded it probably wasn’t the best option. At least not until I knew for certain what was happening, where and when. I waited for Ivana. Immediately calling my mother and asking her to find out Ivana’s contact number for me. She had gone very quiet when I had asked. She knew my history with Ivy, but she also knew she had been the only one I let see me in those early days. She told me she’d get what I needed and left it at that. I knew Ivana said she would give me information when she had it but how was I supposed to sit on my ass and wait? She’d dropped a bomb on me.

I knew I could call Axton. But I was petrified to face him, especially after hearing what he had done for me, when I had pushed him away when I had ignored any and all attempts to contact me. He’d still done the unimaginable. Still found a way to make me happy.

My heart broke at the thought. Axton. My Axton. He still loved me, even if he was perfectly happy and in love with his now wife, Clara, I knew he loved me even if he wasn’t in love with me anymore. He’d held his promise. During those days when the imprint was looming, those perfect but bittersweet few days we spent together at the end of our relationship echoed in my mind. He promised to be there for me, no matter what, he’d promised to love me forever even if one day it would be platonic. Id promised the same. But id broken that promise. Id failed him. If he was successful in this, if he brought back my imprint, my happiness, how the hell would I ever make up for it? How would I ever begin to thank him? And Ophelia and Nova…. The guilt spread in my gut at the thought of them. The two that had been my sisters. That had stood by me, made me laugh and loved me for so many years. Ivana had said id broken Nova’s heart. That she’d learnt a lesson about friendship. Ivana had insinuated Nova had given up on me, but didn’t she also say Nova had played a part in Axton’s plan? That my two best friends had helped my ex to find an answer?

It seemed pointless, over thinking all the things I’d done, over thinking what I’d done to others, but I was determined to do what Ivana had said. I needed to process my feelings, my thoughts, my emotions now before it was too late. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get over the last five years. I knew I would never forget them, but maybe I could stop hiding from them. If I tried hard enough. Maybe.

Mia: I need more information.

I texted Ivana when my mother forwarded the number.

Ivy: I told you I’d get in contact when I had it.

Came the reply a few seconds later.

Mia: Should I come to Chicago? Where was he buried?

Ivy: You don’t need to go anywhere. You need to process and try to heal. I will give you more information when I have it.

There was a second text a few seconds later.

Ivy: I promise.

For some reason, despite everything. I believed her.

It had been a week. I decided to pack my life up in Las Vegas and head towards Chicago anyway. I wasn’t planning on showing my face, not yet but at least I would be closer when I eventually got the message from Ivana.

I took that time to process what Ivana had said to me. About what she told me about her pain and what she had seen with her father. How she hoped for a different future for me, and my chest tightened with gratitude and a sense of friendship I hadn’t felt in five years. That feeling of being cared about, that someone thought about me, and my pain had been something I didn’t realise I was missing until now.

It took two days to find a way back to Chicago. I had no access to the Cullen private jets. The only proof I had of my heritage was the bank card but that was not enough to earn passage on one of the jets. I knew I could call home. I could call Carlisle and ask for permission but a part of me was too prideful for that. I was also scared, scared that none of my family wanted anything to do with me anymore so I had to make my own way. I got myself into this mess, I’d get out of it too.

I had just landed when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Not a text but a phone call.

“Ivy?” I asked on the second ring.

“So, it’s happening today.” She began and my heart sped at the words. “But you can’t go.” She added.

“I’m already here” I said leaving the airport and flagging a taxi.

“You’re in Chicago.” She said with confidence. She’d probably had Chloe Cullen tracking me.

“Yes. Ill be there in an hour” I answered but I heard her sigh.

“It’s not happening here Mia. Its happening in Colombia. Axton and Alena will be teleporting the body and my mother to a specific set of coordinates along the equator” she informed me, and I stopped in the street at her words.

“Why?” I asked sitting on the bench a few feet from the road.

“Why do you think? My father was resurrected in the moon pool, the closest point to the moon. Ignacio needs to be at the equator, the closest part to the sun. Its all been planned out to the hour. They have to do it today at midday for the best chance.”

“So, I’ll be there in an hour, they can bring me with them.”

“Look at the time Mia” she breathed quietly. I pulled the phone off my ear to see 10:57am. Colombia was an hour ahead which meant it was nearly midday. “They’re already there.” She added.

“So, they’ll come back here, right? they’ll be teleporting right back home when its done.” I said with new vigour as I stood and flagged a taxi.

I climbed in and gave the driver instructions to as close to the Volturi estate as any human can go. Id have to run the last mile.

“Mia, I have to go” Ivy said and immediately hung up without giving me any answer. I groaned in frustration as I waited the hour taxi ride to get to the Volturi. I had my phone glued to my hand, waiting for any news from Ivy. I had half a mind to jump out of the taxi and run in my wolf form back, but I knew that wouldn’t solve anything. They’d either done it or they hadn’t.

As the taxi pulled up to the location, I gave them I felt a nervous flutter in my stomach at the thought of being so close to the home I shared with my imprint again. The familiar trees and the scents made me feel queasy.

I hadn’t been here in five years. I hadn’t seen the Volturi courtyard since the dead body of my imprint laid on the ground.

The Volturi estate came into view, and it looked normal, no inclination my imprint sat alive inside. Was he alive?

I had to be prepared it wasn’t successful. I had to be prepared for my heart to break. Again.

Mia: Where are they?

I sent to Ivy.

Ivy: Medical room.

Came her reply a few moments later.

Did that mean it was successful? Was he being checked over? I ran through the doors of the mansion, and they nearly fell off their hinges at my speed. I looked apologetically to the guard member on the desk in the lobby of the Volturi. It was Olivia. One of the hybrid guard members and she stared at me in shock.

I ignored her and ran for the door that led to the medical room.

“Let me in” I ordered her looking over my shoulder, waiting for her to unlock the code remotely.

“I… I can’t do that” she stammered.

“Let me in!” I roared, letting threat coat my voice.

“Amirah” Esther’s voice warned me, and I span around to see she’d appeared behind me.

“Where is he?” I asked my words, my heart speeding up at the idea of his living breathing body.

“Ivana-Chloe-Jane” Esther scowled. Scolding her daughter under her breath and she shook her head. “He’s being checked over” Esther answered and my whole world tilted. My legs became weak, and I fell to my knees hitting the marble floor below me. I caught myself as I fell forward and took in a large full breath.

He was alive.

“Mia,” Esther said softly, her hand resting on my back. She was about to say something else, but I cut her off.

“I need to see him” I managed to say but my voice was cracked and broken and emotion, every emotion I could name flooded through me. It overwhelmed me. “I want to see him, now!” I roared, my body began to shake, my power pulsed in my veins, the need, the desire to see him fed my power.

“He needs rest. He needs a few days to recover.”

“he’s alive” I breathed the words and I looked up at Esther who was watching me full of an emotion I couldn’t name.

“he’s alive” she answered me and those words. If Id heard them from anyone else, I probably wouldn’t have believed them, but from her, from Esther. I believed them, in my soul, I believed them.

I began crying silently, sinking back onto my knees, and putting my face in my hands.

Esther sat down beside me and pulled me into a hug on the floor of the Volturi. I was aware of Olivia doing something in the room but all I could focus on was the comfort of Esther and her words.

He’s alive.

“he’s a little disorientated. He doesn’t know his name or where he is. He doesn’t have much of a memory, but this is normal. Its what happened with my husband and granddaughter. It will take him some time to adjust.” She said after a few moments of letting me sob into her arms.

“I have to put him to sleep for a few days to aid his recovery, but he’s awake right now. Carlisle and Ivana are checking him over.” She explained and I moved my head to look at her.

I didn’t have words, so I let her see every thought, every emotion in my mind. I let her see it all. She didn’t say anything. She leant forward brushing her lips on my hairline and pulled me to my feet with her considerable strength in one swift moment.

“come” she said holding me to her as she led me down the corridor that led to the medical room of the Volturi.

“He might not be what you expect. You have to be strong and take it slow. Don’t go running to him, don’t cry in front of him, he needs you to be as passive as you can. Too much emotion might scare him.” she warned me as we reached the door. She paused, her hand reaching to wipe away the tears on my cheeks and she gave me a motherly smile before she turned to grab the door handle of the room.

My eyes fell on him the second I entered the room. His back was to me, but I could see his chest moving in raged breaths as if he was trying to get as much oxygen as it could into his blood.

“Ignacio” I said surprised my voice even worked. He moved, slowly to turn and face me.

His eyes locked on mine at the door, and I focused on the sound of his heartbeat as it filled my ears and mind. I almost fell to my knees as the gasp mixed with a sob escaped from my lips

“Mia” he said his voice breaking on the word. It sounded more like a question, like he couldn’t quite remember me.

“slowly” Esther’s voice filled my head as a warning.

I wanted to run, I wanted to pull him into my arms and never let go but I took her warning as truth and slowly walked towards the hospital bed he was sitting up in. He looked… well he looked like he was dead. He had no blood in his cheeks, no signs of actual life other than his heart was beating. I noticed Ivana was pushing a needle into his arm as his eyes were still on me. Blood began flooding into him. Red blood.

“Is that a good idea?” I asked as I reached the bed. He moved his hand towards me, so I sat next to him. Taking it in mine.

I nearly broke down. Right there. I nearly sobbed and cried and screamed but I held it back. I had to. I needed to be strong for him so he wouldn’t get confused or scared.

“Don’t tell me how to do my job” Ivana curtly replied. Her tone one I was used to. This was the Ivy I had always known, no sign of the caring new Ivana I had come to know. It didn’t bother me. If I hadn’t learnt to trust her before, I certainly had to now. She was just trying to do what she needed to do, to help my imprint. To help Ignacio.

I could finally think of his name, finally say it without my soul shattering. I stared at his hand as if I was afraid it would disappear.

“Mia” the voice that came from behind me shook me out of my reverie. My head snapped up at Axton and I knew I moved too fast for him to register as I dropped Ignacio’s hand and barrelled into his chest in a hug. He was startled but he returned it after a few moments. His face buried into my hair as I tried to limit the sobs that escaped from my chest.

“Thank you” I repeated over and over again.

“Mia” he said again this time more serious.

“Are you okay? Is everyone okay? What happened? How did you do it?” I asked, a string of questions one after the other.

“Mia I’m all done here. Esther is about to put him to sleep for a few days.” Ivy warned me, pulling my attention away from the grim-faced Axton. I stepped out of his arms and went back over to Ignacio. He still looked lost; he still didn’t seem to have any idea what was happening. He seemed oddly calm, distant and I wondered what Esther had done to him to keep him like this whilst the doctors had checked him over.

“I’ll see you soon” I whispered, kissing the back of his hand as his eyes focused on me. He didn’t seem to know who I was, his acknowledgement of my name before seemed to be a fluke as he stared at me now. Lost. He looked so lost. I didn’t let the sight worry me. I had to trust the process. I had to trust Esther. I gave her a small nod and she raised her hands onto his forehead slowly before he fell back unconscious on the hospital bed.

“we’ll move him to your old home.” Esther said giving me a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes as she looked at Axton still at my side.

“Thank you” I told her as I turned to look at Axton who still had the same expression on his face.

“What happened?” I asked. Something was wrong. Something was really really wrong.

Axton took my hand but moved so that I could see behind him.

I hadn’t registered the second hospital bed in the room when I had entered. My only thoughts were on Ignacio, on seeing him alive, and so that’s all I had seen. All I had registered in the room.

But on the other bed lay someone id never expect to see within these walls.

Cain.

He was fussing, trying to get off the bed.

“I’m fine Alena” he scolded his daughter who stood, watching him with worry.

“Wait for Carlisle to come back” she instructed him with a glare of daughterly concern.

“Cain?” I asked and he turned to look at me. My eyes met those of my mentor, my teacher, a father figure in many ways.

“what’s going on?” I asked suddenly fearful. Why was he here? Why did he look frail and weak all of a sudden? “what did you do?” I asked as my fear rose in my chest.

Esther came to me, my hand now in Axton’s as he held me at an angle against his chest. His other arm was around my waist, supporting me in a side hug as he watched his father a few feet from us.

His expression was unreadable.

“Death as permanent as Ignacio’s isn’t given up lightly. There has to be a sacrifice. Life is given at a cost” Esther explained as Cain watched me, as everyone in that room continued to watch me. Esther continued, “When I raised my granddaughter and husband from the dead, that cost was the witches life that cast the spell. When I was told of what Axton wanted to do, I knew there was no way to do what he wished without a sacrifice similar to that before. When Cain found out what we were doing he stepped forward,” Esther explained, and her eyes fell on cain.

“You’re… you’re dying? Why would you do this?” I asked my voice breaking. Cain shook his head slowly and took another few ragged breaths before he spoke.

“Not yet. I’ve never been a good father to my children. I have failed them over and over again, but I never failed you and I never intended to fail you now.” He explained and turned to look at his son. Axton was watching his father with a strange expression on his face I couldn’t quite place. Pride? Shock? It all seemed to be one emotion.

“I didn’t sacrifice my life, Mia; I sacrificed my immortality. I am old, older than I even remember, and I am tired. Tired of life, tired of making my way through immortality alone, losing everyone important to me, destroying relationships with my children. I don’t have much else left. The only thing I hadn’t ruined was you. And then you did what you did. Even when I begged you not to, even when I was selfish enough to want to save you, you did the right thing, the noble thing and you saved the world. I would have let Esther rot to save you.” he said and paused to look at Esther in apology. “I would have done anything to keep you from doing what you did. I even tried to follow you into that realm. But I couldn’t do it without the blood of your imprint. I’ve been tortured before, I’ve been strung up and beaten and that was nothing compared to the pain I felt when three of my children were fighting to save the world and I had stupidly, cowardly, willingly, walked away instead of standing by your sides.” he said and looked towards Alena and Axton before retuning on me.

“I realised I was a waste, a waste of power, a waste of a life, a waste of immortality. I’ve spent my long life chasing a life that was never mine to have. I’ve spent it trying to find love only for those women to be chased away by a crazy evil witch. I spent it thinking I had found a family, children for them to be taken from me, again and again. I don’t know how to be a father; I don’t know how to be human anymore. So, when I found out you had lost your imprint. When you came to me with Axton, when I watched you for days, sob and scream and lash out and I couldn’t do a single thing but be there for you I knew I would do anything to take that pain away from you. Anything.

“I don’t need immortality. I don’t need another thousand years to remind myself how I failed with the long life I was gifted. So, when Axton came to me, when he explained what they wanted to do, I knew straight away that it was going to be me. That I would give up my immortality for the chance for you to have love again. I’ll have one more human lifespan whereas your imprint will live forever at your side.” he explained in short quick breaths. Silent tears were flooding from my eyes at his words. I knew Cain cared for me, I had known he saw me almost as a daughter, as a prodigy and ward. But it didn’t hit me until right then that he loved me. Not just love but unconditional love of a parent.

“I don’t know how I can… how do I thank you for that?” I asked my tears streaming down my face as I tried to wipe them away with the back of my hand.

“You don’t have to Mia. You never have to thank me. Being your teacher, being in your life, has been my greatest honour.” He smiled weakly and I moved out of Axton’s embrace towards him on the bed. I reached forward hugging him gently, afraid the old man before me would break now he was a regular human warlock. He returned my hug happily.

“Thank you. I will spend the rest of your life thanking you” I said moving to look at him, he smiled at me proudly.

“there’s no need little one.” He responded and I heard Alena sniffle a cry next to us.

I pulled away to see Esther and Ivana had left and Ignacio was gone from the bed. Leaving me and the twins with their father when Carlisle came back into the room.

“Mia!” he gasped, and a smile spread across his face after a moment.

“Hey” I mumbled, feeling suddenly scared of my great-great-grandfather. He came up to me and placed a kiss on my hair.

“Done spending my money?” he asked and gave me a wink. I smiled sheepishly at him. So, he knew.

Of course he knew.

“I’m sorry” I rambled. I meant every word.

“don’t be. I’m glad you’re home.” he said giving me a quick side hug before going back to Cain. He began to rattle off some medical jargon, showing Cain x-rays and test results on his tablet, Alena paid attention intently, clearly wanting to oversee her fathers care and insure everything was okay. Axton had always had a strained relationship with the man, whereas Alena was more forgiving of his weakness as their father.

This left a moment for me to turn to Axton who I expected to be watching his father, but his eyes were on me.

I didn’t even have to say the words. He knew what I was thinking, even after fifteen years apart. He knew. He reached for my hand, and I took it as he led us out of the medical room and down the hall that connected this part of the Volturi to the guard training rooms and recreation rooms. We walked in silence until we reached the cinema room, and we went inside. Luckily it was empty, so he reached behind me to close the door.

I stood there facing him, suddenly feeling awkward and out of place. His left hand was still wrapped around mine and I could feel the wedding band on his left ring finger digging into my hand. It felt like a weight pressing into me. A reminder of how much we had both been through in the past fifteen years and how much had changed between us since the last time he had held my hand like this.

The weight of those years crashed onto my heart.

“I don’t even know where to start. How to begin to thank you” I whispered unable to look at his face. The face of the man I loved for so long, the man who had been everything to me, had done the impossible. For me.

“You don’t have to thank me” he answered, his spare hand reaching to rest on my jaw. I looked up at him then, his eyes were teary. The sight of it made my own eyes flood with water.

“I do. I don’t deserve you; I’ve never deserved you. You never broke your promise, not once. Even when we couldn’t do this—” I began, a tear falling onto my cheek as I squeezed his hand at my words. “Even when we couldn’t touch, couldn’t be in the same room, you never abandoned me. You were there when I needed you. You followed me into hell like you always said you would. You took care of me, like you always have—” my tears were free flowing now, I had to breathe deeply to stop my sobs from taking over my words. “You brought him back.” I said my voice didn’t even sound like mine anymore. He stepped forward, closing the distance, and pulling me tightly into his chest as the sobs wracked my body. I was unable to stop them, I was surrounded by his scent, his strength, his warmth. He held me until my sobs slowed.

“I love you, Mia. I have always loved you and I will always love you. Always” he whispered, his own voice breaking from emotion. “There is nothing you can do that will lessen that love. I will always go to the ends of the earth to make sure you are happy. You deserve that more than any other being on this planet.” He added and finally we pulled away to look at each other. Our equally teary faces stared at each other. I let out a smile, a laugh at the state of both of us.

“I love you too” I said as he reached forward to place a reassuring kiss on my forehead, then my nose and my cheek. I took a deep steadying breath as I leant forward again to hug him. He stood stronger this time as he wrapped his arms around me, taking his own deep breaths and holding me against him.

We stood there for several minutes, just taking the moment in.

“I’m sorry I pushed you away, I’m sorry I pushed everyone away.” I said, my voice a little stronger now than before as I let his breaths guide mine.

“You never need to apologise to me Mia. You did what you had to to cope, anyone that judges you or makes you grovel for your apology is no true friend. You lost your imprint.” He said the words with a heaviness that made me pull away to look at his face.

“You saved my life. That day. Both times. I wouldn’t have walked back through that portal if you didn’t carry me through. I would have found a way to die, if you didn’t take me where Cain could watch me.” I explained and he nodded as if I had confirmed something he had been theorising for a while.

“I would have stayed with you myself if I wasn’t about to collapse for four days straight” he said.

“I know” I said in a whisper. I’d have to face those days. I’d have to face what I did in those weeks afterwards and then the years of absence. I’d have to face my family and my friends, one by one. I reached on my tip toes pulling him against me as I reached up to kiss his cheek.

“Don’t say thank you or I’m sorry” he spoke before I could. I stepped back, chuckling slightly that he already knew what I was going to say. I swung our joint hands between us as I looked down at his wedding ring again.

“If you won’t accept it, at least tell her.” I said lifting his left hand in acknowledgement.

“My wife was by my side through it all Mia. When the days were hard, when we thought it wasn’t possible or we lost a bit of hope because an idea fell through, she was the one encouraging us to carry on. Clara was the one that never stopped looking, that never gave up.” He said with a prideful smile on his face.

“She was?” I asked in shock. Why? I was her husband’s ex-lover, I was a woman that would always own a piece of this man’s heart, we would always share something she would never be able to touch.

“Because she has lost what you have lost. She felt that pain and even though her first husband wasn’t her imprint, even though he wasn’t her soulmate, she loved him unconditionally and without fault. She loved him as I loved you. Clara and I aren’t together just because of our time when we were teenagers, we’re not together because of our friendship over the decades. She understands me better than anyone in the world. Because we had the same experiences, the same heartbreaks. We have our first loves that will never leave us. She needed you happy because I needed you happy. She loves you because I love you.” he answered with a soft smile.

“I should send her a muffin basket and some flowers” I joked, as if that could ever repay her for what she had given me. What they both had.

“You should send some to Ophelia and Nova too” he winked, playing along with me.

Shit. Nova and Ophelia. I gave a nod, I had to go to them.

“Ophelia, Nova and Clara would spend endless nights scouring books, calling, and emailing people around the world for any information they could find. They spent hours helping Esther, Alena and I find the right spells, the right loopholes, the right information we needed. They never stopped. Even if it was our power, Alena, Esther, and I casting the spell, Cain making the life sacrifice. It was Ophelia, Nova and Clara that spent hours and days on end ensuring it would work, finding the answer.” He explained.

“I owe them a life debt, all of you” I said solemnly, how would I ever repay their kindness? Especially when I had been so cruel.

“I’ll accept your firstborn as payment” he winked, and I let out a genuine laugh. The first real actual laugh felt from my heart in five years.

My laugh stopped a few seconds later at the thought.

“Best I can do is a middle name” I said but I couldn’t keep the humour in my voice. Could I even have kids? Could Ignacio? What even was he now? Was he still part demon? Esther’s ability worked on him; Ivana’s ability had worked on him. He’d come back different.

“Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.” He promised sensing my distance. “Go home to your imprint Mia, be there when he wakes up,” he said stroking my hand before dropping it. “And be happy.” he added after a moment, a huge grin across his face.

“Th-“ I began to say but his grin dropped and he playfully pushed me towards the door.

“Stop saying thank you.” he said with a hint of anger in his voice.

“Okay, okay” I laughed as I headed for the door.

“Mia” he called after a moment. I turned to look at him again.

“Yeah?” I asked.

“Talking of firstborns. I wanted to be the one to tell you that Clara is pregnant” he said, and he couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. Joy spread through my heart at the sight and his words.

During our relationship we had kept any and all mention about babies and children out of our conversations. But I wasn’t an idiot, I had seen him with kids, I had seen him talk about being an uncle one day. I knew how much he wanted to be a father even if he never said the words to me himself. He’d be an amazing dad; he had the patience and the personality for it.

“Congratulations” I beamed, truly happy for him.

“Thanks,” he said with a happy smile. “I’ll see you around,” he said giving me a little wave before he teleported away. I couldn’t stop the grin on my face as I bounded up the stairs and out of the Volturi mansion. Axton deserved it, deserved that happiness I had seen on his face. The thought of a mini-Axton, a little toddler running around calling him dad warmed my heart.

I took the familiar route through the courtyard and the gardens behind the Volturi towards my old house where the lights were now on.

The house smelt dusty, as if no one had touched it in five years. I was surprised, id have thought Zio would have reassigned the house the instant I threatened his family’s life, but apparently not.

“You will always have a home here” Esther echoed. Those were the words zio had told me back then, it didn’t surprise me Esther knew them now. She had probably been given a complete rundown of the last fifteen years in memories. She was standing at the top of the stairs as if she was waiting for me. I didn’t sense anyone else in the house except for the sleeping man in the bedroom upstairs. The steady sound of his heartbeat filled my mind like a lullaby.

I didn’t realise until that moment that Esther and I were staring at each other across the space. Waiting for the other to speak.

I didn’t have much of a bond with the woman growing up, but she had always been a part of my life in some aspect. She checked on me regularly as a child, helped me understand magic before the immortal twins were drafted in to take over. She was a steady presence in the lives of people I loved and the few times we did interact she had only ever been loving and understanding. She had only ever wanted to help me. It was evident now staring at her as the first of her kind that she saw herself in me and I had pushed her away. She had tried to help me, but I had pushed everyone away out of selfishness and pain.

“Esther” I said swallowing the guilt and the tears.

I knew she already knew. Without reading my mind, she knew. She knew the regret and the guilt I had. She closed the distance between us two steps at a time and pulled me into a hug.

I was already fed up with crying. But I couldn’t stop the fresh tears appearing in my eyes as she held me. The act of comfort, the act of forgiveness and understanding and just the fact it was Esther. Esther was standing before me, alive and well, and just as immortal as ever. It was like the last fifteen years didn’t happen and yet I was a living breathing broken example of those years.

“I’m so so sorry” she whispered as I shook. “You didn’t deserve the weight of the world on your shoulders. I am so sorry I couldn’t help you burden it. You won’t be the only one that needs to atone for their actions. I have a lot to make up for too. But the world is a better place now, it’s better because of us. Because of you and because of him.” She said turning her head for a moment to look at the door above us where he lay.

“The things I said at the bar—” I began as I pulled away just a little bit to look at her, but she shook her head and shushed me.

“don’t even think about it” she said her blue eyes bore into mine and she raised her eyebrows. “Grief is a powerful thing. I knew that wasn’t you. I could feel how much you were hurting, and I was a living reminder of that hurt. I don’t blame you for a second, and honestly. I shouldn’t have gone. Ivana was right. You needed hope and I just gave you pain.” She said.

“Ivana took care of me. When it all happened. At the start.” I said barely able to say the words, but I wanted her to know. I wanted her to know that me and her daughter were no longer what we once were. That the years of pain we had both experienced bonded us in a way I never expected them to.

“I know” she smiled knowingly. Her eyes danced over mine. “I’ve always known you two were two sides of the same coin. You just needed to realise it yourselves.”

“Nova is my best friend. Well, she was, for quite a few years before…” I said and swallowed before continuing. I didn’t know if Nova still wanted to be my friend after this, after I abandoned her for five years. “Getting to know her, was like getting to know Ivana, at least through a different perspective.”

“Ivana may shield her nice side to most, she may give off a tough exterior, but she will do absolutely anything for those close to her. Her family is her heart. She knows they’re her weakness and she hates being weak. Like someone else I know” she said and winked. I laughed but shook my head.

“you’ve got yourself to blame for that” I reminded her, and she softened at the thought.

“I know, and I know I’ll have to face the pain I caused her because of that. But I have never been prouder of her, or you. Or anyone in this family.” She said and from the way she said it, I wondered if shed said those words out loud to anyone yet. “I am humbled by how much I am loved. I expected a small destabilisation with my absence, but I didn’t fully predict the ways in which my absence would hurt in the hearts of others. I am going to be making up for that pain for a good few decades I imagine” she said and smiled softly.

“The world can’t function without you Esther. Those years… they were called the dark years for a reason. Without your light, everyone was just making it through the day, trying to get to the next, trying to get to the day where you could be returned to us. Everything we did was for you, to bring you home, we had to protect you, no one even knew where you were except for a few of us. It tortured them.” I said and my voice broke. I kept my mind tightly closed so she didn’t see the faces of her family.

“I know. I… I won’t ever forget their sacrifices or their determination to go on.” she said and her voice broke.

“I didn’t mean to make you sad. I just wanted to say how much you are loved. It’s a good thing.” I said trying to make light of the situation again.

“I will be paying for my choices for a very long time. There is a chance you might be too.” She said with a slight warning. “There is always a cost of being a hero” she said with a knowing smile.

“But we do it anyway” I said with a nod. “Because it’s the right thing”

“And that’s how I know you were taught right” she said with a wink as she kissed my forehead before pulling away. “I have to get home, but Mia, if you need anything, just breath my name and ill be here.” She said with a smile.

“Thank you Esther. For everything”

“It’s what family does Mia.” she said with a smile that reminded me of her daughter. I had never considered her family before now, never really thought about it past the way her family was connected to mine through marriage, but she was right. She was family. She always had been.

“Give him a few days, take it slow, give him small things to remember, he’ll come back to you soon” she said as she left me alone in the house with a sleeping Ignacio.

----

I laid with him all day and night.

I knew I needed to see more people. I knew I needed to see Ophelia and Nova and Alena and my mother. I knew I needed to thank and apologise to so many people, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t leave that room or take my eyes off the slow movement of his chest as he slept. His heartbeat became my lullaby the nights that followed. I pulled a bed into the room and slept beside him in the same room. I didn’t want to sleep in the same bed. I couldn’t risk scaring him when he woke. I didn’t want to touch him or startle him in anyway, so whilst I couldn’t stomach sleeping in a different room, I gave him as much space as I could.

I called my mother the next day and told her we would come home to La Push the second he was strong enough to travel. She had cried and told me to do whatever I thought was right and that she would give me space until I was ready to see her again.

It took two days until Ignacio made any kind of movements. I had called Esther after the first twenty-four hours and asked if I needed to feed him or give him anything, but she had insisted his body was doing it all for me and he would wake soon and only then should I try feed him with anything.

And so, I waited.

Until he began to stir, and his eyes opened.

“Mia?” he asked searching the room for me. I had just got out of the shower; I was trying my wet hair into a bun when his voice filled the room.

I had to remind myself not to fall as I made my way over to the edge of the bed.

His smile at the sight of me made my heart ache.

Oh, how I’d missed that smile.

His face.

His eyes danced across my face. He clearly remembered me.

Esther had said that the only thing Aleksander had remembered when he was newly resurrected had been her, had been his love for her. The one thing that was strong enough to transcend death. She had told me it was quite possible It would be the same for Ignacio.

I couldn’t contain my happiness that she was right.

We stared at each other for what felt like forever. The moment was timeless as his eyes surveyed my face, my body to make sure I was there. I did the same to him, letting his heartbeat take over all of my senses.

“Is it tomorrow now?” he asked his voice was weak and his eyes focused on mine.

Tomorrow. That word.

We had promised each other ‘tomorrow’. The night before the battle when everything had changed, the imprint had shifted, but I had told him no, I’d told him we’d face what we were tomorrow. After the battle. Neither of us had considered in that moment we wouldn’t have a tomorrow. That he would be lifeless at my feet before we were able to act on our feelings.

“it’s tomorrow” I whispered letting myself remember for the first time in five years that perfect evening we had together on the eve of the worst day of my life. I was so scared to touch him, to go anywhere near him despite my entire body screaming at me to kiss him, to hold him.

“Why are you so far away from me?” he asked sitting up in the bed against the headboard.

“I was told you wouldn’t remember much, that I had to take it slow, not to scare you” I told him truthfully.

“You don’t scare me. You’ve never scared me,” he said reaching his hand out to me.  “I need you here. I need to feel you with me.” He said, his voice strong and demanding.

I still couldn’t believe he was real.

Even without the imprint, even without my body knowing exactly what he needed I moved without free will, like he was summoning me to his side.

I climbed over to him in the middle of the bed, his hands immediately reaching for my waist as I tucked myself into his side.

He was warm.

He was breathing.

He was here.

I looked up to see him watching me with only what I could describe as pure and utter love on his face. He leant forward, closing the gap between us and our lips met softly. Gentle. As if he was as scared of breaking me as I was of him.

I had kissed him as he lay dying. That kiss used to bring me comfort, knowing he had died knowing I loved him, but now. That kiss was nothing compared to this one. This one was full of life and promise and hope.

I was proud of myself for not crying as his lips moved on mine. He was the first to pull away for air and the grin that appeared on his face was enough to send pure and true joy radiating through me.

My heart felt full at the sight of him next to me.

“Again” he murmured; his voice raspy as his eyes fell on my lips. It sent a spark through my body that heated my skin. His gaze made me feel like I was burning but his grip on me loosened as if his strength was wearing thin. Esther had warned me of this, that he would start to wake in short bursts before needing to sleep again.

“You need to rest” I told him as his head dipped towards mine again. I let him kiss me unable to deny him of anything. I wasn’t sure I ever would be able to say no to this man for as long as we lived.

Which would be forever, according to Cain. He had gifted his immortality to him. So that I would never experience the pain of the last five years again.

But what was he now? What was Ignacio? He seemed human, he looked human, no darkness in sight. His lips and fingertips were pink not the dark purple of his true human form with his black blood running through his veins. Ivana had given him a transfusion of human blood, her ability had worked on him, Esther’s ability had worked on him.

The blood pulsing under his skin, in his veins, was red.

“Stay with me” he said against our lips as his eyes became heavy.

“Forever” I whispered as he moved so he could lie back down on the bed. I moved with him, fitting perfectly into his side as his arm wrapped around me. I moved my leg to rest over his, our feet entwinning at the bottom of the bed. I smiled against his shoulder, my hand resting on his chest that was slowly rising and falling as he settled to go back to sleep. We had so much to talk about, so much to work through but I could still hardly believe he was here.

Breathing. He was breathing.

I felt like I could choke on my emotion.

I had dreamed of this moment more times than I could count. I had prayed and screamed for this.

“I’m here” he whispered as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. That he would disappear at any moment. His hand ran through my hair and his lips grazed my forehead.

“Sleep” I ordered him listening to his breath in his lungs and his strong heartbeat. I could listen to that forever.

The imprint was gone. I felt no tug to him, no link or bond. It had snapped when he died. I didn’t know if it would reform over time, or it was completely gone but I had no way of telling how he felt or if he was safe. The thought brought tears to my eyes, but I didn’t let them take over.

He slept for another hour and when he woke, I was still in his arms, counting every breath and heartbeat in his chest.

“I was dead” was his first words as he woke.

“Yes” I said my voice cracking on the word.

“How long?” he asked, we still hadn’t moved. I was still curled into him, my head on his shoulder as he lay staring at the ceiling.

“Five years,” my voice broke further, and his arm tightened around me.

“lo siento” he whispered, saying I’m sorry in Spanish. I shook my head on his shoulder and moved to look up at him.

“It doesn’t matter. None of it matters anymore.” I said laying my hand on his heart.

“The imprint. It’s gone,” he said as he took the hand that wasn’t around my waist to rest it on my hand.

“Yes” I said my voice breaking again.

“Will it come back?” he asked.

“We don’t really know. Any wolf or imprint that died prematurely was brought back by the life and death twins. The bond broke initially but because they weren’t dead for very long, it reformed almost instantly when they were woken.” I explained.  “We messed with nature, with magic, to bring you back. Its possible it may never reform.” I added telling him what Esther had warned me about when I asked her about it yesterday on our phone call.

“it’s a good thing we’ve got the universe and destiny pulling us together then, isn’t it?” he asked with a playful smile on his lips.

“You remember all that?” I asked.

“Some of it. I remember that I used to call you, my light. My destiny. I remember watching you in my dreams. I remember the universe telling me about you. All I remember is you” he said in awe as he stared at me. I couldn’t help but beam a smile back.

“I didn’t know you could be so romantic” I teased as his eyes fell on my lips again. I chuckled at his lustful gaze. I had never seen this side of him. It was kind of amusing that he didn’t remember where he was from or his name, but he remembered me. He remembered our connection.

“I feel like I’ve been reset. I don’t know anything that isn’t you. My body is telling me you’re mine. That all that matters is you. Everything else will come with time, that’s what the pretty blonde woman said to me when I woke up.” He explained himself.

“Esther. That was Esther” I chuckled again as his arm pulled me impossibly close to his body.

“Okay, at least that’s one more name I know” he said but he tried to close the gap between us.

“Stop trying to kiss me. You need to rest. You need to sleep.” I said giving him a playful push away from me. This was a whole new side of him I had never seen.

Even with Esther’s warning that he might be like this, reduced to his animal instincts and the urge to have what he deemed was his. She had told me that her husband had returned and acted in the same manner for a while, but I was still surprised. Things had only shifted for us in the last few hours before his death. We hadn’t even shared a real kiss before he was taken from me. At least Esther and Aleksander had done far more than that before he died.

“I’ve done enough sleeping don’t you think?” he asked trying to make a joke of the situation.

“Please don’t joke about you being dead” I said my voice tight. His arms stiffened at my waist.

“I meant the fact I slept all day.” He corrected himself.

“I don’t know the right thing here. I don’t know how to help you heal.” I said softly, reaching my hand to stroke his cheek.

“I’m not asking for more than this.” He said tucking me back towards him. “I will wait until I am more like myself before anything else. I won’t ask you to make love to a ghost” he said his lips at my temple as he spoke the words.

“You’re not a ghost. Not anymore” I whispered, kissing the space where his neck met his jaw, but I stopped before giving him the wrong impression. “We have a lot to talk about, you have a lot to remember, and I have to be completely honest and transparent about who I have become the past five years without you” I said shamefully.

“Everything will be okay Mia. There is nothing that will keep me from you. Not anymore.”

“I’ll hold you to that” I said feeling embarrassed. How was I going to tell him about the men I brought to my bed? About the partying and the alcohol and the bitchiness towards anyone that loved me? The threats I gave them if they ever came after me.

I had so much apologising to do. My stomach turned in anxiety at the thought.

And all I was doing was hiding in this bed whilst Ignacio slept.

My thoughts raced about Ophelia and Nova. About my family and whether any of them would accept me back. Ophelia and Nova especially. It had been five years; we were completely different people now. Would our friendship even still be there? Could we fall back to what we were? I wasn’t entirely sure we could. That it would ever be the same again.

As I lay there feeling Ignacio’s breathing, I wasn’t sure I needed everything to be the same again. I loved my friends, of course I did, but I was also very aware that they had been my friends in a very different period of my life. The type of friends I needed then, an escape from the war and dread.

What did I need now?

Would our friendship adapt? Would we be able to forgive and move on?

The strange thing was, I wasn’t sure if I needed it anymore. Wasn’t sure I could face them and fall back into who I was. I wasn’t that person anymore. I wasn’t the girl that had been their friend. And I didn’t think I ever would be again. They loved me, that was obvious from what they had done for me, but they had done it out of love, not out of understanding of my pain.

There was only one person that had made me feel understood in those five years. One person I could face and felt normal around.

One person that I had counted on.

I needed to thank her. Truly and genuinely thank her and I was sure I couldn’t sleep until I did.

Esther? I asked dropping my defences in my mind. I waited for her response, hoping she was paying attention to the minds around her.

Yes sweetheart?

I know its late. I was wondering if you could do some babysitting. Just for a few hours. I asked, showing her my plans.

Ill be there in five. She answered and her presence was gone from my mind.

I turned to Ignacio who was already fighting sleep again.

“Hey” I murmured.

“Hmm?” he asked.

“There’s a few things I have to do. Including get us some food. I’ve asked Esther to come over for a bit.” I said looking up at him he nodded understanding. “At least you know her, and she’ll know what you need. She knows everything” I smiled at him.

“Who is she exactly?” he asked.

“I’ll let her tell you all that, you’ll be safe with her” I promised threading my fingers into his hair and gently stroking the softness of it between my fingers.

“Okay” he responded.

“I’ll try and be back before you wake again” I said seeing how tired he was. I moved to give him a soft kiss on the lips to which he eagerly reciprocated. I laughed lightly at his enthusiasm and pulled away from his warm body. By the time I dressed in appropriate clothes for walking through Chicago, Esther arrived at the doorstep.

“Thank you” I said as she stepped inside.

“It’s late. If my daughter bites your head off don’t blame me” she smiled widely as I pulled on my shoes.

“I figured she probably won’t be asleep yet” I said giving her a cheeky smile. If Esther had any disgust at the thought of what her daughter did with her husband at night in her home, she didn’t show it.

“She’ll be awake,” she said, her voice tight and she rolled her eyes as she headed for the stairs.

“Sorry to disturb your evening,” I said carefully. I mean she had answered my mind message pretty fast. I wasn’t sure I had disturbed anything, but I wasn’t going to bring up the fact Ivana had disclosed the information about her parents’ marriage problems to me.

“You didn’t disturb anything don’t worry.” she responded, no strain or clue in her voice as to whether she was lying or cared that she wasn’t spending the night with her husband.

“I’m going to the store too; I’ll be as quick as I can.” I told her before I left. She waved me off and I closed the door tightly behind me.

My heart slammed in my chest as I walked annoyingly slow at human pace through the city. It was night but it was no less lively as humans stumbled between clubs on a Saturday night.

I didn’t know why I was so nervous to face her. I had never cared before, normally I revelled in the opportunity to give Ivana a piece of my mind, but this was definitely not that kind of encounter.

I had never been to her house, but I knew where it was. It was just a few short miles from the Cullen hospital. It was modern, like 22^nd century modern, the walls were glass although they were all darkened with technology that kept the light out. It was quiet and dark as I stepped up to the door and gently lifted my fist to knock. I wasn’t even sure she’d answer. Who knocks on a house at eleven at night?

It was just a few moments before the door swung open to a startled Micah Cullen. He was in a plain t shirt and lounge pants. His eyes focused on me for a moment and then I saw as his eyes danced around my form, as if he was taking in something around me.

He was watching my soul. Probably sniffing out my intentions.

“I know its late, but I was hoping your wife might be awake?” I asked. I felt like an idiot at that point. I should have waited. I should have come in the morning. Why did I think turning up at her house this late would be at all acceptable?

“She is” he said and moved to motion for me to enter.

“I’m really sorry. I should have come in the morning, I um… well I’ve had a crazy few days” I started to ramble as Micah closed the door and just watched me. It was a few moments before there was soft padding of bare feet on the glass staircase of their home. Ivana Balev, hair down and a robe tightly tied around her body landed beside Micah.

“I’ll leave you to it” he said turning to place a small kiss on Ivana’s temple before he disappeared back up the stairs. The gesture would have turned my stomach, for the past five years I had avoided any and all mated, imprinted or married couples because the sight of them reminded me of what I had lost, but not now. Not now I had my imprint asleep in my bed at home.

“I was told everything is going well with his recovery” Ivy said but her voice was tight, as if she was told other things too. Esther’s voice as she cursed her daughter’s name under her breath when she first saw me ran through my head.

“I am sorry for getting you in trouble” I said instantly knowing who probably told her off for telling me everything.

“It was nice to see my mother angry at me. It has been so long. She thought she was scolding me but in reality, I was just marvelling at the fact she was there yelling at me again after so many years,” she said with an embarrassed shrug. “It was worth it” she added and let out a small mischievous smile. I let out a laugh in response, unable to help myself. I was sure absolutely anyone else on the planet would be petrified at Esther Josephson being angry at them, but not Ivana.

“I suppose if you grow up not being afraid of the most powerful creature on the planet, you’re bound to have a god complex” I commented, and she let out a laugh of her own.

“you’re right, maybe it is my mother’s fault I am the way I am. What’s your excuse?” she asked with a wink.

“Being the only one of my kind? Having an entire army of wolves as a child to protect me, getting personal guardians with the most powerful magic in the world telling me every day about how special I am. Is that good enough?” I joked and she rolled her eyes.

“Okay, I’ll give you that” she answered before any and all humour and light-heartedness dropped from her expression. She was waiting to know why I was here.

“I wanted to thank you. I know I should have waited until tomorrow, but my life’s been a whirlwind for the last fifteen years. I’ve sort of lost all ability to respect social norms.” I explained after a moment, my hands coming together nervously in front of me. “Thank you for taking care of me, back then.” I said with a swallow. Even if Ignacio was here, the pain of losing him hadn’t faded. “Thank you for coming to get me. Thank you for those few hours at the bar. Thank you for telling me, thank you for being who I needed,” I said conveying as much gratitude as I could towards her. I couldn’t believe I was standing in front of Ivana Balev pouring my gratitude over her, actually nervous about how she would react and whether she would continue to be that person for me, that friend.

I almost laughed out loud as I realised why I cared so much about her response.

When the hell did I start liking her?

“you’re welcome” she said, and her voice was soft and gentle. She almost whispered it as if the words were sacred. It was a side of her I’d never seen before. I had to change the subject. It felt weird showing gratitude to her, that our usual bitchy banter was no where in sight.

“The blood, did it work?” I asked, she never brought it up at the bar.

“Yes. Thank you by the way. It brought her mind back earlier than predicted.” She answered.

“I should have been here. I should have helped her recover. I’m sorry” I said, and I truly meant it. Had I stayed and kept feeding my blood to Esther as she recovered, would she have been back in half the time? Would I have had suffered less because Ignacio would have been returned sooner?

Ivy shook her head.

“Axton and Alena don’t think it would have mattered. I almost tracked you down. I almost pulled you back here myself to use you as a living blood bag.” She said and I could see the shame on her face at the words. “But they said magic could only do so much, the magic in your blood gave her a kick start, yes, but it wouldn’t have helped her much more than it already did. She needed time and her body needed to do it herself.” She explained and I nodded. After leaving the Volturi all those years ago I had gone to see Cain, to tell him my plans and we had mentioned Esther. He had told me his theory based on my blood.  I had given him vials of it years ago because he wanted to do tests of his own. I trusted him enough, so I had given them to him, but he’d never really told me what he’d done with it. He said he’d used it on coma patients, and they’d retained brain function because of it. It gave me the idea to send some back to Ivana to help Esther. It was the least I could do.

“I’m glad it helped.” I said and she gave me a grateful smile. I turned to leave; happy we had ironed out any unsaid words between us.

“Amirah” she said after a moment, and I turned to look at her. The formality of my name from her was strange. “I’ve never truly hated you by the way.” she said, and I let out a small smile in return.

“Neither have I,” I told her truthfully. “And call me Mia please. Our rivalry has never stopped you before.” She gave a nod before she spoke.

“You and I could be friends you know. The chaos we’d cause together might just give my mother a run for her money,” there was a mischievous look in her eyes.

“I think I might like that” I said with a nod and a smile. I turned to leave her home with a new weight lifted off my shoulders. Something stopped me from taking another step. I turned slowly just to look at her. She was watching me curiously.

“Can’t believe I’m doing this” I groaned out loud as I took a step towards her and threw my arms around her. She let out a genuinely happy laugh in surprise as she returned my hug gladly.

“Thank you for everything” I said again, her scent, the scent that used to immediately trigger my anger response, surrounded me and I felt no anger for the woman in my arms. I felt gratitude, and friendship.

“You’re welcome, Mia.” she whispered as if the words were a shock to her as they were to me. I pulled away and we both grinned widely at each other. Friendship. That’s what we now shared. The hug had solidified it. I was both disgusted and thrilled at the idea.

“Get out of my house tribrid, my husband has been waiting in my bed for far too long” she winked. I let out another laugh as I turned to leave.

“Sorry to disturb your night, have fun,” I smirked and gave her a casual wave as I left her house.

I walked back through the city with what felt like new breath in my lungs, my head was clear and my future wide open.

I needed to talk to Nova and Ophelia. I knew I had a lot to apologise for, but it didn’t worry me. I would have a friend in Ivana. I would have a friend in Axton. I would do what I could to repair what I had with Nova, even if Ivana’s words were true about her moving on. I would show her how sorry I was and work towards whatever form of friendship she was comfortable with.

It would take time, time and patience and understanding and a shit tonne of apologies, I was sure.

But there was only one thing that mattered as I strolled back towards the Volturi estate, a bag full of my imprint’s favourite foods in my arm.

Ignacio was breathing, he was alive, and his heart was beating, and I was going to do everything in my power to make sure that he stayed that way.

-------------------------------------

Aaaand its over. There will be mentions in the new story about how Mia is doing, after all its going to have Nessie POVs and she very much misses her grandchild. Thank you for everyone that's read these excessively long chapters.  The new story titled Eternal Dawn will be posted on FanFiction.net by the end of February. I plan to update it weekly like I did with Diamond Legacies.