Roman's lost count of how many blankets she was wrapped in, but after she had woken up in Seth's room at the Clearwater house, Leah passing the floor agitatedly, she hadn't thought to ask about the warmth that she was being cocooned in.

She could hear their loud voices downstairs, stepping in and out of the house in turns -- the only thing keeping them away being Leah's renowned anger -- and she was thankful for that small miracle.

There were small tremors that continued to occasionally seize through her and each time she got a new blanket.

It was clear that Leah wasn't quite sure what to do for her, with her, and with the loud voices of the pack downstairs, it was clear she was only growing more agitated.

Roman clears her throat, poking her head further out of her cocoon. "Can I- Do you think I can take a shower?"

Her old friend spins to her, nodding eagerly because she had just given her something she could do, before helping her out of the nest of blankets, letting her cling to her a little as she feels like a baby doe learning to walk for the first time.

It's a little bit of a struggle getting her to the bathroom, the embarrassing way she has trouble working her limbs making her cheeks burn, but when she's finally locked safely inside, allowed to sink down to the toilet seat with her head in her hands, Roman feels like she can finally breathe again.

Tears stung her eyes, the hollow place in her chest spread like a disease, burning a hole through her. How could her parents be so terrible? How could they hate her so much that they would try to kill her? Try and turn her into a vampire when he was clearly crazy out of his mind?

It was bullshit! Complete and utter bullshit!

She should feel angry instead of defeated and useless, instead of pathetic and weak. She wanted to be furious, rightfully furious at how horrible her family was! There was no anger though, no matter how hard she tried to force it.

All she could think of was how right this just turned out to be as if it was just always meant to happen this way.

She shook her head, tears still trailing down her cheeks. She had to shower and change. She had to go home to get her stuff and find somewhere else to stay.

Roman just needed to stay focused on the task. She could break down later when the time came There was no use sitting around waiting for it to happen.

Stripping slowly, she avoided looking in the mirror as she went right in, not waiting for the water to heat as it pelted down at her. The cold shocked her into wakefulness, sending her shuffling back to lean against the cool tile that sent chills bone-deep.

She scrubbed herself clean, rough and vicious in all the spots that he touched. The soap was woodsy, Seth's scent. The shampoo fruity, Leah's scent.

It was nice, like being surrounded by friends that'll keep her safe, protect her.

They had protected her, Leah, saved her life, saved her from the possibility of that life, and whether or not he was dead, she knew nothing like that was ever going to happen again. No one was ever going to touch her like that again, she would find a way to make sure of it in the end.

"Alright, alright, okay," she whispers to herself, grabbing the thickest towel they had as she stepped out of the warmth into the steam. "I can do this. It isn't even a big deal."

She dried herself, patting her skin carefully on her arm where the handprint was a dark mark over the bruise that blossomed like a band on her skin. She prodded it, hissing at the sharp sting that flared up her arm.

God, it was an ugly mark.

Shifting her gaze, she wiped away the steam from the mirror. There were two deep blue and purple spots on either side of her jaw, clear scratches that dragged down to her chin. She didn't know how she was going to explain any of this to anyone.

What was she going to say happened to Marnie? What did happen to Marnie?

Padding from the bathroom, she ducked back into Seth's room to grab a long sleeve shirt, moving directly to Leah's room to for the rest. They were nice, comfortable, but she still grabbed a blanket before padding her way downstairs.

It got deathly silent, eerie, as she joined them -- standing awkwardly in the kitchen archway.

Leah was leaning against the counter, standing by Sue as she placed warm cookies onto a plate. Jacob and Paul were at the table, the former tapping his foot anxiously.

"Hi, can I have a cookie?" she asks. Leah snatches the plate from her mother, holding it out as soon as the words left her mouth. "Oh, thank you."

"Your dad is an ass," her friend comments snidely.

Roman snorts. "He's worse than that."

"And your mom's a bitch."

"That about sums it up."

"You can't go back to that house."

She sighs, shaking her head. "I have to go back for my stuff, but other than that, yeah, I know."

"Good, then it's settled," Sue says, taking the plate from her hand as she guides the girl to sit. "You'll stay here with us."

"Oh, no, I couldn't do that! I was thinking of just getting my own place anyway."

"Roman, you're always more than welcome here," Sue presses kindly. "It would make me much more comfortable knowing that you're safe."

"I spend most nights at Bella's anyway, really. Edward is always nearby, as are the others."

"Where was he today?" Jacob snarks.

She shoots him a glare. "Pretty sure he was talking to you," Roman snaps. "Besides, Alice can't see when I'm with any of you. It's bad enough that she already has trouble seeing me in her visions as it is."

"Shut up, you're staying here," Leah decides, an angry set to her jaw.

"How am I going to get to school?" she mumbles.

Sue rubs her shoulder. "We'll worry about that later, dear. You should take a few days off to relax anyway."

Nodding, she nibbles on her cookie as they argue on who could give up their car. Paul swore that it had to be Jacob. He had just rebuilt the rabbit, which was perfect, and he had the motorcycle that he used all the time anyway.

She didn't want to tell them it was unnecessary, that she could just figure something else out instead. She didn't really feel like speaking anyway as stared at the door, waiting.

And she didn't have to wait long because the door slammed inwards, smashing against the wall as he barreled in.

He was furious. She had never seen him angry like that before.

The boys were on their feet, already moving like they were going to pull him from the house, but Roman was already standing, dropping the blanket as she opened her arms -- welcoming him forward as he ran for her, grabbing her around the middle, wrapping her firm against his chest as he shook softly. Sobs, she realized, he was crying.

She ran her fingers through his hair, rubbing his back soothingly. "It's alright. Everything's fine."

"Fine? Fine! Roman, this isn't fine!" his arms tighten around her. "Look at what he did to you!"

"It'll go away, Seth. It's really no big deal."

"You're staying here. No one is going to touch you ever again."

"Can you calm down? We've already decided she was going to stay here," Leah grumbles.

"Shut up, Leah!" He snarls, shifting her so that she was placed even more out of sight. "You wouldn't understand what it's like! None of you do!"

Paul scoffs. "We have a pretty good idea."

"It's not the same!"

"Seth, calm down!" Roman shouts, pushing away so she could see his face and the silent snark that pulled at his lips. "You don't have to worry. I'm not going anywhere."

The tension left his shoulder but he didn't loosen his hold of her, resting this cheek against the side of her head.

It takes a lot of coaxing for him to finally let her and even then he doesn't go far. She didn't really want him to anyway. He was safety and protection. He couldn't let anything bad happen to her — he was physically incapable— and Roman loved knowing that someone cared enough to stick at her side.

She knew, of course, that Bella and Edward cared, that they were also her family, but they didn't know what had even happened...

Paling, Roman wondered if she should call them to let them know, wondered if Alice had seen something or if Edward had gone looking for her.

It was only lunch. Unless Alice has seen something then there wouldn't be any need for them to worry about her.

She had sworn Marnie could be trusted despite everything. What a fatal mistake that had been.

Okay, so maybe it had been a mistake to have faith in her own mother, and maybe she might have faced death today, but that was fine. Everything was going to be just fine. She'll just roll with the punches, stay here with Seth and his family. They were kind. She could always trust them.

And maybe she could skip a little bit of school while she was at it. It wouldn't do to spread rumours and worry people.

Right. Roman stood, wondering where her bag was so she could call them.

"Where are you going?" Seth asks, bouncing to his feet at her side.

"I'm looking for my phone. It's in my bag, have you seen it?"

He shook his head. "I don't know if Leah brought it back. Do you want someone to go get it? I can ask Jake or Jared."

"Jared's here?"

"Paul has to patrol with Leah. Sam just got here, too," he says, nodding his head to the front door. They were still lingering like they were still waiting for her and/or Seth to blow or something. "He wants to talk to you."

"Alright. Let's go."

"Wait, he can just come inside, you don't have to move," he worries, fluttering around her.

"I'm not going to shatter. I told you I'm fine now."

He pouts but doesn't fight her as she head out to the porch, settling on the steps beside Jared — eating from a Tupperware from Emily — facing Jacob and Sam as they discussed something quietly, conversation cutting off when they turned to her. They really couldn't make it more obvious that they were talking about her if they tried.

Sam shifts his weight. Body language softening into something that reminder her a lot of the him before he had first shifted and she had stopped coming around.

"I'm sorry about your father," he says, abrupt, and he winces at his own words.

"Is he dead?"

"No."

Roman nods. "Alright. If he ever comes back. I want you to kill him."

"I'll do it myself," Seth hissed, voice trembling with rage.

Ignoring him, she continued, not paying any mind to the way they watched the young shifter closely. "He still has Marnie with him, then?"

"Yes, he was faster than we expected, crossed right over into Cullen territory. We followed him for as long as we could," Sam reasons, as if she needed assurance that they had tried. Roman wondered who he was really trying to persuade. "We aren't sure how he got away with your mother slowing him down. We won't be able to spare he if she returns like him."

He tongue darts out, swiping over her lips as she tries to moisten her dry mouth. Is this how they would act when she would finally turn? Would they hunt her down if she ever comes back? Roman swallows. "I wouldn't want you to. They're already dead to me."

"That's pretty bad ass," Jared notes around a mouthful of food.

"Do you blame her? You heard what Leah did. We were lucky she's as fast as she is," Jacob adds, although a little reluctantly.

Roman rolls her eyes. "Why can't you just compliment her and be done with it?"

"That was a compliment!"

"A partial one."

"Whatever."

"Yeah, okay, I need someone to take me to my apartment. I need to get my stuff," she says, standing with a stretch to try and ease the ache from her already sore back. "And yes, Seth, I know you're coming with me. It won't be long anyway."

"I'll take you," Jacob offers. "The two of us should be enough in case."

"Keep an eye on her. Bring her back to Sue's for the night," Sam orders before turning back to he. "I know you like to stay at Bella's, but it would be better if you spent a few nights here."

His worry for Seth and doubt for the Cullen's goes unsaid, but it's clear to her all the same. She agrees anyway, knowing that she couldn't just leave Seth to worry about her like that.

"That should be fine. I have to move in anyway. You have a phone, Jacob?"

The drive back is silent, tense, as Seth keeps watch on the road, jaw tensing the further they got from LaPush.

She felt terrible for making him stress like this. She couldn't to help but think that he wouldn't have grown before her so quickly if he didn't have the imprint forcing him to always gravitate toward her and her chaotic centre. It was like there was this destructive force that circled her, pulsing out in horrible waves that only let a few in close and safe. Being safe had never meant that you couldn't get hurt and hurting Seth had never, ever been her attention.

If the imprint wasn't tying him down to her then she wouldn't torture him like this. He was still just a kid, after all, he shouldn't have such a serious look.

Roman needed to find another excuse to spoil him rotten, find something more that she could do for him.

She's climbing out of the rabbit, groaning at the pull of her muscles, when the slam of a car door makes her jump, spinning around to see who it was.

Seth is standing in her way, blocking her from view with shoulders tense, stiff.

Peaking around him, her heart jumps at the sight of the Volvo. She pulls away, ripping her arm from his hand as she runs.

And he catches her easily, hand braiding in her messy hair, breath shuddering in her ear as he breathes her in. Her arms are wrapped around his neck, holding with all of her strength.

"You're alright," he gasps, nose burying in her neck. Her heart hammers. "You disappeared. Alice lost you."

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! Leah saved me. They came."

"Roman, you were gone the moment he grabbed you, I had no idea what happened," he stressed through clenched teeth. "I almost broke the treaty to see if you were there. You left no trace in the woods."

"What?" She blurts, trying to push back but he only holds her closer.

"It was like you were never there, but your shirt and your blood—" He stops abruptly, pulling away to look at her closely. His hand ghost over her jaw, cools fingers working wonders against the tender bruises. "I'll kill him," he seethes.

"You'll have to get in line."

Edward looks up, glancing to the wolves. Some sort of silent agreement must pass between them because he relaxes some, not much but enough for her to notice. He still doesn't let her go.

"That would be... agreeable."

"What would?" She asks, trying to look behind her.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it," he says, brushing her hair back from her face. "You'll be staying with Seth, then?"

"Yes, but it won't stop me from spending the night at Bella's." 

"Nothing could, I imagine," he smiles, but it doesn't meet his eyes.

His fingers prod at her bruises, tracing the scratches delicately.

"I don't like being away from either of you," she admits, speaking through barely parted lips.

"Nothing is right when you aren't there."

Blushing, she smiles brightly, uncaring if it tugs painfully. "I love you."

Edward lips quirked and he presses a slow, tantalizing kiss to her forehead. "I love you."

Her heart stops in her chest painfully, stilling the air in her lungs. Seth gags from somewhere behind her.

"That's the first time you've ever said that," she breathes.

"I shouldn't have waited so long."

Roman's head spins dizzily and she smiles goofily, flooding her thoughts with all the love she felt for him, announcing it as loud as she could.

"We have to go," Jacob calls, bitter and loud. "We got your stuff already."

She sighs. "How did you get my stuff?"

"It was already packed. I just had to go in and get your important things that were still in your room," Seth tells her.

Marnie must have done it. A shiver works down her spine at the thought. They really were planning on taking her.

Not to mention she had purposely left behind her favourite possessions.

"Thank you," she says, not turning away from Edward, whispering, "I have to go."

"I hate that I can't convince you to stay here."

"You hate that you haven't found a way to make me stay," she giggles.

"Same thing, is it not?"

"Most definitely not," she says, backing away. His arms fall to his sides, hands forming to fists. "What are you going to tell Bella?"

"I'll tell her what happened," he says easily. Roman winces. "And you can call her tonight."

Shuddering at the hysterics her girlfriend would be in, she doesn't fight as Seth draws her back to the car.

Roman watches Edward through the rearview mirror until she can no longer see him and even after.

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2019-11-16