IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE CHAOS, I gathered my family and announced my plans to visit Ayla with Seth. They accepted my proposal, albeit with a warning from Dad to not stay too long. His fear of the Volturi's impending arrival was palpable.

Seth wasted no time in informing his mother and Charlie of my impending arrival in Forks. A small get-together with the Cullens was on the cards, and I was eager to surprise Ayla upon my arrival. The first part of my plan was true, but there was more to it than met the eye.

As we pulled up to Charlie Swan's house, Seth filled me in on the latest developments in his life. Charlie and his mother, Sue, were dating, and she had moved in with him. It was a relief to know that Charlie wouldn't be alone in Bella's new life as a vampire. But I couldn't help but wonder what he thought of Renesmee. Did he know about her, or was he completely oblivious to her existence?

Seth was in his human form, dressed in a beige hoodie and black jeans. I opted for an all-black ensemble, complete with a laced-sleeved top, leggings, and small heeled boots. My trusty black leather jacket completed the look.

As he rapped his knuckles against the door, Charlie appeared before us, his chocolate brown eyes twinkling with warmth. His black hair was tousled, sticking up in all directions, as if he had just woken up from a nap. He wore a patterned shirt with a plain white tee peeking out from underneath, paired with black trousers - or pants, as they say in America - and sturdy hiking boots on his feet.

"Hey, kid," Charlie greeted Seth, enfolding him in a bear hug. He released him and turned to me, his gaze lingering on my face. "Hello, Violet. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing well, thanks," I replied, feeling a blush creeping up my cheeks. "I've heard that you and Sue are dating."

"Yep," he said with a loud 'P' at the end, a grin spreading across his face. "Sue and I started dating about a month ago and she moved into my house. Also, Ayla moved in as well."

"Is Ayla here?" I asked eagerly, my heart racing at the thought of seeing her.

"Sue's just picking her up from school," Charlie informed us.

"We could surprise her," Seth suggested, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Kid, she saw you every day," Charlie chuckled, shaking his head.

"I meant to surprise her with Violet," Seth clarified.

"Oh," Charlie rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That makes sense."

A soft chuckle escaped my lips as Charlie welcomed us into his humble abode. The decor remained unchanged since my last visit, despite Bella's departure to live with the Cullens. I had expected a bit of a revamp, but it seemed Charlie was content with the way things were.

We made our way to the living room and settled onto the plush sofas. The television blared in the background, tuned to a football game. Same old Charlie, I thought to myself.

"So, Violet," Charlie began, breaking the comfortable silence. "What have you been up to in London?"

I grinned, "Oh, you know, just enjoying the rain."

Charlie and I shared a laugh, while Seth let out a small chuckle.

"Hey, Angela's dad mentioned you're in Oxford now?" Charlie continued, his curiosity piqued.

I blinked, trying to steady my breathing. "Yes, I'm studying literacy. We're currently analyzing The Phantom of the Opera."

Seth chimed in, "Isn't that a musical?"

I nodded, "Yes, but it was originally a book."

Charlie leaned forward, intrigued. "Is that the one about the opera singer trained by a disfigured man?"

I nodded again, "Yes, but she didn't know that. You should give it a read, Charlie. It's pretty good."

Charlie took a sip of his drink, "Maybe I will, maybe I won't. I'm not really into books."

I smiled, "Well, it's never too late to start."

The rest of the evening was spent catching up and reminiscing about old times. It was nice to be back in Forks, even if it was just for a short while.

As the door creaked open, our eyes darted towards it, eager to see who was on the other side. And there, standing before us, was Ayla and a woman who could only be Sue Clearwater. Seth's face lit up like a thousand suns, his happiness radiating off him in waves.

The woman had a striking appearance, with a thin face, black eyes, and hair cut in a severe style. Her skin was a rich copper tone, reminiscent of Leah's, and I couldn't help but conclude that this was indeed Sue Clearwater.

As she looked at me with her stern eyes, I braced myself for the same hostility I had received from Leah when we first met. But to my surprise, her mouth curved into a small smile, and I could sense that she harbored no ill will towards me. Perhaps it was because of Seth and Ayla, or maybe she was just a kind-hearted person.

My gaze shifted to Seth, who was already racing towards them, his arms outstretched in anticipation of the warm embrace he was about to receive from his mother and girlfriend. And as he hugged them tightly, I couldn't help but feel a sense of joy and contentment wash over me, knowing that he was surrounded by the love and support of his family.

As Seth approached his mother and sister, his heart swelled with warmth and love. He embraced them both, feeling their soft bodies against his own. Ayla's brown eyes sparkled as she caught sight of someone behind him.

"Violet!" she exclaimed, her smile stretching from ear to ear. Seth released her from his embrace, allowing her to sprint towards the newcomer. Her golden locks swayed behind her as she threw her arms around me, who welcomed her with open arms.

Their bodies pressed together, Ayla's warmth enveloping my cold skin. But Ayla didn't seem to mind, her joy at seeing her friend overriding any discomfort.

After a few seconds, they released each other, grinning from ear to ear.

"What are you doing here?" Ayla asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I'm visiting the Cullens," I replied, her eyes glinting with excitement.

Charlie piped up, "Speaking of them, have you met R-Renesmee yet?"

I nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yeah, she's quite a remarkable kid."

As I turned her gaze to Seth's mother, I couldn't tell if the woman hated me or was simply checking that I wouldn't harm Charlie. But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside and basked in the warmth of my sister's embrace.

"Charlie sprang up from the couch, his eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, where are my manners?" he exclaimed, his voice booming through the room. "Allow me to introduce you to Sue Clearwater, Seth and Leah's mother. You remember Violet, Gavin Baxter's kid?"

Sue's gentle voice broke. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Violet Baxter," she said, her eyes warm and welcoming.

I forced a smile, trying to hide the discomfort I felt at the mention of my old name. Sue's words about my father only added to the unease I was feeling.

As we stood in silence, Ayla's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Hey, Charlie," she chirped. "Can I show Violet my room?"

Charlie nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Sure thing, kiddo. It's technically your room, after all."

Ayla grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the stairs. Seth followed us like a loyal puppy, his eyes never leaving Ayla's back.

"Nice to meet you, Ms Clearwater," I muttered as we reached the top of the stairs.

As we approached the plain door, my heart raced with anticipation. Ayla's hand reached for the handle and with a gentle push, the door creaked open. My eyes widened as I took in the sight before me. Bella's old bedroom had undergone a complete transformation. The once vibrant pink and black duvet had been replaced with a serene light grey one. The pastel green walls were now a pristine ivory white, and a bright white light fixture hung from the ceiling, illuminating the room.

My gaze shifted to a long mirror standing near the window, and a cluttered desk on the right side of the room. Pens were scattered haphazardly, and books were piled high. It was clear that this was a space for studying, perhaps for school. The only thing that remained unchanged was the bed frame, still the same wooden frame from my last visit with human Bella.

"Wow," I breathed, taking in the new ambiance of the room.

As the door shut behind us, I turned to see Seth and Ayla standing side by side. Ayla's piercing gaze met mine, and she spoke with a hint of suspicion in her voice.

"So, Violet," she said. "Why are you here? I have a feeling it's more than just to see me."

I hesitated for a moment before responding. "Are you happy to see me?" I asked, hoping to deflect her probing question.

Ayla's expression softened, and she nodded. "Of course I am. I just want to know if there's something else going on."

I let out a heavy sigh, wishing that my troubles were as simple as the reason I was currently discussing with Ayla. "You know about Renesmee, right?" I asked her.

Ayla nodded, her expression solemn. "Seth filled me in on everything that happened with her," she replied. But then, her face fell as a realization hit her. "I didn't tell you that Jacob imprinted on her, did I?"

I gritted my teeth, still angry at Jacob for his actions. "Yeah, and I was furious with him," I admitted.

Seth chimed in, his voice laced with concern. "You scared Jake with your powers," he reminded me.

I shot him a bitter look. "Not now, Seth," I snapped.

Turning back to Ayla, I continued. "A vampire from another coven reported to the Volturi that Renesmee is an immortal child..."

"But Bella was human when she gave birth," Ayla interjected.

"Exactly," I agreed. "So Carlisle asked my family and me to stand with him as a witness. To say that she's a hybrid. Plus, other vampires are going to help him as well."

Ayla's eyes lit up with determination. "Then I'll help too," she declared confidently.

Seth's worried tone cut through the air. "Ayla, it's dangerous," he warned.

But Ayla wasn't deterred. "I'm a Child of the Moon, Sethy," she reminded him.

I stepped in to defend Seth. "He's right, Ayla," I said. "There will be other vampires, yellow eyes and red eyes, covens, the lot. And I don't know what their general views on werewolves are. They might think that all of them are dead."

Ayla's gaze dropped to the ground for a moment before she looked back up at me. "I guess you're right," she sighed. "Such a bummer."

I couldn't help but smile at her use of the word 'bummer'. Despite the gravity of the situation, Ayla's carefree spirit was a breath of fresh air.

"I understand," I murmured. "But it doesn't make it any easier."

Seth's eyes were filled with anger and frustration. "Why do they get to decide who we can and can't be with? It's not fair."

I sighed. "I know, but we have to follow the rules. We don't want to attract any unwanted attention."

Ayla's voice was soft and sad. "But what if they come for us anyway? What if we have to fight?"

I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of her words. The thought of a battle was terrifying, but I knew we had to be prepared. "We'll do what we have to do," I said finally. "But let's hope it doesn't come to that."

As the sun sank lower in the sky, we stood in silence, lost in our own thoughts. The beauty of the moment was bittersweet, knowing that we couldn't stay together for long.

"I should go," I said, breaking the stillness. "But I'll see you both soon."

Seth nodded, his expression solemn. "Stay safe."

Ayla hugged me again, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "See you later, Vi," she whispered into my ear, and we parted ways.

I embraced Seth tightly before making my way out of her bedroom. Descending the stairs, I bid farewell to Charlie and Sue, and departed from their abode. Once out of their line of vision, I bolted through the woods with lightning speed, racing back to the Cullen residence.