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Chapter 20 Bonus Scene
"She is something else," Gideon said with a rumbling chuckle as he turned and looked at one very proud and very pleased Seth.
Seth sighed as he always did when Isabella was the topic and his ice blue eyes twinkled with mirth. "You can sure say that again. If I didn't dislike Vincent so much, I'd almost feel sorry for him," he said in a menacing voice.
It had taken a great, great deal of angelic powers on the part of Gideon to keep Seth from showing Mr. Sinclair just how much he was disliked by his favorite and, at times, unruly pupil. Though, Gideon had to admit, and only to himself of course, watching Seth and young Edward spar like old friends filled his heart with a great amount of joy. The two were so alike in so many ways, but were so different at the same time. As proud as Seth was of both his humans, Gideon was equally proud of Seth for his careful and diligent guidance of young Edward. It was no easy task, Gideon was well aware of that, and thus far Seth had handled him with near perfection.
Even when he antagonized the poor man it was done with just the right amount of love mixed with orneriness. Even Gideon enjoyed watching Edward get worked up, only because he made it so easy to do.
It wasn't often that humans were able to surprise angels, goodness knew what would happen if it was, but Gideon was amazed at the turn of events that had happened during the entire night. It had been one eye-opening thing after another and as he looked down below at Edward and Isabella as they left their family and friends, he knew things had definitely come to a point where Seth needed to stay extremely focused.
Time was of the essence and though he was as pleased as anyone about the closeness Isabella and Edward now shared, there was still much to be done.
"Seth, we need to talk," Gideon said somewhat resignedly. He really didn't like to interfere too much where his pupils were concerned but there were some things that had caused him concern, things that he needed to remind Seth of.
Seth tore his gaze away from his humans, though he knew his presence would not be needed, nor wanted, for quite some time. "What is it?" he asked with a frown on his face.
"Come." Gideon motioned and the two floated along for a time while he decided on the best way to approach things. "My friend," he began once a few more moments passed, "you have done a remarkable job with young Edward."
"Thank you," Seth answered, though he hesitated because he knew his mentor was going to follow that statement with a...
"But," Gideon went on. He smiled at his young friend when he noticed the apprehensive look on his face. "Seth, come now, you know I would never be angry at you, though, I do have to say you have a tendency to enjoy riling up Edward much more than you probably should."
Seth grinned and shrugged his large shoulders, totally unapologetic. "He just makes it too easy sometimes."
Gideon nodded for he was well aware of that fact. "Yes, I know. He kind of reminds me of someone else," he said with a wink before letting the smile fall from his face. "Seth, I know how much you love both Edward and Isabella and I know how long you've waited for the time when our and your presence would become necessary. It's been a truly remarkable thing to watch the two of them rediscover their love and their passion for each other, but I feel as if you have perhaps lost sight of what it is that still needs to be done."
The reproach was gentle, though Gideon's voice boomed like thunder. Seth's head snapped up and he looked at his mentor with wide eyes. "No...I mean...I've tried," he stammered and it was so unlike the calm, cocky angel they all knew and loved, Gideon couldn't help but laugh at him.
"Seth, calm down. I'm not angry with you, but I do feel like you need to concentrate on the difficult things Edward still must do and face. He's exceeded all of our expectations," Gideon went on and then stopped when he could see Seth wanted to say something.
"He has in some ways," Seth began as soon as Gideon stopped talking. "But, I've always known there was an infinite amount of grace and love inside of him." The tone of voice he used left no room for doubt, not that Gideon had any to begin with.
"Yes, Seth, I know," Gideon answered with a patient sigh. "However, you know as well as I that some of the events of this evening, while all fine and good right at the moment, are very likely to become points of contention once Edward is faced with the stark realities he must face. Are you ready for that?"
Seth took a moment to answer because he was more than a bit angry at himself for letting the love affair that Edward and Isabella were currently in the middle of take his attention away from his sole purpose.
The two otherworldly beings looked down below and watched as Emmett, Rose, and the others discussed everything they had witnessed throughout the course of the evening. Edward and Isabella's behavior toward each other; Edward's obvious happiness, along with the way he interacted with their group as well as with the other men and women he associated with. He was charming, polite when he'd needed to be, and above all else, so obviously content and happy; it just radiated from him.
Of course the interaction on the sidewalk between Edward and Vincent and then with Isabella and Vincent was the main topic of conversation and when Gideon heard Alec mention the very thing that concerned him, he turned and looked at Seth and he could tell by the worry lines that creased his heavenly forehead, he realized what was to come as well.
"Ah, damn, he's really not going to want to have that discussion," Seth groaned, not even realizing he'd let the colorful word slip from his lips.
Gideon, of course, let the moment pass, besides it wasn't the first time he'd ever heard such a word come from his young charge nor would it be the last. Especially where Edward was concerned, he thought with a rueful shake of his head. "No, he most definitely will not, but it must be done nonetheless. Amongst others," Gideon reminded.
"She is something else," Gideon said with a rumbling chuckle as he turned and looked at one very proud and very pleased Seth.
Seth sighed as he always did when Isabella was the topic and his ice blue eyes twinkled with mirth. "You can sure say that again. If I didn't dislike Vincent so much, I'd almost feel sorry for him," he said in a menacing voice.
It had taken a great, great deal of angelic powers on the part of Gideon to keep Seth from showing Mr. Sinclair just how much he was disliked by his favorite and, at times, unruly pupil. Though, Gideon had to admit, and only to himself of course, watching Seth and young Edward spar like old friends filled his heart with a great amount of joy. The two were so alike in so many ways, but were so different at the same time. As proud as Seth was of both his humans, Gideon was equally proud of Seth for his careful and diligent guidance of young Edward. It was no easy task, Gideon was well aware of that, and thus far Seth had handled him with near perfection.
Even when he antagonized the poor man it was done with just the right amount of love mixed with orneriness. Even Gideon enjoyed watching Edward get worked up, only because he made it so easy to do.
It wasn't often that humans were able to surprise angels, goodness knew what would happen if it was, but Gideon was amazed at the turn of events that had happened during the entire night. It had been one eye-opening thing after another and as he looked down below at Edward and Isabella as they left their family and friends, he knew things had definitely come to a point where Seth needed to stay extremely focused.
Time was of the essence and though he was as pleased as anyone about the closeness Isabella and Edward now shared, there was still much to be done.
"Seth, we need to talk," Gideon said somewhat resignedly. He really didn't like to interfere too much where his pupils were concerned but there were some things that had caused him concern, things that he needed to remind Seth of.
Seth tore his gaze away from his humans, though he knew his presence would not be needed, nor wanted, for quite some time. "What is it?" he asked with a frown on his face.
"Come." Gideon motioned and the two floated along for a time while he decided on the best way to approach things. "My friend," he began once a few more moments passed, "you have done a remarkable job with young Edward."
"Thank you," Seth answered, though he hesitated because he knew his mentor was going to follow that statement with a...
"But," Gideon went on. He smiled at his young friend when he noticed the apprehensive look on his face. "Seth, come now, you know I would never be angry at you, though, I do have to say you have a tendency to enjoy riling up Edward much more than you probably should."
Seth grinned and shrugged his large shoulders, totally unapologetic. "He just makes it too easy sometimes."
Gideon nodded for he was well aware of that fact. "Yes, I know. He kind of reminds me of someone else," he said with a wink before letting the smile fall from his face. "Seth, I know how much you love both Edward and Isabella and I know how long you've waited for the time when our and your presence would become necessary. It's been a truly remarkable thing to watch the two of them rediscover their love and their passion for each other, but I feel as if you have perhaps lost sight of what it is that still needs to be done."
The reproach was gentle, though Gideon's voice boomed like thunder. Seth's head snapped up and he looked at his mentor with wide eyes. "No...I mean...I've tried," he stammered and it was so unlike the calm, cocky angel they all knew and loved, Gideon couldn't help but laugh at him.
"Seth, calm down. I'm not angry with you, but I do feel like you need to concentrate on the difficult things Edward still must do and face. He's exceeded all of our expectations," Gideon went on and then stopped when he could see Seth wanted to say something.
"He has in some ways," Seth began as soon as Gideon stopped talking. "But, I've always known there was an infinite amount of grace and love inside of him." The tone of voice he used left no room for doubt, not that Gideon had any to begin with.
"Yes, Seth, I know," Gideon answered with a patient sigh. "However, you know as well as I that some of the events of this evening, while all fine and good right at the moment, are very likely to become points of contention once Edward is faced with the stark realities he must face. Are you ready for that?"
Seth took a moment to answer because he was more than a bit angry at himself for letting the love affair that Edward and Isabella were currently in the middle of take his attention away from his sole purpose.
The two otherworldly beings looked down below and watched as Emmett, Rose, and the others discussed everything they had witnessed throughout the course of the evening. Edward and Isabella's behavior toward each other; Edward's obvious happiness, along with the way he interacted with their group as well as with the other men and women he associated with. He was charming, polite when he'd needed to be, and above all else, so obviously content and happy; it just radiated from him.
Of course the interaction on the sidewalk between Edward and Vincent and then with Isabella and Vincent was the main topic of conversation and when Gideon heard Alec mention the very thing that concerned him, he turned and looked at Seth and he could tell by the worry lines that creased his heavenly forehead, he realized what was to come as well.
"Ah, damn, he's really not going to want to have that discussion," Seth groaned, not even realizing he'd let the colorful word slip from his lips.
Gideon, of course, let the moment pass, besides it wasn't the first time he'd ever heard such a word come from his young charge nor would it be the last. Especially where Edward was concerned, he thought with a rueful shake of his head. "No, he most definitely will not, but it must be done nonetheless. Amongst others," Gideon reminded.
Seth floated away for a few moments while he pondered the events of the evening. His heart swelled with so much pride for Edward and what he'd done during the night in regard to Anna that he wasn't sure it wouldn't explode. Never in all his many years had he been as moved as he'd been when Edward demanded that Seth and the others watch over and help Anna as she began her own journey of redemption and rediscovery. At the same time, his heart positively shattered when he thought about what the coming days would mean for Edward. He knew his hardest test was approaching and for the first time ever, he was unsure of what the outcome would be.
To be perfectly honest, for the first time since he'd become an angel and most especially since the first time he'd asked to be Edward's guide, he questioned what his purpose was and why Edward couldn't be spared. The love he and Isabella shared was so rare and it truly affected everyone around them. The change in Edward touched everyone he came in contact with and when his time was up, it would devastate so many people. Isabella, he thought with a shudder, would very likely never recover.
She would go on, but she would never be the same and that realization tore at his heart so much that his shoulders began to shake as silent tears poured from his eyes.
Gideon had been waiting for this moment and though he was privy to things Seth was not, he totally understood where his charge's anguish came from. No one would ever be able to say that Seth was less than totally, one hundred percent invested in Edward's and Isabella's happiness.
"Seth," Gideon said after a time in the gentlest voice he could muster. When Seth looked at him, he floated until he was just in front of him and then lifted his hands and laid them on the young angel's shoulders. "You still have a very important job to do, one that is going to be the hardest thing you've ever had to do. You know how much rests in your hands and you know what must be done. You can't wait any longer. The time has come to push Edward, even though it will be painful, you must...must do it."
His tone was urgent and Gideon so wished he could share with Seth everything, but it wasn't the time, at least not yet.
Seth heard the almost desperate undercurrent and it immediately set him on edge, though he knew from experience that Gideon always had a reason for everything he said or did, and often kept those reasons to himself until it was time to share them. It obviously wasn't time for him to share now, so Seth said nothing, though he did file it away in his mind to question later.
"I'll do what must be done," Seth said simply and then turned and floated away. He needed some time to steel his resolve for the upcoming days.
Gideon watched his most special friend float away and let out a long, heavy breath and said a silent prayer asking for the guidance he was sure he would need.
So much depended on Seth, on himself, and most importantly, Edward.
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