I blinked open my eyes to a woman in uniform leaning over me, "Sorry to wake you miss but we've landed."

"Landed?"

She nodded, "In Port Angeles."

Port Angeles? I nodded to her, still confused and de-boarded the plane. Charlie was waiting for me.

"It's good to see you Bells." He smiled at me.

"You too dad." I replied, still lost in my own thoughts, like what the fuck was going on?

He didn't say much on the drive home but from what I pieced together, no it couldn't be, but… could it? It couldn't have been a dream, I could still feel the hole, they'd left me with but here Charlie was picking me up from the airport, asking me about my flight from Phoenix, how mom and Phil were and if I remembered Jake who I used to play with and his father Billy. Then there was my truck, my homecoming gift. If it was all a dream, why was it the same?

When I woke up in the morning Charlie asked me if I needed him to take me to the school for my first day, it hadn't been a dream, or had it all been a dream, a painful premonition, or had I gone back? Had the woman who'd saved me from drowning sent me back in time to fix my fate? Did I have a second chance with Edward?

I hurried to school, everything was the same as the first time I'd had my first day here. I met the same people and they asked the same questions and then, at lunch, I saw them. They were more impressive and beautiful than I remembered. I felt a wave of such love and sorrow as I looked at them. Jessica was speaking to me but I felt the pain clawing at my chest, then calm filled me. I looked over at the Cullen table to find Jasper watching me, deep in thought. I sent him a smile in gratitude and it seemed to shock him. I laughed a little. All the Cullen's were staring at me now. I nodded to them and turned back to Jessica who was trying to get my attention. It wasn't until I walked into biology that I remembered Edward's initial reaction to me, to my blood. I hoped he had the strength to resist again.

I sent him a small smile as I sat down. He glared at me, eyes at their blackest, shifting his chair further away from me, holding his hand to his mouth.

"My name's Bella." I told him, hoping it would help to humanize me quicker for him. "You're Edward Cullen." I smiled thinking they were like the first words he had spoken to me. He nodded and turned away from me. I focused on class, or pretended to, all the while thanking whatever spirit, angel, demon woman it was that gave me this second chance.

Edward wasn't at school the next day; I wasn't surprised; he'd be back in a week, like last time.

I watched the Cullen's as surreptitiously as I could. I missed them. I missed Alice. I didn't really want to wait so long for us to be friends this time. When Edward got back, I'd convince him that everything would work out. I wouldn't make the same mistakes as before.

When Friday rolled around I went to the reservation with Charlie and we had dinner with Billy and Jacob. I couldn't help but grin at the scrawnier, human sixteen year old Jake, though his warm grin was still my smile, he was still my sun.

On Saturday I found myself back up at the reservation, I wasn't sure why I felt so drawn there, maybe it was the memories, I'd been safe here. I went to the cliff's to think; maybe I was drawn here because the demon angel woman had worked her magic here. I kind of owed her a thank you. Edward would be back at school tomorrow and I would have a second chance.

I turned at a noise and slipped on a wet rock. I fell hard and smacked my head. I heard laughter and a large warm hand helped me up.

"Alright Paleface?" He asked.

I looked up, into his eyes and felt my breath escape in a whoosh. His rich dark chocolate eyes stared into mine, his grin fading into a look of shock and wonder.

"Paul." I breathed his name.

He helped me to stand, his eyes never leaving mine. "Are you alright? You hit your head."

I smiled and shook my head, "I'm fine."

"I'm Paul, Paul Meraz."

I blushed, "Bella." Of course in this reality, we'd never met, this alternate reality, its what it had to be. A strange alternate reality where Paul didn't hate me, where instead of a sneer his still intense expression didn't express annoyance or anger and instead showed how beautiful he was. No, how sexy, gorgeous, intense, not beautiful. Beautiful didn't cover it.

"Bella." He repeated my name and smiled at me.

I blushed again. "How are you?" Dumb question but I couldn't think of anything to say, I was to distracted by his endless eyes.

He grinned at me, "Better than I've ever been. The best birthday of my existence."

"It's your birthday?"

He nodded, "Eighteenth."

"You're a senior?"

He nodded again, "At the Res School. You must go to Forks High."

"Yeah, I just moved here. I'm Bella Swan, Chief Swan's daughter."

Paul nodded, "He's a good man."

"Yeah." We talked about nothing for a long time, Paul was easy to talk to.

A shout finally broke his attention away. "That's Sam. I have to go."

"Oh." I didn't want him to go, not now that I'd met this alternate universe Paul.

"Would you come with me?"

"Where?"

"Emily's new house. That's Sam's girl friend. She just moved down a few weeks ago from another reservation." He looked away, "She was in the hospital for a bit, she's all healed now but the scars are still really fresh."

I nodded, "It's ok. Are you sure they wont mind me coming."

Paul nodded and grinned, "They'll love you." He stood up and offered me his hand, lifting me effortlessly to my feet and leading me down a path I'd never seen before to the beach. He never let go of my hand as he led me down the beach on a back way to Emily's house.

Jared came out on the porch and laughed, "So much for fucking rare!" Paul growled at him but Jared ignored it and jumped off the porch coming over to meet us, "I'm Jared. Paul's best friend since diapers, come on in and meet Sam, Emily and my girl Kim."

I followed Jared inside but I was distracted by his words, rare, what was rare? Imprinting? Could Paul have imprinted on me? Not real Paul but alternate reality Paul? Why did the idea make me feel so warm and tingly?

Numbly I let Paul lead me inside and distractedly greeted the others as they were introduced. We all had lunch together and then I found myself sitting outside with Paul. He told me the old legends before telling me what I already knew; Paul was a werewolf.

I nodded and he seemed to regard me for a long time. "I'm serious Bella. I can show you."

I nodded and then shook my head, "I know you're serious Paul." I turned to him, "You don't need to prove it. I believe you."

"That's it? You believe me and its ok?"

I smiled at him and nodded, "Yeah. That's it."

"Shit." He swore, "Sorry." He said smiling sheepishly at me, "That went a fuck ton of a lot easier than I expected."

I laughed and nudged him with my shoulder, "I guess I'm kinda good with weird."

"I hope so."

"Sorry?"

"Oh, nothing, its just, never mind."

"Paul?"

"I was wondering if maybe I could take you out. You know for dinner or something sometime?"

"Sure." I shrugged smiling.

He beamed at me, his eyes shinning, "Great. Tonight?"

I laughed, "Sure. Tonight."

"We could see a movie."

"Ok."

Paul led the way, he took me to a truck more battered than my beast and handed me inside. We talked the entire drive to Port Angeles. When we arrived he got tickets to the early showing and we spent the next hour walking around and talking until it was time.

His arm wrapped around me in the theater and I curled into his side, reveling in the warmth. After the movie I called Charlie, when he didn't answer I called Billy, they'd gone fishing that morning and were likely still together watching a game.

Jacob answered after the second ring.

"Hey Jake, it's Bella. Is Charlie there?"

"Uh, yeah, he's watching baseball with dad. Everything cool? Sam Uley stopped by to talk to dad and said you were helping him out with some stuff and were down on the res? You coming over when you're done? We ordered pizza."

"Sam did?"

"Yeah."

"Oh well, no actually I'm in Port Angeles now and was going to eat here. I just didn't want Charlie to worry."

"Right. Next time maybe?"

"Sure Jake."

"Hold a sec. I'll grab him for you."

A moment later and Charlie came on the phone, "Hey Bells. Having a good time? It's real nice of you to help Emily Young get settled. Terrible what happened to her with that bear."

"Yeah, right. Sorry I didn't call earlier or leave a note."

"No worries. I'm just going to have some pizza and watch the game with Billy. Have fun at the party tonight. Will you be home in the morning or spend tomorrow with your friends?"

Huh? "Oh, um, I don't really know."

"Ok, well, I'm fishing with Harry Clearwater in the morning anyways so I will just see you for dinner tomorrow."

"Ok. Thanks. Enjoy the game."

"Bye Bells."

I hung up the pay phone and went over to Paul, "Sam told Billy I was helping Emily tonight?"

"Oh, yeah." He blushed a little. "Em just moved down to the res and we were all going to go over, light a fire, hang out. Kim is spending the night and she thought you might like to as well."

"OK." I shrugged smiling up at him. He led us to a burger place and we ordered food. He ate one double bacon burger and large fries in the time it took me to eat a quarter of my burger. I saw him shifting and looking at the menu and wondered if he was trying not to freak me out too much after I took the werewolf thing so well.

"You should eat more. That had to be like a snack for you. Besides being four times my size and a growing boy, your metabolism has to be like seven times as fast as other people." I teased him.

He grinned at me, "Yeah, kinda."

"Eat. It wont freak me out to see that you can consume an entire cow in one sitting."

He laughed and got two more of the giant burgers. When I was done I also gave him my leftovers.

He drove us back to Emily's house. They were out back around a fire pit, roasting marshmallows and making smores. We spent the next few hours laughing and telling stories. By the end of the night I felt as though I'd known them all my life.

In the morning we made a huge breakfast and watched the boys toss around the ball and then play fight, both as people and as wolves. Paul only left my side twice, both times to run a quick patrol.

When it was time to say goodbye we sat in his truck, beside mine, still parked in the space near the cliff for a long time.

"Bella?"

"Yeah Paul."

"I need to tell you something."

"About?"

"Me."

"Ok."

"And you."

"Ok."

"It doesn't really have to mean, well, there's this thing."

It clicked what he was trying to tell me, "You imprinted on me."

"Yeah." He sighed. Then his head whipped up and around to me, "What?"

"It's ok." I shrugged. "We'll figure it out."

"How did you know?"

"The others all told their stories last night and Jared said something when I first got there yesterday." I shrugged. I didn't want to lie to him but what could I say, I came from a parallel world where I already knew all about werewolves and imprints? A parallel world where he hated me and my ex was a vampire who'd shattered me heart and soul.

"Right. So, well, yeah." He shrugged.

"See you tomorrow?" I asked him.

He nodded and turned to me smiling, "I'll call you tonight."

I grinned back at him, "Ok." I nodded and got out of his truck and drove home. I was in my own little world when Charlie came home. Even he noticed how happy I was.

"Well?" He asked as he sat at the table for dinner.

"Well what?" I responded dishing out the chicken.

"You seem really happy."

"I am." I agreed sitting down.

"Any reason?"

I blushed, "I met someone."

He huffed, "Paul Meraz has been in some trouble Bella. Billy and Harry says he's changed and is real smitten but you just be careful. I'm glad you're happy and all, I know myself he's an ok kid but he's had it a bit rough since his dad died and has been in more trouble than I'd like."

"How did you…" I was so red I thought my skin was burning.

He shifted uncomfortably, "Well now, after Sam came by and said you were with him and Harry came to say he saw you all together and how close you looked."

"You're worse than a couple of old women gossiping." I told him laughing.

He shrugged, blushing a little, "It gets to be something and you bring him by for dinner ok? I might have met him before but its different now."

I nodded, "Ok Dad."

I agreed. We ate the rest of our meal in silence.

Paul called as I was cleaning up. We spoke for a few minutes and I told Charlie he was coming by for dinner on Thursday. Charlie just nodded and kept his eyes on his game. I went upstairs to bed.

It wasn't until lunch the next day, when I saw the Cullen's it all really hit me. I'd readily given up my second chance with Edward. From the moment I'd looked into this Paul's eyes I'd been owned by him. No, not owned by him and not lost in him, I'd been those things with Edward, from the moment I'd met Paul, this Paul, it was like I'd been wrapped in warmth and love. I'd felt, beautiful, complete and relaxed for the first time, maybe ever.

It was bitter sweet to look at them, so close but still not one of them. In this universe I didn't belong with them, I didn't belong with Edward. If this was my second chance then had I truly never been meant for their family? Never been meant to love Edward? Had my love for him blinded me to Paul? Could anything blind me to Paul? If it had always been Paul, why hadn't he imprinted the first time? Or had he and just hated me enough never to say anything? Would my Paul hate me as much as that one had? If Paul wasn't meant to imprint on me why had he this time? My head was starting to hurt, no where near how much my heart was and yet I was wrapped in a warm bubble of calm and relaxation keeping me from falling apart.

I looked up as someone moved into my peripheral vision.

"Jasper?" I questioned. Of course, he was sending me calm.

He didn't say anything, just held out his hand to me. I put mine in his and let him lead me out of the cafeteria and into the damp but thankfully covered courtyard.

"You alright Darlin?" Had Jasper ever called me that before? It made me blush as I nodded. "I'm a pretty good listener."

I smiled at him letting my eyes meet his gold and black ones. "I'm ok, I think, am I?" I asked him, unsure how much his gift was affecting me. Our eyes met and I could tell he was assessing me. "I can't really tell you how I know, but I know what you are, all of you and what you can do. I wont tell anyone."

He nodded, still regarding me carefully. "Those are some pretty intense emotions."

I nodded, "Its complicated."

"Anything I can do?"

I shrugged, "I appreciate you keeping me together in there."

He nodded. "Its not the first time."

I shook my head, "Far from it."

"You did recognize us the first day?"

I nodded. "I wont ever say anything. You can trust me."

"I know. I can feel it." He hesitated, "You felt some pretty strong things looking at us, looking at Alice."

"I miss her."

"Miss her?"

I nodded, "It's really complicated."

"You're sitting with a centuries old empathic vampire whom you mysteriously recognize and know things about. I'd say we passed complicated."

I laughed, "Yeah, well add in the imprinted on by a werewolf who was supposed to hate her and you've maybe got the tip of the ice burg of my current complicated."

He nodded and I felt a fresh surge of calm, "How far past freaked out am I right now?"

He shrugged, "I'd say almost half a breath from full mental breakdown."

I laughed and leaned my head against his arm, "Can you just sit with me for a minute, please." The wave of sadness beginning to swamp me was derailed by a wave of affection and comfort making me sigh and close my eyes.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence I asked him, "Is Alice watching?"

"I'd reckon so."

"I never knew you had an accent."

"Born and bred and changed in the South. Usually I try to suppress it."

"Is my scent bothering you?"

"Oddly not at all, though it is a very lovely scent."

"Am I still Edward's singer?" It might throw me over the edge of crazy even with Jasper's help if in this universe I wasn't.

He chuckled, "Very much so. He's fairly certain he can control himself. I wont let him hurt you if he can't. I promise."

"Why?"

He sat very still, "I'm not sure. You intrigue me. Your emotions are so pure and very strong for a human. I felt them clearer than anything else, before I even saw you the day you arrived. They all seem tinged with sadness though and it inexplicably bothers me that you are so wounded."

"Can he read my mind?" Please let that one still be a no.

"No." Jasper laughed, "It frustrates and fascinates him as much as your emotions intrigue me."

"How is the family? Esme and Carlisle?"

"Everyone is good. You are the talk of the family, have been all week and after this likely will be for long to come."

"After us talking?"

"I'm not exactly the most verbose in the family let alone the most interactive with humans. Plus if your emotions hadn't been so captivating I'd probably have wanted to kill you to protect the family after learning Edward couldn't read your mind."

I shivered, had my Jasper wanted to kill me when I first came? I was very glad he hadn't. He'd even come to care enough about me to save me from James. "I think I feel ok now."

"Yes." He nodded, "We can still talk about it if you like?"

I sat up and smiled at him, "We should maybe get to class."

"It's about five minutes until final bell." He said with a chuckle, surprising me. How had so much time passed? "The offer stands Bella. I'll listen if you want to talk and sit if you don't."

"Thanks Jazz." I smiled at him. "I think I'd just like to go home now."

He nodded and got up, I saw Alice waiting a little ways away. She waved to me as he moved over to her. I waved and sent her a small smile. I still missed her so much.