Bella was running. She could feel the stalks of dead grass in the meadow snapping under her feet as she fled, terror in her heart for something she couldn't quite remember- something was chasing her, something more scary than anything she'd ever encountered before. She looked back as she ran, trying to see it through the trees, but she couldn't see anything but the foliage, rustling in the wind. Still, she knew it was there.

Her foot caught something when she wasn't paying attention and she went down hard, her hands and knees all hitting the ground simultaneously. She raised her head, looking for what she'd tripped over, and realized the meadow had become a small graveyard, and she'd stumbled against the edge of one of the grave markers. Confused, she rose slowly to her feet, circling around to the front of it. The name on the grave was Charlie Swan. Her breath caught as she took in the other tombstones- her mother, her step-father, her friends… they were all there. And at the end, turned slightly away from the others… she slowly closed the distance between her and in, realizing that though she was afraid her breath hadn't quickened, nor was her heart pounding.

Finally she got close enough to read the inscription on the stone: 'Isabella Marie Swan: Her suicide destroyed us all.'

"No," she said out loud to no one. "It wasn't a suicide." She looked back at the other stones and realized that the death dates of all her family and friends followed very closely after her own, and under each name was the same simple inscription: 'Died of grief.'

She fell backward, and felt her body hit something solid. In her shock at seeing all the graves she'd forgotten that something was pursuing her, and now it was too late. She whirled, and looked into the beautiful brown eyes of Jacob's wolf form. He looked more tortured and tormented than ever.

"Jake," she said, the relief obvious in her voice. "Something's chasing me. I think…" She trailed off as he assumed an attack stance, and she took a step back. "Jake, no. Please." She touched a hand to her heart, to signal to him that she still cared for him, that he didn't have to do this. Her chest was silent, still- no heartbeat. Tears fell from the wolf's eyes as it coiled back on its haunches in an attack stance, baring its teeth. Bella put her hands over her mouth, backing away in terror, then pulled them away, feeling something wet. Her hands were covered in blood, and then she could taste it, feel it thick in her mouth- it was choking her. Bella screamed.

"Bella!" Jacob's voice cut through her dream with an urgency bordering on something else- was it anger, or fear? Her eyes snapped open, thinking he was overreacting to her nightmare, embarrassed that she'd even fallen asleep, but then she realized he was worried about more than her dream. She followed his gaze; Edward stood in the corner of her bedroom, glaring at the two of them, where Bella had been sleeping in Jacob's embrace.

"Edward," she said quickly, extracting her body from Jacob's arms. They both stood up from the bed, and she felt overrun with conflicting feelings- leftover fear from the dream, irritation that Edward was interrupting her goodbye with Jacob, and uncertainty about what was happening.

"I told you if you left your window open you never know what might get in," he said icily, his words directed at her but his stare leveled right at Jacob.

"Please," Bella said, touching Edward's arm. "Don't fight."

"So you're really leaving," he said to Jacob, ignoring her.

"Yeah," he answered. "I bet you're real happy about it."

"Please!" Bella interrupted before their verbal standoff could continue. "He is leaving and we're saying goodbye." She dropped her voice. "Edward, please."

He looked at her, finally. "Bella, I'm sorry," he said smoothly. "I was just concerned when I saw your window open again."

She felt a little flare of irritation: the one time- the one time- she'd asked him to go. "Well maybe I was cold," she snapped, but then glanced away from him. It was hard for her to be confrontational with Edward in any way, and she knew just what Jacob would have to say about that. This kind of thing is exactly what she'd wanted to avoid.

But then Edward surprised her. His hostility died down and he looked at her pleadingly. "Are you going to come to Florida with me this weekend?"

"I… no," she said finally. "It's too soon. There's no rush… we'll go, but not this weekend. After graduation will be way less hectic."

Edward's jaw tightened. "What if I told you that you'd be safer there?"

"What are you talking about?" she asked, frowning. She felt Jacob stiffen behind her but her eyes were on Edward.

"Victoria is coming back," he answered, finally letting her in on the secret he'd tried to keep from her earlier. "She's going to kill you… Alice has seen it."

"Wait, but I thought Alice saw me as a vampire?"

"Things change, Bella," Edward said gently. "That's why I want to go to Florida… to tell you the truth this weekend is a little late for my comfort, but I know Charlie wouldn't let you go while you have school." They both knew it was debatable whether Charlie would let her go period, considering his feelings about Edward, not to mention the fact that she was severely grounded. But she left all of that unsaid.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"I wanted to protect you, Bella."

"You try to protect her from a murderer," Jacob interrupted, stepping toward them. "But when she asks you to help her commit suicide you're all for it."

"Jake," Bella warned.

"No, it's fine," Edward said, looking at Jacob. "For once you and I agree. I want her to stay alive too. But you know how stubborn she can be."

"Yeah, I do, but I don't censor myself around her like you do. When were you going to tell her about Victoria, huh? When you were lying on some beach somewhere? Oh wait, I forgot, you can't do that can you?"

Bella closed her eyes momentarily. "Jake, please."

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to tell her," Edward ground out. "My family could take care of Victoria and Bella would never have to know she was ever in danger."

She looked at him, surprised. "Hey, now wait a-"

"Oh, but she's hunting on our land," Jacob snarled. "So she's our responsibility. You know the Treaty. You can't hunt our prey."

"Well maybe if you and your pack of mongrels were better hunters, she wouldn't keep straying into our land," Edward answered, his voice as icy as his skin.

"Okay seriously, that's enough!" Bella said as loudly and as forcefully as she dared with Charlie sleeping so close by. She put a hand on each of their chests, feeling the profound difference between them with just a touch. "Edward. You can't keep this kind of stuff from me. I have a right to make decisions about my own life. And Jake, cool it, please. As of tomorrow you're not even going to be here, so I don't see why you're so worried about hunting rights or whatever."

Jacob calmed down first, taking a step back. "I know," he said, looking at her with his ever-warm brown eyes. "But Bella, you should go. The pack will protect you from being bitten by a vampire but it's hard enough hunting her without worrying about you getting caught in the middle. I'm sure the Cullens feel the same way," he added in a grating tone.

Edward nodded almost imperceptibly. "So you see?" he asked Bella in a friendly voice. "I was right all along, we should go to Florida for the weekend, and while we're gone the threat to you can be eliminated." He started to put his arm around her, but she stopped him.

"No wait," she said. "Hang on. Just because Jacob agrees with you doesn't mean I do. And just because you think this is best doesn't mean I think so too." She swallowed, trying to find her words. She looked at Edward and saw the confusion in his golden eyes. "Last time you decided to do something for my benefit I didn't really see it that way, you know?" She saw Jacob smile just a little, but she wasn't saying this for him, she was saying this for herself. "So just hang on and let me think about this for a second."

Both boys waited, but there was definite tension in the room while she tried to make up her mind. And then, even once she'd decided what she wanted, she was so surprised by her own decision that she still didn't speak for a bit. They both seemed incredibly uncomfortable standing here together, waiting for her, but she wanted to be sure before she spoke.

Finally she said, "I'm going with Jacob."

"What?" Edward and Jacob both said in unison.

"I'm going with Jacob," she said again, more firmly this time.

"Bella," Edward said. "That doesn't make any sense."

"No, it makes perfect sense," she said. "Victoria wants to kill me because you killed James- that's what Laurent told me, that she wants to get back at you for killing her mate or whatever, so she wants to kill yours. Right? Well then if you and I leave town, who's to say she won't follow us? Why wouldn't she? If I go with Jake, you'll still be here to hunt her down with your family, and she'll never know where I am. She doesn't know about me and Jake." Quickly she added, "Our friendship, I mean."

Edward gritted his teeth but said nothing, and she knew she had him; she was right and he couldn't deny it. He glared at Jacob, and then looked at her. "Fine," he said. "But only until Victoria's taken care of."

"Bella," Jacob said gently. "I didn't say you could come with me."

"Please? You know I'm right, it's the only why I'll be safe." She smiled at him. "And then… well, we wouldn't have to say goodbye right now."

"It's more complicated than that," he said, shaking his head.

"Jake, please, I…" she trailed off, glancing at a very obviously unhappy Edward. "I really want to go. Okay? I won't get in your way. I'll leave as soon as it's safe. You said you wanted to protect me, right? This is the best way."

"He doesn't think his wife's family is going to like you," Edward said, and Jacob's head snapped to glare at him.

"You stay out of my head, leech!" he snapped. Bella touched his arm lightly, trying to calm him, and it seemed to work somewhat.

"Then I'm staying here," she said to them both. "Either I go with Jake or I stay. I don't care what either of you think about that." She went back to her bed and sat down.

Jacob smiled a little, looking almost a little proud of her for standing up for herself, and she couldn't help but smile back, feeling a little proud herself.

"What about Charlie?" Edward asked.

"Charlie likes me," Jacob answered with a smirk. "I don't think he'll have any problem with her spending time with me."

Edward ignored him, turning his attention back to Bella. He walked over to her, putting his hand on her cheek. She looked up at him, her brow furrowing a little, not sure what he was going to do or say. "You're so stubborn," he said finally, in a soft voice.

"This isn't me being stubborn," she said, pulling away from him a little. "This is the best choice. You know it is."

"I just want you safe," he said after a moment, with some resignation in his voice. "Jacob took care of you while I was away… I already thanked him for that. I have no doubt he can take care of you again. But I swore I wouldn't leave your side."

"Yeah, you did," Bella said quietly. "You said unless I ordered you away. So I guess this is me doing that." She swallowed. "This is the only way you have a chance of catching Victoria. And then I can come home and not have to be afraid of her anymore. Right? That's what we both want."

Edward nodded, but she could tell her words had hurt him. He kissed the top of her head, stroking her cheek lightly with one hand as he did so. Then, without even a glance in Jacob's direction, he was gone.

"Bella," Jacob said gently, sitting down gingerly on the bed next to her. "You can't just come with me."

"You really don't think your…" She could barely get the word out, but she forced herself. "You wife's… family wouldn't like me?"

He hesitated. "No, it isn't that." He smiled a little, warmly, putting her a bit more at ease. "Who couldn't like you, Bella? I just don't know if they'd accept you."

"Why not?"

He stood. "I wish you could come. I really do."

She stood as well. "Then let me. Please, Jake."

"It's not so simple."

"Yeah, well nothing is, right? That's like a standard line from you now." She looked away in disappointment, and a long silence stretched between them.

"Two conditions," Jacob said finally. She looked at him, and for a moment had a strange sense of déjà vu, a wild half-expectation hitting her that he would propose as Edward had, but she knew he wouldn't.

"Okay. Sure. What are they?"

"One, Charlie has to agree," he said. "And two, so do my escorts."

"Escorts?"

"The people you saw with my dad earlier. Where we're going is secret, so they have to agree to take you there."

"Secret?" she repeated. "Where is it?"

He smiled a little. "If I knew that, it wouldn't be much of a secret, would it?"

"Wait… you don't even know where you're moving to?" she asked, dumbfounded.

Jacob shook his head slowly. "I told you that you wouldn't get it…"

"Okay," she said. "Sorry. You're right. I'll just go with it. So, secret location- got it. So if they say yes, it's yes?"

"If they say yes, then it's yes," he agreed. "But Bella… I really don't think they're going to."

"Let me work on Charlie first," she said. "Stay here for a second." She glanced at the clock: 5:41am. Only a little earlier than Charlie normally got up.

Jacob stayed as she requested, and she padded softly down the hall to the bedroom where her father lay snoring. She pushed the door open, knocking softly as she did so. Charlie jumped awake, halfway out of the bed before he recognized her.

"Oh," he said, sinking back into the blankets and yawning. "Hey Bells. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," she answered, smiling a little. "Everything's great. Sorry to wake you."

He found his watch on the bedside table and glanced at it. "Hmm… well, I'm supposed to be up in a half-hour anyway." He sat up, rubbing his eyes. "What's up?"

"Um… so, Jake just called. I guess the Rez school has a few days off and he's going on a fishing trip. He wanted to know if I could come."

"Well, does your school have a break?"

"No," she answered, knowing if she lied about that he could easily verify her story and she wanted to minimize the lying. "But we're way ahead on that group project I told you about, and that's all we're really doing right now." That was the lie.

"How long would you be gone?"

"Just a couple of days."

"Hmm…" He sighed. "Do the words 'grounded for the rest of your life' mean so little to you?"

"No," she said. "They don't. I get it. I know you're mad, and I screwed up. Big time. But I thought maybe… because it was Jake… Well, you know it was really hard for me when Edward was gone. And Jacob… you know, took my mind of things, like you said. I guess I… um… I want to take your advice, you know?"

"Advice?" he asked sleepily.

"Yeah," she answered. "To, um, you know… learn. About loving what's good for me."

Understanding dawned on him and he eyed her in a new light. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." She nodded, shifting her weight from one foot to another. "Why not, right?"

"Well Bells, I think that's a good thing. I really do. Jake's a nice kid. Billy raised him well and he thinks the world of you- always has."

Bella nodded, a little uncomfortable. "Totally. So can I go?"

Charlie let out a long breath. "Yeah, you can go," he said with resignation. "But only on the understanding that you're grounded for two lifetimes when you get back."

She smiled a little. "Okay. Yeah, absolutely. I get it. Thanks Charlie." At his nod she went on quickly, "Well, maybe you should get back to bed… you've still got at least a half hour of useable sleep left. Jake's going to pick me up as soon as I call him, so..."

He nodded thoughtfully. "This is good, kiddo," he said. "I know I don't have any right to comment on your relationships, but even if Jacob's just a friend… he's been a good one."

"Uh-huh," she said. "Okay, Charlie. I'll see you in a couple of days." He was already under the blankets again before she'd left the room, returning quickly to her bedroom. As she reached the door she felt a sudden stab of fear that Jacob would be gone, but when she turned the knob and opened it he was sitting on her bed, waiting.

"He said yes," she told him, seeing the obvious surprise- and even a little hope- in his face. "So that's one down."

"Pack a few things," he said with a smile. "I have to hurry and get home. Come with me and we'll see what they say." As she started grabbing some clothes and shoving them into a bag, he added, "You know your dad will check with my dad and realize you lied."

She hesitated. "I know," she said. "Sometimes it seems like that's all I do with Charlie, doesn't it?" She turned back toward him, and jumped as her nose nearly hit his chest; she hadn't even heard him move.

"I wish things would be different," he said softly. "I really do. I hope you know that, Bella."

"I do," she answered. "Really." He stepped back a little, allowing her to finish packing, and then he led her downstairs. His Rabbit was parked a few houses down, and as they walked towards it Bella scanned the tree line and the yards of her neighbors, but she didn't see Edward. She knew that meant nothing though, and he could still be here. Jacob had a small bounce in his step, and she wondered where that came from, if he was excited about her coming with him, or if he was excited about his upcoming marriage. She still couldn't believe he was actually going to be someone's husband, that gawky kid she'd played in the sandbox with. But then, she had an offer on the table that would make her somebody's wife- maybe she needed to stop seeing Jacob as so young. She was pretty sure no one else saw him that way anymore.


The little red house that Jacob had called home all his life was lit up when they arrived with the first hints of sunrise looming at one end of the horizon, just the barest hint of an orange haze slowly taking over the dark. He parked the Rabbit in the driveway and led her toward the house.

"Don't take it personally if there's some hostility," he warned her gently. "You being here isn't exactly part of the plan. I don't know what will happen."

"Am I in danger?" she asked, suddenly wondering who these 'escorts' were and just how much hostility he was expecting.

Jacob stopped, and turned to face her so there would be no doubt that she would hear him and understand. "Bella," he said. "You're never in danger as long as you're with me. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise." She gazed at him, her heart doing that little flutter it always did when he said something like that. She smiled a little, but it faded as she was struck with the thought that it would never do that if she became a vampire.

"Should I wait outside or something?" she asked as they reached the door.

"No," he said, opening it. "Stay close to me."

She resisted the urge to take his hand, and then took a deep breath as she stepped through the doorway with him. Jacob's father sat in his chair near the window, and looked up as they came in. The two 'escorts,' as Jacob had called them, turned to look as well, but Bella's attention was on the smile frozen on Billy's lips, half-formed. He looked at his son for some kind of explanation.

"That redheaded vampire that's been giving us trouble," Jacob said. "She's coming back. And she's after Bella. I offered her my protection," he lied, turning now to the escorts, a questioning look in his eyes. "I thought she could make the journey with us and stay safe in your country for a few days before returning home."

"Absolutely not," the male escort said immediately, standing up, his jaw set in anger. He looked at Bella with such hatred she was physically frightened, and she took half a step back, but Jacob gave her a reassuring look. The woman who had smiled at her while she hunkered underneath the living room window was doing the same thing now, and seemed completely unsurprised and unconcerned at Bella's presence. It made her feel a little better.

"Veyo's right, Jacob," Billy spoke up, wheeling over to them. "Bella, does your father know you're here?"

"Yeah," she said. "He does actually. He said I could go." At Billy's doubtful expression, she mumbled, "Well… I told him it was a fishing trip."

The one they'd called Veyo turned to his female companion and said something very quickly to her, but even if he'd slowed his speech down Bella still wouldn't have been able to understand him, because he definitely wasn't speaking English. It wasn't like any language she'd heard before, and it included hand gestures as though they were inseparable from the words he spoke, not an accessory like sign language but actually part of the words. The woman replied in the same language, and Veyo obviously didn't like her response, as he continued staring at Bella with an expression in his eyes so dark she was convinced he would have killed her if they'd been alone.

"You should go home," Billy said gently.

"Wait," the female escort said, standing up for the first time. Bella was surprised that all the men in the room fell silent, and even Veyo seemed to calm just a little as she walked over to Bella. She stopped in front of her, smiling again. It was a warm smile, inviting, soothing and kind. It reminded her of her mother, even though there was nothing in this girl's exotic face that resembled Renee in the slightest. But it was the smile itself, the warmth in it, the accepting. Bella felt no fear for this woman.

"Please kneel," she said cheerfully, as though her request was not strange at all. Bella glanced sideways at Jacob, who looked a little tense but gave the smallest nod, his gaze reassuring her that everything was fine. Bella did as she asked, getting down somewhat awkwardly onto the floor. The woman smiled at her, and raised both her hands, placing one on each side of Bella's face, the bottoms of her fingers following the line of her jaw, her thumbs hovering just under her eyes. Bella glanced at the men, noticing that each one looked curious, expectant, and in Veyo and Billy's eyes she saw almost reverence. Was something supposed to happen? She looked back at the woman, who still had a small smile on her lips. "Please don't break eye contact," she said in that same cheerful voice.

"Sorry," Bella answered softly, he own voice full of the uncertainty she felt.

The young woman looked deep into Bella's eyes, far longer than most people would consider polite or comfortable, and Bella could feel the urge to squirm rising, but she forced herself to ignore it. Luckily, the woman chose that moment to speak. "What is your name?"

"Bella," she said, and then realized she was waiting for more. "Bella Swan."

"And what is your business with Jacob Black?"

"Business? I don't- I mean I'm not sure… what you mean."

"Why do you wish to come to our lands?"

She frowned, since Jacob had already explained this, but she repeated the explanation in her own words anyway, "There's a vampire who wants to kill me… and she's coming here. Soon. If I came with you then I could be safe while she's dealt with."

"Any other reason?"

Bella blushed. "Well… um… Jake is my best friend…" She trailed off, embarrassed with all these eyes on her.

"And?" the girl asked, still friendly, but Bella was starting to feel a little interrogated.

"I guess… I want to spend more time with him. This is all happening so fast... him leaving. The marriage."

"Do you mean us harm?"

"No," she answered immediately. The girl's stare was getting extremely unnerving, even though the warmth hadn't left her eyes, but Bella forced herself not to look away. "Not at all."

The woman abruptly released her face. "Thank you," she said sweetly, before turning back to Veyo. "She comes with us."

He looked thoroughly pissed at this turn of events, but he gave a brusque nod and turned quickly, stalking into Jacob's room. The young woman turned as well, going to the bathroom, leaving Bella alone with Billy and Jacob. She heard a door slam in Jacob's room and knew Veyo had gone outside; sure enough, she saw him stomping around the yard angrily. But she was more worried about what had just happened and what this meant.

"So… can I come?" she asked tentatively. "I mean it seems like she said yes, right? Obviously Veyo isn't so excited about it, but it was a go from her… right?"

Billy looked about as happy as Veyo had, but he gritted his jaw and nodded. "For some reason Mitsis wants you to come," he said, naming the woman for the first time. "So you'll go."

"I don't mean to… like… cause problems," she said apologetically. Billy nodded at her, but she could tell he wasn't happy, and she felt bad about that. She was sticking her nose in business it didn't belong in, she knew that, but she couldn't help it. She wasn't ready to say goodbye to Jake yet and this was a way they could have more time together. Bella glanced over at Jacob. "What was with the cross-examination?" she asked. "And why'd she have to stare at me the whole time?"

Jake smiled, opening his mouth to respond, but then Bella noticed some movement out the window behind his head. Veyo was standing at the edge of the yard, clearly fuming- then he transformed into a full-blown wolf just as she had seen Jacob and the other boys do. He ran off into the woods and she gasped; it was still shocking to see that, but even more shocking was the fact that Veyo wasn't a Quileute, wasn't from here, and yet he could do what Jake could do. How?

"Jacob!" she gasped, interrupting any answer he'd been about to give her, pointing outside. He followed her gaze and gritted his teeth a little.

"He just needs to cool off," Billy told her.

"Wait, you know that he's… like that? Like you?" she asked Jacob, then instantly felt stupid. Why hadn't she expected this? Jacob was running off to marry some mystery girl, of course there must be a reason, maybe it was that she was like him, a werewolf, someone he could really fall for because she understood him like no one ever could… like Bella never could. She almost blushed at her own train of thought. She didn't want Jake that way, but if she was completely honest with herself, part of her wanted him to want her that way. She felt so selfish.

"Yeah," Jacob answered her. "I know." Mitsis emerged from the bathroom, looking out the window to see what they were talking about.

"We can all do that, Bella," she said warmly, smiling at her once more.

"You too?" she asked, surprised as Mitsis nodded. "Oh. But I thought only… um…" She trailed off, not wanting to cause offense.

"You thought only boys could do it?" Mitsis asked, her eyes dancing playfully. "So it may be with the Quileute, though that isn't always the case here either. But where I come from, women as well as men express the gene."

"Oh," Bella said, taking this in stride. "Right. Okay." Her curiosity was seriously piqued but she didn't want to step on any more toes than she already had by asking more dumb questions.

"Veyo will cool off and then return to us," Mitsis declared, seeming completely unconcerned with this turn of events. "We'll have to leave later than I intended." She went back to the couch and sat down, curling both feet up under her and sitting completely still, seeming to need nothing more than the air around her to be content. Bella glanced nervously at Jacob, who was watching Mitsis with a mixture of awe and uncertainty.

"I'm kind of glad you're not marrying her," Bella whispered to him under his breath.

"Yeah, me too," he said, flashing her a grin. She returned the smile and then excused herself to go have a shower, trying to make the best of the extra time while still avoiding Billy's disconcerting gaze, somewhere mixed between pity and envy, scorn and fear.