At this moment there are 6,470,818,671 people in the world. Some are running scared. Some are coming home. Some tell lies to make it through the day. Others are just now facing the truth. Some are evil men, at war with good. And some are good men, struggling with evil. Six billion people in the world. Six billion souls. And sometimes... all you need is one. -Peyton Sawyer
Bella Swan slowly pulled up out the front of her father's home, it still looked exactly the same as when she moved out, only now there was a small car in the driveway next to where the cruiser was usually parked and an old pick up truck around the side. Bella took two un-needed breaths as she climbed out of her SUV. Seth bounded out of the house and ran straight for Bella. "Hey finally" Seth exclaimed as he scooped Bella up and swung her around, making Bella laugh, "Seth put me down Jesus" she muttered. Seth smiled and pulled her up the front stairs and into Charlie's house "Bella's here" he declared as he dragged her into the house. They made their way to the kitchen where Sue was making coffee with a big smile on her face "Seth, Bella hasn't been here 5 minutes, give the woman a break" she grinned as she pulled Bella into her arms "Welcome Home Bella" Sue muttered as she gave her a kiss on the head, Bella smiled and nodded at Sue "Thanks, Sue it feels good to be back".
They sat together at the dining table talking and catching up drinking their coffee, Sue watched as Bella seemed to enjoy her coffee, but she kept her questions to herself. "Bella your dad said he's sorry, he had planned to be home in time but they were short staffed down at the station, so he's going to meet us at the bonfire tonight" Sue announced happily. Bella choked on her coffee and wiped her face. "Umm Sue sorry, I only asked Sam about the wedding" she muttered out softly. Sue squeezed her hand "It's all covered Bella, I spoke to Sam and he gave it the all clear". Bella was uneasy about the night's plans, Sam may have agreed, but she doubted Jacob was going to be happy about her coming, let alone the rest of the pack.
"So Bella we are all staying at the house in La Push tonight, so you have the house to yourself to enjoy" Bella smiled and asked Seth if he could help her grab some bags from the car, which he happily accepted. They headed out the front, as Seth grabbed the bags, Bella tugged on his arm before he headed inside "Seth be honest with me...how bad is tonight going to be?" Bella whispered. Seth put the bags down slowly as he looked at Bella sadly "Bells honey, honestly I don't know, Leah is actually on your side, apparently us being family now trumped "Bella is a Leech", Family changes things for her" he smiled and shook his head as he let out a chuckle. "Quil will always love you I don't think he can physically hate anyone, Embry is caught, he loves the Bella from Jake's garage, not Bella Cullen and well you hurt Jake so he's mad still, Paul, well Paul is just a dick to everyone so don't mind him. The others are ok Bella, they have had time to accept your choice, whether they agree or not, they just need time to adjust to the new and improved Bella". She nodded and gave him a tight hug "Thanks Seth for being honest". Bella didn't bother to ask about Jacob, she already knew the answer to that, she was going to avoid him at all costs.
Bella made her way upstairs to her old room and dumped her suitcase on the bed. She poked through her clothes looking for something to wear to the bonfire, she decided on a pair of skinny jeans, a black top with a black leather jacket and a brown pair of flat knee high boots. Once she was ready she went downstairs and was met with Leah in the lounge room. "Hey Bella" Leah smiled softly and gave Bella an awkward hug. "Hey Leah how you been?", and just like that, they slipped into an easy conversation, like nothing had really changed. After a few minutes of talking, Bella grabbed Leah and pulled her into a big hug "Thank you, Leah, for not making this hard" Bella breathed. Leah smiled and nodded and hugged her back "Your still Bella, just less clumsy now" Leah stated making them both laugh.
When Sue appeared downstairs she looked over at the girls happily, they were hugging and laughing, she glided over to the girls and squeezed both there hands "Come on girls it's time to head out". Seth met them all outside waiting in his truck Sue headed over to the truck and climbed in. "I'm gonna ride with Bella" Leah declared as she jumped in Bella's SUV. The girls rode to La Push in silence, both enjoying the peace and quiet.
"Look, Leah, there's something I want to talk to you about, but I need you to promise you won't say anything?".
Leah looked over at Bella and nodded "I'm not with Edward anymore, I'm no longer a Cullen...I haven't been for the last 8 months" she sighed as she looked over at a shocked Leah.
"Bella, Charlie didn't say anything?". Bella looked away awkwardly "He doesn't know Leah" she whispered quietly.
Leah sat in silence and thought over Bella's words "You didn't tell him cause you weren't ready to come back yet, I get that".
"Honestly... I didn't think I would be allowed..." Bella shuffled around in her seat avoiding Leah's glare.
"Bella, Charlie will always want you around, Vamp or not hell he has two wolf's who eat him out of home". Leah watched Bella "But I have a feeling it was more than Charlie, you weren't ready to face us yet, let alone HIM..". Bella smiled gently and nodded. "Yeah I didn't know what to expect from you guys, and Jake, well I've already had a small taste of what's to come".
They crossed the border into La Push and Leah squeezed Bella's hand "Swan it will be ok, just give them some time, most of them are ok and for certain people, well, just...give them time..". Bella pulled up and parked at the beach. From the car, they could see the bonfire and most of the pack sitting around the flames. "Come on B, I gotcha back" and with that, they both slid out of the car and made their way to the fire. Leah linked her arm with Bella's and pulled her towards the fire "Just don't get to close B" Leach cackled as Bella rolled her eyes, Sue smiled happily at the girls and waved over to Bella, she laughed and waved back.
Suddenly Quil pounced up from the ground and was running at Bella, he charged at her with a huge grin plastered on his face and tackled her to the ground. Bella was in hysterics as Quil tickled her "Quil Jesus fuck cut it out you big goof". Quil grinned and gave her a big kiss on the cheek "Missed you Bell's" he stated and pulled her up quickly. Once she was standing she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck "Thank's for being you Quil, I missed you too" she muttered and kissed his cheek. Quil smiled and gave her a wink and walked back to the fire. Jarred and Kim gave a soft wave as well as Emily, Sam gave nodded at Bella and sent her a soft smile, Embry gave Bella a curt nod and Paul grunted and stalked off to the forest, all in all, Bella thought it was a good start.
Bella spotted Billy and gave a soft awkward wave, she had no idea how Billy felt about her being back on the reservation. Billy gave a big smile and nodded in her direction, Bella was happy with that, she joined Sue and Seth, with Leah trailing behind her. After a half hour of sitting around the fire Bella heard Charlie's cruiser and grinned as she jumped up and ran to meet him, she slowed down to a walking pace as she got closer, she didn't want to startle him. Charlie made his way out of the cruiser and headed over to the beach, he looked up and noticed Bella, a huge grin spreading across his face "Bell's" he whispered out. Bella ran over the rest of the way and hugged Charlie tight, but not to tight to hurt him.
"Bell's you're here, you're really here" he murmured as tears rolled down his face. Bella smiled and held him close "I'm here dad I wouldn't miss this for the world, love you" she uttered out. Charlie ran his hands over her hair and face, her face felt colder, her eyes were a different shade of brown, but she still looked like Bell's, there was only a slight difference in Bella but he didn't care as long as she was in his life he didn't mind how he got to have her as long as she was still around .
"Come on dad let's not keep your bride to be waiting" Bella chuckled as she led Charlie back to the beach. Charlie made his way over to Sue kissing her gently, then sitting next to her, hand in hand as they looked over at the kids sitting together, they were finally a complete family. Bella sat in-between Seth's legs and smiled as she looked over at Sue and her dad, she was so happy he was happy. Leah nudged her "It's a bit cute isn't it" she whispered. Bella and Seth agreed as they giggled at a goo-goo eyed Charlie.
"Glad your home sis?" Seth whispered in her ear. Bella looked around at Seth and nodded "Yeah I don't want to miss any of this" She breathed out and looked back over at Sue and Charlie.
As they settled back and listened to Billy telling the tribal stories Bella noticed a large figure in the distance near the water. Bella didn't need amazing eye site to know it was Jacob, the goose bumps all over her body said everything, she could feel his eyes glaring at her making her shiver slightly, she knew she wasn't wanted here. Seth noticed and wrapped his arms around Bella "Just ignore him Bell's don't let him ruin this weekend for you" he whispered in her ear. She nodded and tried to focus back on Billy. She noticed Sam watching between her and Jacob shaking his head, he smiled gently at her and mouthed "give him time". She leaned back on Seth and lost herself in the story Billy was telling. Bella knew coming home wasn't going to be easy, but she never thought that the thought of leaving would be even harder.