Immersed

by jazzywazzy08

After the death of her grandmother Bonnie moves from one supernatural infested town to another; drawing the attention of the Quileute, the Cullen family, The Volturi, and finding that her family's history with the supernatural runs much deeper than she ever thought possible.

4. Part Four: The Guardian

Title: Immersed

Rating: M

Genre: AU/AH/Crossovers

Pairing(s): Bonnie/Jacob, Bonnie/Edward (One-sided), Bonnie/Demetri (One-sided), Bonnie/Klaus (One-Sided), Klaus/Leah, Tyler/Angela, Caroline/Embry, Bella/Matt, Stefan/Elena, Alice/Jasper, Emmett/Rosalie, Carlisle/Esme, Charlie/Abby, Liz/Rudy, Damon/Katherine, Paul/Rachel, Sam/Emily, etc.

Summary: "Bennett witches has always been immersed in the supernatural. It is something that we can't get away from. The connection is fathomless, endless, and deep. No matter how far we run, the world of the unknown and the unnatural always finds us. We don't get normal, we never have and we never will." After the death of her grandmother Bonnie moves from one supernatural infested town to another; drawing the attention of the Quileute, the Cullen family, The Volturi, and finding that her family's history with the supernatural runs much deeper than she ever thought possible.

Warnings: Character Death, Violence, Torture, Non-Canon, etc.

Part Four: The Guardian

Forks, Washington; Bennett-Swan Residence

Bonnie Bennett sat down across from Bella Swan at the breakfast table, avoiding eye contact with the brunette. Still Bella stared at her openly as Bonnie watched Abby make breakfast. Charlie walked around the table and leaned against the counter, watching Abby as well, a small smile on his face. Bonnie grinned when her mother glanced at the police chief and rolled her eyes.

"You got something to say?" Abby asked, as she went back to flipping bacon.

Charlie shrugged, his eyes never leaving her as he opened the cabinet and pulled out two coffee mugs. "Maybe I just like the view," he answered.

Bonnie shook her head. Abby said something along the lines of being too worried about her daughter to flirt but Bonnie could see the smirk on her lips. She wondered for a moment if Abby had ever been the way she was with Charlie, with her father. Abby had left when Bonnie was so young, that she didn't remember ever seeing her parents do anything aside from fight.

"So," Bella said, drawing her attention, her tone sounding as if she were talking about something as casual as the weather, "Are we just going to not talk about the fact that Jacob was in your bed this morning after likely spending the night there? Or the fact that he is now in the shower and the fact that you seem to smell like his shampoo?"

Bonnie winced and made an unintelligible noise under breath. She had to resist the urge to bang her head against the table. Bella was too observant for anyone's good. "A lot of stuff happened last night and I'm not sure if I am allowed to tell you yet," Bonnie sighed, "Abby and Charlie knew he was here. I just needed him that's all."

Bella sighed, heavily. She hadn't meant to push a button, but it seemed she had. "I was just joking," Bella stammered, "Mostly. It's just…you seem to need him a lot. He's kind of my best friend and I know you know that he likes you…" Bella glanced over at their parents and was relieved to find that they were preoccupied with each other and for the most part not paying attention to their conversation. "I know you would never hurt him on purpose," Bella continued, "I just want to make sure….you're not…leading him on or anything."

Bonnie ran her hand over her face. "I understand your concern," she said, "And I am actually really glad that you're looking out for him because…I am starting to remember how nice it is to have someone look out for you. But really Bells. I don't have vast relationship experience, or any really. I've been on like maybe five dates, and one was a group thing so it doesn't really count… Anyway, what I'm trying to say is…I wouldn't know how to lead Jacob on if I wanted to. We're friends, he knows that, I'm being honest with him."

Bella was observant by nature, and so she noted sudden change in Bonnie's demeanor. The girl seemed to relax as she glanced upward. Bella wasn't sure where the change had come from until she heard footsteps coming from upstairs. "That's just the thing," Bella said cautiously, "You seem to need Jacob more than a friend would need a friend."

Bonnie heard Abby clear her throat and she frowned again. She looked down and began to pick at the table cloth. It wasn't her fault she had some kind of weird connection to Jacob, she was sure now that it was supernatural but she wasn't sure that it was entirely so. Bonnie opened her mouth to tell Bella that she would explain it if she could but her mouth shut when she felt Jacob's presence behind her. The frown left her lips as she felt Jacob kiss the top of her head.

"Stop bugging her Bells," Jacob said as he sat down next to Bonnie, "You know it hurts for her to think too much." Bonnie elbowed him in the side playfully as he pulled his chair closer to hers. "What?" Jacob asked innocently, as he draped his arm over the back of Bonnie's chair, "I was coming to your defense."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Didn't sound like it?" Bonnie huffed.

"Lighten up," Jacob commented, "Or Abby is going to starve me to make me pay for upsetting you."

"Should've thought about that before you opened your big mouth," Bonnie grinned, even as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Well I guess I'll just have to eat off of your plate since it's your fault I will be food deprived," Jacob shrugged. There was a beat that passed as he looked at her and then the others before he looked back and spoke once more. "How'd things go with Cullen?" He asked.

Bonnie blinked at him a moment. "I don't think he's giving up," she told him. She felt him tense and she wrapped her arms around his middle. "I know we don't like it," Bonnie sighed, "But I think there is a reason that the Cullens seem to feel the need to harass me. Edward said that Alice saw me in their future."

Everyone's ears seemed to perk up at that. She had even gotten Abby and Charlie's attention.

"What makes you think he's telling the truth?" Jacob asked.

"What reason does he have to lie about something like that," Bonnie said, "I mean, given how I have been treating him and his family I doubt he would think telling me something like that would soften my stance on things." Bonnie wasn't really sure what her stance was anymore. She considered her mother's words from their conversation and she was certain that she wanted to at least try and reserve her judgment, but Edward's behavior made it hard for her not to be annoyed even without her past encounters with vampires. "I just think that it's something to consider," Bonnie said, "It might even be smart to make allies of the Cullens at least. I mean…I've been thinking. I have to have the best interest of my wolves in mind and if there is an amiable relationship there we could avoid confrontation in the future. There is no real point in making enemies where there don't need to be any. I have a feeling that we're going to have enough to deal with and fight against as it stands."

Jacob frowned. "As long as it doesn't go farther than being amiable," Jacob said, "And the treaty stays."

The others raised an eyebrow at the hardness in his tone, but Bonnie didn't flinch. Abby wondered about Jacob seeming to have so much to say about things he had just learned about the night before. She had expected at the very least, he wouldn't have as much to contribute to the situation until after he phased. Clearly she had been wrong.

"Of course," Bonnie agreed, breaking into Abby's thoughts, "I'm not suggesting otherwise. And I am not suggesting that Sam and the others befriend the Cullens when they phase, or even me befriending them really. I just think that we should have an open line of communication. I mean they came from my kind, my line, and so I can't avoid them completely. I realize that now, but that doesn't mean I am going to drop everything to go play nice with them. My family comes first, and that includes Bella and Charlie. The people I care about come first. You come first. My wolves will come first. They have a duty to protect their people and I have the duty to protect them. I'm not going to take that lightly."

"And what about you?" Jacob asked, "If you're running around putting everyone first then where do you come in?"

Bonnie figured that she could talk openly in front of everyone, even with Bella not being completely informed yet. If this was going to be her home, and these people were going to be her family, then she would have to act like it. Besides, the lack of communication had been one of the problems that now kept her from the home that she had left. "I'll protect myself," Bonnie said, "I know that I need to. That I have to, if for no other reason but to stay around long enough to protect the people I care about…the way I didn't with my Grams. But it's different here. If I protect the people around me, I can trust that I will get as good as I give. I know that all of you would protect me if it came down to it. I don't have to worry about that anymore. And you saw the way Sam was with me last night. We're going to take care of each other. All of us. I can feel it."

"Agreed," Abby nodded. The other's nodded their acquiescence as well, though Bella seemed more than a little confused by the speech.

"So we're all on the same page," Bonnie smiled. "Good." As much as she was sure that her friends in Mystic Falls had tried, she knew that they had all kept each other in the dark about too many things to actually be called a team. "From now on we have to be honest with each other," Bonnie said, "If we want to protect each other we have to work together."

"Then I think that we should all be there when Bonnie meets with the Elders today," Charlie said.

"I thought we would all be there anyway," Jacob said, his eyebrow raised. Bonnie nodded. She hadn't expected to have to confront them alone. Even if she was only in Charlie and Abby's company that would have been enough. However, with Jacob's attachment to her and hers to him, as well as Bella's inquisitive nature, she had suspected that both Jacob and Bella would have found a way to infiltrate the meeting if they could.

"They wanted it to just be me and Bonnie," Abby revealed, "But we're a family and I think we should all be there. Besides Bella asks so many questions we would end up telling her everything anyway and I'm pretty sure if Jacob was kept out he would find a way to force his way in. So we all go together. It would save us a lot of trouble that way." Bonnie smiled as she realized that she and Abby had drawn the same conclusions.

"Well," Bella said, looking from one to the other as she had only been able to follow about half of the conversation, "How about someone fill me in before this whole meeting thing? I mean what's with the whole 'my wolves' thing and why did Bonnie mention Sam? I'm assuming she meant Sam Uley….right?"

Everyone looked at Bonnie and she sighed. She didn't want to be the one fielding Bella's questions but at the same time she knew that she was the only one that could answer them. "Alright," she said, "I'll start from the beginning."

:::

Mystic Falls, Virginia

Caroline Forbes knew that her plan wasn't a very thought out one but she hoped that it would work. Having her mother invite Bonnie's father over for breakfast was the only way that she could think of to figure out her friend's whereabouts.

She wasn't naive enough to think that Rudy would just let the information slip. No, the objective had been to get the man out of his house. Being Bonnie's best friend had given Caroline certain advantages, one of which being that she knew where the spare key to Bonnie's house was hidden.

Caroline bent down and lifted the flower pot that was on the edge of the front porch. She smiled as she retrieved the small metal key. She picked it up and gave a triumphant fist pump as she walked toward the front door.

Things had shot to hell since Bonnie had left. Between Matt's absente mother reappearing, Elena's absente birth mother ending up appearing herself as a vampire (though Caroline was unaware of the vampire aspect), and Caroline's own insecurities resurfacing now that her relationship with Matt was slowly crumbling because of his mother and his still lingering attachment to Elena; Caroline was pretty much miserable. What made things worse was that Elena couldn't talk to Caroline about what was bothering her because she wasn't Bonnie and Caroline couldn't talk to Elena about feeling second best to her because she wouldn't understand, only Bonnie would understand. Yes, Bonnie was still in contact with Caroline at least, but texting wasn't enough, not when she had been able to see and talk to Bonnie face to face practically their whole lives. They had never been apart this long and it was beginning to take its toll.

It wasn't just about her not being able to see Bonnie, it was about not being able to know whether or not Bonnie was okay. Miss Sheila had been important to them all, and as much as Bonnie teased about the woman's drinking, Caroline knew that for Bonnie, the woman had been everything.

Then there was the fact that there was the possibility that Bonnie would not be returning at all which was something that Caroline couldn't understand. After everything that they had been through, for Bonnie to not only not return but to not even tell them that she wouldn't be coming home or the reasoning behind it, didn't make any sense.

Wherever Bonnie was, something was holding her there and Caroline was determined to find out what it was.

Caroline unlocked the door to Bonnie's house and walked inside. She shut and locked the door behind her. She frowned once she was inside however, as she wasn't sure where to begin her search. It wasn't as if she expected Bonnie's father to have a piece of paper with Bonnie's new address just lying around.

She decided to start her search in the living room. There was a stack of papers on the coffee table, she sifted through them quickly and stopped when she saw the name Abby Bennett. Given the last name she assumed that the woman was Bonnie's mother or at least related to her. She was surprised to find not only an address but a phone number as well. Caroline smiled. "Well," she said, "That was easy."

She took out her cell phone to save the number. However, just as she was about to take down the address, the house phone rang, startling her just a bit. She ignored it as it continued to take down the information.

She was taking down the address just as the answering machine picked up. She saved the information as she heard a female voice on the line. "Hey Rudy," the woman said, "It's Ab. Bon and I are about to head down to the reservation to meet with the elders. She wanted to make sure I kept you in the loop. I know this is hard for you, I mean first the whole witch thing and now our little girl is bound to shape shifters and being pursued by vampires. I get it…its weird and the opposite of normal but Bonnie needs both her parents so please call her when you get this message. If I don't hear from you by the time we leave La Push I'll call back and tell you how everything went. Alright, I have to go so….Bye."

Caroline blinked a few times as the line went dead. She hadn't heard what she had thought she heard. She couldn't have. Vampires? Shape shifters? "What?" She said aloud. Even if she had bought into the whole Bonnie being a witch thing, which she hadn't, bringing in the other supernatural creatures just seemed to be a bit much.

She moved across the room and was about to play the message but stopped herself at the last minute as she thought about how doing so could give away her presence in the house when Bonnie's dad returned.

No, there was only one way that Caroline could figure out what was going on. "Looks like I have a road trip to plan," she said, to herself.

Had she and Matt been on speaking terms she might have thought about inviting him along and had she trusted Elena not to tell the Salvatore brothers, she might have invited her. However, as it stood, it seemed that Caroline would be going it alone. The only thing she had to figure out was how to trick her mother into agreeing.

:::

Forks, Washington, La Push Reserve

Bonnie Bennett was more than a little intimidated as she sat in the Black's living room in front of the Quileute elders. It helped that Jacob was sitting next to her, and even Sam Uley sat silent and supportive on her other side. He had been through an even rougher night than Bonnie but he seemed more worried about her welfare than his own.

Abby and Charlie stood on the other side of the room with Bella, and they all smiled at her reassuringly. However, Bonnie wasn't able to draw much comfort from her family. Not with the hard faces of the elders staring back at her unflinchingly. They seemed to be assessing her silently and Bonnie was sure that she was being found wanting.

They all sat in front of her. Harry Clearwater, seeming to be the most suspicious among them. As she looked at Quil Ateara Sr., or "Old Quil" as everyone seemed to refer to him as, she saw very little of the playfulness that his grandson possessed. Even Billy's face was blank and Bonnie felt the need to hide behind Sam's much larger form.

Jacob had told her not to take it personally as tribal business tended to be taken rather seriously, but she couldn't stop her nervousness. She blinked rapidly, her eyes darting from one member of the tribal council to the next.

"Tell us what happened last night, Bonnie," Billy instructed, his voice serious but not unfriendly, "Don't leave anything out."

Bonnie looked down at her lap and began to wring her hands together. Both Jacob and Sam looked down at her in concern. Jacob reached out and grabbed her left hand, just as Sam took her right hand. Bonnie looked in between them and frowned at the glare that Jacob sent in Sam's direction. As much as she knew they wanted to make things easier for her, it was clear to everyone that they were doing the exact opposite.

Bonnie took a deep breath. "Well," she said, "I guess…it started at First Beach." Bonnie told her tale, slowly, carefully choosing her words. The confidence she was feeling as of late had left her and she was sure that they would find her story skeptical at best. But still she told it as she was asked, though she left out certain embarrassing details in her dream.

When the retelling was finally over the tribal council members shared a look amongst themselves and once again it was Billy that spoke. "Just to be sure," he said, "In your dream…the ones you saw…appeared to be you and Jacob. You didn't take any other forms?"

"No," Bonnie blinked, her confusion evident, "It was just us."

Billy nodded. Harry glanced in his direction and as Billy once again nodded, he turned back to Bonnie and spoke to her for the first time. "You were able to recognize Sam in wolf form after only meeting with him once," he said, "And you could communicate with him telepathically." At Bonnie's nod, he nodded as well. "Try and communicate with him now," he told her.

Bonnie frowned. "But he isn't in wolf form," she said.

"If we are right, young one," Old Quil said, "It will not matter." He had gone from looking impassive as he watched her to a bit awestruck and it was a little unsettling.

Bonnie sighed. She didn't really see how she could communicate with Sam when she wasn't even sure what made her able to do it in the first place. She gave Sam a look. "What am I even supposed to say?" Bonnie thought.

"Olly olly oxen free?" Sam's voice suddenly suggested, echoing inside of Bonnie's head.

Bonnie bit, her lip in an effort to keep from laughing. "I'm guessing that you heard me," she said, back to him.

"Maybe," Sam answered, "Maybe you're just crazy and you hear voices in your head and one of them happens to sound like me."

Bonnie rolled her eyes at the boy that towered over her. Really it wasn't normal to be that large at that age, or really any age. It didn't quite make sense to her that no one on the reservation would ask questions. She was sure that the rest of them, her pack, would become just as large just as fast. All the signs were there but it seemed that no one was paying attention to them, or they had chosen to ignore them. She supposed it was for the best. She turned her attention back to Sam. "Should we tell them that it's working?" She asked.

"Nah," Sam teased, "Let's let them squirm a little bit more. I don't think I've ever seen Old Quil turn that particular shade of red before." Bonnie couldn't help the laughter that escaped. Sam laughed as well, causing Bonnie to nudge him in the side. "It's good you're laughing," he said, "The whole nervous wreck thing doesn't work for you."

"Dully noted," Bonnie replied.

Jacob looked between the two with a frown. He gave Sam a look and Sam immediately cut off the line of communication between himself and Bonnie and let go of Bonnie's hand.

Bonnie felt the connection drop and her brows furrowed in confusion. "That was weird," she said, finally speaking out loud.

"What?" Abby asked, cutting off Billy before he could speak, "I mean from the laughter I assumed it was working."

"It was," Bonnie sighed, "But Sam…he cut me off. It just felt weird." Bonnie frowned. In a way it had felt like some form of rejection. It was abrupt and Bonnie was sure that she had not been the only one that had been beginning to like the connection. But at the same time she understood. She could sense the tension coming from Jacob, and she found that her bond with Sam was likely the source of it.

"I didn't mean to," Sam shrugged, "But…Jacob…it was bothering him." Sam wasn't really sure why he cared. Yes, Jacob was kind of like a little brother to him, however, that didn't mean he was particularly conscious of the other boy's feelings before. They really didn't spend all that much time together unless he was stuck giving Jacob and his friends rides somewhere or it was at a gathering that involved the rest of the tribe. Since the change however, when he thought, all of his actions and decisions seemed to involve Bonnie or Jacob in some manner. It was early yet, but he couldn't deny the influence that both had on him.

"What are you talking about?" Jacob muttered, "I didn't say anything." No, he hadn't been pleased about the situation, but he was doing his best to hide it. He didn't want to upset Bonnie or embarrass his father in front of the council. But still he didn't like Bonnie being connected to Sam in a way that he couldn't be connected to her yet; if he was ever able to be connected to her in that way at all.

"You didn't have to say anything," Harry said, "An alpha uses more than words to communicate."

The statement drew everyone's attention. "But he hasn't even shifted yet," Bonnie objected. Even after she had heard the story of Ephraim Black from Jacob himself it didn't seem to make any sense to Bonnie.

"It's in his blood," Old Quil said, looking from Bonnie to Jacob, "And it isn't just the blood of Ephraim Black that makes you destined to lead Jacob."

"What do you mean?" Jacob asked.

"You have the answers right in front of you," Old Quil answered, "In the girl, the guardian. Her dreams reveal the truth."

There was a collective silence as everyone in the room outside of the council seemed to be waiting for some sort of expansion, or explanation. However, no one was sure of which member of the tribal council to look to. Finally, after a moment, it was Billy who spoke. "You dreamed of the legend Bonnie…because you are the legend. You and Jacob. The first alpha and the first guardian, and destined to be the last," Billy revealed, "As extraordinary as the legend of their life and their love was and still is, it was the legend of their death that the tribe always held onto. When they died it was said that one day they would return, they would be reborn. In a time where all creatures of the supernatural would be exposed to one another and their worlds would come to a head. When the witch would know the shifter, the shifter would know the Cold One, the Cold one would know the vampire, the vampire would know the werewolf, and the werewolf would know those of mixed species. That is when they would come, to lead and protect the people from the resulting storm. You were them and they are you. "

Bonnie didn't bother denying it. It was pointless to when her dreams gave her proof. When her connection to Jacob, to Sam, and to La Push gave her proof. When her powers gave her proof. When her growing knowledge of the supernatural world, a diverse world that witches seem to have created in one form or another, a world that her kind was responsible for, gave her proof. Still she had questions. "Why us?" She asked.

"You because of your power and Jacob because of his connection to you," Billy answered, "The answer was the same then. No one truly understood it and still the explanations are vague but the guardian, the witch you were before and will be again; there was something in her…and in her powers that drew others in. She was able to control and calm creatures that others feared. She was able to communicate and teach creatures who offered only silence to others. To the wolves she was guardian but to the others; the mortals and a supernatural creatures alike, she was the middle ground. Because of her there was peace and communication between all species. When she died, the peace died. There was death for mortals. War between werewolves and vampires. War between shifters and Cold Ones. Witches were losing the fight to keep the balance. The spirits on the other side not knowing what was fit to do to help, resulting in some of them causing more bad than good. It is said by those who know of her that it did not become the witches' job to keep the balance until her death. She was the balance, and with her it died. Before your birth she was the strongest in your line, and now that you've been reborn that honor goes to you."

Bonnie frowned. Suddenly she realized why she had been so willing to help the Salvatore brothers even in knowing what her own kind thought of vampires. Why she was embracing her role as guardian so easily now. Why the Cullens were so drawn to her, and even why she had gone from wanting to stay away from them to wanting to open up a line of communication with them, even given her past with vampires. She had done this before, in some ways. All of this. She had been the go between, the martyr, the supernatural emissary. "But if the balance died with me before," she said, "Won't it die with me now?"

"It was said that when you were reborn you would live on," Billy said, "Always. You would not die again. We don't know how or if that is possible. That is why you must be protected. You are the key to everything Bonnie. But now is not the time to worry about things that have yet to take place. Now is the time to worry about your pack."

Bonnie swallowed. She felt like they just kept piling more and more weight on her shoulders and that soon it would be too much and she would break. "I know," she said, "That I have to protect them, but what else is there?"

"There is a bond that you must perform," Billy said, "A bond has already occurred but there is a spell…that will protect the bond and tie you to them in ways that cannot be broken. Jacob is the key to it and it cannot be done until he phases. But the rest…you're already able to communicate with them. There is also the matter of you taking on some of their traits. Your body will become stronger, it will help you sustain your magic as it grows with you. Your healing will accelerate as well; as I said before, you must stay alive and your connection with them will assist that as much as possible. You will also have the ability to calm the wolf. Even now…you are keeping Sam's anger under control without realizing it. We weren't sure before….but now we can see that your presence in accelerating their change. You weren't just connected to Jacob. You shared and still share a deep bond with wolves. They are the only supernatural creature rooted in nature, the same way in which your powers are. The bond runs deep. We think that those with the wolf in their bloodlines are drawn to you because of it. Subconsciously they know who you are, what you will be to them, and because of it your presence awakens the wolf."

All Bonnie heard was that her presence was disrupting the lives of other people. People who wanted the normalcy that had been ripped from her the moment she had found out that she was a witch. It all just seemed to be too much. She was at war with herself. She wanted to embrace her role at the same time as she wanted to shun it. She knew what she would have to do, what she would do. She would do what needed to be done, that was a part of who she was. But first she would have to process things and she couldn't do that in a room full of people who expected her to take on the entire supernatural world no questions asked.

Bonnie shook her head and stood; pulling Jacob to his feet along with her. Almost everyone in the room said her name at once but she ignored them and proceeded to drag Jacob through the house. She didn't stop until she pulled Jacob into his room and shut the door behind them.

"Bonnie?" Jacob said, eyeing her carefully. Although, he was freaking out a little bit internally, he was more concerned about her. She had a larger role in all of this. Besides, he was pretty much alright with the situation. He had already known about the whole changing into a giant wolf thing so he had already accepted it for the most part. He wasn't bothered by the fact that he and Bonnie had apparently been together in a past life either. Not only did it explain the connection they felt toward each other but it also meant that there was a good chance that they would be together again. At least he hoped so.

"I just…," Bonnie said, breaking into his thoughts, "Needed to get out of there for a second. The things they were saying Jake…Its bad enough that I'm disrupting the lives of everyone here by forcing some change on you guys that would've happened later if not for me but….I have to be some weird go between for the supernatural community. I might be immortal at some point. And you and I were….I don't think I can do this."

She sat down on the edge of Jacob's bed and stared at the opposite wall. Her head was hurting and she was sure that any moment she was going to cry.

"You're right," Jacob said, calmly as he sat down next to her, "You can't do this." Bonnie looked at him, her face crumbling. "Not alone," he finished, "Which is why you don't have to and you weren't destined to. You heard my dad. Yeah, you have to protect the pack, but I'm the one that leads them. And yeah you have to be some weird go between for supernatural creatures but, we are the ones who have to keep you safe while you're doing it. Yes, your presence here is speeding things up a little but us phasing isn't your fault. We would've phased anyway. That's what we are…shifters. You're not responsible for any of this. This isn't your fault. And I know you have a lot to deal with right now, we all have a lot to deal with right now, but none of us are alone in this. And yeah…maybe you don't want to hear this right now but you're not the only one involved in all of this and if you keep thinking that way then no…you can't do this. We can do this Bonnie….that is how you have to think, in terms of we. I know you're used to being alone but you don't have to feel that way anymore."

Jacob really wasn't surprised when Bonnie hugged him after his little speech. Still he had to get her outside of her own head, she would never be able to deal with things otherwise. "You're going to be a really good leader, Jake," Bonnie whispered as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Apparently I already was," Jacob grinned.

"You're really okay with all of this?" Bonnie asked. She was so far from it, that she couldn't even fathom half of what she was told.

"Sure, sure," Jacob nodded. Bonnie raised an eyebrow at him. "Okay," he sighed, "Maybe not…but I'll have to be eventually so I might as well at least try to get used to it. And anyway I get to order Sam around so that could be fun."

Bonnie laughed, shaking her head a little. She wasn't expecting to be able to laugh again so soon. "I get it," she said, "How I could fall for you before. Even if you were a wolf. I get it."

Jacob was pretty sure he was turning red, so he looked away and coughed loudly hoping that she wouldn't notice. "Well," he said, "Just because we were kind of a thing before doesn't mean we have to be now. I mean it's not like we remember. And well…even if we did, it's a different time, right?"

"Right," Bonnie said, even though her thoughts were taking a dissimilar path. Though, the time was different, Bonnie wasn't sure about the connection between them being so.

"We should probably get back out there," Jacob said.

Bonnie shook her head. "In a little while," she promised, "I just want to not think for a little bit before I have to go out there and face things again."
Jacob shrugged. "Not thinking is good," he said, "I always have more fun when I stop thinking."

Bonnie laughed, as she thought of Jacob and his friends and supposed he was right. "That should be Quil's motto," she said.

Jacob watched her a moment as she laid down on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. He hesitated before he joined her, lying down on his back next to her, eyes looking upward. "You know," he said, "You're strong, you're powerful, and capable. If you had to do this by yourself, you could do it."

Bonnie gave him a small smile even though he couldn't see her. No one had said anything like that to her since Sheila Bennett had died. And she believed him. For the first time in a long time she did feel strong, powerful, and capable. "Yeah, well," she whispered, "I'm glad I don't have to. And I'm glad it's you that's here with me."

Jacob smiled, and reached out to take her hand, finding that she was already reaching for his. "Yeah," he replied, "Me too."

:::

Mystic Falls, Virginia

Damon Salvatore walked into the vampire halfway house that Pearl Johnson had organized upon the waking of the other tomb vampires. It had taken some time to process things. However, after he had gotten over the initial depression and heartbreak that came with the knowledge that Katherine had never given a damn about him, the anger came.

The anger was all consuming. Crippling. He knew that there was only one way that he would be able to sate the rage and that was getting revenge. But there was no way to get revenge against Katherine if he had no idea where she was. That left him with only one option, if he wanted to find Katherine then he would have to go to the last person that he knew that had seen her alive. That person just so happened to be Annabelle Johnson.

Luckily for him, when Damon came upon the girl in the confines of the house that her mother had acquired, she was alone. He had already confronted Pearl earlier and that hadn't ended well for him. He was relieved that she had finally left her daughter alone and unprotected.

Damon had happened to have the element of surprise, but that didn't mean that Anna was defenseless. Anna blinked up at him from where she sat down on the couch with a blank look on her face. "What do you want?"

"Look who's got on their big girl pants today," Damon smirked, "I'm impressed. It's very intimidating."

"Cut the crap," Anna said, "Look, I don't want you to keep showing up here and neither does my mother or anyone else for that matter. So tell me what it's going to take to get rid of you."

"What makes you think that it will be that easy?" Damon asked, unable to stop himself from antagonizing her.

"My mother will be back soon," Anna told him, "As will the others. You'll be outnumbered and your brother isn't here to save you. If you came here for a reason then I suggest that you get to the point."

Damon rolled his eyes, but acquiesced just the same. "I want to know where Katherine is," he said, crossing is arms over his chest.

Anna stood. "I told you everything I know," she sighed, "I'm not in contact with her. You'll have to find her yourself."

Damon shook his head. "That's wasn't the answer that I was looking for," he said. It took only a split second for Damon to have the girl by the throat. He sped across the room and practically shoved the girl's head into the lit fire place. "Talk," he growled into her ear, as he pushed her face closer to the flames.

Anna struggled against him, but his anger seemed to have heightened his strength. There was one thing that she hadn't told him, one thing that she had been sworn to secrecy about. But as she needed to get rid of Damon, keeping her mouth shut was no longer an option. "Okay," Anna said, as he twisted her arm behind her back, "I'll talk."
"Then talk," Damon spat.

"I don't know where she is," Anna said, her eyes on the flames, "I wasn't lying about that. But she said….that she was planning something. Something big. I don't know what it was but…she needed a Bennett witch. The last of the line to be exact, she's been waiting to make her move and from what I hear the witch has left town after the tragic passing of her grandmother. She's isolated, that's exactly what Katherine wants. If you find the witch, then you'll find her."

Damon let Anna go, tossing the other vampire into the opposite wall. He was speeding off before the girl recovered. It was clear that he would have to figure out where Bonnie Bennett had gone. It wouldn't do good to trick the information out of Elena or Caroline, and with Stefan on guard against him, he didn't want to risk compulsion. He would just have to figure out a way to manipulate the situation to his advantage.

:::

Forks, Washington

Bella Swan laid sprawled out on Bonnie Bennett's bed watching as the girl paced in front of her. They had returned home and Abby was downstairs on the phone explaining the situation to Bonnie's father. Bella wasn't surprised that the moment Bonnie was out of Jacob's company she began to freak out. She sighed as she flipped open her worn out copy of Wuthering Heights and began to read. "I really don't see what the big deal is," she said aloud, "I mean not only were you finally able to figure out this whole connection you have to Jacob, but you have this amazing connection to the pack and his people. Really…I don't see the problem."

Bonnie stopped pacing and rolled her eyes. "Of course you wouldn't," she said, "You accept everything the supernatural world throws at you. I am not the one with the innate ability to blink at discoveries that would make normal people run away screaming. That's you."

"So you're saying I'm not normal?" Bella asked, looking up from her book, "I kind of have to agree but still…"

"Sorry," Bonnie sighed, "I didn't mean it as a bad thing. Actually I wish I could stop freaking out about things. I'm supposed to be the supernatural ambassador or something so you would think I could manage to calm down. I mean…but this is big. Like big….big. Like me and Jacob being together in another life big. And not just together…but together, together. You know like…together."

Bella ran a hand over her face and shook her head at the earnest expression Bonnie was wearing. She doubted the witch would be so freaked out if her "friendship" with Jacob was an actual friendship and not some excuse to hide other growing feelings. "Yes," Bella laughed, her tone mocking, "I know. I was there. And I am pretty sure that you and Jake are going to be something big…..like big, big in this time as well considering how long you two were hiding in his room and the goofy grins on your faces when you finally came out. I mean you were holding hands and it kind of looked like you were together. You know like together, together. You deny it but you're practically together already."

"You're not funny," Bonnie pouted, "I just…I've never even had a real boyfriend and now I am pretty sure it's because I've been waiting for Jacob to come back to me or some weird shit like that. And it's bizarre. And it's scary. And I don't know what to do about it."

"Who says you have to do anything?" Bella asked, "Whatever you and Jacob feel for each other is natural. Even if it stems from the past. And just because you were together then doesn't mean you'll be together now. Just let it play out. Don't try to force things one way or the other. If you're fine with the way things are then let them be the way they are. I mean you don't have to do the spell connecting you to the pack until after Jacob phases. So until then just help Sam transition and teach him how to help the others when you can't be there. Everything else will fall into place."

Bonnie nodded. "Thanks Bells," she said, as she sat down on the edge of her bed. She didn't know how much time she had before Jacob phased. Her presence was speeding things up. His birthday was only a month away and she had a feeling that that was when it would start. Then there was the matter of the others. Now that she knew what to look for, she would be able to see the signs. And though Sam was cooperative, she doubted that all of them would make it that easy for her. "What if I can't do this?" she asked, herself, "What if I'm not strong enough, to help them, to protect them?"

Bella sat her book aside and sat up from her lying position. "You heard what Billy said," she reminded Bonnie, "You were the first guardian and you're destined to be the last. It isn't an accident that you're here. Before all this happened….you said…that day you went to La Push the first time….you said you felt like it was calling to you, welcoming you home. It was. If you run from this now….you'll only hurt yourself and the others later. Besides…you're not alone in this. You have support and no one here is going to let you get hurt."

Bonnie smiled, before she surprised Bella by pulling the other girl into a hug. "You know," Bonnie said, "If our parents do ever get married…it wouldn't be so bad having you as a sister."

Before Bella could answer the door opened and Charlie walked into the room with a rifle in one hand and Bella's jacket in the other. The girls pulled apart and Bella frowned at him. "Everything's set up outside," Charlie said, "It's time for some target practice."

Bella sighed. Being a hunter sounded fun in hypothetical terms. She had never seen her father or Abby in action and so she wasn't sure what it entailed. However, now that Bonnie was being forced to embrace her destiny, her dad thought it fitting that Bella work toward hers. Still Bella didn't see how she was going to be able to hunt down vampires and shoot them when a) she could barely keep her footing majority of the time and b) she was squeamish at the sight of blood and apparently the vampires that Bonnie knew did indeed bleed. "I'm not really sure I'm up for this, Ch…dad."

Bonnie placed a hand on her shoulder and offered up some of the support that Bella had given her moments before. "You'll do great," Bonnie said, "From what I hear Charlie is a great shot. It's in your blood. Besides….Jake will be out there with you. He wants to be able to protect himself and everyone else even before he shifts and goes all wolf. And even though I have to work on my witchy woo woo with Ab….mom….while you're working on your vampire hunting skills, I will totally be there for you in spirit."

"Okay," Bella sighed, standing, "I can do it." She looked over to Charlie and he held out her jacket to her. "Let's go before she breaks out into a cheer of some sort," Bella grinned, "Who knows how many sets of pompoms she has hidden in this room."

Bonnie picked up her pillow and threw it at Bella's head. Charlie laughed, at the look on his daughter's face. He had been right about the girls being good for one another. Bella was more expressive now, she was beginning to live in the world outside of her own head. And Bonnie was letting go her grief and her anger. It had been the right choice for Bonnie to come.

"I was kidding," Bella said, as she threw the pillow back to Bonnie, "And what you said before…about the whole sisters thing…it might not be so bad."

Bonnie smiled, as she tossed the pillow back onto her bed.

"I guess I better hurry up and ask Abby to marry me then," Charlie said, drawing both of the girls' attention.

Bonnie's mind went immediately to planning the wedding. Then she thought of Caroline, the best party planner that she knew. But thinking of Caroline made her think of Mystic Falls, and thinking of Mystic Falls made her think of her grandmother, and the fact that her Grams would never be able to attend that wedding. "You should," Bonnie said, forcing a smile, "With all this supernatural stuff going on we need a happy occasion to look forward. It might take our mind off things."

Charlie shocked Bella and Bonnie when he gave them both a kiss on the cheek. "I couldn't agree more," he said, "And I….I want you both to know how proud I am of the two of you. Some adults couldn't handle the things that are being thrown at you two. I know that we didn't trust you enough to handle the full knowledge of the things going on around you but…I'm happy to see that you've proven us wrong in terms of what we think you can handle."

Bonnie hadn't been sure before, but as she looked at Charlie and Bella she was certain that they were well on their way to becoming a family.

:::

Mystic Falls, Virginia

It hadn't taken much on Damon's part to get the others involved in his little witch hunt. All it took was the mention of Katherine and both Stefan and Elena were on board. The wild card in the deal was Caroline.

Caroline had been working on a way to go and see Bonnie and she was the only one who knew where the witch was. However, she didn't want the Salvatores or Elena involved in her trip. She was convinced that Bonnie would simply turn them all away if anyone but herself showed up. In all likelihood she was correct, but that didn't mean that they couldn't convince her otherwise.

When they had invited the blonde over to the Boardinghouse, it had taken convincing for Caroline to even admit that she knew Bonnie's whereabouts. It wasn't until Elena mentioned Bonnie being in danger that they actually began to get somewhere.

Damon would have used compulsion but apparently before her departure Bonnie had made sure that both Caroline and Matt were on vervain. She have given them both rings as parting gifts. While Damon wasn't too pleased with the witch's course of action, he found it amusing that even in her grief the witch had managed to think of her friends before she parted ways with them, while Elena hadn't really done more than scold Damon rather gently since finding out the truth about Katherine, and yet she was still seen as the selfless one that would do anything to protect her friends.

Even the mention of the witch being in danger only got them so far. Caroline had told them of the message that revealed the Bonnie was indeed being pursued by vampires. And while they had been basically forced into revealing the truth to Caroline about the supernatural Caroline still hadn't revealed Bonnie's whereabouts.

"If I tell you," Caroline said, "You'll just go without me and try and force Bonnie into coming home or you'll manhandle your way into the situation. Bonnie doesn't need that. Obviously she sees something in this new life worth staying for or else she would be home already. So here's the deal. I drive and I won't tell you where we're going until it's too late for us to turn back or for you to leave me stranded somewhere. Do we have a deal?"

They had agreed but only because they would need her. Out of anyone Caroline was the only one who had any hope of getting any information out of Bonnie. So they would leave in a week's time. And in a week's time, Damon would be on his way to having his revenge.

:::

Forks, Washington

Three days later Bonnie Bennett sat down next to her mother at the Black's dining room table their heads bent over Emily's grimoire as Abby went over some of the spells that their ancestor had created. Bonnie was waiting on Sam to show up so that they could do the control exercises that Bonnie had come up with while reading Emily's notes on her experiences with werewolves, George Lockwood in particular. The principals were different as shifters and werewolves weren't the same, but Bonnie was able to alter the findings that Emily had come up with in relations to shifters. While Emily had struggled with the anger triggers in terms of werewolves, Bonnie having Sam's complete cooperation and help from her mother, was having much better luck.

Bonnie had missed school each day. In between working with Sam on his anger and controlling his phasing, and Abby helping her to develop her magic, there wasn't really any choice in the matter. They decided that missing school now was necessary. The more time she spent working with Sam the less that time she would have to spend with the others later. Not that she minded the idea of spending time with the pack that would eventually come to be; it was simply that it took extensive work helping Sam alone with his wolf and it was draining to the point where Bonnie didn't have time to focus on other things, mainly school. She figured once Sam had control, he could help the others, and so on and so forth until their only focus would be protecting the people and each other.

Bonnie liked working with Sam, but more than that she enjoyed developing her powers with Abby. It gave her the chance to get to know her mother, and to hear about what her Grams had been like before the drinking had started. She had thought, after Sheila had died, that she would have to figure out the truth about what she was and how to use her powers on her own. However, Abby was more than willing to help her.

"I'm proud of you," Abby said seriously, from her seat next to Bonnie, "Not just because of the work that you've been doing with Sam. All of this. Even with the connection that you have to Jacob, these people, and the pack; you could've fought against it and chosen a different path. A lot of times knowledge can scare us into running just the same as it can make us certain that we our making the right choices."

Bonnie turned to her slightly in her seat. "You sound like you're speaking from experience," she said.

"I wasn't lying when I said that I had left your father and not you," Abby said, "But when I learned…I didn't know your role in all of this. But I did know that as the last of the line that you were destined for greatness. And being the way I was….as selfish as I was, I knew that I wasn't the right one to help you through this. I was scared of you. Of what you could do. What you could become. I stayed away because of it."

Bonnie nodded. "I wanted to run," she said, honestly, "I won't lie and say that I want to do this. I miss the life that I had. I miss normalcy. I miss not being aware of the supernatural. I miss Grams. And I miss my friends, I miss being sure that friends is what we actually were. I mean two vampires showed up and suddenly it was like everything we knew about the world, about ourselves, about each other just changed. I think that's what upset me the most, not Grams, a part of us all played a part in that and the more I think about it the more I think she knew what would happened. What gets me is that I've been friends with Elena for years but in the end if she had to choose I think…I know she would choose Stefan. I couldn't understand that. And coming here, in a way it was me running away from my problems there, at least at first. But now….even though every time I turn around here there is some new piece of information that turns my life on its head, something else I need to know or have to do, I feel like staying is worth it. There's so much here that I don't have there. I mean…I get the chance to get to know you. I get to be around people who don't know about my past. There's Charlie and Bella. There's Billy and Sam. Everyone here is just willing and ready to accept me. I feel important and wanted. And then….Jacob…. It's weird, you know, but I could be having the worst day and then he looks at me and then everything is just perfect. No one's ever been able to do that for me before. I…I don't know. No matter how many people I had when I was in Mystic Falls I always felt alone. Dad was gone a lot. Grams was always drinking. Elena and Caroline…I love them both but they're kind of self-absorbed in their own ways and really next to them in everyone else's eyes I just kind of faded into the background. But here…I haven't felt alone since I got here. So what I'm trying to say is…I'm not staying here out of some sense of responsibility or because I want to live up to some legend. I'm staying here because I want to be here. If I had to choose between all of you and having my life the way it was…no matter how much I miss it, I would choose you."

Bonnie bit her lip, feeling silly after giving such a long drawn out speech when Abby hadn't asked for one. Still she wanted to be honest. She didn't want there to be any doubt as to whether she would be staying. Abby needed to know that she wasn't going to leave, though in truth, her friends also needed to know that she wasn't going to come home. She had already discussed it with her father.

Abby didn't know whether to feel happy at Bonnie's words or guilty that she had once made the opposite choice. She decided not to focus too much on either feeling and focus on Bonnie instead. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around her daughter. "I love you, Bonnie, I've always loved you," she whispered, "I made the wrong choice before, but from here on out, it will always be you."

Bonnie hugged her back, a smile gracing her features as her eyes began to water. "I love you, too, mom," she replied, "Thank you."

:::

Mystic Falls, Virginia

Caroline Forbes placed the duffle bag that she had packed in the trunk of her car alongside Elena's overnight bag. She wasn't sure what everyone else's plans were but she had planned on staying with Bonnie the whole weekend, even if she hadn't been invited. She knew at least she would be getting a welcome reception from her friend, she couldn't say the same in regards to Elena and the Salvatores.

Caroline had been keen on being the mediator when Bonnie had first left because she didn't fully understand the situation. However, now that she knew the exact circumstances behind Miss Sheila's death, she wasn't at all surprised that not only did Bonnie not want to return to Mystic Falls but that she had completely cut Elena off.

The only reason that Caroline had agreed to drag them along was because Stefan had agreed to compel Sheriff Forbes into allowing Caroline to take the trip in the first place. Well not only to take the trip, but to skip school as well, as it was a Friday.

Caroline wasn't taking the existence of vampires very well, and she wasn't looking forward to taking a trip with two, in a closed and confined space, even with Elena in the car. However, it was for Bonnie's sake and it was only three to four hours. Besides if Bonnie was being pursued by vampires then they would need vampires to get the other vampires to back off wouldn't they?

"It would've been easier to pack if you would've just told us where we were going," Elena commented.

Caroline rolled her eyes. "Well maybe," she frowned, "If Miss Sheila hadn't died saving someone's boyfriend Bonnie would still be here and we wouldn't have to worry about who was withholding information about her whereabouts now would we?"

Caroline wasn't surprised when Stefan immediately came to the girl's defense. "That's enough Caroline," he said, "Fighting isn't going to get us anywhere. This is about protecting Bonnie remember."

Caroline glared at him. She knew that both he and Damon were more interested in finding Katherine than protecting Bonnie. Stefan so that he could protect Elena and Damon…well who the hell knew what Damon wanted. "Whatever," she said, "Let's just go."

"Right," Elena nodded, "Who knows how long we'll be on the road for?"

"I do," Caroline chimed, "Because I know where Bonnie is, and she's still talking to me so I'm guessing she'll be happy to see me as well. Too bad you can't say the same." With that Caroline climbed into the driver's seat.

"I knew it," Elena sighed, "The minute Bonnie and I had our first fight, I knew Caroline would rub it in. It's not my fault that Bonnie considers me to be her best friend. Well…she did."

"I'm sure she still does," Stefan smiled, "We gave her plenty of time. She probably just doesn't know how to approach you. I'm sure once you see her, the two of you can talk and it'll work itself out."

Elena nodded. "Okay," she agreed.

"Enough with the chitchat love birds," Damon said as he hopped into the passenger's seat next to Caroline, "Let's go. We have a witch to find."

Sighing both Stefan and Elena did as they were told. This would be a long ride, no matter how many miles they were from where Bonnie had gone.

:::

Forks, Washington

Jacob Black smiled as he watched Bonnie Bennett make her way around his kitchen as if she had always been there. To be fair, she had basically been living at his house for the past week; staying in his sisters' room. She had spent most of the week working with Sam, working with Abby, and meeting with the elders; during which time she had missed school. However, she had also been hanging out with Jacob and his friends and helping to take care of Billy.

She had worked herself into their routine; infiltrating their life much in the same way that Abby had; though it was different. The draw that everyone had to Abby; was nothing compared to everyone's growing attachment to Bonnie. Her presence was something that Jacob was growing accustomed to in spite of himself. That was likely the reason that Bonnie going back to school was bothering Jacob so much; well, that and the fact that she would once again be in the presence of the Cullens.

"Breakfast is done," Bonnie said, as she poured Billy a cup of coffee, "But since I'm running late I don't have time of eat with you guys."

"You need to eat something Bonnie," Billy frowned as she placed a plate full of food in front of him, "It's bad enough all the work you've been doing with Sam and Abby has you losing sleep."

Bonnie smiled at his concern as she grabbed an apple from the bowl of fruit in the center of the dining room table. "See," she said, "I'm eating." She turned to replace the coffee pot pot onto the kitchen counter and frowned when she splashed some onto her white blouse. Sighing she put the apple back and pulled the blouse over her head, glad she had on an under shirt as she threw the ruined shirt over one of the chairs around the table. "Give me your shirt," she said, turning to Jacob.

Jacob blinked at her as he grabbed the plate that she had made for him. "Why?" He asked.

Bonnie rolled her eyes at him. "I don't have time to change," she sighed. Jacob looked at her as if to say, "But you have time to talk me out of my shirt." Bonnie pouted. "Please Jake," she begged.

Jacob rolled his eyes in turn as he set the plate in his hand down on the table. He unlike Bonnie had time before school. It was her drive to the school all the way from the reservation that was cutting into her time. Jacob pulled off the black long sleeved t-shirt he was wearing and tossed it at Bonnie.

"Thank you," Bonnie smiled, as she pulled the shirt over her head. She pulled on her jacket a moment later, and then grabbed her bag that had been hanging over another of the empty chairs. "I have to go," she said, as she kissed Billy on the cheek.

She moved to leave but Jacob stopped her. "Bon," he said, when she turned to look at him, "Your apple."

"Oh," Bonnie said, "Right." She grabbed the apple from the bowl and kissed Jacob on the cheek before turning to leave. She didn't really feel much like leaving, and it probably showed as she was all over the place.

"Bon," Jacob grinned, as she was about to round the corner, "Your keys." It was clear from all the time she was wasting that Bonnie didn't want to leave any more than he wanted her to.

"Of course," Bonnie sighed, turning around once again, "Can't get anywhere without my keys." She grabbed her keys off the table top and kissed Jacob on the cheek again before once again turning to leave. "I'll see you guys later," she said.

"Not that I don't want you to stay here," Jacob began, "But I thought you were going back to Charlie's. I mean Sam is doing okay….well as okay as he can be doing considering…"

"Yeah," Bonnie nodded, "I know. But you heard what Billy and the others said. My presence is accelerating the change. I just want to be here in case someone else phases. Abby is fine with it."

"Of course she's okay with it," Jacob shrugged, "You didn't tell her the real reason that you want to stay."

"Which would be?" Bonnie asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"You know," Jacob grinned, "You get to see me every day. I heard you on the phone with Bells last night talking about how nice it is to be close to me."

"Oh please," Bonnie said, attempting to hide her embarrassment, "You're lucky that your terrible living habits haven't scared me away yet."

Jacob grinned, because she wasn't denying it. "Sure, sure," he said, "Just give me a hug so you can go to school."

Bonnie gave a long suffering sigh, but walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his middle anyway. "Are you getting taller?" Bonnie asked as he returned her embrace.

"Nope," Jacob said, bending down slightly and resting his chin on the top of her head, "You're just short." Jacob winced as she poked him in the side. "And violent," he laughed.

"You're so mean," Bonnie giggled, "It should be easier to leave you." Bonnie realized belated as Jacob ran his hands down her sides that he was shirtless; something that she should have processed sooner as she had been the one to take his shirt in the first place.

"Bonnie," Billy said, breaking the moment, "School."

Bonnie sighed, heavily. "Alright," she said, letting Jacob go, "Bye Billy." He nodded, at her and she turned back to Jacob. "I'll text you during lunch," she said.

"Okay," Jacob nodded. He hugged again, tighter than probably necessary but she didn't seem to mind.

When Jacob let her go, she was about to say goodbye to him when she suddenly heard rain coming down outside. "It's raining," she frowned, thoughtfully, "I should probably wear my hair up."

Sighing and shaking his head, Jacob reached up and pulled the hair tie from his hair letting it fall over his shoulders. He held it out to her. "Now hurry up and leave," he said, "You don't want to be late on top of missing almost a whole week of school. It's Friday so you'll be back and we'll have the whole weekend. So go."

"Thank you," Bonnie said. She sat down her things and took the hair tie from Jacob's hand. She pulled her hair up, before standing on her toes and kissing Jacob on his cheek again. "Bye, Jake," she said.

"Bye, Bon," he said. He watched as she grabbed her things, this time not forgetting anything, and she left looking back a few times as she went.

Jacob sat down at the table. He was about to eat when he noticed his father staring at him. "What?" He asked, as he picked up his fork.

"If you're this bad now," he said, "It's going to be an interesting show to watch the two of you once you phase."

Jacob rolled his eyes. "We aren't that bad," he said. He had seen how quickly Sam and Bonnie were becoming close and he couldn't help but wonder if things would change between them once he phased as well.

Billy shook his head. "He says after he just gave the girl the shirt off of his back," Billy laughed, as he began to eat.

"Just eat your food old man," Jacob muttered. Jacob picked at his food a moment and then looked up at his father. "You have to admit though," he said, "its nice having her here."

"Yeah," Billy nodded, "It is nice having her here."

:::

Bonnie Bennett wasn't really too surprised to find that the student body of Forks High was surprised to see her. Even with Bella telling them otherwise many of them had thought that Bonnie had moved back to Virginia. She couldn't say that she blamed them considering she had missed nearly a week of school.

Still, she couldn't be too bothered by not going to school even given all of the work she had missed. Sam had adjusted well for the most part and so her job was partially done. And while she knew that Jacob and Sam had been joking when they kept suggesting that she move to La Push and just go to the reservation school, she was beginning to warm up to the idea.

She had come so close to getting assimilated into school. She had stopped being overtly gawked at, but now that she had missed so many days, she was once again the center of attention.

"You ready to run back to La Push yet?" Bella asked as she popped up next to her.

Bonnie sighed. "Don't tempt me," She answered. She glanced across the parking lot and wasn't surprised when the Cullens were among the people staring, namely Alice, Jasper, and Edward. Bonnie glanced over to Bella. "Now or never," Bonnie mouthed.

"Never," Bella mouthed back, with a smirk. Bonnie gave her a look and laughed. "You're the supernatural embassy president or something right…you know what needs to be done."

Bonnie giggled. "What is destined," she said, imitating Billy's voice, "Must be carried out."

Bella gave Bonnie a playful nudge in the shoulder. "Just make sure you signal me if they try and eat you," she whispered, "You know I'm getting good at the whole shooting thing."
Bonnie shook her head, deciding not to comment as she moved forward. She made her way across the parking lot and ignored the stares as she stopped in front of the Cullens.

"Hey Bonnie," Alice chirped, looking not at all surprised to see her.

"Hey Alice," Bonnie smiled, and then nodded to her companion, "Jasper." It seemed that Emmett and Rosalie were absent but Bonnie didn't comment. She turned to Edward who was looking annoyed, hopeful, and concerned at the same time. "Can I talk to you for a sec?" She asked.

He nodded, and began to walk toward the school. Bonnie followed at a much slower pace. She wasn't surprised when the eyes of the student body followed their every movement. She really needed something to happen that would justify their gawking one day. Like an earthquake or a meteor shower. Something that was worth them breaking their necks to stare.

"I'd thought you'd gone back to Virginia," Edward said, drawing her attention.

"Well," Bonnie said, "I didn't. I'm sure that Bella must have told you that. Well maybe not you but someone else and I'm sure you heard it while eavesdropping."

"She did," Edward nodded, minutely, "And I did. I didn't believe her."

"Of course," Bonnie stated, "Look, I'm sorry for blowing you off. I just have a lot going on and really I don't fully understand why you want to be my friend even given what I know now but whatever. I've decided to meet you half way for the sake of my own sanity because you're obviously not going to back off so….today and today only you can ask me anything you want."

Edward raised a brow at her. "Let me guess," he said, "I can ask you anything I want but it doesn't mean that you'll answer."

"Bingo," Bonnie smiled, "There may be some hope for you yet, Cullen." Internally Bonnie had to pat herself on the back. As far as being a go between went, so far she wasn't doing half bad.

:::

Bonnie had made it through school while only having to field a few questions from her peers as she had spent majority of the day answering Edward Cullen's questions, which in retrospect wasn't really much better. Still, it hadn't been all that horrible spending the day with the Cullens even if the more questions she answered the more they seemed to ask.

"I think that you should talk to Carlisle and meet Esme," Edward said, as they descended the school's steps side by side, "I think he'd be interested in your theories about our creation."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "They aren't theories," she sighed, "My kind created your kind. That's what happened."

"Considering you know so little about our kind I find that hard to believe," Edward countered.

"Well like I said it was a long time ago," she retorted, "Besides you didn't know anything about witches or the other breed of vampires. You didn't even know the difference between werewolves and shifters. Obviously there are things even outside of your realm of knowledge so why wouldn't that be one of them. Unless you have another explanation as to why you exist and why you feel connected to me."

"I don't," Edward admitted.

"Well then," Bonnie shrugged. They had reached the bottom of the steps and Bonnie turned to him. "I'll see you, Monday."

"Now that you've answered my questions," Edward said, "I figured that you would avoid me."

"Since you're kind of a stalker I doubt you'd let me so I figured I might as well at least try to be civil," Bonnie said, "Besides I like your sister."

"But not me?" Edward asked.

"I don't really have an opinion of you," she said, "I don't really have much to go on aside from the fact that you like to follow me around, you ask tons of questions, and you obviously even after over one hundred years of existence, have no idea what a hair brush is."

"How'd you know I was over one hundred," Edward grinned, "I've been told that I don't look a day over seventeen."

Bonnie laughed, shaking her head. "Lucky guess," she said, "I have to go so…yeah, bye."

Bonnie moved to leave but Edward stepped in front of her. "What are you doing this weekend?" He asked.

"I'm busy," Bonnie said, her hand unconsciously reaching up to touch the mark on her shoulder that wasn't visible to the rest of the world through her jacket and Jacob's shirt.

"Busy in La Push?" Edward asked. He had noticed that Bonnie was wearing a shirt that was too large and that held the same odd scent on it he had smelled the last time that he had seen her. He had chosen not to comment as he was just relieved to see that she hadn't returned home, but in that moment he couldn't help himself.

"Yes," Bonnie answered, even though she felt that it really wasn't his business.

"Is that why you think that I shouldn't want to be your friend," he asked, "Because you have ties there?"

Bonnie bit her lip and looked away. "It isn't just the matter of me having ties there," she said, seriously, "It's my home. Even before I was born it was my home. Before there was any other home I had a life there. I don't expect you to understand that because I can't really explain it. But letting go of that place and those people isn't something that I could ever do or would ever want to do."

"Who said that I would want you to?" Edward asked. Still he didn't understand how she had managed to develop ties to La Push that were that strong in only a matter of weeks. It didn't make sense to him and as Alice still saw Bonnie when she looked into Edward's future he couldn't let himself feel threatened by it.

"Some things don't need to be said," Bonnie shrugged, "See you Monday."

Bonnie turned to leave and almost immediately walked into another girl. She looked up at the girl and it was clear to her that she wasn't someone who attended Forks High. She had never seen her before. She was beautiful if a little intimidating. Her long black hair fell down her shoulders beneath the hood of the pullover that she wore and Bonnie could see the soft copper color of her skin even in the dull light that the sun offered nearly covered by the clouds in the dull gray sky. Her eyes looked familiar. She had Harry Clearwater's eyes. Bonnie immediately knew who she was then, and why she was there.

"Are you Bonnie?" The girl asked, her voice tinged with anger, betrayal, and a hint of sadness.

"You must be Leah," Bonnie said, attempting to smile. The girl gave her a once over then, and it made Bonnie squirm.

"So you know who I am," Leah said, "Good. Let's talk. I got a ride here so you can give me a ride home. Which one is your car?" Bonnie pointed to the blue Prius across the parking lot. "Let's go," Leah said.

Sighing Bonnie moved to follow her but stopped when she felt Edward's hand on her shoulder. "I'll be fine," Bonnie said, stepping away from him. She followed Leah with more determination, pressing the button to unlock the doors of her car as she went. Bella gave her a questioning look from where she stood in front of her monster but Bonnie shook her head.

She got into the driver's seat just as Leah got in on the other side, both girls closing the door behind them. Bonnie put on her seatbelt and wasted no time in pulling out of the parking lot. They were both silent as Bonnie drove. Bonnie because she was thinking about ways to end Sam's life and Leah because she was trying to figure out how to approach the situation.

Sam had been moaning the whole week because he hadn't been able to see his girlfriend, Leah Clearwater. Bonnie had told him to at least call her but he had said, "If I call her then I'll just want to see her." But Bonnie, even without ever having had a boyfriend, knew boyfriend protocol. Even Jacob had advised him to call. Even Quil, though he hadn't been aware of why Sam was unable to see Leah, had advised him to call. The whole thing was ridiculous. And as in the last few days Bonnie had either been seen in the company of either Jacob alone or in a group with Quil and Embry, when she wasn't alone somewhere the woods working with Sam, she could only imagine what Leah was thinking.

They were half way to La Push before Leah finally spoke. "Look," she said, "I'm guessing you know what this is about. You seem like a smart girl so I won't beat around the bush. I haven't seen Sam in a week and everyone I ask has said that he's been seen with you. So I'm going to ask you some questions and I just want honest yes or no answers."
Bonnie took a deep breath. "Alright," Bonnie agreed.

Leah nodded curtly. "You know who I am," she said, "Is that because Sam told you?"

Bonnie swallowed. This really was a terrible situation. "Yes," she said, "He told me that you were his girlfriend."

"Were?" Leah asked, turning to face Bonnie.

Bonnie's hands clenched around the steering wheel. "That's not what I meant," Bonnie sighed. Her mind was racing, trying to think of a way to explain Sam's whereabouts for the last week.

"Next question," Leah said, ignoring Bonnie's protests, "Are you…are you seeing Sam?"

"No," Bonnie said, quickly. Leah made a scoffing sound and Bonnie frowned. "Really I'm not," she said.

"Then why has he been hanging around you instead of me this last week," Leah spat, "He hasn't been by and he hasn't called. He's never done that before….never."

Bonnie frowned. "I don't know," she said, hating the tears she could hear in the girl's voice as she watched the road, "Probably because he's an idiot. I told him to call you but he wouldn't listen to me."

Leah looked at her expectantly. "I'm listening," she said.

Bonnie bit her lip trying to think quickly. "Billy asked him to hang out with Jacob and Quil and Embry," Bonnie said, "He….well he thought that he would be a good example for them. They can be kind of immature and goofy sometimes and so…well he wanted Sam to kind of be a mentor I guess. That's why he's been hanging around the Blacks. He thought that you wouldn't want to hang out with a bunch of guys so he kept you out of it. He said you would understand, but like I said I told him to call you. I mean its boyfriend protocol."

"Exactly," Leah said, sitting back against the seat and crossing her arms over her chest. But then her mind began to work and she was glaring at Bonnie again. Something didn't add up. It was true that Sam had been seen with Jacob and his idiotic friends as well but that didn't explain why Bonnie had been there. "If Billy wanted him to hang out with Jacob and his friends," Leah said, "Then why were you there?"

Bonnie fought the urge to bang her head against the steering wheel as she finally pulled up to the Black's house. She didn't know where the Clearwater's house was and she figured that Sam would be there and he could cover his own ass.

"Well?" Leah asked.

Bonnie parked, and looked through her windshield in time to Jacob open the front door and wave. She smiled. "I came to see Jacob," she said. It wasn't a lie entirely.

"Black?" Leah asked, "Why would you come to see Black?"

Bonnie gave her a look, she didn't bother hiding the fact that she took offense the question. "What's wrong with Jacob?" Bonnie asked defensively, Leah's suspicion forgotten.

Bonnie frowned when Leah suddenly laughed. "Oh," she said, "I get it. Don't worry it's cool I won't say anything."

Bonnie's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "About what?" She asked.

"Really," Leah giggled, "It's fine. Your secret's safe with me. Sorry, I gave you the third degree. It's just…Sam might be an idiot but I really love him you know."

Bonnie nodded as she looked around the Black's front yard and spotted Sam's truck. "Well he's here," she said, "And if I were you I would give him hell and maybe next time he'll know better."

Leah laughed, shaking her head. "It is his fault that we got off on the wrong foot," she shrugged, "Besides, I might be able to guilt him into begging me to hang out with you guys. You know, free you from all the testosterone."

Bonnie grinned. "I might like that," she said. It wasn't Leah's fault that she had gotten the wrong impression about Bonnie and Sam. Also, as much as Bonnie liked Jacob and his friends she was right about the testosterone, though Bonnie did have Bella, they were still outnumbered.

Bonnie turned off her car and she and Leah made their way out into the rain both running to make it to the front door of the Black's home. Bonnie made it first and Jacob held the door open so that she could enter. "I left you a towel on my bed," he said, "If you want something dry then you can steal some more of my clothes." Enough of Bonnie's clothes were there for her to wear some of her own but they both knew the likelihood of her doing so was slim.

"Thanks," Bonnie said, as Jacob held the door open for Leah. She stood on her toes to kiss Jacob's cheek. "I would hug you but I'm all wet," she said, before heading in the direction of Jacob's room.

"No problem," he said, before turning to Leah, "Hey Lee. Sam's in the living room."

"Ugh," Leah sighed, "You know I hate it when you call me that. And I don't hear you offering me some dry clothes."

Jacob shrugged as he shut the door behind Leah. "If you want dry clothes then go home," he said.

Leah was about to punch him in the side but stopped as she saw Sam and began to turn her wrath on him instead. "You want to explain to me why I haven't heard from you for a week?" She yelled.

Jacob stifled his laughter behind his hand as Sam looked up from where he had been calmly watching television next to Embry on the couch just a moment earlier. His eyes were wide as he stood from his spot on the couch and to Jacob he looked even more scared that the night that he had phased. "I…uh….um…sorry," he said.

Jacob shook his head. "And I thought Quil was bad with women," he said to himself.

As much as he wanted to witness the show, he decided to head to his room instead. He could watch Leah yell at Sam anytime. However, it wasn't every day he had Bonnie Bennett alone in his room. Even though she had been staying with him, there were usually too many people around for them to actually be alone together. There were nights he thought more than once about sneaking into Rebecca and Rachel's room and waking her but he never did.

Jacob knocked on his door gently, feeling weird in doing so as it was his own room. "You descent?" He asked.

"Yup," Bonnie called back.

He opened the door and found her sitting on his bed with her back against the headboard. She was wearing one of his t-shirts and a pair of his sweatpants using the towel he had given her to wipe off the screen of her cell phone.

"I missed you," Jacob said, as he closed the door behind him.

"I've been texting you all day," Bonnie said, looking up at him. She had tried to wait until lunch time but she had failed.

Jacob shrugged. "So you didn't miss me then?" He asked, as he sat down next to her their shoulder's touching.

"I didn't say that," Bonnie said.

"Okay, then," Jacob smirked. Bonnie ignored the triumphant look on his face and grabbed his arm, wrapping it around her shoulders and tucking her head beneath his chin. "I can't believe you brought Leah here before Sam could think of a cover story," he said, "I thought you two were besties now."

Bonnie laughed, rolling her eyes. "Whatever," she said, "I told him to call her. She came to my school because she thought that Sam and I were a thing. I gave her an excuse. I covered for him, but since it's his fault I was embarrassed and Leah was hurt I'm not going to tell him yet."

"What'd you tell her?" Jacob asked.

"That Sam was hanging out with you as a favor for Billy," Bonnie said, "I'm not sure how he is going to explain the haircut but whatever. I also told her that I was hanging around so that I could spend time with you, which is kind of true. I think she might think I have a crush on you though, which isn't." Bonnie's mouth snapped shut when she realized how her words must have sounded.

"I'm glad you don't have a crush on me," Jacob said before Bonnie could backtrack.

Bonnie looked up at him, her confusion evident. "Why is that?" she asked, "You get over your crush on me?" She was more saddened by the thought than she would have liked to admit.

"Crushes are something that are temporary," Jacob said, "They come and then the go. If you ever wanted me I would want it to be forever. So yes, I'm glad that you don't have a crush on me; and no, I don't have a crush on you either."

Before Bonnie could respond her cell phone rang. She looked at Jacob another moment before she answered it. "Hello," she said, into the receiver.

"You need to come home," Bella's voice said on the line, "You have some visitors."
Bonnie frowned. "What visitors?" she asked, "Please tell me it isn't the Cullens." She was almost sure that it was Edward.

"It isn't but you might wish it was once I tell you who they are," Bella sighed.

"Who is it?" Bonnie asked. She was more wary than before. What could be worse than the Cullens?
"They're from Mystic Falls," Bella said, "A Caroline Forbes. Elena Gilbert. And last but not least Stefan and Damon Salvatore." Bella knew who they were, Jacob knew as well. So Bonnie wasn't surprised at the distaste in Bella's tone.

Bonnie felt like the bottom had dropped out of the new life she was building. What could be worse than the Cullens? The Salvatore were her answer.