*I in no way shape or form, own these characters, or any rights to the unbelievable fortune that Stephenie Meyer is surely raking in due to the invention of these characters.

*I'd like to send a huge thank you to my reviewers. You all are what helps me to hone my writing and also gives me confidence to allow these characters to take on their own life. Some of you have also given some very interesting food for thought. Love you guys!

*A huge thank you to fantasyra, who very kindly agreed to beta this chapter for me. If your into Harry Potter stories, pleas check out this author. He has some really fresh material that already has many fans.

Chapter 9

Ring of Fire

Rolling out from underneath an 89' Ford Escort, Jacob smiled to himself, shaking his head. He couldn't help but respect the man that had jerry rigged this car to run for so long. It was a veritable Frankenstein of different Escort parts, outside and in and he wasn't too sure but the wiper arms looked like they came off of a Taurus. Mostly a faded red, there were also pieces of the body that were a contrasting white, obviously parts taken from another Escort of the same year, more than likely, bought for parts. He just finished looking at the axles and knew from his observations that they were converted from an Automatic.

He had gladly accepted the business, doing an inspect on this amazing piece of hodgepodge, hillbilly technology. It had passed inspection, after all, which he wouldn't have believed after giving it a passing glance had he not looked at it himself. Even with the steering column exposed and the rigged toggles for the cooling fan and headlights.

"Gotta respect a man who is so devoted to his rig." Jake laughed to Old Quil as he wiped the grease off of his hands on an already greasy rag.

Jake couldn't help but feel happy today. This had been a great week. He and Bella had both passed their high school graduations tests with flying colors, Bella was relieved to find that the majority of the test was just a point and click computer test. A small portion was in the old scantron form. The only thing that posed any real problem for Bella was the essay portion. The instructor felt bad that Bella's casted arm was the result of abuse from her ex-boyfriend and gave that section to her orally.

Bella was thrilled of course that their plans seemed to be right on track. It warmed Jake's heart just to see her so happy. However, as he remembered these thoughts, his heart ached even now at not having her near him. The need to be close to her all the time was the only side effect to their imprinting on each other that he didn't like. He sighed as he remembered the different scents that tantalized his senses. Her hair smelled of strawberry shampoo. She wore a very simple perfume that suited Bella perfectly. It was expeller pressed Heather Oil, imported from Scotland. It was her only extravagance, she would joke with him. He even loved the warmed subtle smell of the violet underarm deodorant that she wore that heated with her body as she slept. Suddenly he found himself painfully in need of Bella. He would just have to look forward to this evening and the engagement party that Emily was throwing for the both of them. With a sly smile, he wondered exactly how long they would have to make their appearance before he could sneak off with her into their bedroom.

Shopping had never been one of Bella's favorite past times, but she humored Emily. Emily's kindness over the care that she was putting into the planning of tonight's engagement party was so dear, yet Bella felt completely out of place. They had already been to the florist, Bella choosing green hydrangeas and tendrils of ivy to decorate the house and cake table with. They had gone to a local candle maker and chosen light green candles, scented with pine. There were so many candles! Emily insisted on everything from tea lights to tapers. Bella didn't mind this so much as she found herself mesmerized and drawn into a slightly dreamy state by the very scent that reminded her of Jacob.

Bella did however draw the line at a green cake, remarking, "I don't want people to begin to think that they stumbled into a late St. Patrick's Day party." Emily had a good laugh at this. Finally the settled on a simple, two tiered, white cake that would be decorated with some of the hydrangeas and ivy.

"One more stop, Bells!" Emily's eyes glittered with mischief as they stopped by the Forks Gentlemen's Shop. Bella cast Emily a slightly panicked, inquisitive look.

"Cigars, silly! Boys will be boys and they like to celebrate like boys do."

Bella smiled to herself at thought of sharing a stogy with Jake and the boys. It truly was a shop stuffed to the ceiling with so many cigar and tobacco choices that it made Bella's head spin. Emily began dealing with the kind, but uber professional clerk behind the desk as Bella began to walk around and peruse the store. Eventually a spinning rack of Zippo lighters caught her attention. She watched as Zippos with American Flags, Eagles, Marijuana leaves, and peace signs, swung by until one caught her attention. It was silver with the most beautiful engraving of a wolf upon it, mountains and pines towering behind it in the background. She swung around, shocking the shopkeeper and Emily with her excitement, interrupting Emily's careful perusal of a certain box of cigars.

"Do you engrave?" Bella's voice didn't even seem like her own as it rang out in her own ear. She blushed a bit at her sudden outburst.

"Why, as a matter of fact we do, miss." The shop keeper politely replied, seemingly sympathetic with Bella's sudden blush. "Is there something that I can remove from the case for you?" While Emily continued to smell and look closer at several varieties of cigars, the shopkeeper walked from around the counter toward Bella.

"Well, yes. The Zippo with the wolf, actually."

"Ah, yes. It's nice to see someone with taste in here." The shop keeper smiled politely at Bella. "So glad not to be removing yet another Zippo with a hand flipping a bird, or with a Marijuana Leaf on it." Bella laughed, despite her slightly shy disposition. "And what would you like engraved on the back of this, my dear?" Bella blushed once again, too shy to speak it out loud.

"May I have a pen and a piece of paper to write it on?

"Of course, my dear." The shopkeeper assured while passing her a sticky note and a pen.

On the sticky note she wrote, To my Jake. My heart will burn for you for eternity. Always yours and yours alone, Bella.

She shyly passed the note to the shop keeper. "Ah, a poet I see." He excused himself for a moment, walking through a door behind the cash wrap. She assumed that was where the engraving machine was.

Emily seemed to have come to a decision and set aside her chosen box. Emily had only set her choice aside for few moments before the shopkeeper reentered the room. He wore a pleased smile as he presented Bella with the engraved Zippo for her inspection.

"It's perfect, thank you so much."

"You're quite welcome, young lady. Oh, and I took the liberty of filling it with Zippo fluid for you."

"Thank you!" Bella replied. She was actually beginning to look forward to the party and the opportunity to present Jake with the gift that she had found for him. She knew that due to phasing, Jake would not be able to wear a wedding ring after their wedding, due to the fact that it would remain the same size and when he transformed it would provide one heck of an injury to his enormous paw. At least she could give him this to carry in his pocket as her token of affection for him.

The girls completed their purchases, Bella placing the new trinket for Jake housed in its own velvet lined box into her purse. Thanking the jovial store keeper they walked to Emily's truck. As they headed out to La Push, the sun was quickly receding into the cloudy night. "Emily, could I ask you a little favor?

"Sure Bella, what is it?"

"I haven't seen Charlie for several days. Would you mind dropping me by his place and I'll just ride over with him?"

"Of course I can. It will make for a fashionably late entrance." Emily winked at her and instead of turning on the road that lead to La Push, pushed on toward Charlie Swan's house.

Charlie Swan had had a long week. He was looking forward to the celebration tonight in honor of Jake and Bella. With a start, he realized that he had not mentioned anything about the engagement to Renee at all. As he began to reach for the phone receiver, it rang suddenly under his hand, surprising him a bit.

"Forks Police, Chief Swan speaking."

"Charlie, its Billy. Or should I call you, Chief Swan?" Billy never passed up a chance to tease Billy.

"Watch it old man, or you'll find yourself rolling down a hill with no driver." Charlie and Billy both had a good natured laugh over this jibe.

"Charlie, why don't you just come on over here a few minutes early and have a beer. I'll ride along with you to the party if you don't mind?"

"Sure, sure. I was just about to call it a day anyway. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

"The beer is cold and waiting"

And with that Charlie hung up the phone, forgetting about Renee once again and pulled his jacket on, grabbed his keys and shook the dust of work off of his feet to hang out with his best friend.

Emily stopped in front of Charlie Swan's house.

"Thanks, Emily!" Bella climbed out of the car and then turned around. "I'll see you in just a bit." Exchanging smiles, Emily watched Bella climb the front steps and open the front door, entering her old home. Emily watched for a moment, wondering to herself why there was not much light on in the house, but figured that Charlie might have fallen asleep on the couch, in front of the T.V. after work. Putting the car into drive, she did a U Turn and headed back toward La Push.

Bella walked into the foyer of her dad's house, but something seemed odd. Most of the lights were off, save the kitchen. The T.V. was off and there was no sign of her dad.

"Dad?" She waited for a response and when she didn't get one, she turned on the stairwell light to see if the bathroom door might be closed. She figured he was either using it, or in the shower. To her surprise, the bathroom door was wide open and dark. Bella was growing more and more confused. A touch of apprehension raised the hair on the back of her neck. She had been in sticky situations more than what anyone's fair share should be. Surely she was just being paranoid. Walking toward the kitchen, she caught just a hint of a streak coming toward her before she was slammed into the wall. A strong cold hand held her by the throat firmly. It took her a moment to register she was eye to eye with Victoria.

Adrenaline and a thousand thoughts pulsed through Bella's brain at one time. "So much hate in those eyes," Bella though, panicking. Would she never see Jacob again? Surely she was going to die right here in her dad's kitchen while her own engagement party raged on, awaiting her arrival. Tears began to prick her eyelids as suddenly she felt rage welling up inside of her but no matter how much she tried her hands could not loosen the grip the redheaded vampire had on her.

Despite her fear and rage at her hopeless situation Bella found her courage to ask, "What do you want?"

Victoria let go of her throat and smiled a truly evil smile. Bella shivered at the dark promises inherent in those cold calculating eyes. She paced around Bella, enjoying the fear that she could smell coming off of her meal and the increased pulse rate that called to her. Laurent always thought it rude to play with her food before she ate it, but Laurent was dead.

"I want my mate back, you bitch!" The strike was so fast Bella didn't even realize she had been back handed until just a moment after her flight through the kitchen doorway and broken landing into the dining room table.

Catching her breath from the pain that blossomed though her Bella managed to stand up. Her arm throbbing nauseatingly and almost overwhelming her other sences.

"Why are you here, Victoria!" Bella was terrified, but she was also pissed off beyond belief. She may die here, but she would die without fear. She would die with dignity.

"Where is your precious Cullen boyfriend, Bella?" Victoria once again her slow dance around Bella. "Where is your mate?"

"Edward was not my mate!" Bella surprised herself at the intestinal fortitude that she had just shown in the face of certain death.

Victoria looked confused for a moment. "What do you mean that he "was" not your mate?

"I mean that we broke up and he came after me. Now he's gone, ash."

Victoria only allowed herself to express a moment of shock. If this were true, than her plan just went sideways. "I don't believe you, human. How could he have possibly be ash?"

"He's gone because he made a foolish mistake after I broke up with him. He tried to attack me on Second Beach right in the middle of a pack of unphased wolves. This was all that he was able to do to me before he fed their bonfire!" Bella held up her casted arm.

Victoria was truly in shock now. How could this be? All that she had lived for since Jame's death was to vindicate him by killing Edward's mate and now Edward was dead? Looking Bella over, she finally resigned herself.

"Pitty for him. But you will make a tasty little morsel for me, won't you?"

Bella readied herself for the attack, but just then something crashed through the French doors that led into the back yard. She knew that wolf, it was Leah! Bella couldn't believe her eyes as Leah's monstrous form wrestled and fought in the close confines of Charlies house. A cracking noise rang out and Bella was half afraid to look. To her amazement, she saw Leah spit out one of Victoria's arms. This just seemed to make Victoria angrier. She growled as she prepared to descend on Leah once again.

Suddenly, it hit Bella. She quickly rummaged through her purse and pulled out the Zippo. "Leah, stand back!"

Leah only looked at her for half a second, but realization hit her quickly. As Victoria began to lunge once again, Bella flicked the lighter on and threw it at Victoria's feet. Victoria went up like a book of matches and suddenly, all was quiet. Leah, stood panting for a moment over the pile of ashes on Charlie's linoleum floor. Amazing. That flame had made such quick work of Victoria, but only left a circular burn mark on Charlie's kitchen floor. The kitchen, however, was destroyed from the impact of battle. Bella felt herself go dizzy and dropped to her knees.

Leah phased back and stared wide eyed at Bella for a moment as Bella scurried over on hands and knees and picked up the Zippo that she had bought for Jake less than an hour before. It was untouched. Shakily she looked up at Leah.

"How did you know?"

"I was on patrol. You didn't think that I wanted to attend yet another imprints engagement party, did you?" Clearly Leah's defenses were up.

"Why did you save me if you hate me so much?" Bella couldn't understand the angst that always seemed to surround Leah.

"I didn't do it for you and that's for sure. I did it, because it's my job. I traced the red headed bitches scent and then realized that it led here. I was just doing my job."

"Well, thank you."

"Whatever", Leah scoffed and then began looking around the floor for an unbroken cup.

"What are you looking for?" Bella asked.

"Something to put her ashes in. I'm going to dump her in a fire outside, just to make sure."

Bella, dazedly nodded her head in understanding and then reached behind Leah, grabbing a mason jar that had survived the fight. "Here." Bella handed Leah the jar.

"Don't you have a party to get to?"

"The party!" Bella had completely forgotten in all of the mess. Flipping open her phone, she called Jake. He answered.

"Where are you, Bells, we're all waiting."

"I need you to come pick me up, Jake, at Charlie's." Bella's voice was obviously shaken.

"Bella, what happened?" Jake felt his heart drop.

"It was Victoria." Was all that Bella had managed.

"What happened?" Jake begin to shake, he ran outside the door to get fresh air and to clear his head. He couldn't phase in the middle of Emily's kitchen.

"Leah and I tag teamed her. She's dead, but. . ." Bella's voice begin to quiver. "I really need you now!"

"We'll be right there, Bells. Hang on!" Hitting the off button on his phone, there was no need to explain. Every wolf and vampire in that house had heard that conversation clearly. Jake jumped on his motorcycle and Carlisle jumped into his Mercedes, followed by Charlie in the patrol car. Charlie edged his way to the lead, turning on his lights and sirens. What had just happened to his baby girl that had everyone so upset? His pulse pounded in his ears with the sheer anxiety of not knowing. There was no time to find out, everyone had moved to fast, and Lord, how fast this group could move.

Bella sat on the front steps of Charlie's in a daze. Leah sat squatted in the front yard in front of a small fire, reburning the remains of Victoria's ashes. Looking over at Leah, she felt a slight squeeze in her heart as she thought about how much it must have hurt Leah to love Sam so much, only to have the very thing that was characteristic of the spirit warriors, take him away. Bella wondered, where was her imprint?

"Leah?" Bella stepped outside of her shell for a moment.

Leah just gave her a withering look.

"Look, I don't blame you at all for not wanting to come to the party." Bella saw no recognition from Leah. "Do you think, that in any way, that we might find some common ground? Leah, I like you, whether you like it or not." Leah suddenly looked up and paid Bella the most attention that she had yet. "For God sake, I envy you." That got Leah's attention.

"Envy me? Envy me for what? For being lost? For losing the man that I loved to my cousin? For being the only female in an all-male wolf pack, which I didn't even ask to be in."

"Yes! That is exactly why I envy you, if you must know. It's your damn strength that keeps you hard and keeps you going! Ever since I have returned to Forks I have either been an idiot, or a victim. Well, maybe you were victimized by fate, but have you ever considered that you just saved a person from death? No one else was around, Leah. Yes I envy your strength. I am ever the victim, but you, you are the predator. You have strength that I will never have or understand, but I do understand one thing and that is that I made a huge mistake with Edward and that I am so happy that Jake imprinted on me. I won't apologize for that. I will make Jacob Black happy, I swear my life on it and if you can't like me for anything other than that, well then I guess there's no hope." Bella shut her mouth tight after her tirade.

Leah looked down at her feet, she shuffled them around a bit, kicking dirt into the small fire. "Well, I suppose that I can like you for making Jake happy, but that's all."

"That's a start, at least. You know I may be stupid and weak, but when you look deep down, I am actually a pretty nice person."

Bella saw the faintest traces of a smile on Leah's lips. They had no more time to talk as sirens in the distance caught there attention. An entire caravan suddenly screeched to a halt in front of Charlie's house. Bella found herself being swept up in Charlie's arms, wincing as his hug squeezed some of what must have been bruises caused by her flight into the dining room table. Jake was right behind him. Grabbing Bella by the shoulders, he seemed to look her over, unbelieving that she was apparently untouched. Unable to control himself, he sank to his knees in front of her and let tears flow freely.

"Oh Bella, Oh God! I thought that I had lost you. Bells, please, come down here; I don't think that my legs will hold me up." Bella sank to her knees in front of the love of her life and suddenly, the gateway that had been holding back her fear that she would also never see him again. Melting in to one another, they cried tears of joy at the feeling of being close to each other, once more.

Carlisle discreetly cleared his throat, causing Jake and Bella to look up, suddenly, from their tangled limbs on Charlie's walkway. "If you don't mind, Jake, Bella, I'd like to look Bella over for injuries while you tell us exactly what has just happened.

Esme rushed in at that moment. "Where is she? I'll kill her! Bella?"

Bella was hunched forward as Carlisle's gentle fingers were prodding each rib on her back.

"It's alright, Esme, she's dead." There was a sudden silence upon all there.

It was Jake who spoke first. "Well how the hell did you kill her?"

Leah was standing off to the side silently, still kicking bits of dirt into Victoria's doubly burned ashes. Bella made eye contact with her.

"It was Leah." All eyes suddenly went to Leah, which seemed to cause her to appear even more anxious."

"What exactly happened?" Jake walked to Leah.

"Well, I was on patrol and I caught her scent. It led straight toward Charlie's house, so I followed." Leah's face burned with the attention that had been turned in her direction all of the sudden. "It wasn't just me." Bella looked towards Leah, who had a funny look on her face. She didn't quite understand it. Leah continued. "That imprint of yours over there is one tough Vamp killer."

Charlie stifled a laugh at the fact that Leah obviously didn't have a care in the world that there were two Vampires standing only feet away. Jake turned his puzzled look to Bella. "Would somebody please just tell me how Bella is still standing here in front of me?"

It was Bella this time who shot Leah the look. "I came into the house, thinking that Charlie was home. I had had Emliy drop me off here, so that I could ride over with you, Dad." Charlie looked slightly guilty at this, but Bella continued. The only light that was on in the house was in the kitchen. Victoria was on me in a flash, questioning me about Edward. When she found out that, well," shooting a sorrowful look toward Esme, "that he was gone, she seemed to have felt that it somehow foiled her plan. She had intended to kill me as retaliation for James. When she finally found out the details, she decided she would just have to make short work of me and be happy, but before she could, Leah burst in." Bella smiled over her shoulder at Leah. "You should have seen her, Jake! She fought with such force. You are lucky to have her as a pack member!" Bella's voice was excited describing the action that she had witnessed in the kitchen. Finally Leah spoke up.

"It wasn't all me. Bella thought fast on her feet and torched her with something. What was that anyway, Bella?" Bella blushed, remembering that it was her gift for Jake. Well, this gave the gift an entirely new dimension of meaning.

Suddenly Bella sucked in a breath under Carlisle's prodding. "Did I hurt you, Bella?" Carlisle looked extremely concerned.

"No Carlisle, it's not you. Dad! I'm so sorry about the house!" Bella had forgotten until now about the path of the destruction that the battle had left behind..

Charlie gave her a funny look and took a peak into his front door. "Let me get this straight, a Vampire nearly kills you in my house, Leah saves your life, and you torch that very Vampire to death and you are concerned about my house? Geeze, Bella. What kind of guy do you think I am. I love you, honey. I'd give anything that I have and more to see you okay." Charlie was now on his knees in front of her. "I've got homeowner's insurance. Come to think about it, how will I ever get them to by the story that a Vampire and a Werewolf battled it out in my kitchen?" Bella couldn't help but laugh.

Jake still stood in front of Leah. "What, Jake? You're creeping me out."

"You saved my imprint's life today, Leah. I, as well as the pack owe you a huge debt of gratitude. We also owe you an apology."

"Whatever, Jake." Leah rolled her eyes, putting on what Bella knew now was her hard outer shell.

"Not whatever, Leah. We have treated you like a weaker member, someone not up to the same standards of strength as the rest of us because you were a female. Well that will never happen again after today. It would be an honor to patrol with you any day."

Leah, kicked the ground a few times and then looked up at Jake with an actual smile on her face this time. "Thanks, Jake. But I meant what I said, before. Bella's one tough, leech killer." Jake looked back at Bella, pride glowing from his eyes. Shaking Leah's hand firmly, he walked back to Bella.

"Well, Dr. Cullen? How is she?" Jake was eager to hear his prognosis.

Carlisle smiled for a moment. "Other than ligature marks on her neck from Victoria's hand and some bruised ribs, she's just fine. Leah's right. Bella is one tough girl.

Bella looked over at Leah and smiled. "I hope that we never have to prove it again, but Leah, I think that we're one heck of a team."

Leah couldn't help but smile back. "Well, now that we know that Bella's okay, what the hell are we all doing standing around for? We've got an engagement party to go to." Leah smiled once again at Bella.

"Yes", Bella thought, "Leah might just come around after all."

Bella suddenly had an afterthought. "Dad?" Charlie put his arm around her, carful of her bruising. "What is it, Bells?"

"I would really rather not have to explain all of this again. I'd rather just enjoy the party."

Nodding his understanding, Charlie pulled out his cell phone. "Leave it to me, Bells. I'll call Billy right now and let him know. By the time we get to La Push, there will be no need to explain again, although, you may be asked to recount a few of the details."

"That's alright. I'll just deflect the majority of them to Emily. After all she's the hero here."

Bella shot a sassy smile at Leah.

"Thanks a lot, Bella, Leah countered with a smirk."

"Anytime."