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Chapter 10

I woke up next to another body. As my eyes began to focus to my surroundings around me, I realized that I wasn't in the hospital anymore. As the minutes passed, I began to recount everything that had happened, and then I realized something…I'm in Derek Hale's bed! With Derek Hale! Holy Shit!

Then I became more aware at the position of how I woke up. I was on my side; my back cuddled into Derek's chest. His face nestled into my neck as I felt his breath on my ear. I felt a blush rush. He was so warm I thought as I linked my fingers with the one wrapped around my waist. I honestly didn't want to get up, but I figured it'd be better to escape now than look like a babbling mess in front of this gorgeous wolf.

Quietly, I took his arm off of me and crawled out of bed. I couldn't help myself though as I sat on the bed admiring the view. I stroked his relaxed face, and I couldn't describe what I felt when he leaned into my hand. There was also this rush of heat that passed through my fingers. I shook my head to clear it. This man did something to me. I still can't decide if it was a good thing or not.

I looked down at myself, and frowned. I wasn't wearing a burgundy Beacon Hills High School crew neck when I went to sleep. I took a whiff of it. It had Derek's heavenly scent on it. Again, the blush rose to my cheeks. He put a sweater on me when I was cold. It was so…sweet of him. I smiled to myself. It wasn't a word you'd usually think to describe someone as cold and tough as Derek.

I spied a set of keys on the table near the couch. I assumed they were for me, since I recognized the set. The keys were for Aiden's motorcycle. Before leaving, I quickly wrote a note for Derek thanking him for letting me sleep here tonight. I peeked one more glance at him thinking to myself, there was more than meet's the eye with this wolf.

ooo

I ended the engine of the motorcycle, and leapt off of it. I walked into the McCall house quietly. I didn't know what time it was, and if it was early I didn't want to wake anybody up. Yet as I shut the front door my ears picked up on someone's breathing. As I focused more on it I could tell that it wasn't breathing, but sobbing. Slowly, I walked toward the living room to see Auntie Melissa embracing a sobbing Scott from behind. My heart clenched painfully as I saw my strong older cousin break down. I bit my lip. I couldn't help feeling somewhat guilty, knowing I had been a part of the stress he had to suffered by himself.

Before I could make my presence known, my eyes met my Aunt's. She was pleading with me, and then I understood. She wanted some time with her son, and I nodded; my feelings not hurt at all. I quickly left before Scott saw me. As I rode away from the house, I wondered now where do I go? I guess my body made its mind up before my actual mind did as I recognized that I was now on the street where the Stilinski house resided.

I didn't even bother knocking, already knowing where they hid their extra key. I walked and made my way to Stiles's room. I slowly opened the door to make sure there was time to get away just in case I was walking in on an indecent Stiles.

Ignoring all the images on his "cop investigation" board, I went to Stiles' bed and gently tapped his shoulder. I knew he wasn't asleep when he instantly responded by turning to face me. "Hey," he murmured softly. He moved over to make room for me.

I sighed as I went under the blankets and snuggled into his side. "Couldn't sleep?" I asked as I wrapped my arm around his stomach.

"Believe it or not, that's not the reason at all actually," he said his voiced filled with relief at the idea. "I actually woke up half-an-hour earlier feeling well-rested that I didn't want to sleep anymore. Now I'm just thinking."

I smiled into his shirt. "Don't hurt yourself."

I felt him snort. "What are you doing here anyway? Not that I don't mind."

I hesitated before being telling him the truth. "I walked in on Scott having…well a moment. Guess all the stress and tragedy that's happened finally caught up with him. He was with his mom, and I left to give them their privacy."

We were quiet for a moment. Neither of us wanted to imagine strong Scott in any emotional distress…or distress at all.

"I really did a number on him huh?" Stiles said trying to make a joke out of it. I sighed before sitting up on the bed.

"WE really did a number on him," I said sadly. "I hate hurting him Stiles. All of you. I know what it's like to lose something you love so dearly, and I was so cruel the way I "died," but really didn't. I brought your hopes up and then crushed them when I couldn't wake up." Tears were falling from my eyes before I could stop them. I remember all the pleas to wake up when I just couldn't.

He held my face and wiped the tears away. I sniffled, and my guilty eyes met his concerned ones. "Hey," he whispered before embracing me. "Don't you dare feel guilty. I know if you had a choice you would've waken up weeks ago before any of this happened. Don't act as if your okay with what happened to you either Bell. I know what it's like not to have control of your body and to feel trapped in it as well."

As he spoke I felt tears fall onto my cheeks that I knew weren't my own. I embraced him tighter to me as we cried for the hardships we faced and made our love ones faced. I realized now that Stiles and I…we're one in the same. Haunted by images and experiences that our own minds and bodies had done to us. We're damaged, but we aren't broken. "We're gonna get through this Tink," he whispered to me after who knows how long. I smiled fondly at the old nickname.

"Don't call me that," I shot back, but no seriousness in the protest. I used to hate when he called me that when we were little. Always teasing me for being so tiny like Tinkerbelle. Worse, I used to adore Peter Pan so every time I made them watch it Stiles would see Tinkerbelle and say 'Hey look it's you!'

Stiles laughed. "You know you love it."

"We'll heal…in time," I whispered back, getting back to the subject.

I didn't make it sound like a question, but Stiles responded back like it was. He squeezed me to him before speaking into my hair. "Yeah…we will."

ooo

After staying a couple more hours with Stiles, I thought it was time to go home. When I entered the house I saw that nobody was downstairs, so I made my way up to Scott's room. I knocked hesitantly. I rocked backed and forth on my heels when I didn't get an answer right away. Finally a voice broke out. "Come in."

As I entered I saw him on the floor holding a lacrosse ball, leaning his head on the bed. Rather than speaking, I took the seat next to him and hugged my knees to my body.

"Isaac left," he said. He threw the lacrosse ball up in the air and caught it. He did this repeatedly as the conversation continued. "He left with Argent late last night, saying he needed to get away and clear his head from everything. I don't know if he's coming back." His words choked a bit as he said the last part.

"I feel like everything I touch is going to be ripped away." At that, I leaned onto his shoulder and linked our arms together.

"I won't leave you," I said quietly.

He laughed, but I didn't see the humor in the situation. "Don't you see Bella? You were the first thing ripped away from me. Bella, I saw the light leave from your eyes. I felt you go limp." I closed my eyes, fighting the tears of guilt that wanted to fall. Hearing the agony is his voice; I don't know how I'll ever make it up to him.

"Hey," he whispered to me. I opened my eyes to meet his concerned ones. He untangled our arms and brought me into his lap. "I'm not saying this to hurt you Bella. Honest."

I blinked through my tears. "I know that Scott, but I hate that I hurt you. That I made you suffer through all of this."

"Bella," he said. I looked up at him, urging him to continue. "I love you Isabella Marie. With my heart and soul. You are one of the most important things to me." He linked our hands together and looked at them. "We may not be blood, but I don't give a crap. You little Bell, you will always be my sweet little sister that Uncle Charlie brought home one day. You'll always be this tiny girl with big brown eyes who'd crawl into my bed every summer to chase the nightmares away. No matter what happens Bella Marie, you have me wrapped around your finger. I know Aiden and Ethan are in the picture now, and you have these special places in your heart only meant for Stiles and Jackson, but I hope that through it all I'm going to be your protector. Your hero that'd do anything to make sure you never cried…well I guess I'm not doing a good job huh?" he said as he saw my tears.

I cried into his shoulder as I hugged him harder to me. Finally when I calmed down, I spoke. "Do you remember what happened that day we went to the park the first summer we met?"

Scott smiled fondly as he thought of the memory; I couldn't fight back mine either. It was one of the earliest memories we made together.

We were both seven at the time. It hadn't even been a week since I've met the McCalls, so naturally I was still suspicious of them. It hadn't even been a year since the accident, but Charlie really wanted me to know his and my new family despite Renee's protest to take it slow. Charlie had taken Scott and I to the park to "bond." He feared that we wouldn't get along.

It wasn't that. Scott was nice and all to me, and he never picked on me for how small I was for my age. He just scared me is all. He was bigger than me, and I was nervous that he'd sit on me, or something.

Anyway when Charlie was talking to someone else, I sneakily climbed one of the trees. Well…attempted to anyway. My footing was incorrect, and I had slid off the tree skinning my knees. I cried silently to myself. Back then I felt as if something was missing, and that made it hurt even worse. Back then I didn't realize what I was yearning for was for the comfort of my brothers.

Then Scott appeared, practically out of nowhere. "Hey Bella Marie, don't cry. It's okay. We'll place band-aids on your boo-boos and then they'll be all better!" A seven-year-old Scott exclaimed, but it was what he did next that caused me to stop crying.

He got on his hands and knees and crawled until he was sitting right next to me. He wrapped his arm around me and placed my head into the crook of his neck, as he patted my hair down. Suddenly, I just stopped crying. A sense of comfort and protection ran through me as we stayed like that until Charlie noticed we were missing.

And even as Charlie bandaged me up, Scott never left. He held my hand throughout the whole thing.

"Ever since then you became my protector. You always knew how to make me feel better. No matter who comes in my life or who leaves, you'll always be my Scotty. The Scotty who patted my head when I was scared, let me sleep in his bed to chase the nightmares away, and I just love you Scotty. My brother. My protector and hero. Always. Back then and now."

I felt him smile in my hair, and I knew we'd be okay. "I remember that. I also remember you telling me an hour later that you wanted to fall in love with a guy just like that. And then I asked you 'like what?' And you said, 'someone who could do something so simple as wrapping their arm around you and patting you on the head to make you feel loved and safe.'"

I blushed at the innocent statement I said back then. "I remember," I said. "I'm still looking for him." And I realized that Edward could never make me feel comforted so fast. He always had to talk to me and practically dazzle me to keep calm. I guess he really wasn't meant for me.

Scott sighed. "We've come a long way haven't we?"

I nodded. "Yeah we have. They're will always be bad times, but they're will also be good ones, too. No matter what happens or who we say goodbye too Scott, we'll face it together. Through thick and thin."

Scott smiled at me. "You always did know how to make me feel better."

I rolled my eyes; he should've known that by now. "Here we'll make it official. Give me you pinky."

He glared at me, though there was mirth in his eyes. "Pinky promise? Really Bella?"

I glared at him, fully serious. He sighed and gave me his pinky. I linked ours together and swung them a bit. "Here's to facing the odds and good times together. Do you, Scott McCall, promise to keep this pinky promise?" I asked, trying to keep the laughter from my voice.

He didn't though. He howled with laughter as he swung our pinkies. "It's a promise Bella Marie." I smiled at the nickname; he hasn't said that in years.

ooo

"I'm coming!" I said as I took my wet hair out of the towel. Scott had left to see Deaton to actually work. Only Deaton would be so kind about all the hours Scott has missed these past couple months.

I smiled happily when I saw it was my brothers behind the door. "Hey!" I exclaimed as I eagerly wrapped my arms around them. "Come in! Come in!"

I walked upstairs to my room, knowing that they'd follow me. I sat in a criss-cross position on my bed as I looked at my brothers, waiting for one of them to start speaking.

They glanced at each other before looking at me. "We brought you something," Aiden said as he revealed the manila envelope he held behind his back and placed in front of me.

I glanced at them curiously before opening the envelope. The first thing I picked out was my birth certificate. "Isabella Marie Carver," I said as I looked at it. Obviously I knew what my surname was once my memories returned to me, but it's different when you actually look at it right in front of you

As I traced the name, I began to speak. "You know they never took this away from me."

Ethan frowned. "I'm not following."

"Charlie and Renee. They never changed my name, only added the Swan part to it. I remember I asked once what the 'C' stood for since on official things since it'd spell in bold 'Isabella Marie C. Swan.' (A/N if you don't remember Renee is their mother's sister; so they wouldn't have the same surname) She told me if I really wanted to know ask her one more time after a period of time. In my heart I knew I wouldn't like the answer, so I never asked."

"I remember Aunt Renee," Aiden said as he leaned back on the computer chair. "She was hilarious. Always pushing mom's buttons just cause she got a kick of the rise she got out of her." We laughed. Mom was the calm one in the family, so seeing her practically with steam blowing out of her ears was a rare sight.

Ethan rolled his eyes. "So that's where you get it from." He laughed even harder as he dodged the pen Aiden threw at him.

The next thing I pulled out were bank papers that included a checkbook, a pretty black credit card, and one debit card. Each item was engraved with my name, too. When I saw how much money was in the account my eyes widen. "That's…that's a lot of zeros."

Aiden rolled his eyes. "Tell me about it. I swear…our parents were probably in the mafia for awhile."

I laughed. I knew we were well off, but I didn't know we were that well off. "We did inherit a lot."

Ethan scoffed. "Bella that's only your trust. They split it 3 ways evenly. There should be another debit card in there." I looked in the envelope to grab it. "That card is connected to money in a joint account that all our names are under. This is the money we gained from insurance from our parents, the house, etc."

I nodded. "Thank you for bringing me this," I said.

Aiden smiled softly at me. "Please don't. We've been meaning to give this to you for a while now. That money is yours just as it is ours."

"On another note, we're also here to just hang out," Ethan said. "We're siblings, but we're strangers too. There's a lot we don't know about you and vice versa. I guess were just were to fill that gap."

I understood what he said. Before I… well 'died' when we were around each other there was often this awkward silence that we didn't how to fill.

Ethan was right. We were strangers, but blood at the same time. Our relationship was awkward at best. They yearned to be needed by their little sister, and I just couldn't be that girl I was back then. Yes, I needed love and protection that only older siblings could give, but it wasn't them that I wanted it from. Although I hadn't meant to, Scott and Stiles had quickly taken the absent places of my brothers in my heart. And as much as I knew they wished for life to turn out different, I wouldn't change my life for the world. Scott and Stiles were simply too important to me to replace.

So we talked. About our favorite colors. Our favorite hobbies. Our fondest moments. The longer time went by the more relaxed each of us became. I realized then too that we'd soon learn how to figure out how our relationship with one another would work. They had the title "brothers," but right now we just had to work on being friends first.

1 week later…

It was study haul time, thank goodness, since I honestly had no heart to pay attention listening in class. Ugh, the thought of Derek hurt or in danger just didn't sit well with me. Who takes someone all the way down to Mexico anyway to kill them? So clearly something must be up.

I jumped when I felt a sharp kick on my foot. I looked and glared at Lydia who was sitting across from me.

"Stop worrying. We'll find him, and all will be well with you two," she whispered to me before returning back to her notes.

I frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?" I didn't like the way her voice implied something. "Nothing's going on."

Lydia rolled her eyes. "I'm not blind Bella. I see the way his puppy dog eyes follow you around every time you're around. He may hide it well from the others, but this is me were talking about."

I fought back the blush. He always had this look to him whenever our eyes met, but it couldn't mean that could it? "He doesn't like me like that," I mumbled, trying extremely hard to hide the disappoint from my voice. How could gorgeous wolfy Derek like me? Small and blushing Swan. I may have gotten over some of my insecurities, and knew I was quite cute looking...pretty even. But how in the world could Derek fall for something like that? Of course he'd want someone that was drop dead—

"Stop it!" She said. I looked at her curiously. "You're a beautiful girl, and any guy out there would be lucky to have someone as gorgeous, kind, and caring as you."

I looked into her hazel green eyes, and was touched by the straight up genuine honesty in them. I smiled softly. "You're a good friend you know that."

She rolled her eyes. "Duh," she said, jokingly. "Anyway back to the topic, clearly you like him like that."

"To be honest, I never really thought of it. When he's around, everything just…urgh I don't know how to explain it," I said frustrated. Did I like Derek that way? I thought he was attractive and his presence was absolutely comforting, but was I ready to be in another relationship?

Lydia's eyes widen, and suddenly she looked at me with this knowing look. "What?" I said, curious to find out what she knew.

She laughed at me. "Oh no, I'm not saying anything. You have to figure it out all on your own. A little bit of advice hon, whatever happens, just don't let your past ruin the rest of your future. You'd be surprised about what'd you'd find when you finally open your eyes." Throughout her sentence, Lydia's eyes softened at whatever was behind me. She gave a soft smile over my head, and I turned around seeing Aiden return the sentiment.

Saving me from an awkward third-wheeler moment the bell rang, and we collected our books. I saw Aiden beginning to move toward us and before I could say anything, it's like Lydia read my mind. "Don't worry, I won't say a word."

I nodded back in gratitude, and quickly walked to my next class; leaving the lovebirds alone. Well looks like Aiden finally convinced Lydia to give him a real chance.

ooo

As I opened the door to the house, I went up to Scott's room knowing he and Stiles were there. I open the door to see Stiles back up from Malia's claws.

"I am so sorry," she said as she laughed happily, probably from being able to take her claws out.

Scott looked at me and smiled. "Hey."

I smiled back at him and walked toward him. I wrapped my arm around him and gave him a squeeze.

"Bella look!" Malia then brought her clawed arm toward my face, but before it was about to hit me Scott quickly placed himself in front of me, taking the blow. I heard a ripping and knew Malia's claws swiped through his clothes. Thankfully I didn't see any blood, so no one was hurt.

"Aw shoot! Sorry," Malia said embarrassed. I laughed as a way to tell her no harm was done. Malia and I had an interesting relationship.

When we had first met, the first thing Malia had told me was that I reminded her of a baby animal that had gotten eaten once by a predator. Though it had bugged and slightly disturbed Scott, oddly enough I wasn't offended by her brutal honesty. Stiles had already warned me of her strange animalistic tendencies so I laughed it off and told her that I had actually almost gotten eaten once or twice. Yeah…neither Scott nor Stiles found my remark funny, but it had impressed Malia.

Since then Malia treated me a little differently. It seemed as though she was always trying to please me as often she saw me. One day I was so cold at school since I forgot my jacket, and the next morning she brought me a fur coat to keep me warm. She did a couple of these things since we met, and I was often confused why she didn't do this for anyone else.

Stiles explained that since I reminded her of a baby animal, the animalistic instinct for her would be to care and tend to it. After Stiles told me that's how she felt, I quickly told Malia that though I appreciated her thoughtfulness I could take care of myself.

She told me I was an idiot, and asked how I 'a puny human' could defend myself from the supernatural. I couldn't find an answer and admitted she was right. She then admitted that she felt an "annoying" protectiveness for me like she did for Stiles. I let the argument go, and just simply embraced our odd friendship. She was great company anyway.

Though I hated lying to her. Scott had told me Malia's family history, and I disapproved of the fact they were hiding it from her. After so much bickering, Stiles promised me that he would tell her when she was well adapted into human society.

"It's fine," Scott said. He went back to the closet to grab a fresh shirt.

"Are you two staying for dinner?" I asked, but pleaded with my eyes to say yes. Aunt Melissa has been working later this past week, and don't even get me started on the awkwardness it has brought on when Scott's dad started eating with us.

Stiles smiled sympathetically at me. "Yeah, I could eat." Malia nodded as well.

As we got dinner ready, both Aunt Melissa and Rafael came inside.

Aunt Melissa smiled at us. "Well looks like it's a full house."

We ate in comfortable silence before Scott broke it. "So just to remind you, we're going camping tomorrow and the rest of the weekend since it's a three-day holiday."

Scott's parents nodded. "Who's going again?" Rafael asked.

"Me, Stiles, Lydia, Malia, Bella-" Scott said, but was cut off by his mom.

"Bella? She's not going," Aunt Melissa said.

I frowned. "Wait what? Why not?"

Instead of answering, Aunt Melissa looked at Rafael. "I thought you told her."

"You told me you were going to tell her," he shot back.

"Tell me what?" I demanded, irritated at the thought of not going to Mexico.

"That you're going to Forks for the weekend. Your ticket is on the counter. You leave in the morning. Your father wants to see you. Have you even talked to him?"

I shifted in my seat, guilty. "Once. I've been busy catching up with all the school work that I missed." And worrying about Derek. I sighed. I knew I couldn't win this fight. They thought we were going camping and if I tried to fight not going to Forks they'd know something was up.

After dinner was over, I sullenly packed a bag to bring to Forks. It was hard to get any sleep, too worried about their trip to Mexico. I sighed, not being able to find a position to sleep in comfortably. I tiptoed into Scott's room.

I found him staring up at the ceiling with his arms behind his head. "Can't sleep?" Scott asked, already knowing the answer.

I shook my head, but realized he wasn't looking at me. I climbed into the space that he left for me and made myself comfortable. He wrapped his arm around me and kissed me forehead. "Everything will be okay," he said. I hope so, I thought…before I finally drifted off.

ooo

I carried my duffle bag down the stairs to see everyone by the front door. I smiled when I noticed Malia was sulking. When I reached the bottom step, she wrapped her arms around me and nuzzled her face into my hair. She towered over me with her 5'8 height compared to my 5'2 frame.

"Can't we just take her with us? Place her in the trunk or something," she complained as she stopped nuzzling my face but she didn't release me.

"Malia," Kira gently said. "She's not a pet remember?"

Malia rolled her eyes. "I know that." She turned to face me. "You'll be okay right? Your not gonna get eaten or anything?" I forced myself to not laugh as I saw how serious she was being.

"I'll try my hardest," I said.

She nodded, not getting my sarcasm. "Good. I quite like having you around. You're like this annoying little pup that just needs to be coddled or something. It would really suck trying to replace you if you died and got eaten."

Stiles laughed nervously. "Believe it or not, that's progress." I smiled not offended. I know that it was her own way of saying that she cared for me.

I quickly hugged each of them. I heard a honk outside, knowing that was my cab. "Please…be safe," I said as I looked at everyone. I leaned my head onto the window. Here I come Forks…

ooo

Crap, I thought. Where the hell did my cell phone go? I totally forgot to ask where I was supposed to meet my dad. I sighed, not in a good mood at all. I tried to get a couple of hours of sleep, but this annoying kid continuously kicked my seat.

As I walked toward the payphone area I saw a tall figure leaning against the wall near one of the many airport exits. I stopped and smiled, knowing I didn't have to call my dad anymore.

I quickened my pace, and simply dropped my bag onto the floor before jumping into the figure's arms. I locked my legs around his waist to keep me up, but his steady form didn't budge from my attack. His hands went to my thighs, holding them firmly as he nuzzled his face into my hair.

I smiled into the crook of his neck before placing a soft kiss onto his jaw. "Jackson," I sighed into him. Suddenly the thought of this trip seemed to be even more appealing.

Hoped you like it! Yay Jackson's back! I hoped you liked all the soft moments with everyone. I know there wasn't a huge Derek and Bella scene in this chapter, but just you wait until the next one!

Just to clarify something Bella doesn't love Scott and Stiles more than her actual brothers, it's just hard since so much time has past that Bella really doesn't know how to interact with them. Scott, Stiles, and her have so much history and it's difficult for her to just let that slide when her actual brothers come by wanting to claim all the rights that come with that title.

Please review! Love hearing what you think!