YOU MUST SURVIVE

A/N: Special thanks to the greatest beta in the world "JSH"…Donna you totally rock…you're the best, thanks girlfriend.

A/N: The characters in this story belong to Stephanie Meyers, but the plot is all mine.

CHAPTER TWELVE

WELCOME HOME


"God I missed this place," Bella said which caused me to chuckle. I squeeze her to me, and kiss the top of her head. The driver got out of the car and opened the door for us to get out. Once Bella and I climbed out of the car and turned to look at the house once again, we had seen Charlie, Dad and Rebecca on the porch watching us. I couldn't stop myself from smiling at them, especially Rebecca. I had to look twice; I didn't realize that it was her, and that she was home. It was so good to see her back in the house. Beck's would never come home much, because the house reminder her to much of mom, so she pretty much stayed away it was really good to see her here though. Bella ran to Charlie and wrapped her arms around him. I could hear her sobbing on her dads shoulder, I ran to dad and fell to my knees and wrapped my arms around him, and he wailed my name over and over mixed with happy tears.

I pulled away from dad and stood up, looking over at Bella, who was still in Charlie's arms, her eyes never leaving mine. I smiled at her, releasing her father, she ran over to Billy and wrapped her arms around him, and embraced each other.

"Welcome home, Bella! I'm so glad you're home and safe!" He said clearly affected by the title wave of emotions surrounding us.

"Me too, Billy!" She agreed. Charlie walked over to me and pulled me into a hug. I thought that the gesture was unusual for Charlie, he pulled away and grabbed my hand and looked me into the eye.

"Thank you, Jacob," he said tearfully, "Thank you for saving my little girl and bringing her back to me. I don't know what I would have done if I had lost her." Charlie continued, wiping the tears from his face.

"Charlie, you don't have to thank me, I love Bella I'll always be there for her. I always have been and I always will be. Hopefully, for the rest of our lives." I said sincerely. I looked over at Bella, who was smiling and nodded her head, agreeing with me.I wondered if she was telling me she would be with me for the rest of our lives. Or just agreeing that I will always be there for her? I wasn't sure, but it was something I needed to talk to her about later.

I looked to where Rebecca stood, walking over to her, pulling her into my arms. That's all it took for her to start crying on my shoulder.

"Hey sis…I'm so glad your home," I told her, as we clung to each other.

"I'm glad I'm here too little brother and thank god you home safe!" She said through her tears.

"I'm fine Becca," I told her pulling away, wiping away her tears, finally managing a smile for me. I turned to Bella and held out my hand to her, she came to me, but before I could wrap my arms around her, Becca grabbed Bella and welcomed her home with a hug as well. I chuckled watching their display. Becca finally let Bella go, making her way to me, she snuggled back into my arms once again. I kissed her on the side of her head and our families watched on. They all looked between each other, and gave us a knowing smile.

After our tearful greeting with our dads and Becca, I heard a commotion coming from the house. The pack pushed and shoved each other out of the front door, pulling me into manly hugs. Quil couldn't help himself and joked about Bella being a jinks, being the cause of the plane going down. I didn't like his comments, but at least he said it low enough that I was sure Bella didn't hear, and it earned him a smack on the back of the head from Sam.

"Ouch! That hurt!" he sulked, turning in Sam's direction.

"It was supposed to you idiot, now keep your mouth shut!" Sam said sternly, the rest of the guys let out a howl of laughter.

"Come on guys, let's go around back." Charlie said, "We have set up a bonfire out back to welcome you and Bella home." He continued.

I grabbed Bella's hand and we followed them around back. As far as I could see nothing had changed, same ole same ole. Although it had only been six months, it felt more like six years. I also wondered how Bella felt, she hadn't been here in over ten years, had everything changed for her? Did she see the same as I did that it's all the same as we left it. I squeezed her hand lightly and she looked up at me and smiled.

We entered the back yard, there were more people that sat around the fire, Sue, old man Quil and more of the elders sat side by side and smiled when they seen us come into view. Emily stood by the table filled with food and Leah sat on a log close to the woods, looking at me with a smirk on her face then shook her head. I wondered why she didn't meet us around front as the rest of the pack did, but then again I never knew why Leah did half of what she did. I knew Leah still carried a torch for me. She did since high school or should I say, since Sam dropped her for Emily. Leah was always hanging around me and had to be touching me in some way or another, whether it's her hand on my arm when she would talk to me or leaning against me while the pack would be watching a movie at Sam's.

Sam had asked me one time if we were together, which I answered with a 'Hell no!' Making Sam laugh. I told him that she wouldn't leave me alone, and that I tried to stop it as soon as I figured out what she was up to, but with no luck. We both wondered if it was her way of trying to make Sam jealous, but when she kept it up, we didn't know what to make of it.

Sam also suggested that maybe she had imprinted on me, but I put a stop to that way of thinking and fast! There was no imprinting between us, I think she was just crushing, and that was the end of that for me. When she didn't greet Bella and myself when we first arrived like the rest of the pack had, I was hoping that she had finally realized that I didn't have those kind of feelings for her. I loved her yes, but as a sister, a friend and I hoped that she understood that finally. That was short lived when she wedged herself between Bella and myself, the force causing Bella to let go of my hand.
Leah put her hand on the back of my neck, reaching in and kissed my lips hard and long. I tried struggling to get away from her. She finally pulled away and looked into my eyes.

"Leah!" Sam yelled with no effect.

"I'm glad your home safe Jake, I missed you." She said seductively, and smiled. She turned around and faced Bella, giving her an evil look and then walked away back to where she come from and sat down smirking.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and gave her an angry glare, glancing back towards Bella, the look on her face was one of shock. Sadness was apparent and looked as if she had just lost her favorite puppy. I grabbed her to me, and held her to my chest, kissing the top of her head.
"It's not what you think. I love you, Bella and only you. We'll talk about it later, okay honey?" I asked worried. She nodded her head and hugged me back which relieved some of my worry. She looked up at me and smiled, I let out the air in my lungs I didn't know I had been holding.

I had seen Sam grab Leah and pull her into the house; I knew he was going to give her a good talking too and probably make her run double patrols for her little display. I was Alpha of the pack yes, but during my absence Sam would take over, seeing he was my beta. I would let him continue doing it for awhile, until I got settled into my everyday life. Helping Bella also adjusting to being home too, she may need me for awhile.

Bella and I walked over to the fire where the elders welcomed us home. They expressed how relieved they were that we had survived our turmoil. We thanked them and we made our way to the table were all the food was positioned. As we approached, Emily quickly made her over to us both.

"Jacob!" She yelled, wrapping her arms around my neck and hugged me. "We're so glad you're home safe and sound!" She expressed. Emily let me go of her near death grip, latching onto Bella. "Welcome home, Bella. I'm Emily, Sam's wife. It's so good to finally meet you! Safe and well of course!" She said.

"Wait, wait…did you say Sam's wife?" I asked.

"Yes Jake, we got married a little over four months ago." She said giggling rubbing her belly. I noticed that she was big and round with Sam's child. I raised my eyebrow and smiled happily.

"Congratulations on your marriage and the little one." I told her with a smile.

I was glad to see that thing went on as normal during our disappearance, but I doubted if it was so when it came to dad and Charlie, with the way they greeted us, I dare say that it wasn't that normal for them. I sighed with that thought, and I looked over at them. They were grinning from ear to ear, keeping an watchful eye on us.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Emily. Please except my congratulations on your marriage and the little one as well!" Bella smiled genuinely.

"Thank you, Bella. I think you and I will become the best of friends." she replied. I looked down at my angel and smiled with pride.

All day long Charlie and Dad kept a watchful eye on us both. Even if they were doing something, they would turn and searched the area to find us. I could tell that they missed us and was worried. I thought to myself, what would have happened to them if we wouldn't have made it home? Would they have survived loosing us? Would they have wasted away with grief? I sighed, and shook the negative thoughts out of my head.

Bella also stayed close to me, whenever I would venture over to talk to someone without her it wouldn't be long before I felt her touch. I would always look down knowing it was her, giving her a reassuring smile. I had hoped that by being home it would comfort her some-what, and that she wouldn't be so afraid to be apart from me, not that I minded, I was glad to have Bella near me, if I had my way she would be by my side for the rest of our lives. I loved Bella and I knew she loved me, but this was out of pure fear. I was the only one she trusted at this point in time, and evidently it seemed to me, more than her own father.

I went in to use the restroom, when I came out, Bella was standing by the door and had her arms wrapped around her chest, and the look of pure fear was etched on her face. I knew if I pulled her close to me she would feel some comfort. I had to ask if she was ok.

"Bella, are you alright sweetheart?"

"Jake, where did you go? I thought you had left me." She said, and a lone tear ran down her cheek. I held her to my chest tighter and stroked her hair softly which always seemed to calm her down.

"Honey, I'm sorry, I just went to bathroom quickly. You know I would never leave you." I reassured her. I pulled her away a little and looked at her, wiping away the tears that stained her cheek.

"Bella your at home…don't you feel safe here honey?" I asked concerned.

"Yes I do, but I don't know what it is Jake, it's just when you're not near me I begin to panic, I don't know why I just have to have you near me." She answered truthfully. I pulled her to me once again and held her, I began to think once again that that plane crash did more than break her arm, not only did it leave scars on her body but it left one inside of her. She wasn't that same girl that was on that plane, the crash took that girl away and I had to find away to get her back, back to that self- sufficient, content, well rounded woman I talked to on the plane before the crash, but until then I will protect her with everything I had in me to make her feel safe again.

They day lingered on Bella and I finally got to sit with Charlie and Billy. It was so good to converse with them both. I found out quite a lot of what had been happened during our absence. One being Charlie was hanging out a lot with Sue Clearwater, after Harry died. I worried about her, she seemed far away in thought some days especially since Seth and Leah transformed. I was glad to hear that Charlie and Sue were seeing each other. I noticed her looking over at Charlie with a beautiful smile on her face, it warmed my heart to see her looking this way, and Charlie he was giving her the same smile back. It made me chuckle softly in happiness for them both. Bella drew my attention from them when she asked Charlie a question.

"Dad, why did you change our phone number?" she asked. Charlie looked at her and smiled.

"Oh…yeah…well, I changed jobs and…" Is all he got out when Bella came back with.

"Changed jobs? You're not chief of police anymore?" she asked shocked.

"Yes, I am but not in Forks. I'm chief of police here on the reservation." he answered proudly.

"Well that's great dad," she said surprised, "but what has that got to do with changing your phone number?" she asked again.

"Well dear daughter if you would give me a minute to finish I'll tell you." He said teasingly with a chuckle. Bella lowered her head and giggled, I squeezed her hand lightly in mine.

"Sorry dad, please continue," she replied.

"Thank you. When I took the job here on the reservation, they offered me a house, a two bedroom house on the beach which I took; I live on the reservation now Bells. It felt right to be here close to Billy." He told us with pride.

"You're kidding…that's wonderful," Bella said excited for him, and so was I now! I would be even closer to my beautiful angel and I was ecstatic with the news, Bella looked at me and gave me a nervous smiled.

We had got on the subject of the media. We had told Charlie and dad that they had been hounding us since we left New York. Charlie told us he knew they were at the mouth of the road that led to LaPush and he put some men on it. They were to keep them off of the reservation and to make sure they didn't get ran over trying to get an interview. But when Charlie found out they were hounding us he told us not to worry about them he would take care of them, he wasn't going to have them stalking his daughter. Which please me.

It was getting late and I had seen Bella yawn a few times, it had been a long trip, an even longer day, and even though Bella slept the whole way it still put a lot of stress on her body as it did mine too. I was ready to find a bed and curl up with my angel and give way to sleep.

I didn't know if Bella would go home with her dad, I knew it was a possibility but the way that Bella had acted all day I sincerely doubted it.

Charlie must have seen Bella yawn as well, because he stood up and told everyone he was leaving then looked down at Bella.

"Bells, are you ready to head home?" he asked, Bella's face turned completely white. She looked at me, and she squeezed my hand so tight that if I wasn't part wolf it probably would have broken it! She leaned into me and the way she looked at me, I knew she was asking for help.

Charlie looked at me and I to him, "Ummm…Charlie can I talk to you for a few minutes before you leave?" I asked. He looked at me confused and nodded his head.

I told Bella I would be right back, and she gave me another panic look. I stood her up and sat her next to dad.

"Dad keep a watch over Bella for me," I asked, giving dad Bella's hand. It was shaking quiet visibly. Dad looked between us both with a very worried look on his face.

"Sure son."He said, patting her hand, trying to calm her down.

I followed Charlie into the house and he turned to me.

"What's going on Jake? What's wrong with Bella and don't give me the run around tell it to me straight son!" He demanded. I knew he had seen the look on Bella's face, the way she looked at me had scared Charlie.

"Look Charlie, Bella…well ever since we've been back she's been… well, she's been… how you saw her just now. She's afraid to be anywhere without me, as long as I'm at her side she's fine but the minute I leave her side she panic's and I mean full blown panic. The crash did something to her. Not physically but mentally. I think I can help her but you can't take her away from me for awhile at least till I figure out away to get her back to that special woman I talked to on the plane before the crashed." He looked at me and sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, and then ran his hand through his hair.

"Look, Jake, I understand you're trying to help and I appreciate it, but maybe she needs psychological help, you know a doctor." he said.

"Charlie, I know I can help her, and you will do more damage right now by taking her away from me than helping her, and besides she won't let you, she won't go without me." I told him. Charlie chuckled and looked at me, I was beginning to get upset.

Why was he laughing at me? Did he think he could make a twenty year old woman, daughter or not go with him? I knew one thing I wasn't about to let Bella hurt anymore physically or mentally and if Charlie father or not thought I would let it happen, well he had another thing coming.

"Why are you laughing?" I asked angrily.

"I'm sorry son, it's just I believe you can help my daughter, who am I to argue with the man who saved her life and kept her safe all these months, but you don't have to worry about being away from her Jacob, you're dad moved in with me right after I moved into the new house. Rebecca and Paul live here now. I know you had no idea that you're dad moved with me. That's why we had the bonfire here instead of at the beach behind our house, because we wanted it to be in a place you both were familiar with!" he continued to chuckle.

"Oh…that's great! I didn't realized that dad had moved in with you, actually that's fabulous, I'm glad he did that." I told him feeling a little dumbfounded.

"Look, Jake, come to think of it, it might be better if you stay here with Rebecca and Paul, there's more room here for the two of you, tomorrow when you get up come over to the house, I'll show you around and you can visit with Billy and I …how does that sound son?" he asked. I nodded my head and laughed lightly.

"That's fine Charlie… thanks for understanding." I told him.

"No problem son, but if she's not better soon, we'll have to look into getting her help, agreed?" he asked.

"Sure, sure Charlie, but anyway it goes it's going to take awhile." I told him.

"Understood son, now let's get you back to my daughter." he said, and headed back to the bonfire. As soon as I came out of the door, Bella ran to me and jumped into my arms and buried her head into my neck.

"Jake, you're not going to leave me are you?" she asked scared to death. I looked over at Charlie who gave me a worried look.

"No baby, I won't leave you, I promised didn't I?" I told her, looking me in the eyes and nodded her head.

"Yes, you promised." she whimpered.

"Well then, I talked to Charlie and he agrees that we should stay here with Rebecca and Paul is that okay with you?" I asked as I put her back on her feet.

"Rebecca and Paul? Where's your dad staying?" she asked.

"Well, evidently he moved in with your dad." She looked at me confused and then to her dad, causing Charlie and Billy to chuckle.

"Oh…okay, that's fine with me if it's fine with Rebecca and Paul." she said. We looked over at Paul and Rebecca who were sitting across the yard watching the whole scene play out.

Paul laughed and Rebecca was smiling.

"Are you kidding? I would love it if you two stayed with us!" she said, getting to her feet and ran across the yard, throwing herself at both Bella and myself and gave us the biggest hug ever.

"I guess it's settled then." I said with a huge laugh, hugging both Bella and Rebecca. Everyone laughed at the scene, as it finally came to an end.

I could sense that a lot of the people were worried about Bella, I knew they were wondered what had went on out there when the plane went down, and what we had endured during the six long months we were missing. I also knew we would have to tell them everything from start to finish at some point, but not until Bella felt she could get through the telling of that story.

Charlie and Billy gave us a big hug before they left and made us promise to come over first thing in the morning after we got up. When we agreed, they left, soon after the elders left wishing us well. The pack filtered out along with Leah who looked positively mad as hell. I wondered what Sam said to her to piss her off so much, but honestly I didn't care, as long as she left Bella alone I was happy.

I've never had any reason to use the Alpha command on any of the pack before, and as I said Sam was acting Alpha and he will still be until I was able to take over once again, but with Leah's blatant refusal to see me as nothing more than a friend, she was forcing my hand. I will not have her treat Bella badly, so if I had to put her in her place I will without hesitation. If she refused, the elders could deal with her, and be punished accordingly.

I helped Bella, Sam and Emily clean up before they left. Bella and I made our way to my bedroom. Thank god I had replaced the small bed in my room to a king size that fit me perfectly. At least Bella and I would be comfortable. There wasn't much room for anything else in the room, but hey, how much room do you need to sleep, as long as you've got the right bed.

I was going through my dresser draws searching for something for Bella to sleep in; a knock at the door stopped me searching. I walked over and opened the door, Rebecca stood there smiling, with a bundle of clothes she had in her hands.

"Bella, I figured you won't have anything to sleep in and anything to wear tomorrow, so I went through my closet and found these." she said holding the clothes out to Bella, "I'm sure they'll fit you, and if you would like we could go shopping tomorrow sometime and get you some clothes…I mean if you want too."

Bella again looked at me in fear.

"Rebecca, thanks for the clothes and I would love to go shopping with you, but can Jake come?" she asked. Rebecca looked at me and then back to Bella then smiled at her sympathetically.

"Of course, Bella if you would like." she said. I smiled at Rebecca and thanked her, saying good night and closing the door.

Bella undressed, putting on the sweat pants and tank top that Becca gave her, and then crawled into the bed. I slipped off my shirt, dropped my jeans leaving me in my boxers, and crawled beside Bella. I put my arm around her, pulling her onto my shoulder. She buried her head into my neck and sniffed, making me chuckle. I kissed the top of her head and resting my cheek on top.

"Are you glad to be home baby?" I asked her.

"Yes, yes I am, Jacob."

We were quiet for a while, Bella broke the silence. Jake?" she asked.

"What is it baby?" I replied, getting comfortable in my bed. It felt so nice to be in my own bed and even better to share it with my angel.

"Thanks for talking to my dad earlier, you always take care of me. Thank you Jacob, I love you so much," she said, with a slur. I could tell she was slowly falling to sleep.

"I love you to baby, and your welcome, good-night sweetheart," I whispered.

"Good-night, Jacob." she said, and it was the last thing I remember as I fell asleep, with the smell of Bella's fragrance.