Author's Note: I don't even have an excuse. Happy reading.

Angela and Jake were staring at each other and while it was amazing to know exactly what Jake was going through, the silence seemed to make Angela uncomfortable. I untangled myself from my man and walked over to my friends. Ang looked to me and then to Jake. Jake's eyes didn't leave her face for one second.

"Hi," I started. "Okay, Angela this is my best friend Jacob." She smiled shyly. "Jake," I said pointedly, he hadn't seemed to notice my presence until that moment. His brown eyes turned to me and I melted, I was so happy for him. He reached out and squeezed my hand. "Oh right, Jake this is Angela, a friend from school."

"Angela," he said. Her name rolled off his tongue as if the name was only meant for him to speak. She looked weak at the knees when Jake put on his million dollar smile. I couldn't blame her. A few days ago I would have given anything in the world to be her. She truly was the luckiest girl on the planet.

"Alright, everyone, gather round." Billy instructed. I sent a look in his direction and motioned toward his son. Billy's gaze found Jake, saw how intensely he was looking at Angela, and figured it out right away, "Oh, just kidding Jake," he started with a smile on his powerful face, "go… somewhere." Jake, who hadn't been paying attention turned toward his father with a confused look on his face.

"Huh?" he asked. He was so eloquent. Billy laughed at him.

"Go," he said and Jake's smile threatened to crack his beautiful face in half. He bent down to be eye level with his center of gravity.

"Walk with me?" he asked and the way he asked was as if he was asking her to marry him, not go for a walk. Angela turned her head to look at me. I nodded my head in Jake's direction with a smile. She smiled back shyly and nodded at Jake. Again, I thought his face would break with the force of his smile and he gestured ahead of him. She turned and started and he turned toward me with his sunny smile and tripped over the log. Jake, who had never done anything ungraceful in his new life, had just embarrassed himself in front of his imprint. I couldn't help it when I burst out laughing, apparently everyone else had the same problem. Angela turned around at the noise and saw Jake sprawled at her feet.

"Oh my god! Jake are you alright?" She asked frantically, bending down to help him up. Not that he needed it, stupid werewolf. He jumped up and brushed sand off his shorts quickly.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm cool," he said. I bit my lip to hold back any more giggles. "Let's go." Angela nodded and Jake followed her like the little puppy he was.

"Well, now that my son is done embarrassing himself," Billy said with a chuckle, "Let's start." Everyone gathered around the fire, ready to hear the histories. I settled myself between Paul's legs, draping my arms over his bent knees. The waves even seemed to quiet down when Billy spoke. He just had that effect on everything around him.

"First of all, let me start by saying Quil, welcome to the pack son." He smiled as everyone whooped and clapped for him. It seemed Jared and Embry had another partner in crime. "Now," Billy said turning to me, in true Bella fashion I blushed. Paul laughed at me. "I also want to say something to someone special to all of us. Bella, we know it's been a long and tough road to get here. It didn't come easy by any means but after all that, know that we all love you and are so happy to welcome you to … well the pack in every sense of the word. As a shape shifter, a best friend, a surrogate daughter, and Paul's imprint." I beamed at Billy, touched at his words.

"I love you," Paul said in my ear.

"Love you," I answered, kissing the inside of his arm which was the most accessible at the moment. I settled into my man and listened with rapt attention as Billy told the tribal legends. I listened more carefully this time, each word hitting more close to home than before. He described phasing and instead of imagining what it felt like, I remembered exactly what it felt like. When he got to the part about Bella Luna, I cringed. Paul, attuned to everything about me, tightened his hold on my shoulders and pulled me, if possible, closer to him.

"Bella Luna, the beautiful moon, and our beautiful Bella. I want everyone to hear this," Billy said seriously. "There is a war coming. We have to be ready. There will inevitably be more additions to the pack and to be honest, we need all the help we can get. It's not going to be easy but losing is not an option. Lean on each other. You are brothers and sisters of this tribe, all of you, and you have to support each other if we are to make it through this." He trailed off and stared at each one of us as if looking straight into our souls. It was that moment that I felt the true weight of the responsibility I now shared with these boys and Leah with me. I wouldn't let them down. "On that note," he said, his voice was suddenly light and cheerful. "Have fun tonight."

The atmosphere changed instantly. While Billy was talking every other sound besides the deep timbre of his voice and Paul's beating heart were blocked out. Now that the stories were over, the sound came rushing back. It was enough to make me shake my head.

"What's up babe?" Paul asked, noticing my flinch. I looked up into his melted chocolate eyes.

"Sounds," I said and he nodded.

"You'll get used to it," he said, sugarcoating nothing. Another thing I loved about him. We were quiet for a long time. It was comfortable but there was something on his mind. I reached behind me and smoothed out the lines between his eyes.

"What is it baby?" I asked. He just shook his head and forced a smile.

"Nothing, can I go play?" I raised my eyebrows but then I realized he was serious.

"Yeah, go have fun!" he kissed me quick and ran down the beach. I walked back up the beach to get my bag. Emily reached out and touched my arm with a smile and I smiled back. She turned toward Sam and I continued my way up the sand. My bag was lying under the table and I pulled it out, ready to call and check up on Charlie. I opened my phone, 17 missed calls. The number was one I recognized and someone I was in no state of mind to deal with. I went through my contacts and hit send.

"Hi Bella," Alice said cheerfully. There was no need to ask how she knew it was me.

"Hey Alice, want to explain to me why I have 17 missed calls from Edward?" The silence on the other end of the line meant nothing. I knew she heard me.

"I actually have no idea what that's about," she said. I didn't know if I believed her or not.

"Charlie?" I asked. She knew what I meant.

"I'm always watching for that. You know me better then that Bella, you don't have to ask," she said. I felt bad for being not completely friendly toward her at the moment but I didn't want to deal with Cullen drama. I was happy. I was home.

"I'm sorry," I said. Alice took an unnecessary breath before talking.

"It's okay," pause, "I'm sorry too Bella. For everything."

"I know," I said and I did know. I just didn't care as much as I used to. "I have to go. I'll talk to you soon."

"Definitely. See ya," she said and hung up. If vampires could cry I'm sure that's what Alice would be doing. It seemed I was hurting her a lot lately.

"Bella!" Paul called. I looked down to him with a smile. He had a football in hand and was waving me down. "Come play."

"Give me two minutes!" I called. He smiled and I called to check in on Charlie. When I was sure he was still breathing, I ran down the beach and tackled my unsuspecting boyfriend into the sand.

"Score one for Bella," Embry said.

"Sounds like a challenge there, Pauly," Jared said.

"What are you going to do about it?" I asked, an impish glint in my eye. Paul looked at me with a sexy smirk on his face and all of a sudden I wasn't so confident. He took a step forward and I took a step back. Then I was running and damnit if he was right behind me. I felt warm arms scoop me up and even with my new muscles I was no match for Paul. He walked calf deep into the water and I looked at him with fire in my eyes.

"You wouldn't," I said, dangerously.

"Watch me," he said and then he dropped me in. I didn't actually expect him to actually let me go and was caught off guard. I came up out of the water spluttering. What was everyone doing? Yup, laughing.

"Thanks for all the help guys," I muttered. Paul opened his arms, probably for forgiveness but I splashed him in his face and stalked out of the water. Or tried to. It was an hour later before we ended up getting out of the water. When I saw we, I mean it started with Paul throwing me in but then Jared, Embry, and Quil ended up in the water. Of course it did.

I didn't want to go home but it was late and was definitely time to go. The boys were jumping on top of each other and being loud as usual, but Paul and I hung back. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it gently. I looked up at him with a smile and without warning pulled him to me. He was way forgiven for the water incident and I just wanted a few minutes alone with my werewolf.

Paul held me to him, his arms around my shoulders as mine were locked around his waist. "Thanks," I said quietly, pulling back.

"For what?" he asked amused.

"My hug, I needed one." And I did.

"That's what I'm here for," he said and then picked me up and spun me around. I laughed and put my forehead against his. He still had me lifted off the ground but it was evidently not a problem for him.

"What Billy said about the war," I said but Paul shook his head.

"Let's not talk about it," he said.

"We're going to have to talk about it Paul," I sighed.

"I know baby, but let's not ruin right now." I agreed with that logic and kissed him instead. We pulled back from each other at once with fire in our eyes.

Paul growled low in his throat and I turned to face what I knew was right behind me.

Ending note: sorry it's short but YAY fluff. There may not be more fluffy goodness for awhile. Review? Please. Love you.