As always I own nothing. I' m just doing this for funzies.

Chapter 12

Bella's POV

I woke the next morning, feeling very well rested. The bed really was like sleeping in clouds. Any my dreams had been wonderful. I dreamed of Jasper. Nothing naughty, we just sat in his study reading together. We were so content, and happy just to be in each other's company. It was nice.

I got up and looked at my cellphone. I'd slept till almost ten am. I must have really been exhausted I never slept past seven or eight in the morning on weekends. I looked in the bathroom mirror; my hair was still in soft, silky waves around my face. I decided to pin it up while I took a quick back so that I could wear it this way all day. As I scrubbed my face clean of the makeup, I thought about Jasper. I wanted to know where we were going tomorrow.

I'd ask him before I left so I'd know what to wear. I still felt so bad for him and Alice. I felt sort of like I was betraying her by going somewhere with Jasper. But then I felt like I would be betraying him if I told him I couldn't go. I got out of the tub after I was clean and wrapped an oversized towel around me underneath my arms. As I was pulling the clip I'd used to put my hair up I walked back into the room to get my clothes.

"Hi." Alice's voice startled me.

I let out another "Eep!" noise. "What is it with vampires? You're always sneaking up on me!" I scolded her.

"No I'm not. I knocked and you didn't answer." She was smiled a brilliant smile at me. "Besides this was only my first time to surprise you. And it's really not our fault if you're doing things you don't want others to see." She was holding a hanger with material on it in her hands. I was afraid it was for me. "I really thought your little in your face dance was cute yesterday though."

I could feel my face flushing bright red as I remembered. "I was just about to get dress, was there something you needed?" I was trying not to be rude but I was getting really uncomfortable standing there in nothing but a towel.

"Well, you said that this was going to be your first time seeing your friend in a while. And I noticed that most of your clothes consist of jeans, tee shirts, and those button-up flannels." I raised my eye brows in what's your point look. "I thought you might want to dress up a little. You know make him regret taking off on you and show him what he's been missing."

"Well he hasn't been missing much." I told her with a chuckle. But I thought about it for a minute. I wanted him to suffer just a little. I knew I wasn't beautiful like my vampire friends, but I didn't really consider myself ugly either. But last night Alice and Rosalie had made me look hot. "What the hell let's do it."

"Oh yay!" she squealed and then proceeded to tow me through the house in just the towel. "Esme is making you breakfast. We'll be done just in time for you to eat. Most everyone else is out for the day already." She reassured me.

But as we passed Emmett and Rosalie's room I heard him whistle. Damn! He'd tease me endlessly over this.

Alice tried to make sure I was comfortable in my outfit and still make is a little dressy. We went through a little trial and error with her putting me in shirts that were way to revealing, and trying to get me to wear a dress, but we finally found a middle ground.

I was wearing my own black skinny jeans, with a thin, low cut, grey handkerchief hem sweater that hugged my bust and waist before it flared out. She'd found me a black tank top to wear underneath so I wasn't showing off more skin that I was comfortable with. We'd argued about the shoes, she tried to put me in a pair of six inch black red platform heels. I'd refused and she settled for a pair of black leather bootlets with a small heel so I wouldn't break my neck.

"I think it'll do." She said with pride. "Now come in here and I'll do your makeup."

I followed her into the bath room and perched on the counter top while she worked on me. As she did I started thinking about Jasper again. "Alice," I hedged. You should not be doing this it's none of your business!

"Yes," she continued to work on my face.

"Can I ask you something and you won't get mad at me?" None of your business! I ignored the voice in my head.

"Of course Bella, you can ask me anything I would never be angry with you for your curiosities." She smiled sweetly.

"Why did you throw Jasper out of your room?" she stopped working. She seemed to be thinking about how to answer. "Y-you don't have to answer if you don't want to." I quickly put in.

"No it's not that. I'm just trying to figure out how to word it." she was quiet again for a minute, but she continued doing my makeup at a much slower pace now. "Jasper and I," she stopped. "We just," she stopped again. She was quiet for another few minutes thinking hard. Then she seemed to decide something. "I've had many new visions since you came along. I've seen things that I never thought I would see."

I thought about that. "I thought you couldn't see my future clearly enough to understand it." At least that's what I had picked up from their conversations about her seeing my future.

"I can't, I don't know why but your future is constantly shifting, never solidifying. I have seen a few things that are almost definite. But the visions I've been having that are not about you, they are about others. Some of them are people I've never seen before, and I don't understand why I would get their futures while I was searching for yours, because you're not in the visions. "

"Should I leave, would that make things better?" I asked sadly.

"No! you are not going anywhere!" was her immediate answer. "When I see you leaving, the visions don't stop they shift. I only see the path that a person is on when they are on it, if they change their minds about something the vision changes. If you leave…. Well you aren't leaving so it doesn't matter. We don't want you to leave. We love you." she smiled at me.

"You know, you didn't really answer my question." I told her with a smile. She had tried to cleverly evade my question.

"Jasper and my relationship has been slowly changing for a very long time. We've grown apart very quickly lately, there are many reasons for that, of which I'm not going to tell you." she smiled at me.

"Don't you love him?" my voice was sad and quiet.

"I don't know how to answer that." She said putting down the makeup brush in her hand. "I care for him, I did love him. If I hadn't I wouldn't have married him. But things have happened, and paths have been set into motion that can't be changed. I need you to believe that what I do is the right thing. I will tell you what I can when I can, but not everything I see can be told. Just by speaking about it I could alter the events."

I thought about that. She was begging me with her eyes to believe her and to trust her. "Ok Alice. I trust you." and I did. Something else dawned on me then. "You said you saw several things that are almost certain, what they are."

She seemed to be considering what to tell and what to keep to herself. Her eyes narrowed. "What exactly are you asking me?"

That was a little confusing, but I thought I understood. She could only answer certain question for me if I asked her directly. What did I really want to know? I didn't have to think long. I had wondered this question since the minute I met Peter and Charlotte. I almost craved it since meeting the Cullen's, no matter what names they went by in public, seeing them interact with each other last night I knew that they were all Cullens, using the Hale name was just for the human façade. They were the Cullen family. I wanted to be part of them to be included in that family, and in extension be part of Peter and Charlotte's family as well. And not as a week human who was had to be taken care of and protected. I wanted to be able to protect them. I'd gotten attached to all of them so quickly. I loved them all. I wanted to be one of them.

Alice smiled broadly. "Good girl." I understood. The minute I had thought about. Once I consciously decided I wanted to be one of them, she saw it. my extended future had solidified at least. Now we just had to figure out what she couldn't see in-between.

I bit my lip and smiled. "Really?" she smiled and put a finger to her lip to shush me. I jumped off the counter and hugged her. my sister, she would be my sister one day. They other's would be my brothers and sister. Carlisle and Esme would be my parents. Peter and Charlotte my extended family, my aunt and uncle I decided. She hugged me back and we jumped up in down in the embrace like excited twelve year old girls.

I couldn't wipe the smile off my face after that. I understood that I couldn't tell anyone for the time being, or she wouldn't have shushed me. But I couldn't hide my joy. I took one last look at myself in the mirror. She'd made me into the hot girl I'd been the night before again, I almost looked like them. I approved. Jacob would be drooling.

"Wont it be to chilly for such a thin sweater?" I asked to make sure we didn't need to make a last minute wardrobe change.

"Nope it's sunny today over Forks today. It'll be warm enough. Just don't go into Seattle or Port Angeles. It's still overcast and chilly there. Neat my own personal weather women. I was betting mine was better than the guy on TV.

We went down stair so that I could eat before I left. The house was pretty much empty except for Esme flitting around the kitchen. "Good morning, you look wonderful dear." She greeted me with a smile and a hug. I hugged my future adopted mother. "I made you some waffles, eggs, bacon, and there is a bowel of sliced fruit there. feel free to get anything else you like from the kitchen, it was all purchased for you anyway. "she led me to the barstool I'd perched on the night before while they had all cooked for me. "I'm sorry but I have to run into town today, but please make you self at home."

"thank you for breakfast; I'll have to be running after I eat though. I made plans to see an old friend today." I just couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

"Alright, have a nice time honey." She kissed me on top of the head and flitted away. Esme was impossible not to love. She was so naturally loving and nurturing.

Once she was gone Alice sat with me in silence as I hate. She just smiled at me as I practically vibrated out of my chair with excitement. After I was done I washed my dishes, and said a short goodbye to her. I tossed my bag into the passenger seat of my truck and headed for Jakes. I had wanted to say good bye to the others but everyone was gone. Alice had said Emmett and Rose had taken off to find somewhere to play off into the wood so that they didn't scare me with the horrid sounds they would make. I just laughed. Edward had taken off this morning to get his passenger door fix. I wondered what had happen to it but she just smiled a knowing smile and said nothing. She didn't know where Jasper had gone to. She didn't seem sad about that, but I did.

I called Charlie to let him know I was on my way to the reservation after I left. "Hey dad how's the fishing going?" I asked when he answered.

"It would be going better if these two old clucking hens would stop talkin and scaring away all the fish. Are you on your way home or are you still at your friend's house?"

"No I'm on my way down to see Jake."

"Well okay then." He sounded way too happy about it. "we'll order some take out when we get back to the house and we can eat at Billy and Jake's." I loved how happy Charlie sounded. I realized how much I'd missed him since I'd stopped coming out to Forks.

"Okay I'll see you soon dad I'm almost there." my happiness wavered as I hung up. I would be one of them. I would be different. I wouldn't be able to stay with my dad. He couldn't know the secret. I would be trading one family and one life for a whole new one. I felt like a bad person. I didn't know if I could abandon Charlie now that I was back with him. My father's house wasn't disgusting or anything but he needed someone to take care of it. he needed someone to take care of him.

My phone rang. I looked down at it. Alice.

"Yeah," I answered.

"Stop it and you stop it now! You're messing with my visions!" her visions had shifted when my anxiety kicked in.

"I'm not changing my mind." I assured her. "I just have to make sure everything is taken care of beforehand." I told her.

"Bella you have time don't worry. This isn't going to happen tomorrow. Everything will be fine. Now go have fun with the puppies." She laughed and hung up before I could respond.

I trusted her. I was back to almost as happy as I had been when I pulled up in front of Jake's house. I climbed out and started up to the front door. Jacob opened it and came out starting at me as if didn't know me. He had changed a little. His hair was still short, but he looked taller, and more muscular if that were even possible. He was wearing a black tee-shirt which was stretched tight over his upper body, and a pair of relaxed fit jeans and no shoes.

"Can I help you?" his voice was the name though. Still deep, still Jacob.

I put my hand on my hip and stared at him. "If I have to come up there and swat you on the nose again I'll use the newspaper! Don't act like you don't know who I am Jacob Ephraim Black!"

His face split in a grin and he lurched off the porch at me scooping me up in a bear hug and swinging me around before setting me back down. "Bella! I'm so happy to see. Why haven't you called me before now? You look great." He raked his eyes up and down my body appreciatively.

"Thanks Jake, so do you." he gave me another hug and then stiffened.

He pulled away looking down at me with an odd look on his face. "Did Peter and his wife come with you or something?"

"No why?" that was such an odd question.

"Because you smell like one of them." He stared at me again harder.

It took me a minute to figure out what he was staring at me for. I shoved him back away from me. "I'm human Jake." He had been staring at me trying to figure out if he'd missed the fact that I'd been turned. "you can still hear my heart idiot."

"So who's your new friend then?" he asked a little more light heartedly. More like my Jacob.

"are you telling me you can smell the Cullen's on me?" I asked in disbelief. I didn't know his wolfy side worked in his human form.

"Leave it to you to make friends with the first monsters you could find." He laughed at me. "and yes you smell too sweet. It kind of stinks."

"I do not stink!" I fell back into place with Jacob like we'd never been apart. It was easy to joke with him. I'd been so happy to see him again that I'd forgotten that I'd been mad at him. "What the hell do you mean by disappearing for almost a year? I haven't gotten a call, a letter, nothing!" I poked my finger into his face.

"I'm sorry Bella, I really had no choice you know that." He looked sad; I hated that look on his face. I wanted to wipe it away. I wanted my happy carefree friend back.

I sighed. "I guess I'll forgive you just this once, but don't do it again!" I tried to scold him, but couldn't keep the smile from creeping out as he smiled down at me.

"So how long do I get with you, what are we going to do?" he was like a giant excited puppy.

"Well show me around, we'll just hang for a while, I'm not really dressed for much more." I wished I would have just worn my own clothes now. We could have done something fun.

"That's cool I can introduce you to the guys. Next weekend you can dress for something more exciting." He grinned, and ran into the house to get a pair of boots that he didn't even bother lacing. He took my hand and dragged me down to the La Push beach.

On the way we talked. He asked me again about my new friends. He wanted to know if they were treating okay. "so are you dating one of them or something?"

The question shocked me. "Why would you ask that?"

"Well I always assumed you'd end up with a blood sucker, back when you introduced me to Peter and his wife. You were so comfortable with them, it was like natural to you." he said swinging our hands as we walked. "Plus there's no way you smell that much like them without having one of them all over you." he laughed.

"I stayed the night with them last night. Alice played dress up with me. And several of them hugged me. I'm not dating any of them." I told him. "Although it's not for lack of trying."

"Which one is Alice the blond or the tiny one? And which one's heart are you breaking?" he smiled at me at the last.

"Alice is the dark haired pixie." I told him. "And I've never broken anyone's heart."

He looked at me with one eyebrow crooked, "What about me?" he asked and looked away from me quickly.

That stung. "You were the one who stopped calling." I took my hand from his. "Besides we always made better friends anyway." It was the truth, the one and only awkward kiss we'd shared had been horribly awkward.

He chuckled. "Yeah I know. But if you do end up with the leach that's chasing you, I'll eat his arm if he hurts you. Also I get first dibs on you if it crashes and burns." He laughed again.

"You're a jerk!" I laughed back at him. He took my hand again and we began walking again. There was a big group of guys splashing in the water and sitting in around talking. There were twelve of them to total including Jacob.

"Hey guys, this is Bella." He introduced me loudly making every one look at me at once.

"Well holly shit, she really exists!" One of them spoke up. They all laughed.

They were all huge like Jake. But their height and muscle mass varied. And none of them were quite as big as Jake. Each of them came forward, shaking my hand. The one who'd spoke up had been Quil Ateara. He and Embry Call, were Jakes best friends. Many of them asked about my smell, a few of them looking at me the way Jacob had, trying to figure out if I was human.

But after a little while everyone seemed comfortable with me there. they began joking with me the way Jacob did. There was one named Paul who seemed adamant on letting me know what a bad idea it was for me to hang out with "Blood suckers" as he put it. I just shrugged him off.

We sat on the beach for a few hours joking and talking. I liked the wolves. "So is this all of you?" I asked looking around at the big group.

"No." Jacob answered. " there are four more of us. Their on patrol. We take it in shifts."

"Speaking of which, boss we need to switch. " Quil said. Boss?

"You're the leader of the pack?" I laughed in shock.

"Um, yeah we'll talk about it later." He got up and started talking to a few of the others. He looked like he was giving orders.

"So you know the Cullen's huh?" a young voice said from my left. I turned to see the smallest of the guys sit down next to me.

"Yeah, I'm sorry who you are again." I was trying so hard to remember him from when they had all introduced themselves.

"Seth, don't worry about it. there are a lot of us to have to remember." He smiled and shook my hand again.

"Oh! You're Emmett's friend!" He played some sort of football game with him. "How did you meet him?"

He smiled sheepishly, "I was curious about them, after I started to phase. I'd never seen a vampire before. So I went over to their lands to take a peek at them. He caught me. He was really nice and we just got to talking, we got a lot in common. " he really genuinely liked Emmett. But really how could anyone not. He was so big brotherly and loveable. Like a giant teddy bear. "he keeps inviting me over to play games with him but they won't let me." He grumbled and motioned to the rest of the pack.

"I got to play with him last night." I told him. " I beat him at some racing game."

"Wished I could have seen that. I bet he acted like a big baby." He really knew Emmett. He probably would have gotten all sulky if she hadn't embarrassed herself before he had a chance.

My phone rang. "Hi dad whets up?" I answered it.

"You and Jake get home foods here." He told me.

"K." and I hung up. I looked at my phone. Already four, the day had flown by. "Hey! Jake foods ready we got to go." He held a finger up to me and continued to talk to the guys.

I got up walked over to him, pushing my way in between him and the guy he was talking to. I reached up and thumped him on the end of the nose. If hurt just as much as it had when I'd thumped Edward in the car. I ignored it again. "Don't ignore me, wolf boy. Charlie called we've got to go." The others laughed and started making fun of him for being whipped by the "vampire girl".

He sighed and ignored them. "Okay Bells lets go."

I stood my tip toes and patted his head. "Good boy." I giggled and ran as he ran after me.

"When I catch you, you're going to be sorry!" he laughed. The others laughed loudly behind us.

I knew he was letting me get away, but I was having fun. We ran all the way back to the house before I finally stumbled over a rock. Jacob was there before I hit the ground making sure I didn't hit the ground to hard. I scraped my hand but that was the worst of it.

I lay on the ground with him above me, "I told you, that you'd be sorry when I caught your." He said in low husky voice, with a wicked grin. "Now you'll pay." He began tickling me.

"Jake stop!" I laughed loudly and tried to get away.

"Oh no you don't!" He put a knee on each side of my legs so I couldn't get away, and continued to tickle.

"When I get up from here I'm going to kick your ass!" I yelled through the giggles.

"Bella language!" Charlie yelled from the house. "You two stop rolling around in the yard and come eat, we got burgers and fries."

Jake helped me up and dusted me off. "You look awfully nice." Charlie said as we came through the door, taking a double take at me.

"Alice decided I needed a makeover." I told him. After saying hi to Jacob's dad Billy, he and I grabbed our food and took it out to a metal garage out behind his house where he was keeping an old car he was working on.

We sat in the car as we ate. "So pack leader huh?" I said wanting him to elaborate. "I thought you said Sam Uley was Alpha last time I talked to you about this stuff."

"Um, yeah. He was." He looked uncomfortable. It wasn't like him . He didn't hide things. He almost always blurted out whatever was on his mind, no matter how stupid or rude it was. "We had three human drinking vampires come through here a few months back. A red-headed woman, a blond guy, and dark headed guy. " He choked up a little. I knew what was coming. "Sam didn't make it. But neither did they."

"I'm so sorry Jake." I leaned over and hugged him. He hugged me back tightly, I felt him shake as he cried a little. I held him until he stopped. I hadn't been a fan of Sam, he'd been the one to give the order that Jake couldn't contact me anymore. Once he was done I asked. "How did that make you leader?"

"My grandfather Ephraim Black was the last chief of the tribe. He was the last one left that had been in our last pack, before we all started shifting again. I was supposed to be the alpha from the beginning but I didn't want it. but when Sam died, I couldn't leave them with no leader. " I was amazed that Jake had stepped up for this. He'd told me that the thing he hated the most about joining the pack was the loss of his freedom. Taking over the pack had surely stressful.

Then something occurred to me. "How long ago is a few months ago?"

He was looking really uncomfortable now. "You know Bells I don't really remember." He hedged.

"Well let's just narrow this down, are we talking two or three months ago or longer?" I turned in the seat to face him.

"Bells,"

"How long Jake!" I snapped.

"About eight months ago." He sounded like it hurt him to get the words out.

"You let me think you couldn't have any contact with me this whole time and you could have started talking to me again two months after I stopped hearing from you!" I got out of the car.

He came around to stop me from storming out of the garage. "Bells, stop! This had been hard on me. I hated not seeing or talking to you! But I was trying to get everything under control! A few members of the pack bucked against me becoming alpha because wanted to associate with a girl who keeps vampires as friends. I wound up having to fight for my position. After that I've been trying to get use to this whole alpha shit. It's hard and stressful. Every pack member comes to me with every little problem they have. " his eyes begged me to believe him.

I did. I was still mad, but I couldn't bring myself to make him feel bad for it. he'd been through so much already. We sat back down and talk for a little longer before Charlie yelled for me. Jake walked me to my truck, and hugged me tightly.

"I know you're still mad at me, but I wanted you to know that the pack will stand behind you if they hurt you. we'll protect you." he let go of me, and I got into the truck.

"Thanks Jake but I don't think you'll have to worry about that." I smiled again thinking of my new family. "They would never hurt me." We said good bye and I followed Charlie to the house.

I was happy to see two big boxes sitting on the front porch when we got home. The boxes we'd shipped from Phoenix the day I'd left had arrived. It was the things from my bedroom. Charlie helped me get them in and up the stairs. It was only six pm so I went into a cleaning frenzy. I wanted to get everything done tonight so I'd have the whole day with Jasper tomorrow.

I kicked off the shoes Alice had lent me and I swept, mopped, and dusted the kitchen. I also had to clean out the microwave. I don't think Charlie ever covered a dish before he just shoved it in to heat, and pop all over the inside.

I cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom, and I did a few loads of Charlie's laundry. I vacuumed and dusted the living room. I changed the sheets on his bed. When I was finally done I told him good night and headed to my room.

I emptied the two boxes. It was my purple bedding that I love so much, several stands of lantern lights that I strung around the ceiling. Photos of my mom and phil. Pictures of Charlie. My sketch pads and art box. My little boom box and my cd's. the rest was just little odds and ends that sat around on my dress and desk. I started to fill the boxes back up with all my old childhood stuff. It all fit into one box. I'd have Charlie put them in the attic tomorrow.

I packed all my stuffed animals into the second box, and wrote, To Emmy-Pooh on the side. He'd get a kick out of it. I was happy that it was mostly teddy bears.

I was exhausted by the time I was done. I text Charlotte goodnight letting her know I was sorry I hadn't called but I was beyond exhausted. She text me back telling me she loved me and warned that I better call her tomorrow . I promised I would. I grabbed my duffle bag from the floor where I'd left it, so I could just wear the sweats and tee shirt I hadn't gotten to wear the night before. When I unzipped it I stopped and stared into the bad. setting on top of my things were two books. With a sticky not on them.

Bella,

You didn't pick out any books, so I took the liberty to pick these for you. You're welcome to keep them. I have more of them. Sweet dreams darlin'. Get plenty of sleep, I'll see you bright and early.

Jasper Whitlock

It was the complete works of Jane Austen, and a collection of William Shakespeare. He'd seen which books my hands had lingered on in his study. They weren't his first editions, thankfully. I was afraid I'd ruin those, but they were still very aged leather bound books.

I loved them. I was too tired to read that night. I changed my clothes, sat the books on my night stand, and hugged the note to my chest as I curled up under my covers and drifted happily off to another wonderful dream about beautiful, thoughtful man who'd given the most perfect gift.

Here's chapter 12

I'm sorry for any mistakes, I'm half asleep at this point. I started finding myself switching from a Bella pov to a narrator pov on accident . I think I fixed them all. So if you notice any I'm sorry.

Sorry I had to kill off Sam, but I needed a way to make Jacob chief.

Next chapter has lots of jasper. I hope you guys enjoy.

Feel free to comment and review.