Thank you for the reviews, favorites, and alerts! I'm humbled by how many of you are enjoying this! I would have had this out sooner but I myself recently had a death in the family and it's difficult to write about a funeral when you've just been to one. Not to worry, we'll be ending this one on a citrusy note ;) Enjoy!

And just since I haven't said it in awhile... I don't own it!

BPOV

I stood there in the black designer dress Alice had put me in that morning and stared at the offensive brick building with white shutters, and the words Lane Funeral Home written in black fancy script above the front door. Esme stood on my right, holding my broken hand gently in hers. Jasper was on my left, also holding my hand but much more tightly than his mother figure.

He looked amazing dressed entirely in black; jacket, shirt, tie, slacks, and shoes. It contrasted nicely against his pale skin and blonde hair and made me think thoughts that were just not appropriate given the theme of the day.

When I saw him after he was dressed I flashed back to the night before and wished more than anything that we hadn't stopped. Yes it was early in our relationship for the physical part by human standards but there was nothing about us that was normal. He was a vampire and I was a human. The norms didn't really apply to us.

"Are you ready?" Carlisle asked from his place behind me. I felt like they were my bodyguards with the way they were all gathered around me and I couldn't say that I wouldn't be grateful for it when others started to arrive. Normal humans naturally had an aversion to vampires, an instinct to stay away because they knew they were dangerous. Being surrounded by them would keep people from lingering too long and hopefully keep the Quileute wolves away altogether.

I had hated how Jacob acted toward me when I had gone to the reservation. The things he said hurt me and pissed me off at the same time. The fact that Billy agreed with him and never once came to my defense while his son belittled and berated me made it all the more heartbreaking. That man had been like a second father to me but because of his long ingrained prejudices against the Cullens and others of their kind it was like all of that didn't even matter to him.

Now that I knew Jasper wanted me changed I was grateful for the falling out. As much as I loved Jake and appreciated everything he had done for me after Edward had abandoned me I knew that a friendship with him wasn't something I would be able to continue with. Once I was a vampire we would be enemies and I don't think any amount of history between us would be able to override either of our instincts to kill each other. My change however was something that had to be kept from him until after the threat of Victoria and her army had been eliminated.

Carlisle's hand on my shoulder brought me back to the present and reminded me that I hadn't answered his question.

"No," I replied, "but let's get this over with."

The moment we opened the door my nostrils were assaulted by a very strong, overwhelming, floral scent. It made my stomach turn and for a moment I thought I was going to throw up the very small breakfast of toast and orange juice I had had at Esme's insistence before we left. I remembered that smell from my mother's funeral and I decided that just must be what all funeral homes smelled like.

To the right of us was an office and a staircase that led to the second floor where I knew more offices were located. To the left was an elevator and next to that was one of their two viewing rooms. Today this room was being used to display the memory boards and memorabilia we had put together in Charlie's honor. Directly across from where we stood were the bathrooms and a small table in between them that held coffee, water, and a few plates of cookies for the mourners coming to say goodbye to my father.

We were greeted by the funeral director. He took my hand and once again offered his condolences. He spoke very briefly to Esme about something but I didn't hear what he said or her response. My attention was focused on the door to the right. The room where Charlie's body laid waiting for us.

We stopped outside the door so everyone could sign the guest book or whatever it was called in this situation. We stepped inside and the sight in front of me made my eyes instantly fill with tears and a sob to escape. It wasn't the sight of Charlie laying there that did it. In fact I hadn't really looked at him yet. It was the flowers. There were literally flowers everywhere! They were piled on pillars on both sides of his casket. All four windowsills held as many arrangements as they were able to fit. When they ran out of room they had placed them on the floor along the outside edge of the room. I turned around and saw that there were even some in the other room.

Obviously it wasn't the flowers themselves that made me so emotional; it was that in that moment I realized just how loved my dad really was. There had to have been an arrangement from everyone in town.

At the sound of my sob, Jasper wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly to his chest. I couldn't even begin to imagine what everyone's emotions were going to do to him today and I was glad he took the opportunity to hunt while I slept the night before.

"Apparently being loved by everyone they meet is something that runs in the Swan family," he whispered to me. I smiled up at him through my tears and leaned up on my tip toes to kiss his cheek.

Slowly, we approached the casket. When I looked at Charlie I covered my mouth as another sob escaped. He looked… amazing. They had done an incredible job with him and I was overcome with gratitude that, somehow, they were able to hide the hideous bite mark I knew was under his collar.

His closed eyes no longer had the dark circles he usually carried from lack of sleep, worrying over a case. Every wrinkle he had acquired over the years was gone, leaving only smooth skin making him look twenty years younger. The cut on his forehead from the accident had been covered extremely well and was all but unnoticeable. I probably wouldn't have even seen it if I hadn't known it was there.

I stood there for what felt like days staring down into the face of the man who had loved me, raised me, and done everything he could to ensure I had a good life, and cried. I was ashamed of myself for not wanting to do this. I was ashamed for not wanting to be here to say goodbye one more time. I was a horrible daughter.

"Baby, no," Jasper said. "Don't you dare do that you yourself!"

I sobbed harder at his words.

Before I even realized my legs were giving out a chair was placed behind me and Jasper guided me into it before I could fall.

"What's wrong?" Emmett asked. "Don't do what?"

"She's ashamed of herself. She told me last night she didn't want to come today because she had already said goodbye and didn't want to put on a show for everyone. Bella, look at me."

When I didn't move my hands from my face he did it for me but I still didn't look at him.

"I'm a horrible daughter," I sobbed.

"Isabella, look at me," he said more forcefully. His use of my full name made me look without even meaning to.

"Stop it. I told you last night and I will tell you again, there is nothing wrong with you not wanting to come here and do this. You are not a horrible daughter. You took care of that man from the moment you stepped foot into that house. You made sure he was fed and had clean clothes. You kept the house clean. You never got into any kind of trouble and he never had to worry about what you were up to. You are an amazing daughter. You are an amazing person!"

"He would be so disappointed in me," I said once I got the sobbing under control.

It was Carlisle that knelt down in front of me this time. His soft eyes looked into mine; his four hundred years on this earth evident in their wisdom.

"Bella, the last thing Charlie would feel toward you is disappointment. I may have never fathered children in my human life but I know a thing or two about being a dad. I have been the father to four eternal teenagers for longer than you have been alive. I can tell you now beyond a shadow of a doubt that if it was me lying in that casket and they didn't want to be here I would never be ashamed or disappointed in them for it. Do I believe you would have one day regretted that decision? I certainly do, but that doesn't mean it would have been wrong. Charlie loved you so much, Bella and he was so proud of the young woman you have become. His biggest regret was that he wasn't a bigger part of your life when you were young. You meant everything to him. From a father's point of view I think as daughters go, you're a pretty great one."

I wrapped by arms around him and cried into his shoulder. He held onto me, running his hand up and down my back in comfort. This really was the most amazing group of people I had ever known and I was truly the luckiest human on the planet that they had accepted me into their family.

Everything went smoothly after my little breakdown. When the Quileute wolves arrived the tension in the air was palpable but I was assured by Sam that everything would be fine. They weren't all present since they couldn't leave the reservation completely unprotected so Jared and a few of the younger ones were left behind. It was Sam and to my extreme surprise, Paul that were the most cordial with the Cullens. They even went as far as to shake hands with the men of the family. I found the gesture odd since there was no reason they had to do that but I was sure I'd get the opportunity to ask about it later.

Jacob hadn't spoken to me since he arrived and I had a feeling Sam might have had something to do with that since he seemed to be keeping Jake on a short leash. Pun intended. Billy was very formal with me and again it broke my heart. I wished that he would just accept my choices and stop being such a dick.

I got to hear some great stories as people shared their memories of Charlie. The former Chief of Police's recollection of a prank they pulled him when he was a rookie was particularly entertaining and caused an uproar of laughter from everyone there. It definitely lightened the mood for a minute and I think we all needed it. When the last person to speak took their seat Pastor Webber looked to me and smiled kindly.

"Bella, was there anything you wanted to share with everyone before we close?" he asked.

I hadn't prepared anything but I thought I should say something. I hated being the center of attention but I thought I owed it to my dad to at least try to speak on his behalf to his friends and coworkers. I at least needed to thank them all for coming. Jasper squeezed my hand and sent me some peaceful feelings as I stood and made my way to the podium that was situated just to the left of Charlie's casket. I had no idea what to say so I took a second to gather my thoughts.

"First I just wanted to thank everyone for coming today to pay your respects. I know that he would have been embarrassed by all of the attention but would have appreciated it nonetheless."

Those that knew him well chuckled quietly. I think Charlie may have hated attention even more than I did.

"From the time we are old enough to understand what death is, most of us were taught that you never speak ill of the dead. So when someone dies you hear people say 'he was a good man' or 'she was a good woman' regardless of how they actually lived their lives and treated others. I've heard a lot of people say that today and in the case of my dad, no truer words could be spoken. He dedicated his life to serving and protecting the people of this town. He probably would have taken a bullet for every one of us in this room today without a second thought. He wouldn't have done it because it was his job, he would have done it because that's just who he was. He was a good man and I'm going to miss him more than I can say."

I turned slightly to look at Charlie as tears once again filled my eyes.

"I love you, daddy," I half whispered half sobbed.

I left the podium and took my seat once again between Carlisle and Jasper. Jasper put his arm around me and pulled me into his side and Carlisle took my hand in his and held as tightly as he dared given it was the broken one as I let the tears flow. There was no point in trying to stop them anymore.

The graveside service was the hardest part. As I stood there watching by father's casket being lowered into the ground it hit me. This was it. It was really over; he was really gone. I held on to Jasper as tightly as I could as I cried again and said my final goodbye.

I decided that I should go to the house after all for two reasons. One, I was absolutely starving! And two, I decided to talk to Sam about helping with the Victoria situation and this seemed like as good a place as any to do it.

When I walked in the front door I was amazed at what I saw. Esme had really outdone herself. There was enough food there to feed the entire town and the rez twice. It was a good thing some of the guests were werewolves with substantial appetites or so much of what was there would have gone to waste.

Once I had eaten my fill I went in search of Sam. I found him in the back yard with the rest of the Quileutes that were in attendance.

"Hey, Bella," Emily, Sam's fiancée greeted me sadly as I approached them. She walked around Sam and hugged me, telling me how sorry she was.

"Thank you," I replied sweetly. "Sam, can I speak with you for a minute?"

"Of course," he said.

I didn't want to risk anyone overhearing our conversation so I led him around to the side of the house. No one would see us here and from where we stood, one of us would see if someone was coming.

"Sam, we need your help."

"We? Who is we? And what's going on?"

"Short version? Victoria has built herself an army of newborn vampires. The Cullens are outnumbered and we need the pack's help to take her out. Will you help?"

He stood there looking for all the world like a fish. His mouth opening and closing as he searched for the words to respond to my request.

"What are you asking?" he finally asked. "Why didn't Carlisle come to me?"

"Because it isn't a favor for them, Sam. It's for me. I need you to help get rid of this threat to keep me safe; to keep everyone safe. She killed my dad, Sam. She killed Charlie. If Victoria brings her army to Forks everyone will be in danger. That's a lot of constantly thirsty, out of control, newborn vampires, They could wipe out three quarters of this town before anyone even noticed there was anything going on."

He stood there for a moment just looking at me. His eyes told me he wanted to say yes but his instincts were having a hard time agreeing to an alliance with his enemy. When he still hadn't given me an answer after some time I shook my head and looked down. I was disappointed that even though this put his tribe in danger, he still couldn't let go of his hatred long enough to defend them.

"It's ok, Sam. Thanks anyway."

I turned to walk away and ran right smack dab into Jacob. For someone so big you would think you would hear him coming. You would be wrong.

"Sam, why aren't you answering her?" Jake asked. "Why wouldn't you immediately say yes?"

To say I was shocked would be an understatement of epic proportion. If any of the wolves were to put up a fight about helping the Cullens with anything, it would have been Jacob. His hatred for them went beyond that of the prejudices of his tribe. His was personal and he seemed more than willing to help.

Jake registered my surprised expression and he rolled his eyes.

"I may hate them Bella but I don't hate you. I would never risk your safety regardless of how angry you are with me, or how I feel about your family." He spit out the word family like it left a bad taste in his mouth. "Besides, at least we'll get to kill some vampires. Even if it isn't the ones that I'd prefer."

It was my turn to roll my eyes. I hated it when he said things like that and he knew it.

"If the safety of the tribe and the town is at risk then we will do what we can to help. We need to keep them as far away from the reservation as we can. The presence of so many of them will begin to trigger the gene in more of us if we allow them too close even for a short time. We've already had a couple of very young ones phase in the last few weeks and I'd prefer not to have anymore if it can be helped."

Carlisle, Jasper, and Emmett approached us then, followed closely by Paul and Quil who was pushing Billy's chair. Billy was filled in on what was going on and even he seemed to agree that the wolves and the Cullens should join forces to eliminate Victoria. I had no idea if it was because he cared about my well being or if it was more that he felt a need for someone to carry out what he himself would have done if he were capable. This was the monster that killed his best friend and he wanted her dead as much as I did.

It was decided that we would all meet later that night to discuss everything in greater detail. Carlisle insisted that Charlie's wake was not the time or place for that discussion and everyone agreed.

When the last of Charlie's friends had gone and the house was empty I realized just how tired I was. It wasn't that I hadn't slept well. Emotional distress took a toll on a person and I wanted nothing more than to curl up in my comfy bed and, at the very least take a nap. I tried to help with the clean up but Esme shooed me away and told Jasper to take me home. I refused at first and insisted I help. She gave me that infamous 'mom' look, leaving no room for argument, and I did what I was told.

A shower was the first thing I wanted. I had taken one that morning so I didn't need it to get clean. It was done more as a symbol. I needed to wash the day away and I honestly felt so much better when I was done. I put on a pair of comfy sweats and one of Charlie's old Forks PD t-shirts.

Jasper was waiting for me when I exited the bathroom. He had changed into a pair of red lounge pants and a white t-shirt and was lying on his side facing the bathroom door. He looked beyond scrumptious and for a moment I forgot about the fact that we had just left my father's wake. I forgot that I was supposed to be sad. Instead I was almost instantly turned on and I had to struggle not to pounce on him. He really was too good looking for his own good.

I was a little embarrassed at where my train of thought had gone and it only grew when I realized he would have felt that spike of lust.

"Fell better?" he asked once I was in his arms.

I nodded. "It's amazing how much taking a shower can make you feel better after a day like today."

He hummed in agreement as he buried his nose in my hair and breathed deeply. I felt every muscle in his body relax as he repeated the action a few more times. It amazed me how just a few short months ago he had attacked me over something as small as a paper cut and now he was lying in bed with me breathing in lungful after lungful of my scent and he was fine. It just further solidified my theory that he had only done it because he had been feeling the bloodlust of the others and he couldn't control his actions because of it. I had to wonder now how many of his supposed slip ups had more to do with his power than his actual control.

"It must have been a stressful day for you as well," I continued. "I wouldn't imagine dealing with all of that emotion would have been easy for you."

"It's definitely not easy but it's bearable. I've been feeling everyone's emotions for so long that over the years I've learned to think around it. It's always there and I always feel it but when I try to block it out it becomes this small nagging thing in the back of my mind instead of something right there in my face that I'm focusing on."

"Thank you for being there for me today, Jasper. I don't know how I would have made it through the day without you there; without all of you there."

He leaned down and captured my lips in a kiss that ended far too soon for my liking. "There's no need to thank me, darlin'. I am exactly where I was always meant to be."

Before I could say anything he was kissing me again. I moaned at the taste of him as he slid his tongue against mine inside my mouth. I was certain that nothing that would ever pass my lips would taste as good as he did. He wound his fingers into my hair and tilted my head to the side to further deepen the kiss. I was quickly losing my ability to form coherent thoughts and I knew that the lack of oxygen had a big part to do with that. I needed to breathe but I didn't want to stop kissing him. I may die from suffocation but oh what a way to go!

He broke the kiss and I sucked in a deep breath. He continued giving me soft sensual kisses starting at the corner of my mouth and working his way up my jaw line to the spot just behind my ear. I moaned again when he ran his tongue lightly over the shell of my ear. I shivered but it had nothing to do with being cold.

"Baby, as much as I want to continue this, and trust me I do," he thrust his hips forward, pressing his hard cock into my hip to prove his point, "everyone is going to be home soon and you need to get some rest before we have to meet with the wolves tonight."

"I'm not tired," I said as I grabbed his hair and kissed him roughly. He didn't stop me. His lips moved with mine with just as much enthusiasm. He rolled over so I was on my back and he was hovering over me. He allowed just enough of his weight to rest on me so I could feel him but not enough to hurt me. I hitched my leg up and wrapped it around him allowing me to grind myself onto him. We both moaned at the contact and his kiss became even more frantic. One of his hands went under my shirt and he began to softly knead my breast. I loved how his icy touch felt in contrast to my overheated skin and couldn't help but wonder how it was going to feel when he was inside me.

I could feel my body begin to tremble with my impending orgasm. I didn't want things to end the way they had the previous night. I wanted to make him feel good too. As much as my mind was screaming in protest I stopped moving my hips and pulled away from him. He looked at me with concern but before he could ask I wrapped my arms around him and used my leg as leverage to push. He got the hint and rolled over onto his back.

I straddled his legs and reached for the drawstring of his pants. I was beyond nervous since I had no idea what the hell I was doing and I was afraid he would stop me just like Edward always did. Of course we had already gone so much further than Edward and I ever had but maybe this was where he would draw the line.

His hands shot out and grabbed mine, just as I had feared, stopping me from undoing the tie. I waited for his rejection. For him to tell me we couldn't do anything more because it was dangerous.

"Bella, why are you so nervous?" he asked.

Well that wasn't what I was expecting but at least he wasn't telling me I couldn't touch him.

"I've never done anything like this before, Jasper. I'm nervous because I want to make you feel good but I don't know what I'm doing."

"You'd be surprised how much of this is instinct, baby. Just do what feels natural."

He moved his hands and allowed me to untie his pants. I slid my fingers under the waistband and pulled. He lifted his hips to help me and when his cock sprang free from its confines I swear I almost fainted.

Oh no fucking way, Swan! My vagina screamed at me. Hot as a campfire in hell or not, he is NOT putting that anywhere near me! EVER!

He was, in a word, huge! I didn't really have much basis for comparison, not up close and personal anyway. I had stumbled onto a porn site once and I had been terrified by the size of some of the men I had seen. None of them even came close to what was currently staring me in the face.

I reached out and lightly ran my finger up his shaft and around the head. The skin was so soft and I was slightly mesmerized by it. Jasper sighed as I touched him and I hoped it was a sigh that meant he was enjoying it rather than one of impatience.

Once I had finished my exploration I wrapped my hand around him, as much as I could anyway, and gave one long, slow stroke. He moaned and bucked his hips a little, urging me on. I continued my movements speeding up a little and squeezing lightly when my hand came to the head. I noticed a drop of liquid escape the tip and without even thinking about what I was doing I leaned down and licked it up. He gasped as my tongue made contact and moaned long and loud when he realized what I had just done. He tasted amazing; just like he smelled.

I took his moan to mean that I should continue and wrapped my lips around the head of his cock, sucking lightly. I remembered listening to girls in school talk about doing this so I relied on what they had said to get me through this. I ran my tongue along the underside of his shaft, placing pressure against the vein that ran there.

"Fuck, Bella that's amazing. Don't stop, baby!"

His words and the noises he was making did wonders for my confidence. He wrapped my hair in his hands and pulled lightly causing the wetness to pool between my legs.

He used his hands in my hair to guide me, setting a pace he liked. He never pushed for more than I was willing to take and I found myself thoroughly enjoying what I was doing to him even though my jaw was beginning to tire and it was becoming painful.

"Bella, fuck, you have to stop. I'm gonna…"

But I didn't stop. I knew what he was trying to say but I didn't want to stop. He could have stopped me if he really wanted to. His hips bucked and he called my name as he came hard in my mouth. I swallowed as much as I could but there was so much and I knew some of it had to have escaped.

I released him from my mouth and couldn't help but smile at the totally blissed out look on his face. I crawled up beside him and rested my head on his chest. It took a minute for his breathing to return to normal and when it did he pulled me up and kissed me long and hard.

"Jesus, Bella! That was incredible. Are you sure you've never done that before?"

I rolled my eyes. "Just a natural I guess."

"How about I return the favor," he said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. He rolled me onto my back again and just as his hand made it to the waistband of my sweats a loud knock sounded on the bedroom door.

"Put your clothes on, Major! I'm coming in!"

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