AN: Hi. This is the last one before the epilogue. Thank you to mauigirl60 for making it look lovely and all of you for reading. The epilogue will be next week.

Chapter 14

The drive through Bella's hometown set her nerves on end. The skies were overcast this Friday afternoon; other than the sound of the car as it barreled down the pavement, it was eerily quiet.

Every part of Bella's body felt like it was humming. Oddly enough, it was the only thing giving her a moment's solace.

She stared pensively out the window at the places that had made her into the woman she was today. On the corner of Harris Avenue and Hickory Street stood the Greene's Creamery and Confectionery Emporium, which had been her first job. Bella used to bring home samples to her father every day and he would halfheartedly complain about her making him fat, yet every time, he'd end up kissing her forehead after he finished. Charlie's breath would smell like mint chocolate chip.

Edward held tightly onto one of her hands when she made a strangled noise as they passed Newton's Sporting Goods store. It seemed to Bella that they still had the same canoes sitting out front that she remembered from when she was a little girl. The heir apparent, Michael Newton, had been her first boyfriend. Charlie would follow them around town on their dates and would lean against his police cruiser, proudly wearing his tan uniform and stroking his gun. The relationship between the teenagers was unsurprisingly fleeting.

"Mike has six kids now," she whispered to herself. Esme had told her that her human memories would be waning, but Bella's recollections were still as sharp as a tack. "I'd promised his wife, Jessica, that we'd come over to dinner at their house during our visit. They must have been so very worried when we didn't show up."

Edward glanced at Bella, who was continuing to mutter about some humans he'd never heard her mention before. He had a heightened level of anxiety as well. The fear of accidentally tasting the wolves' blood was nerve-wracking, not to mention his concern over Bella's reaction to seeing Jacob again. She swore she was no longer in love with Jacob, and he believed her, but uncontrollable anger and pain could also be a problem in defeating Jacob's tribe. "Darling, do you want to wait another day before we deal with the wolves? It might be better for you to collect yourself."

Bella immediately saw red. Mates or not, Edward had a way of being completely bossy and condescending. It was almost as annoying as evil, snarky Edward.

Turning to him slowly, Bella hissed, "Why, yes, Edward, let's just take another day to reflect on the best possible way to rid the world of a band of rogue werewolves. That should give them plenty of time to rip my father to shreds. You're full of wisdom today."

"I think you need to realize how your emotions can be dangerous to us all, including your father." Edward glared right back at her. "You're still a newborn, woman, and need to get a grip!"

Garrett started chuckling in the back seat. He quipped, "How romantic! In the face of danger, the lovers have their first spat."

"Shut up, Garrett," Bella snapped and stared back out the window, her arms tightly crossed in front of her chest. Thoughts of her father continued to flash through her mind and it made her wish she was able to weep.

James, who this whole time was sitting quietly in the back seat next to Garrett, leaned forward. "Bella, what was your favorite place to go and spend time with your dad?"

"The Forks' Diner was where we'd spend every Friday night. It was nice to be able to eat together and talk about our week. He worked a lot of nights during the week when I was in high school, so his deputies could spend time with their families," she replied wistfully. "It's down a couple of blocks on the outskirts of town."

"We should head there then, Edward," James directed. Bella was about to protest, but he held up his hand to silence her. "We'll only stop for a couple of minutes. You need this before we go into battle. We all need this."

Ten minutes later, they pulled into a gravel-covered parking lot near an old, rundown log building; the sounds of bluegrass filtered out from the windows. The neon sign had several letters which had gone dark. The lot was filled with pick-up trucks and tractor trailers. It wasn't a high-class dining establishment, but Bella loved it all the same.

She hopped out of the SUV and spun around, a blissful smile on her face. "I feel like I've come home."

Edward walked up to her. "This place is important to you? It's even more so than your home?"

"Yes, I guess it is. This was the place that I learned so much about my father. His dreams, his regrets and happiest memories were discussed over cheeseburgers and milkshakes. It's important and so is he." Bella took his hand, suddenly feeling remorseful. "I'm sorry I snapped at you. I'm so scared for him. Jacob was planning on killing me and the children. He killed his own father. Do you think he wouldn't hesitate to torture my dad to get under my skin?"

Pulling her against his body, Edward murmured into her hair, "I'm sorry, too. You didn't want this life and I feel responsible for you after I terrorized, changed and mated with you. I have a need to protect you and I know it can get annoying, but—"

"I'm not a delicate flower, Edward." She kissed him quickly. "Trust me and stop treating me like a child. Truth be told, you're the kid in this relationship."

"Could you please cut out the age jokes, sweetheart? I'm the cradle robber," Edward joked. For a moment, Bella felt slightly relaxed.

Garrett was leaning against the trunk of the SUV as the other cars full of vampires pulled up. He said with a laugh, "Aww, the kids made up."

Everyone ignored him.

Vampires exited their vehicles, looking confused. Esme had sent the strongest and most cunning of their coven to help stop the wolves. The others—including Emmett, Victoria, Rosalie and Alice—had stayed behind to protect the children and Seth. Bella wasn't sure what influence the other wolves would use to gain control over him and she wanted to protect him like he was her younger brother. If they failed in stopping Jacob, Bella didn't want them to use Seth to uncover the whereabouts of the children.

"Why are we here?" Jasper asked, sneering. "The smells coming out of this place reek like rotten barbeque."

"You're the one who reeks, Jasper. If I had my way, we'd chop you into bits and place them all in metal boxes until we're finished with Jacob's gang," Bella replied. "Unfortunately, you're supposed to be helpful to us. Try not to drink any wolf blood."

"I suggest being thankful, darlin'," Jasper retorted. "I'm tryin' to make things up to you. You, girl, need to stop bein' so ungrateful."

"Shut up, Jasper," Edward spat. "Don't talk to my Bella."

"I can handle him, Edward." Bella wanted to rip Jasper into minuscule pieces like a paper shredder with a piece of construction paper. Their relationship hadn't turned more positive after Jasper's various body pieces were reattached. "Grateful? You have got to be kidding me, Jasper! You were a monster!"

"Last time I checked you were knockin' your cowgirl boots with one of the other monsters. Stop playin' favorites, sugar."

Kate strolled over and said drolly, "You want me to zap him, Bella?"

"Yes." Bella felt Edward's hand on her arm attempting to restrain her.

Carlisle put his hands up between the bickering vampires. "Please stop this! We all need to get along and reconcile our differences. Bella, dear girl, I beg of you to allow us to help you rescue your father."

The only reason those two were there was because Bella didn't want them anywhere near her children. A group of men in their leather motorcycle jackets approached to get to their nearby bikes, but took one look and quickly turned around.

"Be a good gal, Bella, and listen to Carl," Jasper said smugly.

Bella was about to punch him in half. "How can Alice stomach being married to you?"

James had been quiet through all the squabbling, staring at the diner pensively. His quiet voice cut through the angry mumbling. "All this emotion you're all exhibiting right now needs to be fixated onto the wolves. We can only defeat them together. Bella, I need you to take all your anger about what happened and direct it calmly at Jacob. You need all your skills to combat him, because he will use your love for your father and children against you. The rest of us will be here to support you to stop him."

"Thank you," Bella whispered, suddenly feeling calm. "I thank all of you."

"You are certainly welcome, sugar," Jasper drawled with a wink.

Bella narrowed her eyes. "Did you just use your weird valium mojo on me?"

"See darlin', I can be a help." He grinned cockily.

Only if Bella didn't kill him first.

XXXXXX

An owl hooted above them from the trees, as the group headed through the woods toward La Push. The vampires walked quickly until a pungent odor filled the air. Kate wrinkled her nose in disgust. "What the hell is that nasty skunk smell?"

Carlisle sniffed into the air and sighed, "It's the pheromones that the tribe puts out. That smell isn't from a wolf."

"I didn't think so," she agreed. "Our wolf boy smelled better than that."

The whole coven had become quite fond of Seth.

An older man stumbled toward them through the trees. His face was weathered with sadness, and his old plaid shirt was caked with dirt and blood. Bella rushed to him. "Harry!"

He collapsed into her arms. His fingers traced her hard face. "It's true then, you're one of the undead now. Oh, Bella!"

"I'm still me, Harry. I'm just a little sturdier now." She lowered herself onto the ground, with him still cradled against her chest. "What happened to you?"

"It was a trap at the ritual grounds. I know we were supposed to wait for you, but they took Sue!" Tears streamed out of his eyes. "They had her strung up on poles and the crows were pecking out her eyes."

"Oh, God, no!" Bella gasped. The others surrounding them were whispering in their low, quiet voices. This band of wolves was truly insane. The situation was becoming more desperate. "I'm so sorry, Harry."

Bella's heart broke for both Harry and Seth. Sue Clearwater was a good woman. She was always looking out for Bella when she was young, to help out Charlie. Sue was the kind of woman who instinctively knew when the little girl just needed a hug and a cuddle from a mother figure. Sue's example was how Bella learned to be a mother to her own children. She never deserved the fate that she suffered.

"Leah was laughing! She was laughing at her mother's murder!" The man wept loudly, as Bella wiped away phantom tears. "What kind of child did I raise? What did I do wrong? Wait . . . Seth! Is he all right?"

"He's safe, Harry. We left him to protect Sarah and Jason." She rubbed Harry's back in an attempt to give him a small amount of comfort. "The time has come to stop them. You need to tell us what else happened."

Harry's eyes filled with fresh tears as he began his horrifying tale.

A group of us headed toward the old ritual grounds near the cliffs. Leah had come over to the house, crying that Sam and the boys had kidnapped Sue. She said that she made a mistake and wanted my forgiveness. It was a bunch of crocodile tears, but, damn it, I believed her. We grabbed our shotguns and followed her to where they were holding Sue and Charlie.

I should have known something was wrong by the smell in the air. It was pungent like the bitter herbs my mother used in some of her remedies when I was young, with a faint odor of rot. My mind was feeling all sorts of hazy and when I looked around, I saw the other men were similarly affected. Leah, however, seemed just fine.

Once we reached Sam's camp, I didn't notice anything odd. It was just a grouping of tents that surrounded a fire pit with a large pot on top of the still-smoldering embers. Whatever they were cooking in there was causing my sluggishness. I was about to ask Leah about it, but she just dragged us past the tents and closer to the cliffs. She whimpered, "Come on, Daddy. They have Mommy nearby."

That they did. Sue was tied up to a pole the tribe had once used for flying flags during prayer circles. The crows were pecking out her eyes and her body was covered in the old language written in blood. Surrounding her feet were body parts of poor unfortunate souls who must have been the missing campers and hikers that had been reported recently.

I was in shock for a moment, but then I started to cry. I reached my hand out to Leah, but she pulled away and laughed. "The mother of the tribe has been sacrificed to the gods, so new order will reign, but first, we must rid ourselves of the father."

"What the hell are you talking about, Leah Clearwater?" Old John asked.

"That Bella bitch ruined it, so we need to come up with a contingency plan," she replied. That was when seven wolves surrounded her. It must have been Sam, Jake and their gang. We were no match for them. A bunch of old men and our rifles were easily taken down. It was a massacre and, like a coward, I ran toward the woods.

Leah's last words for me were to call you home to bring the children.

"She must be delusional. I would never bring the children back here. Charlie would sacrifice himself for them just as I would," Bella stated quietly. Her mind was working overtime. "Was he there?"

"Yes, Bella, Charlie's still alive. They tied him around a tree and it looked like they roughed him up a bit, but he was awake when we arrived," Harry explained.

Edward knelt next to them. "Why didn't you bring some of the younger members of the tribe with you to help stop Jacob, Mr. Clearwater?"

"We decided that they would be better utilized protecting the rest of the community. I don't know what else they have planned and I couldn't put the children at risk. We have legends concerning the devouring of the children."

"My children are the ones they were planning on devouring, Harry," Bella said sadly. She gently rested Harry back on the ground and stood up. "We need to stop this now. James, please take Harry back to the rest of the tribe. The medicine woman should be able to start healing his wounds."

"I should be coming with all of you!" James protested, pulling Bella away from the rest of the group.

"I want to get you back safe and sound to Victoria," she explained. "Also, if we fail, I need someone I trust to get back to the children and give them more protection. Take some of the others with you to help guard the rest of the families with the younger tribesmen. They shouldn't change into wolf form unless Jake and his group come near."

Carlisle came forward tentatively. "Bella, would it be possible to help with Mr. Clearwater? I'm a trained physician."

"If you bite him, you die. Esme can't protect you here. I respect her and Alice, but if either you or Jasper messes up, I will kill you both. That's a promise."

"I understand and promise that I will be helpful, and so shall Jasper," he stated.

Jasper snorted. "I'll be a great little soldier, honey pie."

Edward had walked over to Bella and slung an arm around her waist. "Are you ready, my love?"

Bella sighed deeply in an attempt to steady herself. Could one ever be ready to do what she was willing to accomplish? She had loved Jacob once and, until recently, their future had been bright. The house with red shutters, white picket fence, the trips planned to Disney World with the kids and all of the rest of the American dream was at their fingertips, but now she was planning on killing him.

Her thoughts turned to Sarah and Jason. They were what mattered and they were what filled her heart. Being their mother was the most important job in the world. They were her world.

There was a feeling that coursed throughout her body—a knowledge from the very soil of the earth about what must be done and how Jacob needed to be stopped.

Edward pulled her even closer to brush his lips against her temple. Now she had him, too. Who knew what a special guy he'd turn out to be after freeing himself from the call of the tainted blood of the wolves? He was a part of her, too, and she needed to protect him.

"Edward, I need you to go with James," she said resolutely, without wavering. Bella led him into the trees for a semblance of privacy. The dark foliage enveloped them.

"Why? I don't understand." He looked at her with fear in his eyes.

"Raise the children for me. Make sure they know how much I loved them." Bella took his face in her hands. "I love you and I need you to go on. I plan on succeeding, but I need a backup plan just in case."

"Why don't you let me kill Jacob?" Edward was reaching the point of hysteria. He thought they had forever together.

"I have to do it. I'm the only one. I can't explain it, but it's like the nature around us is propelling me forward to stop Jacob." She kissed him softly. "I promise to come back to you."

"But you said—" His face looked pained.

She kissed his temple. "It's just in case."

"I love you, Bella Swan."

"When I come back, call me Bella Cullen."

His smile was small, but still radiant. "Actually, it would be Bella Masen."

"I have so much to learn about you." Bella grabbed him tightly. "I want to hear it all when I return."

"You promised." Edward's face was the picture of grief.

"I love you, Edward Masen."

One last kiss and Bella let him go, heading into the darkening sky. Her mind was filled with prayers to whatever god was watching her from above for the protection of her family and the ability to come back to them whole.

XXXXXX

"You should stay behind me and Kate, Princess Isabella," Garrett stated, as they headed toward the cliffs.

The smell of salt water filled Bella's nose as they approached. When she was a teenager, Bella used to watch Jacob and his buddies dive off them. Their bare, dark skin would gleam in the sunlight. They looked as if the spirit of graceful seabirds had entered their bodies, making their flight from the jagged edge almost beautiful, but ultimately frightening.

"I need to be up in front, Garrett," she disagreed. "I want Jacob to know that I'm not cowering behind the rest of you."

Her body was trembling slightly. It wasn't from fear, but the energy that was seeping into her from the ground they were treading on.

"I agree with, Bella," Kate commented quietly as they came closer to the torches that made a circle on the cliff. The sounds of ancient songs being sung and drum beats filled the quiet air that usually only echoed with the crashing waves from below. "She needs this, Garrett. After what he's done, I think it'll be the only way she can get closure."

"Fine," he said sullenly. "We'll stay close, sweet Princess."

Jasper had approached quietly behind them. They had assembled a large army of golden-eyed warriors, probably too many at twenty. Bella didn't know most of them yet, but was thankful that they were willing to join her to help free her father.

The normally-snarky blond vampire had been surprisingly quiet on their journey to the cliffs, but when he finally spoke, he was dead serious. "Honey, you need to go for that fucker's throat. Rip it out with your bare hands or you're going to get addicted to that shit like I was. No matter what, they need the head removed to stop the healing process."

For the first time ever, Jasper's eyes seemed completely sincere.

"Do you need to sit this out? We have plenty of people." Bella couldn't help notice the slight twitching of Jasper's body. She was afraid of a relapse.

There was a loud whoop from the circle. Bella could her Charlie's agonizing cry.

Garrett grabbed her arm as he noticed Bella's face becoming more stressed. "We need to do this."

Jasper quickly spoke as they picked up speed. "I'll stay on the outskirts. I have a plan to help. Garrett, can you feel scared? I'll need your terror, brother."

"I'll try, but I'm not scared of a bunch of rabid puppy dogs," Garrett scoffed.

Kate chimed in, "Think spiders and I'll have sex with you."

"Damn it, Katie! Those crawly bastards lay eggs in your mouth!" Garrett actually looked scared, much to Bella's amazement.

"Spiders crawling all over you then, Gar." They had stopped near the circle. Jasper reached down and grabbed a large, daddy long-legs spider and tossed it onto Garrett's shirt. "It's game time."

Garrett screamed, "You motherfucker!"

The music stopped. The group was partying near a large bonfire. Alcohol bottles were strewn everywhere and they were all drunk. Bella saw Jacob, with Leah perched on his lap, stand, dropping her to the ground. His eyes bore darkly into his wife. Sam paused his poking at a bound Charlie with a large blade. The rest of the gang watched the vampires defiantly, until they started looking around them fearfully.

It was Jasper. He was projecting Garrett's fear onto the wayward members of the tribe, turning their drunken bravado into terror. The only one immune to it was Jacob.

Bella should have felt afraid; instead, strength coursed through the venom in her veins. "You having a party and didn't invite me, Jake? That's just mean."

"Where are the kids, Bells? Their daddy misses them," he stated with a smirk.

Bella narrowed her eyes. "They're safe and won't be seeing you ever again."

"You seem pretty brave right now, baby girl. Did you forget I'm the Big Bad Wolf? I'm going to eat you all up, wife." Jacob's eyes looked closer at her. He took in her red eyes and enhanced appearance. "What the hell happened to you?"

"I died, Jake. I died and came back just to fuck you up," she explained flippantly, causing Kate to giggle. Bella then added, "The marriage is over—"

"Yeah buddy, she's moved on," Edward stated, taking Bella's hand in a show of support.

Bella didn't glance at him, and said, "You have listening problems, lover."

"I know, my sweet. You'll learn to love it," Edward quipped before kissing Bella's palm, causing Jacob to roar. "Can we neuter the puppies now, my darling?"

"Fuck, Bella, you became a vampire! What about Sarah and Jason?" Jacob's whole body was convulsing. A few of the wolves began reacting the same way, while a few started trying to escape but were quickly dispatched by various vampires.

She smiled at him and lied, "I made them into tiny vampire bats. They're going to stay my babies forever."

Jacob screamed.

Leah, starting to change into a wolf, rushed toward Bella. "You ruined everything for me and Sam, you stupid, leech bitch!"

Before Leah could come close, Kate zapped her with all her might. The woman, now sprouting fur as her mouth stretched into a muzzle, went flying off a cliff. She howled as she hit the jagged rocks below, her body making a crunching noise.

"Should we finish her off, Bella?" a redheaded vampire asked.

Bella continued to glare at Jacob, so Edward answered, "Go for it, Liam."

Liam, and two female vampires with a similar shade of red hair, hopped off the cliff.

"Kill him, Sam!" Jacob was able to say huskily as he morphed. "Say 'bye to Charlie, baby."

Sam plunged his knife into Charlie's stomach before one of the vampires could reach him. The police chief's crimson blood seeped onto the sand, making all the vampires' eyes darken. That was when all hell broke loose.

Garrett sprung onto Sam and ripped his head from his body, as other vampires started fighting with the wolves.

Bella cried out to Edward, "Help my dad!"

Then she pounced onto the now-wolf form of the man she used to love. They rolled into the sand as Jacob snapped at her neck, shoulders, and arms. Bella fumbled as she tried to get a grip on him. His large body tried to pin her down and his large, pointy teeth hovered closely to her neck.

All of a sudden, Bella had an idea. "How does it feel that Leah was just using you to help Sam? She loved him. Edward reads minds and she was thinking about making love to Sam when you were trying to kill your family."

The beast paused. His fetid mouth dripped yellow saliva onto her face.

"I bet Billy wished he never had a son like you. Killing your father was low, Jake."

Jacob's brown eyes were the most recognizable feature on the wolf. They appeared sad to Bella as she snaked her hands around his neck. It looked like an embrace.

She hammered the final nail into Jacob's coffin by saying, "I love Edward more than I ever loved you. Our children call him their daddy now. You've been forsaken and all the love we had for you has flown away into the breeze. Take that thought with you to hell for all eternity."

Jacob growled, moving down to bite, but Bella twisted his head clean off. The blood of her former husband coated Bella's body.

"Bella! Love, are you okay?" Edward cried out from where he was trying to help Charlie.

She pushed Jacob's headless human form off her body and rushed over to Edward and her father without giving Jacob another thought. Bella knelt down by her father. "How is he?"

"He isn't going to make it," Edward explained sadly.

Bella leaned close to her father to whisper, "Daddy, do you want to live?"

"My Bells, I want to be with you and the kids," her father replied weakly.

"Then trust me, Daddy." She leaned down and began to bite. After every mark she made on her father, Bella would spit out his blood and begin again. It felt like an eternity.

"Princess Isabella, its working!" Garrett exclaimed excitedly. "You're doing good, girl!"

Edward slowly moved Bella away and cradled her close. "That's more than enough, Bella. I'm so proud of you."

The venom was working, as Bella watched the fire of the change envelop her father. She was so very mentally tired and wished she could sleep.

"Please tell me this is the start of our happily ever after." Bella looked up at Edward with a small smile.

"Happily ever after forever more," Edward stated resolutely.

As the stars twinkled overhead and the bonfire burned, they kissed.

Happily ever after, indeed.