A/N: Thanks to SagaDevotee who shakes her finger at me until I make her swoon. Also thanks to sirthopas, melolabel and mostlyalurker who gave me good but conflicting advice, reminding me that, in the end, I have to figure out my words all by myself. :)

Chapter Twenty: Phase

My dear Carlisle,

I have heard, old friend, that you have returned to the Pacific Northwest. For someone of your...proclivities...and a wish to move about in the world of our prey, this is arguably a fine point of relocation.

However, I wished to inform you of a possible problem in that area. I would be highly indebted to you were you to assist me in locating a dangerous – deceptive and dangerous – female who destroyed one of the Guard in cold blood. Her name is Isabella. I believe she was going by Milano at one time. She has allied herself with Children of the Moon: our enemies. She is a danger to our kind, Carlisle. She has burnt agents of mine who were to have brought her back to answer for her crimes. She has constructed elaborate ruses to endeavor to convince me of her own destruction.

I was not fooled, of course.

You have with you one Jasper Whitlock, a veteran of the Southern Vampire Wars that the Guard had to quell not long ago. He would be just the one to take care of Isabella, for he has met her before.

Please consider me to be in his debt and yours for seeing to this matter for me. In this day and age, all I would ask is a simple handshake of confirmation.

Thank you for your continued friendship.

~Aro di Volterra

. . .

[+]2005[+]

"Come here, Douglas. Look, I know I smell funny, but it's spring and I know you're hungry. So come on." Bella shook out the seeds she had peeled with gloved hands. Seeds from the Sitka pine were favorites with this particular squirrel, she had found. Over the decades, she had watched this one and others like him.

As she stepped back within the cabin, she kept an eye on the bristled-tail creature which scrambled bravely across the cleared earth from the shelter of the trees. He chittered warningly at her before gathering his booty and scurrying back.

"You know, he's not a bad neighbor at that," Edward murmured over her head, his hands coming to rest on her shoulders. "Emmett could take lessons."

She covered her hands with hers. "Emmett's a good fella. He is. I think you have a terrific family." It had taken her a while to accept that appellation for them, but she had. The Volturi were a coven; the Cullens, a family.

"They're your family too, Bella." She did not entirely trust that, yet, but they were being patient with her. She couldn't put a finger on what it was that didn't seem to click for her. She loved the Cullens. Edward nuzzled her hair and hummed contentedly. "Ready to run?"

"Yeah." It was Monday morning. "Ready for school?" she teased, twining her arms about his neck and shoulders.

"Yeah, and then tonight we're doing the family hunt."

Bella nodded as she drew a maple-hued cashmere turtleneck from the armoire. In addition to that bit of furniture, she and her mate had acquired a few other pieces. Antiques, really. Since their joining on Christmas of 2003, almost a year and a half ago, the cabin had undergone a series of subtle alterations.

To alleviate their initial separation anxiety, Edward had agreed to join her in their cabin for most of the time; days spent with the family often. Most of Bella's patrolling took place at night, so he joined her there and they parted ways when he was "in school." School attendance was his job in a subtle sort of way. He listened to the thoughts of the townspeople, hearing what suspicions might be in play in the small community. His ability had been able to warn the family when there was too much overt suspicion that was too close to the truth.

"So they think we're weird, pairing off as adopted siblings. That's not dangerous, not really. Since our records indicate that some of us were adopted later, it's not considered 'wrong' by the current moral climate in this country." He had shrugged. "And it's nothing remotely supernatural, even if it's considered a little creepy."

"I still think it's less stressful patrolling the borders," she had countered.

With a smile, he'd agreed and off they ran. And so they had continued. Sharing stories of their existences, tastes in music and film. Her preference for the traditional ways of doing things versus his efforts to "lure her into the twenty-first century."

These efforts had resulted in a subdued, blanket modernization of the tiny cabin. From the exterior, it was much the same, since she refused to allow satellite dishes or cable for television. Edward had rigged up other means of entertainment, recharging batteries at the Cullen house and storing them at the cabin.

They compromised. The borders were safe. She was, slowly, integrating.

Both of them being dressed in appropriate clothing for the mild spring weather – Edward to go to the Cullens and thence to school and Bella to patrol – they left the cabin. Moving more slowly, Bella generally monitored one section of the forest or another, making sure never to look conspicuous on the daytime runs.

She had only just watched Edward disappear from view when she heard the heartbeat.

Something about it struck Bella as familiar. The wolves' hearts used to beat like that, in that rhythm. To maintain their elevated body temperature. Bella drew in a breath and debated, briefly, calling Edward. No, no. Best to figure out what's going on. Who is this? Can't be Quil. He's too old, isn't he?

The legends did say that even as an old man, Taha Aki had changed at great need to protect his people. "Quil?" she called softly. If it were him, he'd hear her.

There was no answer. She resolved to wait, tension poising her limbs. Only by conscious effort did she remain still and not run into the woods to investigate. Douglas, after a loud, alarmed chirrup, hurried in a spiral up a Sitka spruce, not being nearly as disciplined as she was. Her smile was fleeting though, and disappeared entirely once long strides came sliding through the undergrowth.

The form of a tall man grew in visibility. She recognized him. "Hello! We don't see too many folks up this way." Sam Uley. Almost two years since she had last seen him up close, it was apparent to her he had grown even after reaching his technical adulthood. Now well over six feet in height, he had filled out...considerably. She was forcefully reminded of Levi and smiled.

Cautious steps brought him a bit nearer. "You live here." He took a deep breath and – not quite taking his eyes from Bella – seemed to scan the immediate vicinity. Then he shook his head and blew air out his nose. "Did something die?" Eyes narrowed, he asked, "did you forget to bury something, maybe?"

Bella refused to take offense. Something was tickling at her brain as she cocked her head at Levi's great-grandson. "No... Have you been up here, before?"

He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Not too close, but yeah. You know, you're not as big a secret as you think, wolf-woman."

"I've heard the stories." Bella sighed a little. "What brings you here, today?"

After another visual sweep, Sam Uley uncrossed his arms and seemed to try to look more at ease. He just succeeded in looking – to Bella's eyes – rather endearingly awkward. Still she was concerned, especially when he got that "I've got a bad smell in my nose" expression on his handsome features.

"I smelled something off, so I wanted to check it out. I've been listening to the Legends – Old Quil has been pulling a few of us aside to make sure we know all the Tribal Yahoo stuff." He rolled his eyes a little though stern lines bracketed his lips. "And I knew someone was up here anyway, so I thought I'd come see for myself if I was right." He aimed a glare right at her. "I didn't expect it to be someone young, though."

"Whom were you expecting?"

He started rocking in an agitated manner and she got a whiff from the disturbed air that wafted back to her sensitive nose.

"My great-grandfather's...widow."

Shocked, she could only stare at him. "What?"

He started pacing and internally, Bella braced herself. She had a "very bad feeling about this." Han Solo had said that in a Star Wars film a long time ago and it was still strangely apt in an everyday sort of way. She brought her entire focus on the muscles that rippled under Sam's skin, on the way his odor suddenly spiked. Mangy fur, rotten meat, old milk and vinegar. It was exactly the same. Stronger since she hadn't been used to smelling it. Not for decades.

Oh no. Damn it!

Sam seemed to half-explode with resentment. "My great-grandfather's widow! The woman he abandoned my grandfather for. The woman he gave everything up for. He ran off and left my grandfather and he was killed and my father ran off and –"

"Sam, come on. That wasn't your great-grandfather's fault. What if he just loved that woman very much? What if he didn't abandon your grandfather? What if he put his life on hold until your grandfather was an adult and gave him his blessing?"

While she had been speaking, her voice pleading and soft, he had stepped closer to her, head angled as if trying to judge just how much he could trust her. He inhaled, snorted air out his nose again. "Huh. Sweet. Like I've been smelling up by here lately. I thought it was old-lady perfume, you know?"

Bella briefly closed her eyes. "No. No perfume, Sam."

"How'd you know my name?" he demanded, suspicion vibrating from him.

She steeled herself. "I know you. I was at your high school graduation."

"Too sweet," he muttered. "White skin." He straightened his shoulders and slowly extended a hand. "I don't know your name."

Her breath came fast with hope and terror intermingled. Still, she took his hand – with his scent, he was already changing. In spite of everything she had tried, he was probably already experiencing the heightened temperature and the enormous growth and maybe even the quick healing. "Bella. Bella Swan." His skin scorched her, but she held on to him and decided to make a clean confession. "Bella Swan Uley. I – I'm the one your great-grandfather married."

"No!"

And there it was. The anger, the fear, the pure fury in his eyes changed to pain – intense, terrifying pain as his nose elongated, his limbs stretched. The bones dislocated, shifted, changed. His skin sprouted fur. His nails became claws and his clothes were shredded to fly in fluttering, peaceful counterpoint to the violence of his transformation.

With every good intention in her mind, Bella slowly, slowly stepped a bit closer and tried to make her voice heard over his considerable, noisy anguish. "Sam. Sam Uley. Sam. I know you, Sam. You're still you. I know you can hear me and understand me. Stop howling."

The huge creature was a light-absorbing black in color, so that he looked like a deadly shadow as he crouched on the ground. Glistening nostrils flared, his lips rippling back to reveal knife-like canines that gleamed. He was made to kill vampires.

And it seemed, with a snarl and a wrinkling of his snout, that he recalled that just at the wrong time. She jumped out of his way, but he was young, powerful and uncontrolled, unknowing of his own strength. He caught her but she arched and leapt over his back. On his return run, she waited for him.

Oh, Levi. Please forgive me, if you're watching.

Sam Uley, jaws agape and saliva streaming from his parted lips, came at her again, his body a powerful weapon. His growl shivered the air. Bella braced herself and, as he leapt for a crushing biting/clawing combination, she stepped lightly aside and grabbed his leg as he flew by.

His yelp made her wince and cringe. "I'm sorry. I know. I dislocated your leg. I know. I have to though, to make you stop. I'm your friend, Sam. And now that you're down, I'm going to tell you why you need to not kill me, okay?"

Apparently unfazed by the pain, he rolled his body anyway, chomping at her hands.

"Sam! Stop it! Come on, I'm trying to help you!"

His roar was not understanding.

When he ignored the immense pain he had to be in, since his hip joint was still out of socket, and pulled his body away from her to try again, Bella apologized and, with venom standing in her eyes, caught at the leg he used to claw at her, breaking it with a final-sounding snap.

[+]

"Jasper?"

"Hey, Bella. Everything all right? Edward forget his phone?"

"No. I need you to do whatever it is you do to keep him from listening for a moment."

A pause and then Jasper spoke rapidly, with an echo that probably meant he had cupped his hand around the phone. "What'd you do, Miss Bella?"

"I think I may have found a way to get Aro off my back. But you'll have to do it, like he asked." The letter Aro had written to Carlisle Cullen had been all surface-smooth and relatively business-like, but menace had fairly oozed from every line of ink. Her sire liked doing things "the old fashioned way."

Jasper muttered a few things the average Southern Gentleman didn't utter out loud, but said he'd cut school and be right over.

Bella returned to where a subdued Sam awaited her. The sun shone high over them and the werewolf often had to cover his eyes. "I know... It's weird for me, too. I am sorry I had to break your leg."

He whined and she winced before gently cupping his muzzle. "And I know I stink to you. And you're stuck here while you're healing, but I promise you it's for a good cause. Now, I am going to need you to help me. Because we're going to stage something and it's not going to be pleasant for me, either."

The black eyes glittered and his muscles rippled. He whined again and chuffed at her, as if he would speak. For a moment, her chest ached. "I have a mate now, but I remember being married to your great-grandfather. He would be so sorry you're having to deal with this. But I won't let you go through it alone. I heard how scared you were. I remember Levi telling me how it had been for him, back in 1936."

Sam the wolf curled a sound out of his throat that sounded like a question to her. "I met your great-grandfather, Levi, in 1944," she began. And, while she waited for Jasper to find her and the werewolf, she told the unwilling Protector about her history with his people, and her more personal history.

"So that's why I'm here. I protect the land. I've learned to fight with your...your kind, Sam. I'll teach you how to fight mine. Last time, there were four in the Pack. Old Quil was one, and when you figure out how to find your human skin again, he'll be able to tell you everything you don't already know."

With that, Bella slipped the cell phone from her pocket. "I better call him and let him know."

[+]

The scene was not going to be pretty. "He has to see me dismembered, Jasper," Bella insisted. Quil was on his way and she wanted this done before the innate healing of the werewolf mended his legs. The dislocated one still had to hurt, and Bella had apologized many times, but this was the only way she could think of to protect the werewolves as well as herself, while keeping the Cullens in the Volturi's good graces.

Jasper had his hands on his hips and shook his head. "I cannot believe you. Hey, Sam, is it? I apologize for Miss Bella, here, but she's on the mark. As soon as I see her underneath you, I'll run and she'll put herself back together and get you back together." Jasper eyed Bella with a wry expression. "And then I'm gonna make myself scarce, as I'm sure you can understand." He approached Bella, his face now stern. "Right now, tell me what you want me to do, so when your mate looks in my mind, he'll see it right. Just talk to him, why don't you."

Swallowing down her nervousness, Bella met Jasper's eyes. "Edward, sweetheart. I love you. I am going to make this right. I've asked for this." She bit the rest of the words off with a gasp, realizing that she couldn't even explain it through Jasper, because he'd see. Instead, she vowed to call Edward. "You, Jasper, better clear the hell out of here before my mate finds you." It was the best way she could tell him to let her call Edward first.

He nodded. "I plan on it, Miss Bella."

And then, without warning, he brought both his arms to her shoulders and ripped off her arms.

Pain! Excruciating! For the sake of her sire's probing gift, she screamed and even howled, to be joined by Sam, who was still on his side, twitching as she had explained her whole plan to him already.

It was really, really hard, having to tell him to submit to such treatment for his own good. He didn't know her, he hated her guts, probably, but he had had no choice at first but to listen.

Was he cooperating by choice, now? Or because she had caused him more injuries than she knew?

In a flurry of movement, Bella was flung at the wolf, who growled and appeared to grip her in his jaws to shake her before rolling over on her. Jasper leapt high into the air and landed –

– on, but not on, the still-healing werewolf. Who howled and whined and then, when Jasper roared and gave the illusion of force, he slammed into the wolf.

Sam's body didn't move. Bella blessed his intelligence and willingness to be led by her. Maybe her long history with his people counted for something, after all. Jasper tossed a match in their general direction and ran away.

A/N: Expect the final chapter at any time...!

Off-topic: Information for the Twinklings Walk of Fame Awards as well as a poll for the Fandom Gives Back Autism Awareness Compilation are on my profile. Just in case you are interested in such things. :)