A/N: Hello, gentle readers. Over the past few months I have been rereading my old favorite stories as well as all the stories I have written. I discovered a very disturbing thing...many of the details I've used in this story I lifted from a favorite Bella/Paul story called Be Like Water by tsoist elf. This was completely unintentional and I am extremely embarrassed that I did it. But instead of going back and rewriting those chapters I will just give this wonderful author credit. The singing of Abba songs in the pack mind and other details that I found brilliant and comical, I inadvertently used in my own story.

I apologize. (Nudge: go read that story, it's amazing!)

And that is part of the explanation of why it has taken me so long to update. Realizing I had lifted so much from another fanfiction I realized what I had planned to do with it would have followed the rest of her story line and I had to come up with my own. And I think I have successfully done that.

The other reason for the delay is that I have been finishing up another story of mine called Blue Moon. I began that story before this one and have promised myself to finish up all my old stories before I begin the three new ideas I have brewing in my head. I even outline one of them so I wouldn't forget my ideas.

So I am posting this unbeta'd because of the guilt I feel about not updating with the regularity I promised. But what I have discovered is that this story still gets more daily hits than Blue Moon even on posting days. I must finish this and I owe it to you. (And I've backed up my beta with three chapters in just a few days from Blue Moon.)

Next post will be within a month. I'll be finishing up soon. This chapter ties up many, many loose ends.

Thank you those of you have hung in there with me. I truly appreciate you. And know that I have been a writing fool over these summer months and find that when I struggle with my sobriety, this is my new escape which is a MUCH better option than drinking or playing Matchington Mansion. So thank you for the outlet and I hope you benefit from it as much as I do.

Here we go:

"So you're the one?" Victoria breathed venomously. "The one Edward's little play toy is messing around with?" Her red curls were wet, thick, and heavy and lay in waves, plastered against her face.

"I think you're confused," Embry replied, circling opposite the red head. A crack of thunder split the silence, but Embry didn't flinch. Being human was the best way to stall, but he needed to phase to see what was going on with the rest of the pack. Their scenting plan had worked and she'd followed Embry once the fight on the beach was over.

"I can smell her on you. I might just let you live knowing that would drive Edward crazy, too." Victoria tilted her head to the side at the thought.

"What a nice offer," Embry replied, keeping his distance and continuing to circle with her. "But I think you got it a little wrong." She stopped and so did Embry. Another flash of lightning, quickly followed by a crack of thunder, lit up sky.

"I've been following you all for months. Do you think I'm an idiot?" she hissed.

"No," Embry answered, "but you don't have all your facts straight either. And I don't have time to explain it." And he phased.

"Can't take me as a man, huh?" Victoria snarled. She was irritated that she hadn't been able to track Edward or Bella. It was driving her mad.

Embry where are you?

Not too far from Bella's clearing, Sam. She's pissed. Let Jake know.

I hear you, Em.

We all hear you. It's like we're one pack again.

Where's Paul?

"I'm here," Paul said aloud stepping from behind a tree. Naked and proud, Paul approached Victoria and stopped about ten feet from her. Embry's wolf paced as he projected the scene back to the pack. They were out looking for the remaining three. "I'll take you as a man and not a wolf, even though it's totally pissing him off."

Victoria's head jerked from Embry to Paul. She lifted her head infinitesimally and she sniffed. She looked confused.

"Should we clear up her misconceptions, Embry?" Paul asked, no hint of amusement in his voice. Embry huffed his agreement, but paced through his anxiety.

"Why do you smell the same?" Victoria asked. "How is that possible?" Her eyes darted between Paul the human and Embry's wolf.

"Because he was wearing a pair of shorts covered in my cum," Paul said with a smile. "It's quite potent and better for scenting than other fluids. You vamps think we're too stupid for strategy." Victoria didn't say another word, she just scowled. "I'm who Bella is fucking." He advanced one step. "Not Jake, not Embry," he continued and took another step while Embry paced. "And it pisses Edward off that he didn't give in when he had the chance. Doesn't it Edward?"

"Edward isn't here!" Victoria spat back. Her frustration at his evasion was clear. She was unraveling. Paul was going to push that envelope. Desperate people make stupid mistakes.

"He's close enough to hear your thoughts. He's waiting for you to take me out so he can pick up the pieces and take credit," Paul said. "But he's not going to get the chance."

"To take me out or take the credit?" she asked with a sneer. She was trying to regain her composure. The heavy rain made her look like a drowned rat rather than a vicious threat.

"Neither," Paul responded. He offered no more information but took another step forward. Steam from the cool summer rain rose off his heated body. He just stared at her, waiting. She didn't blink, which he liked because she didn't need to. It meant she wasn't into human pretenses which they'd already suspected. She did take a step back to increase the distance between them until she figured out what she wanted to do.

"Well, you think very highly of your abilities, don't you?" she asked. Paul was getting tired. He wanted to get to Bella and so did the wolf.

"No. I don't underestimate my enemies," he returned. She'd watched as Embry continued to pace back and forth, slowly inching to her right with each length. "I assume you know that Riley came to us and told us your plans."

"He's a fool," she spat. She obviously knew.

"Then you know you're army is gone." Paul just kept pushing her limits. Embry continued pacing.

"It doesn't matter, it kept you distracted while I went after your whore." Her look of satisfaction was short lived. Paul didn't rise to her insulting taunts.

"If that's what you choose to believe," Paul said.

"Believe what? That Bella is a whore or that they kept you distracted?" she asked. She didn't like this man and his cryptic statements.

"Whichever. You seem to think that perception is reality. I don't. I know that actual truth. Bella is fine and that the two you sent, what are their names? Jack and Jill? They did not complete their task."

Victoria's eyes darted from Embry to Paul again and the flash of lighting illuminated her fear.

"How do you…" her voice trailed off.

Paul was pleased he'd caught her off guard by knowing more than she thought he did. But what he'd told her was absolutely true. He did not underestimate his enemies, especially those whose long game had been systematically stopped at every turn. She was going to lash out and it was going to be soon. He was ready.

"Know about them?" Paul asked. "Do you think we'd leave Bella alone in a field with a traitor to the pack? You just admitted that you've been following us for weeks—but I suspect it's been months. Hell, we even sent Embry, here, to go to school with her! Part of that was to keep Edward confused, but it worked on you, too. I even knew Riley was waiting to take her," he bluffed. "There isn't anything you can do that we haven't anticipated. You are not going to leave here alive. That is a fact."

"You're bluffing," she said, but her voice was unsteady.

"Am I?" Paul asked. He was totally bluffing with the last bit, but he was waiting for his opportunity. The hairs on his arms raised and he could feel it was coming.

Then, a number of things happened in very quick succession.

Embry moved behind Victoria, who, thinking human Paul was the safer option, rushed towards him.

Paul deftly side-stepped her advance, but twisted catching her arm and easily getting her into a full nelson head lock.

Embry rounded on the pair of them and ripped one of her legs off her body to prevent her from springing from Paul's grasp.

Lightning struck in the clearing where they stood, hitting Victoria in the chest.

Victoria burst into flames and fell on top of Paul.

Embry grabbed Victoria's other foot and flung her from on top of Paul who lay lifeless in a little clearing while the rain fell in sheets.

Emily didn't know what to do. She was scared shitless before Bella taunted the vampires by laughing hysterically at their names. In the short time she'd spent with the red eyes, she could tell these were the most sadistic of them all. These were the two that made her realize the terrible mistake she'd made by running away and betraying the whole pack.

She'd been so desperate for someone to love her. She was so jealous of Leah, who was so smart, and so beautiful, and such a complete bitch! Emily wanted what Leah had with Sam and was sure that she could be just as bitchy as Leah ever was. But she'd had a lot of time to consider Leah over the past few days.

Leah wasn't a bitch. Leah was just unapologetically honest.

Emily finally figured out that she'd hadn't been anything like Leah at all. Emily had finally seen her own conniving and manipulation for exactly what it was when she recognized it in everything that Victoria was planning. She also recognized it when she listened to Jack and Jill talk when Victoria was away. There was no trust when you surrounded yourself with those kinds of people and Emily finally realized that.

But she'd discovered it when it was too late. The wolves were protectors and all they ever did was protect. Emily was the predator in their group and she'd sucked everyone dry. Bella was so willing to forgive her and to help her when she was hurt. And now, Bella lay unconscious after one strike from a cold, stone fist. Because Jack had punched her in the side of the head.

Emily didn't understand why Bella was deliberately provoking them. Was it a stall technique? But as the two converged on Bella's unconscious body to finish the job, Emily knew she had to do something. She'd told their enemies everything she knew about the pack, fortunately, it wasn't much. The least she could do was try to save one of the imprints.

She'd witnessed the blood lust the newly turned vampires had. When one smelled blood, there was little any of them could do to stop a feeding frenzy. Emily needed to use that to her advantage. She also remembered the legends she'd researched when she first saw Sam phase. She'd gone to the little rez library to learn all she could in order to blackmail him. She remembered thinking how stupid the third wife was for such a stupid act and sacrifice, but now Emily saw all that differently.

The third wife, grieving over the loss of her son to a cold one, made the sacrifice in order to distract the cold ones from her other son who had just phased for the first time. She'd plunged a knife into her heart to distract the vampire stalking her son. Emily didn't think she could do that. She was angry at herself for not being that selfless, but she knew she could at least draw blood.

She had to do something fast.

Her eyes darted around the ground looking for something sharp. Her eyes fixed on a jagged rock and on her hands and knees she scrabbled quickly across the slick earth, bringing her to her prize. Emily pulled up the sopping fabric of her sleeve and hesitated. She'd have to press hard to draw blood and it was going to hurt. But did that compare to the pain she'd caused everyone around her? And if she did this, chances were that she'd be killed by these two and then they'd go back to finish off Bella.

But there was another chance that she would do this, Jack and Jill will come after her, and the wolves would save them both just in the nick of time. It could happen. Right?

A flash of lightening split the sky not three hundred yards away and Emily hoped she'd imagined the scream that ripped through the air followed by the howl of a wolf. It was her sign as Jack and Jill looked up from Bella's prone body and stopped arguing about what to do with her.

"HEY!" Emily yelled. Both sets of blood red eyes moved towards her and she stabbed her jagged piece of rock into her arm. She drew blood through the deep gash she created in her forearm as well as in the palm of her stabbing hand. She winced with the pain, dropped the rock, and held her bloody arms up to show them her offering.

"Thirsty?" Emily asked. Jack looked at Jill who licked her lips.

"Well, that solves our dilemma, doesn't it?" Jack said. Jill nodded and they both moved in a flash of vampiric speed. Emily closed her eyes, waiting for her impending doom. She was actually proud of herself for the first time since she could remember and prayed that Taha Aki would look down on her kindly.

She felt the fire of the wound in her arm intensify when Jack's teeth sank in. She felt the pull of his suction and he took a deep draw of her blood. Then she felt the same draw from her right palm after Jill's teeth found purchase there. As the burn spread up each arm and reached her shoulders, all she could feel was the fire consuming every cell. She hoped the burning would purge her many sins and that death would find her quickly.

He's not breathing, Embry reported through the pack mind.

Get to Bella and make sure she's safe. If we don't, and he lives, we'll all wish we were dead, Jake said. We're almost there.

Embry was torn. He'd watched as Paul held Victoria in place as the surge of electricity ignited her flammable body. He'd moved quickly to pull her body off his so he didn't burn with her and the pack watched it all from his mind. The response was immediate. The concern, the awe, the celebration that Victoria was finally dead. But now they had to get to Bella who was in the hands of two sadistic mother fuckers.

Embry flung himself away from Paul's body and in the direction of the meadow where Paul had dropped Emily and Bella. No one liked this part of the plan but Bella was insistent and Paul convinced Jake to let Bella be the bait it the clearing. No one expected that Emily would be part of the plan and she was the wild card.

It seemed that everyone converged on the meadow at the same time. Bella lay, lifeless, at the bottom of a tree and the two sadistic fucks were gathered around Emily, drinking from her.

Edward made it to Emily first, pulling the man from her and flinging him towards any wolf that followed. Jake caught him by the arm and Leah caught the other and two of them ripped him apart. His scream caught the attention of the woman, who was then pulled apart by Edward and Emmett.

Like a seamless team, wolves and yellow eyes built one more bonfire to destroy the remnants of the vampire army by fire.

Except Dr. Cullen who knelt at Bella's side. Purple plumes of smoke rose up into the stormy sky when all eyes turned to see what he had to say.

"She's breathing, but unconscious. We need to get her back to the house so I can properly diagnose her," Dr. Cullen reported.

"What about Paul?" Embry said after he phased back. Jake, Sam, and Leah phased, too. "He was holding Victoria when she was struck by lightning. He wasn't breathing." Panic filled the Doctor's eyes; Embry had realized the vamps wouldn't know anything about that since he wasn't in the pack mind. Dr. Cullen liked the wolf called Paul and was glad that Bella had found some happiness with him. He would do everything he could if only for her sake.

Emily's scream drew their attention back to her. Edward knelt at her side.

"She's been bitten twice," he reported. "I don't think it's too late to suck the venom out."

"Take Emily back to the Cullen's place and take Bella to Paul's," Jake alpha ordered so there would be no question of obedience. The wolves set in motion despite Edward trying to protest.

"Bella should—" Edward tried.

"Bella needs to be where she'd want to be and I am in the best position to make that choice," Jake roared, his deep voice booming through the field. "You've caused enough trouble and now one of ours is turning into one of yours! You will do what I say or I will rip you apart and burn you myself."

"Edward, do as he says," Dr. Cullen ordered. "I'll go check on Bella's mate." He stressed the word with such finality he gave no room for argument. Edward stared at Carlisle for a few beats, hung his head in defeat, and picked up the writhing Emily from the forest floor. He was gone with no more arguments. "Where is Paul?" Dr. Cullen asked Embry.

Embry leapt in the direction headed to Paul and phased in midair, Dr. Cullen hot on his heels. It was a short, quick run and when they got there they didn't expect another red-eyed vamp to be hovering over his body. Lean and stocky, his thick blonde curls were wild from the rain which had eased to a light mist. He was pumping on Paul's chest.

Embry phased back and approached cautiously.

"Who are you?" Embry asked.

"I don't know what else to do," he said, looking up at Dr. Cullen and ignoring Embry's question. "I've been doing compressions for four minutes and thirty eight seconds." Dr. Cullen fell to Paul's side, examining him visually.

"That's a good job," he replied. "Let me take over. You've done a great job."

"Fred!" a gasp rang across the little field. It was Bree followed by Riley. Dr. Cullen breathed into Paul's mouth twice and took over chest compressions.

"This is your friend?" Embry asked, remembering their conversation from the beach. He had quickly deduced that Fred wasn't a threat if he was trying to save Paul's life. Bree nodded.

Paul gasped, his lungs grasping for air on their own and Dr. Cullen leaned back onto his heels, looking very relieved.

"Bella?" Paul croaked out, his voice raspy.

"They're taking her to your house," Dr. Cullen answered. "She's alive."

"You stayed?" Bree asked looking at Fred.

"I watched. When I heard where you went, I wanted to help you. I wanted to help them." He pointed to Dr. Cullen.

"We're glad," Riley said and Bree nodded. "Can you teach us how to exist like you?" he asked Carlisle. "We're tired of killing."

"Sure. Do you know where we live? You can go there. I need to go check on Bella and you should not go there." Dr. Cullen said. Paul was already getting up, groaning as he did. Embry stepped over in case Paul needed help.

"We'll follow the scent of the others," Riley answered. Dr. Cullen removed the ring from his pinky.

"Here, take this so they know I gave it to you. They'll all understand. Tell them that Paul is okay and that I am going to check on Bella." Riley nodded and then they were gone.

"How are you feeling?" Dr. Cullen asked Paul.

"Like shit. The ringing in my head makes me want to split it open," he answered. "I need to get to Bella." Carlisle nodded.

"Can you phase? You might heal faster that way," he suggested.

"Oh, my wolf wants to, he runs faster than me, anyway. Can you keep up?"

"I'll follow your scent," Dr. Cullen smiled.

The Cullens stood in a circle surrounding Emily as she thrashed through the pain. They lay her on Rosalie's and Emmett's large bed draped in a thick lavender duvet.

"She was trying to help Bella. She felt really bad about going to Victoria and she did this hoping for absolution," Edward explained. He'd been in the clearing watching Victoria. Paul had been completely right in his bluff while he taunted her.

"And you know this how?" Rosalie spit at him while she placed a cool rag on Emily's forehead picking at the sopping bandage Bella had applied. Rose leaned across Emily's neck, slicing her flesh cleanly with her sharp teeth.

"What are you doing Rose?" Esme asked. Rosalie didn't answer until after she had licked into the wound deeply and one last lick over the top. The wound was completely sealed, as if Rose had never bitten her.

"When I was burning, I remember how long it took. For the first few years after I turned, I spent a lot of time," she paused as she repeated the same process on Emily's upper arm where the main artery is, "thinking about how to make this process faster and as easy as possible." Rosalie moved to Emily's legs, ripping the denim of her skinny jeans above the knee. "If we get as much venom," she repeated the same process just above Emily's knee on the inside of her left thigh, "into her as possible through all the major arteries, maybe it will spread faster." She did the same on Emily's right leg followed by her right arm.

"It will work," Alice interjected. "She'll wake up tomorrow afternoon." Everyone looked at her. "I haven't been able to see anything for weeks, and now I can. I see that she will be very scared and worried about Bella. We should be here when she wakes," she paused as she watched the vision change, "yes, if we are here when she wakes, she will remain calm."

"I don't even know if she wants to be saved," Rose said, flipping the wet rag over on her forehead.

"She prayed death would find her quickly, but she also hoped the wolves would save her," Edward sighed. Rosalie's head jerked up.

"If you were that close, why didn't you save them? If you heard her thoughts, you knew those two were with the girls!" Rose exclaimed.

"I wanted to be the one who killed Victoria," Edward's voice was full of shame and regret. "Her mate was right. I wanted to take the credit as one last chance to win her back."

"Jazz, is there any way you can soothe her?" Alice whispered. Emily's writhing increased after Rosalie tested her theory.

"I can try," he said as he focused on her. Emily visibly relaxed, though her face still looked pained. Emmett removed the bandage from Emily's face and hissed a little.

"I know I can't. I know that now," Edward said.

"I wouldn't blame him if he came after you and killed you," Rose said.

"I wouldn't, either," Edward replied. He took a step closer to Emily. He wondered if they should change her out of her wet clothes, but the transformation made it unnecessary. They could worry about that later.

"When will you learn, Edward? When will you stop this? If you let some poor girl fall in love with you for who you actually are, you wouldn't cause so much damn destruction! This is the second time you waited in the shadows while terrible things happened!" Rose yelled, her voice echoing through the room. "If I even suspect you're going to do this again, I will end you myself!"

"And I'll help her," Emmett added, looking up from Emily's face where he was examining her scratches.

"But who am I? That's the part I've never understood. If I don't know…" he trailed off.

"Maybe you were changed too young," Esme said. "But that doesn't mean you can't change. Vampires don't change easily, but something like this, what we've all been through, you need to use that to change or the Volturi will come for us."

"That's where you've been?" Edward asked. "I'm so sorry."

"Talk is cheap," Esme said. "Show us how sorry you are by never doing this again." Her motherly face was the perfect combination of reprimanding love. "They said if things are covered up, there is no need for them to send the guard, but you have got to stop this."

"I will. I just don't know how to…where to…" Edward stuttered. "I just love her so much."

"I can feel how much he loves her, Edward. How much she loves him. It scares her to death how much she loves him, I can feel that too," Jasper added. "You put that fear there. You need to talk to her, if he lets you, and explain to her what you've done and why."

"You have to do what you promised her and make it like you never existed," Esme chimed in.

Edward slumped onto the bed next to Emily whose body was quickly transforming into a vampire. He reached out and touch her arm where her self-inflicted wound was almost healed.

"Show her how to adapt to our lifestyle, if that is what she chooses," Esme suggested. "You two can each discover your new selves at the same time." Edward nodded.

"Our family is about to get much bigger for a while," Alice predicted. "Carlisle has sent three others to learn from us. They're going to be here in a few minutes. They will all learn and grow together."

Edward watched the vision in Alice's head. He made himself a promise to learn how to give everyone their mental privacy and to be okay with the choices of others, no matter what he may think about them.

"That's called empathy," Esme said. Edward looked startled and realized he'd made the promise out loud.

"Yes," Edward resolved, "I will learn empathy."

Thoughts?