Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story line. SM owns the characters, I'm just having fun with them.

Chapter 25- Mother Me

Bella POV
More than a week later I was still getting teased about our unconventional proposal. I had to snort at that one—like anything else in our relationship has been even remotely conventional.

I liked to give Paul a hard time, but in reality, it was the best way he could have ever done it. Not to say I want to get fucked against a tree again anytime soon—that shit really hurts—but maybe on special occasions. At the time it was hot as hell, and that orgasm was out of this world.

Just thinking about it got my panties wet, but Paul had only been home from patrol for about three hours and I knew he needed his sleep. Pushing my hair back with a sigh, I caught sight of my engagement ring now resting happily on my finger and couldn't hold back my smile. He picked the perfect ring for me as well. It was elegant, without being overstated, and I knew just by looking at it that he hadn't completely drained our savings to pay for it.

He was almost apologetic when he told me he found it at a pawn shop, but the fact that the ring had history made it that much more meaningful to me. It was a white gold band that appeared to braided from three different strands. Where the small diamond lay, the strands simply rose up to surround it before continuing around the band. Paul blushed when he said he chose the ring for the symbolism of the three parts of our relationship- me, Paul, and his wolf.

Glancing at the clock bedside me, I realized our puppy would be up soon and he was sure to be hungry. Slipping out of bed, I pulled on some yoga pants under Paul's t-shirt that I had slept in. Wearing clothes to bed was something I'd had to get used to again, and it was almost strange how hard it was to adjust. But with another male in the house it was something I just had to deal with.

Slipping out of bed, I made my way into the hallway as quietly as I could. I would never be able to move silently like my wolves, but I could do my best to let them get their rest. I paused in the doorway to the living room, smiling as I looked at Collin sprawled out on the couch. He looked so young when he was asleep—it was easier to see then that he was the same age as Ryan, just barely thirteen.

Collin and Brady were both in seventh grade, though they probably wouldn't be in school for a month or more after the holiday break. Their young age apparently made them more volatile and, in the eyes of the pack and elders, more dangerous. Brady was able to live at home, since it was just him and his father, but Collin had been staying with us since the day of the fight, once he was able to phase back that is.

Despite the fact that his father was on the tribal council, and quite familiar with the wolf pack, and his mother was our favorite teacher and didn't seem surprised to find that the wolf pack was more than just legends, they were not comfortable having their young son under the same roof as his sisters.

They had been informed when Collin first showed signs of phasing, and they claimed to understand and be supportive, but their priorities shifted when their son did. It may have been because he phased immediately after a fight with his older sister, Cammie, or the fact that he still phased at the slightest provocation, but his family was actually afraid of him. Seeing the hurt look on his face at their outright rejection made Paul and me absolutely furious.

We took him in, and he seemed to be responding to both of us on a better level than the rest of the pack. Paul had taken sole responsibility for him, not allowing Sam or Jake to order him to do anything, since the boy was absolutely terrified of the larger wolves.

I was disappointed with my fellow imprints—Rachel and Leah especially. They listened to their wolves who told them to keep their distance from the pup, despite the fact that it was just another rejection from the only group where he was really supposed to belong now.

The first time I saw Collin he was shaking like a leaf, but it wasn't due to his phasing—it was in fear and just an overwhelming emotional upheaval. I took one look at him standing there trying to hold up a pair of Paul's shorts that were way too big for him, and I opened my arms and my heart immediately.

He knocked me to the ground with his hug, then looked at Paul in fear of retribution. Paul just smiled at him as he helped me sit up, and pulled us both into his strong embrace. I held Collin tight as he gave into his tears, and looked at my mate in question. He actually blushed a little and shrugged, "He needs us, babe. I didn't think you'd mind…"

I leaned over to kiss Paul, only to have Collin sit up and start gagging. We laughed at the first sign of his normal adolescent behavior and pulled him inside to clean up. The elders and tribal council couldn't argue his placement—since no one else would take him in—so for now at least, we had a new puppy.

Walking to the kitchen, I stopped and ran my hand over his newly-shortened hair, smiling at the sigh he gave off in his sleep. I'd had to cut his hair myself that first day, just one more piece of his childhood that was ripped away from him, all because of vampires.

I pulled out two dozen eggs to scramble, along with bacon and some pancake mix. Not the most complicated breakfast, but it would fill up my wolves and me. I hummed as I worked, thinking back to our family Christmas celebration the day before. Collin had come along to my parents' house, where his family stopped by later in the afternoon. My parents were open and caring as usual, but Collin's natural shyness had him sticking close to me most of the day.

When the Blacks and Clearwaters joined in, Paul had to take Collin for a run, under the guise of teaching him the patrol routes. The truth was, my boy just wasn't comfortable around the older wolves yet, especially without Brady there.

All in all, it was not the relaxed family holiday I had been looking forward to for months, and I wasted no time in chewing out the pack for their tense attitudes. I mean, Sam actually stepped in between Collin and Rachel when she said hello to him, and I swear I came close to phasing myself!

Warm arms wrapped around my waist and a soft voice spoke behind me. "It's ok, Mama B. Don't be upset about anything, it'll all work out just fine. I'm happy here with you and Paul—it gives me a break from my stupid sisters."

I squeezed Collin's arms as I realized how tightly I was gripping the spatula. He seemed to sense my moods almost as much as Paul did, and was able to be calmed just as easily by my presence. Turning to ruffle his hair, I sent him off to wash his hands and set the table for breakfast as I dished up the plates. I thought about his name for me that secretly warmed a broken place deep inside me. I woke Collin up for breakfast his second morning here and he started to call me Mom, then said, uh, B-, and it just became my new name– Mama B.

Paul finally wandered in, still looking exhausted, and scooped me up for a less-than-kid-friendly kiss. Collin just groaned as he reached around us for his plate, and went to sit down without another word.

"So what's on the agenda for today, baby?" I asked my man, once they stopped shoveling in the food like they were in an eating competition.

He shot a look at Collin that was hard for me to understand until he spoke. "Well, the guys are coming over to help me frame up the addition. I think Rachel's bringing food over to help with lunch, but I don't know if the other girls will be here or not." Of course not. Wouldn't want to be near the scary baby wolf, would they?

Collin looked scared, but managed to swallow his food and ask Paul if he needed to help. "Nope, you and Brady are with Bella today. Your parents sent over your school books, and Bella is gonna help you get started on your work for next semester. You don't want to get behind do you?"

I never thought I'd see the day a 13-year-old boy would rather stay inside and do homework instead of helping his pack, but these weren't normal circumstances. Brady's dad worked for my dad, so I was sure he was coming over to help with the addition as well. It would be helpful to Sam and Dad to have another guy at work in on the secret; it was one less person that the wolves had to be careful around when it came to their supernatural strength.

Collin and Paul cleaned up the breakfast dishes while I got my shower, and I could already hear the boys out back when I came out. Choosing to ignore them, I turned my attention to the relatively happy boys sitting at my table, joking around and looking glad to see each other.

Brady was only a month older than Collin, and apparently the two had been inseparable for most of their lives. Their phasing on the same day was just another step they took together, and one that almost cost them their lives. Brady was more outgoing and had always protected Collin, who was the smaller one up until recently. When they phased and saw the vampires, Brady rushed in to fight while Collin stayed back, and Brady ended up with a concussion to show for his first real fight.

Once he healed, Brady was literally chewed out by Sam, until Collin stepped in to defend his friend. That probably didn't help their case any, but it showed that they were fiercely loyal, if the pack would only choose to recognize that. Brady seemed to be adjusting better overall, but then his home life hadn't been disrupted the way Collin's had.

I spent the morning helping the boys with their schoolwork, and was pleased to see that they were both good students. It wouldn't be hard for them to stay caught up until they were approved to go back to school full time, whenever that might be.

Rachel came in just before noon, and Sam appeared in my kitchen as a silent, scowling sentinel that had the boys instantly subdued. I sighed and sent them out front with the football, promising to call them in when lunch was ready.

As soon as the front door closed, I turned on Sammy with a snarl that would make Paul proud. "Look, brother, this shit has got to stop. Those little boys are just as much a part of your pack as Paul and Jacob are, and you have done nothing to help them adjust or fit in. All you have done is make them feel inferior and excluded, even after Collin lost his own family for all this.

"You set the example here. You need to show the pack that there is no reason they can't embrace these boys and make them feel like they belong. They are thirteen years old! You're huge fucking werewolves! Why the hell is everyone so scared of them? Do they have control issues? Maybe. Or maybe no one has taken the time to work with them on how to adjust to this strange new body they were suddenly thrust into. Maybe everyone they knew and loved is hiding from them, making them doubt themselves, and their own abilities. Maybe they just need a fucking hug every now and then!"

Paul was suddenly behind me, wrapping me in his arms and kissing the mark on my neck. What had Sam still speechless was the fact that Collin had taken up his position slightly in front of me, holding my hand. "Everything ok here, Mama B?" he asked softly, never taking his eyes off Sam.

I forced myself to calm down and reached out to pull him closer. Paul clapped a hand on his shoulder in silent support as our little family faced down the alpha. Sam's eyes that had initially widened in shock, were now glaring at me and my wolves. He opened his mouth to speak, but Rachel grasped his arm and cut him off.

"Sammy, they're right. I know you're worried about their control around the imprints, but you can see that Bella has been just fine. I know Paul would never put her at risk if he didn't trust Collin, but clearly he does." Rachel surprised me with her support. She gave me an apologetic smile as she continued, "You need to think about having a pack meeting, with all the wolves and imprints. We need to have a united front against whatever is coming at us. We can't afford to have any weak links."

Sam's shoulders slumped in defeat as he ran a hand over his face. I could see just how tired he was; I knew they had been doubling up on patrols, not wanting to risk anyone getting caught alone, and the pack was really starting to drag. It didn't help that he wouldn't put the new wolves out yet, and Collin was only running with Paul when someone else could "watch" me. Brady just phased in whenever he felt like it, and without an assigned mentor he was basically training himself.

"Ok, we'll meet tonight when we stop working. This is all just a lot to deal with, but if you say the pups can control themselves, then I'll have to take your word for it." Sammy stood up straighter and finally looked Collin in the eyes, and I was so proud of my boy when he didn't back down. "Collin, we'll decide a training plan for you and Brady, and get you worked into the patrol schedule. But your first priority will remain here with my sister, ok?"

Collin nodded, sagging back against me a bit as I squeezed his hand. I still wasn't sure why Paul was ok with our constant touching, but he said his wolf saw Collin as both his brother and his son—a responsibility and also someone he can trust. Billy thought we had something similar to an imprint, but more like surrogate parents. Whatever it was, it worked for us.

Lunch was still a little strained, but I did see the other wolves making an effort to include the boys. Paul put them to work after lunch, and by the time it was dark the addition was framed and plywood covered the outer walls and roof. Sam had run the wiring and framed the doors and windows, so we were much closer to having the extra bedrooms we needed.

The pack meeting was tense, but Leah and Rachel at least made an effort to reach out to the boys. Collin and Brady still stuck closer to me, and I was afraid it may have been too little, too late for the other girls.

Sam took the boys out for their first training session when the rest of us went back to school after the holiday break. I hugged my little gray wolf as tight as I could before dragging myself to the truck for school. Paul and Jake wore the same guarded, watchful expressions they had kept since the attack just before Christmas. They hadn't found any new trails and were actually grateful that the old trails had washed away with the weather so anyone who came looking for the dead vampires would have a hard time tracking them to La Push.

We still had no idea what they were doing here to begin with, but from the descriptions the boys gave, they weren't just ordinary vampires. I ran the name that Paul heard—Volturi—through Google and the only thing I found was a link to the Volturi family castle in Volterra, Italy. It seemed a little far-fetched, but I guess it was possible there were actually vampires living there.

Walking into school, we split up as usual and walked to our first class. Paul kept his hand on my neck, knowing my animosity for our old favorite teacher. I avoided meeting her gaze as we settled into our desks, and only looked up when Paul and Jared both growled quietly.

Mrs. Littlesea was standing a few feet away from my desk, looking at the boys nervously. It took her a few tries but she finally worked up the nerve to speak. "Um, Bella, can I speak with you for a moment before class starts?"

I was feeling particularly bitchy knowing that her son- MY son- was out in the cold rain running around with my grouchy big brother. "I don't have the faintest idea why we would need to discuss anything, Mrs. Littlesea. We obviously don't see eye to eye on things."

Paul rumbled again quietly when she took another step forward, and once again I could see the real fear in her eyes when she looked at the boys. I guess it was just something I couldn't understand, since I saw a wolf before I heard the stories, but some of the council members and families had a hard time coming to terms with the actual physical proof of the legends they had heard all their lives.

I sighed in frustration, "Look, this is why we can't talk. Until you can look at these boys and see the same ones you've always known and not the wolves you're so afraid of, we have nothing in common."

She dropped her head a little before raising her eyes to look at me again, this time with her heartbreak clear on her face. "Just, Bella, can you just tell me that he's doing ok? Is he adjusting to everything?"

My fury rose in an instant. Paul wrapped his hand around my arm to keep me in my chair. "How dare you! How dare you ask after him when you were the one who told me he couldn't come home?! No, he's not ok! He's been abandoned by his family! He should have the support of his parents who have known about the pack long enough to adjust to this, but instead he's stuck with teenagers raising him and sleeping on a worn-out old couch."

The room was beginning to fill, so she leaned closer to me and lowered her voice. "Look, it's not like that. I know it's hard to understand, but we had to do it. We can't let Cammie find out about all this, there is no way she would be able to keep it a secret and the safety of our tribe is at stake. Maybe once she leaves for school he can come home again, but we've also got Cindy at home to think about as well. We have to look out for her safety."

Knowing we weren't going to get anywhere, I just shook my head. "Look, I understand that you think you have your reasons, but all I know is that I have a boy who is five years younger than me calling me 'Mama' and following my fiancé around like a lost puppy. We love Collin, and we will continue to look out for him and give him the love and support he desperately needs. You obviously need to concentrate on your daughters' needs."

She looked sad, but turned to walk away, offering me one last word. "Can you tell him we still love him?"

Sighing, I told her the truth. "I can, but I know from experience that it won't mean that much. When it comes to parenting, actions speak louder than words."

The gossip was even worse than last semester, but Angela was home now so she wasn't subjected to the rude stares and comments any longer. Paul and I drew attention because we had pulled the principal's son over to the dark side and were now giving him various drugs and things while he crashed at our house.

"It just irritates the hell out of me that none of these idiots have any idea how close they all came to dying just a few weeks ago," I said at lunch, bringing out a shiver from Paul, who pulled me closer and nuzzled my neck. "I wish the council could do something about all this."

Jake just laughed it off, saying that if they could quit skipping school and looking like they take steroids, we might have a better reputation. Apparently helping little old ladies cross the street wasn't doing enough for the pack's image.

Seth was sitting quietly on my other side, staring off at a table of freshmen not far away. I squeezed his arm in question and he gave me a small smile. "I just miss my friends," he said quietly.

I ruffled his hair, ignoring the snide looks and smart remarks as Cammie Littlesea and her band of hussies walked by the table. Things needed to change around here—I didn't want to think of our boys being left here when the rest of us graduated in a few months. Maybe it was time to look into changing how we handled school for the pack.

The answer came to me a few hours later when I was snuggled between Collin and Paul on the couch, helping them both with their schoolwork. "You're a good teacher, Mama B," Collin said as he finally figured out his equation for algebra, one of my least favorite subjects.

Paul looked at me in contemplation and I knew we were on the same wavelength. "He's right, baby. You're good at helping us all with our homework, maybe we could look at an alternative for school next year."

I nodded absently, already planning to look into what was available in our area. There had to be a homeschool option, or even an online program we could use to get the pack through high school and ready for college. I could take a few classes at a time while I was helping them out, and we could work around their patrol schedules a little easier.

For now I had two wolves to feed, and one to love on. Paul was smirking when he told Collin to keep his headphones up loud as we headed to the bedroom. Our boy just groaned and wrinkled his nose. This parenting stuff is pretty fun after all!