A/N: It is my great pleasure to reveal the results of the poll for my next story! Tied for third are Brother and Pack (OC/OC) and A New Chance (Seth/OC). Tied for second are Mistaken Identity (Leah/OC) and Escaped (Embry/OC). And finally, the winner is... *drum roll* Running Back to Safety a Paul/OC. Thank you to all of you that voted, I hope you enjoy the story and this new chapter. Now, because I am awesome, I will enclose the summary for RBTS.

Hiding. That's what Danny Swan's life has consisted of for the last two years. Hiding from the man that raped her. Now running to Forks to find refuge for herself and her son with Charlie. While in hiding she finds more than refuge, but also two brothers and love with a short tempered shifter.

Chapter Thirty Six: A Calm

I look to the

future because

that's where I'm

going to spend the

rest of my life.

~George F. Burns

Jacob has been a wreck since he's been back, and Sam's newest headache. Jacob's temper was spiraling out of control, he was even beginning to rival Paul's anger when it came to certain subjects. One wrong statement had him growling and shaking so hard that he was forced to run off. Many times he would barely make it out of the house before phasing. Sam was worried about me and the other imprints. He feared what would happen if Jake's temper got any worse. His biggest fear was that Jacob would lose control before he could get out of the house. We all are especially worried about little Claire who wouldn't know to get away, but would walk forward with a question. Quil had started bringing Claire around when he knew Jake would be on patrol, poor Quil is terrified of something happening to that little girl.

Today was finally enough. Sam has a patch up job with Jared and Paul on the other side of the rez, Quil and Leah are on patrol, Embry and the younger boys are at the beach for the day and are surely not to come by till they have to patrol or it gets too late. I had called Billy's and told him to send Jake over when he got a minute. It was only two hours before Jake walked through the door. I was setting a tray of cookies on the stove top that I had just pulled from the oven.

"Sam need me?" Jake asked as he took a seat at the table.

"Nope. I called, I have a few things I want to talk to you about." I said, taking a spatula and removing some of the cookies from the tray, laying them on a plate before placing them on the table.

"What do you want to talk about?" Jake asked as he picked up one of the hot cookies from the plate.

"I know when everything gets hard, it's helpful to talk to someone about it." I said and folded me hands in front of me on the table top. Jake raised an eyebrow.

"Who's saying that I'm not handling the shit that's going on?" Jake asked a little irritated.

"Cut the shit, Jacob." I said and he seemed shocked by my harsh words. Generally, I made it a rule not to curse, but with Jake's behavior and vocabulary, I thought it would get my point acrossed.

"You know as well as I do that your not handling your emotions about Bella." I said and the shaking began. I waited till he calmed himself before continuing.

"That's exactly why I know. Before, you were able to control the wolf more. Now you are letting him consume you. It's not safe, someone's going to get hurt, if this continues and it's why I wanted to talk with you." I said and knew he was going to become defiant by the set of his jaw and the slight glare he was giving me.

"I can handle it fine, I have control of my wolf." Jake said and I nodded playing along.

"And so did Sam." I said and all shaking stopped as Jake looked at me scared for the first time since he had phased.

"Sam had control of his wolf. He had been in control of it for a while when we met. You know that it was only one split second that he lost his control and now we'll both need to live with the evidence of what can happen on my face." Jake sat quietly, motionless in his seat as he stared at me.

"Do you understand, Jacob? Even with control, you need to keep your emotions in check. What would you do if you lost control and you hadn't noticed that little Claire was too close? How would you live with yourself?" I demanded and Jacob opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He tried again with the same result.

"Exactly, there would be no living with yourself. Have you noticed how long it's been since you've seen her?" Jake thought about it.

"Almost three weeks." Jake said and I nodded.

"How much did you usually see her before you ran off?"

"At least once or twice a week." Jake looked confused.

"Exactly. Your brother is terrified of what could happen if Claire was too close to you when you get angry. You need to get your temper under control and I think a good start would be to talk about it." Jake sat quietly for a minute, deep in thought.

"I don't understand why she picked him. I love her! We were so happy together, till that damn pixie leech showed up and dragged her off to rescue her parasite! I did everything for her, I pretty much gave up Quil and Embry to hang out with her whenever she needed. I built those damn bikes for her! How many hours did I waste that I could have spent on the rabbit and finally had it ready or had spent with my friends?" Jake ranted, his hands were moving around him as he spoke, trying to explain what was going through his mind. I sat quietly and let him get it out.

"Why did you love her? How did you see her through your eyes?" Maybe if he really thought about all her actions he would see how she had manipulated him.

"She's kind, and selfless, she's beautiful, smart, quiet, and she actually cared about me and what I was doing." Jake said and I could see something in his eye that somewhat resembled the love I had seen in the imprinted wolves' eyes when they looked at the imprints.

"Jake think about that. You didn't just merely describe Bella. There are tons of girls that fit that description. Kim and Emily could fall under all those titles that you just named. What did you love about her that was unique to her that you wouldn't be able to find in anyone else?" Jake had to think.

"She was really good with weird." He finally said and I had to laugh.

"That describes everyone in the pack at this point. Her first boyfriend was a leech, I think learning about another supernatural creature after the first one is a piece of cake." Jake didn't seem to find the humor in this.

"Jake those things were all that you noticed and loved about her… It might not have been meant to be. Their will be another girl that comes along and catches your eye. She'll probably fit all those things that you said about Bella, but when you actually love her, not lust for her, you'll notice more than the big things. You'll notice the little things that make her who she is, and like with Bella, you'll want to do everything with her, but if she really loves you too, she'll return it. She'll notice the little things about you and want to do things for you like you will do for her. Don't get stuck on one hook and think it's the end when it ends wrong. Move on. The right person is waiting for you and you'll really want to be on that hook for the rest of your life." Jake looked to be thinking.

"I can't believe you compared love to fishing." Jake chuckled as he looked back up at me. He was lighter, there was something in his eyes that I could see. He was free. The burden of his loss had left his shoulders.

"Well I have been spending a lot of time with dad lately. He comes around a lot now that he's getting involved with Sue." I smiled and Jake laughed as he shook his head.

"I never saw that coming." He mumbled.

"Neither did I, but what ever makes him happy. He's been alone for almost nineteen years." I was glad dad was finally moving on, though it sucked that it took the death of one of his closest friends for it to happen. Jake sat at the table and we chatted as I moved around the kitchen preparing dinner for the guys. It was only two when suddenly Brady, Collin and Seth busted through the door dragging a dazed Embry along behind them. The younger boys all had shit-eating grins on their faces.

"What did you all do?" I asked cautiously. Seth's grin got bigger somehow as he pushed Embry forward.

"You tell her, Embry. It's your big news." I was curiously to what this news could be.

"What is it Embry?" Jake asked and Embry swallowed breaking himself from his daze a little.

"I… imp..." Embry mumbled as he looked at the ground.

"What?" I asked.

"I imprinted." Embry whispered lowly. I could barely make out the words.

"That's great!" I cheered and pulled him into a tight hug.

"Who's the poor girl?" Jake joked. Embry hesitated for a second before he cleared his throat.

"Ashlynn Hidstone." Embry said with a dopy smile and a blush that caused all of us to chuckled. I pushed Embry toward the table to take a seat.

"So what does she look like?" I took the seat next to him.

"She's got big brown eyes, short dark brown hair, she has the brightest smile I've ever seen..." Embry was rambling, but stopped when the boys started to giggle like little school girls at him.

"What are you all giggling like little girls for?" I asked and they all sobered instantly.

"You know what. All of you out. Don't come back till six for dinner." I stood and pointed to the door.

"But, Sunny." The boys whined.

"Don't 'but, Sunny' me. Out!" I said and the younger boys hurried to get out. Jake sat at the table, popping a cookie into his mouth as he walked the boys scamper out the door quickly.

"That means you too mister." I crossed my arms across my chest. Jake's face fell as he looked at me.

"But, Sunny!" He whined around the mouth full of cookie.

"You heard me. Get. You have thirty seconds before I won't allow you back for dinner." I started counting and Jake rushed out the door like Brady, Collin, and Seth.

"Have I ever told you how awesome you are, Sunny?" Embry asked and gave me a tight hug.

"No, but I don't mind hearing it." I smiled at him and sat back down.

"Now, I want details." Embry smiled and sat back down.

Embry stayed and talked with me as I cooked dinner till dad showed up. He had started coming around more since Bella and Edward went on their honeymoon. He said it was only for the hot meal, but I knew better. If he just wanted a hot meal, he would go to the diner or over to Sue's. He's lonely at the house alone and clinging to me at the same time. Subconsciously, dad knows Bella isn't coming back, whether his conscious mind knew this, I don't know. The only problem with dad being around more was that the boys had to be a lot more careful around the house. We've had a couple close calls where the boys would walk out of the woods in only a pair of shorts. Dad was curious, but like he had promised the day of Bella's graduation, he never asked a question. He would merely cock an eyebrow and glance at me to see if I would explain or not.

Sam came home soon after dad arrived and after greeting dad and giving me a quick kiss, he excused himself to take a shower before everyone else arrived. Dad seemed to be thinking hard about something as he sat at the table watching me finish dinner. I let it go on till I could hear the shower water running. I had a feeling dad wouldn't want anyone to overhear whatever was on his mind.

"What's on your mind, dad?" I asked and took a seat.

"Nothing." He said quickly with a shrug and I smiled.

"You forget something, daddy. I lived with you for too long to not know when you're lying. You have that look on your face that says there's something on your mind and it's something big, but you don't want to or know how to bring it up. Spill, old man." I grinned causing dad to sigh.

"You always have been too smart and observant for your own good." Dad said and I gave him a look. He was trying to procrastinate by dodging the question.

"Have you and Sam talked about kids?" Dad asked and I was a little surprised. A faint blush came to his cheeks as he looked down at the table.

"We both want kids, someday. Why? Are you anxious to be a grandpa?" I nudged his arm with my elbow.

"I'd like grankids, not right now, but someday. Billy cracked a joke the other day about the song… you know. Kissing in a tree, then come marriage and a baby carriage." Dad said and I had an idea where this was going.

"It got me thinking about you girls. Bella's on her honeymoon and moving away to college with the Cullens. Your marrying Sam and have made your own life here. Do you think I'd be a good grandfather?" Dad asked. I smiled and moved so I was sitting in dad's lap with my arms wrapped around his neck, like when he would hold me when I was little.

"You've always been the best father, and without having to do any major discipline, you'd be an awesome grandpa. I'm sure you will have taught the kid how to be an expert fishermen by the time he or she is five years old. Any little one, I'm sure will be spoiled rotten before they can walk." I said and dad gained a small smile on his face.

"Okay. Just make me one promise?" I cocked an eyebrow as I looked at dad.

"Just give me a year to get used to having two son-in-laws before you go having any little ones. One thing at a time, please." Dad looked a little tired when he said that and I sympathized with him. This really must be a lot for him. His youngest went through a depression, graduated, and got married and now so am I. That would be a lot for any parent to take, let alone within the span of a year.

"I'll talk to Sam about it. Though I'm sure he'll be fine with it. A little time to ourselves to be just newlyweds." I grinned and dad shuttered.

"Okay, okay. When are the others getting here?" He hurried off the topic of anything emotional. I loved my father and the family that we've gained, but today has been an emotional roller coaster.