Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight and all recognizable characters and situations contained therein. All original content in this fic is mine! As always story is rated M and is only intended for readers aged 18+. Reviews for the last 2 chapters have been amazing! I really can't thank you guys enough for all the support that you show!

**Two weeks later Sam POV**

I'm in that weird in between that exists between waking and dreaming, and I'm struggling to pull myself out. Running on 2 hours of sleep wasn't pleasant but I had lucked out with day patrols for most of this week with last night being the only night that J, and I did nights. Finally I break through that last hazy layer and open my eyes. Bella is nestled against me and I take a moment to rub my hand gently over her small, but now noticeable bump.

The last two weeks have been extremely hectic. The guys and I have been running patrols almost non-stop, Embry, and Quil got grounded and had to be moved to late night patrols after the two of them got into a fist fight with half the football team who were making lewd comments about Bella's chest, I was just lucky that Paul and Jake were smart enough to know that their time was better spent protecting Bella in the midst of everything, and they stayed out of it. Meanwhile, Jared and I were running ourselves ragged trying to get as much work in as we could between patrolling.

Today I had a meeting with Billy and Old Quil, with Harry gone we were the only 3 Elders left. Bella's eyes fluttered open and met mine; I smiled at her leaning down to kiss her forehead, "Hey baby, how'd you sleep?"

She frowns slightly, and snuggles in deeper, as she answers, "Okay, would've been better if you'd been here, instead of out in the woods."

Sighing, I hold her a little tighter rubbing small circles over her bump; Bella's hormones have been raging this week. I can't blame her because I know the guys are up her ass at school, even here in the house we're practically never alone, even now Paul is crashing in our guest room, but I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't completely necessary, "Bella, we've talked about this. Em, Quil, and Jake have run themselves ragged every night this week, they deserved the night with their girls. I promise you, that if it weren't necessary we wouldn't be doing it. I know it's hard."

She snaps at me, "No, you don't know Sam! I can't even go to the BATHROOM by myself! I've had to use the bathroom in the nurses' office so that one of them won't come into the ladies room with me and cause a riot! I haven't had even one moment to myself, or ALONE with YOU in the last two weeks! I know that this whole thing is because of me; I know that all of you are only doing this to keep me safe, and I'm sorry that I'm being like this."

She's tearing up, and for the millionth time in the last 2 weeks I want to get a hold of whoever it is who's responsible for this shit and tear them into tiny pieces. My guys and I are walking a thin line right now, Billy and Old Quil had sat us down last week and reminded us that we were protectors, honor bound to protect the tribe and all humans. They told us that for a protector to kill a human intentionally was sacrilege.

I told them that if they couldn't understand that whoever was responsible had crossed a line that was impossible to uncross, that if they couldn't accept the fact that the threat to my wife, my Imprint, and my unborn child constituted a direct assault on the Pack as a whole, and therefore left the perpetrators open to tribal law. Well, I told them that if they couldn't accept that, then they could both go to hell. When I put it that way both of them had backed down, only warning us that taking a life was also crossing a line that couldn't be uncrossed.

Old Quil did however acknowledged that if it WAS Harry Clearwater or Sue, that we were within our rights under tribal law to take their lives, but that we should remember that Seth was still relatively young and to leave him an orphan would be cruel.

I pull back and look down into Bella's eyes, "Baby I'm sorry but I have to get up and get ready to go meet with Billy and Old Quil. Jake, and Embry are gunna come stay with you while I'm gone, I promise baby as soon as we get this fucker you'll get your privacy back."

She nods and even though I know she's unhappy, and she wants to argue, she gives me a tender kiss before saying, "Okay. You go get in the shower, I'll make you some toaster waffles."

I kiss her again and get up and head into the shower.

**Bella POV**

Sighing I lay in bed as I hear the water in the bathroom turn on. I absently rub my hand over my baby bump, it had only really become noticeable in the last week or so, but Kim and Christine were really being a pain about putting me into maternity clothes.

Over the last couple of weeks Sam, Em, and I had really started to get close to Christine and Joshua. Josh often came over to help me around the house and keep an eye on things when Sam wasn't around, and Christine came around most evenings to talk. Josh was in pretty good shape for an older guy and I guess Sam figured he'd be a good match for a human if someone came and tried to hurt me.

Christine had told me that she hadn't noticed any more changes, which meant that barring any unforeseen vamp activity she probably wouldn't phase. Getting up I throw one of Sam's old hoodie's on over my sleep tank and zip it up over my chest before making my way into the kitchen. I grab 3 of the bags of waffles out of the freezer and turn the oven on and let it heat up.

Embry and Jake come through the front door quietly as I'm putting the waffles on a sheet pan, "Hey guys, you want breakfast?"

They nod and sit down and I frown at them, "You guys are pretty quiet, what gives?"

Jake sighs, "It's really nothing Bella, Ang and Shanna are just feeling kind of neglected with the way our schedules have been the last couple of weeks."

I sigh, "I'm sorry you guys, I don't mean to cause problems for you."

I can feel the tears stinging my eyes and I turn away quickly hoping they won't see. I hate that out of control feeling I get when one of my emotions gets away from me. Embry comes up behind me and wraps an arm around my shoulder as he says, "Bella don't cry, I can smell the salt. You're not any trouble, and you're NOT causing problems! This whole mess isn't your fault! You didn't ask for this shit! Neither did Sam. The Clearwater's have problems, and whomever they roped into this is probably going to end up having a heart attack when they get a load of a pissed off Sam. Ang and Shanna are behaving like 16yr old girls, they're being selfish, and I told them both as much. You're almost my sister in law B, and that's MY nephew that you're carrying! You deserve our protection. If it was one of the other's they would want us to do the same for them."

I smile and throw my arms around Embry and hug him tight, "Thanks Em, I appreciate that you feel that way."

Jake comes up and hugs me tight as he says, "Em's right B. None of us have any issue with the work we're doing, if it was any of our girls in this situation, we'd want the same. Now come on, make us breakfast!"

I laugh, "It's just toaster waffles, well, oven waffles. As much as you guys eat I'd need 4 toasters minimum to make enough for all 3 of you at once."

I load the 2 sheet pans of frozen waffles into the oven and pull out some heat and serve sausage. I put the sausage on another sheet pan and load that into the oven as well. I start to cross over to the cabinets when Sam comes out dressed for work, and says, "B, sit down, I'll take care of the rest."

**Sam POV**

Bella sits and I grab glasses out and set them on the table. I pour Bella a big glass of orange juice and she takes her vitamin with it as I sit down with my own glass passing the juice over to Embry.

Bella leans her head on my shoulder and asks, "Can I go to the mall with Kim, Rachel, and Christine today?"

I tilt my head and ask, "Why do you have to go?"

She rolls her eyes a little, "Kim, and Christine insist that I need maternity clothes."

I sigh and prepare myself for a fight, "Bella with everything going on I wish you would just shop online."

Her eyes flash and she snaps, "You listen to ME, Sam Uley. I have been cooped up in this house for 2 WEEKS! The only place I've gone in those two weeks is SCHOOL! Now if this threat was vamp related I'd understand, and I would stay home for you, but this whole thing is Harry Clearwater conspiring with maybe 2 other people! There has not been one whiff of ANYTHING out of the ordinary in the last 2 weeks, and I think YOU would consider that maybe the whole basket of drug muffins was a one time plan that they know they can't get away with again and acknowledge that maybe they've given UP!"

Frustrated, and tired, I snap back, "YOU DON'T KNOW THAT BELLA! None of us KNOW for certain that this wasn't vamp related! Harry knows how to get in touch with the Cullen's; he was an ELDER for Christ's sake! Do you really think it would be hard for him to get a hold of Edward and rope him into this bullshit? You know that leech isn't exactly STABLE Bella! I DO understand where you're coming from Bella, really I DO, but you have to look at it from MY point of view here too Bell! How do I take that chance? How do I just let it go, put it aside and say, 'yeah, sure honey, go to the mall! This whole thing is probably nothing, you go have fun!' How can I do that? How do I take a chance when it's you, and our baby that I'm taking a chance with? I just can't do it Bella! I'm sorry, but if you want to go to the mall you need to bring at least 3 of the guys with you, and I'd prefer it if you brought at least one of our dads too, preferably the one who carries a gun!"

By the end of my outburst everyone is staring at me, Jake breaks the silence in an awed sort of voice, "Damn Sam, you just flipped out on Bella."

Embry snorts out a laugh and Bella chuckles a little as she says, "I deserved it. You're right Sam, I never even thought of that possibility. I'm sorry, honey. I know you're right and I know that I've been overly emotional and difficult the last couple of weeks, I just can't seem to help it. I promise if I go to the mall I'll bring the appropriate security"

I pull her close, and brush her hair out of the way so that I can kiss her mark, and whisper in her ear, "It's okay Bella, I know that things have been rough, I just need you to bear with me okay? I'm only doing all of this because I love you and I love our child and I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you."

**Time-skip still SPOV**

I pull my truck into the lot of the meeting hall and park in one of the designated slots. Getting out I run my hands through my hair in frustration knowing that Old Quil is not going to be very receptive to what I have to say.

Thankfully, it had rained for 3 days after the blizzard, and all the snow had melted. Charlie had gone out looking for stranded motorists, but said that everyone must have made it to their destinations before it got too bad to drive.

I walk into the hall to find Billy and Old Quil already seated at the table. I go up and take my seat and Billy asks, "How's Bella doing, Sam?"

Sighing I reply, "She's okay, hormones are out of control the last couple of weeks but I can't blame her on that one. The hovering is driving her a little crazy, but it can't be helped."

He nods, and asks, "So, what did you want to see us about?"

I take a deep breath, and lay it out on the table, "I want to let the other guys, and imprints families in on the secret."

Old Quil gasps and his eyes are wide with shock, Billy looks surprised but like he's been waiting for this for a while. Old Quil breaks the silence, "Sam, you know why we have to keep it secret!"

I interject, "Yeah, I get why we can't just tell anyone, but their parent's deserve to know! I've had to have the younger guys doing overnights for most of the last week and a half because they got grounded for fighting at school over guys making comments about Bella! If their parent's knew it would be easier for all of us, and their parents would be able to be proud of what they are doing for their tribe as a whole! I'm sorry but as Alpha of the pack I think it's the right thing to do. Embry's mom, Jared and Quil's parents, Paul's mom, they all deserve to know the truth. As for the imprints…"

Old Quil cuts in, "No! Absolutely NOT! Some of the imprints aren't even native!"

Billy cuts in, "Now wait, lets talk about this objectively Quil. You have to remember that my daughter is an imprint, as her father if I was out of the loop I would be very concerned about the fact that she decided to just move home out of the blue and take up with Paul Dixon instead of continuing her education. If she couldn't tell me the truth I would probably be dead set against their relationship."

He breaks off and takes a drink of his water before continuing, "Think of Bella, and how much easier it's been for her and Sam with Charlie knowing. Imagine how this year would have played out for them if he hadn't been in the know! The only non native imprint who's parents don't know is Embry's imprint, her father is the protestant reverend up in Forks, and from what I've heard he's very supportive of their relationship. I think that'll change though when she decides straight out of high school that she's going to marry him and move down to the res instead of going away to college like her plan probably was until she met Embry. I think the one who will benefit most from the girl's parents being in the know is your grandson, Quil! I think it's a good idea."

I interject, "Look, what I was going to say was that as for the imprint's I wouldn't be telling their parents anything until I find out if Claire's parents are somehow in on this plot against Bella."

Old Quil's eyes bug out again and he asks, "What? Why would you think that?"

Shrugging I reply, "Well let's see, the entire time Quil and Claire have been together, her parent's have not let them have one iota of privacy. Except for the night of the storm when Paul and Jared were drugged! By the way, Dr Cullen says there were extremely high levels of a bunch of psychotropic drugs in their systems, drugs that only a doctor or PA would have access to. No street drugs to speak of though."

Billy's eyes widen and I nod, "Yeah, Sue. Although I don't know how she would have gotten them. They've attacked the Pack Billy; they're both open to tribal law. I know how you both feel about this, but I'm sorry, I just don't see any other way. I'm not going to sit back and let them threaten my family and attack my brothers."

Billy swallows thickly and says, "I don't want to believe it of them, I know they both have some emotional problems lately I just don't want to believe they would actually attack anyone, but if they are behind this attack then you do what you have to do Sam. You have our support."

Nodding I ask, "And the parent's?"

He nods, "Tell them. We could have a meeting at your place tonight? This way none of you would be taken away from protecting Bella."

I reply, "That sounds good, I'll call the guys and arrange for them to bring their parents over around 8:15?"

Billy nods and says, "That's fine, Old Quil, and I will come around 8."

I look to Old Quil, we aren't terribly close but he likes Bella, and I want him to be behind us on this. Taking a deep breath I ask, "Old Quil? Are you okay with this?"

He takes a deep breath and shrugs as he replies; "Well Chief Black has overruled me so I guess it really doesn't matter how I feel one way or the other. However, you made some good points, I understand how it would make a difference for the other's parents to know. It would bring pride to their families, and make it easier for them to do their job, all in all it seems like a win/win. After we figure out what's going on with the Young's we can decide on telling the imprint's parents."

**Time-skip 5:00pm still SPOV**

Bella, Kim, and the guys got home from the mall around 3:30. Kim and Bella went into our bedroom and shut the door without a word and have been in there ever since. I had quickly explained the situation to the guys and the rest of them aside from Jake had gone home to talk to their parent's.

Handing the X-box controller to Jake I go over and knock on the door. Bella calls out, "Who is it?"

I answer, "It's me, I need to talk to you."

Kim opens the door and scowls at me a little as she whines; "Saaam, Bella and I hardly ever get girl time anymore with you having her on lockdown! I need you to wait like 5 minutes okay?"

I arch my eyebrow at her, and get a whiff of something odd. Narrowing my eyes I ask, "What are you guys doing in there?"

She averts her eyes and says, "Nothing."

Kim starts to shut the door in my face but I'm not having it, I look down at her and say in a firm voice, "Let me in, Kim."

Reluctantly she steps back from the door and I enter the room, there's nothing out of the ordinary, and I realize that what I smell is Kim. She smells like herself, but sweeter and I suddenly realize what they're doing."

Shit, "Damn, Kim. I'm sorry girl, would you like me to save you the trouble?"

Her eyes go wide and she says, "Can you hear anything?"

I look around for a minute and ask, "Are you sure you want me to try? Don't you think Jared should be the first to hear it?"

She looks horrified for a second and says, "Oh, you're right! I should call him, I just didn't want to get his hopes up!"

I shake my head, "He won't be disappointed. I can tell by your scent that you are, you smell sweeter than normal."

She turns back to Bella who's holding the pregnancy test stick and smiling as she says, "He's right Kim. This one's positive too!"

The two of them run over to each other and jump on each other hugging and doing that girlie squeal thing. I'm laughing a little when Jake comes busting in behind me shouting, "What the hell is going on!"

The girls stop celebrating and Bella says, "Oh, sorry Jake. We just got a little overexcited. Go back to your game."

He shakes his head at them and goes back to the living room. Bella looks at me and says, "Sam, can you call J, tell him to come over here?"

I take a deep breath and reply, "Uh, that's what I was coming in here to talk to you about. Billy, Old Quil, the guys, and their parent's are coming over here tonight."

Her eyes go wide and she asks, "You mean you're going to tell their parents?"

Nodding I say, "Yeah, Embry needs Kay to cut him a serious break. Quil's parents deserve to know too, and so do J's, and Paul's mom. Paul's mom especially I think needs to know that her son isn't a drug dealing criminal, he deserves for her to be proud of him."

Bella nods, and we go out to the living room, leaving Kim to call J. Bella and I settle in on the loveseat and watch Jake play Halo. Kim comes out and settles herself in my recliner with a goofy grin on her face.

The back door opens and J comes in. Kim looks at Jake, "Jake, could you pause that for me for a minute?"

He complies and Jared looks at her warily, "What's going on Kim? Is everything okay?"

She nods, and gestures him over, as she replies, "Listen closely."

The room goes dead silent as J puts his ear against Kim's abdomen, I listen intently and I can tell Jake is listening too. I easily pick out Bella's heartbeat the familiar rhythm and the way it weaves in with the baby's, and then I hear it, another seemingly hummingbirds thrum weaving into Kim's heartbeat. Jared's eyes go wide, "It is. You mean. You're pregnant?"

She nods and says, "Yeah, Bella and I did like 3 tests, and then Sam came in and caught us and he said I smelled different."

J looks absolutely ecstatic as he scoops Kim up and tells us, "We'll be back later!"

Jake and I laugh and I tell him, "Congrats man, I'm really happy for you, you gotta have a boy though so my boy can have a best friend! Just don't forget that you have to bring your 'rents here by 8:15 J."

They laugh and Kim nods as J carries her out my front door to her car and guns it down my street. Shaking my head a little Jake goes back to his game, and Bella leans her head on my shoulder as I wrap my arms around her.

**Time-skip 7:45pm BPOV**

Since shortly after Kim and J's dramatic exit I've been baking, I go to the oven and pull out the last tray of cookies and put them on the rack to cool. I had made a triple batch and needed to get out a platter, and set the coffee pot.

God, it's lucky that I made a batch of cupcakes earlier or we wouldn't have enough food for everyone. I start frosting the chocolate cupcakes with homemade buttercream icing, and setting them on a plate. The front door opens and Old Quil comes in followed by Billy who's being pushed by Jake. Jake calls out, "I smell double chocolate chip cookies!"

Laughing I put the more cooled cookies onto the platter and bring them out into the living room and put them on the table before going over to hug Billy. He puts his hand on my stomach and says, "I feel like I haven't seen you in ages Bell, you look so different already."

I smile at him and say, "I know, the bump's really only started to be noticeable in the last week though, but I'm fast approaching only being able to wear Sam's really old clothes or maternity clothes. So I guess it's good that I got to the mall today to buy some of the latter."

Billy lets me go and I ask, "Can I get you some coffee? I have cookies and cupcakes, or if you want something else I can get you whatever."

He laughs a little, "Some coffee and a cupcake would be great Bells."

I nod and turn to Old Quil, "Old Quil, what can I get for you?"

He smiles a little and answers, "Just coffee please."

I go into the kitchen and fill 2 mugs, I'm just about to head into the living room when the house phone rings, I go over and pick it up, "Hello?"

There's the prompt click of someone hanging up, and I roll my eyes and hang it up. I go to pick up Billy and Old Quil's coffee when the shrill ring sounds again. What the fuck, I pick it up letting the edge into my voice as I answer, "Hello?"

This time a girl answers me, "Hi, I'm sorry, I'm looking for Sam Uley, or Uley Construction?"

What? Sam never gives out the house number, "Uh, where did you get this number?"

The woman answers, "Charles Swan passed it on to my father, they used to work together."

I guess that makes sense, though I don't know why my dad wouldn't have passed along Sam's cell when he knows that's the number he uses for work, "Oh, just a minute please."

I put the receiver down and call out, "Sam, telephone for you!"

He comes into the kitchen and asks, "Who is it?"

I shrug, "I dunno, it's work related, she says she got the home number from my dad giving it to her dad, apparently they used to work together."

He nods and picks up the phone as I take the coffee into the living room.

**Sam POV**

I pick up the phone off the counter and raise it to my ear, "Hello?"

The voice on the other end answers, "Hi, is this Sam Uley?"

I answer, "Yes it is, how can I help you?"

She replies, "My name is Emily Collins, I recently moved into a new house in Forks, and I need some repairs done."

I grab a piece of paper and a pen and ask her, "Okay, I don't really have time to talk right now. If you give me your number I'll give you a call in the morning, and we can set up a time for me to come take a look at the work that needs to be done around your house."

She sounds just a little too breathy and happy as she exclaims, "Sure! That would be great! Thank you so much! My number is 555-0345, I really look forward to talking with you tomorrow!"

Bella comes back and gives me a look like 'hurry it up' and I reply, "Uh, yeah, talk to you tomorrow then, bye."

I hang up and Bella asks, "So what was that about?"

I shrug, "Dunno, I told her I didn't have time to talk right now. I'll find out in the morning."

She nods, "Okay, well Billy said to tell you that everyone should be arriving soon. I think we're going to need more chairs."

I nod and she goes back out to sit down on the couch next to Jake. I go out to the storage shed and grab 5 folding chairs, and bring them back inside. I'm setting them up when the door opens and Paul and his mother walk in.

Paul's mother is a small woman who constantly looks like she's waiting for the world to fall down around her. Their life has been hard, and I know it hasn't been much easier for her since Paul's father left. She doesn't know that Paul is the one who made him leave, just that he left after a particularly bad night.

She looks around at Billy, me, and Old Quil and looks at Paul accusingly as she asks us, "What's he done now? I thought he'd been good lately! I haven't gotten any calls about fights at school this year, and his grades have actually been better than just passing!"

Billy speaks up, "Paul hasn't done anything Mrs. Dixon. There's something important that you need to know but we're waiting for everyone else to get here."

She nods and Bella stands up, "Mrs. Dixon, please make yourself comfortable. Would you like some coffee? There are fresh baked cookies and cupcakes on the table. Help yourself, please."

She looks Bella over and then says, "I'm sorry, who are you?"

I stand up, "Mrs. Dixon, this is my wife, Bella."

Her eyes widen in surprise and then she smiles, "Oh! It's nice to meet you! I actually would love a cup of coffee but please let me get it, I remember early pregnancy, I was so exhausted I just wanted to sleep forever!"

Bella waves her off, "I actually feel really good right now! Please, sit, there's cream and sugar on the table I just fill the cup, really!"

Mrs. Dixon smiles at her and says, "Well, if you're sure, thank you."

Bella goes in to get the coffee and the door opens again and Jared and his parents come in. Their eyes widen at seeing Billy, and Old Quil sitting on the sofa, and they turn to Jared and hiss, "What have you done?"

I interject, "Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins please, Jared has done nothing wrong. We're going to make this as quick and painless as we can for everyone but we're still waiting on the Ateara's, and Kay and Embry Call."

Tommy Tompkins, the man I now know was responsible for saving my mother the night my father was beating her in some bar parking lot, turns to me and says, "That's just about your whole little group isn't it? I see that Chief Black is here, does he know what's going on here?"

I nod, "Yes, he does, and when my brother and his mother, and Quil and his parents get here, so will you."

He nods at me, and there's something knowing in his eyes as he sits down next to Tiffany Dixon and takes a cupcake from the platter that Bella placed on the table. Bella comes out of the kitchen with three mugs and the coffee pot and Gina Tompkins rushes over to her to take the pot as she exclaims, "Bella, honey! Look at you baby; you have a little baby bump! Oh, Jared just told us about Kim on the way over here! How exciting for the two of you! You'll get to do Lamaze classes together, and shop for baby clothes, and then when your baby is born he or she will have an instant best friend just a couple of months later! Then in a couple of years when you're ready to have another one Paul and Rachel will probably be ready to join in the fun!"

Tiffany Dixon snorts at that and says, "Oh yes, lets all just go baby crazy! Don't forget that the younger ones in this group are only high school sophomores!"

Mrs. Tompkins waves her off, "Now Tiff, you know that what Paul and Rachel have is different from what he was doing with those other girls…"

Billy interjects, "I would certainly HOPE SO!"

Mrs. Tompkins looks mildly embarrassed and starts to apologize when the door opens again this time bringing Quil his parents, and Embry and his mother. They come in and Billy takes over, "Okay, everyone please take a seat and we can get started!"

They sit down and Bella stands up asking, "Can I get anyone coffee or anything before we start?"

Everyone shakes there head and Quil and Embry grab the plate of cupcakes handing one to their mothers before grabbing 2 apiece for themselves. Quil's mother takes the plate scolding him lightly, "You just had dinner Quil! Save some for everyone else!"

She hands her husband a cupcake and puts the platter on the table as Billy clears his throat loudly and says, "Excuse me? Can I have everyone's attention please? Look I need everyone to put down the coffee and snacks. We called this meeting for a very serious reason, and I'd like to do Bella the favor of not causing anyone to spill anything on her living room carpet."

Everyone puts down their respective plates and mugs and looks at him. He takes a deep breath and says, "Okay, first off, I need to know what everyone remembers of the old legends."

Tommy Tompkins speaks up, "What is this about? What do our boys have to do with old legends of mythical creatures?"

Billy looks at him seriously as he says, "Didn't you wonder why Sam, and your boy decided to go ahead with a tribal practice that's practically died out Tommy?"

Mr. Tompkins' eyebrows have near disappeared into his hairline and Kay Call busts out laughing as she exclaims, "Oh please! Billy, are you seriously trying to convince us that our boys are Werewolves?"

Billy raises an eyebrow at her, and asks, "Have you really not noticed that your son has been running a VERY high temperature the last few months? How about you Tommy? You didn't think it was odd that Jared has been running a fever for almost 2 years now?"

Mr. Tompkins' blusters, "Now wait just a minute! I don't know about Embry Call, but my son has been diagnosed with a very rare medical condition! He runs a fever but it doesn't affect him! Sue Clearwater down at the health center checked him out and said he was fine!"

Old Quil interjects, "Sue Clearwater, who's husband used to be an Elder. You see where I'm going with this don't you, Tommy?"

Mrs. Dixon interjects, "Now wait, Billy, you're telling us that you had Sue Clearwater falsely diagnose all of our boys with some phantom genealogical condition to hide the fact that our son's are shape shifters?"

Billy nods, and she takes a ragged breath, and says, "All this time, the last year and a half, I've thought my son was a criminal, or using drugs! I thought he was involved in illegal activities! Running around at all hours of the night, I thought he was out robbing people and selling shit to get a fix! I thought he was running his life into the ground, and you're telling me that he's been protecting this tribe? That he, and his friends are like some sort of superman?"

Billy nods, and says, "I'm sorry, Tiffany. We were afraid that if we told, if the secret got out, that the boys would be targeted. Their enemies would go after their families in order to get to them."

She snorts derisively, "You're sorry? You're SORRY? What are you sorry for Billy? For making me think my boy was a criminal? Are you sorry for driving a wedge between us with your secrets? Or are you sorry for not trusting us to keep our boys secret? Why are you telling any of us this now? And how do we know that you haven't lost your mind?"

Paul speaks up, and if I didn't know how much Paul really loves his mother I'd be shocked by his tone as he says, "I, I can show you Mama."

He looks at Billy, "Can I show her?"

Then to me, "Sam?"

I look to Billy who inclines his head slightly; I turn back to Paul, "Go ahead, Paul. Would anyone else like to?"

Embry speaks up, "I'd like to show my mom. If she wants to see that is."

Kay just looks at him speechless, and nods. Tommy Tompkins speaks to J, "J? Son? Do you want to show us?"

Jared nods, "If you want to see."

Gina speaks up, "What about Kim, honey? Does she know?"

He laughs a little and replies, "Yeah mom, she knows. She's known since about 6 months after I changed for the first time. She's my imprint."

His mother nods and he snorts laughter and says, "So my being a giant werewolf is impossible but you just nod at Kim being my one true soul mate?"

She laughs a little and some of the tension eases out of the room as she replies, "Oh, honey! It's always been more than obvious that Kimmie is your other half! I'd be willing to bet that all of the girls in your little group are what you call imprints. Wait!"

She turns to Quil, "My niece! She's yours?"

He nods and she covers her mouth, "Oh my God, Quil, I'm so sorry!"

I interject, "What is it Gina? What's going on?"

She takes a ragged breath and answers, "My brother and his wife! That stupid church! They're just such difficult people to deal with! I'm just sorry that Quil has to be saddled with that!"

Quil nods, "I'll admit it's been a challenge, but Claire is worth it to me Mrs. T."

She nods and Quil's father looks at Old Quil, "Dad? You knew? You knew about what my son was going through, and you didn't tell me?"

He nods, and says, "I'm sorry Son, I was there for him every step of the way, he wasn't alone. I'm sorry I realize now that we should have told all of you from the beginning."

Billy speaks up, "Look, all we can do is try to move forward with the truth. The Pack is a family. Sam has done his best with all the boys. He's guided them all, including my Jacob, through this process with a strength and maturity that we had no right to expect from him, and he's done it all with absolutely no complaint. Your sons all look to him as heir leader. Now that you know the truth, you have to accept that sometimes they aren't going to be able to tell you everything. That's for YOUR safety! We've been having some problems with Sue and Harry. They're upset that Leah was not Sam's imprint and they've been threatening to Bella, and the Pack as a whole. Now, with Harry gone…"

Tiffany Dixon interrupts, "All due respect Billy, I'd like to see my son in his wolf form before we continue this meeting."

The other parents nod and Billy acquiesces, "Very well, but afterwards I do need about 10 more minutes of your time."

They nod and I stand up, "Umm, we should be okay in the yard, I have that privacy fence in between the houses for a reason."

I realize now that Bella has never seen me in wolf form, and I turn to her, "Bell? Would you like to see me in my wolf form Baby?"

She nods and I lead the group through the kitchen and out the back door. I turn and address the non wolves, "Okay, if you could all stay up here, Bella knows which wolf is what color, she'll be able to tell you which one is who when they come out of the trees. We kind of have to strip or we'll shred our clothes."

Tommy Tompkins speaks up, "J brought extra clothes in the car, I'd prefer to see this with my own eyes."

Sighing I reply, "Very well, if the rest of you feel that way I do keep clothes for emergency purposes in a waterproof bin by the back door."

Bella speaks up, "I already know you're telling the truth Sam, you can go into the woods. I like that pair of jeans."

**Bella POV**

Sam nods and heads into the woods. Quil, J, Paul, and Embry go into the yard and stand a ways away from each other. They take their shirts off and toss them up to me, as they start to concentrate and then shake, and just when you think they would explode from the way they are shaking they all burst into their wolf forms.

I hear the startled gasps from Gina Tompkins and Tiffany Dixon and place a calming hand on Mrs. Dixon's arm. She smiles at me, and then goes down into the yard and flings herself at Paul's silvery grey wolf wrapping her arms around his neck. Paul rolls his eyes, which in his wolf form is slightly unsettling, and then leans his massive head against his mother's hip sort of hugging her back.

The other parents venture down cautiously and I see it, movement in the treeline and then Sam's huge black wolf coming towards me. It's the first time I've ever seen him in this form and I almost feel like he's stalking me like prey as he moves purposefully to me.

He stops about 5 feet from the porch, and I'm thankful that it's not raining as I put the guy's shirts down, and make my way slowly down the steps. I approach him cautiously and hold a hand out; he moves forward and licks my hand while giving me a comical wink. Laughing I wipe my hand on his fur and notice how thick and soft it is as I say, "Sam! Gross, Babe!"

He makes a sort of choking noise in the back of his throat, and after a couple of seconds I realize that he's laughing. I gently stroke his head between his ears and he pushes against me lightly as I say, "Well, you make a cute wolf babe, but I'd like my human husband back now please."

He smiles and licks my hand again before turning and trotting back into the woods. Shaking my head I go back up to the steps as the parent's start making their way back inside. I open the bin next to the back door and take out 4 pairs of jeans. Sam comes out of the woods and takes the pants from me and kisses me on the cheek as he says, "Go ahead back inside babe, you and the bean can't afford to get sick right now."

I turn and go back inside to find Billy waiting. Sam comes in and he says, "Sam, I have one more announcement to make."

Sam comes and stands with me and we listen with everyone else as Billy continues, "So, now that you all know the truth I'd like to run something by you. As you know, Harry Clearwater is no longer an Elder. What you may not be aware of is that the reason he is no longer an Elder is that he and his wife could not accept the fact that their daughter was not Sam's imprint. Her pain crippled them, and they started to lash out at Sam, and Bella. While I don't want to believe that they would physically hurt Bella their actions of late have been unforgiveable. This of course has left us with just 3 Elders; I have decided that you cannot call 3 men a council. I would like to extend an invitation for each of your families to choose a member to sit on the council, no more secrets within this group. Please let me know your decision by the end of the week."

**Short time-skip still BPOV**

The last of the guys and their parents are headed out the door as Sam and I say goodbye. He turns back to me and says, "Go sit down B, I'll take care of the mess."

He doesn't have to tell me twice, I'm exhausted and ready for bed but I need to tell him something important, "Okay, but first, sit down with me okay?"

He comes and sits down, "What is it?"

I take a deep breath and tell him, "I want a gun, Sam."

He arches his eyebrow at me, and then asks, "I'm sorry, I could have sworn you just told me you wanted a gun."

Rolling my eyes I let the exasperation into my voice a little as I say, "That IS what I said! I'm serious Sam! I need to know that I can protect myself if it comes to that! Obviously I'm not going to be getting into any fistfights anytime soon with the Bean and everything! I NEED to feel like I'm NOT helpless!"

He inhales raggedly before saying, "Okay, I can see where you're coming from, but people who own guns are 10x more likely to shoot themselves or a family member than they are to shoot a perp Bella, and what happens when the baby comes? You can't have a gun in the house with a baby!"

I place my hand on his arm and feel the current running through our skin as I say, "Sam, honey, I'm not asking you to get me a gun and turn me loose on society with no further training. My dad can teach me how to use one safely, and responsibly. I need this Sam. Please?"

He sighs and replies, "Okay, we'll talk to your dad about it tomorrow, alright?"

Nodding I answer, "Okay. Thank you baby."

He nods, and then shakes his head, "I can't believe I'm going along with this, but I trust Dad to give you a good education, and you're right. You do need to be able to protect yourself in the event that something happens. I'll make you a deal, if nothing comes of this threat in the next week or so, I'll have the guys ease up at school okay?"

I nod and jump into his arms, Sam wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. He brushes his lips over mine and whispers, "I love you Bella, I only want you and the bean to be safe. You're my whole world Baby."

Sam gets up and starts to clean and I rest on the couch thinking about everything that's happened today, I can't believe that Kim is pregnant now! Gina is right of course, we're going to be able to do so much together, and I don't think I've ever really realized just how close Kim and I have become until right now.

She's my sister more than Alice ever could have been, thinking back to my time with the Cullen's it seems like another person's life and I realize that that's exactly right. The life I had with them, it wasn't mine, it belonged to the fake me that I developed for Edward.

That girl she's the one that was easily controlled and manipulated. Not me. I have a family now, my father, my fiancé/husband, my best friend and sister, all my other friends, my brothers, and my new father in law, and sister in law. This life, this is the one that matters, and no one, not Cullen's, not Clearwater's, not any other unknown variable is going to take this life from me.

A/N: Okay first off I want to apologize for how long this took to get up! I know it's kind of anticlimactic and filler like but I do have a plan, and hopefully the end of this angle will play out the way I want it to. This chapter really gave me fits because I really wanted to rush right into the action, but I felt like I covered some stuff that's important too. Let me know how you feel! Again I can't thank you guys enough for the support that you have all shown this story! Next chapter is going to be a slightly longer time skip and I think we're going to find out what the sex of the baby is!