Still don't own it.

Author's note: A few derogatory comments (i.e. the "b" word) toward the end of the chapter but nothing too major. )

Family Tree

Chapter 24

BPOV

I make the drive down to La Push with ease. The tires of my truck bounce a bit as I hit an uneven part of the dirt road that leads to Jacob's house. I pull into my normal spot and make a dash for his front porch. It's raining again and I forgot my jacket.

I pull my hair back into a ponytail and secure it with a tie that was in the pocket of my jeans. I straighten my shirt and knock on the heavy wood door.

I wait for a few minutes and then hear the heavy thuds of Jake's footsteps. The door swings open.

"Hey, sweetheart."

"Hi Jake. Mind if I come in?"

"Door is open isn't it?" He grins at me.

He doesn't move out of the way and he's blocking 90 of the door. I squeeze past him and he closes out the cold behind me.

"You can be a punk sometimes," I tell him as I pull off my hiking boots and place them on the shoe rack.

"Yeah I know. I can't help it. You bring out the worst in me."

I look up at him, a little startled at his words but his eyes are dancing. He's joking; at least I think so.

"You weren't sleeping or something were you?" I stare pointedly at his bare chest.

"Nah. We already had this discussion about the clothes…"

I hold up my hand. "I know, it's just, a little, um, strange is all."

"What's strange? You've seen me like this what? A hundred times?"

I blush. "Yeah, it's just you're so…it's just…never mind."

"What?" He demands plopping down on the sofa next to me.

"Do you enjoy looking like Tarzan?"

He stares down at himself. "It's not like I'm wearing a loincloth."

I shake my head. "No, I mean…your boxers. Um, do you have like pants or something?"

"Why Bells? Am I making you nervous?"

I vehemently deny it by holding up my hands and scooting a foot backward away from him.

"Uh huh. You are nervous. Look at your cheeks! Why are you embarrassed? I'm the one supposedly dressed like Tarzan."

He chuckles and the sound fills the whole room.

I cannot tell him why. I don't even know why. Well--perhaps it's because I can't keep my eyes from wandering back to him, over his broad shoulders and lean torso. I feel like some kind of pervert. What is the matter with me?

"You are impossible woman. When will you just admit that you want me?"

His words jolt through me and I stand up and tower over him. "I do not want you. You should try to be dressed like a normal decent person at least while you're around other people! That's all I was saying." I put my hands on my hips for emphasis.

"You are such a bad liar Bella. But if you must hold it all in, I guess I can't stop you. Although I'm sure there are ways to make you admit it…"

"I think I'm going to leave now," I declare haughtily and turn for the door.

"No, wait." He reaches out and grasps my hands in one of his. He tugs gently and I fall over onto him. He situates me so that I'm sitting on his lap.

I'm instantly aware of every part of my body that is touching every part of his body. There is a searing heat between us. I let out a shaky breath.

"See- this isn't so bad now? Is it? You have to admit you like this." His free hand traces a meandering pattern over my thigh.

"I admit nothing. I am Switzerland," I croak out.

"You're not Switzerland. You're you. It's ok to feel what you're feeling. I won't make you say anything. But this is ok. No one has to know. Just relax."

I stare into his black eyes, now serious. I take in his words and though there's a giant conflict within, against my better judgment, I allow myself to relax against him. He brings his arms around my waist and pulls me close. It feels so good, just to have him holding me like this.

"See…isn't this nice?" He asks softly.

I don't trust my voice but I nod.

He rubs soothing circles on my back. I allow my head to rest on his shoulder. He smells like cinnamon.

"Have you been over to Emily's recently?" I ask him.

"Yeah, why?"

"You smell like her cinnamon rolls."

He chuckles. "Yeah, I had a few of those this morning."

"So-how has everything been down here? Are you still fighting with Paul?"

"No. Why would I be?"

His voice catches and I know he's lying. I pull back and stare at him. "Is something going on?"

He shakes his head. "Nothing big. It's going to be ok."

"What happened?"

"It's nothing Bella, leave it."

His words wound me but I decide to keep my mouth shut. He's really agitated.

"I'm going to go and put on some clothes, ok?"

He places his hands on my hips and is in the process of lifting me off of him when I push him back down. It takes all of my body weight.

He looks at me quizzically. "What is it?"

"Can you just forget I said anything?"

He stares at me for so long, I grow uncomfortable.

"Yeah, we can forget." He pulls me close again and I lean back down, smelling his skin.

He rests his face in the crook of my neck.

"I love you Bella."

"I know."

"And you love me too."

I don't answer.

"It's ok. I know you do. I also know that I'm not the only one you love. I can accept that. I just want you to promise me something."

"What?"

"If you ever leave him Bella…I want you to promise that you'll come back to me."

"Jake!" I sock him in the chest.

"Promise me."

"No! I'm not going to leave him."

"You think you won't but someday you might. It is a possibility, however unlikely."

"I don't want you to get your hopes up," I tell him as bluntly as possible.

"Regardless of what you do, I'll still have hope Bella. Even if you run off with him…even if he…hurts you."

"He won't hurt me."

"Yes he will."

Jake gives me the look and I have to turn away from him. I can't bear it.

He sighs and lifts me up, placing me on the sofa beside him. He stands up and walks into his bedroom. I hear him open a drawer and close it. A few minutes later he walks out, fully dressed.

"We should probably head over for the practice ritual now. It'll be just the women today but I'll walk you over. Call me when you're done and I'll walk you back."

"All right." I stand up and put my shoes back on. Jake grabs an umbrella and we head out into the wet woods.

I can't help but wonder what would have happened if I hadn't ruined the mood. For a few seconds I allow myself to imagine what I want. I see him kissing me passionately, his strong arms wrapped around me. I can almost feel the heat of his large, rough hands as they roamed my body.

Lightning shoots across the sky and a moment later, a loud clap of thunder brings me back to reality. I shake off the dirty thoughts and try to push them far away into the back of my mind where such things belong. I can't have that with him--not now, not ever. Not when someone else has the first claim on my heart.

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JPOV

I hold the umbrella over her head so that she doesn't get wet. We walk in silence through the path in the woods that leads to the large cabin where she will dress before practice. The rain falls in sheets around us and Bella shivers as the cold wind blows against her slight body. I put my arm around her and she looks up at me gratefully.

Outwardly, I keep moving forward, getting us to our destination.

Inwardly, I'm quaking. It's amazing how such a small girl can have me coming undone at the seams. Her mere presence causes my hormones to go into overdrive. I'd been careful with my move on the couch—I hadn't let it go too far. But it could have gone much further, if she'd allowed it.

I know that if I had a chance, I could change her mind. I just need to show her what life is all about. In my book, the bloodsucker is dead, cold. I am warm, alive. I can give her experiences that he can never give her. I can understand her better than he ever could. He's drawn to her because she's different. I'm drawn to her because we're the same. Bella is my soul mate. I know it without a doubt.

I'm running out of ways to convince her but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Hopefully it will be enough.

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BPOV

Jake leaves me at the cabin door, reminding me to call him when it's over. I agree but I'm a little confused. It's not as if I can't make it back to my truck on my own. I've done it before. I watch as he stalks back the way we came and I knock on the door.

I'm ushered inside and stripped of my slightly damp clothing. I bathe in the tub and it's become routine to have the other women wash my hair. After I've dried myself, one of the women holds up the clothing I will wear. I'm slightly surprised at the cut of the thing but I don't dare say anything about it. I nod and smile and allow them to dress me.

For the first time, I don the ceremonial outfit I will wear. The material is soft and thick and the color is a soft camel. It wraps low across my hips and then crosses my stomach at a diagonal, knotting behind my left shoulder. Hammered metal rings are slipped onto my arms. Soft leather cuffs are tied around my wrists and my ankles are adorned with beaded anklets. My skin has been brushed lightly with oil that smells a little like sandalwood. My hair has been braided and infused with white flowers. My face is painted though I don't know how it looks because there are no mirrors here in the elder's cabin.

They lead me outside. The rain has stopped momentarily but it is as cold as ever, especially with parts of my skin completely exposed. I shiver and follow behind a line of women, old and young, to a circle that is surrounded by tall stones and hemlock trees. In the center of the circle there is a hole in the ground upon which the remnants of a fire rest, sodden and covered in lichen.

We each move to our correct place in the circle and slowly, we begin to move. Timidly, my right foot crosses the left. I keep my weight on the heel, spin slowly, and keep my arms out for balance. I dip to the left, and bend my knees. I push my chest forward over the ground while keeping my head bowed. I follow the circle, the dance that these women do. I struggle to keep up with the turns, steps, and spins. I roll my stomach to the right, forward, left, and back again. I raise my arms, reaching to the sky while my knees bend to kiss the earth. I bend my arms at the elbows, and lift my palms out in offering. Then, the chant begins.

I concentrate on each step and pray that I don't fall. The ground is slippery and I'm uncoordinated as it is. Luckily there is a bit of variance with each dancer due to age and skill, so a few of my mistakes won't be noticed. I chant in time to the ancient words that sound sacred when said aloud. I can feel the energy here; it is concentrated and as we whirl and move around the circle, I feel my heart rate elevating to a near feverish pitch. We stop and offer a mock blessing. I pant with exertion and then we're moving again, and I'm caught in this mystical web of movement. I follow as best I can and then I reach the part I dread the most.

I move into the circle, and begin my own dance. The women move in the opposite direction around me. I approach the ring where a fire will burn brightly on that night and pay reverence to it, the opposite of the rain that we will call to quench it. I close my eyes and force my feet to move forward. I dive over the ring, and fall to the ground.

The ceremony comes to a screeching halt.

"No! No! No! You must land on your feet Bella! It is important! Stand up and try again!"

I groan and force myself to a standing position. I shake some of the mud off of my legs. We start over again and again. I can't seem to land right.

Finally, we end the practice. The women are speaking in their native tongue and walking ahead of me, clearly disappointed in my performance. I warned them that I wasn't any good at this sort of thing but I don't think they believed me, until now. I let them move forward out of my line of sight and then sit down miserably on one of the rocks. It is so humiliating. Why won't my body obey me?

"Well, well. Look what we have here."

I sit up alarmed. I hadn't heard anyone approach. I whip around and see Leah Clearwater, leaning against one of the trees.

I breathe a sigh of relief. "Oh. Hi, Leah. You scared me."

"It's hard isn't it?" Her tone is dripping with disdain as she ignores my greeting.

"What?" I pretend to be ignorant.

"Dancing," she sneers.

"Yeah, I'm not really graceful."

"I know. I watched you."

"Well, I'm going to go back and get cleaned up." I stand and begin to move toward the cabin when suddenly she steps into my path.

"Do you honestly think you can do this? I think you should quit now, before you really humiliate yourself and screw everything up. This ceremony is important to my people."

I glare at her. "I'm doing the best I can. I was invited."

"Well, I suggest you un-invite yourself. Otherwise, things might get unpleasant."

"Move out of my way." I demand, trying to step around her.

She mirrors my movement and steps close. "You do not belong here. This is a warning. Leave and never come back."

"Or what?" I whisper, staring into her dark eyes.

She smiles, baring her teeth. "Or I will have the pleasure of teaching you a lesson."

"Leah- what's happened to you? We used to be friends…"

She snorts. "Hardly! Where were you when my dad died Bella? Oh that's right. Chasing off after your leech lover! If you were a friend you would have stayed and helped. But you didn't come to the funeral, you didn't even send a card. Would a friend do that?"

I'm rendered speechless. I don't know how to defend myself when what she's saying is perfectly true.

"That's what I thought. Bella, you are nothing but a selfish little bitch. You put yourself in danger on purpose just so Jake and your bloodsucker will save you. If you come back here, not even they will be able to save you from what I will do to you. Do you understand?"

I nod, mutely. I'm shaking again, but not from cold. The look in Leah's eyes is manic, crazy. I have to get out of here, now.

"Or maybe I should just end it here. What do you say Bella? Shall I put an end to your pathetic life and do everyone a favor? Hmm?"

She takes a step toward me and I stumble back.

"It's such a shame. Bella didn't leave with the others. She was practicing in the circle alone, trying to get the jump right. Poor thing landed wrong and broke her neck. What a tragedy."

I am so scared I can't breathe. Leah advances on me with purpose and shoves me to the ground. She sits on my stomach and pins my arms down with her knees. Her hand circles my throat.

I try to scream for help and she squeezes so no sound escapes.

"Don't worry. Your bloodsucker will join you soon in death. That's all you really wanted, isn't it? To be with your bloodsucker forever?"

She releases my throat and I cough and gag. One of her hands goes behind my head and the other grips my chin. I know with one twist, it will all end. She will kill me here in the woods and I don't have a chance.

In a single second, a series of faces flash before my eyes. Charlie, giving me a high five, his eyes crinkled at the edges. Renee, laughing at some absurd thing I've done. Jacob, holding me close and smelling of cinnamon. Edward, staring at me intensely, leaning in and kissing me, setting my blood afire.

I make one last desperate move and twist my body to the right, pulling my arms out from under her. She growls in frustration and tries to wrench me back. I turn and claw at her face, my nails digging into the flesh and I drag my hands down using all my strength. She cries out in surprise and slaps me hard.

"BITCH!" She screams and slaps me again, much harder. "I'm going to kill you!"

"No!" I scream back and punch her in the stomach.

For a second, she only looks at me in amusement but then her face crumples and she gasps. "How did you…"

I don't wait for her to finish her sentence. I strike out again, as hard as I can and she rolls off of me, clutching her stomach. I push myself up and stagger toward the clearing but she kicks out with her leg and catches me behind my knee so that I fall.

I cry out as my wrist twists under me.

I hear her get to her feet and scream when she kicks me in my lower back. My kidney feels like it has been ruptured. The pain is intense. I roll over just as she raises her leg again. My arms are exhausted but I'm not about to go down without a fight. I roll over and avoid her foot.

She crouches down and glares at me. "You should just let me end this. You know you won't win."

"Go to hell!"

"Have it your way…"

She picks up a really large rock. I stare at her in shock. She lifts it over her head. "Goodbye Bella."

The rock falls.