AN: Hello again, everyone. It took two weeks to be happy with this chapter, but finally am so. I hope you all enjoy, and please remember to let me know what you think. TTFN and have a happy Halloween.

Chapter 19

Arrivederci

(Ben)

The ride to Forks was just way too fast; across the whole state in, I looked at my phone and gasped. We made it in only four hours? Wow. There was no way that the others would be here for at least another three hours, so it made sense to say my temporary goodbye to Angela first. Well, I doubt they were coming to the Cullens; it sounded Ike they were gonna go straight to La Push. Hopefully a few of the others would be there to explain what the hell was going on.

I couldn't stop asking questions of Bella, hoping that she'd explain everything about this world that until a few hours ago I thought was complete fiction. A ton of myths, with a few half-truths surrounded vampires. From being burnt in the sun, to garlic and silver being poisonous to them, and finally holy objects being able to kill them; it was so cool. I sat in the car patiently listening to the stories of how she found out what the Cullens really were and how she determined that it didn't matter to her. Funny, it didn't really matter to me either, at least with Edward and Alice; the other three I really didn't like all that much, although I always caught the vibe from Emmet that the blonde was the reason he didn't try.

We were just entering Port Angeles when I thought of one other question. "Hey Bella?"

Her smile was still as warm as ever. "What now?" She asked sounding still happy how well I was taking all of this.

"What'd you do when we went to breakfast?"

Yet another chuckle. "Well, I kinda had breakfast myself."

"What do you," but I started to mumble off. I wanted to know what they eat.

She looked so upset. How could my mind go straight to her killing someone? This was Bella. "Remember how I said that we normally aren't dangerous to humans?"

"You… didn't?" I gasped almost afraid of the answer. Did she honestly kill someone around Pullman?

"Of course not!" She snarled at me defensively. For the first time since she told me the truth, she actually looked like a vampire. "We mostly hunt large game. There are plenty of woods and whatnot around there. I found a couple of deer and even a bear."

Now I was curious. "What's it taste like?" Did a deer's blood taste like venison? Would a cow's taste like a burger? It was kind of fun to think about.

She shrugged. "Kinda tough to explain, but it's pretty good; at least the bear was."

It seemed like we had barely scratched the surface when Bella interrupted her latest answer with, "We're here," only for me to notice that we were in front of the huge white house I remembered from the graduation party and also their wedding, still in as spotless shape as the last time I saw it.

Bella led me in to the house, where I saw Edward sitting at the dining room table, and I assumed he was waiting apparently for me. He blurred to Bella's side and hugged her, picking her up in a twirl. I smiled looking at how much alike they seemed now and could only think that one day I'd like to be able to do that with Angela again.

Edward smiled at me gently, exposing his teeth just a little. It made me nervous, but I realized that if he was going to kill me, it would have happened a long time ago.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Ben; none of us will," he said still sporting his welcoming look. "And yes, one day you and Angela can be together again and perfectly so."

How the hell could he answer a question I could only think about?

"It's a talent," he answered my thoughts again, a knowing grin on his face. Bella looked pissed since she was only getting half of the conversation. "Did Bella explain about vampiric gifts?"

Bella looked embarrassed, like she could blush at any second. I didn't want to out her, but she had explained this. "Yeah, like her brain's kinda messed up and you can hear thoughts. Yada yada yada."

He chuckled again. "Did she say anything about Alice?"

As if on cue, Alice rushed down so fast that I didn't see her until her arms were around me. She looked guilty, almost like she would start crying at any second. "I'm so sorry," she whispered into my ear. "I wanted to tell you sooner, but I couldn't. Even still, you knowing is a little risky, but you have to now."

I understood what she meant and nodded. "Can I see her?" I asked as I felt my face drop into a small frown.

Edward must have known that I meant Angela, because no sooner had I finished saying that did he grab my left hand and slowly led me up the stairs. Angela was lying in a hospital type bed crying. She didn't look like the girl I loved anymore; she looked… well much more beautiful than before, but I still saw enough of her to realize it was still Ang underneath it all. And she smelled absolutely incredible. Instinctively, I started towards her, but her hand started to shoot out to grab me.

Edward stopped me before she could reach me. "Angela, you cannot grab him. He can touch you, if you feel in control of yourself enough that you won't hurt him."

"Ben," she whimpered, which made my heart sink. "You came."

"Can you control yourself?" Edward asked, sounding stern but still looking upset.

"Edward!" Bella gasped in what sounded like disappointment more than anything else.

"It's been almost two days, love. The thirst could be too much for her at any time."

"I wouldn't let her hurt him."

I smiled. Bella really was a good friend, even still. I still stepped a step closer and Edward yet again stopped me.

"Angela?" Edward asked again.

"I think… I'm okay," she said struggling through every word. Her voice sounded different too; no longer the soft voice I was familiar with, but somehow even more beautiful than before.

Bella rubbed her right hand on her head then helped her up to a sitting position. "We'll stop you if we need to," she whispered into her ear.

Angela opened her eyes for the first time since I saw what Bella had meant about the changes to her. The first thing I noticed was her eyes; they weren't the beautiful sweet milk chocolate brown that I had fell in love with. Now they were a very deep reddish brown, not quite the bright crimson that Bella had warned me about. I slowly moved closer to her to sit next to her. I wanted to touch her. "Are you okay?" I asked worried that this might be too much for her.

"Don't leave me?" She begged as she instinctively reached for me. She was strong now, hugging me so tightly that I couldn't breathe.

"Let go," Edward said, his voice velvet smooth which made it all the more threatening, which was followed by an animalistic snarl.

Angela gasped in horror. "Sorry," she tried to retreat, but I grabbed hold of her right hand before she could pull away.

"'S okay," I whispered to her and she smiled, which made me smile. Then her eyes dropped and she tried to push me away. "What's wrong?" I asked with tears filling my eyes.

"I can't do this," she cried as tears filled her eyes. "I can't say goodbye to you."

"It's not forever, you know?" I said holding her as tightly as I could. "Bella explained everything to me on the way here."

"But I can't ever see my parents or the twins again," she further explained and I understood. Then she screamed again. I wasn't sure if it was the pain of losing her family or the change.

In truth there was only one thing I couldn't give up and that was her. I really didn't care if I saw my folks again, as long as I had Ang, I didn't need anything else. Bella had said something about that on the way back, but begged me not to even think about it. She didn't really explain why, but I messed up and Edward looked pissed. He actually looked like he'd kill me; looked like a vampire.

"Maybe there's a way-" I started but quickly stopped myself. I couldn't even give her this hope, and I knew why. Her being a new vampire, man the word still sounded so off even in my head but so cool at the same time, would be hard enough. Then I found the best way to put it. "Ang, you remember when you came with me to my grandma's funeral?"

I could see her trying to pull the memory back, but Bella had explained that the pain of the change might be all she could think about. She even worried that Ang might not remember me, but I had been relieved when she did. "Not really," she answered.

It wasn't that long ago, maybe a year at most but I couldn't be mad at her for it. She was going through so much right now and it wasn't fair to pile on. "The preacher said that we think of 'goodbye' all wrong. It's never a permanent thing; just until we meet again. Arrivederci, Auf Weidersehen."

She smiled gently and hugged me again. This time we shared it until I could tell it was too much for her. Edward pulled me away from her while Bella held her back, but then she started snarling and growling. It sounded like an animal who was starved. She even started snapping her teeth closed which sounded like a bear trap. But before Bella could yell for help, Alice and Jasper had come into the room. Wasn't Jasper supposed to be at Dartmouth? Whatever, I was glad he was here now.

Jasper looked into Angela's eyes and instantly she calmed down as Bella soothed her. "It's okay," Bella kept whispering as she rubbed her hair.

"I don't… know… what happened to me," Angela cried out as she looked at me with guilty eyes.

"I was afraid of this," Jasper said at a barely audible whisper.

"What?" I asked still in Edward's arms which felt exactly like Bella's had on the ride here; shackles, unbreakable shackles. I always knew there was something different about Edward and his family; never would have guessed it was this though, not that it really mattered. Bella loved Edward, and Ang was her best… well human friend I guess I should say for now. For Ang, I would at least give them a fair chance and I found that I liked Alice a lot too. She just had this easygoing way about her.

Edward growled at me. "You're just like Bella. It doesn't matter," he snarled under his breath.

"Not really. You've been nothing but nice to me and Ang from the beginning of our… well friendship."

He couldn't speak. I wondered if he even knew how much Angela respected him, even forgiving him for leaving Bella at the beginning of our senior year since Bella had. I still held a little bit of a grudge, just because only Angela really saw how hurt Bella was and I couldn't bear to see how it affected Ang. I think she was as hurt as Bella was.

Edward looked… shocked. He was a mind reader; how was that possible? "You think of me as a friend?" He asked.

"Well… yeah," I answered a little worried how he might take it.

But to my relief, he smiled wrapping me into a one armed bro hug and even slapping me on the back. "Thank you," he whispered into my right ear.

I smiled back. But. Our moment was interrupted by his gasping, "Damn it!"

"What?"

Edward looked around the room, but he couldn't find whoever he was looking for. Then he simply said, "Esme," no louder than if she was standing there next to us.

"Yes Edward?" She answered him as she streaked into the room like a bullet. Man were they fast. That would be kinda cool if I could- stop it. You can't think of that right now.

Edward glanced at me then Bella for a second, but then focused on his mom. "I need you to take Ben home. We have some company coming, and while they're not thirsty at the moment smelling Ben might make them so."

Esme simply nodded and raced to my side. "Ready dear?" She asked me. She sounded like the sweetest mother in the world. I couldn't believe that Bella had said that she had killed more than fifty people after becoming a vampire. It must be way more difficult than I could even image; being a new vampire. But to help Angela, I'd do whatever I needed to. If that was staying away, I would or anything else.

I nodded but I needed to do something first. I went back to Ang, who was sitting on her bed, and gently ran my fingers through her hair. Apparently Jasper had calmed her down, and she was back in control of herself. "Angela, I love you," I said as I gently kissed her cheek quickly. I needed to do this, and then I could stay away for as long as I needed. But hopefully she could call. I knew only one thing; I couldn't live without her.

(Austin)

"So Austin," the other guy in the car who was introduced as Collin said, "how long ago… no that's not right. Do you know who your last ancestor was who lived on the reservation?"

I did thanks to a genealogy assignment my freshman year of high school. "My great-great-grandfather was Joseph Black."

I heard Collin gasped even, "Ephraim's father!"

"Who?" I asked.

"Before the current rise of the wolves, Ephraim Black was the last great wolf chief. During his reign was the last time that the leeches were a threat."

Leah had called someone that before. She used words like leeches, bloodsuckers, parasites, and a few other that I really shouldn't say. "Why do you call them that?"

"The Cullens? Leah asked while she was driving. I wished the two of us could have gotten to spend some time together before leaving Pullman, since I couldn't even describe the way I felt about her. It was as if the term 'soul mate' wasn't enough for how deeply I cared about her.

"Yeah," I answered. "I mean, Edward and Alice were nothing but good friends to me and my friends in school."

"Well, they're all vampires, you know?" The way Leah threw the word around so casually made me wonder what that had to do with me turning into a wolf. As soon as we got out of Pullman, they explained what had happened to me. The only thing they weren't sure of was why it took me so long to phase, as they called it, when I was around vampires so much earlier in my life. I could only guess that it was because every time I was around Edward and Alice, I was just so confident in them; that they weren't going to hurt any of us.

"So what," I answered back sounding defiant I hoped. "They're my friends."

"Were supposed to be enemies," Collin snorted. I thought I could see his arms start to vibrate. "It's our job to keep people safe from those reeking bloodsuckers."

"Can you stop with the slurs," I snapped back with a snarl. "I'm not going to get in the middle of this."

"Sorry Austin," Leah said sounding upset, "but you really don't have a choice."

"Yeah I do." This felt no different than when my parent said that I had to do something. I'd show them.

"You really don't," Collin said calming down as he stopped shaking. The reflection in the windshield looked like he was sorry. "Austin, this isn't something that can be turned on and off. Hopefully Sam and Jacob can explain."

"Explain what?"

A frustrated sigh came from Leah. There was just something about her when we first met and I was instantly taken with her. God I think I love her, but I just met her.

We got to La Push shortly after dark and we pulled into this really small house. I mean it was really small for the six of us that were there. Four of them were definitely Quileute, then there was a girl who looked about 13 or 14 with long brown curls, and then me. The three of the four Quileutes were huge, all of them over six feet and the fourth was older, confined to a wheelchair apparently.

"Hi Austin," the boy introduced to me as Jacob Black said.

"Hey," I said back tentatively. There was just so much going on it he last 48 hours I felt like my head would explode. "So can you tell me what the hell is going on?"

"Yes," the older man, Billy Black who was apparently related to me to some degree, said sounding confident. "We have some younger members of the tribe who have recently phased for the first time as well, so we have planned a bond fire for tomorrow night where we will explain all of the old legends of the tribe, some of which have affected you, my cousin."

"Why did you call me that?" This was getting way too weird.

"Because all of those with the ability to turn into wolves are related through one of our ancient chiefs, Taha Aki. But not only that, but we are also related through the father of the last great wolf chief, Joseph Black. He was my great-grandfather, and my son here," he said pointing at Jacob, "is named after his father."

The stories would have to wait, because the ringing of a phone interrupted Billy. I didn't think anything of it when he rose from his wheelchair and answered it, but the others all gasped. Hearing half of the conversation wasn't ideal, but I could make out small parts of the other end.

"Hello," Billy answered. A pause while someone on the other end spoke. "Yes Carlisle. How can we help you?"

Billy's eyes narrowed at what he was being told. I thought I caught enough. Alice lost sight of something. I had no idea what that meant. Then something about a visitor they weren't expecting.

"Do you need our help?"

Another pause.

"Very well. I'll send them." Another quick instruction from the phone. "Okay, him too. Goodbye, Carlisle."

"What is it?" The other boy, who was I was told was named Sam asked. Sam was just shorter than Jacob, but still towered over me by about four inches.

"Apparently some trouble at the Cullens' and they'd like our help. Jacob they'd like you to take Nessie with you immediately." Jacob nodded and looked at me and Billy shook his head. "No, they'd like Austin to stay with us for the time being until we can adequately train him."

"Train me for what?" I still didn't understand what the hell was going on.

"There'll be time for that. Leah?" Sam asked looking sad but relieved at her.

She nodded. "Come on Austin. Let's show you the ropes, newbie." A curious grin on her face. Man was she beautiful and I would do anything for her. We ran into the woods that surrounded the reservation, both of us removing our clothes as her body began to tremble. She looked even more beautiful and I couldn't believe that I felt this way about her but then in less than a few seconds stood a huge grey wolf in her place. Then we weren't alone any more.

"You need to get upset," Collin said still in a shabby pair of sweats.

"Why?" I asked but the wolf started to growl at me. How could I be so stupid? They explained all this but I didn't know how to do it; how to, what did they call it, phase? Then the wolf charged me and it was just instinct. I don't know how I did it, but I felt my body start vibrating; every cell of in my body. And then I felt it as my body shifted without me even thinking about it. I was on four legs and growling back at her, but no longer was in it fear but love; a desire to protect her, the gorgeous creature in front of me for whom I would do anything.

"Focus, Austin," I heard her voice say.

How the hell?

"It's a little annoying, but effective," she answered with a laugh. "I can hear every thought you have and you can hear mine."

"Take him running Leah," Collin said still upright on two legs. "He won't be able to hear me yet. Apparently he can only hear you since you two imprinted."

"No way!" She gasped in her thoughts. "I imprinted?"

Imprinted?

"I'll explain later, but he's right." She thought nuzzling my side. "We should go for a run."

And then she was gone; just a blur of grey fur. Man she was fast, it would take everything I had to keep up but I couldn't get beat by a girl.

"I heard that," she challenged back. "I hope you're ready to eat my dust."

Wow was she great. And I was so completely and hopelessly in love with her.

"Me too," Leah thought back as I heard her while chasing after her. I'd follow her anywhere.