Many of you spoke your annoyance at where i left it. Hopefully this chapter helps.

"Have you spoken to her yet?" Edward questioned Bella, sitting on the piano bench whilst she flicked through dress designs and tried to decide on one for Hermione. They were at the Cullen's for the weekend, Alice had managed to persuade Charlie that herself and Bella were going to have a sleepover; since Hermione was out and there was no way to contact her, they hadn't managed to get her to come over and join them to try and melt some of the ice. That was yesterday and she was going home today.

"Nope," Bella sighed, rubbing her forehead. It was killing her not having her cousin to talk to but at least she had the Cullen's that she could talk and hang with – Hermione had nobody so she didn't know how Hermione was coping. "She's out like every day, taking my truck and coming back late afternoon to either cook dinner if it is her day or to go to her room. It's like she's not even there half of the time."

"Are you going to tell Charlie that you've fallen out?" Edward asked, moving next to her to rub her head for her.

"And tell him that i'm marrying a vampire and she doesn't like the fact that i'm ending my life for you?" Bella countered. "You know he's going to ask why we fell out and then he'll question us at different times so we aren't aware and come up with a story and then he'll go snooping until he figures it out. No, we'll leave it for now." They didn't say much more on the subject, Bella leaning into Edward's side whilst she flicked through the dress book. His ringtone was the first sound that interrupted them.

"Hello?" He answered, eyes smiling when he handed her the phone. "Charlie," he mouthed and she nodded.

"Hey dad," she greeted and she could sense his grin. "I'll be home in an hour to do dinner."

"No need Bells, you can stay at the Cullen's tonight if they'll have you. I'm staying over at Billy's for dinner tonight."

"What about Hermione?"

"She's staying over here too, we're having a big family reunion but Hermione told me how you and Jake had a bit of a falling out and I know he's not comfortable with the engagement and I mean, he's only just back and we don't want to send him running to the hills just yet, so if you want to see him, then pop round tomorrow."

"Woah," Bella practically breathed, her eyes wide and confused whilst Edward looked just as bewildered. "What are you talking about Jacob for?"

"Oh, you haven't heard?" Charlie chuckled to himself. "Of course you haven't, you've been over there. Jacob's home."

Hermione was sat at the table quietly and grinning, watching the make-shift family interact and loving the whole atmosphere. It reminded her of being back at home with the Weasley's and she ignored the home sick twinge that her heart gave because here was her home for the near future. She watched as Embry and Quil were hitting each other and laughing and they reminded her of Fred and George, Jared and his girlfriend Kim reminded her of Bill and Fleur and she could see the similarities between Leah and Ginny – both of them confident in a predominantly male atmosphere and able to hold their own. When Emily and Sam had been sat, she could tell that they were the Molly and Arthur of the group and Jacob was her family version of Harry. They spoke of someone called Paul, unaccounted for but not forgotten, and therefore he reminded her of Charlie.

She felt relaxed around them – despite the fact her magic was tingling as if it was trying to tell her something – and she realised that Billy or Charlie didn't know that Jacob was home and she was immediately wracked with guilt. She was just about to get out of her chair when everyone called out their 'hellos' and she looked up to see a very attractive young man walking towards them.

Like… wow.

He stopped walking when he got closer to the table, eyes on her and she suddenly felt trapped in his gaze. Brown eyes that resembled dark chocolate were sparkling as he stared back at her and she didn't move away – couldn't – until Jacob returned and broke the connection.

She blushed almost immediately, moving her gaze from him to the steaming plate of apple pie that had been placed onto the table. "Paul, man, I've missed you," Jacob greeted and Hermione's breath caught in her throat. He was the elusive missing member of their group. "Hermione, this is Paul," Jacob introduced, pulling her from the chair and dragging her to the man in question. She smiled shyly and offered her hand. "Paul, this is one of my oldest friends, Hermione." Paul smiled dreamily back at her and she felt a trifle awkward.

"Nice to meet you Paul," she said, pulling her hand back when it became obvious that he wasn't going to let it go. "Jake, I've got to call Uncle Billy and Charlie, they don't know you're back yet and it'd be nice for them to be finally caught up." She grinned when Jacob paled at the realisation that his dad didn't know and Sam waved them off.

"Go," he practically ordered. "We'll be having another meal tonight which I'm sure you can all join us for." Jacob nodded in thanks, offered quick goodbyes before dragging Hermione behind her to Bella's truck. The drive home was quick and she gave him an excited smile before bounding out of the truck and entering the house. He remained in the vehicle, watching her skip happily and all the hatred he felt for Edward disappeared for a mere second because he had his old friend who was still small and he suddenly felt like her older brother. Now, with Paul imprinting on her, he was going to have to fill in that role indefinitely.

With a sigh and a quick glance around – everything looked the same – he got out of the truck quietly and walked softly to the front door. "Mione, why do you look so thrilled?" Billy questioned suspiciously and he could practically hear the raised eyebrow on his father's face.

"Who is he?" Charlie growled and Jacob put his fist into his mouth to stifle his laughter. "What boy has got you so happy? If he's touched you I'll shoot him," he threatened and Jacob decided to make his announcement then.

"No need Charlie," Jacob said, arms raised in an innocent posture and he grinned when he saw the shocked and elated faces on his father and Charlie. "Like I'd touch squirt," he sneered in her direction and she poked her tongue out at him. How had she been gone for so long because with her back home, and their bantering nature back in full swing, he felt like she'd only been gone for a few days.

"But how did you not know?" Bella pestered, leaning forward across the table and staring at her pixie friend. Alice glared back in annoyance. "You can see practically everthing!"

"Exactly!" Alice exclaimed, throwing her hands up in annoyance; though she'd seen this argument coming and had tried to avoid it, Edward had caught wind and managed to set it up anyway, purely for his amusement. "He's a mutt and she's a witch. Their paths cross and I can see even less than I can in the first place." Bella nodded, suddenly satisfied with the answer though it hadn't changed from the last twenty minutes and she gathered that Jasper had something to do with it this time.

"Of course," Bella mumbled, "How stupid of me." She sighed and fiddled with Edward's fingers which were clamped in her hands. "Can I go see him?" She asked Edward, if he didn't want her to then she'd just go along with Hermione some other day but it would be nice to have an okay.

He nodded – to her relief – seeing the need to go in her eyes and he didn't regret it when he saw her thankful grin. He had no worries or fear that she'd go to him – she was marrying him after all. "I'll drive you to the treaty line but that is as far as I can go," he offered and she nodded.

"I'll walk," she responded and he rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Or you can call Billy for me so I can get a lift from Charlie or Hermione," she altered and he smiled in satisfaction. "Let's go!"

"This is brilliant!" Jared cried, punching the air with his enthusiasm before pouncing on Paul's back and wrestling him to the ground. "The bachelor has fallen." Jared cried out in mock pain, holding his chest as he rolled off of Paul and sobbed. "What are we going to do without him?" Paul growled in frustration and punched his best friend.

"You're a dick."

"You're one of us now," Jared replied, smirking up at him. "How did it feel Paul? Looking into her eyes and knowing that you'd follow her to the end of the world?" Paul grinned dopily before shaking his head and glaring.

"I can't imprint Jared, i'm incapable." Sam snorted and wrapped his arms around Emily. "What? I am," he defended. "We all joked about me getting an imprint, believing it to be a mythical occurrence."

"Which just happened," Embry informed him as if he wasn't already aware. "We watched your face lose all focus on anything but her and it was brilliant, what's wrong with imprinting on her? She's a hottie." Paul growled and without thinking, shifted into his wolf form. Seconds later and the garden was filled with wolves, Emily and Kim indoors safe and sound.

Back off Embry before I rip your face off, Paul growled, hackles raised and head low to the ground as if he was ready to attack.

Woah dude, you know I meant nothing from it, i've been saying it all week! Embry tried to defend, his wolf looking at Sam and Jared for some help but there was nothing they could do – once Paul realised he was being defensive over his imprint, he'd calm down. Paul, she's not my imprint, she's yours. You know I can't do anything to her other than protect her for your sake. Paul's posture relaxed and he sagged.

Fuck. I actually imprinted?

Sam and Jared snorted, the latter bumping shoulders with him whilst the former looked proud. Don't think of it as a weakness Paul, think of it as a strength, a new power that you now possess, their Alpha offered to try and help him see it in a clearer light. Paul nodded and shifted back, showing that he was calm and the others followed suit.

"What are the odds, huh?" Quil questioned as they all stood around, nude and grinning. "You, imprinting on Jacob's long lost friend." Paul's eyes widened and he swore softly.

"He's going to beat my ass."

Stopping it here for now. Let me know what you thought and i'll be seeing you soon!