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Inspirational Song: Lifehouse – Falling In

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I sighed and stretched, a small pain in my head made me wince.

"You alright?"

My eyes flew open to meet familiar amber-brown ones.

"Brady?" My dry voice croaked.

He smiled down as he nodded, "Yeah, would you like some water?"

I sat up, trying to clear my throat, "Yes."

Brady nodded before he got up and walked into the kitchen. I sat up, trying to fix my hair the best I could before he came back.

"Here ya go." Brady said, sitting back down and handing me the water. I smiled a thanks before downing it.

"Guessing you were thirsty?" Brady smiled, tilting his head to one side. I blushed as I looked away. Brady always looked people in the eyes when he talked to them, he had more confidence than most adults did.

Brady picked up the remote and started to flip through the channels.

I nodded and worried my lip with my teeth as I looked out the window.

"What's wrong, Bella?" Brady asked, turning to give me his full attention, "What are you thinking?"

"I saw the...the picture you drew..." I mumbled, picking at the blanket. It wasn't something wrong per se, but it was what was on my thoughts.

"Oh..." Brady looked away, a mixture of emotions playing across his face. Embarrassment, fear, curiosity.

"D-did...did you hate it?" He asked.

Quickly I shook my head, "No, not at all, it was lovely."

Brady let out a sigh of relief, "I didn't mean for you to see it, I was just doodling when you were at your house with Jake—"

I laughed and quickly placed my hand over his, "Brady, don't worry about it. Though I think you might have exaggerated a few things since I'm definitely not that pretty!"

"You are though, Bella." Brady smiled, his eyes strayed to my hand and then back up to me.

"Sorry." I said, quickly pulling back. Though why I was embarrassed was beyond me. We had literally slept next to each other all night.

"Oh, don't be, I was just thinking about your bracelet." He said, changing the topic as he took up my hand in his larger one and began studying the charms. The small diamond caught the light, making the carved wolf look dim in comparison even though it was made with such care.

"I still need to get you one." Brady said, gently touching each of them in turn before pulling my sleeve back down, "So you have a small piece of me with you too."

My breath caught as I nodded. He had whispered the last part, so I was sure I wasn't supposed to hear it, but I had.

"So, is anyone hungry? Mrs. Fuller came out, a pan in one hand and a spoon in another, "I made breakfast."

Brady looked to me for my answer, the moment before long forgotten at the mention of food. I could tell he was ready to sprint to the kitchen and wolf down whatever she had made.

I chuckled as I nodded. He stood up easily and offered me his hand, pulling me up with ease.

We all sat at the table in comfortable silence as we ate. It was only broken when we had finished, and Brady had excused himself to check in with the pack.

"So, Bella, how is your Dad doing?" Mrs. Fuller asked as I helped collect plates.

I smiled, "He's doing well, Mrs. Fuller."

"Please, call me Ella." She smiled back, scrubbing off what little residue Brady had left on his plate.

"Alright." I reached for a towel and started to dry as she washed.

"Have you decided on which school you want to attend?" She asked in typical mother-curiosity, her genuine smile never once faltering.

I smiled down at my work, apparently playing twenty questions ran in the family, not that I minded it. For once.

"I'm thinking community college for now. I'm not sure what I really want to do yet." I answered honestly, "I applied to Grays Harbor in January and got in. I figure I'd take some online classes and figure it out from there."

She nodded in agreement, "A very smart choice."

I smiled, thankful for her approval.

"So, where is Mr. Fuller?" I asked offhandedly, drying a plate she handed me and placing it in the cupboard.

Ella stopped, taking time to collect her thoughts, "Andrew died a couple years ago."

I bit my lip. Leave it to me to find the most uncomfortable topic of conversation, "I'm sorry."

She smiled, pushing the tears back, "He was diagnosed with a brain tumor when Brady was eight and passed away two years later." Ella sighed, sniffing a bit, "But Brady got to grow up with his Dad, got to know who he was, so what more could I ask for as a mom?"

I sighed, continuing with my work. She could ask for a lot more as the mom, I couldn't imagine life without my dad.

My teeth started to work my lower lip again, thinking about the immortality the Cullens had offered me. I would be giving up everything if I said yes. My father included.

I pushed the thought away as I threw myself into my work.

"There's going to be a meeting at Emily's." Brady called, bursting in through the back door.

I nodded and smiled at Ella before setting my towel off to the side, "Thank you, Ella. For...well, for everything."

She smiled, her eyes kind, "Any time Bella, we'll have to have you over for dinner soon."

"I'd like that." I smiled, truly smiled, before following Brady out.

"So, you got to talk with my mom?" Brady asked, his eyebrow raised. A thousand questions plagued him but he went with the safest one first.

I nodded as he helped me with my jacket, "Yes." And I refused to answer any of his twenty questions as we headed to Emily's.

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"Bella, aren't those the clothes you wore last night?" Jake asked as Brady and I walked into Emily's small house. I looked down and blushed.

Brady just shoved Jake's shoulder, "Give her a break. She didn't have time to change." He fell onto the floor next to Jake's feet, nodding for me to take the more comfortable seat next to Jacob.

I sat down on the floor next to Brady instead, giving him a smirk as I crossed my arms. He just shook his head and rolled his eyes, giving his usual smile. I liked that he didn't push me to do what he wanted me to do.

"Everyone here?" The alpha asked, bringing me back to reality. Everyone either nodded or mumbled a yes as Sam looked around, taking a mental roll.

"Alright. So, the newborns attack tomorrow." He looked around, his stoic expression set in stone. I grimaced, there was no beating around the bush today.

"Jacob and I will be meeting with the Cullens today. Embry, Paul, I want you running patrol. Jared and Collin will relieve you around noon. Brady, I want you and Seth taking over around three. Leah, you and Quil will take over at six. Jake and I will relieve you after that before the cycle starts again." The wolves nodded as the alpha assigned their shifts.

I looked to Brady. I didn't want him to have a patrol. I wanted him to stay here. With me.

He gave a reassuring smile back, knowing what I wanted, "Jake will be back by three, won't you?" He leaned his head back to look at Jacob. The beta nodded.

"Was that seriously the only reason you called us down here?" Jared asked as he lounged on the couch. Paul smacked him on the back of his head as Jared started to mumble about what he could be doing with Kim.

I blushed and turned away.

"Well, we need to discuss what to do with Bella during tomorrow's...festivities." Sam explained, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked for the right words. I leaned back into the couch, wishing that it would swallow me whole. Why was I always at the center of everyone's problems?

"And we need as many bodies as we can get." Sam said, looking around, "But I want Collin and Brady staying in La Push, we can't leave the tribe unprotected."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and I let out a sigh of relief. Brady wouldn't be fighting the newborns.

"What are we going to do with Bella?" It should have surprised me more than it did to hear Paul speak up.

Sam turned to me, "The Cullen's leader had a good idea last time we spoke, but we need to finalize it before we say anything more."

I nodded as a lump caught in my throat.

"Make sure to swing by the police station and Bella's house on your rounds." Sam said, looking to Embry and Paul and throwing a very small smile in my direction.

I sighed, smiling back. He was trying to make sure I was comfortable; he was looking out for me like I was part of the pack.

And, in a way, I was.

I was Brady's imprint.

That thought made me smile. I had a place where I belonged. Clumsiness included.

"Alright, that is it." Sam said. Everyone broke into more casual conversations and the morning resumed with ease. Emily walked back to the kitchen, starting to cook another wave of food for the pack.

"Sam?" I asked, pushing myself off the floor. He stopped when I called his name and turned to me.

"Can...c-can I go to the meeting?" I asked, my nerves getting the best of me. I might be an imprint, which ensured my safety, but that didn't mean I had a right to be part of their meetings.

Sam thought about it, then gave a single nod, "I don't see why not, we are just meeting with the leader. We are leaving at nine."

I looked to the clock; it was about eight thirty now.

Emily walked over to me, wiping her hands on a bright yellow towel, "Would you like to change into something...else?" She smiled sweetly at me.

I looked down at my clothes. They looked like I had been thrown off a wolf, run through the woods by a vampire, and then slept in them.

Emily offered her hand, and I took it. She led us into her room and started rummaging around, finally she pulled out a pair of jeans and a simple blue top.

"These should fit, I grew out of them a year ago but couldn't bring myself to get rid of them." Emily smiled, handing me the outfit.

"Thanks, Emily." I smiled. She gave a quick nod before walking to the door and closing it behind her.

I rushed to the bathroom, trying to get somewhat clean as I changed. I quickly washed my face and scrubbed my teeth with my finger before pulling the shirt over my head. I borrowed a bit of mouthwash, figuring Emily wouldn't mind.

"Bells? You done?" Jake called at the door. I looked up into the mirror, had a half hour already gone by?

"Just a second!" I yelled back, trying to pull the pants up as I walked into the bedroom. Not the best idea. I fell onto the floor, laughing at myself as I stood up and pulled the pants on.

"Bells?"

I opened the door when I caught the edge in Jake's voice, "Here."

He raised an eyebrow as I just shrugged. I walked past him, picking up the sweatshirt I had stolen from Sam and pulled it over my head.

Brady leaned against the entry, a hesitant smile on his lips. I walked over, sighing as I stopped in front of him. Here came the lecture.

"Listen to Jake and Sam, please. Just...just stay close to them." Brady said, moving so he towered over me. He looked so big, but his eyes were so soft and filled with concern. He really looked like the gentle giant.

I looked up to him and nodded, trying to give him a reassuring smile. Brady started to lean forward but stopped.

I tilted my head as I gazed up, what was he going to do?

Then he leaned forward and lightly kissed my forehead, Brady pulled back and rested his forehead against mine, "Thank you."

My breath caught as I smiled up to him.

"Bella?"

I jumped at Sam's voice.

He gave a slight smile as he looked between Brady and me, "Are you ready?"

I looked from Sam to Brady, then back to the alpha.

"Yeah." I took in an easy breath as I walked over, "So, am I being carried or riding?" I asked, looking to Jake, "I'm assuming each of you wants a turn at seeing who can scare me the most?"

My best friend just smirked and walked out.

I chuckled as I rolled my eyes and followed him outside.

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