AN: here we are, no Victoria but we're moving in that direction.

12.

Bella followed Jacob out of his house, he sat on the stairs of his porch, and after a moment of hesitation she sat next to him. They were very close, but not touching, she felt like an invisible barrier had descended between them. It was already difficult for her to face the present because she had to let down someone she had dearly cared for, but that wasn't anymore what she needed nor wanted.

He sighed, and her heart was with him. She remained silent because she thought that he had every right to be the first one to express his thoughts. "Bells… I don't really know what to say." He finally whispered, and she felt his sadness.

Bella turned to look at him, and she placed her hands on his. "Jake, I know that what you saw in Paul's mind seems quite unbelievable, but it happened. I don't know why we were sent back or why we were meant for each other, but let me tell you that I'm happy. I was a mess for so long that I didn't remember what a smile was, I felt empty and broken for the longest time. You were there always bringing me a respite for my despair, and for that I'll always be grateful."

"But it wasn't enough, I wasn't enough. You were meant for someone that thought you were trash. Someone who isn't worth licking your shoes." He spat.

Bella shook her head, she knew he was angry. "Jake, it wasn't you. You have to know that you're amazing, and somewhere out in this world there's a girl who will love you the way you deserve. I know you're hurt, but let me tell you that I won't let you badmouth Paul, in our trip in the past he was there, and he never left my side. He protected me, but he didn't mollycoddle me. Perhaps I needed someone who pointed out that I was a mess, and that I was selfish."

Jacob took his hand away, he stood up, and started pacing. "You aren't in his mind Bells, before your little adventure, his mind was the worst place to be. He's rude and lewd, he screws anyone who comes along and he doesn't give a fuck about responsibility or friendship." He growled.

Bella bit her lip, she knew that Paul was inside Jake's house, and that he was listening and ready to intervene if things got out of hand, and that made her feel slightly better. "Jake, let me tell you that my eyes are wide open regarding Paul as much as his eyes are open on my shortcomings. However, people change and he is a changed man. He doesn't have to prove anything to you, only to me, and he has already shown me what I needed to see. He is what I want, and I hope that eventually you'll see how good we are for each other."

Jake growled. "Sure Bells, has your Paul told you that he wants to use you as bait for Victoria? He was so happy about you that he didn't want to imprint, and let me tell you that if you were his imprint he would not put you in danger's way."

Bella was surprised by his outburst, but her mind worked quickly. "I didn't know about Victoria, but I actually think it's the only way to catch her. As for the imprinting, we both agreed not to imprint on each other, it would be in the way for his plan too. I think he's a strategist, and I agree with him. Jake, I will support him for anything. I want to be your friend, but don't ask me to choose between you because I know whom I will choose and it won't be you."

She noticed his shocked face, she was sorry, but he needed to hear where she stood. Bella stood up, and took a deep breath. "Jacob, I have changed and I grew up, and my change starts now. I'll go home now, and I'll start repairing my relationship with my father. I'll go back to school and work on my friendship with Angela. When the plan to catch Victoria is finalised I'll be the bait, and then me and Paul will start another chapter in our life."

Paul must have heard that the talk was over because he got out to the house, and placed his arm around her shoulders. "Ready to go, shipa?"

Bella noticed that Jacob was frowning, and after a moment he started vibrating and ran for the forest. When he was out of sight she turned to look at Paul. "He didn't take it well, uh?"

"Nope, not at all. Only Sam's Alpha order made him stop his attack on me. I swear he was going to kill me." He told her.

"Oh Paul, I'm sorry… I hope that with time he'll understand and accept us." She said and then she added. "So, I'm going to be vampire's bait?"

His eyes darkened. "I hate the idea, but unfortunately with her gift I don't see another way. I promise you that she won't come close to you, and that we'll get that bitch for good."

"I trust you Paul. Now I need to get back, I want to stop at the supermarket and prepare a nice meal for my dad and you." She said softly, she noticed his surprise. "Well, you're a part of my life now, and I want my dad to know that things have changed. Let's go my kidido, I must admit I'm glad that I'm going to eat something different from cooked meat."

He laughed, and then they walked to her truck. "I have to admit I'm glad to be back too, we'll stop at my place for me to get shoes and a shirt. I don't want you father to think badly of me."

"Paul, my father will see how good you make me feel and he'll accept you. Perhaps he'll need some time, but he is very pragmatic and he'll see what's good for me." She told him. Then they took the truck, and went to buy food.

…..

They arrived at Bella's house an hour later. Paul was carrying four big bags and Bella just one. They were laughing about the amount of food that they had bought, they entered into the house, and they saw that Charlie was sitting in the living room watching tv and drinking a beer.

Her dad turned to look at her, and she saw his surprise at seeing her with a boy and smiling. "Hey dad, I've invited my friend Paul for dinner. I hope you don't mind."

Charlie stood up, and approached them. "No problem Bells, Paul will wait for dinner with me in the living room. If you need help just shout."

Paul looked like a deer caught in the headlights, and Bella had to turn away not to show her amusement. Her wolf was fearless, but meeting a girl's father must be a first experience for him, and the fact that said father was the Chief of Police must be even scarier. "Sure dad, I'll call if I need help."

She retreated in the kitchen and started cooking, she had to admit that she had found a new appreciation for cooking and for anything modern, but part of her missed the simplicity of her life in the past.

When dinner was ready she called the two most important men of her life. Charlie told her that he was going a moment upstairs, and Paul entered into the kitchen.

"Thank you for feeding me directly to the wolf, Bella." He grumbled.

She laughed. "I think it's the other way round Paul. How did it go?"

"Well, not as bad as I thought. He threatened to kill me and bury my body in the forest if I hurt you, but he noticed that you were smiling, and you seemed almost back to your pre-leech self so he seemed happy about that. I think we'll get along eventually. We must because we both… love you." He whispered.

She blushed, and walked into his arms. "I love you both too."

A throat was cleared and they separated quickly, her father was watching them intently but he didn't look too bothered by them holding each other. "So, ready for dinner?"

She nodded, and they sat together enjoying the meal, her father talked a lot and asked both of them some questions. She noticed that when she started replying and smiled throughout the meal her father relaxed, and by the end of the dinner he had asked Paul to call him Charlie.

Paul and Bella then washed the dishes while Charlie bid them goodnight, and asked them not to stay up too late.

Paul smiled at her. "I'm happy about tonight, never saw myself like a family's man. But I quite like it, now that I got a taste of it. Charlie is amazing, and I'm definitely going fishing with him."

"You're part of this family now, and you're welcome to come and go anytime you want." She told him. "I'm just going to miss sleeping next to you."

"I could come into your room through your window." He said.

She took a deep breath, and shook her head. "Paul, I love you and I want to be with you. But I let Edward in my room that way and I think it was wrong and disrespectful for my father. We'll be honest with him, once he gets the time to see that we're happy and good for each other, I'll ask him for you to stay, and I'll spend the weekends at your place. I want my dad to trust me and to trust you."

He sighed. "I think you're right, but I don't like it. Not one little bit."

She smiled and pulled him closer for a kiss. He kissed her deeply, and slowly pushed her against the wall. His hands were on her hips, and he lifted her up as if she was made of air. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and her hands entwined in his hair. The kiss was growing more passionate and intense, but with the last slip of sanity she slowly let go of his hair, and he realised that she had stopped responding to him.

He moved his mouth away, and they looked at each other, she was happy that he was so taken with her. "It's not exactly the right place for you know…" She whispered.

He sighed."I know, that doesn't mean I like that I have to stop. It's strange, but now that we're back and we can't be with each other, my desire for you has intensified."

She smiled because she felt the intensity too. "Maybe it's because we aren't really free to do what we want or because now everyone that matters to us knows that we're together, and we feel free to be in a relationship."

Paul nodded, and slowly let her go, she slid her legs down and with sadness walked him to the door. "Tomorrow I'll be at school until three, will I see you later?"

"I've got patrol until half past two, I'll be out of your school to pick you up. Tonight try to sleep well, one of my brothers will be patrolling around your house, you're safe." He told her and after a quick kiss, he left.

Bella slowly walked upstairs and entered into her room, it was strange to be able to sleep on a bed, but she was back and she was going to appreciate every comfort that she could get. The night was going to be lonely, but she was resolute to do the honourable thing for her dad, she wanted to respect him and his house. The time to be with Paul would arrive soon, and she was going to enjoy every single moment of it.