AN: Ok, this chapter brings us to the point in the story where the first drabble took place. I actually used a few lines from that piece, not as much as I thought I would, but if some of it sounds familiar then that's why.
I struggled with this chapter more than others, but I hope I did it justice. It was a tough one for me.

Also, if you're a fan of slash, I posted a Jasper/Peter one shot called Run to You.

Chapter 11
December

Charlie POV
I sighed in relief as I stepped through the doors into the toasty police station. If it got much colder outside we might get a white Christmas this year.

Another blast of cold air hit my back, and I turned to see Paul being escorted through, his muscled arms behind him held tightly with handcuffs. The last time I'd had to arrest him, I had the strangest idea that he could snap those cuffs like paper if he wanted.

Guilt and disappointment both filled me—I couldn't understand where I went wrong with that boy. Paul held my eyes as he walked by, not even stumbling as he was led through the desk area and back to lockup.

I headed for my own office, paperwork in hand. Doc Cullen had worked his magic once more, knowing how much Paul meant to me. I already had the testimony from the other bar patrons, but Cullen was able to convince his patient that it would be in his best interest not to press charges against Paul.

When I'd asked him why he even bothered to intervene for Paul, considering how unwelcoming the tribal elders had been to him and his family, he gave me a knowing look and said he understood troubled teenagers. I guess he would—that big boy of his looked like he could be a handful, but the leaner blond one was the one who really felt dangerous. I'd seen a few scars on him, and I would bet he had a history of abuse as well.

I picked up my phone once I signed the release papers. "Mark, let him make a call. We're not keeping him tonight," I told him when he answered, then thought better of it. "But go ahead and put him in a cell while he waits. I didn't need him starting something here at the station.

My door was open, and I tried to listen to the call, but Paul spoke too quietly for me to hear. I wondered if his dad would show up, or if would be Sam Uley again. Harry Clearwater had shocked the hell out of me one day by coming to pick up the boy, though they glared at each other with mutual disdain. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something going on I didn't know about.

I hadn't seen Tommy Lahote in months, though I really hadn't been down to La Push other than to drop off Embry and pick him up after spending time with his friends. Sometimes I felt really disconnected from my old friends.

Sighing, I sat down at my desk again and picked up the picture that could always lift my spirits. Tiff and I had taken Embry and Bella to Disneyland this past summer, and I'd never seen any of them smile so much.

The guys at work liked to tease me about the picture of the four of us wearing Mickey Mouse ears, but I just shook it off. None of them had a Makah goddess for a wife, so I couldn't blame them for being jealous.

I would have invited Paul to go along, but he and Sam Uley had been working for Charles that summer, and I knew he'd been spending a lot of time with Sam outside of work as well. He, Sam, and Jared were together more often than not, and I couldn't be happier. They were a much better influence on him than those losers he used to hang around. Now he only got in trouble when he was away from those two.

Looking back at the picture, I couldn't hold back a smile. After all this time, my Bells was finally coming home to stay. She'd brought up the idea while we were on vacation, but said she was still trying to convince her mother. I was worried when I overheard a quiet conversation between her and Embry, where he was trying to convince her to tell me something—something that I needed to know. She'd told him that if she hadn't convinced Renee to let her move by Christmas, then she would tell me whatever this secret was.

I had confronted Embry when we had a few minutes alone, but he refused to break Bella's trust, letting me know it was something serious. He swore she wasn't in any danger, and hadn't been hurt by anyone, but if they didn't come clean soon I would sit them down and make them confess. The one thing I'd learned over the years was that secrets were never a good thing.

Knowing I had about half an hour before Sam arrived, I made my way down the hallway to try and talk to Paul. He must have been expecting me, because he looked up with a cheerful grin on his bloody face. It took all my years of training not to wince at the sight of the deep gash on his cheek and his swollen lip.

"Hey, Chief. How's it hanging?" My eyes closed in pain at his mocking greeting, not attempting to meet the fist he held out to me. I couldn't help but see the face of a much younger boy in this jaded young man's place.

"Don't look sad, Chief." Paul waited for me to look at him before winking and leaning back against the cold concrete wall. "You should see the other guy."

I shook my head, since I had seen the other guy. Paul was much more effective with his fists than the older man was with a knife. That cut on his cheek didn't even look like it needed stitches, since the blood had already clotted.

Maybe it was because Christmas was so close, but I felt the need to make a last ditch effort to reason with the boy. "Paul, why do you keep doing this? Let me help you out, son."

I watched his eyes closely, not missing the hint of longing that flared when I called him son. As soon as it sparked, he fought it back with a dismissive wave and a hateful sneer. "Just give it up Charlie," he told me, before closing his eyes to ignore me.

Sam Uley had just signed the release papers, effectively taking custody of Paul for the night, when I felt two soft hands cover my eyes and a happy voice in my ear. "Guess who!"

I turned with a smile just as Paul came out of the back hallway. I lifted my girl in my arms and spun her around as the rest of the station watched in amusement. "Welcome home, Bells!"

~oOo~oOo~oOo~oOo~oOo~oOo~

Paul POV
The bar was dark and filled with smoke, something that was both a blessing a curse to my sensitive nose. On one hand, it helped block the noxious scents of cologne and perfume that people loved to bathe in. On the other hand, it made my wolf antsy because it muted the scents he used to keep track of danger. Heaven forbid if a smoking vampire should sneak up on me.

My eyes constantly scanned between the two exits, keeping track of the entire room from my table in the corner. Not only did I have better luck being served by the horny waitress, but there was no way I could sit at the bar with my back to the room.

"Can I get you another, honey?" I smiled at the older woman, holding my breath as she leaned toward me. Her boobs might be impressive, but her scent was all wrong. She didn't have a shot with me.

"Thanks, doll. That'd be great," I told her, using the last of my air as she turned away with a smile, heading to the next table to get their order. Damn, I wish I could tell her to lay off the perfume. It was hard enough to get at least a slight buzz without her making me want to puke.

A surprised squeak brought my attention back to the waitress, now a couple of table down from me. She had her hand covering her ass as she stared down at the man in shock. His still-raised hand clued me in to the fact that he must have just used it to slap her on that ass.

"Baby? I think maybe you've had enough," a hesitant voice spoke up next to him. I could barely see the top of the girl's head, from where she was tucked that close to the dip shit's side.

His hand moved faster than I did, slapping his girlfriend's face, before grabbing her chin and snarling, "Shut up, bitch. Nobody cuts me off."

He never saw my fist coming, and his head flew back with a satisfying thump as the scent of blood filled the air. I waited for his retaliation, balanced lightly on my feet with my hands out, loose and ready.

Part of me noticed the waitress pulling the girl out of the way as she ran for security, but my attention was focused on the silver knife that the asshole had pulled out and was aiming my way. I just sneered and turned myself over to the familiar routine of using my fists.

It took a little extra concentration to temper my strength, but it had been too long since I'd been out from under Sam's thumb for a good fight. This guy was big enough to offer a little resistance, and his knife added an extra challenge to keep me on my toes.

All too soon I was pushed down on the hood of a squad car, listening to one of Charlie's deputies read me my rights as he clamped the cuffs down on my wrists. I blinked the blood out of eyes as I was pulled up, and grinned at the look of disgust as the officer took in the lucky jab that left a deep cut on my cheek. It would heal on the way to the station, and hopefully he would think it wasn't as bad as he remembered. The last thing I needed was them taking me to the hospital.

My wolf grew anxious as they left me in the back of the car. I knew I'd be facing some kind of punishment from Sam, but I wasn't too worried about my trip to the police station. Charlie would get me out like he always did, and everyone could go back to their merry little Christmas celebrations…

Processing went as usual, with Charlie trying to be the mentor, and Sam sounding disappointed. I was walking out to leave when everything changed.

I caught the most amazing scent—sweet wild strawberries mixed with a fresh ocean breeze. I followed my nose, not even realizing I had sped up, when I suddenly realized exactly who that scent belonged to.

I hadn't seen her recently, but I would never mistake those brown eyes as anyone else's. Bella. She was hugging Charlie when she looked over his shoulder and caught my eye. For a few minutes, every extra sense I had went straight out of my head. There was nothing but her.

She was older, of course, but she still looked incredibly young and innocent. Her fair skin was glowing with a light blush, and those deep brown eyes had sucked me in like a vacuum. She was everything. She was so beautiful, so fiery. She was… FUCK! She was… my imprint?!

I sucked in a harsh breath as I pulled my eyes from her face, and Sam was right beside me with a firm hand on my shoulder. I looked at him, pleading, needing him to get me away from this place. I had to go!

"Is she…?" he murmured quietly, and my wolf answered with a soft growl and a jerky nod without my permission. Sam still looked concerned, but now he looked confused as well. "Then–"

I cut him off with a jerk of my head. "No, Sam. Get me out of here, please!"

He must have seen the desperation in my face or the shaking I couldn't control as I fought my wolf, because he got a firm grip on my arm and pulled me toward the doors. Every step away from her felt like walking through quicksand, and I almost turned back at least three times.

We had just reached the door, and fresh air, when her voice almost sent me to my knees. "Dad? Was that…Paul?"