AN: Hi! Remember me? Thank you so much for your patience, life has been absolutely crazy around here. Anyway, hope you enjoy this, and I don't think there are too many more chapters left. I'll try to finish this up pretty quick. If Paul and Bella cooperate, I think next chapter will be one everyone has been waiting on for a LONG time ;)

I have posted a couple of one shots since I updated last- one is a Bella/Brady and the other is Bella/Seth. They were written for the Tricky Raven auction.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but some shirtless pics of Alex Meraz that clog up the memory on my phone. (ETA: Got a new phone with lots of memory. I'm good to go now ;) SM owns all.

Chapter 27

Paul POV
I tried to keep my thoughts clean as I phased in, but it was hard to think of anything but Bella when she was sitting just a few feet away from me. Pushing back my recent dirty fantasies—and the handful of fuck-awesome kisses we'd shared—I tried to think of something more innocent.

There were plenty of innocent memories I didn't mind her family seeing, but most of them were well before our first kiss. That particular image was locked tight in my mind. I hadn't let it slip since Sam got a peek at it not long after I phased. It was sacred to me.

Looking at the unfamiliar brown wolf I knew to be Big Quil, I rolled my shoulders and fell forward onto my paws. I thought back to the first time I'd seen my girl. She let out a squeak as she was lifted high in the air, the booming laughter of the man holding her ringing out over the gathering.

"Bells! It's good to see you, baby girl!" The man's face was tender as she wrapped her slender arms around his broad shoulders, a shy smile lighting her face as she answered him.

The memory was picked up seamlessly by the older wolf as he sunk to the ground, never taking his eyes off his unconscious daughter. "I'm not sure this is my Bells, Charlie. She's much too tall to be our tiny Isabella."

Embry snarled as our memories triggered a slideshow from him. Bouncing between Quil's house and Jake's, secretly wondering if either of their fathers could be his. Clinging to every word of praise, each pat on the head or high five.

He saw the way Big Quil treated Bella—like she was a rare flower, a precious treasure. He agreed with the older man that she was indeed special, but he couldn't help but wonder where that left him.

Embry flew through pictures of himself, Bella, and Quil through the years, interacting with those he knew now were his siblings. He replayed the way that Big Quil regarded each of them, the careful attention he gave them, the way he played with them like he was a child himself.

I couldn't help but think of the way the man had looked at me as if I was a bug for him to squash when I came to stay at his parents' house. It didn't seem like anyone noticed, but Embry switched paths suddenly.

Pictures of all the kids on the rez filtered through in hazy succession. Embry tried to remember if his father paid special attention to anyone else, but too many years had passed. How many others? His voice finally came through the pack mind. How many more sisters and brothers do we have in different ports?

The brown wolf stared at his son with wide eyes, his head snapping back at his accusations. Despite the fact that he'd been a wolf for years, he never needed to shield his thoughts before, and he had a hard time doing it then. An image of a woman who looked vaguely familiar came to his mind, followed by one of a small boy. As soon as the thought came, it disappeared.

Embry, son, can we discuss this later? Quil's voice had a note of authority similar to Sam's, but it seemed to only affect Embry. I could feel his need to comply, but wasn't bound by it like he was.

So, we need to discuss what is going to happen once we get you both back in your skin. Sam skillfully changed the subject. Embry, you'll need to keep that leg brace on until Dr. Cullen can "clear" you. I know it's a pain, but until we get permission to tell your mom and Charlie, you have to have a cover story.

Oh shit, my mom… Embry's thoughts filled with worry as he pictured his mom seeing Big Quil and something terrible happening, like him imprinting on her. Shit was right—that would kill Charlie.

Wait, wait, wait. What's this about Tiffany and Charlie? We all froze at Quil's question, trying our best to control our thoughts.

Fuck it. Embry opened a whole pile of memories—Charlie taking him and Tiffany out to eat and to see a movie, peeking through the front window as Charlie kissed her goodnight. There was a dinner at the lodge with just Charlie and Embry, a man-to-man talk where Charlie asked Embry's permission to marry his mother.

Bella and Embry hugging as they drifted off to sleep at Jacob's house after the wedding. "Now you're officially my brother, Em." Bella's innocent declaration before they knew how true those words were.

Day after day of sweet moments between the couple, each one slowly building Embry's confidence in his new family unit, with Charlie's steady presence anchoring them all. "Great job son!" Charlie praising Embry for a good grade on a test he'd spent days studying for, and how Embry wished Charlie really was his dad...

Quil let out a sharp growl, startling us all as he paced around. His eyes shot back and forth between Embry and Bella, his thoughts a whirl of confusion. I love my kids, damn it! While his mental voice was fierce, the large wolf let out a pitiful whine. I turned when I heard Bella echo it, shifting on the ground where she lay.

I tried to look out for all of you, but Joy would only let me have so much. Her dad owned my boat, you know. Without that I wouldn't have been able to support any of you—and I did do that. I sent my money every week like clockwork.

Embry remembered the days after Quil's funeral, the hushed arguments between his mother and Old Quil, Joy sneering at him when he came over to play with Quil Jr, and finally, his move to a smaller house on my street, where the bullies picked on him and there wasn't always enough food on the table. Yeah, well that money stopped when you died, Dad. There was no mistaking the sneer on Embry's face or his voice.

Okay, okay, that's enough for now. We'll talk this out once everyone is back on two legs. There was no arguing with Sam, and I phased out to sit with Bella while he and Jared attempted to get our newest pack mates back to their human forms.

It took almost an hour, and I dozed off with Bella in my lap, only to wake up to her soft lips on mine. A harsh growl caught my attention before we could go any further, and I got my first look at Big Quil since I was a kid. He wasn't quite as burly as I remembered, but I wasn't sure if that was due to the fact that I had grown, or if it was a result of his lean diet and years as a wolf.

Bella gasped when she saw him and scrambled to her feet. "Big Quil?" I tensed up as she ran to him, throwing herself into his arms. "We thought you were dead! I found out you were my father and you were already gone!"

She didn't fit in his arms quite as well as she had the last time I'd seen them together, but they held each other tightly, tears streaming down both of their faces. "Oh, baby girl, I missed you so much," he murmured so quietly that I wouldn't have been able to hear him if I didn't have wolf senses. Bella didn't respond other than with a choked sob and tightening of her arms around his neck.

Embry was also back on two feet, and he sidled closer to the pair, looking like he desperately wanted to join them but he wasn't sure how to ask. It was a feeling I knew well.

I walked over and patted his shoulder, noting absently how he'd filled out since phasing. "Go on. He can't ignore you now."

Quil heard my words and gave me a look I couldn't read as he held his arm out to his son. I honestly didn't give a fuck what he thought about me. He had bigger issues than me.

Sam walked over to me, and I noticed that he must have given Quil or Embry his shorts, because he wasn't wearing any. I positioned myself between him and Bella, not wanting her to get an eyeful of my alpha. He chuckled quietly, seeming to know what I was thinking.

"We'll head back now, Paul. Quil wants to walk his kids home, and then he said he could find his way to my house. His tracking skills are better than any of ours—being one with his wolf for so long."

I may have nodded or something, but I didn't see him leave. Bella had stepped back and was reaching for my hand. I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her, growling lowly at the scent of the other wolves on her. Her little hand rubbed my chest, soothing both me and the wolf inside. I still hadn't fully processed the events of the day and night, but I was grateful she was safe in my arms.

I kept quiet as the three of them chatted on our way back to the Swan house. I could tell by the faint light that it was nearly dawn, and we needed to get Bella and Embry back home in bed before Charlie woke up. The problem was that we were walking at Bella's relatively slow human pace. I should have picked her up, no matter what the others thought. She may have been their daughter and sister, but she was my mate.

As soon as we broke the tree line, I realized we had a problem. Standing beside his back door, looking down at the charred patch of grass where we burned the vamp, was none other than the esteemed police chief of Forks.

Embry was the next person to notice, and he froze before he took another step. Quil had his hand on the boy's shoulder, and he looked down at him in question, not noticing our audience. "Embry, what–"

"What the hell?!" Charlie's startled yell caught Bella's attention, and she looked between her fathers and brother in worry. I stepped in front of her when Charlie came stomping across the yard, not sure which way the confrontation would go.

"Charlie, calm down. I know this is a shock, but we can explain." Quil took a step toward his cousin, his hands held out in a pleading gesture, but I had never in my life seen Charlie quite that angry.

"I can't believe this! Quil?! What the hell are you doing here? You're dead! You're supposed to be dead! I don't..." Charlie broke off and bent over, putting his hands on his knees as he breathed deeply. Bella tried to step closer to him, but my wolf wouldn't stand for her to be in harm's way.

"I know Charlie. I'm sorry I wasn't here, but–"

"You damn sure weren't here! You weren't here for little Quil, and you weren't here for Aunt Molly, and you were never there for Embry!" Charlie seemed to gain strength as he yelled. "You're worse than Josh Uley! At least he took off before Sam could get attached! Hell, even Tommy Lahote was here instead of off gallivanting around somewhere."

I bristled at that—I wasn't Quil's biggest fan, but even I knew he was a better father than mine. Quil seemed to take offense as well.

"Now hold on, Charlie. I'll give you some leeway since you took good care of my kids, but you have no idea what I've been dealing with all these years." He might have gotten away with that slip if he hadn't glanced at Bella when he said his kids, but her teary eyes caught Charlie's investigative instincts, and her silent apology at his shocked look was the nail in the coffin.

Charlie took a step back as his head whipped back and forth. I could see the betrayal work its way across his face, but I couldn't do anything but hold Bella tight as she cried against my chest. As fast as the pain came, fury rose to take its place.

"You son of a bitch!" Charlie roared as he stalked up to stand nose-to-nose with Quil. "You disgusting, worthless bastard! I'll kill you for this! You won't take her—you won't take any of them! Tiff, Embry, and especially Bella! They're all mine!"

Before I could react, Charlie reared back and punched Quil square in the jaw with all his human strength. Unfortunately, I could clearly hear the bones in his hand crack as they met his cousin's supernaturally strong face.

Quil had been shaking as Charlie yelled, but the combination of his possessive claim and unexpected attack caused Quil to lose the last bit of control he had. Embry jerked him back and tossed him toward the trees as the man exploded into a furious brown wolf. I pushed Bella back gently and slipped off my shorts, handing them to her for safe keeping.

I phased and jumped at Quil just as he was darting around Embry to try and get to Charlie. I growled when he swiped a paw at my exposed side, retaliating with a sharp bite to his shoulder. You don't want to fight me, old man. I've got years on you there.

Before he could respond, Bella let out a sharp whistle. We all turned to see her cradling Charlie's hurt hand as she glared at us. "Stop it! Just stop fighting! All of you!"

I let go of his fur, but kept myself between Quil and Bella. Embry seemed stunned, but he had managed to keep his human shape as he looked between the man and the wolf. I took a minute to make sure that Quil wasn't going to attack again, and then I phased back and quickly pulled on my shorts.

Charlie shook his head when his mind caught up with his eyes, and he took another step back, pulling his injured hand out of Bella's grasp. "Listen,Charlie, I know this is a lot to take in at once, but we can go inside and call Billy, and he'll explain it all to you."

Charlie looked like he was in shock, but he nodded woodenly before turning to walk back inside. Embry looked between Quil and Charlie, then walked toward the house as well. I heaved a sigh of relief and pulled Bella back into my arms, turning around to tell Quil to stay put.

Bella's squeal had me turning back to the house, just in time to see Tiffany run out the door with a shotgun in her hands. Of course. What else could go wrong?