A/N: Hey ya'll I'm sorry it took awhile to get this one out. But I hope you all enjoy it. Until Next Time... Hugs and Loves!
Bella/Belle POV - November 4th
Four months… That's how long my two best friends have been gone from us. I remember questioning Carlie about their whereabouts after the meeting with the Quileute Elders but she just told me that no one needed to know. That if someone who didn't need to know, specifically Justin, found out it would cause Cassie and Jake more stress than they needed. Let's just say that the hall was completely silent after Carlie showed us Leah's thoughts that day. Justin has been heartbroken and filled with such guilt since his wife left, Leah blames herself for breaking up a happy marriage. She doesn't speak to anyone other than our family and Saraia. On the plus side, Carlie has everyone entranced and with Jasper in the mix I was completely surprised by how accepting they all were to someone that is viewed as their nemesis. The pack aren't really worried about the imprinted leech and more than half of them agree that it's exciting to actually fight one just for fun. As far as the whole marriage betrayal issue between Leah and Justin the guys weren't ecstatic on how things played out for Cassie but are a little more than accepting because they experienced this type of thing before with Leah, Emily and Samuel. I heard about what happened to Leah from my dad but I never knew the whole story so I asked Sam about it. Turns out that he broke up with Leah because he was aware that imprinting might have been a possibility in the future. Then when he met Emily, the woman had such a strong attraction to him at first he wasn't sure if it was just from being alone for so long or actually imprinting. After talking to the elders they convinced him that it could only be the blessing of finally finding his soul mate. However, not even two days after they started dating did Leah catch Emily fucking some man from Port Angeles. I guess Samuel was trying to be respectful to both Leah and Emily in not shacking up with the Makah woman so soon. Emily somehow blackmailed Leah into not saying anything until Samuel actually imprinted on me that is. Emily is still a touchy subject to the pack and since the blow up fiasco at my dad's house she fled and went back to her home reservation. Another positive, Sue and my father are now reconciled and so far Joseff is getting along with everyone in the pack as well. He seems to be a little too close to Sam's little sister Saraia but they are adults so I figured why bother stopping them.
Since the meeting with the Quileute elders Samuel and I have gotten much closer. I wanted to stop feeling so guilty for moving on from the only other man that ever truly loved me, my Jayson. Sam agreed that I should give myself time and really think about what I wanted and that whatever decision I made he would respect it because in the end my happiness is his happiness. He gave me the space that I needed to see if we could actually have a relationship or just be friends and after a whole week of not seeing him, I made up my mind. There was no questioning myself any longer, not only did I want him… But I needed him like the air itself. I felt empty when he wasn't near and it took me that long to get over my insecurities and doubts of loving another. Pushing that thought to the back of my mind and finally accepting the imprint. Accepting that sexy as hell man that makes my entire being quiver by just looking at me with those intense eyes. The comfort and safety that I feel just by his presence alone is just indescribable. Now, we go on dates and just have fun getting to know one another. I do feel bad rubbing my happiness in Justin and Leah's face though. It just felt right to finally be with the one I am destined to have in my life. Of course I didn't jump the man right then and there, not that I didn't want to but I wanted to do this right and so does he.
Carlie… Carlie was a big factor in our decision making too. I know she looks like a teenager but my baby is only 4 and seeing me with another man wasn't easy for her either. I knew she was putting up a front whenever she saw Sam and I together. So after a month of silence I demanded a family dinner night with just the three of us only. Samuel didn't want to force my daughter into anything that she wasn't ready for but I knew he wanted to develop that relationship with her, even if he wasn't her biological father. That night we talked and came to terms of what was happening not only with our family but the whole legend and prophecy issue. Carlie expressed how scared she was to have to take on such a big responsibility. How she didn't really have a chance at a real childhood because of some psycho redheaded leech, Jasper's words not hers. The guilt she felt having to bring Sam's pack brothers into the fight knowing they have a family and kids of their own. The sacrifices that are having to be made just because she exists. I broke down into tears during that conversation because I understood what she meant. She wished that she was never born so none of this nonsense would be happening to any of us. Sam put a stop to her thinking though. Told her that if she didn't exist then Jayson and I would have never met and fallen madly in love, that she wouldn't have found Jasper, or any of the Cullen's that she loves so dearly. That she wouldn't have such an amazing relationship with not only her grandfather but Papa Billy too. He reassured that no matter what happens that we would all be here because she is worth it. She is family, she is pack, she is his daughter, blood or not. Hearing Samuel say those words to my baby had Carlie running into his arms so fast. She just cried her heart out that night as I did and after such a heart wrenching night they grew closer. And for that I am so glad! Now they are inseparable which Jasper appreciates because he said all Carlie really wanted was the Alpha's acceptance in the end.
Over the past four months we've been preparing for the newborn army that is slowly but surely approaching. Jasper and the Cullen's as well as the pack constantly practice their fighting skills. I have to say everything is going pretty good so far regarding training and Carlie has gained another power. She can turn invisible, it's completely insane! Since Carlie received this special gift she can use it on herself and Charlie when the newborn army comes. We are technically using them as bait for Victoria but I am the wild card. She doesn't know that I am alive still and even though I don't turn into a dog doesn't mean that I don't have the strength of one. Edward was the first recipercant to get his ass handed to him because of it. When he first got here the boy refused to fight me all the way up until I called him a fucking pussy which the guys got a laugh out of. But then I felt bad with Carlisle's disapproving look and apologized immediately. Eventually he caved and started fighting me for training purposes only or so he says. Turns out that Tanya from the Denali Coven is Edward's mate. I think he thought that I would be all jealous over his new love but when I showed very little interest in speaking with him but started conversing with his wife instead he was beyond put out. It is what it is, he is a boy from my past. I don't need a little boy when I had the man I needed in Samuel Uley. Edward had the audacity to put down my mate until Carlie called him out in his stupidity. She told him that it's been over 9 years and that if he can't accept my happiness than he is not needed in the upcoming fight with Victoria no matter how beneficial his presence would be. That if he had taken care of the Victoria issue a long time ago, none of this would be happening now. Nobody was going to put down her family in the time of an impending war especially not over something ridiculous as jealousy. I was a proud mama that day and Tanya was sure to slap her husband in the back of the head and take their leave. There has not been any problems after that so called incident, thankfully.
Emmett and Rose are due to be coming soon, I am not sure what day but I know Carlie's calculations are correct. I am beyond excited to know how Cassie and Jake have been faring so far. Just thinking of them brings back memories of what happened two weeks after they disappeared. Cassie informed the hospital that she would be taking a long leave of absence because of a family emergency out of state. And you want to know what happens? The people in this oh so wonderful town started nonsense rumors once again. It seems that my father and I was having a secret love affair while Samuel started pursuing me as well. After Emily found out about Sam's betrayal she moved back to the Makah reservation but not before telling her cousin Leah who then came to confront me and defend her cousin's so called honor. In doing so Jake defended me and that broke them up but not before Jake confessed how in love he was with Cassie. Then Cassie fled to other family taking her new lover Jake and leaving her husband Justin behind in complete and utter heartbreak. Oh and get this, Jake left Leah pregnant with his love child while he ran off with his secret lover, Cassie. Yup, you heard that right, about two months ago Leah found out she was pregnant. The town had a field day on that information until Sue corrected everyone in telling them that the baby was actually Justin's not Jake's. That just made things worse for Justin and Leah though. Now the town can't help but talk about how much of a slut she is for breaking up such a loving marriage and how a loving man could betray his innocent wife like that. The two victims really didn't comment much on the accusations since they know that most of them are true. But it just sickens me that people can talk about Cassie so vulgarly then transfer that viciousness to Leah. I guess that it can't be helped when you lived in such a small ass town. That's how far along my step sister is though 2 months pregnant to be exact and that made Justin happy for a moment until he realized that she got pregnant the night he marked her as his mate. It has been a little rocky for those two but I can see their friendship growing, slowly. That's what it is at the moment, just friendship nothing more. Maybe with time but Justin is holding on until he talks to Cassie face to face. My daughter told him not to wait on at least getting to know Leah because when his wife returns he ain't gonna like what he sees. Trying to follow Carlie's words Justin asked Leah out on a date and she happily agreed. So tonight they are doing a dinner and movie thing. I want to have happiness for this but I am totally Switzerland right now. I can't be happy or sad because it's like I am choosing between my family (Justin, Leah) and my best friends (Jake, Cassie) and I can't do that so I am on neutral grounds right now. I just want them all to be happy. I don't know if Cassie is gonna be ecstatic to find out about Leah being pregnant with her husband's child but in the end what is there to do?
Coming out of my thoughts I hear Samuel laughing at something my dad said. Gazing over the porch of my home I see the pack and their imprints surrounding the pool while Quil, Jasper and Carlie are playing on the playground set with all the kids. Who knew that Jasper was a kid kind of guy? He has such a roughness about him but watching him chase the pack kids around the yard is beyond amusing. "How you doing Belle?" Looking back at Carlisle I just smile with such happiness. "Who would have thought this scene possible Carlisle? I mean, the wolves and the vampires hanging out like they aren't enemies. It's astonishing really." Giving me a smile of his own. He gently drapes his arm over my shoulders in a fatherly embrace. "If only my Esme were here to see this, she would be so excited. It's all because of that beautiful daughter of yours Belle. She is really something else." Looking at Carlie again I see her jumping on Jasper's back as he plays pretend pony for the kids. Laughing out loud at the picture in front of me. I take in the golden eyes of my 'SON IN LAW' which holds a glint of revenge in them. I guess I'll be receiving scoldings for laughing at such a display! Oh well it's still funny so I laugh even harder. Carlisle is chuckling along with me now. "Is Jasper acting like a donkey over there? Oh My God, who would have thought a leech playing with a pack of pups?" Hearing Saraia call Jasper a donkey gets me into another fit of laughs! "Hahahahaha! Saraia, I love you so much hon! You make the party much more exciting!" Smiling at my words we all head down to the basement to join the fun.
"Hey I heard you write your own songs? Is that true Elle?" I just nod at Sam's baby sister, "Yeah, we have our own recording studio too. Cassie, Justin, and I love to write songs, sing, and dance so we had this room made for that very purpose. Come, I'll show you." Heading down the staircase I walk towards our studio and go through the glass door. Saraia and Carlisle just follow me in. When we get to the sitting area where the recording takes place I just pick a random song from Cassie's playlist. "This is a song that Justin and Cassie wrote together, it's called I Won't Give Up. They wrote it after confessing how they felt about one another. At the time I was so happy for her because she had such a horrendous childhood. Her mother died giving birth to her but her father, he just used her for his own needs." Staring at Saraia I can see she doesn't quite understand what I mean yet, "He used her body for his own urges hon. Whenever some friend wanted a sample he would sell her for however long until a new bidder came along. Then one day she came across this guy named Douglas, he gave her father enough money to not ask for her back. Told her dad that if he came near his property (Cassie) ever again he would dismember him and burn the guy piece by piece. After speaking with Cassie's dad Douglas let her go, told her to find out who she really is, who she wants to be because she is worth more than what that trash of a father was doing to her. And she did. She traveled all over the world, made friends with all sorts of people, met other hybrids like herself. Then she started going to school. She has at least 9 different degrees right now. Lawyer, Doctor, Teacher, Business, Accountant, Music, Dance, Psychology, and Marine Biology." Laughing at the girl's face I understand. "I think she wanted to take up auto next and I am quite certain that will happen sooner than later since Jake is her... Well you know." Nodding with an amused smile, "So she could be any of those other thing coming here and she chose to be a doctor like you?" I just give a light chuckle at her question, "I guess you're just gonna have to ask her when she comes back if you really want to know." Just as we are exiting the studio I hear the doorbell ring, not really sure who that could be I go to head back upstairs when Carlisle intercepts. "You girls head on out and I'll see who it is." Turning towards the back doors I exit with Saraia right behind me. Kissing my father on the cheek and reaching my arms out to Samuel. I kiss the man tenderly before taking him into a loving embrace when I hear a voice that I haven't heard in oh so long come from the upper balcony. "BELLIE BOO BOO! I'M HOME!" And with that I see a blurred figure jump from the second story level into our 30 feet pool. Oh Emmie Bear, how I miss your ridiculous antics!