Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A.N. I told you I'd have another chapter by this weekend. Enjoy!

All mistakes are my own.

Edward.

She sighed and closed her eyes while her fingers made soothing circles on her temples. "Just what I fucking need right now. Asshole couldn't stay gone."

Clark didn't know what was going on, but he could guess that the boy standing at the end of their booth was the ex that everyone seemed to dislike. He decided to do as his parents taught him and introduce himself.

"Hi, you must be Edward. I'm Clark." He reached out to shake his hand but let it fall to Bella's thigh when the gesture wasn't returned.

Edward hadn't moved since showing up at the end of their dinner table. He was looking between the man that introduced himself as Clark and Bella, who had leaned into Clark's side. He tried getting a read on the stranger's mind, but was unsuccessful. It confounded him, especially since Bella was the only other person he has never been able to read. Why hadn't Alice seen this?

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he missed Bella's retreat from the diner. He only snapped out of it when his phone rang and Jessica came by the table to clean up and shoved him out of the way.

Bella laughed as they got back into the car. "That went better than I thought it would."

"Expecting a fight, Bells?"

She shrugged. "Prior experience would dictate a huge blow out."

Clark squeezed her hand. "Well maybe he will leave you alone now."

Expelling a sigh, Bella glanced behind them and out the back window. "Not likely."

Clark looked back as well, while Charlie adjusted his rearview mirror. "Little shit. Of course he would follow us."

"That's Alice's doing, Dad." She pulled out her phone and sent out a text. Clark kept looking between what Bella was doing and the back window. The silver car was closer than the last time he looked but it was still keeping a respectable distance.

"Don't go home, Charlie."

Charlie furrowed his brow but did what he was told and drove right on past his home. "Got someplace in mind, kid?"

"La Push."

"Ok, but you're gonna have to explain this to me, Bells. I thought you were avoiding Jake?"

"The Cullens aren't allowed on the Reservation. We can go there and come up with another plan."

"I know the Quileutes have a problem with the Cullens. I know they aren't allowed on each other's land. But how is this going to help us when we need to go home?"

"It's not. Not really. Edward is going to be waiting for me. Whether at the treaty line or at your house. I just don't feel like dealing with him right now. I want to get a handle on everything you've already told us and to learn more about myself and Clark."

Clearing his throat, Clark threw his idea out there. "What if I fl…"

Bella stopped him from completing that thought by covering his mouth with her whole hand. "We'll discuss it when we cross the border."

Clark's eyes sparkled in amusement while he nodded his agreement. When Bella removed her hand, he inquired about this Alice she kept speaking about.

"She was my 'best friend'." She scoffed before continuing. "I told you about Edward and somewhat of his family, but I didn't go into detail. Some vampires, as I've told you, have abilities. Edward can read minds. Surface thoughts, really. Alice, can see the future. Well, she can see futures depending on decisions that have been made. Her mate, Jasper, is an empath. He can adjust and feel the mood of someone or a group of someones. the reason why I stopped you was for two reasons," she paused to take a breath.

"One, Edward is driving close enough that he can hear whatever we are talking about. Two, if you make a decision, Alice will be able to see it. If we wait to talk and decide on our course of action until we are on wolf territory, she won't be able to 'see' us."

"Why not?"

She shrugged. "I don't know the specifics, only that the wolves somehow mess up her visions."

"So we are going to see your friend so he can help us?"

"..3...2...1," she whispered to herself before answering his question. "Nope." She popped her 'p' and smiled. "We are just going to go to the beach and talk. I don't want to involve Jake."

The rest of the ride was silent until Charlie started laughing as he pulled into a parking spot.

He pointed out the front window. "Looks like that isn't going to happen, Bells."

Both her and Clark looked forward to wear Charlie was pointing.

"Dammit. Can I not catch a break today?"

"Jake?"

"Yes and he knows we are here."

"How-" Clark started.

Both Charlie and Bella spoke at the same time. "Edward."

"Aren't they enemies?"

"Yes, but when it comes to me, they seem to put their differences aside."

"I thought that Edward has been gone?"

"So did I, but apparently we are both wrong."

Bella stepped out of the car, with Clark climbing out right after her. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms, but wasn't sure if it would be appreciated. His worry was for nothing, when Bella stood in front of him and leaned her back against his chest, encouraging him to wrap his arms around her shoulders. They both leaned against the passenger side door, while Charlie remained inside to give them the illusion of privacy.

Jake reached them moments later, with Quil and Seth following behind.

Bella refused to be the first to speak, so she waited and surprise, surprise, she didn't have to wait long.

"Bells." Jake nodded, crossing his arms across his massive chest, the two behind him, mimicking the pose.

"Jake."

"Long time no see."

"I've been busy."

Jake sneered as he glanced in Clark's direction. "Apparently."

"Don't be a bitch, Jake."

Jake ignored the dig. "When you coming home, Bells?"

"We've been over this before. I am not moving back to Forks."

"I didn't say Forks. I said home. Here," he pointed out, waving his arms to encompass the reservation, which included himself.

She shook her head and narrowed her eyes. She didn't want to hurt him, but he won't ever learn if she doesn't. "Jacob. You aren't my home. You never were and never will be. You were my best friend at one time, but the more you pressured me the more that changed."

He scowled and took a step closer to her, ignoring Clark altogether. Clark just watched on, not willing to jump in and help Bella, knowing that she can handle herself and would give him hell for helping in a situation that didn't need it. So he just kept her wrapped up against him and let her do her thing.

"We are good together. You just need to give it a chance."

"No chance in hell. I don't want you. I don't want Edward. I'm happy with what Clark-"

"For now. Until someone else comes along. Right, Bells? Isn't that how you operate?"

"Excuse me?"

Seth took a step forward and gripped Jake's shoulder. "Jake, man, maybe-"

"No, Seth. Let him continue."

"I'm just wondering how long before you find someone else to use. The leech dumped you and you came running to me. I fixed you. Made you you again. Then you left and came back with him. Who's it going to be after he leaves you? Gonna go back to Sparkle Nuts and start all over, or you gonna hit up one of the pack? The twins just turned 16. I'm sure they'd be willing and able. Or how about Paul? Maybe you're into being degraded and made fun of. Or mayb-"

He didn't get to finish that thought because Clark had his hand wrapped around his throat. Jake was gripping Clark's wrist with one hand while clawing at his fingers with the other, trying to peel it off of his throat. Quil phased and howled, alerting the rest of the pack, while Seth just took another step back, shaking his head at the scene.

Charlie threw himself out of the drivers side when he heard what Jake was saying to his daughter, but beat a hasty run around the car when Clark lunged for Jake. Just as he reached her, Sam, Paul and Jared came jogging out of the woods, dressed in cutoffs and nothing else. They stopped behind a growling Quil and assessed the situation before asking Seth what happened.

Seth gave them the cliff notes version while Bella walked up behind Clark and rubbed his back, trying and succeeding in calming him down. "Let him go, Clark. He's definitely not worth the trouble. Let him go," she whispered into his ear, while maintaining contact with his back.

After a few more seconds, Clark removed his hand and Jacob fell to the ground gasping for air while scooting back towards the safety of his pack. If Bella wasn't so pissed, she would be laughing at the sight of him crab crawling as fast as he was.

Sam stepped around Jacob to find out who the newcomer was.

"Hello, Bella. Chief."

"Hey, Sam. How's Emily?"

"Good. She'd love it if you would visit. She misses you."

Bella gave him a soft smile. "Tell her I will give her a call and set something up."

He nodded and rubbed his forehead before motioning towards Jacob, who had regained his composure and was back to scowling at her. "Care to explain?"

"Not really. Besides, Seth already gave you the blow by blow."

"Alright. Then, do you want to introduce us to your friend?"

Jacob scoffed and Sam whipped around to face him. "You are already in enough trouble for disclosing our secret to an outsider of the tribe. Do not make it any worse."

"I didn't do anything. Quil-"

"Was defending you. Your actions brought about his phasing. He is still fairly new to this world. He hasn't mastered his control yet and you are his brother. He did what he thought was right! I am ordering you to keep your mouth shut."

Sam turned back around and looked to Bella for her answer.

She grabbed Clark's hand and pulled him behind her as she walked to where Sam was standing. "Clark Kent, Sam Uley."

The guys shook hands and exchanged pleasantries before Sam asked for more information.

"Edward is back."

"Fucking leeches," Paul hissed and Jared nodded in agreement.

"Hiya, Paulie."

Paul gave her a soft smile. "Hey, Izzy."

Everyone stared at him in shock at his greeting.

"What?" he shrugged. "She's a cool chick."

Sam shook his head before getting back to the conversation at hand. "The Cullens are back? All of them?"

"Don't know. I only know that Edward is because he showed up at the diner while we were there having dinner."

"The three of you?"

"Yes."

"Huh. You two must be serious if you brought him to dinner with the Chief."

Charlie grumbled. "Why does everyone keep saying that? Maybe they are just friends and we were all hungry at the same time."

Jared chuckled and moved his finger between both Clark and Bella. "Are you two just friends?"

"No." They both answered at the same time.

That got everyone laughing. "Ok. So Edward is back," Sam started.

"And probably Alice, since she would have known we were at the diner."

"Ok. Alice, too. Is that why you came here to the beach? To get out of her visions?"

"Exactly. We needed a safe place to talk about some things and made the decision to come to La Push. When we showed up, Jake was already waiting for us."

"That would mean-"

"That would mean he has been in contact with Edward."