Thanks to everyone who is still reading this story. I really appreciate your reviews!

I still down own anything!

Chapter 14 – Ties

EPOV –

I crept slowly back into our room. Not really necessary seeing as how Bella could sleep through a hurricane it seemed but it felt natural. The room was lit by the faint glow of the full moon hiding behind hovering clouds. Under the silvery light, I could see Bella's sleeping figure on the bed. The slow rise and fall of her body was inviting, a silent call begging me to near her. I obeyed.

Gently, I lifted the top layer leaving the sheet to guard Bella's warm slumber against my cold intrusion. I cradled her against my chest molding myself to her with as little movement as possible. She fidgeted slightly but then was still again. I smiled. Time ceased to mean much to me when I was near Bella so I wasn't sure how long I held her before she started to stir.

"Come back to me," I whispered gently into her ear.

She shivered slightly in my arms and I smiled again.

"Mmmmmmm," she moaned as she began to stretch. "Have you heard from Carlisle?" She asked this before she opened her eyes.

"No, he said he would call as soon as Charlie wakes. Did you get enough sleep?" I brushed my lips lightly to the soft skin on her ear. I moved down and sipped the skin of her neck, feeling it's warmth with my lips and tongue.

"Wh… what?" she stuttered.

I pulled back slightly so that I could see her expression. It was one of bliss.

"Sorry, did you get enough sleep?" I asked again. This time, I allowed her the chance to answer without distractions.

She blinked and her deep brown pools met mine. "Don't ever apologize for that," she murmured. Unexpectedly, her warm lips were moving avidly against mine until my back was against the bed. She released my mouth but moved down to the skin of my throat and chest.

I moved my hands along the smooth perfection of her skin. "I'm taking that as a yes," I chuckled.

She didn't answer.

I heard my phone vibrate across the room. It was still tucked in the pocket of my jeans that were lying on the ground. The last thing in the world I wanted to do was feel any separation between my body and Bella's but I had a suspicion it would be Carlisle calling. I glanced down at Bella who was drawing insignificant patterns with her finger tips on my bare chest. She was leaving a blazing trail of fire on my skin.

I kissed the top of her head. "The phone is ringing," I whispered, reluctant to move.

"Oh," she said while sitting up, gripping the sheet and clutching it to her.

That left me with one option. I wrapped myself with the comforter that had also found its way to the floor and hurried to my phone. My suspicion was correct.

"Carlisle," I answered.

"Edward, Charlie is awake and doing well. His memory is just how we created it."

"That's great," I sighed in relief. I walked back toward the bed where Bella was sitting and waiting anxious. I smiled at her encouragingly and I saw her tense shoulders drop slightly. She sprang from the bed, still clutching the sheet and ran toward the bathroom. I felt a strange sense of dejavu but followed her lead and began to dress myself.

"Don't bring Bella to the hospital just yet," Carlisle continued. "Charlie is scheduled for several tests this morning." He hesitated, "Billy was here earlier and has agreed to meet with Bella to discuss Paul."

The initial implication escaped my attention, "Where, when?"

"La Push in an hour."

I waited. Carlisle must have been joking but inappropriate humor was rather unlike him.

"Edward, Billy was quite clear that the treaty remains in place. We are to go no where near Paul. The location was chosen specifically for that reason and they've extended the invitation to Bella only."

I felt the rumble in my chest as a furious growl pushed itself through my throat.

"Billy thinks I'd allow Bella to be anywhere near that dog without me by her side? Is he insane?" I bellowed. I didn't realize at first that Bella was dressed and standing behind me. I spun around, and saw that the tension release I witnessed just moments ago was short lived. The worry lines in her beautiful face returned.

"Billy's presented us with the option. The treaty still stands and Bella goes alone or they handle Paul as they see fit. Billy assured me that Paul would be dealt with appropriately."

I snorted but my fury turned it into more of a snarl.

"I don't like it anymore than you do Edward but the choice is yours and Bella's. Billy said he'd wait through the day for her."

I finally pulled my eyes from Bella's troubled face and looked out the window to the back lawn. "Thank you Carlisle," I said before I closed the phone.

"What it is?" her voice trembled with panic.

I pulled her to my chest and spoke into her hair. "Charlie is going fine, it's not that. He's awake and scheduled for some tests this morning. He still doesn't remember anything specific which is a very good sign."

"Then why the shattered phone?" she asked, looking pointedly at my hand.

I hadn't realized it but I was clutching my hand into a fist with the phone still inside. Tiny silver shards fell to the floor when I loosened my grip.

"Oh!"

"Just tell me Edward."

I sighed. Billy was at the hospital this morning and talked to Carlisle. They are ready to discuss Paul but have made the allowance for only you to be there." I searched her face, looking for her reaction.

"What time?"

I felt my eyes bug out of my head. "Be serious Bella, you aren't going alone."

"We're not breaking the treaty, I want to look Paul in the face, so what other choice do I have?" she shot back. She was already pulling away from me.

"I'll talk to Billy. I won't ask to bring the entire Cullen clan but I'm your husband, he can't expect me to be okay with you walking into dangerous werewolf territory. It's absurd!"

"There's no time. I want this done and I want to be back at the hospital as soon as Charlie is finished."

I gawked, unable to comprehend what I was hearing. Nothing made sense. I heard the words but meaning evaded me. Bella had her keys in hand and was heading out of our room. I followed her still bewildered. One thing I did know was Bella. I knew her strong will and understood I had to a choice to make, and quickly.

"Emmett, Jasper, Alice, Rosalie!" I bellowed, unnecessarily. They could hear me if I whispered their names but I wasn't in the mood to control my voice.

Bella spun on her heal and glared at me. "What are you doing?" she hissed.

I took her keys and gripped her hand tightly. "I'm driving you to the line and if I'm expected to not follow you across it, I better bring reinforcement. And Bella," I took her face tightly between my hands and stared into her eyes. "If anything happens to you, anything at all, a broken treaty will be the least of their worries."

BPOV -

A flood of memories filled my mind as Edward slowed the Volvo at the invisible line. To both of our surprise, Jacob was leaning against his car in the exact spot he waited for me so many times months before.

"What is he doing here?" I asked Edward.

Edwards's eyes tightened as he concentrated on the area around Jacob. "He's waiting for you. He's here to drive you to his house."

"But how did he know I wouldn't have my truck?" I asked, suspicious.

Edward smirked. "He didn't know, but he knows enough about me. You can still take the Volvo in," he suggested.

I thought for a moment. "No, it will be okay. I won't be gone long."

I looked back to Jacob and saw his mouth fall open. I realized that he would have also seen Rosalie's convertible behind us carrying 4 additional vampires.

It was odd, I hadn't seen Jacob in months and this reunion did nothing to spark buried emotions. The only thing on my mind was my dad. The pain of seeing Charlie suffer in part because of me was enough to cloud everything else.

"Keep your phone in your hand." Edward said, struggling to control his tone.

"I will."

As I got out the car, I noticed my now brothers and sisters had as well. They were all standing near Edward and me with expressions that ranged from smugness to fury. All their golden eyes were fixed on Jacob.

"Don't worry," I told them without the slightest hope of them believing me. I reached up and kissed Edward before turning my back on them and heading toward Jacob. Jacob wasn't looking at me. He was focusing only on the group staring at him. I walked straight to the passenger side of the car and got in.

After the uncomfortable exchange of "Hi Jake", "Hi Bella" we rode the rest of the way to his house in silence. Awkward didn't begin to cover it. During the short glimpses I allowed myself to look at him, I noticed Jacob had thinned out considerably. I told myself now was not the time to dwell on the possible cause.

"I'm sorry about all of this Bella, so sorry," Jacob murmured so low I wasn't sure I heard him correctly.

We were just stepping out of his car into the rain in front of the red brick home. I followed Jacob into the familiar space. Sam was sitting on the sofa next to Embry and Quil was standing behind Billy's chair. All of them were gathered in the small front room.

"Thank you for coming Bella," Billy said.

I folded my arms across my check but otherwise didn't respond.

Billy cleared his throat then addressed the large boys occupying the room. "Charlie doesn't remember Paul's change. A fishing accident is responsible for his injuries."

The boys nodded.

Billy continued, "I think we can all agree that Paul is dangerous."

They all nodded again. I laughed.

Sam ignored me and spoke next. "He can't be allowed near people until he has better control over himself."

"He says in La Push," Jacob agreed, "and everyone is warned."

"But why is control so much harder for him?" Embry asked.

I had once wondered the same thing.

After a short silence, Billy answered him. "We don't know. We just know we have to work within his limitations."

"It's a good thing you know that now," I snapped. My eyes narrowed on Sam. "You lost control with Emily and Paul lost control once in front of me, don't you think you had ample warning to prevent this?"

"It does us no good thinking of that now," Sam calmly retorted.

I bit my lip. I was struggling to understand that banter around me. It was just that, banter. No serious discussion of Paul's punishment. "So Paul plays house arrest while Charlie sits in a hospital? That's your solution for him?"

Jacob addressed me now. "Bella, Paul feels awful. He'll do what he can to make sure it never happens again to anyone but what more can he do? He can't erase the past."

My teeth came together audibly. "Where is he?" I asked through them.

No one answered at first but finally Billy cleared his throat again. "He's here in La Push and he's not planning on going anywhere."

"Where is he?" I asked again, feeling my control slipping.

"You're not going to see him Bella," Sam said firmly. "It wouldn't do any good at this point and I'm pretty sure your leech of a husband would agree with me about not wanting you near him." The edges of Sam's lips twitch before he finished, hinting at a smile. That was the straw that broke through my composed control. The stress, anxiety and fear I had been holding the last few weeks had taken its toll.

"That 'leech' has more of a soul then any of you could hope to have. My dad is lying in a hospital bed at the hand of one of you and you still stick to your ridiculous ties?" I felt my body trembling with anger but I couldn't stop. "The Cullen's out rank every one of you in humanity and they aren't even human. I'd really like to know what your excuse is!"

"Bel" Jake started but I cut him off. I wasn't looking for an answer nor was I finished.

"No, Jacob. You pride yourself in being human, in holding warmth, like somehow that warmth puts you above the Cullen's stone cold, but you and these people you call your family are the furthest things from human I've ever seen. And if you remember, I met the Volturi! My family's goodness, and Charlie's goodness is something you can't hope to achieve." I saw Jacob wince and I started loosing steam. I took in three deep breaths but no one spoke. "We all agree it is in Charlie's best interest to remain unaware," I continued "but I'll be keeping close watch. You all know that my 'psychic leech' sister-in-law", using their common derogatory term for my dearest friend, "would be able to see if any of you comes close to him. If Paul goes anywhere near him, or anyone of you hurts him ever again, treaty be damned." I looked at each of their faces so that they could see the seriousness in mine. "It's done," I said as I turned around and ran into the rain.

I was sobbing before I hit the road. This felt like loosing a piece of me all over again. I was mentally kicking myself for expecting anything different. Of course they wouldn't turn on one of their own, no matter how real a monster he truly was. I realized as the fury burned that I was leaving that life, that time behind me with every step I took toward my new family. My focus now and forever was Edward and my family.

I hope you enjoyed! I would have loved our characters to beat the snot out of Paul but I wanted to keep my story close to what these characters really would have done. Anyway, I'd love a review. Thanks!!