(Bella)

Sam and Jake didn't look very happy to be here. They were still standing outside, arms crossed over their chests. I got up, moving toward the door to let them in. Peter and Char shifted to sit closer to Jasper as I moved by, Peter putting his mate into the corner of the couch protectively.

I was a little concerned myself at what the pack's reaction to their red eyes would be. So far, I had kept their being here a secret for that reason, which I'm sure Sam wouldn't like. I wondered if I should have just told them right away, but dismissed the thought quickly. It was my business, after all, who I chose to invite into my life.

I squared my shoulders as I opened the door.

"Hey guys, you coming in?" I asked, challengingly, leaving the door open and walking away. I could here them hesitate, then follow me in as I walked back toward Jasper. My spot on the couch had been partially taken by Peter, but I squeezed into the small space between him and Jasper anyhow. "Take a seat guys." I said, nonchalant.

Sam and Jake exchanged a look before sitting as far from the couch the four of us were sitting on as possible. They looked uneasy, as if being in a vampire's den was their idea of hell.

"We were listening outside Bella, and saw the two Denali vampires leave." Sam said. "We didn't expect to find these other two red eyes here."

Jake looked ready to lose it. "Bella you have no sense of self-preservation at all. Every time I turn around you are running right into the arms of a human drinker. Please, for once, just back away from him before he bites you!" He pleaded.

Peter blinked at me, confused for a moment, then smirked. He sniffed me dramatically, licking his lips. "No Bella, stay right here." He snapped his teeth loudly.

I stared at him, mouth hanging open for a second before laughing at him.

"Weren't you even a little scared?" he pouted.

"Nope. I've seen scarier vampires than you Petey." I teased him, smirking.

Jacob and Sam looked horrified.

"Oh come on." Peter said, looking at the two wolves. "Give me some credit. It's not like your kind need to eat every piece of food you see."

"Umm... bad example." I joked, looking at Jake.

Sam suppressed a laugh, while Jake looked indignant.

"I don't eat everything I see." He mumbled. I decided not to argue with him, although he was a bottomless pit.

"Peter and Charlotte Whitlock." I introduced pointing. "Meet Sam Uley and Jacob Black. You already know Jasper Whitlock."

"Whitlock?" Sam asked. "I thought you were a Cullen?"

"I went by Hale when I was with the Cullen coven. I have gone back to my true name and have left the Cullens." Jasper said. "I was leader of the Whitlock coven before I joined the Cullens over sixty years ago and have only recently returned to them."

"So you aren't here to take Bella back to the Cullens, right?" Jake asked angrily.

"No. If she wants to see them, I will take her to them, but I will not force her to." Jasper answered.

"You know of the treaty and you still brought your coven here." Sam said, staring at Peter and Charlotte.

"I was never part of your treaty, at your insistence I believe it was Sam. They are my family and I will not leave them behind to spare your tribe's ego. We are more than capable of taking care of ourselves if you feel the need to test us. We aren't pacifists like the Cullens, but out of respect for your people there will be no hunting in your territory." Jasper said flatly, leaving no room for argument.

Sam's nostrils flared in anger and Jake looked back and forth between the two men. I could feel Jasper coiled tight against my side, ready for action should the situation call for it. I hoped Sam would realize who he was dealing with before it came to that. When I told the pack about the Cullen's histories, I hadn't known Jasper's.

"Sam, I trust them." I said, hoping to ease the tension. "When I leave Forks, I will be leaving with them."

"I trust your judgement Bella." Sam said grudgingly. "Just understand it is hard for us to go against our instincts like this. To accept that we must allow cold ones to walk the Earth freely in our own backyard makes us all very tense."

"I understand." I said, getting up and going over to my friends, grabbing Sam's hand and kneeling on the carpet in front of him. "But you are going to have to get used to it. Emily and Jake already promised to be my friend after I've become like them." I smiled up at Sam, squeezing his warm hand. "I just hope the smell is exaggerated." I wrinkled up my nose.

"It's not." Peter whispered loudly.

Jake fake-coughed loudly.

"Peter!" I scolded. "Behave yourself."

"Sorry ma'am."

"Come on, the Denali's bought a bunch of food that is just going to go to waste here. Let's see what we can make for lunch." I told the guys, leading them away. "You three make sure you got everything, I don't want to come back to this place ever again." I called over my shoulder.

We ate outside, sitting at the patio table. The guys complained that the smell was too much for them indoors. Once assured that everything in the kitchen had to go, the guys made some enormous sandwiches and polished off a mountain of chips. Anything that would expire was bagged up and Jake and Sam would be taking it with them. They wouldn't be able to phase with the bags, but they were pretty fast in human form too.

I could see my vampires inside while I ate thanks to the glass wall of the house, talking amongst themselves. It looked like something was going on, Jasper looked worried. I sent him my confusion and concern, getting his attention. He looked up at me, sending me some concern back and pointing to his phone.

I was about to go see what was going on when my own phone rang. It was my Dad again.

"Dad?" I answered.

"Hey Bells."

"What's up?"

"I was wondering if you could come home sooner than dinner? I need to talk to you about something."

"Is something wrong?" I asked, worried.

"Everything's fine. Are you with Jake now?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm having lunch with Jake and Sam now." I said, drawing the boys attention.

"Good." Dad mumbled. "Well just get home when you're done then, okay?"

"Sure Dad, I'll be home in a few minutes. Bye."

"See ya then Bells."

I hung up, confused. I looked at my phone, as if it held answers for my father's bizarre call.

"What was that about Bells?" Jake asked.

"I have no idea." I told him. "I guess I better get going. Charlie never wants to just talk, it must be something important." I frowned. My father wasn't by any stretch a conversationalist. Something had him worried, so much so that he needed to check on me twice in one day. He never hovered like that.

The last time I had seen him this concerned was when Victoria had been killing hikers, and even then he limited it to warning me about sticking with Jake and staying out of the woods. The guys helped me with the dishes and headed back to the rez after telling me they'd talk to me later.

I'd forgotten about Jasper's weird message by the time I made it back into the living room.

"Bella, I got a strange text from Emmett. It was about you." He said when I walked in.

"What?" I said, still stuck in my own head. I focused on what Jasper was saying.

"Here, read for yourself." He handed me his phone.

Emmett: I overheard Rosie talking to Alice on the phone about Bella. She said she was dead. CALL ME!

"What?" I repeated, too confused to come up with anything else.

"Bella, how do you want to handle this darlin'? I don't want to do anything you aren't comfortable with." Jasper said softly.

I looked up at him, feeling a bit overwhelmed. I couldn't let Emmett think I was dead, that wasn't fair to him. There was too much happening right now though to figure out what to do next.

"Do you mind if I..." I pointed to his phone.

"Go ahead." he said, sending me curiosity.

I typed back: Guard your thoughts. Bella is not dead. Trust me. I'll call when it's safe.

I handed the phone back to Jasper and he nodded in approval. "Couldn't have said it better myself."

"I have to get home, something is going on with Charlie." I grabbed my coat and keys and headed toward the garage. "You three just meet me at home when you're done here, I need to get going. Sorry I can't be here to figure out the Emmett thing, but Dad sounded strange."

"I'll follow you on my bike, Peter and Char can take my truck. I think we're done here." Jasper said.

"Okay, but Dad is home so you'll have to park somewhere out of sight." I told him.

I put my helmet on quickly and fired up my bike, watching him do the same. Now that he had been able to get to his stuff, he now had access to his own riding gear. Peter and Charlotte joined us in the garage, getting into the pickup. Jasper and I left first, riding together down the long drive. Riding alongside Jasper wasn't nearly as much fun as riding with him, but I did miss driving my bike.

Before long, he was dropping back, allowing me to take the lead as I pulled up and parked, securing the tarp over my bike again to keep the rain off it. I pulled off my helmet before going inside, calling out as soon as I had the door open.

"Dad?" I yelled. "You home?"

"In the kitchen."

I hung up my coat before walking over to him. Everything looked normal. Nothing was amiss, he looked healthy, I couldn't figure out the problem. I sat down, frowning.

"What did you want to talk about Dad?" I asked.

(Charlie)

I watched as Bella nervously sat down across from me at the kitchen table. As much as I hated to treat my daughter as a suspect, I needed to right now. I needed her to be nervous, to give me some answers. I trusted her judgement, she was a smart girl, but I wasn't a fool.

I knew she lied to me, and not the type of lies that teenage girls told their fathers. I also knew she was doing it for the right reasons. I was an honest man, but sometimes you had to do things you didn't agree with to protect the ones you love. I liked to think I was practical and that Bella got that trait from me.

When I came home from work early today, it had been simply because it had been such a slow day. I didn't take a lot of time off and I had been itching to get packed up for my weekend fishing trip. Fishing was my favorite hobby, but mostly the guys and I just went to the nearby lakes and rivers. Harry winning tickets to go out on the ocean was a real treat. It meant staying overnight in the city, which I wasn't all that fond of, but it was worth it.

I had noticed how hard Bells had been working lately taking care of Billy's house as well as ours and thought I'd help her out by cooking tonight. My skills in the kitchen were pretty limited, but Bella wasn't a picky eater. The only thing she insisted on is that I ate more vegetables for my health. I appreciated that she cared and she managed to make them taste pretty good besides. I was shocked when I went to get some fish out of the freezer to defrost and found a month's worth of meals made up.

They were all portioned out for single servings, labeled and dated just yesterday. I started putting things together. The new phone. Her upbeat attitude lately. The changes in her routine. It clicked suddenly and I stood there, holding a packet of fish, afraid.

Bella was going off after that boy. The Cullens. I was torn between anger and sadness. I was so sure she was getting over him, them. But now, I could see all the signs that she was about to make a run for it. She was making sure I'd be taken care of, and soon she'd be taking off. I wondered if she'd let me know or if I'd wake up to a note one morning and an empty room.

I walked upstairs, putting the fish in hot water to defrost and thought about what to do next for a while. Eventually, I called her and asked her to come home. I had to find out the truth. I knew my daughter wouldn't lie to my face, but she had been hiding things from me. I wasn't as clueless about things as she thought I was.

I was still in my uniform, using it to help keep my cop persona intact. I let her stew a bit as I thought of how to start. She spoke again before I had figured out what to say, my stormy expression getting the best of her.

"Dad? You said you wanted to talk about something? Is everything okay?" Bella said sounding anxious.

"Were you going to tell me? Or just leave me a note?" I started, knowing the shock of my question would either confirm my suspicions or prove me both wrong and extremely paranoid.

Her face went white and her jaw dropped open. The first option then, I was right. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, but didn't speak right away. I waited, giving her time.

"I was going to tell you." she whispered.

"What were you going to tell me?" I asked, blowing out a loud sigh and leaning back, relieved that she was talking.

"I hadn't decided yet." she admitted.

I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Where were you planning to run off to?" I asked her sharply.

"I'm not sure." she told me.

I waited, hoping she'd tell me the truth. I didn't know how she got in contact with the Cullens again, but she must have somehow. I don't know why she would keep it from me, it's not like I could stop her from going anymore. She was a grown woman now, technically.

"You're not sure?" I prompted.

She shook her head. I watched her carefully, looking for signs of dishonesty. Unexpectedly, I didn't see any. She had gotten better at lying in the past few months since the Cullens left, but she wasn't that good. I considered that she might not have a set destination. That would be something I would expect from her mother, not from Bella.

"Explain." I said simply. Short demand, easy to interpret lots of ways. Maybe I'd get lucky.

"I can't." she said. "What tipped you off?"

"I'm Chief of Police, Bells. Give me some credit." I said. She just looked at me. I sighed. "The new phone, attitude, and a months worth of your cooking."

She blushed a little. "Damn, the fish is down there. I forgot."

We sat in silence for a little while, both thinking hard. I was sure she was plotting how not to tell me things. Maybe it was time I told her a few things I should have done the minute I knew she was dating Edward Cullen. I had made promises but I'll be damned if I lose my daughter over them now. I have a feeling it was too late to save her anyhow.

"You aren't the only one with secrets Isabella." I said, looking at the ceiling.

She perked up at the use of her full name. I had to know how much danger she was in. I couldn't tell her if she had a chance.

"Secrets can be dangerous." She said simply.

"I thought so. Did you know when Billy and I were boys I used to help out his grandfather Ephraim before he died?" I asked her, watching her expression.

"You did?" she said. Her expression gave away more than her words.

"Yes. I know what the Cullens are." I emphasized.

"You knew all along, and you didn't say anything?" She asked, shocked.

"Ephraim liked them very much. I always liked the old man, always listened to his stories. He treated me like his own grandson. I know about the Quileutes and the cold ones. Billy, on the other hand, disagreed with his grandfather about the Cullens. It was his father's doing mostly. William was very jealous that by the time he was old enough to phase, the Cullens had left and he never did. He passed that on to his son Billy in the form of spite and hatred.

"The treaty was supposed to forbid them from telling you the truth. I didn't know if you knew and I didn't want to do anything to cause you to find out. I know there are penalties for knowing things that you shouldn't. Not just the treaty, but from the Volturi. It seems they broke the treaty, I should have figured they would." I grumbled. Edward broke my baby's heart, why not risk her life as well?

"It was Jacob that told me. Before Edward and I started dating." She said. "How do you know about the Volturi? Sam and the wolves didn't know about them."

"What?" I didn't expect that one. "I'm going to kill that kid. As for the Volturi, Carlisle told Ephraim it was a secret and not to be included in the legends. Those two were close. I only knew because the old man would tend to tell me extra stories when he had a few too many beers."

"Don't blame Jake too much, I was going to figure it out anyhow. I'm a cop's kid after all." She grinned at me. "He hadn't even phased yet then, he didn't know what he was doing."

"Well, at least you went into it with your eyes open." I huffed, a bit disturbed that my daughter willingly dated a vampire.

"Wait, so Billy knows that you know all about the Cullens?" She asked me confused.

"No, we were young and they were just stories. He probably thinks I forgot them or didn't take them seriously. When we were older and I was caring for the old man, Billy was busy learning how to be a leader from his father, so I was there alone." I explained.

"Oh." She said, frowning. "Edward can read minds, but he always said your thoughts were fuzzy to him. I guess that's a good thing, considering."

"Ephraim taught me to block my thoughts from him. I've had a long time to perfect it." I told her.

"The Cullens always just thought you had a gift like I do." she said. "Edward could never hear my thoughts at all."

I looked at her wide eyed. "Well, that's good. Maybe it's some of both. I was very careful around him though. I wish I'd known you already knew all this Bells. I just wasn't sure and I couldn't risk your life on a hunch." I told her sadly.

"What changed?" she asked.

"I thought you had found the Cullens and were running off to be with Edward, I guessed you probably knew more than you should. On the chance you didn't, I figured you needed to know some of it." I spat his name out like a curse. Even if he wasn't a vampire, and too old for my daughter, I still would hate him. I'd hate any man that hurt her like he did. If I could, I'd kill him myself.

"No, I'm not going to him." She said, the certainty in her tone clear.

"So where are you going then?"

She hesitated. "I'm not sure."

"Is it to do with them?" I asked, digging for clues.

"Yes, in a way." She answered, dragging out the words. It wasn't an exact confirmation, but it was close.

"Are any of them here now?" I was getting closer, her face gave her away. "Have them come in Bells." I said, getting up and getting a beer from the fridge. I had a feeling I was going to need one.

She got up, opening the back door. "Jasper?" She called out.

A few seconds later, a tall blonde vampire walked in the kitchen with her. I recognized him as one of Doctor Cullen's sons. I knew he wasn't really his son, but that is what he pretended to be when he was here last.

"You hear everything already?" I asked, knowing they had enhanced senses.

"Yes sir." he replied.

"Are you alone?"

"For the moment." he said. Then to my daughter he said, "Peter and Charlotte are finding somewhere to put the pickup where it won't be spotted."

Three of them. I wondered what the wolves thought of that. I wasn't sure what was going on with the pack. There seemed to be a lot more of them than the usual three, and tradition said Jacob should be leader, but Sam seemed to take the lead when they were together.

"The wolves giving you trouble?" I asked, curious.

"The pack are my friends, Dad." Bella said. "I'm sort of an ambassador for all things strange."

I sat down at the table, waving for Jasper and Bella to do the same.

"I don't suppose you can tell me anything more than Bella has then?" I directed at the vampire.

"I shouldn't." he replied. "You've done well to keep everyone from guessing how much you have known your whole life. Keep it that way and you'll be safe. That includes your friend Billy."

I nodded, expecting such an unhelpful answer.

"Are you planning to become like them?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"Yes. It's the only way I will stay safe Dad. Too many people know that I know thanks to the Cullens. It's only a matter of time before someone comes looking for me. It isn't safe for me to stay here." Bella told me. She didn't look scared, but I noticed Jasper take her hand reassuringly anyhow.

"You will keep in contact with me then? I'll just pretend not to notice anything different on the phone, but you call me regularly." I told her.

"I can do that." She smiled. "I'd really like that actually."

"Alright then." I said getting up. "Bella, you have this Peter or Charlotte on that fancy new phone of yours?"

"Yeah."

"Call them up and tell them to park the truck in the driveway, no need to hide it." I took a good look at Jasper. "Jasper, why don't you come help me with something in the basement."

I could see the panic on my daughter's face, but Jasper seemed unusually calm, as if nothing could ruffle him. I opened the door, letting the vampire go down first and winking at Bella before shutting the door behind us. I leaned against the washing machine, watching him for a moment before starting in.

"Weren't you with Alice Cullen before?" I asked.

"I was with her for sixty years. I recently broke things off with her."

Sixty years? That was a long time to be with someone by anyone's standards. He may look like a young man, but he obviously was not.

"How old are you?"

"I'm nineteen, almost twenty years old. I was born in 1844, sir." he replied.

"You intend to change my daughter?" I asked him. He nodded in reply. "And what are your intentions toward her." I hadn't failed to notice the little looks between them. I didn't want another Edward situation.

"Intentions, sir?" He looked conflicted. "I like Bella very much. I'd never hurt her like my former brother did, I can promise you that. Everything else is up to her."

"Former brother?" I liked the sound of that.

"I have left the Cullens and will be officially cutting ties with them soon. I am already with my former coven, Peter and Charlotte."

"So Bella will be joining this coven of yours then?"

"Yes, at the very least she will be with us for the first few years after her change. After that she will be free to do what she wants, go where she wants."

"Why will she have to stay with you at all?"

"New vampires need a lot of help at first. We call them newborns because like a baby, they need to learn to do things over again. It takes time to learn to control their movements, strength, speed, and so on. If they were on their own they would expose themselves for what they are to the humans."

I considered this man in front of me. He seemed genuine, but at the same time, I was wary of anyone showing interest in my girl. I didn't know how much time I had left to get to know these people my daughter was running off with, but I knew I had to make the best of it.

"Tell me why I shouldn't trust you with my daughter's life." I asked of him, knowing I'd get farther than asking the opposite.

"I've killed men as a human in the civil war, and then I was turned and killed thousands both to feed and in vampire wars for territory. I've made enemies in the south that may come for me one day, and sometimes when other's see my scars or hear my name they want to fight me to prove they are tough. It's possible Bella could be hurt by someone trying to get to me."

"So you're a soldier, a vampire, and a fighter." I snorted. Could be worse. At least this one doesn't play piano. "Alright kid, you just protect my girl and we don't have a problem." I patted him on the back and headed upstairs.

Bella was pacing the kitchen nervously. I chuckled at her. What did she think, that I was going to shoot him? More likely he'd eat me.

"You call up those friends of Jasper's?"

"Yeah, they are on the way over now."

"Good." I said. "You going to be here when I get back from Seattle on Sunday?"

Jasper spoke up. "I have some business to attend to soon, we could do it this weekend. Paperwork to finish up with my former family. If Bella wants, she can come with me but we aren't leaving town yet."

"I'm not sure if I want to go or not, I'll think about it." She said.

"Alright, as long as you give me some notice Bells. Promise me that."

"I will, I promise." She kissed my cheek.

"Okay then. Now, no more talk about any of this fairy tale stuff." I pointed to Jasper. "Him and his friends are in town visiting you, I don't know anything more than that. Deal?"

"Got it." Bella smiled at me.

There was a knock on the door and Bella introduced me to Peter and Charlotte, two red eyed vampires. I had to fight my instincts hard not to call them on it, but I couldn't let on that I knew what that meant. It was bad enough that Jasper knew, but he had already heard me admit it and there was no way to make him forget.

They noticed my unease and excused themselves to Bella's room, leaving me alone to finish packing for my trip.