BIG NOTE: Anything in bold in this chapter with the excection of POV's is pack mind or Edward reading minds, because I used the italics too much and it italicized the entire last third of the chapter, which would make it very difficult to understand.

Okay, so horrible friend alert…I completely forgot to give major props over the last two chapters to my new beta and good friend A Cullen Wannabe for not only being the run-on slayer, but also coming up with the supremely awesome title for last chapter! Here are the answers you've been asking for! Tissue alert! Hope you enjoy~

Beth POV

We caught their scent about 10 miles out, but neither Leah nor I could hear the pack. The only confirmation we had were the barrage of images that my father must have been thinking to get to Edward. I could only hope it wasn't working.

I was kicking myself for believing him, but Leah kept trying to reassure me.

He fooled us all, Beth. Don't blame yourself.

Alice was telling us about her vision changes, which had been our first indication that something was wrong. Edward and my mom were flickering in her vision, like they were coming in and out of being. And that could only mean one thing, their fates would both be decided in the next few minutes, and we may not make it back in time to make a difference. Alice's frustration over the blindness the werewolf presence was causing her at the moment had reached its fever pitch as she screamed out. "I can't take it! These flashes are giving me a migraine!"

As we got closer, I heard my father threaten to end "this." His words were so vicious that I couldn't help but scream in the pack mind, hoping he would hear me.

We continued running through the forest as fast as our legs, be it two or four, would carry us. Within another two minutes, we were nearly at the meadow, not sure of what we'd find. In those last feet, the wind changed, alerting us that the rest of the pack wasn't far off. Reaching the edge, there was a collective gasp as we saw that man with Edward's head in his mouth. His body was limp and the screeching of teeth on vampire skin echoed as I bellowed to him.

Put him down! NOW!

Edward's body fell lifeless to the ground as Jake cowered on the ground. The movement behind me was stilled as Leah stepped forward to stand beside me.

It can't be…that would mean—

Jake rose to his feet again and bounded closer to us.No! I am the Alpha of this pack and no one will take my birthright from me.

The same lineage that gave you the right to make that claim is what has allowed me to take it from you. Jacob Black, you have endangered your family, your pack, and your tribe. You've gone against every rule that governs the Alpha and I will not stand by and watch you destroy our people. I took a step towards my father and I felt the Cullen's shift behind me. Leah, keep them back until its safe, then get them into the house.

Leah nodded while Jake stared blankly; it seemed he couldn't hear me when I wasn't trying to speak to him after the split.

I will not give the pack to you Bethie…let an adult handle it; you don't know what you're taking on. You'd fight your own father to save the ones that did this to you? Because you can't win this, and I will finish what I started.

My hackles bristled at his comment, and I knew what had to come next. I know more than you realize. And I will fight you, but it is to protect my pack and save my "dad" from my "father." You won't touch him again.

I stepped into the clearing and saw Emmett go to follow me but Leah jumped up and placed a paw on his chest before shaking her head. Carlisle turned to her and she huffed before running into the woods to change back and give them a recap of what had happened. We both knew this wasn't a fight she could help me with. When potential Alphas fight over control of their pack, the only person who can interfere is an imprint, and only then when their mate is in mortal danger. Feeling her slip out of my consciousness, I knew that I was all alone now.

My father took another step to me and I followed, circling until I was between Edward and Jake, shifting again before lunging. I had never intended to make contact, but only wanted to give the Cullen's the few seconds it would take to get Edward into the house and out of harm's way. The loss of the advantage I had was worth their safety.

We danced in our tight circles, advancing and countering, but not making much progress. I knew that it would take a miracle to beat my father. Leah had been secretly training me for this from the beginning, knowing that if the tribe needed it, I was the only one who could take the pack back. But we also knew Jake wouldn't give it up. If it took my death to free the tribe from his reign of terror, I would make that sacrifice. The only regret would be that I didn't get to say a real good-bye to my mom and I'd lied to Edward. I had told him I'd be careful, that I'd be safe…but I knew the moment the words left my mouth that I was talking to him for what could be the last time and it was a lie.

He'd never forgive himself, it was his way. That's why I had called him "dad," I felt the need for him to know that's what he was to me before I did this.

The pack was closer, I could hear them in my head again, which meant I was a part of their pack. That was a good thing, because it meant they'd have to listen when I told them to let me go so that Jake would lose his last ounce of control over them.

I felt the pull towards their presence as the trees rustled and five wolves entered the meadow. Sam, Jared, Quil, Embry and…

My gaze shifted to Seth…Seth.

The pull was crippling, it took everything in me to stay focused on my father as I ordered the pack to stand down.

Jake moved and I repositioned myself. The house was open and I saw him turn towards the structure. Without thinking, I pounced. He turned on his heel and flew at me, connecting with my chest. I felt the wind rush out of me painfully as my ribs cracked, one of them puncturing my lung. I landed with a thud, each breath barely coming as it scraped thru my functioning lung while the pain of the other was so intense it was blinding.

My only hope was that he would finish it quickly, that way the pack could do what I couldn't, but the blow I'd been expecting never came.

Instead the pull I'd been feeling grew impossibly closer as my eyes focused on my father where he landed near me, the crunch of bones colliding coming to my ears just a second later. I felt his cold nose and didn't have to wonder who was by my side. Only one person could have intervened in an Alpha fight and he was standing over me with worried eyes.

Can you stand?

I lifted my head enough to shake my head slightly and the felt another head press against my left shoulder, which was now being nudged off the ground. Sam stood on my left side, while Seth took my right, careful of my ribs as they pressed into me, walking towards my father where he stood under Jared.

Say it Elizabeth, you're the only one who can finish this. We know Leah explained this to you. Sam's words were so reassuring, a lifetime ago he had led this pack, and now he was guiding me to take my rightful place.

Walking over to my father, I looked down my muzzle at him and spoke in the best Alpha voice I could manage through the pain. Jacob Black, you have endangered your pack and your tribe. You've broken faith with your allies and broken treaty with those who know our secret. Your time as Alpha has come to an end. I banish you from this pack and this tribe. You will not be allowed to step foot on our lands again and any act of aggression against us or our friends will be seen as an act of war and what was started here today will be finished. Do you understand me?

Jake's head nodded weakly where he lay.

Then go.

Without another sound, I watched as my father rose from the ground and ran off into the woods, knowing I'd never see him again.

Collapsing back to the ground, Leah ran out of the house with a blanket as the Cullen's stood in the doorway.

"Sam, I'm going to phase. I need you to come with me to run with Emmett and Rosalie to get supplies for Carlisle to help Beth and Edward. Jared, you, Quil, and Embry can watch the meadow while Seth stays with Beth." They looked at me for confirmation and I nodded. The boys ran into the woods to give me some privacy as Seth and I phased back, knowing Carlisle would be able to treat me easier as a human.

As soon as I was covered in the blanket, Seth scooped me into his arms and I felt like I was home. "Don't you ever scare me like that again, you hear me?"

Smiling up at him I let out a painful laugh. "I've loved you for as long as I could remember, but I never knew it could feel like this."

His brow furrowed as he carried me into the house. Carlisle directed him into the bathroom to clean me, knowing, probably from Leah, that there'd be no kicking Seth out now.

Soon I was on a table set up in the bathroom, while Carlisle looked down at me from his position at my IV. "I've seen enough of you Swan women on my exam table to last a lifetime. Relax, when you wake up, you'll be as good as new."

I felt the cool liquid enter my veins and as the heaviness washed over me, Seth's face filled my vision before it blurred.

BPOV

The anxiety was killing me! Worse than the burning or the waiting, the sheer worry that bombarded me from every angle was overwhelming. I felt the calm, uselessly licking at the emotional climate, as I'm sure Jasper tried in vain to fight off the gloom. I couldn't take it. What had happened? Who had been hurt or…killed? And where was Edward? It had been a day since I had felt his presence beside me, something I knew, thanks to the incessant ticking of the grandmother clock that hung in the living room. Beth wasn't with me either, which worried me even more. If something had happened to her, I would never be able to handle that.

She had to be at the house, keeping her distance because I would be waking up soon. And Edward…he was standing guard, making sure Jake didn't hurt our girl. That was the only thought that kept me sane at the moment.

Then it started.

My toes felt oddly different, not cool, but just the absence of the intense heat that had racked my body since my wedding night. The fire in my heart grew as the beating of my heart reminded me of the tribal drums at La Push, the bonfire paled in comparison to the intensity of my burning heart.

As the fire retreated, the beating quickened and the temperature in my chest increased if that was even possible. I just wanted it to end, to open my eyes and see my family, see Edward. I needed consciousness to banish the sinking suspicion that threatened to still my heart before the transformation had the chance. My thighs calmed as did my elbows, my body arching off the mattress as Alice called out. "It's happening, Carlisle! Come here, now."

I heard the padding of several feet as the intensity in my chest grew, the fire leaving my stomach and head, finally retreating from my shoulders and exploding into my chest as my heartbeats bled together then sputtered…once, twice, and with one final beat…silence.

My eyes opened and I looked up at the purple ceiling…I was in Beth's room. Rolling over to see everyone but Esme and Edward in the room sent a chill through me, but I asked anyway. "Is Edward with Beth? He's with my daughter…that's why he isn't here to see my transformation come to an end." That wasn't a question, it was a plea. Any other possibility was too painful to consider, so I didn't.

Carlisle stepped forward as I sat up, surprised by the lack of thought that went behind the movement. "Bella, Jake arrived while you were burning and he was able to manipulate us in a way…" Carlisle stopped and I sucked in a staggered breath, I was only minutes old and I already knew the pain and frustration of a tearless sob. "Beth is fine, she's at the main house with the pack, and Jake will never cause us a problem again. But Edward…"

Then it came, like a flash through the darkness, something I had sensed during the burning, but pushed aside, not knowing at the time what it was.

Bella, I'm sorry…I love you.

"No!" I jumped out of bed and pushed past them and into the bedroom just as Emmett's arms wrapped around me.

That's when I saw him. Edward was lying in bed, with sensors attached to his skull and a brace around his neck. He was perfectly still, not a breath, not a twitch. My love was as silent as stone. I collapsed into sobs as Emmett held me, moving us closer to the bed. "You can lay with him, Bella, but you have to be still. Carlisle's waiting to see what kind of damage he suffered when he wakes up."

I turned to Carlisle. "Will he…?"

"I have every hope that he will. He's healing slowly, but there are indications that he will come back. His brainwaves are getting stronger and the cracks that Jacob left on his cranium are healing as well. We're lucky Beth distracted him when she did, or he would have never survived it."

"How is she?"

"She was injured in the fight with Jake, but has already made her recovery. I know you want to see her, but it will have to wait. Right now, I think you should go for a hunt-"

"I won't leave him. Rosalie, would you mind-"

"I'll get you something 'to go' and be back here soon." Rosalie smiled as Emmett's face lit up.

"I'm coming too!"

Rose laughed and nodded. "Fine, you can do the heavy lifting."

With their departure, I nestled into Edward's chest and spoke to Jasper without meeting his eyes. "I know how hard you fought to keep things calm, Jasper. Why don't you and Alice take a break, I'll call you if I need anything."

I felt their fingers brush across my ankle before they left as well, leaving only Edward, Carlisle, and I in the cottage. "Is there anything you need from me?"

I looked up and smiled. "If you don't mind, Carlisle, I'd like to be alone with my husband."

Carlisle placed a hand on Edward's forehead and ran it through his hair. "We brought her back to you, now you have to come back to her, son."

Without another word, he smiled down at me and kissed my hair before leaving us alone.

EPOV

The humming was relentless. I couldn't place its source around the room, but I knew one thing, I wasn't dead. There was no way death could hurt this much. My head ached and my throat felt constricted. Worse than thirst, it felt like it would choke me if I needed air to breathe. I struggled to open my eyes as I felt the tiny shift of weight on my chest. Bella.

How long had I been unconscious? What had happened in the battle? And how in the hell had I survived? Jake wouldn't have let me go…but I don't remember anything after the pain. It was all very infuriating…almost as much as the fact that my eyes refused to open. Struggling a little more, I finally caught a glimpse of the familiar ceiling, but I couldn't move my neck to look down at Bella.

I reached up to claw at the offending item when I felt her hand grasp my wrist as her face filled my vision. Perfection. My love was breathtaking and the smile that filled her face was almost successful at making the worry that had been etched in her features just moments before fade.

"Edward? Oh thank heavens you're awake! Oh baby, I thought I'd never see your eyes open again." She whispered as her body shook with sobs as I tried to sit up and console her, but she gently pushed me back, enjoying her newborn strength. "Oh no you don't, you stay right there until Carlisle has a chance to look at you." Bella reached beside her and grabbed my phone. Pressing a button and holding it to her ear, she smiled down at me with unfathomable eyes. "He's awake."

As soon as the words were uttered, the phone was back on the nightstand as she ran her hand across my face. "Edward, can you speak?"

It was then that the worry returned to her face and I realized just how serious my injuries had been. "I'm so sorry, love. I should never have gone against him alone after what I promised you."

The fire in her eyes returned and if I hadn't been ordered to stay still, I would have mauled her at the sight. "Don't you dare use your first words to me in five days to apologize, no matter how much-"

"Five days?" I'd been out for that long? That means she'd woken up from her transformation to spend her first four days of immortality as a nurse to me. She must have been terrified. "Baby, please tell me what happened."

"We can talk about that later, I want to know you're well before I have Beth come down to tell you everything." Bella continued to brush her fingertips across my forehead and cheek, when the bedroom door opened.

"My son, it's good to see you back in the land of the living. How do you feel?"

Carlisle stood next to the bed as Bella moved to sit by my knee, resting her hand on the blanket covered joint. She watched Carlisle intently as he looked at the monitors I hadn't been able to see at first. "My head aches…and this neck brace is a little tight."

Carlisle continued to look over the readings, finally taking off the sensors and turning off the machine. Studying my face, he ran his fingers through my hair, looking at the marble skin hidden beneath on both sides of my head. Satisfied, he turned to Bella and their lips moved, but no words came out. I thought it an odd time to try to hide something from me in such a juvenile way; they'd have to know I would ask what they were discussing.

"Can you please just say whatever it is you're discussing?"

Both of their faces snapped and Bella's eyes grew wide with panic as she clutched her chest. "Please God, no…"

My father grabbed an otoscope out of his bag and looked into both of my ears before sitting next to me. He looked into my eyes and began mouthing something again and it wasn't until I focused on reading his lips that I saw what had upset Bella so badly. Five little words…"Son, can you hear me?"

I shook my head and Bella collapsed in on herself, curling into a ball, silent sobs shaking the bed. "How will this affect him, if his hearing damage is so significant that he can't hear us when we talk in a human's hushed tone…is this something that may come back with time, or…"

Her sentence hung there as my eyes fell on Carlisle. "The cracks and some of the smaller marks Jake caused have healed, but the crushing of his scalp and near his ears hasn't gotten better. I had hoped it was merely cosmetic, but it seems that it has caused some hearing difficulties. He will be able to hear most thing, we'll just have to adjust to it. Let me just see something."

Comfort her Edward.

I sat up and suddenly felt light-headed. Carlisle braced me and Bella's brow furrowed worse as she took my hand. "I'm okay, just a little dizzy."

"Put your head between your legs, I've heard that helps." She smirked at me. I was happy to see her mood lighten as she remembered the early days of our relationship.

"Isabella Swan-"

She cut me off; the hurt in her voice was like a knife in my heart. "Cullen…Isabella Cullen. Oh no, he doesn't remember marrying me?"

"Of course I remember marrying you. That is the single most joyous day of my life. It was a force of habit is all."

Now my love sat agape staring at me. "You heard that?"

"Of course I did, you may not have shouted it, but it was clear as day."

"Incredible." I looked at my father as he looked between the two of us.

"What?" I was exasperated and I wanted to know what the big deal was.

"Edward, I didn't say that. I thought it."

"I heard you? How?" I turned to Carlisle who was smiling at the two of us.

"Eleazar thought that once Bella was one of us that between her power and yours she may be able to send thoughts to you, like she does emotions. It wouldn't work with everyone, but because of your ability and the connection between the two of you, he had hoped it would be possible."

I grinned so wide I thought it might crack my face but I didn't care, I could hear Bella…finally. "Can we take off this brace? It's driving me crazy."

Reaching up, the metal that had been secured around my neck was gone within seconds as Carlisle sat it next to the monitor. "Until the headache goes away, I don't want you exerting yourself too much. Another few days, and you'll be able to take Bella out for her first hunt."

I wasn't excited about being on bed rest, but then, the end of Carlisle's sentence settled in. "First hunt? Bella, you've been awake for four days, how could you not take better care of yourself?"

Bella sat close and took my face between her hands. "Edward Cullen, I woke up, you were unconscious, and we didn't know if you'd ever wake up. Jake was sent running for the hills by my two year old, who is trapped in the body of a teenager and has not only assumed the responsibility of Alpha over a tribe over 2,000 miles away, but also managed to imprint on her godfather. I couldn't see her for the first two days until Leah came as a test when I demanded that she come visit you, hoping it would help. We finally realized that between the werewolf stench and the desire to be near them, I couldn't hurt the pack even if I wanted to. I wasn't going to let you out of my sight for an instant. What if I had gone out and you had…" Bella stopped as the emotion of reliving the last few days overwhelmed her and I pulled her to me, rocking her gently, hoping the movement wouldn't make me dizzy again. "I've been ordering in. The room service here is really top notch."

I had to laugh at Bella's attempt at humor as she turned to the door. "Did they bring something for Edward; he's probably dizzy because he's so hungry."

Carlisle nodded as Emmett bounded through the door with six large metal water bottles in his hands. He sat them on the edge of the bed and then eyed me suspiciously. "There isn't something wrong, is there?"

I shrugged. "My hearings a little worse for wear, but I'm just happy to be alive."

"Yeah, that Beth was impressive…the way she ordered Jake to drop you and then practically sacrificed herself…if it hadn't been for Seth breaking those freaky wolf rules-"

"Emmett, Edward doesn't need to be freaking out about Beth right now. Just let them be. Bella, three of the bottles have straws for Edward, the others are for you."

Rosalie smiled as Bella opened one for me and then took one for herself. I was temporarily mesmerized by the movements of her throat as she drank from the bottle before turning my attention to my own dinner.

It didn't take long for our meal to be over and for Bella to fix the pillows behind me so I was comfortably propped up, with her cuddled into my side. Carlisle returned with the rest of our family and the pack, who waited outside.

Esme was first, trying to hold back her emotions as she hugged me. She was so happy that I was awake, but obviously upset that I had suffered permanent damage.

Alice was next, hugging both Bella and I as she fussed with my hair, saying that it would easily cover the worst of the teeth marks.

Jasper clapped me on the back, and Emmett and Rose settled in as I saw the movement at the door. "Daddy?"

I looked up to see Beth crying from where she stood in the doorway. Beckoning her with my arms, she climbed on the bed and bawled into my chest, her words garbled by her breathing and hiccups. I rubbed soothing circles on her back. "Its okay, my sweet girl, everything is going to be okay."

She looked up at me and finally calmed herself. "I thought I was watching you die…that we'd been too late. I knew going out to meet my father that I'd most likely have to challenge his claim on Alpha, but when I entered the meadow…I knew I was going to have to die to save you."

"Elizabeth, why would you even dare to think that you should sacrifice yourself for me?"

She looked down. "It was what you said the night before it all happened. You told me about how someday you and mom would have to bury me…I couldn't take both of us away from her…and I couldn't let the pack suffer anymore either. I had to do it."

"I don't want you to ever be that careless with your life again. I don't care what would have happened to me, there is no way I would have been able to live with myself if I had woken up and found out that you had died."

Beth shifted uncomfortably as Seth emerged in the doorway. "He's right, sweetheart. You're the heart and soul of our pack, and you shouldn't have been that careless." Seth smiled at Beth with pure love as his eyes shifted to me. "I don't mean to intrude, but I wanted to see that you were all fine in here."

I motioned for him to join us; Seth was a part of this family now too. "You've stood beside me and protected what matters most to me more than once, and now you're going to be a part of this family."

"Not for some time yet. I still have to get used to her not being a baby."

We all laughed, knowing all about that adjustment. Sitting there for a little while longer, we caught up on everything happening in La Push and what Bella and I had missed while we were sleeping.

The next few days were spent relaxing with our extended family as Beth refused to leave until I was doing better, but the truth was that Beth and the rest of the pack were needed home. Jared, Quil, and Embry had gone back soon after I woke up to help Paul and the younger boys protect the tribe in case Jake tried to do something.

Bella was beside herself at the idea of watching Beth leave, but I assured her that we would go home to Forks to visit as often as she wanted to. The treaty between the wolves and our family was stronger than it had ever been, with the ban on La Push lifted and an open invitation to visit.

It was hard to watch Bella come to terms with the separation, but as she exited the bathroom, ready to go out and say her good-byes, there was a determination in her eyes that was just one of them many reasons I loved this woman.

Walking out the front door, Bella went to hug Sam first before standing in front of Beth and Seth. For the sake of the pack's secrets, Beth would be known as Lizzie in Forks. She would be a friend of Leah's that Seth met when he came to visit her here in Alaska.

Leah, who was staying behind with Sura, at least for the time being, stepped forward to hug her brother and her goddaughter. "I'm going to miss you both, so much."

Seth gave her an extra squeeze before pulling back. "Me too, sis, but you finally found your love. I told you there wasn't anything wrong with you."

She laughed and then went to stand next to Bella. Taking a step up, she hugged Seth and Beth and then held one of each of their hands. "You two take care of each other, and you call if you need anything."

"We will, mom." Beth was crying enough for all of us. It broke my heart to see her so upset.

"I love you, Beth. You stay safe now. No more running off on misguided suicide missions."

She nodded and then threw her arms around my neck. "I love you, Dad."

Do you really think I'll be a good leader?

I smiled down at her and nodded emphatically. "You're going to be an amazing Alpha, just listen to everyone around you and know when to ask for help. We'll see you soon."

Running off into the woods, we heard the rustling of branches as they phased and then, for only a second, a pair of eyes cut through the shadows before the digging of claws could be made out as they began their journey home.

Tugging on Bella's hand, she turned up to me and smiled. "Let's go inside."

"You okay?" She nodded and winked at me.

I'm fine; I just want to spend some 'quality time' with my husband. It's been a long time since we've been alone without anything hanging over us.

And with that, my wife and I went to enjoy the peace that the past few weeks had finally afforded us.