DISCLAIMER: Stephenie Meyer, along with Little, Brown and Company, owns all the rights to the Twilight Saga. I own nothing and profit nothing from this story.

After I finally forced myself from Sam's embrace and a couple of hours kissing, I left La Push. Instead of going home, I pulled down the narrow drive that was once a daily drive. Waiting on the steps was my best friend. I climbed out of the truck and walked toward Alice.

"I wanted to hope you would change your mind on the drive. Guess that's the drawback of seeing into the future, you don't get to hope for things you know won't be true," she said dejectedly.

"Alice, you have to know that I want you to stay. If it wasn't for the impact you have on the wolves, I would beg you to stay. But I can't do that, not knowing that young boys are losing their freedom, their lives to becoming shape-shifters."

"I understand, Bella, really I do. You're a selfless person. Almost to a fault, I add. We can still stay in contact if you want."

"If I want? More like what I need. You're my best friend, Alice. I couldn't stand to not be in communication with you. Maybe we could even meet in Port Angeles every once in a while to hang out. I'll even let you take me shopping," I smiled sadly.

"That sounds good. I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun. Anyway, I should be going. Esme and Carlisle already headed out."

"Oh, okay. Well, say good bye to them for me."

"I will. Don't worry, Bella, they don't blame. We all understand you're reasoning."

"Sure, sure."

"Here," she said handing me a piece of paper. "This has all my contact information on it. So you can write, email, call, whatever you want, whenever you want."

"Okay, thanks."

"I'll always love as a sister, Bella. So get that frown off your face. Maybe this will be better for you. You can have a stronger relationship with your wolf, without some meddling vampires around so much," she said with a small laugh.

"Perhaps you're right. I know Sam would feel a lot better with a little more distance between you guys and La Push. I'll miss you though, all of you. Send my regards to Edward, please?"

"You know I will. Stay safe," she said hugging me. She pulled away and in a flash she was gone.

The rest of the week went pretty smoothly. I had to work after school on Monday and on Wednesday. Sam went ahead and scheduled himself to run patrols those nights since we would already not being seeing each other. Tuesday night Sam came over and ate dinner with Charlie and me.

I was still finishing up in the kitchen when the door bell rang. I put down the knife to get it, but Charlie called out, stopping me.

"I've got it, Bells." I resumed cutting up the tomato for the salad. I could still hear them in the door way.

"Hello, Sam, come on in."

"Thanks, Chief Swan."

"Sam, really call me Charlie."

"All right, Charlie."

"Bella is finishing up now. You want a beer, Sam?"

"Uh, sure, but I'll just have one. I've got to drive home."

"Good man. " I heard them walking into the kitchen. Charlie headed straight to the fridge, while Sam walked toward me.

"Hey, baby," he murmured into my neck from behind me. I turned around in his arms to hug him.

"Hey, yourself," I said softly, smiling up at him. We were staring into each other's eyes when I heard a throat cleared. I jumped slightly and looked at Charlie. He had an eyebrow raised. I had previously dodged his question about Sam and mine's relationship.

"So, Sam, you've been spending quite a bit of time with my daughter lately, even more than usual."

"Yes, sir, I have."

"And any particular reason for that?" Sam looked down at me with his eyebrows raised. I nodded letting him know that it was okay for Charlie to know.

"Well, we've started dating, Charlie. I hope that you're okay with that."

"Sure, it's fine, just fine. About time if you ask me."

"Dad," I whined.

"What? Sam's a great guy, a guy that a father can approve of." Inside I found it slightly humorous. Many fathers across the world would want a guy for their daughter to take care of her financially. Edward could do that without blinking. But that wasn't the most important thing, not like my emotional welfare was. Money isn't everything, happiness was. And that was what Sam would be able to give me better than any other man out there. I was happy that Charlie understood that.

We sat down to eat just after that. Charlie had an approving smile on his face the entire meal. Actually, I think Charlie talked more during that one dinner with Sam than with Edward in the entire time we had dated. I loved that Charlie approved of Sam so heartedly. I had feared that with Sam being with a few years old that Charlie might approve of us being friends, but not in a serious relationship. Apparently Billy had long ago inducted Charlie into Team Sam. And for that I was thankful.

But I started to feel a little left out of the conversation. I didn't have much to say about sports, home repairs, or safety of the area. As I started to play with my left over peas, Sam reached over and took my hand under the table. He squeezed it before starting to rub circles with his thumb. It was a comfort, and any contact with him always put me at ease.

Thursday after school I went straight to Sam's house. We cooked dinner together. Sam manned the grill outside for the steaks and potatoes, while I handed the cream corn and green beans inside. Jared and Kim joined us for the meal. It was nice having them over. Paul was supposedly on patrol and couldn't make it. I had a sneaky suspicion that he wasn't even invited. I let it go easily, wanting to enjoy a drama free night with the other imprinted couple. I sat amazed at how well they interacted with one another. As one shifted, the other did too to be closer. Like planets, and the sun, the orbited around one another. They existed as equals as they appeared to be each other's suns.

I hadn't come up with a make Paul accept Bella' plan yet, but I was constantly thinking or rather plotting up ways to win the angry wolf over. But that worry was put aside by a bigger one.

Friday was the day that I was anxious about. Sam and I were going over to his mother's house for dinner. Kim had warned me on Thursday about her.

"Honestly, she's a nice woman, very kind to those she likes. But that's the problem, she can be tough to impress. Well, at least when it comes to Sam that is. She raised Sam pretty much on her own. He's her baby and she only wants the best for him."

"Okay, so what can I do?"

"Um, well, again if I'm being honest…" I nodded wanting the truth both good and bad. "There's nothing you can do."

"What does that mean?"

"She was a Leah fan. Like a huge Leah fan. Like she still thinks that the two of them will get married once Sam gets whatever it is that's in his system out."

"So she doesn't know that he's a wolf and it won't be leaving his system?"

"Nope, neither do Jared or Paul's parents. When they say it's a secret, they mean it. The only people to know are wolves, Council members, and imprints. That's it."

"So she won't be very understanding of the fact that I belong with Sam or of imprinting?"

"Nope and she's having a bit of a hard time accepting it. That he's dating you."

"May I just ask how you know all this?" I was curious. I was glad she knew, because Sam's only response to Friday dinner was for me not to worry. Yeah, fat chance of that happening.

"Pillow talk. Remember there are no secrets in the pack. Sam thought about this the other day while he and Jared were phased together. Jared heard it and then he told me later that night."

"Oh, okay. Anything else?"

"She fixed dinner for the two of yours dinner solely that she would have some leverage in meeting you. She wants to check you out herself."

"And just so I'm clear, I can't do anything to impress her because…"

"You're going to hate this. It's the race thing again. His mother was just raised to believe in the idea that preserving the culture and bloodlines of the tribe is important. She's a stickler for tribe tradition."

----------

So I found myself in Sam's truck Friday night panicking on the inside. Sam's mother was just as important to him, as he was for her. I was holding tightly onto the peach cobbler that I made in hopes of making somewhat of a good impression his mother. Sam released the grip of one of my hands and took it in his own.

"You'll be fine, baby."

"She already doesn't like me, Sam."

"Why would you say that, Bella? She doesn't even know you yet."

"She knows I'm not Leah and that I'm white."

"Mom liked Leah, but she also knows that I broke up with her for my own reasons. I wasn't completely happy with her, unlike I am with you. She'll see that."

"But I'm white, Sam. And not just that, I'm the whitest of the white."

"You make my mom sound a little racist, Bella."

"No, that's not what I meant. I just know that she wants you with a Native girl. That doesn't mean she doesn't like white people in general, I know. She just doesn't want one as a daughter-in-law. I know it's important to her, Sam. She believes in the traditional ways of the tribe."

"Well, I don't, obviously. And she'll be getting a pale face as a daughter-in-law, so she'll have to get over it. Don't worry. Once she gets to know you she'll love you. It might just take a little time, so be patient, baby."

"I will. She's your mom and she's important to you. I'll make her like me if it's the last thing I do."

"Good girl. Well, we're here. One last piece of advice, baby. Don't back down, keep eye-contact, and be confident. She's a strong, independent woman, and she would expect the same of anyone I would marry. Show her that you're right for me, just as I already know."

I nodded in understanding. I took a deep, relaxing breath and opened the truck door. Sam came around the truck to take the cobble in his right hand and my hand in his left. We walked up to the small cottage-styled house. Sam let my hand go to knock on the door. He opened it quickly before waiting for a response. I followed him inside. He shut the door and held my hand again.

Walking toward the kitchen, my nerves started to grow. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Sam stopped us and leaned down to place a chaste kiss on my lips.

"Everything will be fine," he murmured against my lips.

"Sam," a voice said behind Sam. I felt his body stiffen before he broke away quickly. I looked around him to see someone that was not his mother.

Author's Note: Who do you think it is?? And what will Sam's mother have to say to Bella? We shall see!

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