She shoved the last of her clothes in the duffle. Thankfully all of her belongings went with her Aunt. She zipped it shut, and hoisted it onto her shoulder.

It was now or never.

Moving to the door, she tried to be quiet. She was pretty sure he had drank himself to sleep again that night, but she had to be stealthy. The door opened, and she made her way to the stairs.

She was having to leave the only home she'd ever known. All because of him.

"Gracie, Gracie, Gracie."

She froze, her heart seemingly not beating either.

Oh God no.

"Do you think you're going somewhere sweet pea?"

He yanked on her ponytail, causing her to cry out. His breath was hot in her ear as he screamed at her. Blindly she started fighting, trying to get him to let her go, but he just laughed.

"Let me go Zach! I don't want to be with you!"

"Yes you did!"

"I HATE YOU!"

He froze, and Grace struggled, but then he started laughing.

"That doesn't matter to me Grace. You're mine."

She swung her elbow back, and hit him, making him let her go. She grabbed the duffle, and was almost to the stairs when she felt the shove. Next she was tumbling down the stairs, but oddly her neck felt like it was being held still by something. As she laid at the bottom of the stairs, bruised, slightly bleeding, and her arm bent at an odd angle, Grace felt warm, safe.

She heard a deep growl, almost a snarl then Zach cried out, but she had no idea why. As her eyes closed she heard the front door being pounded on. Then nothing but darkness, warmth, and quiet.

"Honestly Billy, I just don't understand. Ever since Cullen came into her life, Bells has just changed." Charlie looked at his childhood friend, trying to figure out what to do about his daughter.

"Charlie, she's been drawn to him since his first day of school. In the end it is Bella's decision."

Charlie shook his head. "I should have fought harder for her to stay here with me then with Renee."

"There is no point in dwelling on what might have been my friend." Billy's eyes filled with sadness. "You might forget how to live."

The police chief patted Billy's shoulder, and turned at the sound of the front door opening. Jake stepped in, no shirt and soaking wet. Jake's eyebrows rose, seeing Charlie sitting on the couch.

"Hey Charlie! How have you been?"

Charlie stared at the teenager, shocked at the change in Jake. He remembered him being not so… muscular.

"Hey Jake. What were you doing outside with no shirt… or shoes." Charlie looked at the muddy feet Jake was wiping on the rug inside the door. That made him look up, and around the house. It hadn't changed much since childhood, but there were now vases with flowers, not a speck of dust, the floors were cleaned, and even there were framed photos.

"Did someone stop by to clean up your house?" Charlie asked Billy, as Jake walked down the hall to his room. Billy frowned, and looked around not seeing anything out of place. "No. Why is something wrong?"

The thud of feet came up the hall, and Jake reappeared in jeans, a black t-shirt and drying his hair with a towel. "I think Chief sees the photos dad." Jake smiled at him, and moved to the kitchen, getting some cups down from the cupboard. Charlie didn't know what to make of anything. Jake was larger, the house obviously had a woman's touch, and now Jake was in the kitchen.

"Oh yes! We found those in a box in the twin's room when Jake was cleaning yesterday morning."

"Yesterday was Monday, why wasn't he at school?"

"Oh, he was learning about his heritage with me. You know, what to expect as chief and such."

Charlie frowned. "He's sixteen."

"Chief, dad isn't exactly young." Jake stepped into the living room, and set down the hand-carved tray on the table between the men. Charlie gaped at the tray as Jake carried on, "I need to learn now, especially on my language skills. As long as I'm not out doing drugs, the school is okay with it." Jake turned and went back into the kitchen, moving a pot from the sink to the stove.

Billy looked at the tray, and smiled seeing the wolf shaped cookies on it. Grace made them every day now, and even in different colors that Leah recommended. The pack nearly died of laughter according to Sam when Grace's cookies appeared on the pack's dessert trays from Emily and the council.

"Billy, when did Jake learn to bake or even cook?"

He shrugged smiling at his friend, snagging a sugar-free ginger cookie. "These aren't made by Jake. But Grace has been helping him a lot in the kitchen the last week or so."

Before Charlie could ask, Jake suddenly turned, and smiled before a knock sounded at the door. He wiped his hands on a towel, quickly moving to the door. He opened it, and Grace stepped in, tugging the hood of her raincoat off of her head.

Charlie noticed the sparks flying between Jake and Grace, and he smiled.

Oh it was like watching Billy and Sarah all over again.

Grace smiled, and held up a box under Jake's nose. He breathed deeply, and smiled. "Pie?"

She nodded. "My specialty. I only make turnovers in the shop, but I saw how many of the caramel apple ones you ate. So I made one for you."

"Only one?"

"Well…" Grace put the box in his hand, while she took off her coat. "I also made a vanilla custard pie for your dad with an almond crust. Where is your dad anyway?" Grace looked up, her eyes widening as she saw Billy and Charlie, the chief of police sitting at the coffee table.

Jake sensed her pulse jump, and instantly he tried to find her source of distress, but the only difference tonight was Charlie. He almost growled, his wolf on the defense of his mate.

"Hello Chief Swan. How are you?" Her words startled Jake, making him glance down at her.

Charlie nodded. "I'm well Grace. You look good."

"I am. The bakery took off."

"I can see why." Charlie put the rest of the black wolf cookie into his mouth, chewing for a bit before swallowing. "These are amazing."

A light rose color filled Grace's cheeks, and Jake smiled, wrapping an arm around her. He and his wolf were proud of her.

"What's for dinner?" He looked down at her.

"I'm making some venison in gravy, some buttered carrots with peas, and the weird turn-rip thing mashed with garlic."

Grace giggled. "Turnips. They're called turnips."

Jake shrugged. "Whatever. Those things."

Grace walked into the kitchen. "Well Iron Chef, show me your skills."

He followed her, moving back to preparing the venison while he kept track of where Grace was in the kitchen. Seeing her earlier had been a treat. She had stopped by this morning to bake up some cinnamon rolls, eggs and bacon. After showing her the photos last night, Grace had found a whole bunch of old frames in her aunt's storage room. After clearing it with Joy, Grace brought them over.

Billy and Jake picked their favorites, while Grace put them in frames, and arranged them on the floor. Then, they put nails in the wall and hung up the framed photos. Jake had brought in the flowers after finding a field full of them nearby, and Grace loved them. Grace had cleaned up the house, and Billy decided to not let her see it that way again. Now, he had a routine of cleaning in the morning after getting a cup of coffee.

"Jake, I'm going to talk out to the police chief. Do you need help?"

He looked down into her clear greenish eyes. Jake smiled, and shook his head. "Only with the meat, but I'm waiting for the turn-rips are cooked."

She stuck her tongue out at him, making him laugh, then nodded, and patted his arm as she walked away to sit on the couch next to the chief. Jake dumped the bag of peas into a pot, before starting on the carrots. He had looked at several cookbooks at the school's library, he wanted to impress Grace and expand his own skill. He started eavesdropping when he heard Grace's heart start picking up again.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes sir. He said my name." The knife in Jake's hand tightened. What?

"There is nothing to worry about Grace. Just hang up, he can't get you here that would violate the order."

What the hell?

"Grace, you're more protected then you know." Billy's voice rang through Jake's head making him pause.

My cousin has been hurt before Jake. Don't let her be hurt again, even by you. Grace just needs time, and to not rush into anything she isn't comfortable with.

Quil's voice echoed through his head. Jake's curiosity wanted him to ask, but the wolf seemed almost reluctant to ask. The wolf seemed to be pensive, but growled at the potential harm to his mate. The wolf was waiting.

"Jake! The turnips!"

He looked down, and saw the pot boiling over, as Grace quickly grabbed the pot off the stove top.

"I think Jake needs more practice!" Charlie laughed from the living room.

Grace just shook her head, and turned the heat down on the turnips before looking at him. "Don't worry. You're getting there."

Jake nodded, "Are you okay?"

He heard her intake of breath, and he looked at her as she moved to him. When she wrapped her arms around him, and just stayed there, hugging him Jake felt like a million bucks. Grace rarely hugged anyone outside of family, Quil had told him. Her hugging Embry and Jake the first day they met was Quil trying to open her back up to the warm, caring person she was.

Jake dropped the knife and turned, wrapping his arms around Grace, squeezing her tight. His wolf purred, and Jake ran a hand down her spine before she spoke.

"I'm doing better now."