So after the hug and everyone calmed down, Carlisle and I talked about what has supposed to happen.

I guess all I was supposed to do was live my life and include both sides. He said everyone would play their own part.

It was pretty late when Carlisle and I finally ended our conversation and walked back to our families.

I yawned and pet both Sam and Jared's head as I walked by.

We all went back into formation, with Seth and Jared in front of me.

"Is that all now?" I asked the Cullen's.

"Well that's all we have to say. Did you all have anything else to discuss or have any questions?" Carlisle asked politely.

Guys? - Bella

We need to talk about the treaty. Bella, if you would like you can go home. It's just the terms of the treaty and what we are going to do to mend it and such. - Sam

My heart soared at the thought of everyone trying to be one big family.

Don't go that far Baby, its just I think its time for some new terms and to fix some of the old ones- Sam

Thank you Sam. - I said happily.

"Well Sam would like to discuss some things with you about the treaty, but I think I am going to head out. Good night everyone." I told the Cullen's.

Sam commanded Jared and Seth to make sure I got home safe and patrol around my house just incase.

I told the pack goodnight and walked away with Jared and Seth close behind me.

When I got home I said goodnight to Seth and Jared and then went upstairs to go to bed.

"Crap." I whined.

I forgot to grab my clothes from Sam's house. I sat on my bed thinking what I should do.

I could just have them appear, but I was so tired that I really did have the energy.

My closet and dresser were both empty cause I took everything up to my apartment.

I was just about to plop down on my bed and go to sleep in my clothes when I remembered I had a shirt of Sam's on the washer. I have been meaning to give it back to him…but I guess it can wait a few days.

I tiredly walked down the stairs and grabbed the shirt and walked back to my room.

I stripped off my sweats and put on the huge long white cotton tee shirt.

I loved how it still smelt like Sam even though it has been through my washer.

I pulled back the covers and then slipped in bed, enjoying the comfort of my sheets wrapped around me.

Not long after I was sound asleep with a smile on my face thinking about my family.

When I woke up I felt hot.

I turned back to find Sam curled up behind me with an arm around my waist and on top of my covers.

I was practically sweating with his body heat so close to me.

I carefully and quietly slipped out of my covers and snuggled back up to Sam.

I closed my eyes and smiled at how much I loved this moment.

His muscular body made me feel so safe and secure. I didn't care how cliché that sounded, I just knew how true it was.

His breathing was even and slow, and his grip was still firm around my waist. It was like he could even protect me during his sleep (which was probably possible.)

After a few more minutes of daydreaming, I decided I couldn't fall back asleep.

Sam's grip wasn't that hard to pull out of, I was just afraid that if I was to move away he would wake up and I didn't want that to happen.

Sam has been exerting himself way too much, and needed the sleep.

I sighed and decided to stay put. I thought of everything I needed to do to today, or at least what the pack wanted to.

Since I was home for the weekend I decided that we were going to celebrate Leah and Seth's birthday.

It was sometime during the week but who knows if I would be able to make it home.

Oh! Or maybe they could come to my place. But it's not done…

I sighed. Maybe Sam could help me today…

I looked over to the clock and found it has been two hours since I woke up, so almost 1 o'clock now.

If I was going to celebrate the two birthdays I was going to need to start working.

I cautiously pulled out of Sam's grip, and luckily he was still sleeping.

I leaned over and gave him a small kiss and then hopped in the shower.

After I was done, I grabbed my clothes and changed. Then I went down to the kitchen, grabbed a pop tart and wrote Sam a note.

Sam,

Didn't want to wake you. You needed the sleep.

Went out for some things. Call my cell when you get up. Be home soon.

Love you.

Bella.

I grabbed my cell and headed off on Storm to the store.

When I was there, I immediately went to the picture frames. Some were colorful, while others were antique looking. There were even really big ones that you could hang places and some you could just put on tables.

I finally headed to the check out line after deciding to get some fun yet serious looking picture frames. I made sure to grab a variety of ones you could hang and some you could sit. I also grabbed frames with all different sizes and designs.

Truthfully, I was really excited. I couldn't wait to put all the pictures in the frames and place them all around the apartment.

I quickly drove home and was met with a smell of blueberry pancakes.

I made sure the picture frames were still secure in my huge over the shoulder bag and parked Storm.

"Hello!?" I yelled coming into the house.

"Hey." Sam yelled from the kitchen.

I didn't bother to set my stuff down I just walked into the kitchen while my tummy rumbled with hunger.

"Smells good." I said walking over and hugging Sam from behind.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed his shirtless shoulder.

He looked over his shoulder and smiled at me.

"Why thank you. I figured you would be hungry when you got home."

"When did you get home? Why didn't you call me?" I asked snuggling into him as he turned around still cooking the pancakes.

"Eh. I thought you would be home soon anyways. I didn't get up too late. Maybe like 20 minutes ago."

I nodded.

"So what did you get?" he flipped a very yummy pancake.

"Some picture frames. Actually I wanted to ask you a favor." I said giving him a sweet smile. I walked from his embrace to set the table.

"What do you want…or need?" he asked suspiciously.

I fake gasped. "How…why-…I would never ask for such a thing." I tried pulling of a shocked and offended face while putting the plates on the table.

He snorted and just looked at me.

I decided to drop the act. We were wasting precious time here.

"Ok, so can we paint my place later today? Please? I was thinking of having Leah and Seth's birthday at my place? Kind of like a welcome to my new apartment and a happy birthday get together."

He put all the pancakes on a big plate and we sat down to eat.

"Alright. Did you get the paint yet?"

I shook my head and swallowed my mouthful of pancakes.

"No, I didn't know how many cans we should get."

"How many were you thinking?" he said with food still in his mouth.
"Maybe like 6-8. We have a huge family room and then 2 long bedrooms"

He nodded. "Alright. Did you want me to pick them up after I patrol? Then you and I can go?"

I smiled at him. "Sounds perfect."

We ate in silence for a couple minutes before I spoke up.

"Do you think it would be a good idea to tell Leah and Seth to be over here on the day of their birthday today? Or should I just wait"

"It doesn't really matter. If you would like, I could have them meet you here the day of. That way it is more of a surprise."

I smiled at him even larger. "I love you."

He looked up from his food and swallowed before smiling at me.

"I love you more."

I laughed and rolled my eyes. I brought my plate up to the sink and looked at him.

"Not possible."

I turned back to wash the dish and big hands wrapped around me.

"Oh but it is. I love you more than anything." He said kissing my cheek.

I turned towards him and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Show me." I commanded.

He looked into my eyes for a second, before crashing his lips to mine.

The kiss was powerful and hard. There was so much lust and want, it was breath taking.

Unfortunately, we both had to pull away from air.

"Wow." I gasped.

He snickered a little. "Damn straight."

He looked up towards the clock and back at me.

"I have to go for patrol. Did you want me to call you when I get to the paint store or stop by here before I go so you can give me a list?"

I smiled. "Oh, you know me too well."

He rolled his eyes and walked towards the door. "I know"

I went towards the door to walk him out and smiled at my wonderful boyfriend.

I couldn't help but kiss him. He was amazing, what could I say?

"Mmmm. Sorry I couldn't stay longer baby."

I shook my head and smiled up at him. "Its fine, I'm just going to clean up. What time is your shift over?"

I walked him towards the door and opened it for him.

"It's only an hour. So I shouldn't be too long."

I nodded and leaned against the door as he walked outside towards the woods.

"Have fun. Tell the guys hey for me." I yelled.

He turned around and waved, saying he heard me and he will.

I shut the door after Sam walked into the woods, and began to wash the dishes.

After I was done, I looked at the clock to see I still had about a half hour.

I trotted upstairs and went on my laptop to look at the colors. Only 20 minutes later I found all of them I wanted.

I picked a nice deep purple that would go nice with the clean white ceiling and crown molding.

For the two bedrooms I picked a smooth light green and a darker blue that wasn't quite as dark as a navy blue, but just perfect.

I smiled to myself; it was a lot easier than I thought.

I didn't know what to do next, so I ended up just taking out my notebook and writing some songs. I used my computer to find a good rhythm and began writing. Not too much later, I had a good melody and some lyrics.

I closed my laptop and then shut my notebook. I quickly put a gray hoodie sweatshirt and headed downstairs to go meet Sam.

I was a little early, but hey, what can I say, I was excited to start painting my new place.

I stuck my feet in a pair of tennis shoes and walked out the door towards the woods.

I wandered around a little, just enjoying the scenery of the woods, before I felt my body go tense.

I felt as if something was going to happen. I stopped walking and looked around. No one was there.

I took a breath. Maybe I was just being paranoid.

I knew I was lying to myself, but I didn't want to think about anyone out here in the woods with me.

I took a few more steps, brushing up against the trees on occasion when I swear I heard something.

I turned around once again to find nothing in sight.

I sighed, and just as I turned around to keep walking I gasped.

"James."

My heart was racing a mile a second. This was not good. He was going to take me away. Or kill me. Or worse. My face paled with fear.

I turned around; hoping to make a quick escape, when I was met with the Jamaican dread lock vamp Catie told me about.

I took a deep breath and then swallowed the lump in my throat and put on a brave face. I quickly snapped my head back to James and found him smirking.

He had me trapped and we all knew it.

"What do you want?" I asked harshly.

"Ooo. Is that anyway to talk to your mate now?" James taunted.

"Mate?" I chuckled.

"Yea, right." I said with as much sarcasm as I could.

He growled and walked circles around me. My head followed him, not letting him out of my sight, no matter how scared I felt. I looked briefly at the man and saw he stood back letting him do whatever was necessary. My attention was his again as he began to talk to me.

"You know, I would be nice to me. Your dogs could be on the edge of death and you would never know."

If it was possible I felt myself pale even more.

No. I thought. I would feel it. I would know if one of them was hurt.

I reassured myself. He is bluffing; trying to get me anxious.

"Nice try James." I sneered.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Well, then I guess I will have to try a different tactic with you."

He stopped walking and placed himself overly close in front of me.

"This is your last chance Bella. Join me or regret your decision for the rest of your miserable existence" He threatened.

I snorted and pushed back at him, making sure I was in his personal space, just like he was trying to be in mine.

"Listen and listen close. I will NEVER be with you. I would rather die then be with you."

He let a growl escape his lips. But then put on a cocky face.

"Oh now now Bella. Simmer down." he scolded teasingly.

"I would never want to hurt you. Physically." He countered himself, smirking in the process.

"Now, your wolves. They are a very different matter." he pondered, pacing around me in a circle once again.

"I wonder how you will feel when you are all alone. And that boy you are dating. The black wolf."

I looked at him shocked. He knew what they looked like in wolf form?!

"Oh yes Bella. I know them all." It was like he was reading my mind. And I didn't like that one bit.

"You have no idea how much I cant wait to see myself and my new found friends rip up your loved ones into tiny little pieces." he sneered in my face.

I looked over to the man and found her smirking.

"That would be fun." he taunted.

I glared at him. "You know what else would be fun? Seeing you burn in hell." I held as much disgust and venom in my voice that I could handle.

The man took a battle stance and began to snarl at me.

"Just wait till I send a powerful overload through that skinny human body of yours. Then we will see who is in hell." he threatened.

I noted to myself that that must be his power.

I turned to James annoyed by the Jamaican vamp.

"What is he? A person to do your dirty work?"

James growled at me, and I saw his hands curl into tight forceful fists.

"Or maybe I should leave them hanging by a string. Figuratively of course. I could leave them on the brink of the death. That could be fun." he shot in a hard cold tone.

"Just watching them beg to have me kill them. Or better yet, you." he countered.

"Ah, what a lovely sight that would be. Having your friends beg for them to have you kill them. Wouldn't it be Laurent?" James asked behind him.

"Beautiful." Dreadlocks, or Laurent I should say, said.

I felt sick to my stomach. I must have taken my eyes off him for a second because before I knew it he had me up against a tree with his hand around my neck and my feet dangling in the air, kicking against the tree.

I wrapped both my hands around the one he had on my hand and he smiled at me.

I couldn't breath. My head began to pound and I felt my insides burn.

He took his other hand that wasn't on my neck and brought it up to his eyes.

"Ahh, so you got my message." he smiled.

It was the wrist that had the scarred words saying 'soon.'

"Now Bella, I thought you would have taken my threats more serious." he tisked.

He relieved his death grip around my neck just a bit.

"Let's leave it at this. Come with me, or start a war and watch everyone you love die."

He let his hand go and I dropped down on the forest floor. I covered my hand around my wrist and coughed.

"Now, you wouldn't want to watch your loved ones die Bella, and know all of their deaths were on your hands?"

He grabbed my hair and my eyes filled with tears of pain. He made sure I was to look at him.

"Watching me rip up your mutts like shreds of paper. The howls of pain. Or would you call it screams?" he asked, smiling as I winced at his tugging force on my hair. He watched me, waiting for my tears to pour down my cheeks. Then he looked up from me and inhaled a deep breath of the forest air.

"Ahh, the smell of your house pets. I must go Bella, but think about my offer now wont you darling?"

He backed away and winked at me before teleporting away.

I was still regaining my breath when the pack found me. I saw Sam quickly come up to me in human form.

"Bella!?" he asked concerned. He swept his eyes over my body and I kept my hand over my neck. Geez that hurt.

"Bella are you ok?" he tried looking into my eyes, but I kept darting away from them.

I nodded my head and started to get up.

Sam grabbed my arm and helped me up.

"What happened?" he asked pulling me to him.

I rubbed my throat again and looked up at him.

I could feel him go stiff and smell the air.

"Do you-..."

He stopped and looked into my eyes. He looked into them for a moment, like he was trying to find an answer, but then shook his head.

"Are you alright?" he asked again, guiding me out of the woods.

"Yea, I'm fine." I tried stating as calm as possible. On the inside. I was freaking out. More like in over drive of panic, but same thing I guess. I walked through the woods, making sure to stay in pace with him. I didn't need or want James or Dreadlocks to come out and hurt him.

"Bella." He stopped at the edge of the woods and looked at me. I knew the way he said it, it was a warning tone to tell him the truth. I also knew that he knew I was lying but I really didn't want to go over this with him.

"Hey, look. I got the list." I thought for a second, hoping for a distraction and then smiled, pulling the handy little note from my pocket.

He looked at it and then me and then took it.

I grabbed his hand, entwining it into mine and then guided him back to the house.

"You should be happy to know, it only took me about 20 minutes to find the colors I wanted." I boasted.

Most of the time, choosing certain things took me a while. There were so many choices, brands and colors, I always did research which took a lot of time.

He chuckled a little, and I felt the tension float away.

We walked out of the woods to his car.

He spun me around so I was wrapped in his arms and our chests touching.

He then slowly leaned his head down and kissed my lips ever so slightly.

"Mmm" I said with my eyes closed as he pulled away. I was savoring the moment. Geez!

When I opened my eyes I could see him looking down at me smiling away.

"See you soon." I said and started to pull away. I walked up the steps to the porch and turned back around towards Sam.

"What happened to a goodbye kiss?" he asked pouting.

I laughed. "That was it."

"I thought that was Hello?" he asked smiling.

"Well it's also goodbye." I smirked back.

"Bella." he whined, drawing out my name.

"Sam." I said matching his tone.

"Hello and goodbye are two different things." he claimed.

"Not in Hawaii." I countered.

"You know, you could have left and almost been at the paint store by now." I claimed.

"And you could have given me a goodbye kiss by now."

I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"Go Sam. Maybe if you are lucky I will give you two kisses when you get home." I teased.

He rolled his eyes; flashing me a grin as he went to get into his car.

"See you soon Baby."

I waved to him and watched him pull out of the drive way and drive off before going inside.

I sighed; closed my eyes and leaned my body against the door. My hands went to my throat and I shook my head. I should have done something.

I opened my eyes and headed upstairs to the bathroom.

I turned on the light and stood in front of the mirror.

The damage to my neck wasn't so bad. There was a slight light red hand print that was made across my neck, but it was nothing I couldn't heal.

I fisted my hand and waited for the shining light to glow. When it did, I brought it up to my neck and watched the mark disappear in the mirror.

After I made sure it was no longer visible I went to my room to change. My clothes were wet and slightly muddy from the forest floor.

I walked down the steps and set my clothes on the washer reminding myself to wash them later.

When I walked into the kitchen and looked out the window, I swore I saw a wolf.

Did Sam tell them to come around here?
Panic struck me then.

What if James and Dreadlocks were out there?

I raced out of the kitchen and flung the door open, only to find Sam with new paint brushes in his mouth, a bunch of paint cans in his hands and a stunned look on his face.

When he saw the look on my face, he quickly set them down beside him and took my face in his hands.

"Are you ok?" he asked concerned.

I nodded. "I just...I thought I saw something."

He nodded and looked at me a little while longer, just making sure I was ok.

"Have any problems with the paint?" I asked while helping him take them into the house.

"Nope." he told me as we set them all down on the kitchen table.

"Good. Then let's get going!" I said excited. I held out my hand for him and then Bam! We were back at my place.