As a few days passed, Sam kept true to his word. We had this tradition. We would get up together; he would get ready for work as I got ready for the day and then head downstairs and have breakfast together. After he would leave, I would do things around the house (to get ready to sell it) and then go upstairs and pack some more of Charlie's things. I took his room step by step. There was only so much my mind could handle.

Sam would usually come back from work and find me in his room. He would usually just stick his head in to let his presence be known and then let me be. I would typically come down a few minutes later when he popped his head in and he would have a carry out waiting or a plan to take me out somewhere.

It was nice just being with him. He took some time away from the pack to be with me and the pack gave us some time to just be together.

It was on a Thursday night that Sam came home from work and broke the routine. He came in Charlie's room, taking a look around. I figured he had something to say, but instead he grabbed me by the waist and kissed me.

"What was that for?" I laughed.

"Just missed you," he mumbled in my neck.

"Sam," I giggled. Pulling his head back, I made sure we were face to face. "What happened?"

"Just a hard day at work that's all," he sighed with tired eyes.

"Wanna talk about it?" I asked.

He shook his head and snuck his hands under the back of my shirt.

"No, I just wanna be with my girl," he breathed.

I nodded and let our bodies cuddle. My hands ran through his hair and down his neck. I felt him hug me closer and burry his face in my neck. His warmth made me feel relaxed. It was peaceful.

"How about we go back home tonight?" I asked him.

"What about what you're doing here?" he wondered.

I took a look around and let out a breath, "im almost done here- there's not much left to do. And I think it will be good to go back home and cuddle in our own bed." I laughed as my thoughts drifted to my full size bed here.

"True," Sam groaned happily as he thought about it. "You sure your okay to leave here? Its okay if you don't. It hasn't even been a week yet…"

"Im sure," I said with a small smile. And it was true. With everyday that passed I was starting to move on more and more. The pain was there- but the reminder that would rip through my heart started to lessen. And with Sam around, he made it go away.

"Plus, I think you and I are going to need more clothes if we stay here," I joked.

"I don't mind grabbing some more when I get off work tomorrow. I have to stop by there and change my clothes anyways," He said helpfully. I gave him a kiss and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Im not going to break if I leave," I told him in the eye, as he still seemed skeptical.

"Alright," he breathed and kissed me, "wanna grab something to eat and then head back to our place?" he said with emphasis on 'our'.

I let out a chuckle and nodded, "Sounds perfect."

I packed up a bit more, labeling some boxes here and there. When I was done, I met Sam downstairs and we were on our way to the diner and home.

As he drove I pondered the word home. It felt good to think about. Sam and I sharing a place together…it just felt right. My thoughts wandered to the 'original plan' I always had. It was interesting to think about. I remember telling Sam about it but I always remembered thinking I would never move in with someone who I was dating. It was silly to think but I remembered reading a book on how the rates of divorce/ unsuccessful relationships ended because of living with one another. I would get married first before moving in-I was dead set on that, but look at me now. Here I was living with Sam and not even married.

Marriage.

That word gave me Goosebumps. It's not that I didn't want to get married to Sam. That thought made me happier than ever- being his wife and having a ring on my finger. It sounded great. It was just the thought of how young we really were- me being 19 and him 24… (A/N: Sorry, I don't know if I already gave them ages or not) wasn't this sort of a big thing? I guess I was looking at this out of perspective. Its not like he was about to propose today…or tomorrow. It was just that my life was one thing after another. It was literally flying- and that scared me. I didn't have any control or power- and saying that…it just made me feel helpless.

Sam grabbed my hand and squeezed it, "You okay? You seem like you are thinking pretty heavy over there."

I smiled at his little joke and nodded, "yea, just can't wait to get home."

"Me too," he smiled and kissed my hand.

We pulled up to Sue's diner and got out of the car. Walking in, I found Sue at the counter and she gave me a surprised smile.

"Hey Sue," Sam and I both smiled.

"Bella, Sam. Good to see you both." She replied as she took our orders. As we waited for our food, Sam and I made some small talk. It was funny- no matter how much time we spent with each other; we could still find things to talk about.

"So are you going back to school?" Sam asked carefully as our food arrived.

I sighed. I knew how much he wanted me to continue it. He wanted me to take the opportunity he couldn't. I got that- it was just a lot of work to do so.

"I don't know yet,"

"Bells…" he started,

"I know Sam," I said taking a sip of my drink, "but it's harder than you think. If I go back im going to have a lot of work to catch up on; And with that and trying to sell Charlie's house… plus, I would have to keep commuting back and forth. We have James to get ready for- that means training and such. There's just a lot to do."

I took a bite of my food, "School will still be there when all of this is over."

"Will it?" Sam questioned. Dropping my fork, I sighed and leaned back in the booth.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

He dropped his fork too and gave me a look, "all I am saying is life doesn't stop. Things will keep popping up. And I know you. You put the pack before yourself. And im not saying that a bad thing baby, cause its not- its just…I want you to do something for you, and I feel like quitting school now- you will regret it later. School is for you, its something you wanted to do and pushed for it."

My anger faded and I looked my boyfriend, "Sam, things change- it was something to do…or is, I don't know, but with my dad being gone and James is here, it's just not the best time. I want to protect everyone- I need to. And in order to do that, I have to focus and school will just make me lose that."

"This all doesn't have to be on you though," he pushed, "yes we have to train also, but while we do that, you can focus on your work and yourself. You don't always have to worry about us."

I internally groaned as that last sentence was once flipped around and used by me.

"If I go back, I will have a lot of work to catch up on,"

"Then its good you still have a week of leave till you have to go back or quit," he smiled.

Rolling my eyes, I picked up my fork and began to eat.

"Fine," I said after a while.

I looked up from my food and found him smirking.

Sam paid the bill a little while later and before I knew it we were back at the house.

Walking in the door, I smelled that distinct smell- the one that you know is home. Well I smelt it. It gave me comfort- to know I had a place. I walked further in our home and I turned on some lights. It seemed like it's been vacant for a while.

"I missed this place," I told Sam as he bent his head down to kiss me.

"I missed you," He mumbled against my lips.

I gave a little laugh at his lame joke and continued to kiss him right back.

I woke up in the morning to the sun shining through the windows and a bare chested man beside me. Rolling over to face him, I found he was still asleep. Taking the bed sheet with me, I quietly slipped out of bed. Walking to the bathroom, I turned on the shower and dropped the sheet. Stepping in a few seconds later, I let my body relax as the warm water sprayed my body.

When I got out, I wrapped a towel around my body and walked out. I planned on secretly stealing on of Sam's shirts to do some housework and then going to work on my powers but I guess it wasn't really a secret since Sam was up.

"Morning sleepy head," I smiled as he walked back into the bedroom with coffee in hand.

Sam's eyes darkened as I walked over to him to steal some coffee. As I sipped the warm liquid, I watched as he continued to stare at me.

I handed the mug back to him and he bent down to kiss me. The kiss was possessive. It was hard and rough- something I liked.

"Sam," I laughed as he started kissing down my neck and grabbing at my waist. The water in my hair continued to drip and roll down my body.

"Im wet," I squirmed with happiness as I felt the sparks run though my body.

"Already?" he asked, pulling away to waggle his eyebrows. My eyebrows shot up at his sexual reference and I hit his shoulder lightly as I laughed.

"You are a jerk," I commented as I walked out of his grasp to walk over to the dressers.

"Why? Just because I have a way with words?" he joked and kissed my shoulder as I pulled out one of his shirts.

"No, because you twist them," I giggled as his kisses began to tickle. I could feel his smile against the back of my shoulder. His hands began traveling from my waist to where I held my towel in place.

"Sam are you really going to try and drop my towel when the windows are open?" I turned to question him.

He turned his head to look at the window and then went back to kissing my body with a smirk, "I thought about it."

I let out another laugh and shook my head, "What a man."

Sam took a shower a few minutes later and got all ready for work. After he left, I decided to do some housecleaning.

I dusted and vacuumed the house, went grocery shopping and even cleaned the floors. By the time I took another shower and started cooking, Leah came barging in through the front door.

"What the heck? You're back?" she asked.

"Hey, yea…everything okay?" I responded as I leaned over to hug her.

"Yea of course it is, its just Sam hasn't phased to tell us, so when I saw the lights on, and I thought someone was in here-"

"Yea, that was my fault. Sam and I have kind of been in a bubble lately and then today, he was off to work while I cleaned up this place and yea. Sorry, I should have told one of you guys."

"Not a problem," Leah said hopping up on the counter and taking a carrot stick off my cutting board.

"We just like to check up on the house from time to time- especially when Sam was not around to make sure it was still standing."

I nodded and continued to cut the vegetables.

"So what are you up to?" she asked looking down at the food.

"Just cutting up some of the food I bought- probably should make some dinner soon," I told her as I looked at the clock.

"So does that mean you guys are staying here for sure now…or is this temporary?"

"Its for sure," I breathed, "I figured it was time to get out of there and pull myself away. Plus, I don't think Sam could take another night sleeping in a full size bed with me."

Leah laughed as she thought about the image in her head. We continued to talk for a while, just going on about all of the things I missed and all of the pack gossip that's been happening. We switched from topic to topic- both of us just chatting and laughing as I cooked.

"Man, you're making food for an army," Leah commented.

"Sam eats like an army," I corrected. The both of us chuckled a bit and continued on.

"So what are you going to do about school?" Leah wondered swinging her legs back and forth.

"Well," I sighed, "Sam wants me to continue- he thinks if I quit now then I will probably never go back- and I guess he's right. I think I would just keep finding things that would make me not go back and I would never finish. But it's a lot to do. I have a ton of make up work, I will have to keep commuting back and forth and I kinda wonder if it's worth it."

"What do you mean?" Leah asked.

"Well, I could always do online classes." I shrugged.

"But?" she questioned mysteriously.

"But the program for the whole cake thing is definitely not as good and I don't even know if they offer something for dance,"

"Well that's stupid," Leah commented, "Sam is obviously right."

My head shot up and I raised an eyebrow at her. Did she just agree with my boyfriend?

"Knowing you- yes you will always find something to hold you back- but, you are not the person who usually cowers from challenges. Yes it will be hard to do all the work and commute but why would you waste you time with online classes and such when they suck and may not offer what you want to do? That- Bella Swan, is stupid."

"I still have to add training to the schedule," I told her after a few minutes of thinking.

"You can do it," she told me as she chewed on some more celery.

"Leah, my focus should be on this fight. Not school and all that crap." I stopped and told her.

"Yea but Bella, you have to live your life too- you cant just lose yourself in this thing that will end up turning into a nice vampire ass whoopin'" she said with a smirk. I gave her a smile but felt really strongly about this.

"Look," she said with a more serious face, "I know you have the weight of the world on your shoulders again- and I also know that you blame yourself, but really Bella, shutting yourself out to all of the things around you isn't going to do you any good. Maybe by living a little you can find your inner peace or warrior. I don't know," she concluded.

Instead of coming back with a response, I moved on and asked her what she thought of my fighting with James idea. Apparently she was all up for it- except for the part I was going to be fighting along side all of them too.

"Don't get me wrong- I know you are strong- its just…the idea of not having us around to even try and protect you makes me antsy. If you're as important as we all think…and know," she added with a smirk, "then I think you should have more people beside you when you go up against him."

"What are you saying?" I questioned.

"I'm saying that we need to think of a better plan."

"A better plan?"

"Yes a better plan. We need to strategize."

I nodded, agreeing with her. She was right. We all haven't really sat down to think about this. And by all I mean all. I've been asking and hearing about what everyone thinks of my actions, but I have barely talked to them myself. Hell- we all haven't even gotten together in one setting.

"Wanna have a bon fire tonight?" I questioned.

"You? Want a bon fire?" she asked with raised eyebrows.

"Okay, lets not call it a bon fire. How about…a party? Just a good old fashion get together that just happens to feature a fire to roast marshmallows on."

"Sounds good to me," she smirked.

"Awesome," I responded and continued my cooking. Sam came home a little while later and was surprised to see Leah sitting on the counter.

"What are you doing here?" he asked her as he came over to give me a kiss.

I smiled up at him, kissing him right back, "We are going to have a party," I murmured.

"We are?" Sam asked surprised.

"Apparently so," Leah smirked. "I'm going to go tell everyone," she said jumping off the counter and walking out of the house.

"How did this happen?" Sam asked with his mouth to my ear while hugging me at the waist.

"Leah stopped by to check on the house since she found lights on and I don't know, a party sounds nice," I murmured as he nipped at my ear. Leaning back, I slid a hand up and ran it through the back of his hair.

"A party does sound nice," he whispered back.

"How was work?" I asked after a few moments of silence.

"Nothing new- couldn't wait to get home," he sighed with a squeeze to my waist.

I let myself smile and ran a hand up his arm.

"Hey Sam?" I asked as I watched the boys come out of the woods laughing along side Leah.

"Yea?"

Turning to face him, I looked into his deep brown eyes.

"I love you."

His smile spread and his eyes shined with a small twinkle, "love you too baby," he said with a smirk.

Our lips touched, but before we could actually get in a full kiss everyone came hustling in the room.

"And the lovebirds are back!" Paul teased with a loud happiness.

We all chuckled and Sam and I parted. After giving everyone a round of hugs, I went back to the food and ordered everyone to help. We laughed and talked as everything got prepared and I was even happier as more people came busting through the door.

When everything was set and everyone was here, we all walked out to the back and began the night.