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A/N: Suggested Listening: Butterflies and Hurricanes by Muse

Chapter Six: Butterflies and Hurricanes

Embry POV

I was too fucking late.

The leech thought no-one had seen it wander off between the trees. With the aftermath of the battle spread out around us, I guess he could be forgiven for thinking that he could skip off unharmed. Not in this lifetime. I took off after it, my paws propelling me further and further after it until it was sent into a blind panic. Trees, rocks and other obstacles were left broken and dislodged under the flight response of an undead sixteen-year-old. I knew if I stopped and really thought about it, I'd probably feel sorry for the guy; it wasn't his fault he was a bloodsucker. Bella always told us that the Cullens acted how they did because they hated what they were – they didn't want to be vampires in the first place, so they acted as human as possible.

I guess, on some level I could identify with that. I acted normal all the time and no-one knew any different. Not only did I have to pretend I didn't sprout a tail when provoked, I had to keep up this ridiculous act that I wasn't pining after my best friend's girl like some lost puppy.

Okay, well... she wasn't exactly Jake's girl. Yet. It was only a matter of time before she came to her senses – too many lingering looks, discreet touches and unsaid statements told us that much. If I was Cullen, I'd be damn worried about Bella and Jacob. Best friends do not behave like that, no matter how close they are.

Of course, they'd suffered another set-back; as always, playing with each others heads and only realising the consequences after it happened. Jake was an unstoppable force the moment he set his eyes on the first newborn – venting his anger at Bella out on those who meant her harm. I didn't know where he was getting the energy – most of us who lived near Jake had heard his reaction last night, and the shit-storm of anger Billy had to put up with the whole night. It's funny how Jake never threw tantrums as a kid – I mean, seriously. He was always this bundle of happiness that kinda got on your nerves if you wanted to just wallow or get away from your Mom for a while. But now? Huh. Only he and Seth were phased the moment Jake found out Bella was marrying Edward, and lets just say the rest of us don't envy Clearwater one bit. For real.

I think the main part bugging him was how soon it all was. He figured he'd have time; time to convince Bella that she was making a mistake, that she was never supposed to be a leech, and that her life was worth living. Me? I guess I always knew I'd never have her. It's kinda pointless to get upset over something that was never going to be yours in the first place. It didn't mean I was okay with any of it, though.

The battle had turned in our favour by some miracle. I guessed Jasper was right; the element of surprise the Pack had was the Newborn Army's undoing, and we'd made pretty short work of them. They were wild, uncoordinated, and no match for our calculations and strategy. At one point, it looked like one had the jump on Leah, but Jake was having none of it. He dived in and took out the leech that she was fighting effortlessly – it was sort of beautiful, in a psychopathic, homicidal way.

The last of the stragglers had scattered, but we'd kind of expected that. I caught site of the little Carlton Banks lookalike before he gave us the slip. No way was he getting away that easily. The sounds of ripping metal and the acrid stench of smoke faded behind me as I pursued him deep into the forest. He didn't have a plan, but he was fast, and I knew I had to get to him before he made it closer to the road and out into civilisation.

Out of nowhere, he stopped. My blood ran cold as the deep breaths I was taking froze in my throat. Only one thing could stop a Newborn vamp in its tracks, Jasper had said – blood.

I caught the scent moments after, and a jolt of fear passed through me as I realised I recognised it; this was a human I knew, one that was as important to us as any of our own parents. Charlie Swan was in the forest, alone and unprotected.

How had this even happened? Billy was supposed to keep him on the Res for the day, under the protection of Collin and Brady while we took care of the threat. Something had gone terribly awry along the way, and now Bella's dad was smack dab in the middle of the one place no human should ever have been.

I snapped out of my panic, willing myself further through the trees until the leech came into view again. He was too close, much too close to Charlie, and I screamed for back-up in my head. Jake's horrified reaction stumbled me for a second before I felt a vague sense of relief that he was on his way.

It wasn't quick enough, though. Before I could blink, the leech had Charlie in his clutches, sinking those vile teeth into his neck and draining the life blood straight from his veins. I growled deeply, angrily, pouncing on him, knowing already that it wouldn't do much good. Charlie was a goner, but at least I could watch the bloodsucker who had ended his life burn. How many times would I replay this moment in my head, hating myself for not being faster, not getting there sooner, not saving him?

I tore the bloodsucker's head clean off – ironically the distraction of feeding made him a pretty easy kill. A sickening spray of Chief Swan's blood flew through the air as the wound was torn open more. The smell of it was nauseating. It only made me angrier.

I ripped the pathetic excuse for existence apart, crushing the pieces smaller and smaller. The fucker can't be dead enough for me.

Jacob arrived right after that, a low, anguished howl echoing through the trees as he set eyes on his surrogate father. Right then, I hated having heightened senses. If I didn't then there would be some hope still left that Charlie could pull though. We knew without straining that there was no heartbeat in his chest, no breath in his lungs, and no life left in Charlie Swan's body.

Images of Bella flooded Jacob's mind, and in turn, my own. How were we supposed to tell her? How did you break the news that one of the few people someone loved in the world was gone? Jacob phased out – I understood why. Having dark, sickening thoughts were bad enough without the echo of your brothers; and mine were not going to help him.

Jake sank to his knees beside Charlie's twisted remains, afraid to touch but at the same time needing to – none of this seemed real. Bit by bit, more of the pack's consciousness filtered into my mind, having been blocked out from concentration and shock. Whimpers and howls echoed in the faraway clearing, and I knew Bella would be aware soon enough.

I nudged Jake with my nose, shaking him out of his reverie as he looked at me with tear-filled eyes. We couldn't leave Charlie here, but where else was there? Jacob, as always, seemed to know what to do, and as he stood, cradling Charlie's limp form in his arms and turned back towards the clearing, I turned my face away. That image was all I could still see as I gathered what was left of his murderer for burning, sirens of a useless fire department coming closer all the while.

Bella POV

Change everything you are
And everything you were
Your number has been calledFights and battles have begun
Revenge will surely come
Your hard times are aheadBest, you've got to be the best
You've got to change the world
And use this chance to be heard
Your time is now

"Bella, no!"

A serene calm fell over me, giving me the strength to stare Edward down.

"It's okay, Edward," I said, still feeling the tears tracking down my face, falling into the grass, mingling with my father's blood. "I know why, now."

He shook his head adamantly. "Bella, you don't know what you're doing... the consequences...you could make everything worse for yourself. Someone could get killed. You could get killed!"

I let out a soft snort of laughter. "Better that than this fucking disaster," I sneered, taking them all by surprise. I was so past pleasantries. I was always trying to be perfect, do the right thing, be the person Edward deserved. What did that get me now? My father was dead, my friends had just gone into battle with an army of homicidal vampires and I was still here, just plain, useless Bella who sat back and waited to be rescued.

No more.

I had something now, I had the chance to fix something, to give my dad his life back and I'd be damned if anyone was going to stop me.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Jacob said, his voice still cracked with the remnants of his quiet sobs.

"Jacob, please... talk some sense into her," Alice said, her face a mask of horror and anguish. She stepped towards me pleadingly as Esme gripped Carlisle's hand for comfort. They were afraid. Of me. The thought would have made me laugh if my life wasn't crashing down around my ears. How was this supposed to be a victory? How was I meant to feel relief when I'd have to bury my own father?

Jacob looked at me questioningly, taking a step closer. "What's this about, Bella? Is this what you've been keeping from me?" His chest hiccuped with a barely-contained sob, and he sniffled softly. He had a shirt tied haphazardly around his slim waist, clearly put on hurriedly while he waited for Edward and I to reach the clearing. My heart sank at the defeated look on his face, It was the first time we'd actually seen each other since he found out about the engagement, but there was no anger in his eyes. I couldn't answer him.

"She's got this... power, like us," Alice hedged, once she realised I wasn't going to say a word. "We think it's an effect of the time she was bitten, but it's just a theory."

Jacob's body began shuddering involuntarily, as the muscles in his cheek jumped with the clenching of his jaw.

"You mean you've got some freaky leech power? Now I know why you didn't tell me," he said coldly, turning away. I stared into the middle distance, starting to get pretty impatient with the situation; they weren't going to stop me, I didn't know why they were trying.

"It gives her the ability to go back in time, step into her memories. She can change the past."

A poignant silence echoed through the clearing. I felt more exposed than I ever had in my life, but I couldn't find it in me to care.

"Bells, you can't-" Jake said, whirling on me again, his eyes wide. "I know how this feels, baby. Believe me... but it's meant to be. You can't change what's happened. You don't know what effect it could have." He held his large hand out pleadingly, inviting me to stay with him, needing me to understand that he knew the pain of losing a parent, but that he'd get me though it. I had no doubt that he could, but I didn't want him to have to.

I shook my head. "I can, Jake. I can't leave things this way, knowing I could change it, knowing it's my fault he's dead," I said, and the sobs were back. Jake enveloped me in his embrace as Edward became perfectly still.

"What are you going to change?" he said softly, his golden gaze fixed on my feet. I couldn't meet his eye. He knew what my answer was.

"I... I really do love you, Edward," I stammered, taking a step towards him as his eyes squeezed shut. The barely healed hole in my chest tore open, and the pain seared deeper than before. "But you were right. I don't fit into this world. I never will, and I shouldn't have to die to do that."

He turned away from me, and I knew that if vampires could cry, Edward would be. The thought made my stomach muscles clench. No matter what I did, somebody got hurt.

I stepped towards Charlie, falling to my knees beside him and running my hand gently through his hair. He was greying slightly at the sides and I noticed it had spread to his ever-present moustache, too. I smiled softly, knowing this was the right thing to do. I loved Edward, and I loved his family, but Charlie was my flesh and blood, and he should have never been exposed to this world. I looked around at the Cullens, each giving me looks of pleading or fear. I thought I had needed them in my life, but I never realised that I'd always had everything I needed. I'd survived the months without them – barely, but I was still here. I could do it again.

It was Rose who gave me a quiet nod of resignation - she knew more than anyone the need to hold on to life in all its forms.

I pressed a kiss to Charlie's cheek, my tears soaking his colourless face as I rested my forehead on his.

"See you in another life, Dad," I whispered.

Straightening up, I looked to Jacob, standing off to one side, watching me with apprehension. I gave him a quiet smile, pouring all the love I felt for him into the small gesture. His eyes were curious, and a small frown creased his strong features. He was torn, I could tell that already. All it took for me was one look at him and I knew everything would be okay.

I closed my eyes as the sounds of the clearing filtered out – that feeling of floating bringing me backwards though my memories, through my life, to a day I knew was the turning point in my history.

I stumbled momentarily, only to be caught by a pair of warm, safe arms and all the pain ebbed away. I looked up into Jacob's smiling eyes, knowing that I was leaning over a precipice, watching the options I had span out towards the horizon. It was this moment I had to change, this point that needed re-booting.

Jacob reached up and smoothed a hand over my cheek, gently brushing a lock of hair away. His gaze darted to my lips, before reaching my eyes again, silently asking permission. Never pushing, just hoping and encouraging. I sucked in a short breath, needing the extra oxygen to cement my decision.

It was now or never.

The shrill ring of the telephone cut into the moment. I didn't need to answer to know who it was. I jerked out of Jacob's embrace, ignoring the loud sigh he gave out that his intentions had been once again thwarted. His hair was thoroughly dishevelled by his ministrations, and I took the opportunity of his little huff to take control of the situation and answer the call. If he knew what was really going on, that I was actually giving him his chance, I didn't think he'd be so disgruntled.

I held the phone to my ear, my heart pounding with apprehension.

"Hello?"

Silence. There was a long pause before the line went dead. Edward got his answer – I was alive, and there was no need for foolish suicide runs, I didn't have to leave for Italy, and I didn't have to spend the rest of the year breaking Jacob's heart and grieving over my father's death. It was already going to be different, I could feel it. There was just one thing left to do. I leaned in, closed my eyes, and gave up the fight.

Jacob's lips were soft and warm, and they cradled mine in a way I wasn't accustomed to. The initial shock that I'd returned his advances wore off, and he pulled me flush against his chest, hungrily absorbing any and all affection from me. I melted into him, feeling a soft smile tugging at my lips as instinct took over, This felt right – unnerving, considering this was my best friend, and I didn't know what the hell I'd do if this went all wrong for us, but it was safe, loving and I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.

The butterflies in my stomach finally were eclipsed by the howling of air in my ears. Part of me wanted to stay in the moment, enjoy my first kiss with Jacob for all it was – the beginning of something new and exhilarating.

The floating stopped, and a feeling of cool air curled round me as I slipped into the present. My eyes were still closed, with masculine hands wrapped around my waist and I realised I was no longer straining to match Jake's height.

I pulled out of the kiss, shaking my head of the uneasy feeling and willing the changed memories to flood my brain – nothing was coming. I blinked twice, my eyes downcast as I got my bearings. I was outside, on my front porch and it was evening. Hadn't it barely been afternoon in the clearing?

I looked up, about to ask Jake what had happened to the last few hours when the words died on my lips. My vision cleared, leaving no question as to whose hands were resting possessively on my hips, a smile of triumph and satisfaction on his face as he let out a contented sigh. I stepped back, as if burned, and found purchase on the outer wall of my home, wondering how the hell, what the hell had happened and where the ever-loving fuck Jacob was.

Was I dreaming? Was this some messed-up vision I'd started having as a side effect of the power? My hand shot to my lips, still tingling from the effects of the kiss. This was definitely real.

What the hell had I done?

I cleared my throat, feeling like I'd swallowed a handful of gravel and washed it down with soap. I thought I was going to be sick.

"Mike?" I stammered. "What the hell just happened?"

A/N: Well?

You guys have no idea how impatient I've been to get this far, Holy crap. Now all the good stuff begins ;)