Sorry I'm so late posting, busy helping with Santa's reindeer!

Chapter Seventy Three

Bella

It seemed we had come to an understanding of sorts, together we would speak to Charlie and find out what was happening with the guardians. If they were still looking for me then I had no choice but to defend myself the only way I knew how. By killing them before they killed me but I didn't want to tread that path again, not now I had an alternative and one that meant I would no longer be alone.

"I should ring Peter, let him know I've found you. He and Charlotte are worried."

I shrugged,

"Sure, do whatever you need to, I'm not your keeper."

It came out harsher than I intended and I saw the hurt in his eyes so I touched his arm,

"I'm sorry, that was unkind and I didn't mean it the way it sounded. Its just thinking of others doesn't come naturally to me now, except thinking of you."

He smiled and nodded,

"Take your time, things will sort themselves out eventually, one way or another. As soon as I finish with Peter we'll ring Charlie, he'll be relieved to hear from you."

I wasn't so sure, after our chat on the island I hadn't contacted him although I should have known he would be concerned for me.

Charlie

When the phone rang I was just going out the door, I was working my notice at the station. I couldn't stay in Forks any longer and I'd found a new position, still Chief of Police but in Great Falls Montana, well away from everyone and everything I had known since childhood. I thought about ignoring the call but then something told me it might be important and I grabbed it just in time,

"Swan residence"

"Dad?"

"Bella? Is that you? Thank God, I've been worried sick, where have you been?"

"I'm fine. I just needed some time to think but I'm sorry I worried you. You don't need to worry any longer though, I'm with Jasper and we're going to be travelling together for a while."

"Travelling where? Aren't you coming back? Your mother is going crazy, I think if she doesn't hear from you soon she's going to call the FBI!"

"I'll speak to her but I'm not coming to Forks or Jacksonville, not yet. I still have some things to figure out."

"But you aren't going to try killing Esme or any more Quileutes?"

"No, I'm not"

"Good, well that's an improvement. I heard from Annie in Denali about the wolf attack. Nothing has changed as far as they are concerned, you stay away from the guardians and they'll stay away from you."

"That's a relief. Do you know who the guardian was who died?"

"I only know he was a screwed up kid, a fairly new guardian who thought the Quileutes had been badly treated by Johnny H. He met Leah and she persuaded him to help her, got them both killed in the process. Bella I should tell you I'm leaving Forks."

"Why?"

"After all that's happened I just can't stay here any longer. I've got a new job in Great Falls Montana. I was worried how to let you know but I guess I don't need to any longer."

"When do you leave?"

"A couple of months, I have to work my notice here then get moved and settled in, find my way around. Maybe you'd feel better visiting me there, after all its all new and fresh, no memories to bother you and no one who knew you before"

"I will dad I promise...I have to go now. Love you dad"

"Love you too Bells"

Bella

So not only had the Quileutes ruined my life, they'd ruined Charlie's too. Forks was his home and now they'd driven him out, it was so unfair and I felt my anger growing like a fireball before Jasper touched my arm and it subsided until it was just a warm glow, manageable.

"Bella you need to control your anger, stop and think, calm yourself or you'll do things that you regret later or worse still get you killed."

I nodded, he was right of course and I wrote myself a mental note to remember it,

"So where to?"

"That's up to you Bella, I'm just along for the ride."

"OK then I think we should visit the Cullens."

"Just a minute..."

I hushed him,

"Hey remember you are just along for the ride. I don't want to kill anyone or at least I'm not going to but I think I have a right to my say don't you?"

"If its just verbal then yes but can you keep your temper?"

"Well there's only one way to find out isn't there? I can't avoid everything that makes me mad can I?"

"True, fair enough, shall we go then?"

I looked at him suspiciously,

"That was easy."

"Bella you have to make your own decisions and I'll help you. If you want to speak to the Cullens face to face then its a good idea. Do you want to drive or shall I?"

Jasper

With Bella driving there wasn't much for me to do but study her. She was very beautiful, sexy and totally unaware of both. Her hair cut shorter suited her face and although she wasn't wearing the sort of clothes she did when I caught up with her before these seemed equally as alluring but I guess that was just the mating pull talking. Sitting here so close to her it was impossible to remember the terrible ache that had been my constant companion for the past six months, I felt calm and warm, content, and I prayed she wouldn't decide against me in the future.

"You're looking at me. What are you thinking?"

"How beautiful you are"

She laughed and her face lit up with an inner glow making it almost luminescent,

"Beautiful? I think you should get your eyes tested."

"I have perfect vampire vision and its telling me you are beautiful so who am I to argue?"

She looked at me again, her brow furrowed,

"Tell me more about this mating pull."

"OK, Its what happens when two kindred spirits meet. It sets up a warmth inside, a feeling that you are complete that all is finally right in your world. All you want to do is be with that person, you would do anything for them, even lay down your life to save them."

"Isn't that a little counter production though? If the other person is your soul mate wouldn't dying hurt them too?"

"Of course but I was making the point that there is nothing you wouldn't do to make your mate happy and safe."

"And when you're apart?"

"Then the world is a bleak and cold place. After a time this ache begins to grow in your chest like a creature gnawing away at your insides and the longer you are apart the more intense it gets until you are totally incapacitated by the pain."

"Did you feel that?"

"Yes, I couldn't think clearly, all I knew was that I had to find you to make it stop"

"And did it?"

"Yes as soon as I sensed you near."

She rubbed her chest as if remembering,

"Did you feel anything? I know you saw me when I wasn't there but did you feel anything Bella?"

She gazed absent-mindedly out the wind shield then sighed,

"I could lie and tell you no I didn't feel anything but I think you'd see through me so...yes I felt it but I didn't know what it was. Is there any way this feeling could be wrong?"

"I don't think so"

"Can it be broken?"

"Why? Do you want to break it? I'll understand if you say yes after all you've heard about me"

That was a lie, I would never understand if she said yes after admitting she felt the pull but she didn't answer nor did she speak again for over an hour.

Just to let you know I wont be posting tomorrow or Friday morning but should be back on line Friday afternoon. Jules x