A/N: I don't own Twilight that honor goes to Ms. Meyers. I am just borrowing her wonderful characters she squandered. Please comment and review it makes me happy and want to write faster.

Jacob couldn't understand why he was so tired anymore. He had just gotten back from Bella's and he needed a nap. He wanted to go back Bella's but his dad was being an ass about school and so was Bella. What did it matter if he finished school really, he was going to be stuck on the rez regardless he had to stay here and take care of his dad. He fell asleep thinking of Bella and those carefree summer days when she was his world and he was hers.

Billy wheeled himself into his little house. He saw Jacob's backpack on the floor next to the sofa. Sam was coming at six to get him for the council meeting. He didn't see Jake in the garage so he knew he had to be in the house. Opening the door to Jake's bedroom he saw Jake sound asleep on his bed and he couldn't help but sigh in a lot of ways Jacob was still such a kid and seeing him like this made it tough on Billy, because although he knew soon he would no longer be his little boy in some ways he would always be just that. He turned around and wheeled himself in the kitchen to start dinner.

"So Dad do you need me to walk you to the council meeting?"

"No son Sam is coming to get me. Is your homework all done?"

"Yes, sir"
"How were Bella and Charlie today?"

"Bells is about the same. Charlie is feeling guilty I think and I know he is missing you."

"Well maybe this weekend you can offer to take care of Bella for the day and I can take her old man fishing."

"I don't think Charlie is ready for that dad, but I will ask him."

"Jake you look like you have something on your mind, spit it out son"

"Well Dad I have been thinking about school and how I don't really need it to do what I want to do."

"Jacob Ephraim Black, if the next part of that sentence has anything to do with quitting school, I would advise you to swallow it, because that is not going to happen. You are finishing school; I made a promise to your mother and I will not break it and neither will you."

"But Dad..."

"But nothing Jacob I promised your mother, do you understand, I promised her that you would finish school and be the man you are destined to be and I will not let your fear and laziness cause me to break a promise to her." Billy pushed away from the table and wheeled toward his bedroom as he heard a plate hit the wall. "Clean that up and go to your room. I want your room cleaned by the time I get back and you in bed by nine."

"Dad…"

"No Jacob, nothing you will say will change my mind on this subject and if you can't control your temper you will spend a lot of time cleaning your room this summer and not with Bella or in that garage you love so much, is that clear son?"

"Yes, sir," Jacob bit out.

Billy knew that little fit was more wolf then it was his Jacob, but still it hurt that he wanted to quit school and that is before phasing and patrolling was added to the mix. It would not happen no matter what because he wouldn't disappoint Sarah. Billy changed his clothes and got ready for the council meeting. He knew that tonight was going to be a fight with Old Quil at the very least and probably Harry too. The pack was coming as well so he knew he had to be careful about the way he worded things as to not set Paul off. He was broken out of his thoughts by a knock on the door.

"Get that Jacob, and then if you are done cleaning up the mess in the kitchen then head to your room." Billy said as he wheeled out of his bedroom. "And Jacob if the room is not clean, no visiting Bella or the garage until it is, understand."

"Yes, sir," Jake replied as he opened the door for Sam, who looked at him with the same look he always gave him these days. It was a mixture of pity, sadness, and like he expected something to happen. "Hello, Sam. Dad I will see you when you get back, and for what it is worth I do understand and I am sorry." He gave Billy a quick hug and loped off to his room quietly shutting the door behind him.

"What was that about," Sam asked quietly as they made their way out the door.

"It's called parenting a teenage shape-shifter to be Sam."

"Billy, you two never argue."

"Well, I have a feeling that is all about to change and if I am going to convince the council that Bella is perfectly safe around Jake and a room full of vampires then he has to control his temper better than the rest of you."

"What was the argument about?"

"Damn kid wants to quit school."

"Oh, well with all that he will be going through it may not be a bad thing Billy. I mean Jared is having a rough time and he is older than Jake."

"Damn it Sam, my son will be Alpha and Chief of our tribe. I will not have him uneducated, besides I promised Sarah, Sam, and I WILL NOT break that promise."

"Calm down Billy it was just a suggestion. I will make sure he finishes okay. Don't worry about it."

"Thanks Sam, I know how much we owe you and I know I will never be able to repay you, but thank you."

"No thanks necessary, it is my destiny to protect our people and it is one of have gladly accepted."

"Okay, you ready for this Sam."

"As ready as I am ever gonna be Billy," he said as he wheeled Billy into the council room.

Billy pulled up in front of the long council table and stopped all the council was assembled, the pack was gathered in the back of the room and Billy was Chief and they had all come to hear him speak of the cold ones and Bella Swan once again.

"Sam and I met with Dr. Cullen this afternoon and he brought forth his concern for Isabella Swan being so close to Jacob when he is so close to phasing."

"And you said?" Harry asked.

"I told him that it was my concern and not his or anyone else's' and I meant that."

"How can you not say it is our concern when young Jacob is the next leader of our tribe?" Old Quil interjected. "I told you Billy that the paleface would only bring us trouble."

"Oh shut up old man, I have had it with you and that paleface shit, she is my son's imprint and I will not have you or anyone else address her in that manner anymore. And Harry before you say anything do you remember Charlie's blood was mixed with ours long ago and we promised to be blood brothers forever. We know what happened to her in Arizona, really happened and we let that happen and it is a guilt as Charlie's best friends we have to bear, but I will be damned if I will leave her unprotected anymore, so paleface or not she will be under the protection until I say otherwise."

Harry just stared at his old friend and knew Billy was right. He had let his old friend down by not siding with Billy when it came to looking after Bella and whether or not she was the responsibility of the pack or not.

"Billy the only problem with what you are asking is Bella and Charlie lives on their side of the treaty line." Harry said quietly.

"I discussed that with Dr Cullen and he has agreed to let Jacob and I visit with Charlie and Bella and that is all that I can ask for now, after Jacob phases I will revisit the need for the wolves to protect Bella I do not want them to know about Bella being Jake's imprint just yet.

"She is not his imprint yet,"

"Yes she is Quil just because he has not phased and saw her doesn't me she is any less so and you know it."

"How long do you think until young Jacob phases Billy?"

"I would guess a few weeks at the most and it could be as soon as the end of the week."

"Okay, then I say we adjourn this meeting until then."

"Agreed."

Billy Wheeled himself to the back of the room where he saw Sam talking quietly to a visibly upset Paul.

"Paul, do you have something to say?" Billy asked.

"Billy," Sam said with warning in his voice.

"No, it's okay Sam; Paul can say what he wants."

"Billy I mean no disrespect but why should we have to protect her she willingly went with the leeches to Arizona and now she is paying the price."

"What price should she pay for being a trusting young woman who fell under the spell of a vampire, a young woman who I might add will one day be the alpha female of your pack so just remember that when you see the damage done to her and then we will see if you ask that question."

"Billy, wait," Harry yelled after him as Billy rolled away from an angry Paul and a placating Sam.

"What do you want Harry," Billy shouted as he continued to roll away.

"Let me take you home."

"No, not right now Harry I am too pissed at all of you. I just want to go home and be with my son while he is still a normal teenager and then I am going to call my best friend up and see how his daughter and he are doing."

Harry watched as Billy roll away as fast as he could.

Billy rolled into his house several minutes later slamming the door behind him.

"Dad?" Jake yelled from his room.

"Yes Jacob it's me."

"Is everything okay?"

"No, but it will be. I hope your room is clean," he said as he wheeled himself towards Jacob's bedroom door pushing it open. He saw Jacob sitting on his bed in the spotless room with his school books spread out on the bed. Billy wheeled into Jake's room. "Jacob, don't ever forget how much I love you, son. I want the best life has to offer for you and school will open many of those doors for you."

"Dad, I get that but you know what I want to do and that involves staying here in Forks, so what do I need a diploma to do that."

"Because Jacob, do you want to work for someone else or do you want to work for yourself."

"Myself, you know that I have talked about it forever."

"Okay then you need to learn how to run a business and you can't do that without an education. You are destined for greatness son and one day you will be a great chief to our people and I can't wait to see the man you will become."

"Dad, what brought all this on," Jacob asked curiously.

"Nothing, son just remember that you control your destiny and no matter what the people on the Rez say to you, it is you that has the final say. Now what do you say to us watching a movie before you go to bed?"

"Sure, sure dad, you go on a pick the movie, I am just gonna put my books away." Jacob just shook his head as he dad wheeled himself out and headed for their tiny living room.

Two hours later Jacob headed to bed and Billy went to call Charlie and try to coax him out of the house for a little while this weekend.

"Hello," Charlie answered.

"Hey old man, you have been home for two weeks and we haven't been fishing once.

"Hey Billy, I know I just don't feel right leaving Bells."

"Now Charlie, Bella is gonna be fine and if you spend all your time at that house you are going to go stir crazy. How many times have you cleaned that gun of yours in two weeks?"

"Enough"

"That's what I thought; Come on Charlie, Jake can stay with her for a while if you want."

"Well the Cullen girls have offered to come over Saturday and help Bella get caught up in school. She is currently flunking and she is stressing."

"Okay, well it is perfect then. We will go fishing early and Jake can work on that damn car and Bella will get caught up in school and then we will have pizza for dinner and let the kids spend some time together."

"Sounds good Billy and thanks for everything Billy, Jake has been the one bright spot in all of this for us. You have been a great friend."

Silent tears fell on Billy's cheeks as he said good-bye to his oldest and dearest friend. He knew he had not been a very good friend to Charlie since Bella started seeing Edward Cullen. He was bound by tradition, tribal law, and secrets that were not his to tell, but that did not ease his guilt for letting down his best friend and the daughter who was his daughter as much as Rachel and Rebecca. Sarah would be ashamed he knew, hell he was ashamed but he was also determined to make it right if it was the last thing he did.