Disclaimer: All the Twilight stuff belongs to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing in her sandbox.

Author's Note: My move is almost complete! I now live in cardboard lined hallways mind you, but that's okay! Soon I can get back to regular updates and my normal schedule! thanks to all of you who have continued to maintain interest in this story, despite its lack of bi weekly updates! Thanks to all of you!

Chapter 97 Council

"No way in hell," was the response from the tribe, at least that was the nicest of them.

JacobPOV

"I don't know, Charlie. Sam was just the tip of the iceberg. It seems like the entire tribe thinks just like Sam . . . or like Sam used to. Paul seems to be one of the most adamant now," I told him as I finished off the eggs he had cooked me for breakfast.

"You want some more there, son?" Charlie asked, frying pan full of eggs in one hand and a spatula in the other, "there's plenty. Bella at least taught me to cook breakfast for myself."

"Ha! Sounds like something she would insist on. She was never big on eating out and spending money, Charlie. She still isn't," I added. "Funny isn't it, " I said as he emptied the pan into my plate and came to sit back down at the table with me, "even though she has more money than she can ever spend, she still prefers to cook and not eat out."

"Yep. She sure did put a stop to my eating out every night from the minute she moved in with me," Charlie shared looking somewhat sad, "I really miss her cooking around here. That girl can really cook."

"Yea. Too bad she'll have no reason to cook once he changes her . . . unless Masen still likes human food I guess," I said out loud, though I hadn't intended to.

"How does that work anyway, Jake? Does he just bite her?"

Charlie looked kind of scared and sad at the same time and I wondered how much they had told him about it, if anything.

"I don't know much about it, really, just what the old legends say. You and I both know that not all of the things told in the legends are true," I added.

"Huh," he said, fingering his coffee cup with both hands.

"I saw that Riley, the one that kidnapped Bella . . . well, I saw him kill a girl." Charlie told me, his face loosing its color. "Edward and I, well we were watching a satellite feed, tracking him after he left the house that day when he brought the note from Bella. Anyway, he grabbed a girl and sort of tore at her throat with his teeth. Held her up for a few minutes, drinking I suppose, then tossed her away like a wrapper from a hamburger, Jacob. That can't be the way they do it."

Charlie was so upset, I had to at least tell him what I knew.

"Well, the legends say that they bite their victim, anywhere really, and inject venom. It's the venom that changes them. I know that the legends say that the venom is poison to us, werewolves that is. All they have to do is bite us and we're done for," I told him.

"Edward is so careful with her, so determined to keep her safe . . . surely it must not be dangerous. Hell, Jacob, he would never risk loosing her, you and I both know that," Charlie huffed.

"Well, he must know something we don't. He has to. All the legends say it's dangerous and," Charlie cut me off.

"Dangerous?"

"Yea."

"Tell me what you know. What do the legends say?" Charlie insisted.

"It's just legends, Charlie. You know as well as I do that the tribe makes them out to be far worse than they are. The Cullens are not the cold ones from out legends, they're different. Different in lots of ways, and maybe the way they change people is one of the differences," I speculated, trying to not tell him what my tribe actually thought about how often people died instead of changed.

He just sat there, his hands clasped in front of him and an expectant look on his face. He wasn't dropping this, that was certain.

"Fine," I spat as I stood to put my dish in the sink. "Legend has it that they kill the victim more often than they change them." Charlie's face turned white. "It can't be true, though. Can you imagine Edward ever risking Bella? Ever?"

"No. No I can't, Jake, and that's a fact. I guess I just need to ask Carlisle about it. He's the one that changed all of them, or at least lots of them, isn't he?"

"Yea, I think so. He would know a hell of a lot more about it than me, Charlie. I can't imagine Carlisle letting anything happen to Bella either. I'm sure they know a way that isn't risking her life. No way Edward would risk her, you and I both know that to be true. Let's just ask Carlisle or Edward first chance we get, okay?"

"You ask Edward, Jacob. He's a lot closer to you than to me."

"Sure sure. I'll ask him for you, Chief. I need to get going though, I need to try and settle people down before the meeting this afternoon. You coming?" I asked.

"Oh yea. I'll be there, Chief," he said with a hint of humor now crossing his face. Must be at the idea of calling me Chief. It sounded kind of weird to me, too. He continued, "I don't want a war started just because my daughter wants to spend eternity with her husband."

There was a knock on the door. Charlie answered it and Sue stood there on the stoop with both the other council members.

"Can we come in, Charlie?" she asked.

He opened the door fully and they saw me standing off to one side of the door. My presence couldn't have been a surprise, my truck was kind of distinctive and it was parked right there in the driveway in front of the house for all to see. Charlie hugged Sue and shook hands with the others, gesturing for them to go into the living room and take a seat. I followed.

"We want to hear from you, Chief Swan," old Quilatera said in kind of a hushed tone, "We want to hear of your daughters life with Edward Cullen, and . . . the child they created."

Charlie spoke rather quietly but with authority. He described the life he saw his daughter living and the love that she shared with her husband. His eyes noticeably lit up when he began to talk about his grandson and he was right . . . that little guy was pretty amazing. He described the kidnapping and Edward's state while she was gone . . . and once she was found. They listened closely as he recanted the birth and the fact that it had been Edward himself that delivered their baby. He explained that he had met lots of people in his time, but none more trustworthy or respectful of human values than the Cullens.

"Thank you, Charlie," Sue said, "This was just something that they," she said gesturing to the other council members, "needed to hear first hand from you. Allowing an exception to the treaty is not taken lightly . . . but neither is the fact that Sam willingly violated the treaty."

"So, what's going to happen, Sue?" Charlie asked.

"We'll know for sure at the meeting this afternoon," she told him. "If I know anything about our Chief," she said staring straight at me, "whatever the amendments to the treaty are or punishments for having broken it . . . the outcome will be fair."

They stood to leave, nodding to me as they walked past. It was going to be hard getting used to this respect thing, all the nodding and putting me first and all. I remembered how they had all treated my father, how I had thought it was because they were friends of his. Maybe they were friends, but he was the Chief, and respect went with the territory apparently. I could only hope I was worthy of their faith in me.

"I better be going, too," I told Charlie.

"Good luck, son. I'll be there this afternoon," he told me as I walked out the door and towards my truck.

The drive to the reservation didn't take long. I thought about all the times I had made that drive with Bella, and the time we had spent in those sheds behind the house. I parked at the entrance to the shed, and I couldn't help but walk in. It was just as I had left it, my dad hadn't moved anything.

Damn, I wished things could have been different . . . that I could have been enough for her. I still loved her, I always would, but I loved her enough to give her what she wanted . . . and she wanted Edward. He really was a great guy, good to her. He loved her like I did, maybe more if that was even possible. I had to let go of these thoughts, though, if only for the day. Today I wasn't Bella and Edward's best friend . . . I was the Chief of the Quilette tribe. My decisions had to be fair and based in fact, not emotions. Lives hung in the balance, and I had to do what I knew to be right.

I walked to the graveyard and stood where they had buried my father. He was honored in a long row of chiefs, including Ephraim Black. It had been his signature on the original treaty with the Cullens, as well as Carlisle and Edward's. There had to have been something he saw in Carlisle . . . some look in his eyes, sincerity in his voice, something. Carlisle was the same today that he had been over seventy years ago. It was then that I realized that Ephraim had seen exactly what I saw. He saw the man inside the vampire and he believed their words. He had been right to trust them. Even now, the Cullens were doing everything in their power to keep their word, though I knew that Edward would change Bella regardless. This was a special circumstance, and as Chief I would have allowed the change totally separate from the issue with Sam. That was it. I knew now how I was going to handle their request, and Sam's punishment.

My sister Rachael was at the house when I went inside. She and Paul were sitting on the sofa, watching the television. They had married while I had been gone, and they lived just a couple of doors away.

"Jake," Rachael said as she stood and hugged me, "I'm so glad you're back."

"It's good to see you, sis. I'm glad you're both here. Paul, will you please go and round up all the tribe that has made the transition . . . all the members of the wolfpack. I'd like to meet with them in the clearing in an hour."

"Sam as well?" Paul asked warily.

"Yes, especially Sam."

"Paul left immediately and I turned to my sister. "I finally found someone, Rachael. I imprinted."

She gasped, "I'm so happy for you. It isn't . . ."

"I laughed, "No, it isn't Bella if that's what you're thinking. Her name is Bree and she is a student at Clemson University. You'll meet her soon enough."

"Did she come with you, Jake?"

"No. She's at school. Her classes are in session."

"How is it that you're away from her then? I thought once you imprinted, you had to be around your mate everyday!" she said, seemingly surprised.

"I miss her like crazy, Rachael, but there are things here that needed my attention. I'll see her soon enough."

"You're not staying, then." It wasn't a question.

"No. Not full time, anyway. I plan to spend a lot of time here, but I also have a business and it requires me to travel to races around the country. You'll see a lot more of me now, though," I told her.

"Good. I can't wait to meet her," she said sweetly.

"I need to go meet with the pack and let them know some things, but I'll see you after the tribal meting this afternoon, alright?" I asked.

"Sure sure," she said. I had to laugh, I thought I was the only one that used that phrase.

~oooOooo~

Sam POV

"Everything that has been said here today is true. I broke the treaty but just as importantly, I broke a trust with people that were trying to help Jacob. Jake phased while he was visiting the Cullens. He had no idea what was happening, and Edward Cullen stayed with him, made sure that he fed, and paid for me a plane ticket to fly there and help him, along with Emily. I completely betrayed their faith in my civility, as their only intent was to help Jake."

I had told them the truth, there was nothing else to say. I had no idea what fate awaited me. I knew it would be the Cullen's right to demand my life be forfeit, but I knew enough about them to know they would never do it. Damned leeches had more regard for human life than most humans, I got that now.

I watched Carlisle tend and monitor my wife during the flight across country and I had seen the extent he went to to ensure her comfort, right down to the amenities on the plane that he hired to fly us home. He spared no expense. Sue had told me of his generosity, as Jacob had, but seeing it was something else again. He was even polite to me, which was a lot more than I would probably have been to him if the situation had been reversed. Damned bloodsucker. I had to admit he was genuinely a good guy, regardless . . . damn it. I hated being wrong . . . but I had been dead wrong about the Cullens.

It was pretty close quarters on the plane, though it wasn't small. Emmett was less than polite, as was the blond leech . . . Rosalie I think they called her. They reminded me of the pack at home. Anyone having injured one of our own would have been treated much worse by the pack, so I couldn't fault them for the way they acted toward me. I had harmed their brother and though Carlisle had insisted to them that they remain civil to me, it was a lot to ask of them and I knew it. They did not trust me at all, something I had earned and deserved from them after the way I had tried to get Jacob to deceive them and end Edward. They were all good to Emily though, and that was what mattered to me now.

She spoke to me, Emily that is. She wasn't loving, or even friendly . . . but at least she spoke to me. I had stayed away from the house ever since we returned, Carlisle had hired round the clock nurses for her for a couple of weeks, just to ensure that she rested and recovered, and his wife had bought out half the grocery story and had it delivered since I'm sure she felt uncomfortable on the rez, even if she had permission to be there. I tried to run wolf and stay away, but the thoughts of the rest of the pack were just too much for me. They knew my mind though from just the short time they had access to it the first night I was home. Most of them were furious with me, not for attacking the Cullens, but for seeming to have made my peace with them now. Paul found me out back in the garage tinkering with some old engines and such that needed repair.

"Jacob wants us all in the clearing in half an hour. That includes you," Paul said.

"He wants us wolf?" I asked quietly, my eyes never leaving my workbench.

"Yes," Paul replied. I think he wants to discuss what happened with the Cullens before the tribal council meets this afternoon.

I nodded. It made sense to let the pack in on what would happen, and for Jacob to use his influence to calm them. They would have to follow orders from the alpha and it would help to stop the near riot that had occurred at the council meeting yesterday.

I was the last one to walk into the clearing, the pack was already gathered by the time I arrived. There were now ten of us in all, eleven including Jacob. Our numbers had grown after Billy had been killed and we knew a vampire had been responsible. More phased after last fall when Edward and Bella had been in town and Jessica Stanley was murdered. I wondered how many more there would be after such close contact to vampires, four of them having attended the council meeting on our reservation, exposing the entire tribe directly to vampires.

There were congratulations all round and acceptance of Jacob as the Alpha. There was no choice really and there was no opposition to him other than Paul's obvious disdain for how Jacob felt about the Cullens. Though he was the Alpha and could censure his thoughts from us, somewhat, he readily allowed the pack to wander through his memories of all his dealings with the Cullens and even his friendship with Edward. They were astounded. Amazed really that vampires had been so intent on helping him when he phased, and even bankrolling his new business. It was as though they could not believe the Cullens were actually vampires, and in the end, they all agreed that they were not the cold ones of our legends.

That reality was never clearer than when Jacob brought forth visions of Victoria and our ending her. He described the kills at Mirror Lake and what Bree and Bella had endured at their hands. Werewolves were still natural and deadly enemies with vampires, we were just acknowledging that the Cullens were not included in that group. I chuckled at the name Jacob had given them, the name they themselves used to term their feeding habits. Vegetarian vampires.

It still turned our stomachs, don't get me wrong. Their smell still sickened us with the sweet stench they gave off. Several members of the pack nearly lost it at the idea of Jake eating the vampire leftovers but he laughed at them, telling them that at least the deer he ate wasn't so bloody that he was a mess when he finished eating. Whatever. i was never going that far, that was for sure.

After all had been bared mentally, Jacob insisted we all come forward and sit in a circle.

"You all know and now understand that Sam Uley did in fact break the treaty," Jacob declared.

"It was two thousand miles away, Jake. The treaty only covers what happens here, locally," Paul demanded savagely as he snarled.

"If you want it that way, Paul, then the Cullens only have to abstain from killing humans when they are in this geographic area. That would mean that they could live here in peace with us as long as they fed far from here. Right?" Jacob asked.

"Hell no! The bloodsuckers can never harm a human, that's what the damned leeches agreed to!" Paul yelled, howling his feelings loudly.

"Fine. Then, in return, we have no right to harm them and Sam here did willfully attack and try to end a member of their family. You all know his actions, you have seen them and heard the conversations first hand through my mind," Jake thought turning to me.

This was it. It was time and it could be avoided no longer. I was about to find out the consequences of my actions. I could only hope that Emily would get past this, get over all of the hurt. I really did love her more than anything, just the way Edward loved Bella I guess.

"Sam Uley, step to the center of the circle."

I moved ever so slowly, coming to stand, encircled by what had once been my pack to command. I was unsure what was about to happen, though I knew they had the right to discipline me however they saw fit.

"Sam. You willingly and with forethought broke a treaty that our people had agreed to. You broke the word of our forefathers and the seriousness can not be overlooked," Jacob said, looking around the circle at the faces of my brothers.

"As the Alpha and rightful Chief of our tribe, the punishment is mine to decide."

There was much growling and the wolves around me were pawing at the ground with their claws. There could be no question after what Jacob had shown them, the collective wolf mind understood and acknowledged that I was in fact wrong and guilty of betraying the trust Sue Clearwater had placed in me by asking me to come and help Jacob. I had officially been called by a tribal elder to come and aid the rightful Chief and I had used the opportunity to attack the Cullens that, at that time, were aiding our Chief as well. There was just no way out of this. I was guilty as shit.

"Sam Uley, you have dishonored yourself and this tribe by willfully breaking a treaty that you and our people were bound to. What do you have to say for yourself?" Jacob asked loudly.

"I can only say that I did not understand. I acted out of ignorance and reliance on our legends. I now understand that I was wrong, the Cullens are not a part of the cold ones that are the enemies of our people. I have seen nothing but truth and compassion from them . . . even for me."

Jacob was silent for a long while, then he spoke, "I have grown close to the Cullens, especially Edward Cullen. I consider him one of my best friends . . . and I will share more information with you. Edward Cullen can read minds. I'm sure you saw it happen in my memories of what occurred in North Carolina. He answered questions for me while I was first in wolf form and continued to display this ability in several other instances that I was there for firsthand."

There was a lot of unrest at that statement. "See, I told you they are not anything human. We need to end them," Paul spat, turning his back to Jake to speak to the rest of the pack. There was no hesitation. Jacob reached out and ripped Paul's flank, effectively giving him three legs to walk on till it healed.

"Enough! There has been enough hatred and hurt," Jake said, staring at Paul as he licked his wound.

"Sam Uley. As I have witnessed firsthand your treason and betrayal and you have admitted openly to breaking the treaty, your place in this pack is forfeit. You may only join us when called upon, phasing to wolf only when you are requested to do so. I will be asking you to phase periodically so that I can know what you are thinking, and if you are still abiding by the orders I am going to give you. This is your punishment.

As far as Emily is concerned, your relationship is between the two of you. You will be allowed to work and live on the reservation still, if you choose to and if it is acceptable to her.

As a type of community service, you will be required to maintain the grounds at the Cullen estate for as long as they continue to own it and you continue to be a member of this tribe. This will include the home where Charles Swan resides as well, for as long as he or his descendants own the property."

There was a lot of murmuring and grumbling, something about not making me lower myself to do that and dignity and such. Hell, I was expecting far worse . . . at least I was alive and intact, even allowed to still be on the rez.

"Sam, do you understand these requirements?" Jacob asked, "and the reasons for them?"

"Yes. I am required to tend to the estates to give me time to think about my actions, and humility to regret them and I am no longer trusted to be a member of the pack as I did not hold up the tribe's word as given on the treaty we signed. The punishment is fitting, I expected far worse."

"I planned far worse," Jake told me, my eyes shooting up to stare at him.

"What changed your mind?" I asked.

"Emily's love for you and her insistence that there was good in you. Bella and the Cullen's compassion in not wanting someone physically harmed because of them. Mostly, it was Edward Cullen himself that saved you, Sam, and yourself. Edward accepted your apology and insisted to me that you were sincere and contrite, and that you remained so each day that he was around you during Emily's recovery. His ability to read your mind and know your true thoughts and his willingness to tell me is what changed my mind. In my mind, I had come to the conclusion that your life was forfeit. You had tried to end him so that was what was going to happen to you. An eye for an eye. Edward and Carlisle would have no part of that. It was their right to demand punishment or break the treaty themselves, but they requested that I be lenient because you had seen that you were wrong. Thank them for these consequences. You own them your life."

Jacob didn't even talk like Jacob. Something had drastically changed, he had grown . . . he stood taller, more intent than before. Something that had been buried apparently had surfaced, and he commanded respect from us all. I thanked him and walked away, phasing a short distance from the pack and vowing to remain human till asked to phase again. I walked toward the council chambers to see what else was in store for me.

~oooOooo~