Purple Infinity was squealing as she reviewed this chap. She's an Erik fangirl XD. Actually, I think a fair amount of people are Erik Fangirls, if only because Erik is so damn awesome. But I digress. Please read, review, and enjoy the potential triangle that may or may not be forming ;) .

"Dad what are you doing?"

"Work with me Bella," her father said as he handed her a rifle. Bella watched as Charlie placed several boxes of bullets on the counter, each with different numbers. Richard Newton was pulling guns down from the shells, and Mike was running in the back for more boxes. "I should have done this years ago," Charlie grumbled to himself. "Bella honey, you're not skittish around loud noises are you?"

Bella bit her lip. She didn't like where this was going. She shook her head and Charlie sighed, visibly relieved. "Good. We can start practice by drawing out the strays. I have a feeling those freaks will be back in full force soon. Once you, Angela, and Mike get to be good enough shots, we can go around town and see if there are any more survivors."

"What about…La Push?" Angela's voice was soft and her eyes rimmed red. She had been crying again.

Charlie gave Angela a gentle look as he placed another box on the counter. "They're…not my priority right now Angela."

"But your friends are there," Bella began and stopped. "Never mind," she murmured as logic reared its ugly head. It wouldn't be worth the loss of life to go all the way down to La Push in the wild hopes everyone was still alive.

"We'll try when we get enough a people," Charlie promised. "Until then, we need to hone our skills." Charlie looked over Bella's head at Erik who was lying on the floor with his hands behind his head, eyes closed. "How long have you had weapon experience?"

"All my life," came the drawled reply. "They train us from damn near birth if they can you know. We'll have to start combat training right now if we want to make it the next few weeks. Soon they'll bring guns as well and then this little store will be obliterated." Erik opened one eye and adjusted his glasses to see them better. "I can start you lovely ladies in hand-to-hand if you want. Sooner or later you're weapons are going to go flying and then you'll be up shit creek without a paddle."

Both girls nodded. It made sense to be prepared for the inetvible…even if Bella couldn't get the horrid thoughts of the possible fate that had befallen everyone at La Push. Angela pulled out yoga mats in the middle of the store floor as Bella moved aside nearby clothing racks. It was an improvised sort of wrestling area- not entirely big but it would do. At least…that's what Bella thought. She followed Erik's suit; taking off her shoes and socks.

"You might want something for your hair ladies," Erik commented as he began to stretch. Bella nodded and the search for rubber bands commenced. There were two in the business office and after a slightly painful fight to place their hair in ponytails; they were ready for their first combat lessons. Erik clapped his hands. "Right. Who's first?"

Angela cast a glance at and Bella nodded. "I'll go," she whispered as she took a step forward. She watched as Erik's feet slid in a combat position with the left slight farther above the right, hands balled into fists. Bella copied his movement, tense.

Erik paused, cocking his head to one side. "Your thumb needs to be outside," he commented and Bella immediately complied. "I won't hit you too hard when we start out, ok?" Bella nodded and Erik laughed. "Geez you two, cheer up. Damn, you act like I'm about to sprout another head." From the corner of her eye Bella could see Angela relax slightly and she found herself smiling as well. Erik was trying to put them at ease.

"Are you ready?" Bella asked and Erik smirked.

"Take your best shot."

Bella threw her punch the best she could: her arm popped at the speed of it even as she found herself being spun around, her body slamming into the mats. All her air rushed out of her lungs in a single shocked gasp even as she felt her arm being twisted behind her back. "Come on honey, you can do that better than that."

"It hurts," Bella whimpered, wincing at the pressure. Immeadtly the pressure lightened up. She was stuck; she couldn't get away without him twisting her arm and-

"Look where I'm positioned Swan," Erik commanded and Bella cast a glance behind her. Somehow Erik was now straddling her though not completely sitting on her back. He was actually half standing over her. "Normally I wouldn't encourage this, but if this was a fight to the death, I would say go ahead and knee the fucker in the balls or even aim a kick towards the ankle. Ankles are fragile and a good kick hurts like hell." Erik let go of her arm and took a step back, giving her room to sit up. "If you can, always aim for joints."

Bella nodded and scrambled back on her feet, waiting for the next instruction. But Erik was already turning to Angela and Bella's quiet friend stepped forward. "I want you to watch how I fight with Angela kay?"

Bella nodded, stepping off the mat. Erik seemed perfectly at ease facing off against Angela with his feet spaced shoulder length apart, hands loosely balled into fists. Angela threw the first punch even as Erik sidestepped easily, grabbing her wrist and yanking her off her feet. He did it with such ease that Bella found herself staring at him open mouthed as he spun her around, slamming her into the ground. I didn't hurt her hun. You might want to close your mouth.

Bella blushed and bit her lip even as he got off of Angela. "Both of you ok?"

The two girls nodded as Angela rose to her feet. Bella could detect the faintest hint of a pink blush across Angela's cheeks as she looked down at the ground. "You're…very good."

A big grin danced across his face. "That's what she said."

Bella choked back a giggle, but she couldn't stop her own smile from breaking out across her face. Even Angela was trying not to grin. "You're very assured of your skills," Angela said, "but you know what they say about big egos?"

"They're nothing but the truth?" he offered with a slight waggle of his eyebrows.

Bella rolled her eyes. "That's so corny."

Erik shrugged that laid-back grin on his face. "Well," he confessed, "can't hurt to try. Anyway, time to get back to work ladies. I think we'll start with throwing proper punches and kicks first."

Bella and Angela stood side by side, making fists and throwing punches in the air. Admittedly, Bella felt a bit silly punching at air. She wondered what she must look like flailing about with her sad excuses of a punch but if she was horrible at it, Erik said nothing. "Throw your hip into it Swan," Erik commanded. "You get power from your hip when you twist it like this," he said, modeling for her. "Otherwise, you're not going to make much of a dent in it."

Bella nodded, feeling her cheeks heat up at the touch of his hands as he helped her twist in the motion he wanted. Strange, how she reacted around him. It was almost like with Jasper though…Bella couldn't pinpoint it. She wouldn't say she loved Jasper- though the two had known of each other, they didn't know each other. But she couldn't deny the lust, the emotional attachment she had for the vampire. And with Erik…there was undeniably an attraction there. That much Bella could tell. But as for exactly what…

"Pay attention," Erik commanded as he lightly smacked the back of her head.

"Ow!" Bella fought the urge to stick her tongue out at him. "Yes," she grumbled. Attraction? Never mind. Erik could be an asshole sometimes.