A/N: Thank you so much to those of you who left me a comment on the last chapter! Please, keep them coming because they are such and encouragement to me.

Yay, I got another chapter ready to go for you. I get so excited to share these with you guys. I think the next two, maybe three chapters should come together fairly quickly, but not sure after that. As always, I will continue to work as much as I'm able to get the next chapter to you as quickly as possible.
Happy reading!

I own none of the characters or this universe.

CHAPTER 42

BELLA POV

CONFUSION FOGGED my brain as I blinked my eyes opened. The faintest hint of light was coming through my windows, and all was quiet except for a few early rising birds chirping in the nearby trees. Guess they'll be the ones getting the worms today. I groaned and laughed at my own stupid thought then rubbed my hands over my eyes and forehead.

Why in the world was I awake?

Then I felt it… the longing ache in my chest was back. Ugh, I so wish Jake were here. I reached out to the other side of my bed, trying to will him to my side. Man, I was just full of ridiculous notions this morning. I needed more sleep.

I contemplated trying to talk to Jake, but he said he had an early morning patrol, so I didn't want to bother him. He had enough people in his head when he was a wolf. Besides, my thoughts were confusing me in my own head… trying to form a coherent sentence that someone else could understand might be a challenge.

After floating in some sort of barely awake state for a while, I finally drifted back off but didn't sleep nearly as soundly as I had through the night. When I woke again around 8:30, I finally gave up and got out of bed. My stomach was yelling at me, and I had some more studying I wanted to get done before Jake came over anyway. I threw on a red long-sleeved shirt and jeans then headed down to the kitchen.

"Morning Bells," Charlie said cheerfully from behind the newspaper. "Did you sleep good?"

"Yeah, for the most part," I replied. "Have you eaten yet?"

"No, not yet," he said, folding the paper down to look at me. "Just coffee so far."

"Want some eggs?" I didn't really feel like getting to my schoolwork quite yet.

"Sure! I think there's some bacon in there too," he said with a large grin and a hopeful look, drawing a laugh out of me.

I went ahead a fried up the whole pound of bacon before frying the eggs. I didn't want any for breakfast, but BLTs sounded good for lunch and Jake would be here, so none would go to waste.

When I was done eating and the kitchen was cleaned, I started to lug my full backpack to the dining room table from where Jake had left it for me by the front door.

"Bells, are you supposed to be lifting that much weight yet?" Charlie asked, hurrying over to take my bag from me. "And where is your arm brace?"

Oops, I had forgotten to put it back on this morning. Keeping up the appearances of being injured after being completely healed was going to be a challenge.

"I'm glad that you're feeling better, but you need to make sure you're still following Dr. Cullen's orders."

"I know. I am feeling a lot better the last couple of days, so I forgot. Do you mind putting that in the dining room for me?" I asked, indicating the bag he was still holding, and I went to retrieve my brace from my bedroom.

Charlie was headed out the door about an hour later, to go help Sue Clearwater with some home repair projects.

"If you need your bag moved again, or anything else, I can get it when I get home later. Unless Jake is able to get it. But I don't want you doing anything to re-injure yourself!"

"Alright Dad. I promise."

He nodded and said goodbye as he walked out the door.

I realized that I didn't know what time Jake was coming over, just that it was going to be mid-morning, which it was now.

Jake?

There was a short delay before he answered.

Yeah baby?

I'm not bothering you, am I?

Never.

Okay. Well, I was just curious if you knew about what time you were going to get here.

I'm just about to leave Emily's and then I have an errand to run in Forks before I come over, so maybe another hour.

Okay. See you soon.

I was no longer able to concentrate on any studying. I had already gotten more done than was necessary between last night and this morning, so I decided to just go read while I waited for Jake.

Or I tried to read. My mind wouldn't stay focused on the words on the page and it kept wandering back to that conversation with Charlie last night, of all things. Man, that was embarrassing, but I supposed it could have been worse. He'd brought up marriage. Though I didn't get much of a chance to respond before he moved on, it got me thinking about it. After we imprinted, I had told Jake that I would marry him tomorrow, if that's what we wanted. It surprised me at the time, because of how Renee had always drilled it in my head to not marry young, but so much has changed for Jake and me, my surprise made perfect sense. My experience with marriage, no matter when it happens, will be nothing like my parents', for so many reasons. But now that the thought is in my mind, I want it. I want everything that there is to be had in this life with Jake, and I don't want to wait.

I sighed and shook my head at myself. I need to stop thinking crazy. I'm sure we won't wait until we're thirty, but eighteen? That's just foolish, right?

I'm here.

Jake's words in my mind cut off my train of thought. I dropped the book that I was no longer reading, but still held in my hand, onto bed and ran down the stairs. Flinging the front door open I jumped into his arms just as he reached the top step of the porch.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed as he caught me and held me tight. "I missed you too baby."

I breathed a sigh of relief to be with him again. I wouldn't bring up the marriage thing to Jake for now. I didn't want him to think I was any crazier than I was sure he already did… besides, we had enough going on right now without adding that to the mix.

"I got you something," he said as he headed into the living room with me trailing behind him. He pulled a stack of jewel cases out of the sack he was carrying, took one, and then handed me the rest.

"What's this for?" I asked, laying the seven CDs he'd handed me out on the dining room table. A couple of them were my favorites.

He slipped the CD he'd kept into the stereo then turned to me. "I know that you got rid of your music collection last fall, so I thought it was time for you to start building a new one. I went by the thrift store in town and found a few I knew you'd like, so I got them."

"Got rid of?" I laughed at his phrasing of the unfortunate treatment I'd given my previous music collection. "More like I destroyed the entire thing in a fit of rage!"

"Well, I was trying to be nice." He smiled at me as he moved the coffee table against the wall.

"Jake, you didn't have to do this," I said with both appreciation and mild disapproval.

"I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to. I have an ulterior motive though."

I eyed him suspiciously as he pushed the couch back all the way to the dining table. The soft melody of a slow song had started playing through the stereo speakers and Jake held out his hand to me.

"Dance with me," he said.

My eyes got big, and I shook my head. "I don't dance, Jake. You know that."

"You used to."

An old, but somewhat unfamiliar, memory flooded my mind. Me and Charlie with Jake and his whole family in their tiny living room, dancing to old crooners from the 50's and 60's, like Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, and Billie Holiday… Sarah loved that old music. It was mostly just silly little spins and twirls and lots of swaying. At some point, though, we would all move aside and watch as Billie and Sarah really danced to a song or two, gazing into each other's eyes with giant smiles on their faces. It was so sweet… and nothing I could ever hope to accomplish.

"I was nine, Jake, and I believe I was mostly just standing on my dad's feet while he danced… very carefully, I might add."

He stood, patiently waiting with his hand still extended to me.

"Come on Bells. I know you have an aversion to dancing because you're afraid you'll hurt yourself. But you're not the same now baby. If you can run through the forest like you did yesterday, I bet you can dance without any effort at all."

He had a point, but after years of avoiding things like this, I was struggling to find any desire.

"I don't know how to dance though. Those times in your living room don't really count."

"Can you just trust me? It's just the two of us, so is there really any risk here?"

He flashed his warm beautiful smile at me, and my resolve started to crumble. "You know I trust you, I just… I don't know if I trust myself."

"You have to at least try. I'm not taking no for an answer."

When I continued to hesitate, his voice grew quieter and with more longing in it.

"Bella, just let me hold you in my arms and sway to the music with me."

I sighed. It may be ridiculous, but when he said it like that it sounded much more appealing than 'dancing.' I finally took his hand and moved in close to him as a new song flowed out of the speakers. My other hand went up to his shoulder as his went around my waist. He continued to hold my right hand out as we swayed and took small steps, turning slowly in a circle. I relaxed into him and laid my head on his chest, soaking up his warmth, the feel of his strong body against mine, and the smell of him. I breathed deeply and let out a small hum of contentment.

"Is this so bad?" he asked, his thumb rubbing over the small of my back.

"No, this is nice," I admitted and pulled back a bit so that I could smile up at him. He gazed into my eyes for a long moment, the electric tingle humming between us. I thought he was going to kiss me, but he gently pulled me back against his chest instead, continuing to sway and turn with the music.

"Did you sleep okay last night?" I asked. "Because I slept amazingly well for most of the night."

"Yes, I did, actually. I'm pretty sure it's because I was nearby. I slept in the woods close to your house and left for patrol shortly after dawn."

I lifted my head again and looked at him in surprise. "Jake! What made you do that? It couldn't have been comfortable."

"I had gone for a run to clear my head and sort of just found myself here. When I realized that need to protect you was gone and you fell sound asleep shortly after, I decided to stay. Besides, I can sleep comfortably pretty much anywhere when I'm in wolf form."

A new song had begun, and Jake smiled mischievously at me. "I want to try something. Just follow my lead."

Before I could respond, he put his hand on my hip and gently pushed me away from him a little. Images began to play through my head of us dancing—really dancing—moments before Jake led me through the same steps. Suddenly, we were spinning and twirling in the small space in my living room. With my newly coordinated body, I was floating. And I… I was loving it. A smile spread across my face of its own accord, and laughter bubbled up out of me. And the joy that was on Jake's face and flowing from him through our bond took my breath away. I loved him so much, my heart felt like it would burst.

He finally pulled me back in and started swaying with me against him again.

"I told you that you could do it. Did you like it."

I was a little breathless from the thrill of it all, and my voice gave away my disbelief in what I'd just done. "Yeah. I loved it, Jake. I would have never thought that would work."

"That's why I didn't give you any warning." His eyes were shining so bright.

"But, wait… when did you learn how to do all that? I don't recall you being able to do that when we were younger, and that's nothing like how you danced last year."

"Well, last year I was all awkward because of that huge growth spurt I was going through, not to mention the giant cast you had on your leg. I also was nervous about why I was there and then there was Edward glaring at me."

"He wasn't glaring at you."

Jake snorted. "Oh yes he was! You may have been oblivious to it, but you know damn well he was reading my thoughts and could probably even hear every word we said. Not to mention he was probably jealous and frustrated as hell that I was touching you. He was definitely glaring at me."

Huh… Jake had a very good point. I had to admit that he was probably right, and he could see it all over my face.

He shook his head. "Anyway, you know how my mom loved all that old timey music, and you might also remember she loved to watch the old musical movies, like Singin' in the Rain and Guys and Dolls. Then, my dad used to say that one of the best ways to woo a woman was to dance with her."

"You don't have to woo me, Jake, you've already got me."

"Psshh, I will never stop wooing you, baby. I'm not going to slack off just because some mystical force linked us. You may never want anyone else, but I don't ever want our love to weaken. My dad never stopped wooing my mom. They would go on dates and dance with each other in the living room and things like that all the time. As you know, I would dance with my mom sometimes, though I was the one doing most of the spinning back then." He chuckled softly at the memory then looked like he was going to say something, but he hesitated.

"What is it?" I asked gently, thinking it was something about his mom.

He sighed. "Okay, I've never told anyone this before, so you can't make fun of me. When I was 14, I could knew I was forgetting things about my mom. Dad would barely talk about her, you didn't come visit that summer and were avoiding my calls, and the girls were kinda bitter about it all; her death, Dad's semi-depression and declining health, having to take care of him and me… so they wouldn't talk to me about much of anything."

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

Jake shook his head. "No, baby. That's not why I'm telling you this." He brushed his thumb against my cheek. "We've already been through this… you have nothing to be sorry for."

I nodded and Jake continued.

"Anyway, I was trying to find any way I could to keep her memory alive and I saw a flyer posted at the Community Center that someone was offering free dancing lessons for Seniors on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I initially just went to watch, just to remember that time with Mom, but there were five ladies and only two men, so they tried to get me to join in to give more ladies a chance to have a partner. I finally agreed when they promised not to tell anyone outside of that room. I don't think they completely keep that promise because several more ladies showed up a couple weeks later, but none of my friends ever said anything to me about it. So, for about six months, I spent an hour every Saturday and Sunday morning learning to dance simple ballroom dances. I'm no Fred Astaire, but I'm not terrible either, and I'm thankful I have that little bit of knowledge of something that my mom loved so much."

"Jake, I would never make fun of you for that." Knowing what this meant to him, made it extremely special. I had a feeling this wasn't the last time we would do this.

Jake's wide grin returned, obviously pleased. He had wrapped his arm around my waist and continued to sway and turn with me. I laid my head on him again as he curled our entwined hands against his chest.

"I love the person I've become with you Jake. I've always felt so out of place in this world, never able to relate to other people. But not anymore. I have found where I belong." I lifted my head to look at him. "I once told you that you were my home, and that is even more true now than it was then. Your world is where I belong. And now, I feel like I'm finally discovering my true self… the person I was always meant to become."

Jake brought his hand up from my waist to caress my face.

"You don't know how happy that makes me Bella. You're my home, too."

He kissed me gently then we returned to swaying to the music, thoroughly enjoying just spending the time in his arms.

We were quiet for a while before Jake spoke again. "So, Sam and I are meeting with Carlisle soon." He glanced at the clock. "In an hour actually. I was hoping you would come with me. I know that Sam told you about my little trip to Seattle on Friday and we're going to be discussing what I found out and what Carlisle makes of it."

"Oh, okay. I'm interested to hear what that's all about. Where are we meeting."

"At his office at the hospital, so we don't have to worry about Edward hanging around."

"That's good. I'm not quite ready to see him again yet. Even if you and Sam are both there."

"I don't blame you. I would prefer to avoid that as well. For both of our sakes."

When the final song on that CD ended, we turned off the stereo and put the living room back together, then had some lunch before heading to the hospital. I hoped Carlisle would be able to give us some answers.

SAM WAS WAITING for us by the front door when we arrived at the hospital. Jake told me on the way over that Same had met with Carlisle the day before and sorted out the issue of them staying. Once everyone had calmed down, and now that my injuries were no longer an issue, they just asked that Edward steer clear of being around unless I was with Jake or another of the wolves. At least for now.

We made our way to Carlisle's office. Alice was there too, and I hurried over to give her a hug as the guys greeted each other. I really had missed her.

As I pulled out of our hug, I was struck by the feeling that something was off. It wasn't anything that felt bad or dangerous, just… different. I couldn't quite place… what…

Oh my gosh, it was their scent! They smelled different to me. Not unpleasant, but a bit harsher than before. How was it Jake had described them? Sickly sweet and icy? It wasn't nearly that bad, but it was a sharp sweetness and kinda tangy. Oooor, maybe that was what the wolves smelled, but wasn't as off-putting for me with my lesser sense of smell.

"Bella did you hear me?" Alice waved her hand in front of my face and when I'd focused back to her eyes she continued. "I said I'm sorry I missed your call… and sorry that Edward ambushed you by answering my phone."

"Oh, sorry, I zoned out for a second. No, it's totally fine Alice. It's not your fault." I sat down between Alice and Jake in one of the chairs in front of Carlisle's desk. Alice's voice was different too. It was still a pretty, high-pitched tone, but it no longer had that musical quality to it that used to enthrall me. I made a mental note to tell Jake about it later but wanted to keep myself focused on my conversation with Alice, so I continued. "I just hadn't seen you in so long and wanted to see if you'd like to spend some time together one evening this week."

"I would love that!" she replied excitedly. We decided on her coming over Tuesday and staying the night.

"You look like you're feeling much better Bella," Carlisle observed. "I can check on how your recovery is coming along while you're here, if you'd like."

I looked at Jake and Sam. We hadn't discussed if there was anything they didn't want to share.

"There have actually been some developments we should let you know about," Jake said. He told them about the imprinting, about my healing, that he is now Alpha, and that there are two packs, but didn't mention about our new powers or the telepathy.

"I'm just wearing the brace for show now," I added.

Both Carlisle and Alice were silent for a minute, shocked looks on their faces.

"Well, that's wonderful," Carlisle finally said, smiling. "That certainly explains much of what was happening between you. It must be such a relief."

We both just smiled. Alice, sitting next to me, reached over and squeezed my hand.

"I am very happy for you Bella."

"Thanks Alice."

"You should only need to keep up appearances for another two weeks, I would say," Carlisle offered. "I would doubt anyone would question it after that."

"She has prom next weekend," Alice added. "Would it be weird if you gave her special permission to leave it off for the night?"

"No, that would have been acceptable. Especially with as quickly as you were already healing."

Alice and I smiled at each other… I hadn't even thought about that, so I was glad she asked.

"I think we might want to go ahead and discuss the other matter," Sam interjected, looking at Jake. "We want to make sure we have ample time before you and Bella need to leave."

"Right." Jake explained how the pack had tracked Victoria and figured out that she headed toward the Seattle area when she left Forks and what they had discovered when they went to Seattle the previous week. He also shared his concerns about the two being linked somehow.

"We were aware of the situation in Seattle," Carlisle replied, "and we have been following it fairly closely. With what you found it seems even more likely that our concerns may be correct." He looked at Alice who nodded. "You're certain there were twenty distinct scents?"

"At least," Jake answered. "There could be more since we didn't actually go into the city."

I started to get anxious with this new info. Twenty vampires in Seattle who may have been connected somehow to Victoria? That was a very unsettling thought. Jake took my hand, lacing our fingers together and squeezing it reassuringly.

It's nothing to get worked up over right now Bella.

Calm flowed through my mind as he spoke, and I relaxed again.

"We believe the vampires that you have discovered are newborns," Carlisle continued.

"Newborns?" Sam asked.

"Yes, newly turned vampires. When our kind are first turned our thirst for blood is almost insatiable. If not properly taught and guided, a group of newborns much smaller than twenty can do considerable damage and be extremely unruly and impossible to control.

"The idea that you present about this being connected somehow to Victoria is intriguing. Knowing she was possibly in that area makes it seem like too much of a coincidence to not give that some consideration."

"With her dead though," I asked, "even if they were created by her, what are the chances that they're a threat to us now?"

"That is very hard to say," Carlisle answered.

"I haven't been able to see anything that is going on there," Alice said. "I was watching Victoria's decisions before the pack took her down but never saw anything of significance. If she was involved, then she had to have someone else helping her to keep me in the dark. Someone who was making the decisions, so she had to at least have one other vampire working with her that was not a newborn."

"What could she possibly have hoped to accomplish," Sam asked, "by making so many new vampires and wrecking such havoc, except drawing a lot of attention?"

"I feel quite certain that she did not intend to draw so much attention," Carlisle answered. "In the vampire world, there is a group called the Volturi. They are self-proclaimed leaders and law enforcers, for lack of a better description. Their main purpose is to make sure the existence of vampires stays a secret, so the situation must have drawn their attention by now. We are actually surprised that they have not yet stepped in and put an end to what is happening. As far as what she was trying to accomplish, I really don't have a guess right now."

The atmosphere of the room shifted, and Jake's hand was suddenly gone from mine as both he and Sam tensed. Jake's hands and arms started trembling, his face hardening and jaw clenched. Both Carlisle and Alice looked toward the office door with shocked expressions of concern. Before I could process what was happening, someone spoke from the door.

"I have a guess at what she might have been doing."

Edward

Springing out of his chair, Jake was across the room in less than a heartbeat, towering over Edward and glaring down at him. In the same moment Sam was standing beside Jake with his hand on Jake's arm.

Edward took a step back.

"You've got a lot of nerve, bloodsucker," Jake growled through clenched teeth, as a large, powerful ripple went through his body.

"Easy Jake," Sam said soothingly. "You need to stay calm."

I wished that I could give him my calm, as he had done for me, but I wasn't feeling very calm at the moment. Talking to Edward on the phone was one thing, but I wasn't exactly ready to see him again so soon, let alone be close to him. I knew I might need to help Jake though, so I steeled myself and went to him.

"I'm sorry," Edward said calmly with his hands raised in front of him. "I just came to see Carlisle. When I realized you were here, I was going to wait out of sight until I knew that you were gone. But I overheard your conversation, and I may have some information that can help."

"Edward had no idea that any of you would be here," Carlisle said apologetically. Neither he nor Alice had moved, I assumed to keep from aggravating Jake further.

"Maybe you and I should step into the hallway, Edward," Alice suggested. "You can share your information, and then you can go."

I was beside Jake now, my hand resting on his trembling forearm as another wave went through his body. I could feel his anger and struggle down our bond. I placed my other hand on his chest and put myself partially between Jake and Edward, not liking my close proximity to the latter.

You need me to help you calm down Jake?

No, I'm alright. I just need a minute.

He was still glaring at Edward, but he'd begun taking deep breaths to calm himself and I could see the trembling easing, not going so far up his arms.

I'd feel better if you were behind me.

As his thoughts came to me, he moved to adjust our position so I would be behind him, then several things happened simultaneously.

Edward barked out a warning for me to get back as he reached out to me.

I put my hand out to Edward to tell him no and heard other voices telling him to stop.

A large wave went through Jake under my hand as he moved to keep Edward from touching me.

Everything blurred as I became weightless, flying. There was a loud crack, an explosion of light, a moment of horrible pain, and the world went black.