The forest surrounding La Push would always remind Bella of the gloomy day in May when her son was born. The leaves dropped rain in pattering splashes, the night world alive and waiting. Her pack had waited with the forest, pacing around the cabin in nervous rounds, most in wolf form. Their howls kept her company. She'd labored most of the night, with Emily and Sue laboring tirelessly with her, until the breaking dawn, bringing with it a new life. Bella turned her head and breathed in deeply through her nose. Leah was close by. And Sam. And—

"Dad?" Her voice was hoarse from yelling. She'd yelled more in the last twelve hours than in her whole life. "Are you there?"

The small wooden door creaked open, and Charlie Swan stuck his head into the bedroom. "Hey, kiddo." He stepped inside, looking nervous. "How are you?"

"Tired." She smiled a little. "Thirsty."

He nodded wordlessly, and picked up a pitcher full of water Sue had left on the dresser. He poured her a glass and held it to her lips, watching intensely as she sipped. "Better?"

She nodded. "Thanks." She blinked, and glanced around. "It's so quiet."

"It is." He pulled up a chair and sat, folding his arms. "Now, anyways. You sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine. Quit fussing, Charlie," Bella chuckled and shifted the small warm bundle around on her chest, so the tiny baby face was visible. "Say hello."

Charlie shifted closer and smiled at the red-tan skin, the shock of thick black hair, and the almost black-brown eyes. "Wow," he whispered. "He's beautiful, Bell-Bell."

She glanced up. He hadn't called her Bell-Bell since she was three or four years old. "Dad."

Charlie grunted and reached out to brush the tiny hand with the tips of his fingers. "I'm too young to be a grandpa."

"Yeah." She didn't look at him. "Sorry about that."

"I called your mother."

Bella smiled. "Good."

"She wants to come visit."

"Sure, sure." She nodded, holding her baby a little tighter. "Just, not yet, Dad. Could you tell her to wait a bit?"

Charlie raised his eyebrows but he shrugged. They sat for a moment, then Sue appeared. Her father cleared his throat. "Billy's here too."

"Oh." It was a breathy exhale. Of course Billy would come. "Is Jake—?"

Her father's face hardened a little and he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Bella."

"Dad." She looked at him through her tears. She couldn't seem to stop them anymore. "It's fine."

"I'm still going to kick his ass for this," he grumbled. "He should be here for you."

"Help me up." She ignored his comments and scooted towards the edge of the bed. "Let's go see Billy."

"Hang tight, kiddo." Charlie jumped forward, suddenly awkward, as if her didn't know quite what to do. Bella smiled, and took his arm, hauling herself to a standing position. All her muscles felt stretched and loose, especially her stomach and back. Every moment was slow, deliberate. Sue gathered up the bundle of baby and blankets, following them. Outside the bedroom, Billy, Sam, Old Quil, and Leah all sat around a small cheerful fire. The sounds coming from the kitchen must be Emily. All eyes turned towards Bella as she slowly shuffled into the room. Charlie maneuvered her towards an arm chair, helping her to get comfortable.

"Get her something to drink," Sue said and Charlie ducked into the kitchen.

Bella tried not to fidget, but her eyes jumped around the room. The members of the Quileute council were all here, and they were all watching her with silent focus.

"It's a boy," she said, more to break the uneasy silence. She smiled at Billy. "Do you want to hold him?"

"I do," Billy said, then hesitated. "But,"

"What?" Bella leaned forward, still hopeful. "Is it Jake? Is he coming?"

Billy hesitated, exchanging a look with Old Quil.

"Embry, Quil, and Seth are still looking." This came from Sam. "We haven't heard anything since they left."

"They left?" Bella frowned. "When?"

"You sent them," Leah said. Her eyes were bright and triumphant.

"I did?" She didn't remember that. But the last twelve hours were a blur of sweat and pain.

"Bella." Billy leaned forward in his wheelchair. "Sam says you gave them an Alpha command."

"No, I—" Bella flinched back, frowning, shaking her head. "How could I?"

"You're Alpha." Leah rolled her eyes, impatient. "God, how many times do I have to explain this before anyone will believe me?"

"She's not Quileute," Old Quil stated. "And she's female."

"And only men phase," Leah snorted. "Blah blah blah."

"What's the point of all this?" Charlie had reappeared and Bella almost bit her tongue. Charlie. Of course, he must know now. Oh God, he must know everything. She wanted to slide down into the chair and hide.

"The point is how did she do it," Billy explained. "Old Quil is right. She's not a wolf."

"The 'how' part is easy," Leah said, leaping to her feet and beginning to pace. "Jacob overthrew Sam. Now he's Alpha and Bella's his mate. Pretty sure that makes her Alpha too."

"Mate?" Charlie looked distinctly uncomfortable, first turning red then white. "Because they...you know—"

"It's a wolf thing," Bella said cutting Charlie off, her face hot with embarrassment. He shot her an incredulous look that said 'How long have you known about all this?' He was going to blow a gasket if he ever learned the whole truth about the Cullens and what she'd almost become. If he didn't already know. Bella shook the thought away.

"Doesn't anyone know basic wolf biology?" Leah demanded. She was met with silence and she rolled her eyes again, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Alpha females rule the pack when they have pups. I looked it up."

"Bella's not an animal," Charlie grumbled.

"But she's Jacob's—"

"If you say 'mate' one more time, I will shoot something," Charlie snapped. "Besides, why do we care if my daughter is ordering your pack around or not?"

"Sam." Billy turned to the younger man, waiting.

Sam Uley looked at if he'd aged twenty more years, almost overnight. He sighed, "The pack is a mess and my wolf isn't happy," he said. He sounded so tired and worn thin. Bella had the sudden urge to give him a hug. "My wolf," Sam stopped. "Jacob isn't here, so," he glanced at Bella, "my wolf wants Bella."

"Over my dead body," Leah snarled. "You've already got a mate."

"I had a mate," Sam looked down, ashamed. "The bond changed when Jacob left. Em and I both felt it."

"You never mentioned this," Sue's spoke into the growing silence. "Are you sure?"

"It doesn't matter," Sam finally said. "None of it matters unless Jacob comes home. My wolf won't settle until that happens." He looked at Bella, "I don't want to be Alpha. I never did. It was always supposed to be Jacob." There was an odd catch in his voice. Something like hope. Hope that maybe his life could be different, simpler. "

"There can only be one Alpha," Old Quil said gravely. "One mated pair."

"But what about Jared and Kim? They've—bonded, right?" Bella said suddenly.

"They have." Sam looked tired. "But it's not the same. Alphas have to have a stronger bond to ensure the pack continues."

"It's believed the first pup is what makes the Alpha bond permanent," Old Quil said. "Alphas mate for life."

Bella frowned, and then she understood, a piece of this jumbled puzzle finally clicking into place. "The council expected Sam and Emily to have a baby first." Bella muttered, "As the original Alpha pair."

Sam nodded. "We all expected it."

"But then Jake and I—"

"Got there first," Leah sounded triumphant.

Charlie cleared his throat, his face turning red, "Can we stop with all the wolf-talk and mate-talk for one damn minute? I plan to enjoy my new grandson." He pulled a fist full of individually wrapped cigars from his front shirt pocket. "Who wants one?"

Billy was the first to laugh, and held out his hand for a cigar. With that, the tension melted away, and the heavy feeling in the room faded. "Open some beers, Emily," Billy called. "And we'll toast my—"

"Our—"

"—new grandbaby."

Bella could've kissed both Billy and Charlie.

"Give me my grandson," Billy demanded, slipping his cigar into his own shirt pocket before holding out his hands towards Sue.

Sue glanced at Bella, who nodded. She watched with fresh tears as Billy Black cradled the small bundle, his happiness and pride making his face shine. He let out a happy grunt and kissed the baby's soft red face. Where she'd once found the supernatural exciting and compelling, now she felt exhausted by it all. Straddling the human and monster worlds was too much. This was the world she wanted; laughter, and mess, and love, and humanity.

"So, does the kid have a name yet?" Charlie asked, glancing at Bella.

"Of course he doesn't," Billy argued. "She can't name him without his father."

"Well, his dear old dad is nowhere to be seen."

"He'll turn up."

"When? Next year?"

Bella cleared her throat and the two men stopped arguing. "His name is Jacob."

"How original." Leah made a gagging sound.

"Jacob Charles William Black," Bella said firmly.

"How come Charlie's name comes first?" Billy demanded, shoving a beaming Charlie aside. "You owe me, Bella."

"Because I'm her favorite."

"My son saved her life."

"He knocked her up—"

"Which saved her life."

"—and then disappeared."

"She broke his heart."

"He didn't have to run off without a word of warning, Billy."

"What was he supposed, to do? Hang around and watch her marry that Cullen bastard?"

"Speaking of, I owe that boy an ass kicking too,"

"You were always Team Jacob, Chief," Billy elbowed him. "Admit it."

The baby began to fuss, while his grandfathers continued bickering. Bella tensed as Sam picked up her son and walked over to where she sat. The burden he'd carried since he first phased seemed to lift off of him for a moment as he stared at the tiny baby.

"What happens now?" she asked softly.

"We wait." Sam carefully laid the baby in her arms. "They'll find Jacob. Eventually."

"Sam," she reached out and took his hand. His dark eyes met hers. "What will you do now? About Emily and Leah?"

"Nothing yet." He sighed, and the burden settled back in its place. His bond to Emily might have changed, but it didn't change what he'd done to Leah. "Once Jacob whips my ass," he shrugged. "We'll see."

"You'll give him a run for his money."

He chuckled a little. "Wouldn't be a fair fight if I didn't." Sam brushed a fingertip over the baby's cheek. "If they can't find him, Bella, I'll bring him home myself. I promise."

"Sam,"

"It's the right thing," He straightened and gave her a grim smile. "For everyone."