Bella spent the following two days spending time with her dad. She took him to the movies and dinner in Port Angeles, and they went fishing. Bella sat on the deck with him and opened beers for him, whispered memories as they thought about past vacations and time spent together. She had taken a book along, in case he didn't want to talk, but was pleasantly surprised by Charlie's steady stream of conversation.

On Wednesday, Damon and Bonnie arrived in her car. They stayed at the Bed and Breakfast in town, even though it wasn't as accommodating as the one Damon ran. Bella thanked them profusely, not only for delivering her car but for Bonnie steering Bella home.

She offered them the use of her car while they were vacationing in the area. They had no intention of rushing back to Mystic Falls. They explained there had been a lot of drama around Damon's little brother and his girlfriend recently. Damon and Bonnie just wanted to escape it and be together.

That evening, Sam stopped by while Charlie was at the diner with Billy to take measurements for the addition. Once he stepped inside, she could hear him sniffing the air.

"Sam?" Bella could feel her heart rate spike as she asked, "W-What's going on? What do you smell?"

"It's different from a cold one, not as sweet and not as decayed. But it still smells wrong." Sam moved closer to her and sniffed her hand. "It's concentrated on your hand, Bells. Who did you shake hands with today?"

"J-just the people that brought my car here from Virginia."

"It smells all wrong. I'm wondering if all this time, we have only known about cold ones. Could there be others?"

"Bonnie told me at the grill that day that I didn't know everything about the supernatural world. I was afraid to ask more. But, she said there is more than just cold ones. There are Traditionals, Werewolves, Shifters, Witches and more. I-I-I… I asked nothing. I didn't want to know, but I should have asked."

Bella fidgeted with her fingers, feeling herself spiraling. Her breathing grew labored, and she felt the sweat bead on her upper lip. Her heart raced in her chest, and she knew she was having another panic attack.

Sam stepped close and pulled her into a tight hug. He repeated phrases of comfort until she finally calmed.

"Bells, we don't know what this means yet. We probably should have a meeting with Damon and Bonnie so we can find out more. They'll also need to stay out of La Push if they could be a threat."

"I'll see if I can set something up, Sam. They are borrowing my car while they vacation here."

"Just let me know what you figure out. I will get these measurements for the additions so I can get the numbers for you. I want to get started on this ASAP. Charlie deserves to be our priority."

Bella smiled softly and replied, "Thanks, Sam. I appreciate you guys."

The meeting with Damon and Bonnie was enlightening.

Bella gathered everyone in Charlie's backyard. It was a good thing they had–the wolves were all on edge, and being in a semi-public location kept them in check.

Bonnie had done most of the talking as most of Damon's comments ended with growling wolves from his heavy level of sarcasm. Bella thought he was hilarious and had to stop herself from laughing several times, much to Damon's delight and the wolves' annoyance.

The teenage girl told them of her history and how she was a witch. She told them of real werewolves, of shifters that took other forms besides that of a wolf. Bonnie also told the pack if they focused, they could shift into different forms.

As Bella gauged their reactions, she noticed Paul and Sam shared a smirk. Somehow, she just knew those two had already figured that part out. She'd have to ask them later what other forms they had taken.

Continuing with her lecture, Bonnie told them about cold ones, which they already knew about, but also about the existence of traditional vampires and what that meant. She talked about the Originals, though she didn't name them, much to the wolves' dismay.

When it was all said and done, Sam thanked Damon and Bonnie for their willingness to educate them.

"It's dangerous to be part of the supernatural world without the complete truth of what is out there. I do hope you will consider us allies rather than enemies." Damon's eyes held sincerity, which Bella could already understand was rare. "Hell, you guys seem like you'd be great frenemies if nothing else."

Sam barked out a startled laugh, making everyone else chuckle as well. "We will take this to our elders. As the alpha of this pack, consider this alliance solid. Would you like it in writing?"

"I'm from a time when a man is only as good as his word," Damon told Sam. "I'm good with a handshake if you are."

"Our tribe prides itself on standing by our promises and alliances."

As the wolves took their leave, Damon and Bonnie thanked Bella for allowing them to use her car and handed her the keys.

"But, if you guys aren't leaving yet, you're welcome to continue using it while you're here."

Damon's eyes sparkled as he replied, "I've already picked up a vehicle for us. I've been meaning to buy a replacement, anyway. I need something besides my trusty Mustang at home. She's seen many miles."

Bella watched as the couple walked hand-in-hand to a black Harley. He lovingly buckled a helmet under his 'Bon Bon's' chin and helped her mount behind him before peeling out.

Sighing, Bella wished she had someone who cared for her as Damon did for Bonnie. She had experienced that with Klaus, but she was much older now. There was no guarantee that he would still find her attractive or want her as anything besides a friend.

She wasn't even sure if she would ever actually see him again. He had said he would come if he wrapped up his business in time.

Dreaming about what-ifs and could-have-been's did nothing for her in the past, so she was determined not to dwell on them anymore.

Bella went to visit Angela and Jake the following day. She was looking forward to meeting all of their kids again. She'd briefly met them at the pack dinner at the Blacks, but there was so much going on–so many people to talk to–that Bella wasn't even sure she recalled their names correctly.

As she parked her car, she took a deep breath, bracing herself, hoping there wouldn't be more interrogations. She was tired of being questioned–of every unchangeable past decision examined.

Knowing Victoria and her crew were ashes didn't automatically stop the constant need for vigilance. Bella continued looking over her shoulder for threats, wondering if she would have to pick up everything and leave again. It didn't matter that some part of her knew she was safe. That she would never have to run again, yet it didn't stop the overwhelming need to watch over her shoulder.

Before she even got to the door, it swung open, and a little boy of around five yelled, "Mom! That Bella lady's here!"

Bella smiled as she waited at the door, hearing Angela reply, "Well, let her in, Ephraim!"

With a wide grin, he stepped to the side, "Momma said come in." He waved his little arm at her, urging her to enter the house.

"Why thank you, Ephraim! I appreciate it! Which room is momma in?"

"Kitchen!" he said before running off down the hall.

Bella went into the kitchen and was immediately awash in memories. Baking and cooking meals in Billy's kitchen while the boys sat joking at the table. They told stories and worked on homework there. Bella had tutored them to help them pass their classes. At first, it had just been Jake, Embry, and Quil, but it had grown to include Paul, Jared, Seth, and, eventually, Emily, Sam, and the rest.

Some memories were painful, too. That was also the table where Bella finally sobbed about missing the Cullens. But then, her sunshine boys–all the pack–brought her back to life, refusing to let her wallow in self-destructive behavior and pity.

Angela turned from the pot she was stirring and enveloped Bella in a big hug that was also very awkward with Angela's rounded and stretched stomach.

"I missed you so much, Ange!"

"Don't you ever leave for so long again, Bella! I missed you, and I was so worried for you. I prayed every day that you would come home."

"I appreciate the prayers, Ange. I missed you guys, too." Bella wiped a tear from her eye, refusing to cry again.

"So tell me about all the things you saw and did! I want to hear everything."

"I mean, there's not a lot to tell. I didn't spend long anywhere, so it's not as glamorous as it probably sounds."

Angela urged Bella into a chair and then sat across from her. She reached across the table and covered Bella's hand with her own. "I imagine none of it was easy or glamorous, Bella… I thought you might have seen some interesting things as you went from place to place. If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. It won't hurt my feelings. We never really go anywhere, at least not of any distance." Smiling wryly at Bella, she said, "I'm sorry if I was overzealous."

"It's no problem. I just wanted to make sure that you wouldn't feel disappointed."

"Never."

As the girls talked about Bella's time away and Angela regaled her with stories of her boys, they laughed until they cried. They spent some moments in tears of sadness or grief.

As Angela was telling Bella about Jake learning the hard way to have the next diaper ready, especially with boys (Ephraim had arced it just right, and it hit Jake square in the eye!), when she laughed and then clutched her side. "I have to stretch, hold on," and Angela stood from the table. As she stepped forward, a splashing sound echoed in the room.

Angela's eyes were enormous as she looked at Bella.

"Was that your water breaking?" Bella asked.

"Yes. Can you call Jake? He needs to get here now. And then call Billy? He and Paul are supposed to watch the boys for me when I go into labor."

"I thought you would be screaming and huffing in pain. Does it not hurt?"

"Oh, it hurts like a bitch. But I've," Angela gasped and gripped her stomach, forcing herself to breathe slowly, "already done this twice."

Bella already had Jake on the line, yelling at him over the phone. As she followed Angela's requests, she kept glancing at her friend.

Deciding to check on the boys, she found them sword fighting with plastic swords, Ephraim not allowing wee William to go on the attack. Bella said nothing to him. She watched as they played and giggled when William finally got the best of Ephraim.

Going back to check on Angela, it surprised her to see Billy rolling in the doors.

"That was fast, Billy!"

"Quil was driving. We were just down the road. It's fine."

"Ange, do you want me to take you to the hospital?"

"No, these babies will be born at the tribal clinic. Thanks, though."

"Do you want me to take you there?"

"Do you mind?"

Instead of an answer, Bella grabbed her purse and helped walk Angela to her car.