Chapter 11: Home

Just wanted to break down the timeline for how long Bella and Paul have been missing. Bella was taken in August of 2005.

Thirty days later Paul rescues her, so that's September.

They are traveling in the rainforest for two months that's 60 days.

So now in this chapter, it's been a total of 1 year.

It's now October of 2006.

"don't make my mistakes. Catia." Dini chided his daughter.

They were sitting in his hut doorway, the sun shining on them as they watched the group of young adults.

His eldest grandson was lounging under a tree, his body almost like a cat, relaxed and lazy. A pair of shades he had bought hiding his intimidating eyes. Dini shook his head as he tried to figure out where the blue eyes came from. Maybe a great-grandparent on Paul's father's side but who knew? Paul was a mystery to them all.

His heart warmed, however, as he watched his new granddaughter-in-law. She was helping some of the older ladies in the village weave their baskets as their hands couldn't do it anymore.

"she's becoming a pro. She could sell those on the market if she wanted to. Anyway, like I said don't make my mistakes. I caused you so much pain by lying to you and Leon about each other. I was so blinded by my commitment to the tribe and making sure our legacy lasted that I wasn't thinking about your happiness. You were so happy with Leon and the night Paul was born I took that away from you. Don't make those same mistakes. I mean look at them Catia, despite how you may feel about your relationship that man is content with that girl. And whether you like it or not… they will have to go home soon. According to Paulo, it's been a year. That's a whole year away from their true home. I believe the spirits brought them here to bring us together, to allow you to heal, and to help out our other shifters. They've been doing a lot better working as a unit. But it's time to let them go catia. Let him go."

Catia wiped her eyes as she listened to her father.

He was right.

For as long as they have been here, Catia has done everything she could to stop her son and new daughter-in-law from leaving.

That included breaking the phone in the next town over. Every time, Paulo went to check on it, Catia made sure it stayed broken.

It wasn't fair, she lost out on his entire life and yet here he was. Acting like he didn't want anything to do with her. she made these concerns known to her father.

"you have to understand catia, you're a stranger to him. All his life he thought you were dead. And then after surviving the Amazon jungle with his mate, fighting vampires, and shapeshifting into another animal, you expect him to just accept you? That's not how this works. Paulo is more animal than man, and his mindset is different. His only focus is his mate. Anything else is secondary."

The father and daughter stiffened as the man of conversation stood up and stretched. His muscles tightened under the morning sun. His hair was braided back into a long braid.

Dini froze as his grandson prowled towards them, a predatory aura rolling off him in waves.

He towered over them with a raised eyebrow.

"It's been a year since we've been missing. We have to return home. Don't think I didn't catch on to you keeping the phone broken chieftess. The only reason I let it go was because of my mate. She needed a bit more time to heal and recover. Now that she is fully healed, we need to leave and you are going to get us there."

Catia sighed and bowed her head.

"I have someone who can help you."

…..

Bella was bouncing on her toes as she stood at the reception desk. It had taken a three-week trip to Rio de Janeiro, but they made it.

Tonight, they would stay in a hotel and tomorrow they would take a cruise ship that would take them to Miami Florida.

She bit her lip as her mother-in-law paid for their room and turned to face them. The past few months with her new mother-in-law had been awkward. Bella could tell the woman wanted to be closer to Paul, but that was the last thing on Paul's mind.

Being amongst the tribe helped Bella pick up a bit of Portuguese so that she could have some conversations.

" I hope the room suits you well. You both have our address and the town's phone number. I will be in town the second week of every month. Feel free to call me then."

Wanting to break the tension Bella reached in for a hug.

Her mother-in-law hugged her tightly. Whispering in her ear.

"you are a strong girl. Take care of him… please."

She then pressed a thick envelope into Bella's hands.

"Please make sure his father gets this."

With that said, her mother-in-law took a long look at Paul, nodded, and stepped back.

As they watched her walk away, Paul spoke.

"she's afraid of me. Always has been. Felt it the day I was born."

"Well, we don't have to worry about her now. Although I will say, I will miss the tribe."

"We could come back one day, although I wouldn't want to," Paul told her.

"I don't either. I mean it's beautiful here but… I miss home… our home."

"never been home to me…. might be now though." He told her as he guided them to their hotel suite.

Bella couldn't help but laugh.

"so what's the plan now?"

"we settle in for the night and head to the ship in the morning. She got us fake passports just in case someone questioned us. Tomorrow I will head to the atm and pull out some money. And well go to the front desk and make that phone call to Sam or your dad. Whoever you want. Normally they have phones in here, but this particular resort wants their guest to have absolute quiet and privacy."

"Can we call them both?" she asked shyly. Her heart beat in anticipation and nervousness at the thought of home.

It had been a whole year.

A whole year of her life was taken from her. No college, she most likely lost her job, she missed out on her friends, she missed her pack. And her body was ruined. Covered in scars and bites she would never be able to get rid of.

Warm hands cupped her face tilting her head up.

"there you go lost in your head again. Talk to me."

Bella shrugged.

"I think it's all just hitting me at once now. It's been a whole year. I've missed my college applications, I've probably lost my job, and what about our family? My dad's birthday, Christmas, thanksgiving. We missed it all." She cried.

Paul pulled her into his arms and purred.

"Vampires took away your life. We can't change that ..but we can make up for what we've lost."

"are… you ..ok?" she asked curiously. Since the minute he rescued her, it seemed as if her husband hadn't been shaken by the events that passed. Was he putting on a strong front or had none of it truly been a bother to him?

"To be honest, it's all the same wherever I go. People are the same, you are my one good thing."

Bella couldn't help but chuckle.

"Well, alright. It has been forever since I have had an actual bath and im feeling sore. You ok if go down to the spa?"

"only if you get a female masseuse." He joked.

Bella rolled her eyes and gently batted his chest.

"I'll be back."

…..

Bella was grateful that Paul's mother got them the honeymoon package which included everything on the resort. That included the spa and all its amenities.

"Hello, what are you for today." The receptionist asks her.

"Hi, can I get a full body massage along with a whole body wax… I want to surprise my husband." She blushed.

The woman gave her a warm smile and said "Oh that's wonderful. Newlyweds?"

"yes."

"alright well, all that we have comes with your room, so let's bring you back and get started."

Bella took deep breaths as she tried to calm herself. It had been so long since she had been in touch with other people besides the village in Brazil. The people there knew what she had been through and made the proper accommodations. They knew not to move too fast around her and to make sure their hands weren't too cold. But now that she was back to reality in a sense, the world moved at such a faster pace and Bella wasn't ashamed to admit that it scared her.

The sound of thunder made both she and the masseuse jump.

"looks like a storm is brewing. But don't worry, we won't let it bother us."

….

Paul opened the balcony doors as a rumble of thunder shook the sky.

Taking a deep breath, he felt power run through his veins.

The sky cracked and boomed, and Paul felt like laughing.

The hotel door clicked as he felt the presence of his mate.

"im going in the bathroom be out in a second!" she squeaked as she ran past him.

"Hey! Do you think you could grab us some food? We haven't eaten yet." She called from the bathroom.

"be back in a few."

Twenty minutes later, Paul opened his door and froze.

It was the scent of arousal and nervousness that filled the room.

Arousal coming from his female. His mate.

The food was dropped on the counter as he crept in.

When he approached the bedroom, his eyes dilated and his pants tightened. The beast was off his leash now because kneeling on the bed, was his mate. Wearing an all-white negligee

"hi.." she greeted shyly.

Paul didn't respond, only licking his lips and allowing his fangs to show. They had been married for a few months and they had played around but they had yet to consummate their physical bond. It had been for two reasons, his mate's health and her willingness. With all the trauma she had been through she hadn't been ready for that level of intimacy. And just like he had done when he first met her, he simply waited patiently for her. Drawing her in until eventually she couldn't resist.

"what's this?" he purred.

His mate shrugged.

"just… thought .. we could .. you know."

Paul couldn't help but chuckle at her innocence.

"mmm, I think we could… but first-"

Paul cut himself off as he fell to his knees and began to crawl towards her, a predatory growl filled the room.

At the same time, the storm outside began to rage. The wind howled as thunder and lightning struck.

Before Bella could say anything the lights went out and Paul's electric blue eyes lit the room.

He crawled like the predator he was to the edge of the bed where she waited. And with quick reflexes, he put his hands under butt and scooted her forward.

And when his mate opened her legs for him, the fragile control he once held on his beast was broken.

He had lost full control.

She was his and he was hers.

…

"yes Mom, I know. I am sorry I haven't called you. I promise you I will call you as soon as I leave Switzerland. It's just been so fun. I love you too. Goodbye." Esme said as she sighed unnecessarily.

She then turned back to Chief Swan who sat at his kitchen table with a scowl on his face.

"thank you Esme but I think this is the last time you will need to do this."

Esme felt unshed tears well in her eyes. For the past few months, she had been pretending to be Bella whenever Renee would call.

But ever since Alice's vision, there had been a spirit of deep depression and sadness that had fallen over the Cullens and the La push pack.

Alice's visions were subject to change, so there had been a small veil of hope that Bella was still alive. But If they waited any longer they would soon have to be planning a funeral.

A funeral that none of them wanted.

And yet there was also a sense of tension in the air because of the escaped nomads.

Esme sneered at the thought of the two redheads. Both somehow got away and they couldn't find them. However, none of them doubted that they were still around. If they were anything like Victoria, they would come back with a vengeance.

"very well, I will be taking my leave."

Just as Esme was grabbing her coat, the phone rang. Charlie answered with a sigh,

"swan residence."

What Esme heard next had her running to Charlie's side, not caring if she scared the man.

"Dad?" a female voice answered

Esme put a hand over her mouth as she froze in shock.

"BELLA! OH MY GOD BELLA! WHERE ARE YOU! ARE YOU HURT! BELLA!"

"DAD! DAD! QUIT SHOUTING!" she yelled back at him.

The yelling brought Esme out of her shock as she began to text Carlisle.

"ok, I'm sorry kiddo I didn't mean to shout, but where are you, Bella? Is that redhead with you? Is she forcing you to call? Did she bite you? Bella answer me?"

By now tears were pouring down the man's face as he held the phone to his ear.

There was the sound of shuffling and the voice of a man was heard. But this voice, made Esme freeze with fear.

"Chief Swan. Paul lahote here. Bella is with me, safe, alive, and human. She will see you soon."

And then the line went dead.

The dial tone beeped in their ears before both of them sprang up.

"I need to get to the reservation," Charlie stated in a panic

"I'll gather my family."

With that said the dup went their separate ways.