Disclaimer: This is fanfiction.

Title: 'From Rags to Riches'

Rating: Rated 'M' for 'Foul language, mild alcohol use and sexual implications.'

Genre: Alternate Universe, Angst, Drama, Family, Friendship, General, Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Supernatural, Vampires

Warnings: Adult Content, Discriminatory Language, OOC

Pairings: Sam/Bella, Paul/Bella

Character/Word Count: 18, 933 characters/ 3,469 words

Summary: Bella returns to her hometown after five years of estranged from her brother and ex-boyfriend so that she may take a vacant position at La Push High.

Author's Notes I: Well here it is – the final outtake and last instalment of this story. I hope this answers some of the questions about their future. :-)

Outtake 3: Honor Thy Father

April 9, 2017

The thick glass door to the La Push General Store shut quickly behind Thomas, or Tommy as he preferred, Lahote Jnr without a sound. The only noise indicating his presence to the store clerk coming from the outdated door chime banging gently against the glass pane. As he looked around the unchanged store a flood of long forgotten memories and lost possibilities came flooding back to him, hitting him like a bus as he stepped apprehensively further back into the past he had long tried to forget with the bottom of a bottle. A past that he had always regretted.

It had been nearly thirty years since Tommy had laid foot in the small tribal community. He had been too ashamed to return to all that he had once had but left behind out of pure selfishness. In true local form Tommy had fallen victim to the pre-conceived conception of tribal life. His childhood dysfunctional at best with an overbearing abusive man for a father and flakey woman for a mother who would walk in and out of their lives. From an early age Tommy had become used to the strict ways that his father had put in place to ensure he stayed in line. If Tommy stepped even slightly out of the rules that had been set for him, he would find himself on the other end of his father's belt.

It hadn't been until he was a little older that his father, Thomas Snr, had told him the truth behind the tribe's legends and how the blood of the First Warrior ran deep through their ancestry. Tommy had heard the legends numerous times before but like most of the tribe's children he had taken them with only a grain of salt. A myth and nothing more. The news had been too much for him to handle. The thought of turning into some fabled creature to protect the tribe that had given him nothing but grief. A tribe he'd so badly wanted out of. And then as if to prove a point his father had turned right in front of him, the silhouette of the man who ridiculed and belittled him on a daily basis was suddenly circling around him, his once strong features replaced with golden fur. It hadn't been enough to scare and humiliate him in human form, now Thomas Snr had found a new level of torture. The overgrown wolf growling and nipping at his son. It had been on this night that Tommy had first found his thirst for the dry and burning liquid that his father kept. From that night on he had continually found himself staring down at the bottom of an empty bottle trying to drown away all that was his life with the poison of his choice Jack Daniels. And now here he was forty years later as a recovering alcoholic coming to make amends.

For as horrible as his life had seemed there had been one upside. Mainly in the form of his first love – Clara Littlesea. Clara had been a breath of fresh air in Tommy's life when he had felt like he was drowning. Smothered by his father's unrealistic expectations Clara's quick wit and smile had been the welcomed distraction Tommy was looking for. It hadn't been long after their first date that Tommy had found himself married and expecting their first child. At least that is what it had felt like to him. At first Tommy was thrilled, elated even but then the reality of adulthood had bought his euphoria back down.

Nine months later Paul had come barreling into the world with a grand entrance and suddenly Tommy found himself feeling suffocated again with a recovering wife and needy newborn. He had tried his hardest to be a good Dad and husband. Going to work on time regardless of how hard the previous night's session had been to ensure he could provide for his family all the while attending to his wife's every needs when he got home. For two years he had been able to mask the fear and resentment he secretly held until one day he had just up and left. He knew it was a shitty thing to do; walking out on his young wife and toddler but his drinking wasn't getting any better and he had barley been keeping it together. Now here he was back in his hometown trying to make amends with those he had hurt. The final step in his recovery. He had had his reservations about completing the final step in the program but his sponsor had been persistent in her encouragement saying it was the only way he would truly be able to beat his personal demons but now that he was here he wasn't so certain he would get much. He knew there was no way he could ask for forgiveness from Clara, he surly didn't deserve it but he owed it to her to at least make sure she was okay.

Tommy had been so deep into his memories that he hadn't heard anyone approaching. He became even more surprised at the sight before him as he turned to greet the surprise intruder. "Billy? Billy Black? Is that really you?" Tommy asked, shocked at the man's disabled appearance.

"You shouldn't be here Tommy" Billy's gruff voice shot back causing Tommy to smile politely as he stepped back and took in the man's overall appearance.

"No offence but you got old" Tommy shot back with unmastered charm and a hint of arrogance as he turned and walked towards the fridges at the end of the isles – his original intended destination.

"You shouldn't be here" Billy repeated as he followed Tommy up the aisle.

"I don't want any trouble – " Tommy started as he opened the door and reached for a bottle f water before being cut off.

"Then do as I said and leave. You've already caused enough trouble" Billy finished a he blocked Tommy from moving with his wheelchair and forcing the more able of the two to stop.

"Look I know I did a crappy thing and I'm not here expecting forgiveness from anyone – look I just want to make sure Clara and Paul are okay. Then I will be gone. They will never know I was here" Tommy replied as he watched Billy's stern face drop instantly to be replaced with complete sadness.

"You – you haven't heard?" Billy said more as a statement than a question as he avoided looking at Tommy clearly uncomfortable.

"Haven't heard? Heard what?" Tommy asked easily picking up on Billy's discomfort and causing him to worry.

Billy seemed to shrink back into his chair, his hand rubbing the back of his neck clearly uncomfortable about what he was about to say. "Tommy. Clara passed away" Billy said softly as he watched Tommy fall to the ground, the weight of his body giving way like a sack of sand as he digested the news.

"How? When?" all Tommy was able to say as he looked up at Billy the tears falling freely down his face.

"God it must have been almost fifteen years now. I'm sorry" Billy answered sincerely giving the man who had held a special spot reserved for only those who deserved his anger for so many years a comforting pat on the shoulder.

"Paul. What about Paul? Where is he? Is he okay?" Tommy asked as the realization that his son had been abandoned for so long hit him.

Billy hesitated for a second, not wanting to overstep his role in another pack member's life once again but ultimately deciding that Tommy deserved to know regardless. "Paul and Bella still live here and are doing well for themselves. Paul does construction with a local crew here and Bella is Secondary teacher at La Push High. She is actually highly respected by the students there" Billy finished with a sense of pride as he drifted off into his own memories with the Lahote kids.

"Bella?" Tommy asked with confusion on his face.

"Yes Bella – your daughter" Billy clarified "You skipped out on them before she was born" Billy continued his sadness gone and replaced by his anger.

"I-I have a daughter?" Tommy whispered to himself ignoring Billy and his statement as he took in the news. "I didn't know" Tommy declared coming out of his stupor "Clara and I had talked about having another – but I didn't know"

"Of course you didn't" Billy shot back not believing the audacity of the man in front of him.

"No. I didn't know she was pregnant" Tommy said, anger rising to his face as the look of disbelief flashed over Billy's face. "Where is she? Take me to her" Tommy demanded as he pulled himself off the ground and began making his way towards the cash register. Tommy pulled out his wallet and threw down some notes before Billy stopped him again.

"No. No that's not a good idea, you should just leave them alone. They are happy" Billy said as he turned his chair and began to wheel himself in the unrealistic hope of getting away from the man who now stood before him.

"Either you take me to them or I will make sure that every single person in this town knows I'm here and that will cause more trouble than what is actually needed." Tommy threatened. "I just want to see them – I promise" Tommy pleaded with his hands in the air realizing that his earlier threat was fruitless.

Billy knew he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. The Elders had yet been able to patch things up between them and Bella, sure they were civil in public but behind closed doors the wounds were still very raw and the Elders were working to earn back the trust of not only Bella but their Alpha and Beta. "We'll have to take my truck" Billy finally relented as he weighted up the pros and cons of letting Tommy lose on the La Push population.

Ten minutes later Billy's old rusted truck pulled onto the shoulder of the road and came to a stop at the bottom of a dirt road. The orange dirt clouded by dense woods on either side hiding the contents of beyond from prying eyes. Tommy looked at Billy confusion written all over his face as to why Billy hadn't driven them up the winding road.

"It's better if we walk from here" Billy simply answered before reaching over and getting his wheelchair ready for the journey ahead of them.

"I don't understand" Tommy said not moving from his spot in the truck. Billy stopped what he was doing and turned to Tommy, the expression on his face almost unreadable yet Tommy somehow knew. The unsaid words hitting him like a knife to the heart. It couldn't be true. The legends had spared him so Tommy had automatically assumed his children would be safe. But as he looked over to his childhood acquaintance the look of dreariness and sadness was hard to ignore. "Paul? Is he? Did he?" Tommy stumbled not even sure why he was asking.

"A shape shifter?" Billy finished for him before answering "…yes".

"So they can hear us" Tommy continued remembering all the attributes his father had gained once he had been through the change. Billy simply nodded as he lifted himself into his chair and began the rocky journey up the dirt road.

The walk itself had taken longer than normal due to Billy's wheelchair, the two men not saying a word the entire journey until they had almost reached the end of the drive past the barricade of tree's that served as extra privacy from the outside world when Billy suddenly stopped and veered his chair off the driveway and into the shrubbery. "What are you doing?" Tommy whispered confused as he followed after him batting wild branches out of the way as they went.

"You said you just wanted to see them – so look" Billy said gesturing with his hands to a small opening that gave a clear view of an expansive front yard and modest house. Stepping to the opening Tommy noted that the only sign of life coming from the house was a couple of lights illuminating through the opened windows. Tommy took it all in. Completely awestruck at the scene before him. It was the life he had once imagined for himself. The modest home on a block of land big enough for four houses, the open front door carrying the smell of a pot roast dinner with all its servings freshly out of the oven joined by the sounds of chatter and boisterous laughter. A child's tricycle and soccer ball lay abandoned at the bottom of the veranda's stairs clearly forgotten upon hearing a mothers call for dinner. The love and warmth was so effortlessly radiating from the home momentarily taking his breath away.

Billy and Tommy had been so caught up in what they were doing that they didn't hear anyone approaching. "Billy? What are you doing Do you need Sam?" The tall native said as he stepped into the clearing not noticing Tommy peering through the opening.

"Paul!" Billy said in surprise clearly not expecting the man's presence "Ah- no. I'm fine. I'm just ah – just ah, did you just get off patrol?" Billy asked, clearly not certain how to handle the impending argument that was without a doubt going to happen between the packs most volatile pack member and his father.

"Paul?" Tommy said shocked as he cut Billy off and drew the werewolf's attention to him. Even though the father and son hadn't laid eyes on each other in almost thirty years Paul had no trouble recognizing the man who had fathered him.

"You have some fucking nerve coming back here" Paul growled as his body began to quake with anger. "What the fuck do you think you're doing bringing him here?" he continued this time shifting his anger and yelling at Billy as he stepped back and tried to get his breathing under control. No matter how angry Paul got he knew he couldn't phase anywhere near the Chief of the tribe.

"I just – he said – all he wanted to do was check on you – that's all I swear" Billy said carefully aware that the man was on edge and the situation could escalate quickly.

"I never knew." Tommy interrupted clearly not in tune to his son's current turmoil "..about your mom and Bella I mean. I never knew" Tommy finished momentarily tearing his gaze from Paul's and back to the house where he suspected his daughter was.

"You never knew?" Paul yelled. His battle for control dying quickly. Off in the distance the echo of a metal door slamming shut rang clearly across the vast yard. Billy chanced a look in the direction of the house and noted that Sam was now standing on his front porch looking in their direction – his alpha eyes assessing the situation at hand.

"Billy and my sorry excuse for a father" Paul said to nobody out of the blue.

"What?" Tommy asked confused looking between Billy and Paul.

"Sam's just checking in with Paul" Billy answered not taking his eyes of Paul as he indicated to Sam with a curt nod of his head.

"Sam?" Tommy continued questioning.

"Sam Uley. Bella's husband and pack alpha" Billy answered.

"The pack?" Tommy repeated finally realizing the predicament his son was now in "Bella's husband?" he finished drawing his attention back to the opposing man standing on the steps of his veranda with strong muscular arms crossed over his bare chest looking down on them with a protective glare. Even though there was a good fifty feet between them Tommy could feel the full force of Sam's gaze boring through the trees and straight into him.

'Apparently he wants to check up on us – at least that's what Billy said" Paul continued ignoring the exchange as he paced back and forth in front of the two men, his anger bubbling through at the situation as he eyes stayed trained on his father.

"Wait – Uley? As in Joshua Uley?" Tommy whispered to Billy who only nodded his head in confirmation. "My daughter is married to a Uley" Tommy said with slight disbelief and disgust before being quickly shut down.

"Sam Uley is by far a better man than either you or his dad was" Paul growled stopping in place as his nostrils began to flare violently. "He – he wants to see her" Paul said continuing on with his one sided conversation as his attention was once again pulled from the two older men. "We don't have a choice. We promised her. It has to be her decision" Paul concluded once again staring at Tommy who returned the gesture.

A moment passed as silence enclosed them before the tell-tale signs of the metal frame slamming against the wooden door echoed once again through the clearing. Paul seemed to steady himself before finally addressing his father. "You wanted to see her – then look" Paul order indicating with his head to where Sam was standing as his anger seeped through his voice.

Tommy stepped closer to the opening as he laid his eyes on his daughter for the first time. She was breathtaking by all means with her long flowing mahogany hair and simple elegance. As she came to stand beside her husband Tommy couldn't help but notice the swell of his daughter's abdomen her hand protectively placed over the growing bump as she strained her eyes to see what Sam had found so interesting out in the woods. Tommy felt tears well up in his eyes at the daughter he never knew he had. "She's the splitting image of your mother" Tommy said as he wiped at his eyes and stopping the traitorous tears from falling down his face.

"Okay. You've seen us. Now go" Paul demanded leaving no room for argument as he directed them back to the highway with his hand. Suddenly a little boy came running out of the house full of laughter. Pushing between his parents he wrapped himself playfully around Bella's leg who in turn placed a protective hand on his head holding him in place to her.

"I – I have a grandson?" Tommy said awestruck with the family he never knew he had and missed out on. "What is his name? Please let me meet them?" He said pleadingly as he looked to Paul who just seemed tense at the suggestion. As Paul seemed to steady himself Tommy glanced back over at the little boy who had a mixture of his fathers' strong features and mothers softer ones. He barely registered that Paul was once again talking with Sam until he noticed Sam nod his head and bend over to whisper something into Bella's ear. He watched as Bella seemed to think the offer over before she turned and gave Sam a simple kiss on the lips before saying something. The two seemed to have another small exchange before Bella turned and ushered the boy back into the house. A heartbeat later and Sam was clearly speaking with Paul once again.

"You should leave" Was all Paul said without further explanation as he moved behind Billy and began helping the older man back onto the dirt road, barely giving his disappointed father a sliver of sympathy as he escorted the men back to the abandoned truck only stopping at the gate and watching as they climbed into the cab. "Archie" Paul yelled as Billy started the truck. "His name is Archie" Paul repeated as Billy pulled the truck out onto the road and began heading back to the store.

Thomas Lahote had returned to La Push with the hope of making amends with the gods and nothing more. Now as Billy Black parked his truck next to Tommy's old Mazda at the General Store he was leaving a happy and content man. He hadn't expected much from this trip but what he had gained in the short amount of time he had been back was by far more important than he had ever imagined. He knew he could never be a part of their lives, at least not in the way he really wanted too, but the knowledge of knowing he had a son, a daughter and a couple of grandchildren who were happy and healthy was more than enough for him. As he got in his car and began the drive out of town he finally knew that what he had been after all along he had achieved. As he passed the 'Thank you for visiting La Push' exit sign Tommy Lahote was leaving with closure.

Author's Note II: Well there you have it. All done and dusted. This has been an amazing journey for me and I am grateful that you have each joined me. I hope this lived up to what you all were hoping for so for one final time - I would love to hear what you thought.