Greye's Notes: Here we are with another chapter! Thank you as always to my dear sister Moon's Lullaby for checking my work for foolish errors. It would seem now that our story is winding down. There's one, maybe two chapters left in this story. Thank you so much for coming along for the ride! I hope you enjoy this chapter. I do apologize for taking over a year to update. I suffered devastating losses last year that really messed me up for a long time; it has been hard to recover emotionally. I think I'm finally mostly okay again, and I have the urge to write once more!

Last Time: The Swan pack and the Cullens devise a plan to rescue Seth and Rosalie's arm from James and Victoria, so named by Laurent, their former covenmate-turned-traitor. Thanks to his information about their abilities, Jasper is able to come up with a good strategy. At the last moment, Jacob and his pack turn up (without Sam), to lend their aid. With so much overwhelming power, their attack on the warehouse was successful. James was a wily fighter, but he couldn't take on all of the Cullens. Once he was subdued, Bella dealt the killing blow...

The Cullens were searching the warehouse for Victoria, but Bella knew they wouldn't find her. It was in the red-haired vampire's nature to survive. Staying in a warehouse full of shifters and vampires when her mate was already dead wasn't exactly survival. While the wolves helped Seth, Bella got herself up on the warehouse's catwalk and retrieved Rosalie's arm. The scent of Rosalie was still there and it soothed her. Killing James didn't sit well with Bella, no matter how justified it was. She suspected it would take time for her to come to terms with it.

Once she was back down, she spotted Jacob helping a limping Seth get out of the warehouse. She loped after them. Outside the scent of Seth's urine wasn't as strong. Coming up by Paul, she advised that he and the La Push pack wait in the trees and let Seth rest for a moment. Hurrying to where she had left her clothes, Bella triggered the change and quickly pulled them on. Wrapping Rosalie's arm tenderly in her scarf, she returned to the La Push wolves and Seth. He was sitting with his legs pulled up to his chest, leaning back against a tree. He straightened when he saw her, but she quickly waved him back down. "Just stay where you are Seth," she said, dropping down next to him. A furry shoulder bumped into her and she looked up at the great russet wolf with a smile. "Hello Jake. Let me help Seth so he's more comfortable for the trip back?" It was quite a ways back to Forks, after all, and Seth's shoulder was dislocated. The sooner she fixed it, the less damage there would be. Jake gave her a solemn nod.

Bella focused back on Seth. "Hey Seth," she rested a light hand on his shoulder and waited until his watery eyes found hers. "I need to take care of this shoulder, alright? I'm going to put it back into place before your body does more damage trying to heal it." Seth nodded hesitantly.

"Ok Bella, I trust you," he said quietly.

She offered him a reassuring smile. "It will be alright, I promise. It will hurt for a moment, but then it will feel better. Are you ready?" At his nod, she placed her hands on his arm and back, and carefully lined up the joint before popping it back into place. A startled yelp escaped Seth, but he immediately relaxed with a sigh of relief. "Better?" she asked.

Seth offered her a weak smile. "Thanks Bella. And thanks," he turned to look at all of the wolves around him, "thanks all of you for saving me."

With a sudden surge of affection, Bella leaned forward and dropped a light kiss on his cheek. "Of course Seth, we would never leave you." A flush crept up his face, and Bella chuckled. Huffs around her from the wolves joined her light laughter. "Okay, now if you boys head back about a mile, you'll find a stream you can get cleaned up in." She looked pointedly at Seth. "I'm going to run into town and rustle you up some new clothes." There was no reason he had to go back to Forks in sodden pants, and she suspected he didn't want Leah to see him that way either. Gratitude shone in his eyes.

Standing, Bella found Paul and called him over. She presented Rosalie's arm to him, expression serious. "Paul, please watch Rosalie's arm. I can't take it into town with me, and I trust you more than anyone to keep it safe. I shouldn't be long, and then we can all be on our way." As the only one with clothes, she was the only one who could go into town. Paul's warm, brown eyes watched her and she felt through their link that he accepted responsibility, and his reassurance that everything would be fine. "I don't know what I would do without you by my side Paul." She said then, heart full. The wolf's chest puffed out with pride, and Bella hurried off to fetch clothes for Seth.

Fortunately they weren't exactly in the best part of town, so a barefoot, scruffy-looking teenager didn't draw a whole lot of attention. It was easy enough to sneak around the back of a second-hand store and riffle around for a pair of clean pants for Seth.

A short time later, the rescue group and Seth were racing back through the endless forests of Washington back to Forks. It had been decided that the La Push pack and Seth would head directly for Bella's house where Leah was waiting, and Bella would head for the Cullen house. Now that she had secured Rosalie's arm and Seth was safe, the desire to be with her mate was a burning need inside that she could not divert herself from. Not that she wanted to.

Paul opted to go with Bella, and she thought again how deeply she appreciated him. It was incredible how close they had become and how much she had come to rely upon him, considering that before he had become a shifter they had maintained a surly acquaintanceship at best. And before he had become a part of her pack, her first experience with him as a shifter had been him losing control and attempting to take off her head. Having Paul in her pack now just felt right, and like it had always been so. Running beside him now she couldn't imagine how she had survived for so many years without that all important connection of pack.

Paul still ran on four legs but Bella had opted for two - she wanted to be in her human form when they arrived. When the Cullen's house came into view, Bella felt as though wings sprouted from her feet as speed she had never known lifted her forward. In the doorway waiting for her was Rosalie, and a moment later they were tangled in each others arms laughing or crying, perhaps both. Rosalie laid kisses across her cheeks and neck, wherever she could reach, and Bella returned them fervently. It wasn't passion, not really, more an action both took to ascertain that the other was hale and whole.

As they settled each other, Bella caught Rosalie's whispered prayer, "Thank the stars you're alright." The faoladh gathered her mate up close and tight.

"Of course, I did promise." Bella whispered back. Rosalie pressed her face for a moment into Bella's bruised shoulder then and the faoladh let out the tiniest hiss of discomfort. She drew back and leveled a withering glare at her. Bella smiled sheepishly. "Well, I'm mostly alright. Just a bruise this time, I promise."

Rosalie sighed, but pressed a light kiss to her lips that Bella happily returned. "I guess I can live with that," the vampire said, and Bella laughed.

A throat cleared patiently beside them, and Bella looked over Rosalie's shoulder to see Carlisle past the doorway. It was then she realized that they were still in the doorway and holding up Emmett, Jasper, Alice, Edward, and Paul from entering. The Cullens wore smirks on their faces and Paul a look of amusement and understanding. Bella flushed to the roots of her hair. "Erm...sorry." Unwilling to release Rosalie, she lifted the vampire off of her feet, who released a squeal of indignation, and walked her back into the house. Once in the living room, she set Rosalie down and reluctantly released her.

"I also came back with something I think you've missed..." she said, revealing Rosalie's missing arm held in her hand, still wrapped in the familiar, tattered green silk scarf. Rosalie's eyes lit up.

"In that case," said Carlisle, taking the arm from Bella, "there's no time to lose. Rose, let's go up to my office and get you patched up." He placed a hand on Rosalie's shoulder and steered her toward the stairs. A soft growl escaped Bella before she could stifle it, and Carlisle flashed her a reassuring smile - with no teeth. "Of course you're coming too Bella." Satisfied, Bella followed them upstairs. There was no way she could stand to be away from Rosalie during such an important procedure. So close to her mate again, she could feel too the pain she was still in. Heaven and earth couldn't take her away again right now. Rosalie's hand found hers and gave it a grateful squeeze. Bella lifted it to her lips to press a kiss to the back of it.

In Carlisle's office was already a medical kit ready to go - he clearly hadn't doubted that Bella would get Rosalie's arm back at all costs. "Have a seat Rosalie," he said. "I'm afraid this isn't going to be very pleasant with so much time having passed already, but we can still reattach it just fine." Bella didn't like this not "going to be very pleasant" business, and she wasn't able to keep herself from offering a soft growl of warning.

"Sorry Carlisle," she said, "I can't help it." Even admitting that was hard. Bella wasn't sure why she quite suddenly felt so protective now, and why her wolf instinct was urging so hard for her to spirit her mate far away.

He nodded his head in understanding. "It's a strain to be away from one's mate at any time, but you have just come from a high stress situation on top of knowing that your mate was seriously injured. It's perfectly natural. Just try not to bite me, and remember that I am helping." His soothing aura helped to calm Bella somewhat, and she took a breath. Her mate sat, still holding her hand. Rosalie looked up at her, golden eyes shining beneath dark lashes.

"I am glad you're here with me," she said quietly, "I wouldn't want to go through this alone." That calmed her more than Carlisle's words had, and she smiled.

"Okay," said Carlisle, "the venom in your body," he explained as he carefully rolled up the sleeve of Rosalie's shirt to expose her wounded shoulder, "has coated the area where your arm was to protect it. It's something like how blood in the human body coagulates around a wound site. If left to its own devices, the venom would harden like scar tissue and eventually become even harder than your skin." Bella felt her eyebrows raise and she inspected the glistening, solidified mass of venom with interest and dismay.

"But it hasn't hardened too much yet, right?" She asked.

The doctor shook his head, "No. That would take probably another day to happen. But it has hardened significantly and it will be painful to remove. We have to remove it to allow the body to recognize and accept the separated flesh." Bella felt Rose's hand tremble in hers. He met both of their eyes seriously. "I have to warn you both that this will be extremely painful. It won't last more than a few moments, and the pain will dull even more once I connect the arm, but it will be intense." Bella could see and feel Rosalie's fatigue from the pain she had already been enduring, as well as her apprehension at this warning. She took in a deep breath.

"It will be alright Carlisle. I'll hold Rosalie while you do what needs to be done." Rosalie snapped her eyes up at Bella in sudden anger, but Bella soothed her quickly. "Not like that. Here, stand back up." Rosalie did, confused, until Bella slipped her arms snug and tight around her. In sudden comprehension and relief, Rosalie wrapped her arm tight around Bella's neck. "It will be alright like this." And she knew it would be. No matter how bad the pain and her own angry reaction at Carlisle for causing it, Bella knew that she would never want to let go of Rose. The same would go for Rosalie she knew. She could feel that her mate was comforted by this solution.

Rosalie nestled her face into the space between Bella's neck and shoulder and said, voice muffled, "Do it Carlisle."

As soon as the words left her lips, the doctor's hand flashed out and there was a sound like rending stone as he ripped away the venom. The pain was immediate and overwhelming. It crashed over both Rosalie and Bella, staggering them. Dimly, Bella heard an awful wail from Rose and tightened her arms around her. A new kind of pain bloomed at her collarbone, and Bella realized that Rose had bitten her.

As quickly as the pain came, it receded and Bella felt the strange, phantom sensation of an arm knitting itself back to her body. It was something like ants crawling back and forth beneath her skin, and a shiver passed through her.

"There, all done." Carlisle spoke, and Bella opened her eyes. She didn't remember closing them.

Rosalie breathed hard against her, and Bella rubbed a soothing arm along her back until she calmed down. She mumbled something against her chest that the faoladh didn't catch. "What did you say, dear heart?" She murmured. Rose turned her head so her mouth wasn't covered and spoke again.

"I'm sorry I bit you."

There was silence in the room for a second, and then Bella felt a laugh bubbling up. Rosalie smacked her arm weakly, but then she was laughing too and so was Carlisle. Tension that had built up in the room from the moment they had entered dispersed, and Bella sighed happily.

"Well, I guess I can forgive you..." said Bella, "on one condition." Rosalie leaned back and looked up at her in perplexity. The corner of Bella's lip curled up in a mischievous smile. "You still owe me a date."

Bella decided to ask Rosalie for a date the following Friday, to give them both a week to breathe and recoup after the intense events they had experienced. Rosalie still needed time to heal, as well, for although her arm was reattached, it wouldn't be fully functional again for a while. As for Bella, she still had her little pack to think of and get settled, and the matter of La Push to resolve.

It was Tuesday now and Bella was starting to enjoy the normalcy of school again. It was surreal to return to high school after going through what she had with the nomads and Sam, but it felt good to return to a familiar routine. One that didn't include eminent violence. Eric and Angela were as friendly as ever, with no inkling of the savage battles their friend had recently fought, and Bella wouldn't have it any other way.

During lunch, she chose to sit with her human friends for a little while and was happy when Paul joined her. Eric smiled up at her, blue eyes twinkling, as she sat down. "Hey Bella, Angela and I have been wondering if you have a little something you would like to tell us."

Bella raised a quizzical eyebrow while carefully poking a straw into her milk carton. "What do you mean?" Straw successfully inserted, she took a healthy sip.

"Well," said Eric nonchalantly as Angela leaned forward, "We just wondered when you were going to tell us about your boyfriend."

Burning pain. Bella coughed and hacked as milk went into her lungs and came out her nose, her eyes streamed at the burning sensation and she coughed harder when Paul unhelpfully thumped her on the back. It took her a full minute to regain control of her faculties and she gaped at her friends. "What?"

Eric looked positively delighted by her reaction, but Angela at least had the decency to look sheepish. "Well, well! So there is something to tell! Come on, spill it!"

Bella got the distinct feeling that they already had a suspect in mind for this "boyfriend" of hers, and she shook her head. "Guys come on, there's no way I would have a boyfriend. Don't you remember what I told Lila that day she flipped out in here?"

Her friends looked crestfallen. "Oh," said Angela, "We kinda thought you just said that to get Lila to chill out." Bella shrugged unapologetically.

"Nope, I'm only interested in women." She smirked and took another sip of her milk and watched her friends stew in disappointment for a few moments. "Besides," now it was her turn to be nonchalant, "I don't think my girlfriend would appreciate it if I suddenly got a boyfriend."

Eric's mouth dropped open and Angela's eyes widened. Before they could ask any questions, Bella got to her feet and picked up her tray. "I'll catch you guys later. Maybe we can go out for ice cream tomorrow?" She crossed the lunchroom in long strides and dumped her tray, unable to dim the shit-eating grin on her face. Paul followed close behind her and chuckled softly.

"I don't know if that was mean or epic," he said, and Bella laughed.

Heading over to the Cullen table, Bella spotted Rosalie and felt butterflies erupt in her stomach immediately. Feeling giddy with each step closer to the vampire, she smiled wide and leaned down to drop a kiss on her cheek when she was close enough. Rosalie smiled. "Want to go for a walk before class?" Bella asked, extending a hand. Her beautiful mate rose from her place at the table gracefully and accepted her hand, happiness sliding through the link between them.

"Of course," she responded as they walked out together. Her voice was low as she continued, "I am always happy to go for a walk with my girlfriend." There was a hint of amusement there, and Bella wasn't sure if she felt a little irritation too and winced.

"Ah, I hope you don't mind I said that. They threw out that boyfriend stuff and I couldn't help myself." She hesitated. "Is it...okay to call you my girlfriend?"

Rosalie considered for a little while and didn't answer until they were outside. Taking the lead, she pulled Bella over to a bench and sat down. Finally, "I suppose you can...here. Since it's the only thing the humans are likely to understand. But I don't much like that term."

Bella gave Rosalie's hand a squeeze before releasing it so she could slip an arm around Rosalie's shoulders. Her heart rate increased when Rosalie leaned easily into her side, and she smiled. It was amazing how far they had come, and how much Rosalie was willing to allow. Perhaps several life-or-death situations recently had something to do with it, reminding them both that even an immortal life could be short. She knew it wouldn't always be easy like this, but she was glad that for now at least they could both enjoy this closeness.

Thinking about Rosalie's comment, Bella asked, "What term would you prefer? I mean, we don't have to put any kind of label on what we have, if you don't want to." She guessed "girlfriend" did seem a poor way to describe her relationship with Rosalie.

The vampire rested her head on Bella's shoulder, and sighed. "Well, the only word I care to use is "mate". 'Girlfriend' is too...impermanent...for what you are to me." She leaned back and met Bella's gaze. "Make no mistake, Bella. You are everything to me."

Bella felt a sudden sense of deja vu, and remembered back to the time she had followed Rosalie into the forest during a baseball game and said nearly the exact same thing. Overcome, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to Rosalie's cheek and pulled her tighter against her. Words seemed insufficient to express how she felt in that moment.

Comfortable silence reigned for several long minutes before the bell rang, signalling the end of their break. Faoladh and vampire reluctantly got to their feet and released each other. Rosalie raised herself up and placed a parting kiss on Bella's lips. "I look forward to our date."

Bella felt lightheaded as she watched her mate walk away.

The rest of the day passed in a pleasant haze, and she wondered belatedly who Eric and Angela had thought she was dating, anyway.

She returned home with Paul right after school. Leah and Seth would be waiting, she knew, and she didn't want them to have to wait very long. Today was the day that Seth made his decision, whether to join her pack or to return to the La Push pack with Jake as his new Alpha.

Jake had explained that he had petitioned the council to put pressure on Sam to accept and allow his challenge for the position of Alpha. Jake had been trying to drag Sam into a fight for dominance, but the Uley pack leader had adeptly kept him at arm's length. The council had taken a great risk by supporting Jake and had helped him to set up a fighting arena that would leave Sam no choice but to enter the fight for dominance. The entire reservation had emptied to watch, which had also been a part of Jake's plan - if he could beat Sam that way, no would could dispute his place as Alpha, Sam included. Fortunately, he had won. As for Sam, Jake had forced him into counseling. Bella didn't think forcing counseling on someone would help much, but at least it meant that a professional was keeping an eye on him.

She returned her thoughts to the matter at hand. "What do you think he'll decide?" she asked Paul as she pulled down her street.

Paul didn't answer right away. As they pulled into the driveway he responded honestly, "I don't know."

Bella killed the engine and they both hopped out of the truck. Well, she thought, she would support whatever Seth decided. She hoped Leah would too.

Before opening the door, she suddenly felt anxiety from her other pack mate and figured that she and Seth had definitely heard them pull up. Not that her truck's engine was hard to miss, by any means. She opened the door and took in the sight of Leah and Seth sitting side by side on the couch. Leah gripped her hands tightly together, and Seth's leg bounced nervously.

Coming around the room slowly, Bella kept her movements careful and deliberate. They both were in a very nervous state, apparently. She eased herself into a chair and watched from her peripherals as Paul did the same. "Okay Seth," she broke the growing silence and spoke gently, "Are you ready to tell me what you have decided?"

He couldn't meet her eyes, and Bella wished that she had a connection with him too so she could reassure him. Instead, she sent soothing feelings to Leah and was gratified to see her hands loosen their death grip on each other.

Seth's leg slowed it's bounce as Leah calmed, and she saw him take slow breaths. "It really is okay Seth," Bella said, "Whatever you have decided. I promise I won't be mad or upset." She couldn't remember if Seth had always been this nervous, but she guessed being kidnapped and tortured by vampires could give anyone a little lasting anxiety.

Finally, Seth looked up and met her eyes for a moment. "I -," he broke off and looked at Leah pleadingly. The she-wolf took a deep breath and took one of his hands in hers, giving it a comforting squeeze. It pained Bella that Seth seemed so afraid of her, or her reaction, that he couldn't get the words out himself.

"Seth has decided," said Leah, "that he would like to go back to La Push and try again with Jake."

She could feel the disappointment from Paul, and even a little from Leah, as she absorbed this information. "Okay, I think that's great Seth." Bella smiled at him genuinely, this time meeting his eyes. "La Push is your home, and I think it is good that you want to go back." His outward anxiety waned as he cocked his head, a little surprise on his face.

"Y-you're really not mad?" His slight stutter made her heart pang in her chest. Sam had really done a number on his pack, she thought. "Even after everything you had to go through to save me?"

Unable to stop herself, Bella got up from her chair and crossed the room to sit on Seth's other side, ignoring his tense muscles. She slipped an arm around his shoulders comfortingly. "Seth, of course not. I could never be mad at you for that." She gave him a squeeze and felt gratified when he leaned into her a little. "Your pack is your choice - and it's not like you'll be a million miles away or anything. You can come visit and spend time with us anytime you like - " she looked meaningfully at Leah and Paul, "And we'll be at La Push a lot more often now too."

With Jake in charge, Bella had no doubt that they would all be welcomed back on the reservation. She laughed lightly, "And hey, if you decide to change your mind one day, the offer will always stand." Seth sagged in relief beside her, and she leaned back as Leah gathered him into a tight hug.

"See?" His sister whispered to him fiercely, "I told you it would be alright."

Bella moved back to her original spot across from the siblings to give them a moment. When they both faced her again, they wore matching smiles and the atmosphere in the room had relaxed greatly. She returned their smiles easily. "Seth, would you like a lift home?" Before he could answer, the faoladh's attention shifted as she heard the familiar sound of Charlie's cruiser pulling into the drive.

She wondered if her father was actually off early, or if he was forming a habit of checking in on her after school. She smiled inwardly, remembering his displeasure when she had related the events of the warehouse to him. It didn't matter that she was a supernatural being, or that she actually did have a fighting chance against vampires - Charlie still worried. She loved him for that. Shaking herself out of her sudden introspection, she focused back on Seth.

"Sorry," she said, "so would you like that ride?" She glanced at Leah, "And perhaps Leah would like to go too - it's been awhile since you've seen your mom, hasn't it?" Gratitude shone in Leah's eyes, and Bella knew that their pack still had a lot of work to do when it came to asking for individual needs. Leah would never have asked for herself. The front door opened, and Bella grinned as her father shuffled in the door, hanging his gun belt on the hook by the door. "Welcome home!" She said cheerfully, and Charlie did a brief double take before returning her smile.

"Hey there Bells. It's good to be home." He took in the assembled wolves and scratched the back of his head a little awkwardly, "I'm not staying too long though." His eyes ducked away from Paul for a second. "I told Joanne that I would drop off some...things from town."

Bella raised an eyebrow in question and almost pressed him, but stopped at the uncertain look on his face. She wasn't entirely sure why Charlie was visiting Paul's mom, but she figured her questions could wait until they didn't have an audience. "Oh, okay." She shrugged. "Tell Joanne hi for us..." she trailed off and looked at Leah and Seth, "Actually, Dad, Leah and Seth need a lift back to La Push, would you be willing to drop them off at Sue's?" Sue Clearwater was their mother, and she knew that Charlie knew her.

Charlie looked surprised but nodded. "Sure thing. You kids just hang out for a minute while I get changed - and then we'll head out!" He stepped past them and headed up the stairs to his room. When he was gone, Bella turned back to Leah and Seth.

"Is that okay?" She asked.

Leah nodded, "Yeah, that's cool." Seth was quick to agree too, and since she didn't feel any anxiety from Leah, she figured they were telling the truth.

"Okay, well enjoy going home." As she got up this time, so did Leah and Seth. Leah grasped the side of the couch for support as she rose. More of a reflexive habit, for her leg was fully healed now, though perhaps still a tad tender. She gave Seth a hug first which he returned enthusiastically. "Don't be a stranger Seth, come over any time."

He pulled back and beamed at her. "Careful what you wish for!" She laughed as she moved over to Leah to offer her a parting hug as well and was surprised by the she-wolf's immediate acceptance. Leah hugged her with surprising strength, and Bella obliged by tightening her grip.

"Thank you." Leah's words came quiet and muffled against Bella's shoulder, but they were said with a depth of sincerity that resonated deeply inside the faoladh.

"Take as much time as you need," she responded, giving Leah one last squeeze before stepping back, resting a hand on her pack mate's shoulder. "And even if you want to live with your mom again, we can work that out. Don't be afraid to talk to me." Leah nodded, and about then they all heard Charlie clopping back down the stairs.

"Okay Leah and Seth! Let's load up - I bet your mom can't wait to see you." He raised his eyebrows and opened the front door, car keys jingling in his hand. Bella frowned.

"Dad...is that..." she took a deep breath, "...is that cologne?" But her dad was already out the door.

"What was that Bella?" His voice came floating back, "We'll talk when I get home! See you later." Leah and her brother quickly hurried out the door after him, both hugging Paul as they passed him and saying their goodbyes. When the door closed and it was just her and Paul again, she slowly looked at her pack mate and friend.

"Paul...I think my Dad..." She started.

He instantly grimaced and put up his hands, head shaking. "Please Bella, don't say it. Don't say it." Despite the oddness of the situation, she laughed, and soon Paul did too. Shaking her head, she acquiesced and turned away from him to head into the kitchen.

"So should we do homework or make supper first?"

Paul followed her into the kitchen, "Supper," he said, "Definitely supper."

Thursday found Bella down at La Push hanging with Jake and his pack. The week had been mercifully laid back thus far, and the faoladh was grateful for the reprieve. It was nice not to have to think about red-eyed vampires, murder, dismemberment, or kidnapping for a few days. The Cullens still were viewed with deep suspicion and distrust which bothered Bella - though she knew her frustration had more to do with Rosalie than anything else - but she hoped that with time the people on the reservation would come to understand that the Cullens really were allies and not enemies. She supposed though that a change like that would require much more time than had recently passed.

"Jake, over here!" She yelled, cutting through Quil and Embry swiftly, hands up high.

The wolves were playing football - or at least, something sort of like football - and Bella thrilled at the chance to use her strength and speed freely. Jake's smile morphed into a ferocious grin that was all fang as he launched the ball to her in a pass that would have broken a regular human's arms were they to catch it. It was high, but Bella put on a burst of speed and leapt into the air, a grunt leaving her with the effort. Her fingers curled around the ball and too soon she saw the ground rising up to meet her. Tucking her arms in close to her chest with the prize, she managed to execute a semi-graceful roll and sprinted for their end zone, marked by rather a sad trashcan and a stick with a strip of red cloth tied to it. She tumbled across the line, Paul just inches from grabbing her, and jumped to her feet victorious.

"Tooouchdooown!" She yelled, tossing the ball down and stomping her feet.

Bella couldn't remember really the last time she'd felt so free.

As the game wound down, Bella found herself near Jake and laughed as he slung an arm around her shoulders.

"Bells! I'm so glad you came over for the game."

She beamed at him, "I wouldn't have missed it!" The endorphin high was still rushing through her, and Bella felt like at that moment, she could take on the world.

"Come on," he said, "Let's go grab a bite at Joanne's."

His pack and hers headed with singular purpose toward Paul's house and, as they neared, groaned nearly in unison at the scent of barbecue.

"Paul, what's your mom cooking?" Bella called.

Her second turned to look at her and grinned. "Can't you tell? Pork chops!" Their collective pace quickened, and soon they were all filling up Joanne Lahote's backyard where she and Charlie were grilling out pork chops and ham steaks.

"Hope you lot are hungry," Charlie said, "Because we made enough to feed an army!" Charlie's words may have been true, but the hungry wolves left nothing in the way of leftovers.

Afterward, they all lay stretched out in the warm grass, hands splayed over their full bellies and groaning happily. Leah had joined them for food and lay near Bella. She had skipped the game earlier in favor of cooking with her mom, Joanne and Charlie. Bella was glad she had joined them now. It felt indescribably good to be here with her pack like this.

Some of the shifters drifted into dozes, and Bella found her mind growing heavy with food too when Jake's voice brought her back to greater wakefulness.

"Hey Bells," he said from a little distance away,

"Yeah Jake?" She responded languidly.

"So you're taking Rosalie out on a date tomorrow, right?"

At the mention of her mate, warmth blossomed in her chest and she sighed as it curled right down to her fingertips and toes. "Yes. We've been trying to go on a date for what feels like an eternity. I'm glad I can finally take her."

"I'm glad for you," Jake said honestly, and a smile stretched across her face. "Truly. You deserve to be happy Bells."

"Thanks," she said, "You do too."

She could almost feel him smiling too when he spoke, "I am. I really am."

They were silent for a little while after that, and Bella thought he'd fallen asleep when she heard his voice again. "Hey Bells?"

A laugh burbled up and she opened her eyes to watch the white clouds forming patterns in the blue sky. "Yes Jake?" Her voice held a teasing edge.

"So where are you taking her?"

Greye's Notes: I would like to thank those of you who have stuck with my story for so long, especially with the long breaks. It means more to me than you know! I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter, and rest assured that the next chapter is already mostly completed, so you can expect that next week or sooner.