A/N: Okay, I suck as a writer. I think it's been over 9 months since my last update? Probably longer. I've had this chapter written for a while, but I don't know how I feel about it. It feels repetitive to me and I hate that, but I just feel like trying to mesh two worlds together needs a lot of explanations. Especially since the start of the story just jumps right into the worlds combined and there isn't a lead up to it like most other crossovers. I don't know if anyone is still reading this story, I do have an ending for it, it's just getting there that is taking so long. I have two other stories that I write (also very behind on updates) and I am starting an original fiction, plus I have kids and a husband in school to take care of. I hope you enjoy this chapter, but if not, I hope you come back for the next updates. This chapter doesn't do much for plot, but is more backstory.

Peace, Love, and Slyther,

Gimi aka, Jess

"The potion will take a day to brew," Freya said as she added in the ingredients, "After that, the spell will keep everyone safe until I break it."

Jasper nodded as his phone rang, looking down he frowned at the screen, "Peter, what is going on?"

"Major, plans are moving up," The disembodied voice said for all the supernaturals to hear. Everyone stopped fighting and walked back to the porch.

"What do you mean, how long?"

"Soon, where is Pixie? She can probably tell more than me, but I'm thinking within the next week or two. Char and I are in Utah, we should be there tonight."

"Got it, Peter, see you soon brother."

"Absolutely Major, oh and tell Bella's man to calm down, Bella's life is still on track."

"Will do, see you soon brother." Jasper put his phone back in his pocket and glanced around for Alice. She had stopped walking and stood at the foot of the stairs, eyes unseeing her surroundings.

"Peter's right, Victoria is on her way. Within a week, ten days tops. She has at least twenty newborns, she feels confident that's enough to take out Bella's family."

Jasper walked over to Alice, "Twenty?"

"Does she know your family is back in town? Does she know about the pack?" Bonnie asked.

Alice shook her head, "I don't know if she does, I doubt it, she would have more if she did."

Jasper agreed, "We are a big group now, Bonnie has the house cloaked. It's doubtful she ever sees the pups coming and going. She knows that Bella is friendly with the pack because of Jacob and Billy, but she also knows that the pack will save their own first, she assumes Bella is an outsider."

Jacob chuckled, "That's where she's wrong," he said giving Bella a side hug, "Bella is family. My family. We aren't going anywhere."

"You say that because you have a crush on her," Tyler teased. The other Quileutes laughed.

Jacob let go of Bella, shifted and pounced on Tyler. Tyler, being a hybrid, threw him off and into the open yard with a laugh.

Bella smiled tightly, "I can't wait for this to be over. I'm so tired of putting my family in danger."

Jasper pulled her into his arms, "We know darlin', it'll be nice to go back to normal after this is taken care of."

Bella snorted, "What is normal again Jazz? My life hasn't been normal since I moved to Forks. My family is filled with vampires, witches, and werewolves. Not to mention hybrids and whatever Nik's baby will be, another original hybrid like daddy or a wolf-like mommy?"

Jasper shook his head with a grin, "Not sure Bells, but it's better than this."

The group went back to practice as Bonnie and Frey's continued to add herbs, blood, and venom to the potion. Bella looked around at her Family and the Cullens as they fought. Feeling hopeless, she anticipated the potion. The feeling of not being so vulnerable was almost in her grasp, just twelve more hours and she would be valuable or at least be a bit less fragile.

Bella walked away from the crowd and sat in the gazebo, she watched as Damon took out his frustration and fear out on Jasper, Klaus talk to Hayley, and Elijah and Rebekah spar.

The sheer amount of people surrounding her, willing to die for her was unreal. She had always known her family would stand with her. She hadn't expected the pack to be willing, Not after the hostilities between the species. After Jasper had helped her come out of her depression and especially after he had controlled his temptation during her accident, that had sealed it for the boys. Not all bloodsuckers were evil.

She expected even less from the originals, especially Klaus. He had always told her, he had a soft spot for her. His little Swan, as he called her. He had said she was the only human to see him as he once was, those many years ago. The human that he once was. She made him feel, and while that was not what he desired, it was still something he craved. His only true friend.

"Bella?" Bella recognized Alice's soft voice a few feet away from where she sat and watched, "May I join you?"

Bella nodded, not voicing her answer as Alice bounded up the step and sat next to her friend. The two girls sat for a few moments. Listening to the grunts and howls from the sparring pairs.

"Things have changed so much," Alice said, looking over the group, "You've changed completely."

"I had to survive Alice," Bella said bluntly, "There were times that I didn't want to, I won't lie. Life was hard, it felt like a black hole when Edward left me in the forest. My whole world seemed to have just died. When Jasper came back, he brought some light back to my life, but it still felt dark. It took moving and starting fresh to feel bright again."

"It took Damon to feel bright," Alice said as she watched the Jasper throw Damon in the air.

Bella shook her head, "No, actually it took Stefan for life to begin again." She looked over at her pseudo-brother and he grinned back at her, hearing what she had said about him.

"What? Why Stefan?" Alice asked confused.

Bella chuckled, "When we moved to Mystic Falls, I had just left the hospital and Jasper and I were staying at the Boarding House until Charlie could join us. Jasper would go with Damon and I would stay with the girls. They went all over and while it was nice to get out of Forks, my life still felt stilted. I was surrounded by new people and they kept me occupied. Caroline especially," Bella laughed a little at the memories, "Jasper had trusted them to keep me moving forward while they went on day trips. I knew what they were looking for, a vampire who was unstable and a hybrid who was brutal, but none of that scared me like it should have. Not after what I went through with James."

Bella rubbed her scar on her wrist, "Well right before school started, Stefan came home, he had Rebekah with him and Klaus had left him to watch over Elena. Charlie had gotten a house in town, but I still spent my time at the Boarding House because of Jasper and Elena. Stefan on a diet of human blood is said to be the worst. But honestly, I thought he was great."

Alice looked at her in shock and Bella smiled, "He didn't treat me like a doll. Everyone around me was treating me like I was going to walk in front of a bus or something and I hated it. Stefan was a change of pace. He would tease me, he tried to scare me, but I needed someone to treat me normally, not as something fragile, something… broken."

Bella laughed, "It was weird because he would antagonize Damon and Elena, he was a total asshole to everyone, but me. With me, he was still an ass, but not... as bad? I don't know how to explain it. He understood me." Bella watched the vampire she talked about, "He was always trying to shock me. Doing things that might make me blush. He enjoyed that I wasn't scared of him, it wasn't the same as the way Bonnie and Elena. I hadn't known him from before, I should have been scared. But you know me, my radar detector for danger has always been broken."

"Bella," Alice looked scandalized, "Wasn't he dangerous?"

Bella shrugged, "I didn't care, I wasn't going to let him win. Even if he came home smelling putrid of skank and blood."

"I thought you didn't like the smell of blood?"

"I don't, but living with as many vampires as I did and with them drinking from blood bags like Capri Sun, you get used to it." Emmett couldn't help it, he snorted with laughter, clearly liking her analogy.

"Afterward, a while, he was intrigued that I didn't try and talk him back into his vegetarian diet, but as long as he didn't ask me to help bury bodies, I didn't care. Stefan provided me a solace from all the tiptoeing. From then on, he'd spend a bit of time with me every day. Damon and Jasper both hated it, scared I'd be Stefan's dinner. Stefan never tried to bite me, but he would take me to Richmond and we'd go to clubs. I usually just sat at the bar, drinking a soda while he gorged himself on blondes. Then we'd go riding on his motorcycle, he taught me how to ride. We went hiking, he became another vampire I depended on." Bella smiled at the memories

"But where does Damon come into this story?"

"Damon was not interested in me," Bella smirked, "He was in love with Elena."

"I was not in love with Elena," Damon growled out from across the yard. Klaus and Bonnie both snorted in laughter as Elena shook her head. "I wasn't, I liked her once upon a time, but I was a bit preoccupied trying to keep another danger magnet from becoming my brother's dinner." Damon walked over to the gazebo, followed by Elena.

"I was never going to hurt Bella," Stefan argued, walking over as well, "She was the only one who accepted me as vile as I was. She didn't try and guilt me into turning my emotions back on. She was just as much my rock as I was her's."

Bella rolled her eyes as Damon punched his brother and Elena sat next to Bella, entwining their arms, "Anyways, Stefan and I were hanging out and I was also spending time with Rebekah, she never treated me like glass either. She enjoyed the fact that I liked her for her and even though she hated that she couldn't compel me, I still liked her for her. My other friends were obviously scared I had a death wish. But as vital as Damon, Jasper, and the rest of my friends were, Stefan and Rebekah were just as important."

Bella saw Elijah with a smirk on his handsome face. She noticed that the Cullens had all deserted training and were standing at a distance listening to her story.

"Damon was annoying with his goal of separating me from Stefan, he swore that Stefan was feeding on me, but all we ever did was talk—"

Damon snorted, "You were out of control Allie, you were taking stupid risks."

"I was fine, Stefan would never hurt me," Bella argued. A small smile on her lips.

Jasper snickered, "I had been replaced with Stefan."

"Never, but Stefan just got me. Then, by extension, I got to know Klaus, and then Elijah."

"You do attract danger don't you," Alice said in awe.

Bella nodded, "It's like a magnet, it just finds me. But anyways, Stefan and Klaus had a falling out once Stefan began to feel again. Let me tell you, never get on the wrong side of a Salvatore or a Mikaelson, they are all vindictive assholes when they feel wronged." Bella glanced at all of them, daring them to argue but each of them knew she was right.

"Well, I had gone with Stefan one day, Klaus called and was his normal asshole self and the next thing I know, we're speeding to Elena's house and he shoves her in the back seat and drove off." Elena began to cry, the memories were hard for her.

Bella put her head on Elena's and continued, "Elena was screaming, he had driven to Wickery Bridge. Her parents died on that bridge. Stefan almost— well, he did. He ran off the bridge, hitting the guardrail and we dangled for a bit. Elena was able to get out of the back seat, the back of his car was still on the bridge. She got out, but the car began to fall. Stefan and I went over the bridge. Stefan gave me his blood, I had broken my arm. After that, he pulled us out of the car."

Stefan cringed, "It was not my finest moment, Damon almost killed me, by then he was already in love with Bella and I almost took her and Elena away. Jasper probably would have killed me..."

"What stopped him?" Emmett growled, "I would have."

"I did," Bella said simply looking at Emmett, "I wouldn't allow Damon or Jasper kill Stefan. Damon thought I was in love with Stefan, but the truth is, I stopped him because Damon needs his brother. I couldn't be the reason why he lost him. Jasper, he's lost enough and Stefan was his family too," Bella took a breath and looked over at Damon, "But that was when I really woke up from the fog. That was the first time I noticed how much people, aside from my dad, Renee, and Jasper, cared about me. That's when I began to live again."

Rosalie began to laugh. The group of people turned to look at her and she stopped and smiled before she said, "Only you Bella. Only you would befriend dangerous monsters and not be afraid of dying. Only you would snap out of depression after falling off a bridge and forgive the man who took you over enough to save him from his brother."

Bella chuckled a little herself, "I'm probably broken. I suck as a human."

Elena laughed, "You really do. But you are the glue of our family. It used to be me and now it's you. You brought Damon and Stefan back to brothers, you brought Jasper and Caroline together. You even brought Hayley and Klaus together."

Bella shook her head, "Tyler did that, he introduced them."

"Bella, you must accept the fact that you are the reason we have come together as a family. Not just my own, but everyone here," Elijah said, standing next to Bella, "This mishmash of stubborn individuals would only come together for someone worthy. You are that someone. If not for you, we would still be at odds, you must know this."

Bella shrugged, "You all give me way too much credit. You guys saved me, not the other way around. I was lost and you guys gave me purpose, each of you brought back a piece of my soul I thought I lost when he left me. You all prove to me every day that I can trust each of you with my life, as insignificant as it is."

"Bells, I hope one day you can trust us as well," Emmett's voice called to her from where he stood, "I know it'll be hard, but I hope that one day you can forgive us for what you went through."

Bella gave him a small smile, "I do Emmett, a little. I can't continue to lay blame at your feet because truth be told, had you stayed, I would not have my family. Jasper would never have been comfortable enough around me while human, I would have never met any of my friends, and my father would not have fallin in love with Liz. No matter how short a time they got together, I'm grateful that they found each other. I would have not met Damon, not realized what I was truly missing. So I do forgive you in a way, but maybe not to the extent you were expecting. I can't think of you as family. Family sticks by you. They yell and argue, scream, and apologize, but they don't abandon you."

Alice nodded her head in defeat, "We understand Bella, I hate it, but it's understandable. We shouldn't have let Edward make that decision for us. I should have come back with Jasper. But we truly believed it was what was best at the time."

Bella sighed, arm still entwined with Elena's, "It's fine Alice. Please stop feeling like you have to apologize every time my past is brought up. We all made decisions that lead us to where we are today. I don't regret any of my actions and neither should any of you. The outcome is just what it is. My life is perfect, with exception of Victoria, I don't regret anything."

"Okay Bella," Carlisle said suddenly, "we will stop apologizing for the past and just hope that your future includes our family as well."

Bella gave a non committal smile, not willing to say the words. For everything she had said about forgiveness, and she was willing to forgive the Cullen's, she wasn't ready to voice it. The underlying doubt still haunted her, the thought that when she voiced complete forgiveness to the family, they would hurt her once again still clouded her judgment. Her experiences with the cold ones spoke volumes more than their pretty words of atonement. She refused to let them back into her heart in the same way again. She couldn't take anymore scars.

Damon, sensing his girlfriend's reluctance, said, "Come on Babygirl, let's go grab some dinner for these mutts at the diner. I'm sure they've eaten Emily out of all things resembling food. Poor girl may have to resort to throwing bones at them." Damon smirked at the growls of several wolves. He heard the slightest rustle to his left, twisted faster than any human eye could see and had slammed Paul to the ground in front of him.

The wolf continued to growl and snap at the vampire, still amazed over how much stronger these creatures were to their counterparts. He would have thought the cold bloodsuckers would be stronger, their bodies felt like granite under his hot touch. While originals were easier to break through the skin, actually getting the chance to break it was hard. While the Cullen's were fast, Damon and the rest were faster and more agile than even Jasper. Jasper was tough due to his training in the vampire wars, but Klaus especially was impossible.