Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Atonement

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 11:

TY POV

“You can’t come in.” Connolly told the dogs for the fifth time.

“She is a vampire. One who has killed humans. We have to protect Charlie. I understand that she is doing well but we are doing this for both their protection.” The guy named Sam Uley said. The rest of these fuckers was eyeballing me. Fuck em. I’ll slay their furry asses. Bitches better ask somebody who the fuck I am before shit gets real.

Connolly chambered a round in his rifle. His other Seals did as well.

“She is having a nice conversation with her father. If you people go in there her instincts are going to make her edgy. You need to stay away. She can talk to you later Jake. All of you if she wants. But for right now you are going to stay away from her.” Jason said.

“And if something happens to Charlie?” Uley asked.

‘Nothin is gonna happen. Gar is in there with her. Why don’t you boys take your ass back to the reservation before Connolly and his guys fill you bitches full of lead?”

“Who the hell are you?” Jake asked.

“Tyrone Gavin fool. I take care of her now. So back the fuck off. Why the hell are you even here? I don’t remember sendin you an invitation. Charlie didn’t ask for you. Get your asses gone.”

“You best watch how you talk to us Leech.” One of the band said.

“You best watch your step Wolf. We killed a shit load of dogs lately. A few more won’t make a difference.” Jonesy told him painting the dude’s forehead with his laser scope.

“Let’s go.” Sam said. “If something happens to Charlie it’s on you.” He pointed at me. He apparently didn’t want to blame the eleven Seals that currently had firearms pointed at his boy band. And the girl of course. Damn she was fine. Even if she did stink that was one fine piece of ass. I winked at her. She sneered. Guess there wasn’t gonna be a West Side story for us. Damn shame. Girl don’t know what she is missin.

They all turned and left except for Jake.

“How is she doing?” he asked me.

“Damn good. Girl is something else. She saved one of our guys. Held his severed artery together with her finger while Jason bandaged him up.”

“She held him while he was bleeding?”

“Yep.” That act had pretty much solidified Bella as being part of the team in their eyes. She saved one of ours. She got placed in the worst possible position a young vampire could be placed in and she did her job.

“Yeah, she will be fine with her Dad. You want to talk to her we will call you when she is done. But you know as well as I do that your scent will set her on edge. We don’t want accidents happening. So leave her in peace.” Jason finished.

Jake nodded and walked towards the woods in the back of Charlie’s house. Bella was inside with Garrett and Charlie. I hoped she didn’t hear all this but I am sure she did.

I knew she would want to talk to him. She loved him. He still loved her. He had the look of a guy who could get used to her smell. Nothing would ever change that.

Hope Garrett could handle that.

BPOV

“You look great baby.” Dad said with misty eyes.

“Thanks Dad. So do you.” I lied. He was thinner. His hair had grey streaks in it. There were wrinkles under his eyes.

“No I don’t. But thanks for lying to your old man.” He grinned.

“Can I hug you?” He asked.

I nodded my head unable to speak. He wrapped me in his arms and tried to pull me in. I helped him a bit.

“Wow Bells. You are solid.”

“Yeah.”

“Solid is good. You will need to be tough to deal with this craziness. Ty tells me you been doing good? Trip to your Mom’s went okay?”

Ty? Of course he did.

“Yeah. Went good.”

“Good. She has had a rougher time than even I did.”

“Dad I’m sorry I didn’t…”

“I never would have believed you Bella. I’m sorry for that. So what have you been up to?”

“I killed a lot of werewolves.”

Dad immediately looked outside.

“Not Jake and his friends Dad.”

“Oh. That’s good. I guess… so where were these wolves?”

I saw Garrett had slipped out. I was good. It would take a lot of blood to make me lose it. Especially after the last few weeks.

“Bosnia.”

“You were in Bosnia? What the hell were you doing there?” Dad sat down and I sat next to him.

“Well it started when a helicopter crashed…”

A few hours later and I had caught Dad up to date on my activities since meeting Garrett. He paled a little when I told him about my battle with the demon.

“I’m proud of you Bella.” He patted my leg.

“Thanks Dad.”

“So what next?”

“I don’t know. We are going to go back to Washington and wait for whatever happens next.”

“Are you… are you going to talk to Jake?”

I took a breath.

“Yeah. I want to.”

“Good. I know he really wants to see you.”

“Yeah. I will talk to him before I leave. I promise.”

“What about them?” Charlie said them like a curse word. I didn’t have to ask who them was.

“I talked to them. All of them. Briefly. I said goodbye.”

“More than they deserved.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Maybe. But if I am going to stop blaming myself for the past I am going to stop blaming everyone else. The woman who did this is dead. Edward killed her.”

“He did?” Charlie asked surprised.

“Yeah.”

“So what was he like when you saw him?” Dad asked.

“He was… nice. You know Edward. Always proper.”

“Yeah. He was a jackass.” Charlie seemed to agree.

“I didn’t say he was a jackass Dad.” I laughed a little.

“No? I thought you did. You are right though. He is a jackass.”

That made the both of us laugh. Dad always did make me feel safe. Like everything would be okay.

“So Garrett huh?”

“Dad we are just getting to know each other.” I rolled my eyes. He was as bad as the Seals.

“He looks like the kind of guy that would take care of you the way you deserve to be taken care of.”

“Yeah. He is.” I agreed.

“Good. So you two are… close?”

I laughed to hide my discomfort.

“We gonna talk about boys Dad?”

“Nah, I guess not.” He laughed.

Wait a minute Bella.

“You know, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t hide anything. I want you to know. I thought at first that maybe I was just really grateful for what Garrett had done for me. But I care for him. I really, really care for him. He… he makes me… better. I feel like a better person when I am with him.” I told Dad honestly.

He kissed my cold cheek and didn’t flinch. “Thanks for sharing that Bells.”

“I realize neither of us open up much Dad but I am going to work to change that. I want you to know about my life. Just remember a lot of it is top secret so you can’t tell anyone.” I smiled at him letting him know I was half kidding.

“Bella, who in the world would believe me?”

“Good point Dad.” We both heard a wolf howl in the distance.

“You should go talk to him.” Dad said. I nodded my head and stood up.

“You will come back tonight? You and Garrett. Ty? There is a game on. I don’t really watch them anymore but I was thinking we could all hang out?”

My eyes were wet. I wish I could cry.

“Yeah Dad. That would be great.” I leaned over and kissed him on his cheek.

“I love you Bella.”

“I love you too Daddy.”

I stood up and walked outside trying to remember to move like a human. I had gotten better at it. It was becoming more natural.

Garrett and Ty were outside while the rest of the guys were in the backyard. I heard Charlie walk out and introduce himself. They had all insisted on coming. Ty hinted that they didn’t exactly trust the wolves. At least not to antagonize me. I knew they wouldn’t but I did feel better having my guys with me. They were my family now. All of them. They were mine.

“Where is he?” I asked Garrett. Garrett turned and looked at the woods.

“You want one of us to come with?” He asked.

I shook my head. We would be okay. Underneath all the supernatural bullshit we were still just Jake and Bells.

At least I hoped so.

I took off into the woods and caught his scent immediately. He was two hundred yards away. If I needed breath I would have lost it.

I forgot how damn beautiful he was.

He was leaning against a tree in only a pair of cut off shorts. He had that little grin. Those gorgeous eyes. That incredible body.

And he stunk.

I imagine I stunk pretty bad to him as well.

“Hey Jake.”

“Hey Bells. You know when I dreamed of seeing you again I never imagined you would bring two vampires who weren’t Cullen’s and a military escort with you.”

“Yeah. Sorry about that. They are kind of protective.”

“It’s cool. I’m glad. You can stay you know. Here. With Charlie.”

“I don’t think your friends would appreciate that Jake.”

“Fuck them. You belong here. This is your home.” Jake stepped towards me.

“Not anymore Jake. I don’t belong here. You know it.”

“I know I still love you. I know I will never stop. I don’t care about your scent. I love you. It doesn’t matter that you are a vampire.”

Like with Charlie I wanted to cry.

“Jake… I’m sorry…”

He sighed.

“I had to try.” Jake looked so sad. I felt my heart breaking. I never wanted to see Jake sad.

“I’m sorry about your dad, Jake. What happened?”

“He was ill. Diabetes. He… it was just his time I guess…”

“I’m so sorry Jake.”

“It’s okay. The past year was tough. First losing you and then Dad. But I got through. Knowing you are out there, somewhere, makes it better.”

“I’ll always be out there for you Jake. You will always be my sunshine.”

“I don’t want to lose you Bella.”

“You won’t.”

“So you seem close to this Garrett guy.”

“What makes you say that?” I became instantly defensive. I don’t know why. Jake would never hurt Garrett.

“Just the way you are around him. How comfortable you seem around him. The way you two seem to revolve around each other. How you always look to make sure he is near. I don’t even think you realize you are doing it. You look at him like you once looked at me.”

---

“Yeah. Garrett has been great. He really saved my life. I mean he could have killed me. I wanted him too. But he refused. I don’t know why…”

“He knew you were too special to let go.” Jake stepped a little closer. His scent was setting me on edge. Every cell in my body wanted to get into a defensive stance and defend myself. Every cell in my heart wanted him to hold me.

He opened his arms.

“Can I get a hug?”

I nodded my head because I couldn’t talk. My best friend, my only lover. My warmth and happiness.

I rushed into his arm ignoring my physical instincts. He wrapped his very hot arms around me and pulled me in. I closed my eyes and let him hold me.

I felt moisture on my head and realized Jake was crying. I looked up and he had tears streaking his beautiful face.

“Jake please don’t cry. It’s not right. You should never cry.”

He chuckled a little.

“You are just going to have to deal with it this time Bells.”

I don’t know how long we stood there holding each other. I was brought out of my peaceful place in Jake’s arms by a sound and a scent.

Wolves were around.

Jake growled.

“Leave us alone.” He told the invisible pack. Invisible but present. I heard a low growl. I backed up and this time did become defensive. Jake sensed it and stepped closer to me.

“It’s okay Bella.”

I heard his voice but my entire focus was on the phased wolf who had invaded our moment. I had enough sense to remember where I was though and how many wolves there actually were. I pressed the button on the side of the black watch Garrett had given me. The one that was perfectly in sync with the same one the rest of the team wore. The one that had a GPS tracker in it so any of us could be found quickly. The one that let him know I needed him.

A silver wolf stepped out of the tree line. Paul.

Two others were behind him. Jake stepped in front of me. I stepped around and stood by his side.

We were having a nice moment. They ruined that. I was not happy.

“Jake it’s time you came home.” Sam said stepping out from behind a tree.

“I’ll come home when I damn well feel like it. You aren’t my father.” Jake said.

“I am not your father but I am your alpha. Despite how we feel about Bella it is time to let her go. She is one of them now.”

That kind of pissed me off.

“You are alpha because I let you be alpha. Don’t forget it Sam.”

“Jake. It’s time to say goodbye.”

“I’ll never say goodbye to her Sam. You really want to start a fight? If you do I promise you I will take over as alpha and I will take you down.” Jake told him.

Sam was about to say something. I think. I’m not sure because the next second Sam Uley was on the ground. Grabbing his stomach.

He just vomited. His eyes were rolling up in his head. He was rolling around.

Ty.

The wolves growled. Six came out of the woods. I recognized most of them. Leah, Embry, Jared, Quil, Seth and one I didn’t recognize stepped in front of Sam. They turned towards me. Jake phased and stood between me and the Pack. Garrett landed in between Jake and the Pack. Then Ty stood next to Garrett.

Ty and Garrett were both tense. Paul stepped forward and then jumped back when a bullet struck the ground in front of him.

Things were about to get out of hand.

Leah Clearwater jumped towards Ty. I ran towards Ty and the two of us hit her at the same time. Seth made a move for his sister and Garrett backhanded him into a tree. Paul charged at the same time Sam rolled over and phased. I hit Sam and looked up to see Paul about to land on me.

At least until Jake tackled him in midair.

Sam tried to get up and I pushed his snout back into the earth.

“Everybody stop!”

GPOV

Bella yelled to stop right as I was about to break the neck of one of these dogs. I wanted them to give her space. I tried to be nice. I tried to be reasonable. But they decided they had to become involved. I told them to stay away.

The time for being nice as over. I was ready to annihilate these fuckers. Connolly and his boys caught up. They had formed a circle around the clearing we were battling in. Caught in a crossfire if I gave the signal, the wolves were fucked.

Jake was defending Bella.

Against his own pack.

Damn.

The fighting stopped for the moment. The wolves may have taken that moment to notice the laser dots painting them. We all heard the rounds being chambered.

I walked up to Uley and grabbed him by his throat.

“You want to explain to me why you felt the need to attack Bella or shall I go ahead and rip your throat out.”

“Garrett put him down.” Bella told me.

I threw him to the ground. She didn’t say how I had to let him go.

“Jake. You need to say goodbye to her.” Sam gasped through his nearly crushed throat. A damn shame he would heal.

“You need to mind your own business Sam.” Jacob growled out. I turned and saw he was naked. Oh great. Bella noticed too.

“You motherfuckers better turn human in the next few seconds or I’m declaring hunting season on big ass wolves in Washington State.” Connolly said walking up. Within seconds the wolves were human. Naked humans.

“Why didn’t you leave us alone Sam?” Bella asked. She didn’t sound angry. She sounded genuinely curious.

“Jake has a responsibility to the tribe as the next chief. He has not taken the reigns as either chief or alpha because he is holding on to you Bella. We all loved you. But you died. Jake needs to move on, not holding on to you for an hour. You are our enemy now. Jake needs to understand that.”

I was ready to rip his throat out. Ty stepped up beside me. I suppose he felt the same.

It was Bella who pushed us both aside and grabbed Uley by the neck and threw him backwards.

“You son of a bitch! I am not fucking dead! If he wants to hold me for days that is between us. Don’t you ever interfere again or I swear to God I will wipe La Push off the face of the dam Earth!”

Bella was growling. She was snarling. The silver wolf tried to phase and Ty hit him with his power. Now he was a naked man rolling on the ground and… yep, he just vomited. Another wolf began to shimmer. A gunshot rang out and the young man’s leg was struck. He fell to the ground screaming and clutching his now bleeding leg.

Jake stepped up next to Bella.

“You want me to step up Uley? Fine. I will step up. I will be your damn alpha. I’m going to start now.”

“With the scent of leech on you? You are a traitor. You have always put everything, your tribe, your pack, everything second to this woman.”

I watched Jake phase and Sam did as well. They attacked each other.

Bella moved to attack Uley and I grabbed her.

“Let them work this out themselves.” I whispered. She was snarling. Ready to fight. Her body was tense.

He held her for an hour?

She let a wolf hold her for an hour?

Not cool. I wanted to get her out of here. I wanted to…

I was jealous.

I watched the russet wolf battle the black wolf. They went after each other, neither holding back. I have a feeling Uley’s anger had more to do with guilt he may have felt over Bella. Still though, he tried to hurt her. That could not be forgiven. Not by me.

Bella’s eyes never left Jake. He finally gained an upper hand and had Uley pinned to the ground by his neck. Jakes jaws were closing in. He stopped at the last moment from breaking the black wolf’s neck. Something passed between them. I swear I could almost see Jake become larger.

The russet wolf stepped off the black wolf and turned to his pack. His human pack all went to one knee in front of him. Uley phased human and rose to his feet. Jake turned to him and he also went to one knee.

A shimmer and Jacob was back.

“Any of you ever say a word against Bella or anyone she is with you will have to fight me. I will not go easy. That is my word and it is final. Now leave. Go back to La Push. You are never to come around Bella and I while we are together unless I order it. Go. Now.”

The wolves began to walk back into the woods. Two helped the one with a bullet wound in his leg. The female turned and sneered at Bella.

Bella shot the finger at her. Jake walked up. He apparently wasn’t bothered by being nude in front of Bella. I knew why. That wasn’t puppy love that made him fight against his own pack.

They had truly loved each other. She had seen him nude before. She wasn’t even embarrassed. Strange for Bella who seemed to be embarrassed so easily. They had been lovers.

“I’m sorry Bella.” Jake said.

“I am too Jake.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” He looked at me.

“I guess you will be taking her now?”

His words sounded as if he was asking if we were leaving. I caught the subtle subtext though.

“Yes. I will be taking her now.”

He nodded. His eyes looked so sad it would have broken my heart if he wasn’t in love with the same woman I was in love with.

“Jake? Charlie asked us to come over and watch a game with him. Would you want to… maybe come?”

Jake smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Yeah Bella. I would like that a lot.”

“See you in a couple hours? You should probably put some clothes on.” Bella laughed. I agreed. Ty snickered.

A couple hours later we were sitting in Charlie’s living room. Jake and Bella were laughing about some event that happened when she lived here. Something about motorcycles and not knowing how to turn one.

Occasionally I would get up to check the window. Connolly’s men went back to the hotel. He was here but without his men around I wanted to keep an eye out around the perimeter. Force of habit I suppose. When I rose Bella looked at me each time. Her eyes followed me to the window. When she was satisfied I suppose that I wasn’t leaving she would return to the conversation with Jake or Charlie.

Despite the strange circumstances Charlie looked like a new man. Jake had even begun to develop a real smile. A smile that died every time Bella glanced at me and smiled.

I loved her. Despite that events of today and her obvious bond with Jacob I knew she loved me too. That was enough. She needed this connection. I could have lived without the connection to Jacob but it would be alright. Jealousy was something I would have to get used to. I never felt it before. I suppose I was overdue.

We stayed the night. Jacob left around eleven. Charlie fell asleep in his recliner and Bella laid a blanket over him and watched him sleep. It was a nice moment. Around 4 AM her phone buzzed. She looked at it. I don’t know why. Besides the people in this room and Renee who was not up at this hour only one person had her number.

“What do you think?” she asked me.

“That’s your decision.”

“I told him we could be friends. I have ignored all his other calls. I suppose I should talk to him.”

“Do you want us to leave?”

“Fuck no. I want to hear this shit. Say hi to his bog ass brother. Ask that fucker how his stomach is feelin.” Ty said voicing his opinion.

“Ty…” I started.

“No. Watch Charlie for me. This won’t take long. I will see what he wants and tell him I am busy. I’ll be just outside.”

“Stay near Bella.” Jason said suddenly. We all looked at him.

“Sorry. I get that you are close to Jake but I don’t trust his friends.”

I felt the same way.

“Okay,” Bella agreed and walked out to the front porch. A large part of me was glad that she didn’t feel the need to have privacy.

Yes this jealousy thing was going to take some getting used to.

Edward POV

“Are you sure this will work?”

“Edward, Bella wants to be a nomad. You want to be in her life. No one knows better how a nomad thinks than Peter.” Jasper told me again.

“Relax Eddie do what I say and you will win your girl’s heart in no time.”

Peter. Jasper told me I had to listen to him. Bella had changed. I needed to change. I had a lot to learn. A lot of time to think over the mistakes I made. I wanted to do this right.

“So play it casual?”

“Yep. Don’t act like you are desperate. Although considering she has ignored every call you have placed so far it may be too late for that.” Peter reminded me.

“So act like I am glad to hear from her but it really didn’t matter if she answered or not?”

“Yep.” Peter was grinning. I wasn’t sure about this. His thoughts told me he was sincere though. He had been in a relationship as long as Jasper and Alice. Longer even.

“Okay.” I dialed the number.

“Edward remember. Whatever your instincts tell you to do, do the opposite. Don’t be yourself. Ever.” Peter said.

I rolled my eyes but took his advice to heart.

I listend to the ring. She had not answered since she gave me this number. Fifteenth time is the charm.

“Hello Edward.” Her voice still set my heart racing. Metaphorically speaking.

“Hey Bells. How are you doin? I was bored. Just thought I would see what you were up to. Done anything interesting lately?”

I looked at Peter and Jasper. They were both nodding. I guess that was good.

“Uh… no. Not really. Just running across the country. Being a nomad. How about you Edward? Anything interesting?”

I looked at Peter. I wanted to tell her I had been thinking of her every second of every day. He told me to follow my instincts. No! He said to do the opposite of what my instincts told me to do.

“Not really. I’m beginning to get restless. I’m thinking I might follow your lead and do some traveling. Are you enjoying it? Is it what you thought it would be?”

“Yeah. It is. It’s amazing. I am having so much fun with Garrett and Ty.”

Ty. The large black vampire that took Emmett down so easily.

“Glad to hear it. I was wondering if you wanted to…” Peter cleared his throat. Right. Don’t ask her out.

“I mean I was wondering if you were going to be around this area anytime soon. If you are, give me a call. Maybe we could catch a concert or something.” I looked at Peter and he nodded his head and motioned with his hand that I should continue in this vein.

“Uh, maybe. I actually just went to a concert. Garrett took me.”

“Really? Who did you see?”

“Jimmy Buffett.”

I looked at Peter and Jasper in a panic and shrugged my shoulders. Who the hell?

“Soft rock singer. Big in the seventies and early eighties. Sings tropical songs. Margaritaville…” Peter whispered.

Oh. Yeah. He’s still alive?

“Wow. I love Jimmy Buffett.”

“You do?” she sounded like she didn’t believe me. I didn’t believe me either.

“Not really.” I laughed.

Peter and Jasper froze.

Bella laughed. We all relaxed.

“I didn’t figure he was your style. You wouldn’t believe the outfit Garrett got me to wear.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. It involved a coconut bra. That’s all I’m saying.”

I looked at Peter. He seemed deep in thought. Probably about a coconut bra. I snapped my fingers.

He seemed to come out of his thoughts.

“She is falling in love with him. Change the subject.” Peter said quickly. She is?

“So have you watched any good television shows lately?” That should be safe.

“Garrett has got me hooked on the Three Stooges. Of course we don’t have much time to watch, being nomads and all.”

“Of course. It sounds like you are having a lot of fun with Garrett.”

I looked at Peter and Jasper who now had grim faces. This could not be good.

“I am. Ty too. Garrett is so easy to be with. So relaxed and funny. I haven’t known him long but I couldn’t imagine life without him. Oh my God I have to tell you what he did to Ty last week. It was so funny.”

“Sounds..great Bella. I’m all ears.”

This would not be easy. I hope Peter had a plan. I had a feeling if I didn’t step up my game soon it would be too late.