Wanted
By BetterInTexas
Chapter 14:
BPOV
“We will be home in an hour.” Kay told me as I woke up. I had fallen asleep.
“Great.” I really wasn’t looking forward to going back to my apartment. But I didn’t want to move back in with Charlie. It would be like admitting that I couldn’t make it on my own.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you anxious to see Embry?”
“I’m kinda scared to be honest.”
“Good. Admitting your fears is the first step to overcoming them. That is one fear though I don’t think you have to be worried about.”
“I am so hungry. Tomorrow morning I am eating a huge breakfast and then having a double cheeseburger for lunch.”
“Sounds great. All the trouble we went through purifying your body and you are going to throw grease back into it, huh?”
“Yeah. Probably not the best idea.”
“Kay. Who was it? Who helped you?”
“Old Quil.”
Wow. I never suspected that. I mean… I just never pictured Him and Kay being that close of friends.
“He knew. He knew who Embry’s father was. At least he suspected. And he cared about me. He was, is like a father figure to me.”
“Huh.”
“Kay? I’m thinking I have probably lost my job by now. What do you think I should do?”
“What do you want to do?”
“I… I don’t want to be alone. Not anymore. I… I think I want company. I didn’t like living alone. I thought I would but I didn’t.”
“Did you like working at Newtons?”
“No.”
“So why did you?”
“What else would I do?”
“You no longer have your apartment.”
“I got evicted? Geez I only missed one month’s rent!”
“No Carlisle bought out the lease.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I told him too.”
Okay…
“Uh Kay, where am I going to live? I don’t want to go back to Charlie’s.”
“I have a place arranged for you. And a roommate. Your things are already there.”
“You moved me?”
“I didn’t. Wolves and vampires moved you. Don’t worry. Embry was the only one to move your underwear. I figured he had seen them all anyway so you wouldn’t mind.”
“But why?”
“I would tell you to move in with Embry and I. But that wouldn’t be fair to either of you. You two deserve to date. To have some fun. You shouldn’t have to go right into being his wife just because he imprinted on you. That’s not fair. Plus your only 18 and he is still in high school. When he graduates, if you two want your own place or to live with me, great. Until then you don’t need the pressure of playing house. But Bella that apartment was depressing. Nobody should have to live there, much less a recovering alcoholic. So you are going to be roommates with Old Quil.”
Huh?
“Uh.”
Wait a minute.
“Did you say I was going to be roommates with Old Quil?”
“Yes, Theresa says he is lonely. She wants someone with him. Keep him company but not bug him all day the way a caretaker would. He wouldn’t have a caretaker in his house anyway.”
“So why doesn’t Theresa move him in with her and Quil?”
“One, he won’t leave his own house. Two he would drive her crazy.”
Great. If he is going to drive her crazy…
“Okay. What about money? What am I going to do about money?”
“Carlisle said he would give you a couple million to start you out.”
“NO!”
“Yeah I figured. He didn’t think you would take it either. There is a job opening at the clinic for a Nurse’s aide. The clinic has recently been the recipient of several large anonymous donations to upgrade the equipment and allow more jobs to open up. You start Monday. You will get on the job training. They won’t let you do anything that could actually kill someone. You will basically be taking vital signs of patients who check in, passing out pre-arranged medications, bringing meals to any admitted patients if we have any. You are going to help people. You are also going to go out and check on the sick who are homebound about once a week and let the nurse practitioner know how they are doing.”
“Shouldn’t I have to interview or something?”
“Yeah. You interviewed with me. See you Monday.”
“Kay how am I going to be strong if you do everything for me?”
“Part of being strong is to put your pride away sometimes and accept help when you need it.”
“You should know the smell of blood makes me sick.”
“There’s a damn irony if I ever heard one. You better thank the Spirits for Embry. You would have made a horrible vampire. Don’t worry. You will get over it.”
Alrighty then.
Embry POV
I felt Quil phase in. I was patrolling with Sam. I had pretty much been patrolling nonstop. Bella being gone was killing me. I couldn’t take my mind off of how she was doing. When she would be back? Is she going to be okay?
Thankfully the Pack didn’t mind. I guess they had become attached to her through me. Or maybe just because of her and it had nothing to do with me.
“What are you doing Quil? You aren’t scheduled to patrol for another two hours.”
“I thought you might want to cut out early Boss Man.”
“Why is that?”
“Cause I saw a couple pretty ladies driving in La Push, heading towards your house.”
Bella.
“Yep. Get out of here Embry. Go get your woman.”
I doubt Leah could have caught me as I ran to the house. I phased at the tree line and threw on a pair of shorts. I saw them standing at the door. Looking at the woods. Waiting on me. My eyes locked on Bella and she looked up at me. She smiled. It was almost like imprinting on her again.
I ran to her. She ran towards me. When I got close she jumped into my arms and I felt her lips on mine. All was right in the world. Maybe not, but for this moment it was. Nothing would ever take her from me again. Not even herself.
“Baby I’m so sorry.” She was crying. I was crying. I’m not ashamed to admit it. I had never been so happy to see someone in my life.
“I don’t care about that baby. I am just so glad to see you. Are you… are you feeling better?” I pulled her back a little to look her in the eyes. Her eyes seemed alive again.
“Yeah. Yes I am. I got a long road to go but I am hoping you will take it with me.”
“I would go anywhere with you.”
“I love you so much Embry. I am so sorry for how I hurt you.”
“No more Bella. I don’t want to hear you apologize. Not to me. I love you and you came back to me. That’s all that matters.” I kissed her again. We stayed that way for a while until I heard Mom clearing her throat.
“I’m guessing you two need some time to become reacquainted. Bella you can stay here tonight. I will let Old Quil know he can expect his roommate in the morning. Or afternoon. Embry make sure she eats. I am going to Quil’s to spend the night in Bella’s bed. This is a one-time thing kids. From this point on you have to sneak around to have sex like normal teenagers.”
“Thank you Kay.” Bella smiled and then squealed hugging me tighter.
Mom rolled her eyes. “Still a nympho. Guess I couldn’t fix everything. Oh and Embry? You better use a condom. This girl hasn’t been on the pill in damn near three weeks. I didn’t bring her back here for you to knock her up. Got it?”
“Yes ma’am. Uh…”
“My night stand drawer. Try not to use them all.”
Wait what?
“Uh Mom…”
“Don’t ask questions you really don’t want answers to Embry.”
“Yes ma’am.” I shivered a little.
“Now I’m gone. See you two in the morning. Bella tomorrow night we are having dinner here with Charlie. Before that we have a meeting at 6. It’s time we started working the steps. I will be your sponsor. I will pick you up. Be ready.”
Mom was gone. I picked up Bella in my arms and carried her into my room.
“Baby, can we talk?”
“Of course Bella. As long as you don’t apologize anymore.” I told her winking.
“Okay. But I want to tell you about my experiences. What I thought about. What I thought about us. How much I missed you. How much I wanted you to be there. I want to tell you everything.”
“Okay. Is it okay if I hold you while we talk?”
“Of course.”
“Can we talk naked?” I couldn’t wait to feel her warmth under me again.
“Not yet. We have all night for that. But baby I want to tell you everything.”
My Bella wants to talk before sex. For some reason this made me incredibly happy.
BPOV
The next morning I felt so wonderful waking up in Embry’s arms. I probably only got a couple hours sleep. I would also probably be walking a little sore today. But it was so worth it. We talked first for hours. I shared everything with him. It was important for me to do this. I didn’t want to take him for granted again. I was going to be his soul mate and it was time to start sharing my soul with him. Embry and I walked to Old Quil’s in the morning. He told me there would be a bonfire to welcome me back tomorrow night. Also he was taking me to see the Cullens before that. Some of the Pack wanted to have the bonfire tonight but they wanted to give me time to settle in and rest.
“Are they mad?”
“Who?”
“The Cullens and the Pack?”
“Nope. Everybody is so happy that you are alive. I don’t think anybody has even thought about being mad. We just want you healthy and happy.”
“I was in a pretty dark place for a long time. I hurt people.”
“Probably not as much as you hurt yourself.” Embry said. He is always trying to make me feel better. Maybe I should let him. It wouldn’t kill me.
We knocked on the door and I heard a shout.
“You live here now. You don’t have to knock! I will put a sock on the door handle if I am having a lady friend over!”
Oh shit.
I walked in with Embry snickering behind me. Kay was at the table with Old Quil drinking coffee. They both smiled at me.
“Good morning Bella. Take a look around and then come sit with us, so I can tell you the things that annoy the hell out of me and make sure you don’t do them.”
“I think with that I am going to leave. Embry why don’t you walk with me? Bella and Old Quil need to get to know each other.”
Dammit Kay.
I turned around and kissed Embry.
“I don’t want to see that shit. Keep you hormones in check little Swan.”
Uh, okay.
“Bella, I am picking you up at 5:45 for the meeting and then we have dinner with Charlie right after. Be ready. Get some sleep today. You look like you have been up all night.” Kay winked at me. Embry smiled and walked out behind her after telling me he loved me.
I looked around the house and came back to sit with Old Quil.
“So little Swan. You are the new burden the Great Spirit has decided to place on me.”
“Uh, I guess so.”
“Well let’s go over the rules.”
“Okay.”
“Number one. No Vampires in my house. I know you have a particular fondness for the Cullens but they still can’t come on this reservation and especially not in my house.
Number two. No bras or undergarments of any kind hanging on the shower. And don’t be putting them on clothes lines either. There is a closet next to the washer and dryer you can hang them in. I don’t want people to think I am running a brothel around here. And I don’t want my lady friends to know I have a female living here. Might cut down on my action.
Number three. No sex with Embry in this house. The last thing I need is to hear a bunch of growling and cursing and grunting. I don’t imagine Embry is very quiet either.”
“Okay.” This was going to be interesting.
“There is no alcohol in this house. Kay told me what you went through. I catch you drinking I am going to call her back and we are both going to throw you off that damn cliff again.”
“Okay.” Don’t spare my feelings.
“I don’t drink either. So it shouldn’t be a problem.” He added on.
“Okay.”
“We are going to have to share a bathroom. If you stink it up light a match. I may or may not return the favor.”
“I think that’s it. But I reserve the right to make some rules up as I go along should any unexpected situations arise. Did I mention the no bras and underwear hanging around?”
“Yes. I definitely got that one.”
“Good.”
“I have a couple rules of my own.” May as well lay our cards on the table.
“Oh do you little Swan? Well lay them on me.”
“No walking around in your underwear. I know how you old people are and it’s quite frankly disturbing. And I will wash your clothes with mine and put them up but you are handling your own underwear. And when I cook for you don’t complain about what I cook. I don’t want to hear any comparisons to other dishes your “Lady Friends” might have made. And I also better not hear you having sex in this house. I don’t want to lie down at night wondering if I am going to have to do CPR.”
He stared at me for a few seconds. Then he stuck his hand out.
“Welcome aboard roomie.”
“Thanks. And the name is Bella. If you call me Bella I won’t call you Quilly.”
“Deal.”
We shook on it. What the hell has Kay gotten me into?
I went to my bedroom and it felt so good to actually lie down in a bed. I mean I was in one last night but I was too busy talking and other things to really appreciate it. I lay down and fell right to sleep.
I woke up around 3. I don’t know where Old Quil was. I guess with a lady friend. More likely gossiping with the other old men at the Community Center. I noticed my cell phone was on the bed stand. Now that I looked around, all my stuff was in this room. Even my cactus.
My phone rang. It was Alice.
“Bella?”
“Hi Alice.”
“How.. how are you feeling?”
“I feel great Alice. Tired, hungry. But really great.”
“Oh Bella, I am so glad to hear that.”
“Alice?”
“Yes?”
“I love you. Tell, Carlisle, and Esme and Emmett and Rose and Jasper I love them too.”
“They are here Bella. They heard you.”
I could hear sobbing in the background. Sounded like Esme?
“I’m sorr…”
“No Bella. We are sorry. For everything.”
“How about we just forgive each other and let it go?”
‘I want that so bad. I miss my friend.”
“I know. I do too. Alice do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Give Jasper a kiss for me and tell him thank you. He was right. I am worth it.”
“I will Bella. So we will see you tomorrow?”
“First thing in the morning. You mind if Embry comes? It’s not that he doesn’t trust you guys. It’s just he is my boyfriend and I want all of us to spend time together.”
“Of course Bella. We love Embry. He is always welcome.”
“I will talk to you tomorrow.”
Kay arrived at 5:45 and we went to a meeting at the Tribal Lodge. I was surprised there were others like me. I was the last to speak. I had to introduce myself. If not I would be called the pale face and I prefer Bella. I was a little shocked to see Paul there.
“Paul what are you doing here? I mean with shifting it’s not like you can get drunk you know?”
“Before I was a wolf I had some issues. Ask your dad about them. Alcoholism runs in the family. I drank a lot before I became a wolf. Sam helped me even before I phased. Just because I don’t get drunk doesn’t mean the need to escape isn’t there. I won’t be a wolf my whole life. And I don’t want to go back to what I was before I became a wolf.”
“Paul, you saved my life.”
“Yeah. You vomited water in my face.”
“Uh sorry about that.”
“It’s all right. You can vomit on me anytime if it means you keep breathing.”
I had never seen this side of Paul. I didn’t really know what to make of it.
“Why didn’t you give up? I mean I was dead. What made you keep trying?”
“I hung condoms out of your locker and super glued your stuff. You called in to the principal and told him I was having an affair with a student and destroyed plumbing to get back at me. You got to respect a girl who does that. You aren’t a quitter. Anymore than I am. I knew you wouldn’t quit on me.”
“Can I hug you?”
“Just this once. And don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to maintain you know?”
Dinner with Charlie was tense at first. He kept looking at Kay who wouldn’t look back at him. He finally got the courage to say something.
“So Bella I guess you are feeling better? I mean after your accident, taking off with Kay to a spa resort is probably just what the doctor ordered huh?”
I took a deep breath. No more lies. There may have been things I couldn’t tell him. But I wouldn’t lie about me anymore.
“Dad it wasn’t an accident.” I said quietly. I thought I would be able to say it louder but it wasn’t meant to be. At least not yet.
“What do you mean Bella?”
Be strong Bella. I raised my head from my plate and looked him in the eyes.
“I didn’t slip off that cliff Dad. I jumped. I tried to kill myself. I am an alcoholic. I hit rock bottom. I tried to kill myself. Did a damn fine job of it except Leah Clearwater, Jacob Black and Paul LaHote saved my life. And Carlisle Cullen and Kay and Sue Clearwater kept me alive. And Embry saved me again when I snuck out of the hospital. Then Kay took me away from civilization so I could dry out. I’m an alcoholic Dad. But I am getting better. And I promise never to try to kill myself again. I’m sorry. For a lot of things but mostly for trying to take myself away from you and everybody else who loves me.”
Nobody said a word. Charlie started shaking. I thought he was mad until the tears started to fall. He walked over to me and picked me up in his arms. He was crying so hard he was shaking. He was sobbing. He was squeezing me so tight I thought I might break. Except I didn’t mind. And I started crying too. I was sobbing. He was sobbing.
“Thank you.”
“For what Daddy?”
“For being honest with me. That couldn’t have been easy. Thank you so much baby. I am so proud of you.”
Proud of me?
“How can you be proud of me, Dad? After everything I have done?”
“You survived. You are taking responsibility and doing something about it. You have no idea how strong you have to be to do that. I am so proud of you.”
I looked around and noticed that Embry and Kay had gone.
“Dad, we are going to be spending more time together. I promise.”
“I know baby. I want that so bad.”
“And we can start Sunday.”
“Sunday?”
“Yeah, let’s go fishing.”
“Fishing? Bella you hate fishing.”
“I’ve recently come to a new appreciation for nature. And I never really have given fishing a chance. Maybe you could teach me?”
“Your damn right I can.” He smiled.
“Dad? I’m not wearing one of those green vests.”
“Yes you are sweetie. Yes you are.” He wrapped me up again in his arms. I don’t know how long we stayed like that but I was in no hurry to leave.
Edward POV
I didn’t know what I was going to do. My credit cards and accounts had been cut off by Carlisle. Jasper apparently even found the ones I thought I had hidden from the family. If I tried to return to the family they would kill me after what I did to Bella. I deserved it too. But I wouldn’t die until she died. As long as she was on this earth I wanted to live and when she died I would find a way to die myself. I’m sure the wolves would do it for me.
I had just left the Denali’s. I figured they would be angry about Irina and take me in. Instead Tanya and Eleazar basically told me they wouldn’t take a chance of angering Carlisle and Jasper any further by hiding me and to get out. So I was currently on a glacier in Alaska contemplating the rest of my existence. One minute I was gazing at the scenery. The next I saw nothing. I heard nothing. I could taste and smell nothing. What happened? Am I dead? Is it possible? Then the world came back. The scenery. The sounds, and the smells.
I turned around and saw them standing there. Aro, Jane and Alec.
“Hello Edward. I see what I heard is true. You no longer have a coven.”
Aro touched me! He knew…
“Yes I know about your Bella. Hurts doesn’t it? To have a mate reject you? And now she is the mate of a wolf. Interesting. A shape shifter no less.”
“Don’t hurt her Aro. Please.”
“Hurt her? Why would I do that? I have no desire to anger Carlisle. While the loss of you certainly weakens his coven he still has the future seer and Jasper Whitlock. Carlisle has no designs on our power. He is only interested in helping humans. And it has become clear to the vampire world that there is one human who is off limits. No, I have no desire to harm Isabella and start a war with the Cullens. There is no advantage in it. No power to be gained. Especially since you will be joining us now.”
“What makes you think I will be joining you?”
“You have a misguided belief that Bella Swan will come back to you one day. Carlisle wants you in pieces because you don’t know how to treat a lady. You certainly can’t hold out hope for your true love if you are dead. So you have two options. One, you could join us and be protected from Carlisle. Maybe even talk to your true love one day again. Or two, I could have Alec take your senses away and I can deliver you to Carlisle as a sign of friendship.”
Dammit.
“If I join you will you promise to never harm Bella?”
“I will never harm Bella, Edward.”
Aro was hiding his thoughts. I… I really didn’t have a damn choice. If I ever wanted to even hope to see Bella again.
“Come with us Edward. It is meant to be.”
“And you will not harm Bella? And no one else will harm her?”
“I can’t not vouch for everyone and I certainly won’t swear an oath to protect a human. She seems to have enough protection as is. But I can swear no member of the Volturi will harm her. Howeve, in the spirit of honesty, I cannot promise Caius will not want to go after the shifters should he find out about them. You are probably aware of how he likes his challenges.”
“I don’t give a damn about the shifters. I only care about Bella.”
“Then we have a deal?”
“Yes.”
Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction 
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