A/N: I just wanted to thank ALL of you who have supported me though this story. Eighteen chapters in less than a month with 2 kids is a very tall order, but it's done and I'm proud. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint you. I want to say a BIG THANKS to the girls on J05 for harassing me and telling me they like the story (even if they don't LOL). As for everyone else, if you have left 1 reply, replied to every chapter, or haven't left any, but are enjoying it, I THANK YOU! You guys are great!!

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Stephenie Meyer does.

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Chapter 18: The End

Edward ran as fast as he could to her. When Jacob's thoughts suddenly stopped, he jumped up and left the negations. He knew something was definitely wrong, and he hoped it wasn't what he thought.

He ran through the double French doors and paused when he saw Bella peering over the rail. Slowly, not wanting to scare her, he walked up behind her. "Bella. What happened? Are you alright?" his voice shook.

She didn't turn. Didn't acknowledge that he was even there. When he could, he reached out and spun her to face him. Her eyes were wide with shock and panic. He almost asked again what the matter was, but then he smelled the blood. He leaned over the rail and hugged Bella tightly, turning her head away from it.

He saw Jacob's body twisted unnaturally. He guessed his back was probably broken. His right leg was pinned behind him. Blood spilled out all around his head.

He released his embrace on Bella, but still grasped her arms. He bent down so he could look her eye to eye. "He's already healing, Bella. You know that. I have to go get Carlisle. Stay here."

She nodded and Edward left. She turned back the see across the rail. She was met with Jacob staring back at her.

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Tension at the front of the house was thick. With Jasper's focus on Alice, he wasn't calming. In fact, he was inadvertently creating more anxiety.

Paul watched as the Cullen's circled the pixy. He crossed his arms, intently focused. His heartbeat quickened and his fight response was beginning to win out. He convinced himself that this was the sign he'd been waiting for. What he imagined the leader whispered to the blond. They would create a distraction and then the bloodsuckers would attack them. He was not going to let them have the upper hand.

He leaned over to Leah, who wasn't really paying attention to the scene. She was kicking at the rocks beneath her sneakers. "They are making plans."

"Who?"

"Them." he motioned for her to look at them.

"Looks to me like the little one has a headache." she sighed, she was growing one herself having to wait beside of Paul like this.

"No, Leah. Look closer. They are planning on attacking us. We have to do it first. Before they do."

Leah raised he eyebrows and looked at him sternly. "Look." he prodded again. She huffed and did as he asked. They did look a little suspicious to her. All hunched down, whispering. The big one was still guarding the door, but the little pixy one was leaning on the wall, with her head in her hands. From that angle, you really couldn't read or tell what she was saying. The blond girl and boy were standing around her and the mother was crouched down beside her. Plenty of opportunity to be discussion maneuvers.

"Doesn't matter." she finally whispered to Paul. "Sam said to stay put."

"Oh Sam said." Paul whispered sarcastically. "Tell me, Leah, are you going to do what 'Sam said' for the rest of your life? Especially after what he did to you."

Memories flooded back to her. She had been so in love with him. She was going to marry him. Be Mrs. Uley. They were going to have their forever, until the Cullen's came back, made Sam a wolf and he imprinted on Emily. It's all their fault. she thought bitterly. She tried to hide it, but she secretly deep down wanted them to pay for taking her life away.

She shook it off. "Sam is our leader." she reminded him, her tone not as strong as before.

Paul shrugged then turned to the Cullens. A sneer crossed his lips. "All leaders eventually get dethroned, Leah." he said under his breath.

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Jasper had Alice leaning on the wall. He was worried about her, and that didn't happen often. Of course he loved her and cared for her, but he always knew she could take care of herself. This new thing that was happening was totally out of the ordinary. Her visions didn't normally affect her like this. She seemed out of it and couldnt' focus. Her eyes rolled back and forth inside her head. "Alice, what's going on? What is it?" he asked while placing a stray hair behind her ear.

"I don't know." she said, her eyes fixed straight ahead. She was beginning to get dizzy. "I can see, but I can't. The wolves are screwing me up I think." she scoffed. Jasper leaned in and kissed her. Then he took both hands and placed them on her temples, raising her head to his. "Look at me, ok. Focus."

"I can't."

"Yes you can, darlin'. Look at me. Now." he spoke softly.

She tried, but she couldn't see him clearly, not for very long anyway. "It's like a strobe light. I can see you, then it goes back to red. You. Red. You. Red. I just can't--"

"Shhh-- it's ok." Jasper pulled her into his arms and rocked her gently.

"I'll get Carlisle." Esme spoke quickly. She was scared and nervous, and without thinking, used her vampire speed.

And then, as predicted, all Hell broke loose.

Paul saw Esme leave. Saw it as an act of attack. He had no idea where she was going. The bloodsuckers were being secretive. It made perfect sense to him.

"GO!" he yelled down the line.

It was a domino effect. The wolves each doing what the other was. Some thought they had missed something and some were just looking for an opportunity to fight. In either case, one by one, down the line, two legs became four.

By the time Esme had reached the house and turned to close the door, she saw clothes scattered in tatters all on the ground, and sixteen huge angry werewolves running toward her.

Amid all the chaos, no one noticed the police cruiser pull up, or the man jump out.

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"Carlisle!" Edward screamed as he ran through the corridors of the house. He hung the corner at the dinning room and ran to his father. "Carlisle, we need you."

"Bella?" he asked already rising.

Edward glanced at Sam and Quil who were beginning to stand also. Worry covered their faces. "No. It's Jacob."

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For what seemed like a long time to her, Bella couldn't move, just stare back at Jacob's dark eyes. They held her. Wouldn't let her go. What captivated her the most were how they weren't angry or intense like she had seen them so many times over the past few days. But they were sad and filled with fear.

She heard him cough and saw the blood run down the crease of his mouth. She didn't know how, but she knew that he didn't have much time.

Forcing her feet to move, she turned left and descended the deck stairs. She hesitated a moment before she realized his blood didn't call to her. Then she fell to her knees beside him. She took off her red hoody, rolled it up in a ball, and carefully placed it under Jacob's head. Her hands, wet with his blood, found his hand and grabbed it. She pulled it to her chest, not caring if the stains ever came out of her white t-shirt.

It shocked her when he gargled a laugh. "I can't believe it. You still don't want me." he whispered.

"Huh?" she tried to smile back.

"You're a bloodsucker. I'm bleeding to death. Should be an easy meal for you." he grinned and coughed again.

"No offense, but you stink." she smiled and held his hand tighter. It was getting colder. She couldn't be sure if it was her or him causing it.

"None taken." he smiled back.

"Are you in pain?" concern filled her voice.

"Emotional? Spiritual? Physical? What's your pleasure?"

"Lets stick to physical." She thought if she could keep him talking, then maybe he wouldn't lose consciousness. No matter what, she didn't want him to die. He may hate her, but she couldn't hate him. Not now.

He blinked his eyes, staring up toward the graying sky. "Physically? No. No pain. That's probably a bad sign, right? For a guy as messed up as I am."

"Don't worry. Edward's gone to get Carlisle."

"Like Edward will want to help me." Jacob scoffed, and rolled his eyes. Everything was getting so blurry to him. And he wished he could feel his hands, his legs, anything really.

"He will, Jake. He'll help you."

He looked at her intently. Bella noticed for the first time that only his eyes moved. He hadn't moved his head once since he fell. "Would you save me? Like Edward did you?"

"Would you want me too?" she gave a short, nervous laugh.

"I'm serious." his intensity never wavered.

"Well then, yes. If you truly wanted me too." she brushed a fly away from his face. "Is that what you want?"

He looked like he wanted to say something else, but then his expression changed and he smiled wistfully. "Probably not. But it could be cool. A vampire-werewolf. I'd be like a superhero or something."

"Or something." she rubbed his hair lightly. He was losing a lot of blood. She looked up to see where Edward and Carlisle were.

He choked out a weak cough, and again blood seeped from his mouth. Bella knew that meant that he was bleeding internally somewhere. It wasn't good at all. "Hang in there, Jake. You'll be fine."

"Now whose the liar." he smiled, his eyes suddenly fluttered back in his head.

"Jake--"

"Bella, please--". it took all of his strength to look back at her.

"No... shhhh." she cut him off. "You need to save your strength."

"Oh, I don't think I'll need it where I'm going." his lips curved. "I have no right. But can I please ask a favor?"

"Anything."

"Can I talk to my friend, Bella, now please?"

"She's always been here, Jake." she smiled. She was thankful when she heard the doors open behind her and footsteps running on the deck.

Jacob's eyes fluttered again, but he steadied himself enough to look at her. "I love you. I know I said I didn't. But I do. I always have." He couldn't look at her anymore. It hurt his eyes. He was so dizzy and she seemed so far away now. "I miss you." he whispered. He looked peaceful, Bella thought. She hoped he was resting. But what she didn't know was that he was saving what strength he had left to smile and look at her one last time. It was what he had wanted all along. "Good-bye Bella."

His eyes shut and his heartbeat stopped.

"Jacob." she whispered, shaking him. "Jake." she called louder, shaking him harder. "Jake, No! No!"

She felt tight arms grab her and pull her back, but she fought. She wanted to be near Jacob. She knew he threatened her and her family, but he was young and stupid, and probably wouldn't have gone though with it. He didn't deserve to die like this... he didn't deserve for her to kill him.

"Move please, Bella. Let me by." Carlisle pushed through, crouching beside Jacob. Sam hunched over at the other side. "Jacob, can you hear me?" he called.

"He can't hear you. He's dead!" Bella shook, fighting Edward until she gave up and fell into his arms. She didn't know that guilt could feel so bad. She kept thinking He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve this.

Carlisle did all he could. He had Sam do the breathing while he did chest compressions. After three minutes with no response, Carlisle told him to give up. As the sun set and twilight appeared, Jacob Black was pronounced dead.

Sam fell on his friend, crying uncontrollably.

Edward held Bella tightly to his chest, wanting to badly to shield her from this. He wanted to tell her that Jacob had planned on doing the same thing to him, but he knew that wouldn't make her feel any less guilty.

Carlisle was the only one who heard footsteps on the deck. "Carlisle!" Esme's voice called out. "We need you!" she froze suddenly when she saw the scene. Carlisle looked up to her, sadness filled his face. After all these years, he still didn't get used to death, especially the death of an eighteen year old.

As Esme was walking to Carlisle, she jumped suddenly, as did everyone else. The sound a single gunshot erupted from the front of the house.

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"Hold it!" Charlie called out, his gun high in the air.

At the front side of the house, everyone stopped fighting. Paul released his hold on Jasper, who was shielding Alice. Her vision was still muddled

Rosalie relaxed and placed the shovel she was using on Leah Clearwater over her shoulder. She blew a piece of stray hair from her face. Emmett fought back to urge to punch the living daylights out of the wolf, Embry, attacking him. But thought better of it. Charlie was Bella's Dad. And even though a bullet wouldn't bother him, Charlie seeing that it had no affect on them might cause him to have another heartattack. He didn't want that on his conscious.

"You got a problem here son." he spoke to Emmett.

"No sir. Just some rabid dogs that needed some taking care of." Emmett smiled innocently.

"It wasn't a question." Charlie bent the hammer back on his pistol, ready to fire again if need be. As he spoke, his passenger side door opened. Not taking his eyes off the group, Charlie opened the trunk, pulled out a wheelchair, and opened it next to the door. It took all of thirty seconds.

Billy Black slid into his chair and rolled around beside Charlie to the front of the truck. They stayed in the headlights, as the sun was setting. No one had been more surprised than Billy when Charlie had came rolling into his house, straight from the hospital, demanding answers about the 'cold ones'. Billy hesitated before he explained everything, then told him that he needed to come along. There might be trouble at the Cullen house.

And that's just what they found.

"I thought you came to talk." Billy scolded, surveying the group.

The pack backed away from the Cullens, all except Paul who growled at Jasper. "Paul!" Billy admonished, wheeling his chair out of the light and into the dim grass. "No good can come from anger and fighting. Didn't we talk about that? Stand. Down." he ordered.

Paul growled, but did as he was told. A bullet might not hurt a bloodsucker, but it wouldn't feel very good to a wolf.

Charlie turned when he heard his name called by a young musical voice. "Alice, are you ok?" he asked walking to her.

"Peachy?" she answered. Her vision was getting better now. It wasn't a strobe light anymore. Now everything only had a tent of red to it.

"Where's Bella?" he asked, all pleasantries aside.

"She's inside, resting." Carlisle called out as he walked by him, avoiding his gaze, and knealed down to Alice. He was trying to give Bella enough time to decide what she wanted. How she was going to handle her dad. Esme came and stood in the door jam, watching.

Charlie sighed frustrated and pointed his gun at the back of Carlisle's head. "Dr. Cullen. I'm sure that if I pulled the trigger, this bullet would do nothing to you. In fact, I'm pretty sure it would bounce right off and hit me in the knee. But, right now, it might be worth it. Just to take some aggravation out and shoot. Now, you tell me whose blood is on your clothes, and you tell me where my daughter is."

A wolf began howling in the pack. It was Paul telling the others that Charlie wouldn't risk shooting a bunch of young people. He wanted to knock Charlie out, push Billy aside, and finish this thing. The other wolves howled along with him. The sound was deafening.

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"Enough!" Sam yelled out, as he walked out of the door, carrying Jacob who had been wrapped in a white sheet. "Just stop!" he yelled, looking over the pack. They might not have listened to him before about not changing and not fighting, but they damn well were going to listen to him now. "Enough blood has been shed today. We are not fighting." he looked down at his friend in his arms. "Enough blood." he sobbed, with no tears left to fall.

He paused when he saw Billy sitting in his chair, staring at the sheet. Sam walked slowly and carefully placed Jacob's body on the ground in front of him. Billy shuttered and cried out at the face of his son. All bruised and broken. He slid out of his chair and fell to his knees. He couldn't think. Not clearly. Jacob had been his light. Every since his wife, Sarah, died. His sisters would be devastated, as was he. But right at that moment, Billy couldn't feel. He reached out, and like he did when Jacob was a baby, took his son and laid him in his lap. He rocked back and forth, rocking his son, cursing children for growing up where you couldn't protect them anymore.

"He fell." It's all Sam could say at the moment. He crouched down, but couldn't look the older man in the face. "He was fighting and he fell."

"Then lets get them!"Paul called out, now in human form, not caring that he was naked. Some things were more important than modesty. "They killed him! They need to pay... for something!"

"It was an accident!" Sam yelled at him.

"Bull." Paul walked around, wringing his hands in his hair. "You know what's right, Sam and you are just too chicken to do anything about it."

Sam got up quickly and walked over to the man. His eyes blazing. "Did you not hear me, Paul?" he said eerily, dangerously calm. "No more fighting. No more revenge. I can't." his voice cracked. "I can't take losing any more of you. Not even you, you stupid hot headed, son of a bitch." Sam pulled him into a grief stricken embrace. Paul couldn't think and backed down.

Sam wiped the tears that had found him again off his face and went back to Billy. He leaned down next to Jacob. "Billy, I am so sorry. It's my fault. I knew how angry he was. I knew he wanted revenge. But I didn't stop him, in fact I went along with it. I knew it was a bad idea, but I did it anyway. Now he's dead and it's all my fault."

"It's not."

Charlie's heart leaped when he heard the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He turned to it and found what he knew wasn't a dream or hallucination. "Bella!" he ran to his daughter and hugged her tightly. Her body was so cold and hard that he figured he would bruise, but he didn't care.

He stepped back long enough to see her, soak her in. But then tensed seeing her shirt covered in blood. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, Dad." her face contorted with a strange set of emotions. "I'm not one hundred percent sure how to tell you this--I mean."

"I know." he smiled, patting her shoulder.

"You know!" she gasped astonished. She wanted to ask him questions, but knowing Jacob was there on the ground, not moving, she knew it wasn't the time. She hung her head and tightened her grip on Edward's hand. "I killed him." she whispered.

"What happened?" he asked calmly.

She explained about the treaty, taking Jacob outside, getting mad, and punching him. She said she saw him sail over the railing and then heard him hit the patio. She explained that she hadn't meant to kill him, but she had. She told him it was all her fault.

"No." Billy said as matter-of-fact. It was the first he had spoken since he held Jacob. He stroked his son's cold cheek. "No, Bella. It's not your fault." He looked at his son. "It's his." His heart erupted in sadness. "You see, he had all of this pain, all of this revenge built up inside him. It built up, and yeah we should have seen it and stopped it. I had a talk with him about it yesterday. He said everything was under control, but I should have known."

He smiled at his baby. "Jacob was a good boy. He always took care of me. But he had anger. Like any young man, but he didn't know how to handle rejection or loss. I love him with all my heart, but I do not blame you, Bella." he looked at her, "or you Sam." he turned his eyes to him. He continued rocking his boy. "If there is fault to be had, it's Jacob's. He knew the consequences of his actions, and he took them willingly." His tone turned soft and weary. "But in the end, Jacob is held responsible for his own actions." he looked to Bella. "As are we all."

The rain picked up, but Billy continued sitting there holding his child. Finally, he called to Sam. "Help me." he said. "Lets take him home." Sam gathered Jacob up and, in a show of compassion, Jasper helped Billy into his wheelchair. He tried to calm him. He wanted to give Billy that at least. Billy nodded, grateful for the help.

Edward ran and got a long coat for Paul, who was appointed to drive Billy and Jacob home. Charlie told them they could take the cruiser, and someone could come back and leave it later.

He had lots of things he needed to talk about.

The Cullens stood out in the rain, watching as the makeshift funeral position left down their driveway. No tears were shed, save a few from Charlie, but if they could, each one would have shed some. If not for Jacob, then for the father who had just lost his only son.

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Well past dark, everyone sat around the Cullen living room. They had all changed their damp clothes into some clean ones. Carlisle offered Charlie some of his scrubs since no other clothes would fit him.

The mood in the house was melancholy. Esme and Carlisle sat holding hands on the leather love seat. Emmett held Rosalie in his lap on the floor, idly stroking her long blond hair. Jasper sat in the recliner with Alice sitting on the arm beside him. Bella leaned back into Edward's arms while sitting with Charlie on the couch. Charlie was drinking a cup of hot coffee to warm him. Bella was trying to finish her drink, so she wouldn't be tempted to bite Charlie. All of the windows were opened so she could get fresh air. It wasn't as bad as the first time she had seen him. The monster didn't seem as ready to raise it's ugly head-- she kept a close tab on it.

"Do you think they will come back?" Rosalie asked.

"I don't think so." Jasper answered. "Sam was pretty adamant about that. We'll keep watch for a while, just to be sure. But I think we've seen the last of this 'war'."

"We signed the new treaty." Carlisle said, no hint of a smile crossed his face. "I'll go over it with you all in the morning."

"How did you know?" Bella said quickly. The words wouldn't stay put any longer. She needed to know why her father was sitting here drinking coffee with a group of, well, vampires, and he seemed perfectly ok with it.

Charlie took another sip of his coffee, well aware that there were eight sets of vampire eye watching him, waiting for his answer. "Well, I've lived in Forks all my life. I've heard the legends. Didn't put much stock in it until I saw you." she looked away, embarrassed for him to see her like that with her white skin and topaz eyes. "Don't you dare be embarrassed, Isabella Swan--er Cullen. Sorry. Won't be getting used to that anytime soon." he laughed, it cut the tension.

Edward smiled, remembering a few minutes before when they showed him their rings and told him they were now married. Edward assumed that he had taken the vampire news much better.

"There are complications, Mr. Swan." Carlisle spoke what everyone else in the room was thinking.

"Charlie, please." he corrected.

Carlisle nodded. "Charlie. There is a group of very powerful vampires who, well, aren't fond of the same diet as we are." Carlisle let that fact make its rounds in Charlie's head before he went on. "This group will kill you if they find out you know about the existence of vampires."

"Doesn't everyone?" Charlie shrugged, referring to the hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of movies, books, and tv shows based on vampires.

"Dad. This is serious."

"Bella, I'm kidding." he smiled at her. So thankful that he could talk to her again. Sure, it wasn't his ideal situation, but sometimes beggars couldn't be choosers. "The truth is I don't care one way or the other about this 'group' as you called them. I've gotta die of something, right? Be it a heart attack or an evil vampire family."

Bella rolled her eyes at him, but no longer looked like a married woman or even a vampire. Her eyes pleaded with him like a little girl talking to her Daddy. "You don't have to die."

All eyes shot to her, very disapproving eyes, but Charlie just laughed. "I guess I don't. But who would want to stay an old middle-aged man forever." he wanted to reach out and hug her, but he was afraid that being that close would be too much for her. She had enough guilt about today already. "Truthfully, I'm happy." he beamed at her. "More than happy now. I have you back. Not in the same condition as I left you, but you are still here. I'm happy for you, and I'm sure I will be about Edward in due time." he kidded. "But the Cullens will take care of you. Watch over you well after I'm gone."

"But I want you too." she pouted.

"Well, you'll have me for as long as I'm alive." he looked down at his hands. He didn't want to say it because he didn't want to upset her, but it was something that needed to be said. "And I know that- no matter what- you'll be around. That's more than Billy has."

Edward instinctively wrapped his arms around her protectively when he felt her tense up. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "You didn't kill him, my love. And, in the end, he got his good-bye. I think it's what he wanted."

"He didn't deserve to die." Bella said, more loudly than she meant.

"Nobody does, Bella." Charlie said, his eyes full of compassion. He didn't want to hide his feelings from her anymore. Not when he wasn't sure if he would see her one day to the next. "You didn't deserve to be in that car accident. I didn't deserve the heart attack, but it happens. It all happens. You didn't mean to hurt him. You have to live with that and move on."

Bella nodded, not fully convinced, but knew that the conversation would just run around in circles if she said anything. She placed her head under Edward's chin and thought.

"Are you feeling better?" Carlisle asked Alice, who sat tracing little lines on Jasper's hands.

"Yeah, vision is great now. It was the strangest thing. I dont' know why I kept seeing all of that red."

Bella, escaping her thoughts, sat up, and raised her hand. "Um.. I think I can help explain, at least part, of that."

Charlie cleared his throat. "Well, sorry to be a downer, but you do have another problem to think about."

Bella rolled her eyes. "What now?"

Charlie smiled. "What are you going to tell Renee?"

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THE END

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Thank you all so much for reading this story. I hope it was something you enjoyed. I'm sad it's over.