Sunday, January 12, 2014

Best Non Traditional

Wolfpack
1st: Swan’s Mate for Life by Mrstrentreznor
2nd: The Pack Imperative by unbidden16
3rd: Come Away With Me by Kerigocrazy
 
 
 
 


Vampires
1st Place: Dig Edward & Jasper by LyricalKris
2nd Place: Hedone Ranch by JenJadeEyes
3rd Place: The Succubus Siren by WhiteWolfLegend
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Thank You!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Fandom Choice Awards this year. 

Congratulations to all the nominee's and winner's.  We'll see you next year!

All Time Favorite Story


Wolfpack
1st Place: Be Like Water by Taoist Elf
2nd Place: Closer to God by Mrstrentreznor
3rd Place: Intensity by mama4dukes

 
 
 



 




Vampires
1st Place: Copy Room by Edward’s Eternal
2nd Place: The Cullen Legacy by pattyrose
3rd Place: Wide Awake by AngstGoddess





Teaser for Fire Vs. Ice

We love teasers!  Here's one from LuvinJ, for her story Fire vs Ice.  To read Fire vs Ice in it's entirety, please visit Tricky Raven.

Did you know LuvinJ is also known as Dani Morgan?  Be sure to find her latest books on Amazon and swing by her blog to keep up with her latest projects!




Bella made her way back to the table were Jake sat. She leaned over and placed a teasing kiss on his supple lips before sitting down next to him.

“I thought I saw someone I knew but I was wrong,” she informed him before he had the chance to ask any questions.

“Must have been someone important by the way you took off, Ms. Lahote.” Jake drew back, putting distance between him and Bella as an uneasy feeling knotted in the pit of his stomach.

“Not really. Business. But again, I was mistaken anyway. So where were we?” Bella couldn’t resist the arch of his long, exposed neck. She trailed the length with her tongue before settling at the sweet apex of the curve with her mouth and began alternating between gentle kisses and playful nips. Bella’s soft, small hands roaming across his chest, feeling his rock hard muscles, wanting to go lower but keenly aware of their surroundings.

All her efforts were not in vain as a low, husky moan erupted from him. Jake roguishly pulled at her long loose tendrils of wavy chestnut hair.

“No fair.” He had all but forgotten their prior interruption.

Bella stopped, pulling back so that her mouth hovered just above her prey. Her hot breathe tickled his skin as she spoke. 

“Let’s get out of here.”

That was all the encouragement that he needed. Jake jolted out of his seat, engulfing Bella’s tiny hand in his mammoth one; he guided her towards the side exit. The hormone engulfed duo sliced through the crowed mass of people until they reached their goal. Pushing the heavy metal door open, Jake and Bella found themselves alone in the side alley.

“Oh, I guess I need to call the limo to come around back to pick us up.” Bella reached for her cell but stopped her.

“It’s such a nice night, why don’t we just walk. It’s not that far.” The man that had been so desperate to get somewhere private, now seemed to be content in just enjoy Bella’s company and not in a sexual manner.

Bella smiled. The sudden appearance of a gentlemanly side to Jake Black was a refreshing change, plus it gave her the added bonus of spending even more precious time with him. She wove her arm in-between his and his side, snuggling close as they sauntered towards the street.

A brisk summer evening breeze assaulted the couple when they stepped out onto the sidewalk. Jake disengaged his arm for hers and wrapped the massive appendage around his lady love, curling her in protectively to his body.  He bent down and softly kissed the top of her head. 

“Let’s go around the block. Just in case the paps are out in front of the club,” he whispered.

“Sounds good.”

They walked in silence, getting lost in the hustle and bustle of the throng of people that crowded the night-time streets.  Everyone seemed to have somewhere to be and in a hurry to get there, that was except for Jake and Bella. 

“Mmmm, You smell so good,” Jake said.

“That’s probably just the roasted nut cart on the corner,” Bella replied.  She had a problem accepting compliments and the numerous ones Jake Black lavished on her kept her cheeks in a perpetual state of redness.

“Do you want some nuts?”

Bella couldn’t believe those words came out of his mouth. It was an innocent statement but the images that raced through her mind were nothing short of X-rated. She couldn’t help but snicker.

“Did I say something funny?” He tried to keep a straight face, knowing the double meaning to his words.

Bella gathered her composure. She’d been a flirty, strong woman so far with Jake and she wasn’t about to reduce herself to a giggling groupie now.

“Oh, I’m in the mood for some nuts, Black. But not the kind one can buy from a street cart.”

Jake stopped on a dime. He peered down at Bella’s sweet, almost innocent face. She was the perfect combination of angel and vixen. The thoughts that her words conjured in his head made him stand at attention instantly. He sucked in a deep breathe from the ache and exquisite pain the rushing of all the blood caused. His dick physically hurt he was so hard.

“How am I supposed to walk back to the hotel now?” he questioned. Jake reached down, grabbed hold of his cock, and shifted it side to side, trying to find some kind of relief. It was useless. He needed a full blown release and nothing else would do.

“Well, I could…”

Best Supporting Character


Wolfpack
1st: Embry in Divine Intervention by ImaginaryHeart
2nd: Leah in Butterflies and Hurricanes by whonatural
3rd: Charlie in Bella’s Guitar by AmandaForks



 



Vampires
1st Place: Emmett in The Cullen Legacy by pattyrose
2nd Place: Victoria in Glycerine by Livie79
3rd Place: Ty Gavin in Atonement by BetterinTexas








Best Action Sequence

Wolfpack
1st: Venom by BetterInTexas
2nd: Knight in Silver Armor by Maddie-the-Muse
3rd: Dandelions by little red cardigan
 
 




 


Vampires
1st Place: Rise by Rochelle Allison
2nd Place: For Eternity by vampgirl79
3rd Place: Operation: Break the Dawn by katinki






Best Edward Cullen

Vampire Category Only
1st Place: Fridays at Noon by troublefollows1017
2nd Place: Tip of the Spear by Robsmyyummy Cabanaboy
3rd Place: Beautifully Broken by vampgirl79
 

 
 
 
 

Teaser: "From Hell to Heaven"

We love teasers!  Here's one from Peggy McDaniel McCombs, for her story From Hell to Heaven.  To read the story in it's entirety, please visit Tricky Raven.





From Hell to Heaven

Beta/Proof reader/Advisor: Maria Vilson

Chapter 21

Warning: 
__________________________________


Standing before them was a police officer they had never seen before…well, Quil had seen him before; after all he was the one that took Bella’s car from her. He was standing with his feet spread apart, arms stretched out, hands holding onto his firearm as it smoked from recently being fired.

Billy was laying on the floor, his wheelchair on its side next to him; even the wheels still turned as it just took place, and you could see that he was trying to get away from something. He had the expression of fear in his eyes, and was panting obviously from that fear.

“Dad!” Jake yelled as he ran to his father’s side, stooping down to check if he was alright.

Charlie lay on the floor and was trying to pull himself up to lean against the wall. His eye was closed, and he was cringing from the pain in his arm where he had just been shot. His side arm was lying on the floor at his feet.

The other officer was still frozen to the same spot and had an expression of disbelief; he was in shock. Sam walked up to the officer and slowly took his firearm from his hands and patted him on the back to let him know that it was okay.

The officer turned to Sam and batted his eyes before turning them back to his Chief who was cursing from the pain. Sam helped the officer to sit on the sofa as Paul and Jared made their way to Charlie. Paul picked up the firearm that lay at his feet and handed it to Sam. 

Sam laid the guns on the coffee table and continued to comfort the officer clearly not coming out of the shock he was in any time soon.

Paul ran to the bathroom and grabbed the first aid kit that all the wolves kept in their houses in case one of them needed immediate attention and made his way back to Charlie after grabbing a bowl of luke-warm water and a soft cloth. 

Jared ripped the sleeve easily from Charlie’s shirt, as Paul came back handing the first aid kit and a bowl of water to Jared who immediately began to clean the area of his arm that was hit. 

They noticed his bruised face and thought how Jake had done a number on him at the Police Station after hearing about Bella through the pack mind; and, that was probably why he showed up here at Billy’s. He was probably hunting for Jake.

They wondered what Billy had said to piss him off enough that he would even threaten to shoot Billy. Not that it would have taken much in Charlie’s state of mind, but Billy should have known better.

Charlie’s arm hung uselessly at his side which told them that the bullet had broken the bone on impact. Jared wrapped a bandage around the wound and tied his arm into a sling to keep it in place until they could get him to a hospital to have it taken care of. 

But there was something else that they noticed about Charlie. Even with the cringing of his eyes from the pain, he eyes seemed to be normal. Whatever had control of Charlie was no longer visible. It seemed that Charlie was free of the mind control.

Charlie looked around the room taking in all that surrounded him. He saw Jake helping Billy off the floor and into his wheelchair and one of his own officers sitting on the sofa being comforted by Sam Uley. His head was swarming with confusion as he took in his surroundings as he tried to remember what had just happened. 

Charlie’s head felt as though he had a cloud swarming around in his head as he kept shaking it trying to clear it enough to remember why he was even here. Why can’t I remember? He thought to himself. 

As he thought about not being able to remember it dawned on him that he couldn’t remember anything since the day Bella showed up at the airport. He wondered how long he had been out of it, was it minutes or days? He just couldn’t remember.

“Jared? What am I doing here?” he asked looking up and realizing the pack was all here. Paul and Jared looked at one another as their eyebrows disappeared into their hair lines.

“Don’t you remember Chief?” Paul asked looking back at Charlie. Charlie shook his head and rubbed his face with his other hand.

“Why is Mark here, who shot me, what the hell is going on?!” He yelled cringing as a pain shot through his arm.

“Sam,” Paul called getting Sam’s attention. Sam rose to his feet patting Mark on the shoulder letting him know he’d be right back.

“I think what was controlling the Chief is gone, and he wants answers to what’s going on,” Paul said. Sam looked down at Charlie and told him to look him in the eyes. Charlie complied.

“Why, what the hell is going on,” he reiterated, but this time to Sam.

“You don’t remember anything?” Sam asked not knowing whether to be glad or worried about the state of Charlie’s mind.

“No! Would I be asking you if I knew? I need answers here Sam. How long have I been out of it?” he asked. At least he realized he had been out of it. Sam thought.

“We don’t know everything yet Charlie, all we know is that someone or something has been controlling your mind. Making you do things you normally wouldn’t do and in this case you almost shot and killed your best friend. That officer over there allegedly stopped you by shooting you in the arm to save Billy,” Sam explained.

Charlie swallowed hard, his face turned white as snow as he looked at Mark and then to where Jake had just put his dad back into his wheelchair.

“Oh my God! Is he okay?” Charlie asked with a shaky voice.

“Yeah, a little shaken up, but he’ll be okay. The officer is still in shock though. We’ll have to come up with a viable reason for all of this. That officer over there is in shock and needs to know what the hell is going on. We can tell him the truth, but I have to know that he’ll keep our secret Charlie before I start spouting off our legends to him,” Sam replied truthfully.

“He’s a good kid Sam. We’ve had conversations about the magic of the Quileute people. We never got into what that really meant, but he believes there are such things, and I’m sure he’ll keep your secret. Just let him know that no one is to know, he’ll abide by his word.” Sam nodded his head not really knowing what to do.

“We need to get you to a hospital,” Sam said.

“Not yet, we need a story and I need to talk to Billy first. Help me up guys,” Charlie said. Sam and Paul picked Charlie up carefully so as not to disturb his arm and helped him to the sofa next to Mark.

Mark didn’t move a muscle as he stared straight out into space. Mark thought of Charlie as family and he just had to shoot him to stop him from killing an innocent man. He didn’t know what was going on, but he was sure glad he showed up when he did otherwise someone would have died.

He knew Charlie wasn’t in his right mind. He had never seen his Chief act in such a manner. It frightened him beyond belief. He began thinking that maybe he was in the wrong profession. 

He shouldn’t be acting this way, but it was the first time he had ever used his firearm and who does he shoot? His own Chief; but, what was he supposed to do, let Charlie shoot and maybe kill the old man in the wheelchair?

Best Supporting Cast

Wolfpack
1st: Venom by BetterInTexas
2nd: Butterflies and Hurricanes by whonatural
3rd: That If By Chance It Be Shaken by LynnLautner

 
 



Vampires
1st Place: Grand by CaraNo
2nd Place: Sideline Collision by nolebucgrl
3rd Place: Independence Day by CayStar



 
 

 

A teaser for "Jagged Edges Heal" by Twifantasyfan

We love teasers!  Here's one from Twifantasyfan, for her story Jagged Edges Heal.  To read the story in it's entirety, please visit Tricky Raven.




Jacob POV

I found myself on the beach, my feet having automatically carried me to the massive driftwood that I'd come to consider Bella's and my spot.  But there's no 'our spot' anymore, because there's no 'us', I reminded myself.  Well, this had been 'my' spot before, so it would just become that again.  Back resting against the wind- and water-smoothed side of the outcropping, I stared out at the waves.  How the hell had everything turned upside-down, inside-out, and whatever else?

I couldn’t answer that right now, but I wanted—needed—to.  With a fatalistic shrug, I twisted off the cap on the bottle that Old Quil had given me.

“Here goes nothing,” and I tipped the contents into my mouth.  As soon as the foul-smelling liquid hit my tongue, my stomach wanted to hurl.  Somehow, though, I choked the contents down.  Instantly, I was in the middle of some psychedelic swirl of colors as the world twisted away from me.

“Jacob Ephraim Black.”  The resounding voice made my head twist around in an attempt to find its source.
“Who are you?” I called out.

“Can you not guess?”

“Taha Aki?”

“Yes.  You are troubled, my son,”

“I am.  I don’t know what to do.  I don’t understand what’s happened to me or what I’ve turned into.”

“Do you wish to understand?”

“Yes!  Please, Taha Aki.  Help me.  Guide me.”

“If you wish my help, it is yours, my son.  Let us begin.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bella POV

I couldn't decide if my movie idea had been a good one or a bad one.  It was good in the sense that Embry couldn't put the couch to a use that would horrify my dad, but bad in the sense that Embry couldn't put the couch to use the way part of me wanted him to.  My mind might know that I needed time to recover from our sexual explorations of the past couple days, but my body was trying to convince me that it wasn't that important after all.  Well, my body…and Embry.  If I hadn't heard this morning about the enhanced senses that the wolf gave him, I would have thought that Embry didn't know what his seemingly unconscious touches were doing to me--however, I knew that he did know just how much I was being affected.  Fortunately for me, Jessica and Angela weren't so gifted and weren't picking up on it.

My eyes were fixed on the TV screen, but my mind was paying no attention at all to whatever movie the others had chosen.  I used the time to get lost inside my head and think through everything I'd learned in the last day.  The supernatural stuff I quickly dismissed.  It didn't matter to me one bit that Embry could now turn into a wolf, anymore than I'd objected to Edward and his family being vegetarian vampires.  I wasn't thrilled that Embry and I were going to be forced to spend time around Jake again.  Everyone else seemed to have managed the transition from just human to werewolf without turning into a bitter jerk, everyone but Jake.  It was hard to believe that he'd been so bad off right after phasing that just the idea that I was meant to be his had kept him from going crazy.  I nearly shuddered at the thought that I could have been forced to shift from Embry to Jake by some mystical sh--stuff whether or not I would have wanted that.  Embry mistook my shiver for being cold, and settled me closer against him.   Well, Embry had imprinted on me, so I didn’t have to worry about Jake in that sense now.  But there was plenty else about him that I was still concerned over.  The things Jake had been saying to me and to Embry…it was like a complete stranger had taken over our friend’s body.  How in the world could either Embry or I be expected to spend time around him with how he was acting?

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Embry POV

It was probably a good thing that Bella had invited her friends over to watch a movie with us.  If she hadn't...we'd probably have spent the afternoon in her bedroom, in her bed.  And while that idea completely appealed to me, I couldn't forget what she had said about needing recovery time.  The last thing I wanted was to hurt her in any way, and so I'd just have to keep my libido in check.  Yet despite my vow, my hands kept wandering where they shouldn't.  Sneaky though I tried to be, I couldn't keep from getting spotted forever.  Bella's involuntary twitches finally caught Jessica's attention.  I got a knowing look, raised eyebrow, and a smirk from her--but she didn't say anything out loud.  She didn't have to, though--I had a pretty good idea what it would be: something along the lines of the "Bella sure as hell better be taking advantage of that," that she'd said back in the store.  I delivered a sly glance and my own smirk then returned my attention to the movie.

The girls left after the movie, and Bella headed to the kitchen to start fixing dinner.  "We'll have time to eat before the council meeting, right?"

Checking the clock, I nodded in agreement.  "Yeah."

As always, Bella's cooking was amazing.  With my new appetite, I had to really force myself to leave enough food in the pan so that there would be something left for Charlie's dinner.

On our way back to La Push, Bella asked, "What is the meeting going to be about?"

"No idea.  All that the message said was where to go and when.  Guess we'll find out when we get there."  A glance over at my imprint showed that her fingers were twisting together from nerves.  "Hey, don't worry.  I mean, it can't be too bad, right?"  Even though I'd said that, Bella wasn't the only one to take a deep breath once we arrived at our destination.

"I'm here, no matter what," she told me.  I had to lean over and kiss her after that declaration.  I meant it to be a light one, but the best of intentions...  A thump on the roof of Bella's car broke us apart.

The Alpha Next Door by FarrahB - A Review by ChrissiHR


Review: The Alpha Next Door by FarrahB
 

"The Alpha Next Door" by FarrahB pits an unusually fun, spunky, and out of character Bella Swan against an equally out of character and dominant Jacob Black. There's a reason "The Alpha Next Door” was nominated for "Best Jacob Black". This is the Jacob you dream about.

 

This is not the Jake n Bells you've come to know and love, though. It is so much better.

 

The Alpha, Jacob Black, and his snarky imprint, Bella, grew upnot thousands of miles and dozens of states apartbut literally right next door to each other, so close they can peer into one anothers' bedroom windows. Unfortunately, the old adage 'familiarity breeds contempt' holds true. Jacob and Bella are at each other like terriers every bit as often as they're locked at the lip in this uproariously funny and often steamy multi-chapter fic. It teeters between being seriously sexy and ridiculously campy, but in the best possible way.

 

It's a work in progress and updates are few and far between, but when it does get updated, it's so worth it. It's that fic for which you drop everything and read right now when the notice turns up in your inbox. You can find it on Tricky Raven at:


 

Enjoy and remember to review so the author knows you're reading and looking forward to the next update!

 

~ChrissiHR⬜

 

Best Original Character

Wolfpack
1st: Chris Jennings in Venom by BetterInTexas
2nd: Mama in Legend: The Golden Wolf by Sabrina Michaels
3rd: Tristan in Tattoo by ellie82

 
 



Vampires
1st Place: Rainbow in Sideline Collision by nolebucgrl
2nd Place: Marley in Marley’s Mother by Pandoras Box Is Heavy
3rd Place: Ty Gavin in Atonement by BetterinTexas
 

 
 

Best Pre-Production Specialist

Wolfpack
1st: Feebes86
2nd: Dragonfly76
3rd: BetterInTexas


Vampires
Category Eliminated
 
 
 
 


Chasing Bella - A New Story by BetterInTexas

If this writer could be summed up by one word, it would be prolific!  Story after story, he keeps surprising us with his plot twists and characters.  Tonight he's agreed to share the first chapter of his new story, Chasing Bella, exclusively here on the Fandom Choice Awards. 

Be sure to swing by his profile on Tricky Raven for updates.





















Pairing: Bella/Jake
Genre:Angst/Romance/Adventure
Rating: M
Summary: At 18 Bella ran from La Push with her father and her unborn child to start a new life. Now a 37 year old widow and mother of two, a reminder of her past shows up and informs her that vampires once again have her in their sites. Bella sends Charlie and her two children to the one place she feels they can be protected and runs. After learning his heritage however, her son CJ decides her safety will not be left to vampires. CJ, his sister and Jake hit the road to find Bella and bring her home no matter how far they have to go.
Beta: None

Chasing Bella: Chapter 1


A/N We start with the Cullens never coming back and Jacob killing Victoria. No newborn army. This chapter is long but it sets the background for the story.

Chapter 1

I really did not want to see her. I had to talk to Jacob. I wasn’t sure what I would say. No, I did know. It had to be said. No matter what, he deserved to know. He had a right to know. Of course I would pick a time when she was here. Three weeks. It has been three weeks since he looked into her eyes and she is already here when he isn’t. Why else would she open his door as if she owned he place? I suppose she had a key.

“Can I help you Bella?”

“You know who I am here to see Tricia.”

“He isn’t here. Why are you?”

“I can come here whenever the hell I want. Back off.” I was in no mood. I had been devastated since Jacob imprinted. I had beat myself up for being stupid enough to fall in love with him, knowing this could happen. I had cursed his name for lying to me and doing the one thing he always swore he wouldn’t. I have been frightened. I have been confused, depressed. But now I wanted one thing. I wanted to give him this information because he deserved to know it. Then I would be gone.

“Come inside Bella. We need to talk.” She walked away leaving me at the door. I followed slowly, wondering if she planned to kill me. I’ve had better try to kill me. I doubted she would get far.

“Have a se…”

“I don’t need you to offer me a seat. This isn’t your fucking house.” I reminded her.

“Fair point. Please?”

I sat cautiously hoping Jake may return while I was here. She sat down across from me.

“Bella, three weeks ago I planned to be going to college in the Fall. I looked at Jacob at the grocery store when he bumped into me and my world has literally been turned upside down. In the past three weeks I have found out that werewolves exist, vampires exist and I am apparently mystically bound to a guy I don’t know. Despite not knowing him the idea of going to UCLA and being away from him causes me physical pain. I am not happy about this situation any more than you are. Yesterday I decided I was going to make the best of it. I really don’t have a fucking choice. Apparently imprints are supposed to be a perfect match. I don’t see it yet. I doubt he does either. Because despite this pull to each other, I know he still loves you and I will always be the one who kept you from him. He will always be the one who kept me from leaving this damn Reservation. But you, you have a chance to get the hell away from here. Why haven’t you taken it? I know everything that happened. Why do you want to stay here?”

“This is my home.” I answered her.

“This is a Quileute Reservation. You aren’t Quileute. Forks has been your home for only two years. In two years you have been abandoned and stalked by vampires, hurt very badly by one, nearly killed by the redhead. I understand if Jacob hadn’t been nearby and she hadn’t been so focused on being close to you that you would be dead and the redhead would still be sucking blood. You have gotten lucky so many times. How much more are you going to push your luck?”

“I…” I really didn’t know.

“Nothing is tying you here. You are 19 and haven’t gone to college. You still live with your Dad. I get that you love Jacob. I do and I am sorry. Believe me I did not set out to take him from you and I would give him back if I could. But I can’t. But you have a choice. You are not tied down here. He is just a guy Bella! Run! Have a normal life without all this horror floating around!”

I took a moment to let her words sink in. She seemed genuine. I believe I would always hate her but at this moment ironically she was the only woman I could talk to. The only other woman not crazy about having her choices taken from her.

“I am tied down though.” I finally admitted to her.

“No you…Oh God. You mean?”

“I mean.” I said quietly.

“You weren’t on the pill?”

“Yeah. I was. Something to think about.” I warned her.

“Holy shit.”

“Yep.” I agreed.

We sat in silence for a few minutes. It may have been an hour. When a conversation turns as surreal as this time ceases to matter.

“So what are you going to do?” she finally asked.

“About what? I can’t do anything.”

“So you haven’t considered…”

“No!” I told her quickly, my temper flaring.

She threw up her hands.

“I was just asking, it wasn’t a suggestion. I, uh, I guess that is why you are here today? To tell Jake?”

“Yeah.”

We sat in silence for a while longer.

“You shouldn’t.” she finally told me.

“Excuse me? I shouldn’t tell Jake? You don’t think he has a right to know? You don’t think my child has a right to know who their father is?”

“I…if you tell him, he will never let you go. Your son or daughter will grow up tied to this place. Bella think about it. This will tear Jake apart. What are you going to do? Stay here forever? In this place? Never give your child any kind of life. Let him or her grow up watching his father tied to another woman and never being able to tell him or her why? Plus these elders will watch your kid like a hawk. They will never let the child leave, especially if it is a boy. He would be required to stay like all these children of the bloodline are.

But he wouldn’t be an equal. He would be like that Embry kid. A half breed. You know how he feels Bella. You know it! Try to have a romantic relationship Bella. See how Jake reacts to that. He may be my imprint but he loves you. He can’t leave me and he can’t have you, but how do you think he is going to take seeing another man around his child?”

I…I really hadn’t thought about it.

“So you are going to live alone? Being a single mom? Stuck here? What are you going to do? Work at the grocery store Bella? There is nothing here! Why do you think I want to go to Los Angeles? I am stuck here! You don’t have to be.”

“I…”

“It’s not money. Jake doesn’t have a dime. He will never be able to help you financially. Not enough to warrant giving up your life and staying here.”

“But I…”

“You what?”

“I love him.” I whispered.

“So don’t tear him or yourself apart. Run Bella. Get out of here. Just run. Give yourself and your kid a shot at a better life. Give me a chance. I didn’t ask for this. I am going to make the best of it but damn it!”

Despite my unreasonable hatred for this woman, I could see where she was coming from. But he had a right…

She was right. Everything she said. Jake would never…and if…oh my God what am I going to do?

“I…need to leave.” Before I vomited.

“Bella please…just think about it. Run. Give your kid and yourself a chance that Jake will never have. That I will never have. Just run Bella.”

I walked quickly to the door and ran to my truck.

By the time my ancient truck, forever a reminder of Jake, had made it home I had made my decision. As much as I hated it, she was right. Was it wrong not to tell Jake? Yes it was. Sometimes wrong things had to be done for the greater good. That is what I would tell myself.

Tricia was right. It was best for everybody.

Why did it feel so wrong? Why was I so angry?

I walked into my room with the intention of packing. My eyes caught the dream catcher over my pillow. Over the bed I conceived the child inside me right now.

I blacked out. When my sight returned I was being held by someone. Someone had their arms wrapped around me and I was screaming. All I felt was extreme anger. The fuzziness cleared up from my eyes and I took in my room.

It was destroyed. Shelves on the ground, my mirror crushed. It appeared I tried to throw my rocking chair out my window. My sheets were torn. My pillows destroyed. Books and clothes lay all over the floor.

I was sitting on the floor shaking. I couldn’t get my breathing under control and whoever was holding me wouldn’t let me go.

“Let me fucking go! Now!”

“Bella calm down! Stop it! Calm down now!”

That was Charlie’s voice. What was he doing?

“Let me go!”

“No! You were about to catch your bed on fire! Calm the fuck down now!”

He squeezed me tighter. My breathing slowed down.

What the fuck was I doing?

I shook my head. I needed to think.

I took several deep breaths. Charlie’s grip lessened.

“Dad?”

“Yeah Bella?”

“What happened?” I thought I knew but I wasn’t sure. Maybe a vampire attacked…

“You went bat shit crazy baby girl.”

Oh. Yeah I was afraid of that.

“Sorry. I uh…I’ll fix everything.”

He pulled me closer against his chest.

“No I think I will just call a construction crew. This may be a bit out of your skill set Bells. I’m guessing you were in La Push?”

“Yeah.”

“So…didn’t go well I take it?”

I don’t know why but I laughed. It struck me as funny. I realized Charlie was laughing as well.

“Dad I have to leave.”

“No you don’t. I can fix the window. Now if you had actually caught your bed on fire? Yeah you may have needed to stay at a hotel for a few days. Or jail.”

I tried to laugh but apparently I was laughed out.

“I’ll leave tomorrow. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I love you. I better start cleaning this up.”

“You aren’t going a damn place. What the hell is going on? Why did Jake suddenly break up with you? No forget that. What the hell has been going on since you came here kid?”

“Dad you wouldn’t believe me. Trust me. I need to get away from this area. I need to go somewhere. Anywhere. I just have to get away.” I moved towards my closet, trying to regain my equilibrium. Charlie stopped me with a hand on my shoulder.

“You are the most level headed teenager I have ever known, regardless of whether you are my kid or not Bella. I want to know what has made you have two near psychotic breakdowns since you have been here. I want to know why everything was great with Jake and then it was over. That kid chased you for a year and then dumped you. I want to know why the hell you hated Forks so much you felt the need to leave in the middle of the night in your beat up old truck. I want to know why after Edward found you injured, you begged me in the hospital to return here. I want to know why there is a scar on your wrist that looks like a bite mark, which had nothing to do with you falling through a window. I want to know why even though you were found in Phoenix your truck wasn’t there. I don’t buy for one minute that Dr. Cullen had it delivered to Forks before I could get there. No damn way. Why would he worry about that? Because your truck never made it to Phoenix, did it? No Bella, you aren’t going anywhere until you tell me exactly what has been going on around here since you arrived.”

“Dad you would never believe me. You would have me committed. I’m sorry…”

“Try me. I promise not to call the guys in the white coats. Just try me.”

I took a deep breath. Fuck it. Worst he could do was have me placed in the nut house. Judging by what I just did maybe that’s not a bad thing.

“The Cullen’s are vampires. Jake and his friends turn into giant werewolves to defend people from vampires. The first time I left Forks was because a sadistic vampire was hunting me and I had to run to protect you so he would chase me. I was attacked by him because I thought he had Renee. I snuck off from the Cullen’s. They saved me but not until after I had been hurt. The vampire had a girlfriend who tried to kill me. Jake killed her. Wolves have this thing called imprinting. It means they can look at a girl and be instantly bound to her. Nothing can be done about it. Jake promised me it would never happen to him. It did. It happened. That’s why we broke up.”

Charlie said nothing.

“That’s it in a nutshell. So what do you have to say about that?”

Charlie looked me in the eyes and I saw something that shocked me to the core. His eyes were glistening.

“I would say we are going to go downstairs. I am going to grab a beer. Then we are going to sit together on the couch and you are going to tell me everything.”

So I did. Almost.

After two hours he asked me what I had been hoping to avoid.

“If this imprinting is so powerful why did you go see Jake today?”

“Because…” I was hoping to visit Charlie at Christmas and surprise him with a one year old child. This could be bad.

“Yeah?”

Fuck it. I already tried to burn down his house.

“I’ve been on the pill since I have been here Dad. But apparently it doesn’t work with…”

“Big fucking wolves right?”

“Yeah.”

We sat in silence. Charlie drained two beers and then he spoke.

“So what? You just plan to go to Florida? Raise the baby? What?”

“No! I’m not going to Florida. I…I don’t know where I am planning on going. I figured I would drive someplace no one knows me…”

“I’ll be damned! That is not going to happen. You have too much ahead of you. What do you want to do? Be a waitress your whole life?”

“I need a job Dad. I need to find a new place. Somewhere no one knows me. I need a new start…I…don’t know what to do.”

“You are right. We do need a new start. Damn that fucking Billy Black. He could have shown me what Uley could do. Maybe I wouldn’t have believed you but I would have believed seeing a big fucking wolf with my own eyes. He could have proven to me what Cullen was. And Jake…did you tell him?”

“No. His…imprint convinced me not to. Said it would tear him apart…”

“Fuck him. He told you this wouldn’t happen. Stupid bastard had no right going after you.”

“It’s not his fault Dad. So you think I should tell him?”

“Nope. Hell no. Fuck him. You aren’t going anywhere yet either. Give me a month. I was contacted by an old friend last week. There is a job. Huntsville Texas is looking for a new police chief. It would actually be a step up from Forks. Hell dam near anything would. I’m going to take the job and put in my notice. Then we are leaving Washington and never looking back.”

I must have misunderstood him.

“What do you mean Dad? Forks is all you have ever known. I’m not going to take you from your home.”

“You are my daughter. That child and getting you through college are my main priorities right now. We leave in a month. Stay in, and stay away from those fucking dogs. He lied to you. He doesn’t deserve to know. Fucking bastard.”

“Dad I can’t let you do…”

“Not asking Bella. You got no way of making it on your own kid. I wouldn’t let you even if you did. I was never there for you growing up. I let you live a nightmare since you have been here. Now you need to be responsible. For your child. For my grandchild. You need me and I am going to be there. So we are leaving together. Keep it quiet. Don’t tell anyone. I will let the mayor know and ask him not to announce it. Bill can take over as interim chief. We are getting out of here Bella. Now why don’t I get some fish frying and you start going through the wreckage upstairs and sorting the things you want to take, okay?”

I took it all in. Maybe there was hope after all. But…he would do this for me? I couldn’t stop fresh tears from streaming down my face.

“I love you Dad.”

“I know sweetie. I love you too. Now let’s get busy. We need to hook that ancient internet modem up and start looking for houses to rent or buy. Probably rent at first. We are going to need three bedrooms so we can start there. It’s going to be okay Bella. I’m going to take care of the two of you.”

4 years later

Charlie POV

I couldn’t hold back the tears in my eyes. I didn’t want to. My baby girl was walking across the stage at Sam Houston State University with a degree in Education. She had already accepted a position at Huntsville High school teaching English.

CJ stood on his chair in the Coliseum clapping his little hands off next to me. Bella smiled and waved to us from the floor.

I couldn’t believe at times we pulled it off. Our escape from Forks four years earlier went off without a hitch. Nobody expected us to leave until we were gone. Billy called my phone several times until I called the cell phone company and had it cut off. I picked a new one up in Huntsville.

Fuck him.

Huntsville was perfect for us. It was perfect for me. It allowed Bella a new start away from the reminders of her past, except the one reminder we both loved dearly. She named him Charles Jacob Swan. I wasn’t happy about her using Jacob’s name but it was what she wanted. After everything she went through I couldn’t deny her. We called him CJ to avoid confusion when Bella yelled at one of us.

I thought of those nights she cried herself to sleep with me sitting next to her. The times I came home from work late and found her feeding CJ and studying. The absolute exhaustion she went through. She stuck it out though. Graduated with honors. Took full loads every semester to graduate in four years despite taking a semester off to have CJ.

Bella had not spoken to anyone from La Push or Forks since we left. I suppose with me being Chief of Police here it would have been easy to find us but no one ever tried. I was glad. We had a life here. She told me if CJ ever asked about his father she would tell him the truth about who he was at least. If he wanted to meet him she would let him. It would be his decision.

Before he made that decision I would be letting him know about his father though. That was for damn sure. Bella refused to hate Jake. I knew she still loved him. I sure as hell didn’t. He hurt my child.

I never had a problem believing Bella. I knew there were a lot of strange happenings going on. I knew it revolved around the Cullens. I had no idea what all it involved. It was a miracle she didn’t have a complete breakdown.

What pissed me off is Jake knew imprinting could have happened. He knew it and still went after her. He was selfish. The worse that would happen to him is he was wrong and he got a soul mate. Bella took the hit. He apparently didn’t care. Billy knew it could happen. He let it go on. He also knew my daughter was in mortal danger and never told me. Keep her away from the Cullen’s Charlie. Why Billy? They are bad news Charlie.

How about they are fucking vampires and I have a guy who can turn into a big wolf to fight them. Wanna see? Sure Billy I would enjoy seeing that. That may have made a difference.

Regardless we were here and we were happy. CJ was a good kid. He was a great kid. This spring I would be coaching his first tee ball team. Bella wanted to wait until he was 5 but I reminded her that Grandpa handled the sports. He needed the head start.

After the ceremony I met her outside. She ran into my arms and I held her. Renee of course couldn’t make it. I don’t know why I was surprised. She never made anything. I was the one in the delivery room with Bella, perhaps the most amazing and disturbing moment of my life. I stood by her head but seeing CJ all bloody and gooey…but I was her Lamaze coach and she wanted a natural birth for some damn reason so I was there. Renee couldn’t make the flight down for the birth. She did make his first birthday. That was the last time we saw her. She called occasionally but that was it.

“Thank you so much Daddy. For everything.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I would do anything in the world for you and my little partner here. You know that.”

And I meant it. Including keeping Jacob fucking Black and Billy from ever finding out about CJ. Why? Because fuck them.

2 years later.

Bella POV

I didn’t know why I was here. This club wasn’t as overrun with college students as the others but it didn’t matter. It was Friday night and I had no desire to travel two hours with Charlie and CJ to watch Huntsville High play a football game. I should have just stayed home. I really didn’t know what I hoped to accomplish.

I wasn’t the problem. I was 25 and in great shape. More confident than I ever have been in my life. I loved my job and I loved my family. Maybe that was it. I was good with that.

Wasn’t I?

I had zero dates in College. I didn’t have time. Between a baby and school my life was packed. I didn’t even have that much time to think about…him even though CJ looked so much like him. After I started working I thought maybe I would try dating. Some fellow teachers set me up with some really nice guys. Nice guys who thanked me for a wonderful time as soon as they found out I had a kid. I don’t suppose I could blame them. Who wants a ready made family right? So I started hitting clubs on nights Charlie had plans with CJ which was often. I think it was Charlie’s way of encouraging me to get out. He was worried about me being alone the rest of my life. He didn’t say it but he hinted it. I hinted back that as long as I had him and CJ I was happy.

I was so lost in these thoughts staring at my drink that his voice scared the hell out of me.

“Mind if I have a seat?”

I looked him over and liked what I saw. Around 6 foot tall, lean, muscular arms. His cowboy hat was doing a poor job of hiding that dark red hair on his head. He had beautiful green eyes and a gorgeous grin on his face.

“It’s a public bar. You can sit anywhere.” I said in my best casual voice, trying to hide my surprise that he would want to sit next to me. Of course why not? I was hot. I think I was hot. My friends told me I was. He didn’t know about the barely noticeable but there stretch marks and the most important man in my life out with his grandfather tonight.

“I appreciate it darlin. Name is Rick. Rick Gaines. Everybody calls me Red.”

“Not hard to see why. I’m Bella. Bella Swan. Everybody calls me Bella.”

“Pleasure Bella. I been watchin you stare at that drink way past the ice melted twenty minutes ago. Thought you might not mind some company.”

I shrugged my shoulders, not getting my hopes up.

“I could use some company.”

“Good. So tell me about yourself Bella Swan.”

“I uh…I’m a teacher at Huntsville High.”

“Now that is fascinating. I was never one for school but if I had a teacher as hot as you I would have definitely paid more attention. What is it you teach?”

“Junior and Senior level English and composition.”

“Composition? Like writing?”

I had to laugh a bit. “Yeah. Like writing.”

“That is great. Do you write yourself?”

“No. I just criticize teenagers writing I suppose.” I admitted.

“Or you could say you make it better. I’m writer myself. I would love to have a professional look at my stuff sometime.”

“You write?” I asked, failing to hide the surprise in my voice.

“Well it’s more of a hobby but I write poems occasionally when the muse strikes.”

“Wow. So what do you do for a living?”

“I’m a bull rider on the circuit. I also have a ranch just past the State Park road where I run a bull riding school among other things. Little cattle, a few horses, that sort of thing.”

And it was time to leave. I had met these types. Huntsville was full of rodeo cowboys. They had no trouble committing to a relationship. For a night.

“Well it was nice meeting you Red. I have to get home…”

“Why? We were just getting to know each other.” He looked so disappointed. I suppose I did owe him an explanation.

“Look you seem like a nice guy. Nothing personal but I’m not interested in a one night stand. I can’t afford it as appealing as it sounds. Like I said, nothing personal, but I’ve seen your kind before.”

“Darlin I promise you ain’t seen nothing like me yet.”

He said it with such intensity in his voice it caused me to pause. No. I need to get away. Time to pull out the escape card.

“Look just let me take you to a movie tomorrow. It can even be a matinee. Give me a chance.” He tried.

“Would it change anything if I told you I had a kid at home? A 6 year old boy?”

“Yeah it would. I was gonna take you to one of those scary movies so you could curl into me when you got frightened. Instead I think one of those super fancy Disney cartoons is playin. I bet he would like that. If he is 6 he probably ain’t ready for ghosts and goblins and that sort of shit. Uh I won’t say shit around him either. Promise.”

I couldn’t believe he just said that. I slowly sat back down on my barstool.

“I guess I could stay a bit longer after all Red.”

“Good. I was afraid I was gonna have to rope ya there for a bit. Would have been awkward to explain to Chief Swan.”

“You know my Dad?” I asked, surprised.

“I saw you in here a few weeks ago. Spent thirty minutes workin up the courage to come and talk to you. I’m a bit shy, believe it or not. You left right before I was gonna make my move. I asked around, hopin I could find something about you. Lilly told me a bit. Mostly that your Dad was the top cop and you’re a hard nut to crack. So tomorrow a movie?”

“Yeah. Tomorrow. Right now you can buy me a drink. My ice seems to have melted. By the way, how old are you?”

“Uh thirty two.”

“How long have you been thirty two?”

“About 6 months. That sound all right?”

“It sounds perfect.”

 2 years later

Charlie POV

I got to sit in the waiting room this time. CJ was nervous. He kept pacing. An 8 year old pacing was making me nervous. Bella and Red dated for six months. They were married for a year before she announced to me that she was pregnant. Everybody was happy. It was all I ever wanted when I left Forks behind. I wanted my daughter happy. Red loved her fiercely and took care of her and CJ.  Now our family was growing. CJ would have a little sister.

Problem was she decided to come two months early.

“She gonna be okay Grandpa? She isn’t going to be missing anything cause she came out to soon right?”

“She will be fine CJ. Have a seat. You are making me nervous.”

“How come Dad ain’t come out yet? He was supposed to let us know what was goin on.”

“He is probably busy CJ. He will be out as soon as possible.”

CJ asked Bella about his father when Red started coming around. Bella told him his name was Jacob Black and he lived in La Push, Washington. She asked him if he wanted to meet him. CJ said he wanted to sleep on it. When he got up the next morning I had a talk with him man to little man. When Bella woke he told her he didn’t want to meet Jacob Black.

Not long after that he asked Red if he could call him Dad. Only time I ever saw Red with tears in his eyes when he thought no one was looking.

Red laid off the rodeo circuit. He spent more time on the ranch and eventually dedicated all his time there. He said he missed Bella too bad when he went on the road and wanted to be there to coach CJ’s teams. As a result his ranch grew. Everything was great.

Until her water broke two months early.

Red walked out wearing scrubs and looking exhausted three hours later. He had a smile on his face though.

“Talk man!”

He laughed at me.

“You’re a grandpa again Chief. They are okay. Penny has to be in an incubator and isn’t out of the woods but the doctor said it looks good.  Bella is good. Everything is good Charlie.” Penelope was Red’s mother’s name who had passed on when he was 16. It meant a lot to him that Bella wanted to name her daughter after his mother.

“She got everything right Dad? You counted?” CJ asked.

“Yep she got everything. I checked twice buddy. Give us an hour and you can see your Momma okay? She is a bit wore out but she has been askin for her little man.”

Eight years later

Bella POV

 I heard the door open up front. He was early. We always had dinner at 6. Maybe he got off early today. I wasn’t rushing dinner. Since I had become principal my free time was at a minimum and I liked to relax for at least thirty minutes after I got home. CJ was still at football practice regardless. Between football and bull riding that boy was going to give me premature grey hair.

“Dad?”

“Yeah.”

His voice sounded so strange.

“You’re early. Red went out hours ago to get feed. Something must have held him up. He should have beat me home. Grab the remote and find you something on TV. He should be back anytime. I was just about to call him. Didn’t realize how long he had been gone.”

Dad walked into the kitchen. I looked at him and knew.

“No.”

“Bella…”

“Don’t you fucking say it. No Dad. No.”

Why were his eyes red? Nope. It didn’t. It couldn’t. No I had to be strong. I understood. No big deal.

“How bad is he hurt?” I asked casually. I would go do the paperwork at the hospital. Wasn’t the first time I had to pick him up from the ER from some foolish stunt he pulled.

“Bella…”

“Just say it, Dad. What did he do? Drop a bag of feed on his head? Get kicked by a horse?”

“Bella he was in a car accident. It looks like…it…somebody crossed the line. They hit head on and…”

“And what Dad?” I whimpered already clutching my stomach.

“He didn’t make it Bella. He…”

I am not sure what Dad said after that. All I saw was darkness. It felt good.

2 years later

BPOV

The great thing about being the Principal is instead of watching your son walk across the stage I actually got to hand him his diploma. I was so proud of him. He had been so strong for me and his sister the last two years. I saw Charlie standing with tears in his eyes. Without him where would my life be? Penny was next to him standing on a chair, her mane of fire red hair setting her apart from the crowd. She basically idolized her big brother. In her mind CJ could do no wrong and he returned the feelings. Despite this not all of the tears in my eyes were happy. Red should have been here. He had so much to do with this and it wasn’t fair.

I handed CJ his diploma and tried to be professional. I offered my hand for him to shake and he lifted me up by my waist in a giant hug.

“I miss him too Momma. I love you. Thank you for everything.” He whispered in my ear. I was incapable of words if I planned to get through the rest of this ceremony.

I kissed his cheek and he sat me down. Ten minutes later the ceremony was over and I made my way to my family. CJ had Penny thrown over his shoulder while Charlie stood by, proud as a peacock. He had retired last week and sold his house, moving in with me at the ranch. As bad a hit as we had taken we would survive. We always did. I decided I needed to make my way around and greet some of the other parents.

I made a quick scan of the room.

My eyes went back to a spot at the end of the bleachers. They weren’t there anymore.

Did I imagine it?

I hadn’t thought of them in years. There is no reason…

“Everything okay Bells?” Charlie asked quietly.

“No. I don’t think so. I could swear I just saw Jasper and Alice Cullen standing not forty feet away Dad.”