Figuring it out

The car ride to the reservation had been silent. When they all got back to Jared's. Jake had left saying he needed to talk to Sam, but he reassured Angela that he would be back.

For a few hours, all three of them had been trying to think of some way around her dad's visit when Jake came back. He gave Jared a nod and then asked Angela to come outside with him. She looked at Bella who nodded and smiled before following him. After some time, Angela came back in looking a little freaked out. instantly, Bella went up to hug her.

"You knew about all this Bella?" she asked.

Bella nodded, "Yeah Jared imprinted on me in the past life. I knew what he was then and the imprint bond continued on when we found each other again. I couldn't tell anyone it wasn't my secret to tell," she explained.

Angela nodded and sat idly on the couch lost in her own head. Jake had hung back but everyone could tell he was desperate to hold her. Bella smiled sympathetically at him as she went to sit next to her.

"Angela, just because you are his imprint doesn't mean that you have to be together right away. Spend some time together first, and get to know each other. Then decide if you want to be with him. I will tell you this though you will never find anyone more loving and loyal. I mean they literally can't cheat it's impossible for them. No other woman will come even the slightest bit close to their imprints. Though to be fair to him, Jake was like that even before he phased."

Angela nodded, "I would like that, you know the getting to know him, part."

Bella smiled as did Jake. Now the four of them sat around trying to come up with a plan but it was eventually, Angela who managed to think of something.

"Is there an old lady in the village that knows your secret and everything, that could pretend for you?" she asked Jared.

Jared thought for a moment then smiled, "Yeah there is. Embry's grandmother found out about him when he accidentally phased in their backyard when he was messing around with Quil. She damn near had a heart attack."

"Yeah, she might do it!" Jake offered, smiling proudly at Angela. "I'll ask her tomorrow."

Jared and Bella smiled at her. Angela smiled back but then it dropped when she looked at the clock.

"I best be getting back."

Jake eagerly agreed to drive her home. Bella and Jared decided to call it a night, they were both very tired. Bella wrapped herself around Jared as they both drifted off to sleep.

-----

"Bella are you sure about this?"

Angela asked her mistress once again whilst helping her to pack a few things. Bella stopped and stared at the young girl.

"Yes, I am. I cannot and will not marry Edward. I want to be with Jared and this is the only way."

Angela smiled sadly Bella noticed.

"I will miss you greatly Angela," she said before hugging the young serving girl, Angela nodded in agreement tears pricking at her eyes.

They both waited for the house to be quiet before slowly making their way downstairs. Angela wanted to come with her but Bella had told her not to so that she didn't have to lie about knowing where she went. They said their tearful goodbye before Bella raced into the woods. She made it to the clearing quickly and safely and waited for Jared.

Bella waited and waited and waited. The sun was starting to rise when she finally heard some noise in the trees. She stood up excitedly thinking it was Jared. She didn't care that he was late only that he came. Her face fell when Honga and Kurux emerged from the tree line.

"Where is Jared?" she demanded.

They both shared a look before looking at her sadly. Kurux placed a hand on her shoulder.

"He's not coming. They took him away!"

"What? ... Who?" She asked.

"Some white men came this morning and dragged him from the reservation. We tried to stop them but they were too many and had guns," he explained.

"Why would they take him?" she asked hoping that it wasn't because of her.

She would never forgive herself if he got hurt because of her.

"They said something about him murdering someone," Honga added which was received with a glare from Kurux.

"He would never do such a thing!" she demanded.

"There were witnesses saying that it was him," Kurux couldn't believe it either.

"Who is he supposed to have killed?" she asked not believing it.

"Edward Cullen!" Honga spat out the name as if it was dirt in his mouth.

Bella raced back to her home, luckily it was still light so her father was still asleep. Angela was surprised to see her mistress back and followed her.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Jared has been arrested for killing Edward Cullen," She still couldn't believe it.

Angela gasped, "Oh Bella, I am so sorry," she offered sympathetically.

"He didn't do it, they say they have a few witnesses, but that's impossible. If there really was witnesses they would not call it murder. Edward is a vampire he wouldn't die like a normal human."

Angela gasped and her hands came up to her mouth, she had never known that. Edward had looked so normal. Now that she thought about it he looked really pale and she couldn't remember if she ever saw him eat or drink anything.

Later that morning, Bella found her father in his study. He looked rather grave.

"Bella I have some unfortunate news for you," he started.

"I know father Edward Cullen is dead and a native from the reservation is accused of killing him," her father stared at her in shock.

"Yes, but how did you know?"

Bella sighed "because I am friends with the native that is accused of killing him. A few others came and told me."

Bella expected her father to rant about that but instead, he sat and sighed.

"Father I know he didn't kill Edward, the accusations are a lie," she pleaded with him.

Charlie sighed again, "I know Bella."

"You do?" she asked in shock, he nodded.

"I know full well what Edward was and so I know if people did see Edward be killed then they would not be blaming anyone."

Bella became angry. "You knew that Edward was a vampire and you still agreed to me marrying him!" She didn't know what to think of her father now.

"He was a different type of vampire. He and his family only fed from animals never humans. He came to me asking for your hand because you were the part of his soul or something like that, that he was missing. He said that you and he have always belonged together like soul mates. I believed him. Plus he is from a wealthy and respectable family," he explained.

"No father! He is not my soul mate. My soul mate is being accused of his death!" she gasped she hadn't meant to say that.

Her father looked up at her in shock. "What do you mean?"

"The natives have a gift given to them from their gods. When one of them finds their soul mate, they feel a bond instantly. The bond links them closer together. It's a forever thing. The moment my eyes locked with his I became his in every way possible. My heart, soul and body are his and only his, and he is mine," Bella smiled at that thought before remembering what was about to happen to him.

"Father please, you must do something please!" she begged.

Charlie sighed before standing up and grabbing his coat.

"I will see what I can do but I make no promises!" he offered her his hand and they both went to the law house.

Whilst her father spoke to the lawmen she was granted a few moments with Jared. He raced to the bars upon seeing her.

"Bella!"

She kissed him through the bars. Her hands couldn't stop touching him she needed to feel that he was ok.

"Bella I didn't do what they accuse me of," he pleaded with her to understand.

Bella smiled sadly, "I know Jared. My father is trying to find a way to get you out of this."

Jared looked confused, "Why?" he asked.

"He knew what Edward was and bought a silly soul mate story he gave him, but now he knows the truth about us. That I am your soul mate and you are mine," she explained.

Jared nodded and kissed her again before the doors clinked open. Charlie walked in with a sad look on his face.

"I'm sorry Bella without telling them what Edward was I can't change their minds. Jared is to be hanged in the morning."

Bella screamed out, "No!"

Her father consoled her as he ushered her towards the door and cried. He looked at Jared.

"I am sorry."

Jared nodded and gave him a sad smile before looking down at Bella, "Take care of her."

Charlie nodded and lead her out and back home. Angela took her to her room where she cried herself to sleep. Later that night she was awakened by her father.

"Bella! Wake up!" he demanded. She sat up groggily before noticing her bags. "What's going on? Father" she asked.

"Jared is escaping tonight with the help from some of his friends and then he is leaving the area," he said whilst ushering her out her bedroom door and Bella gasped. "You, my sweet Bella, are going with him."

Bella stopped and turned to her father in surprise.

"Bella all I have ever wanted is for you to be happy and I now know Jared is the only way you will be. I will not stand by and watch someone get killed for doing nothing wrong. Now come, we must hurry," he yanked at her.

They raced out into the woods and into the clearing she had waited for him the previous night. She searched around for him then looked at her father.

"He is to meet us here, be patient," he told her.

Several minutes passed when a blinding pain shot through Bella. She let out a painful scream before clutching her chest near her heart. She collapsed on the floor despite her father trying to hold her.

"Bella! what is it? What's wrong?" he asked concern filling his voice.

"Jared!" was all she was able to say before passing out.

The next morning she woke up in her room with her father sitting in a chair beside her bed.

"What happened?" she asked confusedly.

She could still feel intense pain in her heart.

Her father held one of her hands in his own and looked at her with true sadness and pity in his eyes.

"When Jared was escaping last night someone caught him and ... and ..." he couldn't finish.

Bella could see the tears in his eyes start to form.

"Father, please and what?" she asked.

"Honey, Jared is dead. He was killed last night, they think it was a vampire. Maybe one of the Cullen's exacting revenge," he gripped her hand tighter.

Bella couldn't hear, see or feel anything except the intense pain that was now everywhere. She broke out in a heartbroken sob. Her father tried to console her but she pushed him away and curled up into a ball.

She lay like that for several days and nights. Everyone tried everything to get her to eat but she wouldn't. All she did was stare at the ceiling or cry out in pain.

One night, she made her way out of her room and the house and into the woods. She had managed not to wake anyone so no one was around to stop her. She wandered through the woods until she came upon a very high waterfall.

She looked at the water cascading down and started to cry. She had left a letter for Angela and her Father near the edge. Bella looked up to the sky and smiled.

'I'll be with you soon my love!' she thought before falling head first into the rushing water.

---

Bella woke up with a start and panted like she couldn't catch her breath. She could still feel the ice-cold water rushing past her. Jared woke up quickly and looked at her with concern. She looked at him and kissed him reassuring herself he was still there.

"Jared, I know what happened," she told him.