I am not Stephenie Meyer. And I thank God every day. Consider yourself disclaimed.

A shaggy russet wolf springs into view, shouldering the grey one out of harm's way. There is no time to react —the vampire's marble arms open and lock around his middle before he even lands. Smiling darkly, the pale boy squeezes. The sick crunch of bone is drowned out by a high pitched whimper.

In an instant, two others are at his side, slightly smaller in stature but just as fierce. The blond vampire's eyes widen as the wolves approach him from both sides, his head swinging from side to side so quickly it blurs. He drops his captive and lunges for the wolf with mottled fur, the smaller of the two. Before he can reach him, his left leg is swiftly ripped from his body by the larger beast. He falls; they are right on top of him, snarling and gnashing their teeth. Snowy appendages litter the ground, too-heavy cinderblocks falling onto the wet grass.

The russet wolf lies eerily still. Before my eyes, his shape begins to blur, shift, until it is no longer a horse-sized beast who lay prone in the damp grass, but a human, a man.

Jacob.

Oh no. No! No, no, no; not him! Not Jake. Not my Jacob.

"Jacob!"

"Bella! Bella, darling. Wake up!" Someone was shaking me. A frigid hand caressed my check. I clutched my fists against my chest and took a few deep, gasping breaths in an attempt to slow my racing heart.

"It was just a dream, Bella. I'm here. Jacob is going to make a full recovery. Remember?" Edward whispered.

"I know," I sighed, opening my eyes. I remembered now. We were in the backseat of Edward's Volvo, and Alice was driving me home.

I looked out the tinted window, hoping for a glimpse of anything familiar, anything to indicate we were almost there. It was useless, of course. The depth of the Forks night, coupled with Alice's lead foot, revealed nothing more than a blur of muted color in the darkness.

I sighed again and snuggled into Edward's chest, crossing my arms and shivering. Instead of being comforted by his familiar cool stillness, it made me uneasy. Vampires really didn't make very comfortable pillows.

My mind drifted to last night in the tent, my body pressed into Jake's when he somehow squeezed into the impossibly small space beside me in my sleeping bag. He was so soft, so warm… and I swear I felt something hot and hard pressing into the small of my back when we woke. I shook my head, thankful for the darkness which hid the blush rising onto my cheeks, and the nameless anomaly that had somehow rendered me immune to Edward's power to read minds. What kind of horrible person was I, thinking about Jacob like that when my fiancé was sitting right next to me? Still, as much as I told myself it was wrong, I couldn't help but remember the electricity that crackled between us, so dense it was almost tangible—his breath, hot and moist against my neck, tickling my ear. The feel of his lips on mine lit a fire that started in my mouth and raged south, blazing all the way to my core. He needed me. He wanted me. The kiss we shared was unlike anything I had ever experienced with Edward. Edward was always so careful, but Jacob didn't have to be. He was giving me all of himself, everything he had. Fighting for me, even now. Until your heart stops beating.

I chewed on my lip and looked down at my fisted hands. I wrinkled my nose at the sight of my fingernails, which Alice had painted a sickening shade of hot pink. Of course, we had to keep up the charade of our "sleepover" for Charlie. To her delight, I was obliged to let Alice play dress up with me before declaring it was time to head home. The things I do for Charlie. But I didn't have to like it.

Part of being a Cullen is being meticulously responsible, she said. Of course I already had my story memorized. But all I wanted from the moment I had heard Jacob was hurt was to be by his side. There was a huge knot in my stomach, and I was freezing. I ached for him. And I was tired of playing along in the name of responsibility.

"Alice, are we there yet?" I whined, looking wistfully out the window.

"We'll be there in two minutes," she said, looking over her shoulder and flashing me an impish grin. "Now remember, Bella, you need to make sure Charlie believes you. Do you want to go over it one more time?"

"Ugh. No way," I huffed. "We've been over it a thousand times already. It's not rocket science, Alice."

If my remark bothered her, she didn't show it. I felt guilty for a moment, but I was already starting to feel claustrophobic pressed between the car door and Edward's chest. I sat up straight and pulled away from him, and he adjusted his arm so it circled loosely around my shoulders. I didn't understand why, but his constant touch grated on my already frayed nerves. He seemed to fear I might fall apart any second.

"Really Alice, it'll be fine. Charlie loves you and I'm pretty sure he thinks you're incapable of lying."

"Me? Tell a lie?" she mocked offense. "Never."

I couldn't help but crack a smile. Edward rolled his eyes.

Alice brought the Volvo to a smooth stop in from of my house. The flowery scent of the two of them hung heavy in the stale air like too much perfume. It was smothering me. Odd, I thought to myself as I wrinkled my nose. The vampire smell had never been offensive to me before, just a hint of sweet honeysuckle. Edward leaned in for a kiss goodbye. I turned my head suddenly so his lips ended up closer to my ear than my mouth, then opened the door abruptly and took a deep breath of fresh, cool air. Throwing my overstuffed backpack over my shoulder (it was stuffed with "evidence") I muttered goodbye and started up the walk without a backward glance. Charlie's cruiser was parked beside my truck in the driveway–he was waiting for me as Alice had predicted.

After grilling me for a few minutes on my weekend with Alice and making me swear, repeatedly, on pain of permanent grounding, never to ride a motorcycle again, Charlie's face softened.

"You okay, kiddo?" he asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He was looking at me hard, the way he used to when Edward's absence rendered me a zombie of my former self, searching for a sign that I was coming undone.

"Just worried about Jake, really," I said with forced lightness. "I'm going down to La Push as soon as I make dinner." I hadn't been home all weekend, and I was certain that Charlie had been living off of pizza and other junk. I hoped he had the decency to at least hide the evidence. Last time I was away, I came home to a stack of pizza boxes and Styrofoam containers piled next to the back door. Charlie definitely deserved a good home-cooked meal. I started toward the kitchen.

"Don't worry about me," Charlie said. "Sue fed me while I was down there. Just got back a few minutes before you did." He patted his stomach for emphasis. "Go ahead now; I'm sure Jake'd love some company."

"He's awake?" I was already shoving my feet back into my sneakers.

"Well, he was when I saw him. Cussing up a storm too. I hope you don't pick up that kinda vocabulary, Bells."

"I'm going now then." I pulled on my coat and grabbed my keys off the table. "Thanks, Dad." I touched his shoulder, and then ran out the door.

I made it to La Push in record time, for me anyway. My truck groaned and shook as the speedometer rose to just over 60 miles per hour.

I pulled up to the little red house and tripped up the stairs. Billy opened the door as I raised my hand to knock. I was sure all of La Push must've heard me pull up from the way my truck was roaring after its sprint. Billy looked older than he had the last time I has seen him. There were dark circles under his eyes, which has lost their usual shine. I could swear his weathered face had acquired a few new lines. He gave me a weak smile and rolled back into the hallway so I could come in. The little house was oddly quiet, and seemed bigger without Jacob there to fill the space with his six-foot-five frame and infectious smile.

"Jake?"

"In his room." Billy motioned to the closed door down the hall as if I had forgotten which one it was. "I think he's been waiting for you," he added with a wink.

"Thanks."

I moved to open the door but stopped short, resting my hand on the knob instead and taking a few deep breaths in a futile attempt to calm the fish flopping around in my stomach.

What I was going to say? Since I had heard he was hurt, my only thoughts were that I had to see him, to see for myself that he was okay. I never got any farther than that. I closed my eyes and swallowed hard before easing the door open.

Jake was asleep and snoring softly with his mouth slightly open, his giant frame dwarfing the twin bed. Although he was propped up with at least half a dozen pillows, his feet hung awkwardly off the end. The entire right side of his body was covered in bandages. Guilt stung my eyes and burned the back of my throat. If it hadn't been for me, this would never have happened. I stepped into the room, closing the door behind me as quietly as I could, and knelt on the floor by his side. His right arm was bound to his chest with a sling. Beads of sweat lingered on his brow. I placed my hand on his forehead and pulled away suddenly—he was on fire! He had to be running a fever, he felt too hot even by werewolf standards.

"Oh Jake!" I whispered and buried my face in the pillows next to his. Tears were falling in earnest now and I made no attempt to hold them back. There was no need to feign strength when it was just the two of us. "This is all my fault! I should never have—"

"Bells?" he croaked. He opened his eyes, and pulled me into a hug with his good arm. He inhaled sharply as I bumped against the other.

I jumped up as if scalded. "Oh! I'm so sorry, Jake! Did I hurt you? Can I get you anything?" My hands fluttered in the air uselessly. I wanted him to tell me where the pieces were so I could put him back together. So I could put us back together. Anything to make it right.

"It's fine," he winced. "Really, Bells. I'm okay. I guess I forgot about it for a second." He motioned to his bad arm and shot me a smile that brightened the room. "When did you get here? I didn't even hear you come in."

I wrung my hands, not knowing what to do with them. "Not too long ago. I came as soon as I heard you were up." I decided on shoving them into my pockets and studied the floor.

"Bella. Come back. I'm fine, really."

I obliged, sinking down to the floor at the head of the bed. There was a hole in the threadbare comforter and some stuffing was hanging out of it.

"Bells, honey. Look at me," he pleaded. He lifted my chin so that I was staring directly into his eyes. The fire I saw there startled me.

"Jake, I—"

"Shhhhhh." He brought his finger to my lips, let it linger there for a beat, then traced a line of fire from my mouth back to my earlobe and down to the nape of my neck. My body quivered under his touch. I ached for more. And this time, I leaned in to kiss him.

It was nothing like the other kisses we shared—the rough, desperate, pleading kisses; kisses full of fear and doubt, pressed for time. No, this was sensual and natural and right. His lips moved against mine slowly and softly, taking their time as they learned the curves of my mouth. His tongue darted out tentatively, tasting. I inhaled sharply through my nose and parted my lips for him. He tasted like sweat and Cool Ranch Doritos. My mouth was on fire.

When I finally pulled away we were both gasping for breath, faces flushed.

"Wow, Bells. Uh…"

"Jake, we really need to talk." Suddenly it was all coming together. I knew what I was supposed to say.

"I love you more." It was the truth. I took his huge, hot hand between my own.

He smirked. "It's about goddamn time. Well, now that both of us know that—"

"Wait! Let me finish. I'm so sorry for everything Jake. I mean everything. I've been so horrible and selfish—"

"No you haven't—"

"I have," I said decidedly. "I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought that Edward was everything I should want." His eyes narrowed at the name. "I thought I couldn't live without him Jake. But, I already did. It's you...I just, I can't even—" I shook my head, trying to organize my thoughts. "When you kissed me, something happened. I felt so alive. And I saw…" Heat rose to my cheeks, and I picked at the hole in the comforter. Alice's pink nail polish had already begun to chip.

"What did you see?" He wriggled his way into a more upright position, grabbed a bottle of water off the nightstand and chugged it. "You know you can tell me anything, right? We're still best friends." He crumpled the bottle and tossed it toward the door.

"Are we Jake?" I stood up and turned to face him. "Can you honestly say that? You have to know we're way more than best friends!"

He was looking at me with that silly half smile on his face, the smug one. Half of me wanted to slap him for his mental I told you so's, and the other half wanted to kiss him again. But seeing him all busted up like this, I couldn't even feign anger. He had been right the whole time, after all. I sat down on the edge of the bed.

"When you kissed me, I saw us, our future together." I was talking fast now, praying to get through this before my newfound courage failed me. "There was a wedding, and a little red house down on the corner, and… kids. Two of 'em." I blushed. "I never really thought much about having kids. I mean, they're cute and all, and I figured it would happen eventually, but," I lowered my voice to a whisper, "it didn't seem like such a big deal to give that up."

Jake's expression turned serious. "You shouldn't have to give anything up," he growled. "It's just wrong of him to expect that from you. This is your life, Bella. You only get one." He took my hand again. "You know we barely get by around here, but we make it. I can't buy you mansions or fancy cars, but I can give you so much more. Things money can't buy. And those are the things he's taking away." He sighed. "Bells, all I want is for you to be happy. Happy, and alive." He kissed my hand, then frowned at it. "Nail polish?"

I shrugged. "Alice."

We rolled our eyes in unison.

"Jake, what I'm trying to say is I don't think I'm ready to give that future up."

Then the bedroom door burst open unceremoniously. I felt like someone had thrown a bucket of ice water over me.

"You have some more company." Billy wheeled through the doorway. "Everything okay in here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I suppose it must've looked like we were having a staring contest. I went to pull my hand away, but Jake held it firm.

"Yep, all good, Dad. Who's here?"

As if on cue, Seth bounded into the room.

"Hey, Jake! Hey, Bella!" he barked. He had to have grown 8 inches since the last time I saw him, and had filled out a little, though he was still mostly arms and legs.

"Hey, Seth" Jake answered. "How're the guys holding up?"

"Eh— alright I guess. Just worried about you. They'll be okay." He shook his head and flopped down at the end of the bed, leaning over to rest his elbows on his knees. "You had us really worried for a while there, you know. Leah wanted to come down too, but Sam's pretty pissed about what happened. So he gave an order and put her on patrol. With Paul. "

Jake snorted. "Oh, I bet they're having loads of fun."

"Yea, right. Fun." An awkward silence fell over the room. Seth shuffled his feet, then straightened up, scratching the back of his head. "So…you guys 'together' now, or what?"

I looked down at our clasped hands and smiled.

"Well, I mean— " Jake started, blushing hard.

"Yeah," I cut him off. I had to show him I was serious, that I was sure this time. "We are. Me and Edward…I'm breaking off the engagement, Seth."

I looked over at Jake, who was blinking profusely and seemed a bit dazed by the whole turn of events, then up at Seth, smiling from ear to ear and all but bouncing with excitement. I couldn't believe I had been so ready to give them up not too long ago.

"This is where I belong." Jake finally broke out into a grin, and placed a fiery kiss on the back on my hand, sending a chill up my arm.

"Bella, that's great!" Unable to contain himself any longer, Seth sprung from the bed. "The Pack is going to be so happy!" Seth already had his hand on the doorknob.

"Seth. Wait, don't—"

"See ya!" That fast, he was gone.

Jacob raked his left hand through his hair, then pinched the bridge of his nose. "Shit. Shit shit shit!" he whispered under this breath.

"Well, you knew they'd find out eventually, Jake," I said, raising an eyebrow. I knew he was more than happy to have me here, now. Maybe a bit nervous that I might change my mind again, but he was happy and he believed me. But the Pack probably wouldn't be as welcoming after everything that had happened.

As the weight and implications of my decision set in, I realized that I still had to tell Charlie—and Edward, about my drastic change heart, which would alter the course of the rest of my life. Edward's ring suddenly felt very heavy on my hand. Silently, I slipped it off my finger and into my pocket.

A/N: Thus, I begin my journey into multichapterhood. I was trying to wait until I had a few chapters to post this, but I need cheerleaders as an inspiration to keep writing. This has been sitting on my flash chip for a few months.

No set update schedule as of yet, since I'm also working on some other one-shots and recording a podfic. Life is crazy. So please, review! If I know people are reading I'll feel accountable and all that good stuff, so updates will come quicker. Promise ;)