"Are you sure about this?" Jacob asked as he stood at the border between La Push and Forks facing Edward Cullen on the opposite side of the treaty line.

"Positive. The Volturi will come for her if she were to chose you, Jacob." He could see the seriousness in Edward's eyes and he sighed in defeat.

"What are you asking from me, leech?" Jacob snapped and squeezed his palms until his knuckles were white.

"Just let her go."

Jacob didn't know what to do. He loved Bella with his whole heart. She was his whole world and to save her life he was being asked to give up on the idea of ever having a future with her.

"I'll leave her alone, but don't think that I'm happy about this." Jacob snarled and Edward nodded.

"She does miss you, Jacob. Maybe you should give her a call sometime." Jacob growled at him and flipped him off.

"Stick your finger in your ass, bloodsucker."

Bella light whistled as she cooked dinner for Charlie and herself. She was expecting Edward to pop up any moment to visit before Charlie got home from work.

She wasn't sure what she was going to do, but something had to be done. She loved Edward, but there was also Jacob in the picture now. She wasn't sure how strong her feelings for Jacob were, but they were there.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" She smiled to herself and turned her head to see Edward seated at the table.

"I'll never get used to how silent you are." He lightly chuckled and patted his lap. She walked over and sat in his lap, placing her arms loosely around his neck.

"You didn't answer the question." He was being persistent and that was something she didn't like.

"I was thinking about Jacob." Edward stiffened as he recalled his earlier conversation with the young wolf boy.

"What about him?"

"I miss him," she half-lied. She did miss him, but that wasn't what she was thinking of. She was thinking of their almost kiss.

"I know you do, love." He kissed her forehead and she stood up, groaning.

"Edward, I can't hold this in anymore." She took a few deep breaths and then turned back to him. "Edward, you were gone for a really long time and things have changed. Jacob was there to pick up the pieces and I now have feelings for him. I need time to figure out what I want right now." She let out the breath she had been holding to get her speech out.

"You have feelings for that dog?" The venom in his voice was thick and she felt a chill run down her spine.

"He's not a dog. He is a human being like you are. You will always be my first love, Edward, but Jacob may be where I am meant to be. I need you to understand this. This isn't about vampires and werewolves. This is about where my heart lies and I need time to figure out where that is. Will you respect my need for this time?" He sighed, gathering his emotions, and stood up. He slowly walked over to him and he placed a kiss on her forehead before pulling back.

"Take all the time you need, Isabella Swan." Then he disappeared and she got the strength to finish making dinner.