Today was the day that Willa Black was coming home. After two days in the hospital for tests and observation, she was deemed healthy enough to leave. Jacob held her while Bella packed her few belongings into a duffel bag; he was staring at her with awe in his eyes. He'd always imagined this moment, but now that it was here, it was better than he'd thought it would be.

"You know, I think you love her more than you love me," Bella joked, crossing her arms and leaning against the bed.

"Huh? No, I love you guys equal. She's just newer."

"Newer? I didn't know our baby was some toy for you to play with."

He grinned, eyes never leaving Willa's. "You're not a toy, are you my lovely? No, you're a cute little girl. Daddy's little girl."

Bella shook her head, smiling. "She is going to have you wrapped around her finger when she gets older."

"She already does."

Bella watched her husband coo over their daughter, and felt a little upset that her mother had declined to come and visit the baby when Jacob had called shortly after she was born. She didn't understand why her mom wouldn't leave Florida. It was just a short plane ride, wasn't it? It didn't make sense. Or was it the fact that she'd never been to friendly with anyone from the reservation?

Jacob lifted his head and looked at her, worried. "Are you still upset that Renee isn't here?" He knew how much Bella had wanted to see her mother, especially since she had a newborn now.

"Yeah, a little. I just don't understand why she didn't want to see Willa."

"Some people are just cruel like that, and it probably hurts when it's someone pretty close to you."

"I don't want to think about her anymore—we have to get Willa home now for her big, coming-home party. Don't we, Willa?" She said, reaching past Jacob's arms to lightly tickle Willa's stomach.

Jacob looked into her eyes and smiled. "You're going to be a good mother, Bells. I know it's probably going to be a little hard seeing as we're still pretty young and poor, but she's going to make our lives so much fuller and richer. The vampires are gone, and now we can live without fear."

She looked a little sad for a moment, and Jacob knew that she still liked the Cullens—excluding Edward, of course—and wished she could still see them now and again. "Why do you want to see them? Aren't Willa, the pack and I enough to make you forget them? They did horrible things to your mind, Bells, and it killed me to see you acting like a zombie. Willa can't have a zombie mother."

"She's not, so quit saying that. Alice was still my friend, you know, and Emmett, too. All of them were, and excuse me if I'm a little sad that I can't see or talk to my friends because they think it's better to stay away. Don't they know how much I still care?"

Jacob stood, being careful with Willa and walked over to his wife. He didn't want the Cullens around because then more Quileute boys and girls would phase, and no one wished that life on anyone. He also didn't want the temptation Edward posed around Bella, partly because he feared that she would still go back to them even though she was married and a mother, and also because he didn't trust Edward Cullen at all. He'd hurt Bella without a second thought, and left Jacob to pick up the pieces. Not that he minded, of course. He wouldn't have what he has if it hadn't been for the vampire's sudden departure.

"Bells, I'm sure they know you care, but come on, isn't everyone better off without them around? No more kids have phased since they left, you're so much happier, and we've finally got the life we've always wanted. At least, I hope this is the life you wanted."

She put a hand on his flaming cheek. "I do love my life. I have a wonderful, devoted husband and a sweet little girl who looks just like her daddy. I know it's a good thing that they're gone, for the well-being of the tribe, I just wish that maybe they'd want to at least call now and again. I miss them."

"I know, honey, but they obviously don't want to call or have contact with you or any of us. It's for the best. Now, let's get our little girl home so that she can break all the boys' hearts."

Bella laughed. "Are you that eager for her to start dating? She's only a few days old, and already you want her to break boys' hearts? I never thought I'd hear that from you!"

"No, I don't want her to date. Ever. She's my little girl. I just meant that I want her to break hearts by saying, 'Sorry, I can't date, or my werewolf father will kill you.' That's all. I'm not letting her out of my sight."

"So you say now. What about when she meets the kindest, most gentle boy who has a heart of gold and follows her around like a little puppy dog?"

"You wound me, Bells. I never followed you around like a puppy dog, I followed you like a wolf does, stalking its prey." He waggled his eyebrows at her, and was rebuffed when she picked up the duffel bag and held out her arms for the baby. "Aww, why do you want her back so soon? I haven't finished holding her yet."

"You've been holding her for two hours. A mother needs her baby now and then."

"Psh. Willa wants her dad right now."

"Hey, hey, don't monopolize my granddaughter now, Mr. Black. Bells needs her little one." Charlie said from the doorway; he'd become such a devoting grandfather in the past couple days, bringing presents every day and remarking how beautiful she was…like her mother. "Come on, guys. We've got to get back to your house for the party of the century."

An hour later, they were down on First Beach, showing off the guest of honor to anyone who hadn't seen her earlier. Everyone ooh-d and awh-d over Willa, especially Sam and Emily's kid Matthew Uley; he followed Bella or Jacob around wherever they went, and constantly wanted to see Willa's tiny feet. Jacob was a little worried that she'd gotten an admirer so soon in her young life, but he didn't mind that it was Sam's boy. He was a well-behaved boy who treated Willa like she was spun sugar. Matthew was too young to phase, so he couldn't have imprinted on Willa, but he knew that Matthew had a little boy crush on her. It was sweet.

"Mr. Jacob, I'm going to pwotect Miss Wiwwa for ever and ever. I like her." He said, looking as serious as his father did most of the time.

"You are? Well, she's very lucky to have someone like you. It kind of reminds me of another love story."

"Reawwy? Who?"

"Oh, he was supposed to be the chief of the tribe a long time ago, but he didn't want to. He didn't want the responsibilities. Then he met the most beautiful girl in the whole world and he married her. They lived happily ever after, and then some."

"Wow. Sounds like they woved each other vewy much."

"Yes, they do."

"What are the two of you big, strong men talking about?" Bella said, walking over and sitting down on the sand next to Jacob.

"A wove story, Miss Bewwa!" Matthew shouted; he stopped when he saw his mother and Sue Clearwater-soon-to-be-Swan bring out the food and put it on the table. "Food!"

"Wow, he reminds me of myself at his age."

"Remind me to never have a boy."

"Why? What's wrong with boys? As I recall, you fell in love with one." Jacob teased, leaning close to Bella.

"Yeah, but he was wiser than any boy I've ever known. And he looked a lot older, too. I know I couldn't believe that a sixteen-year-old boy had muscles like that."

"Oh? You liked my muscles?"

"Well, yes, but don't talk like that in front of Willa. She's too young to know how hot her father is."

"I'm hot?"

"Yes, Jake. You are the hottest thing I've ever seen in my entire life. Now can we please stop talking about how hot and gorgeous you are in front of our two-day-old daughter?"

Jacob laughed and cupped his daughter's tiny cheek in one large hand. "My poor little Willa, don't you want to know I won your mommy's heart? It wasn't easy, let me tell you. She had this massive crush on this other guy, a total Popsicle. Now, me on the other hand, I'm as hot as they come. Most girls didn't see that, but your mom did, even if she didn't want to admit it."

He was suddenly blinded by a flash of light.

"What the—?" He saw that Bella had taken a picture of him and Willa and was observing him with a bemused expression. "Oh, and another thing Wills? Your mother likes to be very sneaky at times."

Later that night, Bella and Jacob were enjoying some quiet time after they'd put Willa to sleep. She'd made quite a splash among the smaller boys, and already Jacob was dreading her older years, but also looking forward to them at the same time. He was very much enjoying fatherhood, even though the journey had just begun.

"Do you think we'll do a good job with her? And any other kids we end up having? I don't want to screw her up, and then feel guilty that I didn't do enough for her when she was growing up." Jacob said, bringing his wife closer to his side. He hadn't wanted to mention anything earlier, but he was actually nervous about being a father. Two sides of the same coin.

"I think we'll do okay. I mean, we aren't ever going to be the perfect parents, but I'm sure we'll do enough to make sure that she ends up happy and healthy. That's all a parent can ask for. I don't want to make the same mistakes as my mother did, and I'm certainly never going to make my daughter act like the grown-up she isn't. You're going to be a great father to Willa, and any other kids we end up having in the future. You're her protector."

"Um, no, I think Matthew Uley has already called that job."

"What? Really? Are you kidding me? Matthew? Sam and Emily's little boy? He's interested in Willa?"

Jacob rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I don't know why. He hasn't imprinted. I think he just likes her. Kind of like how I fell in love with you at a young age."

"Please. Sixteen-years-old is not a young age. Matthew is only a couple of years older than Willa."

"Bells, you have to think of it like this: for the rest of her life, Willa is going to have someone always looking out for her when we can't. He's a good kid, and will never, ever do anything to hurt her. You should have seen it. He was kissing her feet and saying she was such a pretty girl. I tend to agree."

"Of course you do."

Then the phone began to ring. Jacob began to get up, but Bella motioned for him to sit down. She had a feeling she knew who was calling.

"Hello?"

"Congratulations on your daughter, Bella. She's very pretty." Alice's tinkling voice said over the phone.

"Alice? Why are you calling? How did you know?"

"I saw Charlie's decision to go visit your daughter. I must say you've done well for yourself, Bella."

"Where are you?" Jacob came up behind Bella, a look of concern etched onto his features. Bella reached back with her hand and grasped his for support.

"In Paris, silly. Where else would I be?" Alice said as if it were so obvious.

"I don't know. I haven't talked to you since you left." Bella knew she sounded bitter, but somehow, she couldn't bring herself to care.

"I'm so sorry about that Bella, really I am. You have to understand though. We couldn't stay with Jasper being so vulnerable at the time, and we really thought we were doing the right thing."

"Vulnerable? Are you kidding me? He was vulnerable? How about me? I was about to be bitten and drained, you hypocrite! Jasper is immune to everything that could potentially hurt him, and here I was, surrounding myself with danger itself! Please, Alice, don't call back. I don't want to hear any more excuses."

"Bella wait!"

"What?"

"Has Edward been by to see you?"

"You know very well that he hasn't."

"Actually, I don't. He's dropped off the radar, so to speak. I have no clue where he is. I think he might have overreacted a little when he heard you married Jacob. I think he's planning something."

"What?" Bella turned to look at Jacob, and saw that his face had drained of color.

"Hang up," He hissed. "Hang up so I can call Sam and let him know. I'm not leaving you and Willa here alone."

"Alice, I have to go."

"Wait!"

Bella hung up and collapsed into Jacob's arms. "Why? Why is this happening again?" He swept her into his arms and raced upstairs, afraid to leave Willa unprotected, even in the heart of La Push. This changed everything. Their blissful life wasn't going to be as peaceful as they'd thought, and he bitterly noted that every problem that seemed to happen around here was on account of Edward Cullen.

He had to protect his family, no matter what the cost.