Story Title: Three Little Words

Summary: Bella's life hasn't been easy as of late. What happens when someone forces her to make up her mind? Will she make the right decision? Will she finally be happy? Not until the person who can make her whole again comes along.

Disclaimer: I own Twilight! Believe me? Well fine, then I won't share it with you.

AN: I had the idea for this story while in the middle of writing something else and it would not let up until I started to write it. This story started out as a one shot and has now turned into a thirty plus chapter with no end in sight. Also, the chapter title is a song by Rascal Flatts. I thought that the song fit the chapter.

I love you. It's something every person wants to hear from the person that they care the most for. What happens when you care for more than one person? This was Bella Swan's dilemma. Each person offers her their own version of forever. One seems ideal; the other has her changing her life completely. If she were anyone else, she could talk to her mom or dad.

Bella is not an ordinary girl. She couldn't go to anyone about her problem. She has her best friend whose friends have given up so much for her on one side, and the man she has promised herself to whose family loves her unconditionally on the other. She loves Edward so much, but there were times when Jacob has her thinking that she is making the wrong decision.

Jacob is a good person, he is honest, sweet, and there for her when she needs him. Edward is polite, he's a gentleman, and he has been more than understanding about her friendship with Jacob since she had put her foot down.

Now if only they would get along. That was the only thing that she had asked of them. Jacob's constant bad mouthing and Edwards constant need to throw their relationship in Jacob's face was starting to wear her down. She needed to sit them down together and try to work things out. Jacob had at least been nice the night of the battle. He had asked her for time and she was going to give it to him. When he was ready she would welcome him back into her life with open arms.

Jacob had been gone two weeks when her dad came home with the missing person fliers. Billy had asked him not to make them but Charlie had done it anyway. Seeing Jacob's face staring back at her from under the word 'Missing' tore at her heart. She was the reason that he had left. And she was going to be the reason that he came back. She would do whatever it took.

XXXX

Edward had understood when she said that she didn't feel comfortable getting married without Jacob there. She hadn't given up her search. No one from the pack knew where Jacob had gone. Billy wouldn't tell her if he had known.

She lay awake at night wondering how she could have been so selfish. Edward had asked her to stay away from Jacob. He had warned her that Jacob would get the wrong idea. He had been right; she had hurt both of them. Now she had to make it right.

"Bella, are you awake?" Edward asked as he climbed through her window.

She didn't acknowledge him until he sat next to her on the bed. She turned her head to look at him, her face expressionless.

"Still no word?"

She shook her head, not noticing the hurt look he was giving her. He lay next to her but didn't touch her. He lay on his back with his head propped up on his arms. She hadn't been herself for weeks. He had tried everything he could to assuage her fears. Her best friend had left without so much as telling her goodbye. That would hurt anyone. Her actions hurt him, she had to see that.

"I love you Bella. I will do whatever you want," he whispered loud enough for her to hear.

She had heard him, but she didn't reply. It wasn't that she didn't love him, because she did. She was just so worried about Jacob. Where was he? Was he alright? Would he ever come home? She worried about him night and day now.

XXXX

The day that Edward and Bella were supposed to get married dawned bright. Jacob put on his sunglasses as he continued walking. Cars passed him every few miles, but other than that the road was deserted. An eighteen wheeler came to a stop beside him and the passenger side window rolled down.

"Where you headed?" A man who looked to be his dad's age asked.

"La Push."

"I'm headed to Port Angeles. I can drop you off."

"I don't have any money to give you."

"I don't need any kid, get in."

Jacob climbed in and the driver silently put the truck in drive. The ride to La Push was filled with silence, which Jacob appreciated. If the guy had tried to start a conversation with him he would have thrown himself from the truck without thinking twice. Jacob directed him towards the reservation and told him that he could walk the rest of the way. The truck would never make it off the reservation without being towed.

"Thanks," Jacob said holding out his hand.

"Don't mention it," The guy said as he pumped Jacob's hand heartily.

Jacob was lucky that no one had seen him as he walked to his dad's. He walked into the house hearing the shot gun in his dad's room being cocked.

"Dad it's me. Don't shoot!" he called.

Billy came out of his room with tears in his eyes. Jacob dropped his bag before walking down the hall. He fell to his knees in front of his dad, wrapping his arms around him.

"Thank you Lord," Billy whispered.

"I figured you'd be at the wedding."

"It got called off."

"She's already one of them, isn't she?" he asked quietly.

"Nope; she didn't want to get married without her best friends blessing," he said with a pleased smile.

"What?" Jacob asked as he pulled away.

"You need to talk to her."

"Is she still with him?"

"As far as I know," Billy said with a nod.

"Then I don't want to see her."

"Son, she's hurting. Charlie hasn't seen her like this before."

"What about when he left?"

"Charlie says its worse. She won't even talk to Edward."

He let out a frustrated growl before storming into his room. He tied a shirt and shorts to his leg before taking off his shoes.

"Tie these around my neck when I get outside."

"What are you gonna do?" Billy asked worriedly.

"This is the fastest way to get to her," he said once they were on the porch.

He phased before leaning down so that his dad could tie the shoes around his neck. He kept his mind clear as he sprinted towards Bella's house. He stopped a few miles from her house. Edward was there, but he couldn't hear Bella.

If you're going to listen to my thoughts the least you can do is show yourself. Edward thought.

Meet me in the forest. Don't tell Bella.

No.

No?

I'll leave. You come and see her. You give her your blessing. Then you can go back to wherever you were.

Fine, have it your way. Jacob thought bitterly.

You have fifteen minutes.

Edward was leaving as Jacob came through the woods. The front door was unlocked so he let himself in. He walked up the stairs quietly seeing her door sitting open. He took a deep breath before crossing the room. She was facing away from him on the bed. He put a hand on her shoulder to get her attention but she didn't even flinch. This was worse than when Edward had left, at least then she had shrugged him off when he had come to see her.

He moved to the other side of the bed to see her staring at him with wide, wild eyes.

"Hey," he said quietly.

She stared at him like she didn't believe that he was in front of her.

"You can't say anything?" he asked.

She sighed as she rolled over, making room for him on the bed. He sat next to her, not wanting to touch her.

"I guess I'll talk then. I haven't stopped thinking about you since I left. I tried to tell myself that it would get easier because it was for the best. After a few weeks I started believing it, even if it was a lie. I came back to try one last time to try to make you see that you're making the wrong decision. I was hoping to make you see how much I need you. I need you more than anyone I have ever met."

She put a hand on his, making him look down at their hands.

"I need you too," she said quietly.

"Just not the way that you need him," he said as he moved his hand from under hers.

"No. I need you more."

"But you don't love me."

"I don't know. I'm so confused. Can't you just accept that I need you? Just for now?" she asked pleadingly.

"He's outside. My fifteen minutes aren't even up yet. It figures he wouldn't keep his promise," he said bitterly.

"Bella, is everything alright?" Edward asked from the window.

"I know you heard. I'm sorry. I can't keep this," she said taking off the ring.

She held it out to him. He looked at her sadly as he took it.

"I'll let the two of you know my decision as soon as I decide. Until then, I don't want to see either of you. Please don't call me either."

"Bella," Edward started.

"No Edward, I can't. Not now," she said shaking her head quickly.

"He got to say what he needed to say. I can't?" he asked hurtfully.

"I've already heard it Edward. I get it; you think that I'm making a mistake. Am I right?"

"That about sums it up," he said with a sigh.

"What is she making a mistake about?"

"That's between us. Can the two of you please leave?"

Edward climbed out the window and Jacob left by the front door. Bella fell against the bed with a sigh. Jacob had come back to her on the day that she was supposed to get married to try one last time to get her to listen to reason. He had laid his heart on the line. Did she love him? Not the way that she loved Edward. Then why had she reacted the way she had? It wasn't just because she had missed him.

She hadn't been fair to either of them the entire time that she had been with Edward. Her friendship with Jacob was too important for her to just give up on it. She needed to make a decision and stick to it.

XXXX

His car was the only one in the driveway. Bella stood on the porch waiting for him to answer the door. He answered the door, giving her a curious look.

"Tell me that you love me," she said hopefully.

"Bella," he said with a sigh.

"Please?" she asked as she cut him off.

"I love you."

"'I love you Bella.'"

"I love you Bella," he said with all the feeling he had.

She smiled up at him before wrapping her arms around his neck. She pulled his head down to hers, brushing her lips to his. She pulled away still smiling.

"I love you too, Jake."

He picked her up off of the ground, holding her close to him.

"You don't know how long I have been waiting to hear you say that."

"I plan on making it up to you."

"Well I hope so," he said as he rolled his eyes.

"You're a goofball, you know that don't you?"

"Duh," he said giving her a blank look.

She laughed before kissing him again. This kiss was more heated; he set her down but held her in place. Her hands were in his hair as she opened her mouth to him.

"Aww jeez, are you sure you made the right decision?" Jared asked from the yard.

"That's gonna be burned in my brain forever," Quil countered.

"Leave them alone you two. We can handle patrol without you Jake. Good to see you again Bella," Sam said before turning to walk away.

"You too," Bella called after him.

She fell against Jacob as her body shook with laughter. He laughed lightly as he held her.

"Well, they know," he said, still laughing.

"That went well," she said as she tried to control her laughter.

"Have you talked to Edward?"

"I talked to him this morning."

"And?" he asked expectantly.

"I don't know how he took it. He's really good at hiding his emotions when he wants to," she said with a shrug and a sigh.

"I would never do that."

"You never have. Why would you start now?"

"Thank you."

"For what?" she asked with an abrupt laugh.

"For choosing me," he said endearingly.

"Just keep doing what you're doing and I'll stick around."

"I promise."

She let go of him and he loosened his grip slightly. She laid her head on his chest and he rested his chin on top of her head. They needed to talk about certain things, but that could wait. Right now they were going to take it one day at a time.