"As much as I would appreciate for you to go, he made the choice Bella."

Alice's voice didn't sound heavy. It didn't even sound worrisome about the fact that she may lose her brother within the next twenty-four hours.

Bella's head was swimming with the idea that Edward would be killing himself very soon, thinking that Bella had died and that there was nothing more to live for. But Bella had already mourned for the ending of their relationship—if that's what you could call it. She had been idolizing him for over a year when all she pinned for was to live forever, with him. It took her months to get passed that idea that she wasn't going to live forever, with him. Bella was just beginning to see the light of what being human really offered—what being warm and solid and clumsy really offered.

The young Miss Swann was getting to know her father, Charlie, who she knew would protect her as much as he humanly could—shotgun and all. He cared for her deeply and wasn't leaving her behind like her mother, Renee, had over a year ago. She even had friends that would listen to her even when she had dropped everything that meant to be a teenager: going to the movies, putting up with shopping with the girls, listening to the parts that she wasn't going to talk about. They brushed it off, knowing she didn't want to talk about it, and continued on peacefully.

And the last few months…

Bella was growing warm and whole again. She had her very own sun that wasn't going to set on her, that wasn't going to leave over misunderstandings and false pretenses. This young man that had taken the place of him—no, not replaced. Rather stepped forward to protect such a fragile, such a human creature that is prey to a vengeful vampire lurking in the woods of Northern Washington and Canada.

Jacob Black was so loyal, so trusting. He forgave Bella on countless occasions for her preference to Edward over him and still sat waiting like a loyal dog waiting on the porch for its master.

Was that Bella was to Jacob? His master? Maybe not to that extent, but she sure did rule over all other teenage lusts and loves. To Jacob, she was just becoming within reach and he wasn't going to let anything hurt her, nor take her away from Forks.

"She's right Bells," Jacob interjected, standing tall and breathing deeply in the foyer, staring into her soul, pleading.

"I…" Bella started and sighed. "Is it my place to change his mind on this decision? Tell me Alice. Do I save him?"

Alice closed her eyes and took Bella's warm hand in hers, sitting next to her on the couch. As Alice took several moments, Bella looked from her twitching eyelids to Jake's deep, dark eyes. His body language spoke volumes of what he was thinking: clenching fists from the vampire in the room, deep breaths fighting for his lack of control in this decision, and his eyes becoming darker and darker as his frown dug out his features.

"No. You've already made up your mind," Alice looked up, tears hanging in her lower lashes.

"I guess this choice is bigger than me…" Bella's voice softened and drifted off to somewhere that existed in her months of mourning.

"Edward has had a plentiful life if not one where he never knew where he belonged," Alice squeezed Bella's hand, hard, "Until you came into his life."

At that, Bella gave a small gasp and a tear instantaneously fell from both eyes.

"I was glad to have known you Isabella Swann. I…" Alice started, "I must return to my family. They won't be as devastated as you think. We are strong." She attempted to give a small smile.

Alice leaned forward and gave Bella a long hug, pulled away and kissed her on the forehead—lingering for a moment too long—the vampire instinct of want too strong. No one noticed Jacob tense at this.

The next moment Alice was gone.

Neither Jacob nor Bella moved for a long while.

Finally Bella stood up and took a few steps before her legs wobbled, her wrist coming up to her sobbing mouth, Jacob immediately catching her fall from grace. She wept for what seemed like hours into Jacob's bare chest. He swayed her gently, not even realizing he had her a foot off the ground while persuading her softly to calm herself, "Bella, it's going to be okay…it will be alright…it was his choice…I love you my dear Bella…"

Eventually Bella began to slack in his arms and Jacob realized that she had cried herself to sleep. He carried her easily up the stairs, nudging her bedroom door open with his shoulder, and placed her sleeping form on the un-made bed.

The existence of Edward Cullen in Bella Swann's life made her grow up faster than she had to and it showed on her tired face. To Jacob, though, she was still beautiful, if not yet completely his.

Jake pulled her covers up her slender body and placed a kiss on her forehead, instantly regretting it because it faintly still smelled of the leech. She stirred at the contact, though.

"Jacob…" Her voice was so small and hoarse.

There were no more words. She simply pulled his full form down next to her and she curled in around his front, snuggling up under his chin.

The young werewolf didn't get an ounce of sleep that night.