I was lucky enough to find some frozen stew meat in the back freezer, a few sad looking potatoes, half a squash, three tomatoes, a lot of chicken broth that looked suspiciously dusty, two cans of corn, and one lone can of no beans chili. Well, I would work with what I had.

40 minutes later the kitchen was hotter than a furnace as I bustled around the kitchen adding this and that to the pot. I chopped everything up into little bits, hoping the smaller I made it the less trouble it would take for Jacob to swallow.

As I worked I kept an eye on the time knowing, that I would have to leave for Dad's soon. Finally when I was sure everything in the pot had cooked long enough for everything to soft, I walked down the isle to Jake's bedroom, but hesitated when I heard slightly raised voices coming from inside the doorway.

" … don't want her here if she's going to put more stress on the situation." Sam's voice hard and clear came through the paper-thin walls.

"She wouldn't do that. Did you see the way she took care of Jake? I think she's back for good." A slightly higher, smoother voice interrupted. I thought it was Embry's but I couldn't be sure.

"Yeah, Sam, Bella's never purposefully been trouble. She'd never come back here and I act like that if she was just gonna leave again." I recognized the cocky I-can-do-anything-'cause-I'm-a-werewolf voice as Quil's.

It was good to know that at least some of Jacob's friends had faith left in me, not that they had reason to, I thought sadly. I quietly tiptoed back to the beginning of the hallway then loudly clumped down the walkway. I opened Jacob's room's door without knocking and stuck my head in.

"Dinner's ready."

I walked quickly away from the door, trying to get as far from the opening as I could. It was a smart thing, too. Not two seconds after I said that were Embry and Quil wrestling through the door at the same time. All that served to do was get them stuck in an awkward position with each others chests pushed up against the others. They blushed adorably and instantly tried to wiggle themselves out of the doorway, but that only proceeded to get them wedged even closer together. All the time this was happening you could here embarrassed mutters and curses come from the bundle of limbs.

"… Damn… Dude, stop touching my butt!"

"Shit… Hey, watch that hand you pervert!"

"You're a pervert!"

"No, you are!"

"Boys!" I shouted and stomped my foot at the same time. They froze. I sighed. "Sam, would you mind choosing one of those hooligans to shove through the door?"

"Not at all Bella." For the first time I thought I could hear the hint of a smile in his voice as I watched Quil suddenly lunge forward and slam into the wall across from the door, Embry tumbling right after him.

Sam stepped over them his massive legs easily crossing over their bodies and I whirled around and entered the kitchen, hearing Billy yell; "Out of the way boys, you're blocking traffic!"

I smiled evilly and chuckled a little.

I brought out some bowls and started to fill each one with stew, and almost jumped five feet in the air when Sam's voice said beside my head, "Smells good."

Thanking god that I was already flushed from cooking and he wouldn't be able to tell I was blushing, I handed him his bowl.

"Thank you."

I got no answer in return; when I turned around I saw he was seated at the small kitchen table. His long legs stretched out to the max, stuck out from both ends of the table. He was sloppily, but quietly, gulping down his food.

Billy wheeled in slowly, and I waited for him to settle his wheelchair at the table before setting his bowl down in front of him.

"Want something to drink Billy?"

"Water is fine, Bells." He said with a grateful smile.

"'Kay." I said and filled a glass with tap water.

"Ice?" I asked, the drink hovering under the ice dispenser.

"Yes, please." The clanking of ice and satisfied slurping and grunting filled the air.

As soon as I set down Billy's glass of water, Embry and Quil zipped in, making a beeline for their bowl, which I had already made up on the counter. Sam was already up for seconds but I admonished him by smacking the hand reaching for the label.

"Let me get Jake some."

He rolled his eyes, but they were still serious as they watched me move about the kitchen, getting a few napkins and a tray, before making up Jake's meal. I set the bowl on the tray and a glass of ice water then slowly and carefully walked down to his room. I was glad to see that Embry and Quil hadn't closed the door that would've been a disaster, trying to open the door while holding food in one hand. Jacob winced as he turned his head and I immediately circled the bed to his good side. Pulling up a chair, I sat down as close to the bed as I could, setting the napkins and his drink down on his bedside drawer.

I scooped up some stew in my spoon and lightly blew on it before it to his mouth. He was able to wallow but choked slightly and I frowned, knowing it was most likely because he was laying down flat on his back. I need to tilt him upwards but I couldn't move him without risking hurting his side.

"I'm gonna try something Jacob, and I need you to tell me if I hurt even accidentally. Ok?"

"'Kay." He whispered.

I set the bowl of stew down on his drawer then laid down beside him on my side, facing him, as if we were about to snuggle down to go to sleep. I slipped my arm under his neck, cradling the base of his skull in my hand, and tilting it upwards. I reached for the spoon, wiping the bottom on the edge of the bowl so it wouldn't drip, then steadily brought it over to where we lay. I brought it to his lips and he swallowed greedily, without choking this time. It took a while to get the all the stew from the bowl to his stomach, but we did it. Without very much mess, too.

When he was done, I slowly lowered his head back down, lovingly fluffing the pillow around it, before getting up to leave, gathering up the dishes.

I left his glass of water on his drawers, knowing whoever watched over him tonight would need it. As I loaded the dishes into the dishwasher my alarm went off on my phone, signaling I had thirty minutes before Charlie would be ready to send out the troops. I finished loading up then faced the Billy and the boys.

"I'll be back tomorrow to help take care of him again."

"You don't have to Bella, the pack will be taking shifts-," Sam said.

"I'll be here," I interrupted him. Then I leaned close and kissed Billy's cheek. "Love you, Billy, see ya' tomorrow."

"Drive safe, Bells."