Author's Note: This isn't technically a continuation (addition?) with a sort of alternate ending to the first set of ficlets. I've decided to leave this story open. I have a thing for these 'five times' stories, so all of my Twilight-verse ones will end up here, be they Jacob related, Bella related, Jacob/Bella/Edward related or whatever. It's just easier for filing purposes…

Anyway, here's Five Times Bella Swan Told Jacob Black No. Enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters. I am only responsible for their fictional corruption.

I.

Bella is nine. She's spending the holidays with Charlie this year and, as customary, they were visiting the Blacks. Well, she was anyway.

She's sitting on the couch of the Blacks' home, squeezed between eleven year old Rachel-and-Rebecca. The two are a package deal, clearly, as they constantly remind Bella that they're in charge while their parents are out. 'Out' being their code word. She watches as the twins exchange sideways glances and look back to the television. Little Jacob is sprawled out on the floor watching Frosty the Snowman. It's appropriate. Christmas is in two weeks. Snow is falling outside, blanketing Washington in a quilt, not a blanket.

Bella wonders what's taking Charlie so long; he said he only had to pick up Billy and Sarah when their car broke down, but she's starting to think there's more to it than that. Rebecca is chewing her fingernails. Rachel keeps looking at the clock. Bella watches Jacob, because it's easier to watch his grin than his sisters' anxiousness.

The phone rings and Rachel leaps to her feet. Bella falls against the cushions in surprise once she's out of the twin sandwich.

"Hello?"

Bella sighs softly. Rebecca leans forward to snatch the remote. "Hey!" Jacob cries, turning around as his sister switches the channel. "I was watching that!"

Rebecca waves the remote above his head. "Come on, Jake. Let me watch for once."

Bella closes her eyes. Here they go again. Bella focuses on Rachel's voice, barely carrying from the kitchen. "Are you sure?" Bella stiffens. And then she's knocked into by a flying seven-year-old. Jacob grunts and gets off of her, lunging for Rebecca again.

"Give it back, Becky!"

"Jacob I'm watching this!" They continue to struggle and suddenly the three are covered in a mountain of quilts and couch cushions. Jacob lands in Rebecca's lap and somehow Bella's under the cushions now.

"Stop. Stop!" Rachel is standing before them, glaring. She shuts the television off and Bella notices her hands are shaking, the knuckles white around the phone. Jacob and Rebecca stop fighting immediately.

"What's wrong, Beck?" Jacob's head is tilted to the side.

"Mom and Dad were in an accident." Her voice is soft, barely above a whisper. Again, Bella notices the twins exchange a glance; they'd already known this. "Dad's in the hospital." She says no more and Bella's mouth pops open. Rebecca looks away, burying her face into her brother's hair. Little Jacob's eyes are glassy as he glances around at the three, all silent, all sad.

"…what about Mommy?"

Rachel shakes her head and muffled voices from over the phone drag her away. Rebecca disentangles her limbs from Jacob's and follows. Bella hears them passing the phone back and forth. Jacob crawls back onto the couch and puts Frosty back on. He settles on the couch and Bella thinks she's safe. She clutches a pillow to her chest and prays.

"Bella?"

She doesn't turn to look at him. Jacob's wide, brown eyes are focused upon her now. "Is my mom coming home?"

Bella licks her dry lips. She finds she can't lie to Jacob. He's too innocent, untainted by the world yet. She clears her throat, drawing the pillow at her chest closer. "No, Jacob. She's not."

He's silent for a moment, staring blankly out the window at the fallen snow. For a moment, Bella thinks he hasn't heard her whisper. But then a sob breaks from the kitchen and the twins hurry into their room. It's all Jacob needs to let his own tears fall, the dam inside him breaking as he reaches for her. Bella automatically drops the pillow and takes the crying boy into her arms, stunned and a little shocked at how tightly he's clutching onto her, as if trying to make sure she doesn't leave, too.

"Bella," Jacob mutters some minutes later after his sobs have subsided and he's hiccupping every other word. She lifts her face from his hair to look at him, studying the way the tear tracks make a mark down his dark skin. "You're leaving too, aren't you?" Bella's hold on him tightens; she feels a strong protectiveness over this little boy now.

"No, Jacob. I'm not."

She does leave, though. Jacob Black learns disappointment at a young age.

II.

"Hey," Quil murmurs as they walk down the gravely path of First Beach. "Isn't that Jake's girlfriend?" Embry looks up from the tide pools and a soft chuckle rolls from his lips. That certainly looked like the girl they'd gotten Jacob to kiss five years ago. They're thirteen now and girls don't have cooties. At least, most of the time.

"Yeah," Embry nudges Jacob's shoulder. He simply rolls his eyes, barely looking up from the coming tide at Bella Swan, who's sitting on a log reading Salinger. Of course he'd know she was visiting; Billy had only been trying to set them up all week. He was aware she was here today, too, but don't tell Quil and Embry that. As far as they know, they're all just going for a swim. It's an unusually warm summer for Washington and they're making the most of it. "Aren't you gonna talk to her?"

Jacob shrugs. "Nah. You know Paul?" They both nod. "He told me that playing hard to get goes both ways. You're too eager, guys. Relax." Jacob shrugs as he breaks the waves, feeling an instant chill as the water crashes over his body. Quil and Embry follow soon after, though the former is still glancing over his shoulder at the older girl, lips pursed.

"Hey, Em?"

Embry answers with a wary "Yeah?"

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth." Embry doesn't hesitate. Quil's dares have a reputation that precedes them. Last time, Jacob had had to punch Sam Uley in the gut. That had ended with a fight and two black eyes on Jacob's part. Quil's grin only widens.

"Do you have a crush on Leah Clearwater?" Embry's skin, a shade lighter than Jacob and Quil's, reddens. He immediately sinks lower in the water to hide it.

"Why d'you say that?" Jacob chuckles softly, shaking his head.

Quil waves this off. "Just answer the question. Do you or don't you want to make out with Leah?"

"Hey, wait a minute!" Embry mutters, straightening up. "That wasn't the question!"

Quil shrugs. "You're too slow. Answer."

Embry slumps his shoulders in defeat. There's really no way out of it; if he doesn't answer, Quil will just hound him all day. "Yes," he mutters. Jacob shoots Quil a sideways glance.

"Yes to which question?"

"The first one!" Embry insists, his blush only growing. Quil shoves him into Jacob who splashes them both. "And…maybe the second one, too."

"Knew it!" Quil crows, his face all white teeth and russet skin. He rounds on Jacob. "Truth or dare?"

Jacob's eyes twinkle. It's all too easy to know what his question will be. Jacob pulls his gaze away from the girl on the beach and smirks. "Dare." Quil glances toward the girl, too, frowning faintly. Then, a slow, amused smile creeps upon his features. Quil shrugs.

"Fine. Go get the police chief to take her top off, then."

"What?" Jacob looks to Embry for support, but he's laughing along with Quil.

"You asked for a dare, Jake." Quil wiggles his brows. "Go on, do it!"

Jacob's blush is easier to hide, but it's all too obvious that it's there. He steers himself toward the beach and shakes his hair dry, much like a dog after a bath. Running his hands through his hair, he walks towards Bella Swan and puts what he hopes is a natural grin upon his face. "Hey, Bells."

She looks up, eyebrows raising. He feels her eyes on him and he can't tell whether she approves or not and then he wonders why the hell he cares. "Hi, Jacob." She smiles back. He feels a bit more at ease now.

"Wanna go for a swim?"

Bella eyes the turbulent waters through narrowed eyes. She shakes her head. "Awe, why not? It's not so bad. Really."

"First of all I don't have anything to change into…" She sees Jacob preparing to open his mouth and holds up a hand for silence. "And I'm not taking my shirt off for you, kiddo." Jacob glances wildly over his shoulder. For a moment, he thinks she's heard the entire thing and he prepares an excuse. Just as he opens his mouth to speak, she does, too. 'You're practically a baby, Jacob. Sorry I missed your birthday, by the way." Bella's already turning her attention back to her book.

Jacob turns to leave and Quil nods his head in their direction. Jacob sighs, trails his fingers through his hair, and then he gets an idea. "Bella," he mutters, taking three quick strides toward her. "Don't kill me."

"Wha-" turns into "JACOB!" halfway through as he lifts her up into his arms. He grips her tightly as he runs out into the surf and then promptly drops her once they reach waist-depth. Bella sputters and gets to her feet, clothes sopping wet. "Oh my God." Bella swats at him and Jacob can't help but laugh as she pulls wet strands of hair from her face. "You're such an idiot!"

Bark-like laughter escapes him and he follows her out onto the beach. "It's freezing," she complains.

Jacob hands her his towel, feeling bad now, and she frowns at him. "What the hell were you doing?"

"Quil dared me." He shrugs. Bella looks out toward Jacob's friends, who are still staring at them expectantly.

"What did he dare you to do, exactly?"

Jacob blushes. "To, ah, get you to take your shirt off." He's barely whispering and Bella's eyebrows raise considerably.

"No way in hell, Jacob," she hisses and stalks off, still carrying his towel.

Quil's booming laughter follows her. "I knew you wouldn't do it!"

III.

They walk along the beach as if no time has passed since the last time she'd been here. In fact, it had been a few years. He's barely grown into being a teenager and she seems a hell of a lot older than she had when they were young. But he tells her old Quileute stories and she really does seem interested. It's nice. He's missed her. For some reason, Jacob has always been able to connect with Bella. He thinks it's because she was there when his mom died. She thinks he's just a cute little childhood friend that she's somewhat comfortable. Whatever it is, he feels it. And he thinks maybe she feels it to.

"So," Bella breathes after a few moments' silence. Jacob looks up from his shoes, somewhat surprised. She'd looked so out of it once he'd finished his story. He'd even had to say that it was only a ghost story since she looked relatively like she expected one of those 'cold ones' to leap out at them at any given moment. Bella smiles. Jacob smiles back before he realizes it; it's a very natural reaction for him. "How's your family anyway?"

Jacob shrugs. "They're fine. Becky's in Hawaii with her boyfriend and Rachel's up at WSU. Dad's still rolling around in his wheelchair." A faint smile graces Jacob's lips. "He hangs out with Charlie a lot, actually."

Bella pauses, nodding. "And you?"

Jacob pauses, longer this time. "I'm okay." Bella prods at him with a look and Jacob glances at his shoes. "Fifteen now. I play a little soccer. I cliff dive. I take care of dad. That's it." He shrugs nonchalantly. His life is simple. For now, anyway. He has a feeling that now that Bella Swan's come back to town, things might get a little more hectic. He couldn't be more right.

Bella grins and looks up at him from beneath her eyelashes. Jacob tilts his head to the side. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

Jacob flushes. "No." Laughter rolls from Bella's lips, light like the sound of…well, bells. Jacob smiles at the thought, nudges her shoulder with his. "But I'm looking, Bells, don't worry." Her laughter fades off and so does his and all is silent for a moment except for the sound of their shoes against the sand. "So…do you have a boyfriend?" Bella's cheeks redden. Jacob loves that he can make her blush. It's pretty, the way the pink spreads against her pale complexion.

"No," Bella echoes his answer. "And I'm not looking."

Jacob raises his brows at her. He doesn't bother to ask why. It's all better for him, then. Right now, it's a stupid, boyish crush. But he still feels an unnatural attraction to her, a weird protectiveness. He doesn't think he'd like it much if she had a boyfriend. As they near the crest of a small hill, one of Bella's friends runs up to them. He's blonde, and Jacob thinks he vaguely resembles a Labrador. The way he looks at Bella and then at him is funny to watch.

"There you are, Bella."

Jacob raised his brows, noting the possessiveness in the blonde's voice. "Is that your boyfriend?" He catches Bella's eye over the other boy, Mike's, head. Bella shook her head.

"No. Definitely not," she mutters under her breath. Jacob grins.

As the three walk back to where the Forks kids have parked their cars, Jacob falls back. Bella ends up in step with him. Mike isn't happy, but clearly they want their time alone. Glaring over his shoulder, the Labrador disappears. "So…" Jacob starts and then stops, fading off into a sigh.

"So…"

"Would you maybe wanna go out sometime?"

"No." Bella feels bad saying so so quickly, but Jacob is a child. He looks and acts like one…and besides, she's too busy thinking of Edward Cullen. Jacob shrugs his shoulders lamely, offers her a wry smile.

"Yeah, I figured." He peers down at her from beneath dark lashes. "That's not gonna stop me from asking again, y'know."

"Sure, sure." She waves goodbye. As she walks away, she's already thinking of Edward Cullen.

Jacob's already caught up in Bella Swan. So it begins.

IV.

It's another cool night in La Push. She's out with Jacob and some of his friends. They'd walked along the beach earlier, but now it'd gotten cold. So they'd all piled into Quil's truck and headed to the cliffs. It was far too turbulent to dive (Bella never would have anyway; she's terrified of heights), but it was a nice view. Quil and his date are behind her. The girl oohs appreciatively and hurries past. Quil nudges Bella's shoulder as he passes.

"You know," he drawls, smirking down at her. "The La Push kids call this place makeout point."

Bella frowns at him. Jacob hurries up from Quil's truck, holding a flashlight in hand. The sun's gone down and it's dark. He hands it off to her.

"In case any rocks jump out at you."

"Ha, ha, Jake." It's become customary for Bella to spend her time here with Jacob. Sometimes, that involves the pack and sometimes it doesn't. But Jacob is always there and she finds she likes the contrast of his warmth to Edward's cold. She tries not to think about it that way, but her mind is still wired that way. She can't help it. "What are we doing anyway?"

"Stargazing," Jacob responds easily, reaching for one of her hands. It's a natural action. He's been guiding her around since Edward disappeared, literally and figuratively. She can't help but think Jacob wants something more from this than friendship, but she can't bring herself to end things. She clings to him too much for that.

She needs him, and she's selfish.

Jacob doesn't seem to mind. He's happy just to be in her presence. Bella links her fingers through hers, tracing the rough lines of his hands with her thumb. Jacob doesn't even look down as he leads her over the rough terrain. She almost falls twice, but he's there to catch her just like he always is. They reach the edge of a cliff and the sounds of Quil and his date are finally fading away. Bella sighs, looking out at the water below, lapping up against the cliffs. It's dark and dangerous and she thinks that if she leans out far enough, Edward's voice will come to her. But as she tries to lean out over the edge and feel the breeze, she feels warm arms wrap around her. Jacob allows her to lean out, but his hold doesn't loosen. It's a warning. Jacob won't let her fall.

Her gaze and thoughts shift to the sky. The stars are twinkling lazily back at them now. Bella sighs softly and shivers. It's cold and even Jacob's warmth isn't penetrating through his thick sweatshirt and her t-shirt. Bella frowns, tilting her head back to look up at him. "Why do you have a sweatshirt?"

Jacob raises his brows. "It's cold." Bella gives him a look that says not to you, and he rolls his eyes at her, shrugging out of the hoodie and shoving it at her. The scent hits her immediately. It smells of fresh earth and pine and Jacob. It's familiar and soothing and faintly dizzying. She hesitates and Jacob laughs his bark-like laugh, takes the sweatshirt from her and pulls it over her head. The hood is up and the large shirt is nearly swallowing her, but Bella doesn't mind. It smells like home. It smells like safety. It smells like Jacob.

"Better?"

Bella nods numbly, suddenly finding her lips very dry. Jacob tugs her away from the cliff's edge by the back of the shirt. "You should stop that." Bella freezes. She doesn't dare answer; Jacob knows her so well that she was afraid he could tell why she'd been acting so recklessly lately. But Jacob simply places his hands at her elbows and uncrosses her arms. "You can't keep yourself together, you know." Bella sighs, half in relief and half in frustration. That wasn't what she'd thought he'd seen, but it was true, too. The hole was still there. It was threatening to break at any moment, but Jacob was fixing it slowly but surely.

"Someone has to," she mutters dryly. Jacob's warm arm wraps around her waist.

"Yeah," he says into her hair. "Someone does," he says, but he means Jacob Black does, me. Bella sighs softly, leaning back into his embrace. She can't say no to him. He's right of course. She can't do it alone and he's been slowly mending the shattered pieces of her heart for months now. But he can't fill in that one piece, the part that belongs to Edward. Maybe she can, eventually, but he can't. It's not possible.

It's quiet. The silence isn't awkward like most are. It's comfortable and familiar. Jacob's silence lets her think, but not too much. His warmth is there to pull her back. He doesn't say anything, even as she turns in his arms to wrap her arms around him. He just sighs, kisses the top of her head, and breathes out. His warm breath plays about her hair, causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. That's odd considering Jacob's temperature is higher than normal. Bella tips her head back to look at him.

Jacob is looking at her, too. The intensity of his gaze surprises her and she almost steps away, but Jacob's already leaning down, his hot breath mingling with hers and his hand coming up to cup her cheek. The rough pads of his thumb brushes over her skin and he's leaning down, coming closer and closer and with each inch, Bella's heart is beating faster, it's leaping into her throat.

She turns her head so that his lips brush her cheek. "No, Jake," she breathes. "I can't."

Jacob immediately takes a step back and away from her, his eyes shooting to the stars. One star breaks across the sky and a grin lights up his features. He reaches for her hand. "Shooting star," he murmurs, squeezing her hand gently. "Make a wish." It strikes Bella as odd that he can go back to his old self so quickly.

But then she remember that he's Jacob and she's Bella and that they're standing at makeout point.

"Wanna make out for the hell of it?"

"No, Jacob."

V.

It's quiet. The silence is thick and could probably be cut with a knife. They're all locked up in Sam Uley's house. 'They' being the wolf girls. Despite the fact that the Cullens never returned, their trouble with the vampires hadn't come to an end. Victoria was still looking for revenge. In her mind, Bella was still Edward's 'mate'. James was dead, but that didn't mean she couldn't hurt Edward. She assumed he'd still come back to visit even if he'd left the girl. But the Cullens were in Alaska; they'd heard nothing of this. And they'd seen nothing because of the werewolves' involvement.

The pack was fighting a small army of newborn vampires. And Bella was shaking with worry, unable to help Emily in the kitchen for fear of breaking anything or even Kim with her knitting. Leah was staring at her from across the room, smoking a cigarette and rolling her eyes. "This is pretty much your fault, Swan."

"Leah," Emily warned, but there wasn't much to do about it. The poor girl was restless. Sam had sent her here to 'watch' the imprintees and Bella. But Leah (and Bella) had the idea that Sam was trying to protect her, too. It was sort of ridiculous. She was a fucking werewolf, too, and she could handle himself. An army was out there!

"I know," Bella muttered softly. She was avoiding the windows since she knew the fight was going on just past the trees. She had the bad feeling that Edward was going to come back. Or Jacob was going to get hurt. Or both.

Leah was fidgeting. She kept pacing, dropping ashes into the tray and taking long drags from her cigarette. Normally, Emily would remind her that this was a smoke-free household, but the risk that Leah would phase was too high. Leah stopped pacing. Bella looked up at her. "What?"

"Shut up," Leah barked, making quick strides to the window. A sandy colored wolf reared back on its hind legs. Leah seemed to be able to understand him. Bella noted the frantic barking and the howling. But it appeared that Victoria was disposed of, her minions fled or done with. Leah looked over her shoulder once before leaping out the window. She put her cigarette out and was about to phase when Bella rushed over.

"What's going on?"

Leah didn't sugarcoat things. "He's hurt. Bad."

Bella's eyes widened. She hesitated only a second before throwing herself out the window, too, and running after the wolves at a much slower pace. Leah and Seth led her straight to him. The large, russet wolf was sprawled out at the very edge of the forest. It looked like it had gotten him just as he was coming back from his shift. Bella's eyes widened as she sank down beside him, noting the several deep puncture wounds. Her hands immediately went to his face and she began brushing away stick, wet fur from his eyes.

"Jacob," she barely whispered, patting his head and resting it in her lap. "No, Jacob." Bella's voice shook with emotion, eyes narrowing. "Don't you dare leave me, too." She glanced about in surprise. How could this be done already? It appeared that most of the newborns had been taken care of. Body parts were strewn all around. That's when she saw him.

No, not Edward, though she assumed he was around here somewhere (the hole in her mended heart ached vaguely). "Carlisle!" She cried, not daring to move. Jacob's ears pricked, though his eyes remained closed, breathing short and labored. The doctor neared them and Bella lifted Jacob's face to hers.

"No, Jacob Black. I won't let you leave me."

VI.

Bella sits in her apartment, staring blankly at the invitation Charlie had forwarded to her. Jacob's senior picture decorates the front and the date of his graduation is scrawled on in a font that vaguely resembles Jake's handwriting. She hasn't been home in two years. She's been in Alaska. She'd left without a word a week or so after the battle with Victoria. Jacob had recovered, but Edward had returned. And so Bella had left. Again.

She drummed her fingers idly against the table and stared at the invitation. The phone number is written there, not that she needs it. She's memorized the Blacks' home number by now. The phone rings once, twice, three times. She almost hangs up when an unfamiliar female voice answers. Of course Jacob would have moved on. And why shouldn't he? She'd put him through enough. And she was in Alaska for God's sake.

"Hello?"

"Uh…Who is this?"

"This is Rachel. Who's this?"

A rush of irrational relief rushes through Bella. It was only his sister. She switches the phone to the opposite ear and walks into the kitchen to pin up the invitation. Having a picture of Jacob smiling back at her somehow makes her smile, too. It's familiar, like home, though not nearly as warm. "This is Bella." There's a pause on the other end. Bella sighs. "Bella Swan."

"Oh. Oh. Right."

"Uh, is Jacob there?"

"Yeah."

"…Can I talk to him?"

"Sure, sure."

Bella smiles to herself. It's a family saying. Vaguely, she hears Rachel yelling Jacob's name. There's a bit of static as the phone's past, an exasperated sigh, and then a rough, deep, familiar "Hello?" He sounds exhausted. Bella almost hangs up, then, too, but something holds her back.

"Hi, Jake."

"Bella Swan." The way he says her name makes it feel like welcome home. But his next sentence is more reserved, more cautious. "How…are you?"

"I'm good, thanks for asking." She pauses and she can practically hear his bated breath. "I'm at college here, since it's the only place I applied. How are things with you?"

Jacob sighs in exasperation. "Fine. I passed and I'm graduating. And I think I'm headed to WSU." There's another pause and Bella's struck by how tense and awkward this silence is. It's nothing like what she used to know with Jacob. Suddenly, she has an idea.

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"What the hell, Bella? No, I do not have a girlfriend." His frustration is all too obvious.

"Oh," Bella says. "I don't have a boyfriend, either."

It takes a moment for this to sink in, but Jacob's bark-like laughter on the other end signals that he understands. Perhaps it's harder for him to read her over the phone. She refuses to believe that he can't do it anymore. Jacob has always been able to see into her. It would still be true once she returned for his graduation party.

"So," Jacob drawls, clicking his tongue thoughtfully. "Wanna go out sometime?"

"Yes, Jake. I would."

"…What?"

Bella rolls her eyes. "I said yes! I'll see you next week, okay?"

"Love you, Bells."

"I love you, too."