Jacob Moves In

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews! A few readers asked me to add to this one. I didn't really have any direction for it to go as such, but I'll post as and when I get any inspiration, LOL. If anyone else has any ideas feel free to mention them.

Chapter Two

Jacob did manage to wake up early enough to sneak back downstairs before Charlie woke up and realised he had spent the night in his daughter's room. The whole thing had been innocent. Bella had snuggled up to him, relishing in his warmth as she struggled with her cold. Jacob had rubbed her head tenderly every time she stirred, moaning softly that her head hurt. With his gentle ministrations she had managed to get a good night's sleep. He headed into the kitchen and boiled the kettle. He was feeling wired and full of energy. Once the kettle clicked off Jacob poured the hot water into a mug and added some instant coffee, plus a few sugars and a dash of milk. He had a lot on his mind, not just worrying about his dad being in the hospital, but about what he should tell Bella about last night when Edward had snuck into her room.

Just thinking about the bloodsucker crawling through her window like that while she was asleep and vulnerable set his teeth on edge. It was so intrusive and such an invasion of privacy. Is that what Cullen did every night? Did Bella not feel violated by his actions? Jacob knew even if he asked she wouldn't admit it. No one was allowed to say anything detracting about her boyfriend. It was such a tense situation. He knew he was going to have to mention Edward's late night visit, but the thought left a sour taste in his mouth. Jacob had enjoyed having all of Bella's attention. She had focused solely on him. It felt good that he was her main priority for once; it was like she had chosen him over Edward. He didn't expect it to last long, but he wanted to hold onto it as long as he could.

There was a heavy tread on the stairs. Jacob heard Charlie yawn as he staggered down the stairs. The chief definitely wasn't a morning person. Charlie appeared in the doorway, his hair sticking up in all directions. "You alright, kid?" He asked tiredly. "Did you manage to sleep?"

"Yeah, thanks." Jacob smiled gratefully. "I made some coffee. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course I don't mind." Charlie rubbed his eyes and stretched. "Treat this place like your home. It more or less is anyway. You were fine before…" He shrugged, not wanting to bring Edward's name into the conversation. "Do you feel like a fry up, kid?" Jacob stood up. He towered over Charlie, making the older man blink as he gazed up at him. "Jeez, I am never gonna get used to how tall you are." He said, shaking his head.

Jacob tried to hide his amused smile. "Shall I go and wake Bells up." He offered.

"Yes…." Charlie began before he abruptly changed his mind. "No I'll do it. She's very frosty in the mornings. You have to treat her with kid gloves. She's even worse when she's got a cold." He laughed nervously.

Jacob knew that Charlie was just trying to put him off for a different reason. He wasn't comfortable with the idea of him being in Bella's room. He was so old fashioned in his ideas that it was quite funny. "Why don't I start breakfast then and you wake Bells up." He said instead.

"Good idea." Charlie agreed without thinking. It was a decision he would soon regret.


Bella stared at the blackened stove and the grimy paintwork in the kitchen. It was just unbelievable. Who would have thought her wakeup call would be the smoke alarm going off. She put her hands on her hips and tried to breathe through her stuffy nose. For once she was glad she had temporarily lost her sense of smell. The acrid stench was still making her eyes water though. She looked to her right. Charlie was standing beside her, scratching his head, gazing at the damage as if he had no idea how it could possibly have happened. To her left Jacob was looking sheepish. He had apologised over and over until Bella had snapped at him to put a sock in it.

"Why?" She asked Jacob. "Why would you even attempt it?" She didn't give him a chance to respond before she flung a similar question at her bewildered father. "And why would you let him? Jake can't boil water without burning the place down." She shook her head before returning her attention to Jacob. "You know you can't cook. You're awful, Jake. Just absolutely awful at it."

"Jeez, Bells, don't hold back will you." Jacob mumbled. "I just wanted to give something back. You know…for letting me stay here."

Bella refused to feel any sympathy for him. Her foot began to tap on the floor. Charlie still seemed to be in shock. He kept opening and closing his mouth like a landed fish. "Mowing the lawn is giving something back." She hissed at Jacob. "Raking up the leaves or fine tuning the cruiser's engine is giving something back. But burning down my kitchen is just creating more work." She sneezed violently at the end for affect.

"I'm sorry." Jacob spread his hands out and gave her his best puppy dog look but it wasn't washing with Bella. "Come on, honey. I didn't do it on purpose. It was an accident."

"And look what you've done to him." Bella waved her arm at her father. Charlie still seemed dazed. He was surveying the damage as if he couldn't believe it was real. "You know it's gonna take dad a long time to recover from this."

"It's just a few patches of singed paintwork." Jacob thought Bella was going over the top about things. "The stove can be cleaned up easily."

Bella gazed at him irritably as she wiped her dripping nose on the sleeve of her dressing gown. If Edward saw her lack of hygiene he would be appalled. But right now he was the last thing on her mind. "It's not the ruined paintwork, Jake. It's the fact that my dad will have to spend money putting it right. You know what a tight ass he is with money. I'll never hear the end of his complaining if he has to dip his hand in his wallet and pay for a tin of paint. The last time he opened it I swear moths flew out and the hinges creaked."

Jacob laughed at the picture Bella painted of Charlie, pulling the older man out of his stupor. He had caught the tail end of his daughter's comment. "I am not a tight ass." He retorted indignantly. "I'm just careful with money."

"If you say so, Mr Krabbs." Bella muttered, referencing the notoriously tight fisted crab in the SpongeBob cartoon. She pulled her dressing gown tighter around her and wiped her nose again.

"It's better than being a Squidward." Charlie threw back at her. "I told you she's not a morning person didn't I, kid." He directed this to Jacob.

Jacob was enjoying the banter between Bella and Charlie. He had missed it. He had missed seeing Bella so relaxed and at ease in her own skin. When Cullen had come back into her life it was like she had retreated into herself, but here was proof that his girl was still there when the leech wasn't around sucking the life out of her.

"Well we're just going to have to go and grab breakfast at the diner this morning." Bella announced as she headed for the stairs. "And you're paying, Mr Krabbs. And by the way I bag the first shower."

Charlie's mouth dropped open in disbelief at this presumption. "Do you know how much they charge in that place?" He called after her.

Bella just smiled.


With his hair freshly washed and a change of clothes Jacob was feeling good. He accompanied Bella and Charlie to the diner. He had completely forgotten all about telling Bella about her late night visitor. She hadn't mentioned Cullen once, which was unusual for her. And Jacob sure didn't want that to change any time soon. Father and daughter continued to bicker as Charlie tried to convince Bella that he was really a generous soul and not a miser. As soon as they stepped inside they were shown to one of the best tables by Cora, the waitress had a crush on Charlie, not that the police chief ever seemed to notice.

While Charlie was browsing the breakfast menu and interrogating Cora about the cheapest options, Bella hid behind her large menu and whispered to Jacob. "Choose the most expensive option. You're a guest so he can't complain."

Jacob put his head close to hers. "That's just plain evil, Bells." He whispered back. "I nearly burnt his kitchen down. I can't ask him to fork out for an expensive breakfast."

"If you want to keep me happy you will." A wicked gleam lit up Bella's eyes. Jacob loved the cute smirk she was wearing. What he wouldn't give to kiss those delectable lips.

"Cora says she can give us a discount if you opt for the child's breakfast, Bells." Charlie broke through their conspiratorial conversation. He was looking pleased with himself that he had managed to secure a discount and Cora was looking pleased because she had pleased her crush.

Bella closed her menu and pursed her lips. "I'm eighteen, dad." She pointed out mildly.

"I know that." Charlie blustered. His cheeks turned red and he chuckled awkwardly when Cora giggled at Bella's comment. "But you always eat like a bird…."

"But I'm not well."

"Exactly." Charlie held onto this and ran with it. "So you shouldn't eat too much or you could make your cold worse."

"But weren't you the one who told me I needed to eat more roughage." Bella flashed him an innocent smile. "I'll have the special, Cora. Thank you."

"Really?" Cora squawked in surprise. "That's the most expensive option." She pointed out as she laughed nervously. Her crush was scowling irritably.

"Dad doesn't mind. Anything for his little girl." Bella said easily as she directed a challenging smile toward Charlie.

"No…not at all." Charlie sounded like he was choking.

"Awesome." Bella said brightly. "Can you make it three specials, Cora? One for each of us."

Jacob felt laughter bubbling up inside. He was finding it difficult to contain it. Charlie's face was a picture. Jacob could almost see the panicked thought bubble over the police chief's head as he calculated the cost. He knew he should feel guilty that the older man was spending money unnecessarily, but he couldn't. Bella was enjoying the battle of wills she had engaged with her father, and Jacob was having fun watching her do it. He couldn't wait to tell Billy all about it when he visited him later in the hospital. His father was going to love it.


Bella held on to Jacob's arm as they walked back to the house along with Charlie. She was feeling sick again after eating such a gargantuan breakfast. Jacob had discreetly helped her out by nicking some of her food when Charlie was looking elsewhere, but still Bella had overindulged. Charlie was feeling overfull, too. He burped, rubbing his stomach, groaning. "I'm not sure I'm up for any of the paperwork this morning." He complained. "I might call in and go visit Billy instead. What do you say, kid?" He said to Jacob. "I'll call your school and get you excused for the morning."

"I'm up for it." Jacob knew this wouldn't be a problem. He rarely went to school these days. He looked at Bella. She was chewing on her lower lip, brow furrowed. "Bells?" He said cautiously. Please not let her mention the bloodsucker. He waited on tenterhooks for her to say something, anything.

Then…

"I'd like to come. Can you phone in for me too, dad?" She asked.

Jacob could breathe again. He smiled, squeezing Bella's fingers gently in thanks. She smiled back at him and nudged him in the side with her elbow.

"Oh, well, it looks like we're all taking a sick day." Charlie shrugged nonchalantly as he led the way back to the house.

A/N-thanks for reading!