Bella woke up before the alarm went off. The bed had gotten cold with Jake's departure. Bella pulled herself out of bed and into her chair. Wheeling across the hall to the bathroom.. She undressed and slide into place on the bench Sam had made for her. I was a lot easier to use than the expensive shower chair the Cullens had provided her. Jake, Sam and Paul had spent the last month of summer remodelling the bathroom. Sam knew she had missed her privacy and that it was killing Jake to think about other people's hands on Bella. They had expanded the bathroom a bit and placed a built in bench across the new tub. Charlie could lift it up to use the shower himself and it had a built in transfer board that allowed her to go directly from the chair to the fear of her falling. She got in and placed the towel across her wheelchair cushion and closed the shower curtain before turning on the shower as hot as she could. She hated washing away what was left of Jake's scent on her skin but she knew soon his scent would cover her yet again.

Bella came out of the bathroom dressed and feeling better. She braided her hair and secured it down the middle of her back, adding a pair of barrettes Jake had carved for her. A touch of makeup and she grabbed her bookbag and jacket and rolled out the door. When she reached the landing she saw the face which had been in her mind since she woke.

"Morning Beautiful."

"Jacob." She said with a shiver and a smile lit her whole face.

Jake was at the top of the stairs in two strides and picked her up wrapping her in his long warm arms and kissing her he did so. "Mmmmm, I have missed you."

She slapped his shoulder and he reluctantly released her lips. "Jake," she whispered. "You just saw me a few hours ago and a lot more of me then you are now."

Jake purred against her neck as she ran her fingers through his lengthening hair as he placed her in the chair lift. Jake held her hand like he always did these days during these trips. She loved it, all of it. Every touch, every breath, every word he spoke to her warmed her soul. Turned her inside out and made her want to fit to be whole. Not for herself alone, but for Jake, for them, their future, for her boys she needed to be stronger than she believed.

Jake placed her in the wheelchair and wheeled her in the kitchen, which this morning was filled to the brim with bodies. Her boys were fighting for space at Charlie's small kitchen table, Emily was at the stove and Charlie was against the counter sipping his coffee just watching the whole scene. The boys saw her come into the room. They scrambled to their feet and crossed the room. They took turns with greeting her and placing a kiss on her cheek. Paul being the last.

"Good Morning Little Bird." He said as he placed a kiss on her cheek and grinned up a Jake with the devil in his eyes.

"Hey Hey Lahote hands off my girl."

"My hands never touched her Black and you know it.

"How about all you boys keep your lips and hands off my daughter for now." Charlie said quietly but with an authority that refused to be questioned. All the boys sat down and mumbled "yes sir" under their breath. They all became silent Emily dished up breakfast. Silence reigned over the table as they ate. Jake loaded Bella in Sam's truck as Charlie got into his police cruiser. Charlie had hugged his daughter tightly and kissed her forehead telling her to have a good day at school and he would be home for dinner he hoped. Jake buckled her in and kissed her gently on the lips as Sam and Paul got in the truck from the other side. "I will have the rabbit ready for you to practice this weekend."

"Okay. Jake."

"I love you Bells and I will miss you."

"Ditto Jake."

"Take care of her Paul."

"Always Baby Alpha always."

Jake and Embry took off in the direction of the Rez. They were due at school in fifteen minutes and they ran through the forest in order to make use of their wolf speed so that they would arrive on time.

Sam removed Bella from the truck with his ever gentle hands. "I will see you at three, Little One. Paul will see you at 11:30 and Alice and Jasper will be waiting just inside. Remember stay close to them. Rose and Emmett will be back down from Canada by next week, but right now we are down a few eyes, so it is more important than ever you listen to what we say."

"Okay, Sam." Bella was afraid but she refused to let her fear keep her from what she had to do. She turned around and pushed towards the door closest to her first class.

The day went pretty much as every other first days. She alone had finished all her summer reading and her papers that would be due in the first month of school despite Jake's whining about the lack of time with her in the last month. She wasn't sure what laid ahead for her in this school year but she refused to fall behind. She would graduate on time and take her place by Jake as his helpmate. Chair or not, walking or not, she knew she was strong enough to deal with anything that the everyday world threw at her. Jake was by her side and as long as he was there she would be strong enough to stave off the consuming fear she felt every day.

Therapy had gone much like school. The therapist pushed her and she pushed back with the strength Jake had shown her she possesed. Fighting the fatigue of the day she let Sam lift her in the truck and struggled to stay awake until she got home. While she had finished most of her papers for the first half of the semester she would still have nightly reading of her notes and chemistry and math to tackle starting tonight but honestly she just wanted to snuggle against Jake and let the quiet conversation of the rest of the pack lull her to sleep. What she didn't realize was just the thought had lulled her to sleep until she felt Jake's warm arms around her.

"Come on Sleeping Beauty let's get you in the shower and do those post therapy stretches and you can have a nap before Emily brings dinner."

"Homework." She whispered.

"After dinner, nap first."

She didn't argue. She didn't have the strength. The only thing she protested was he not touching her where she where she most wanted,

"Sleep Isabella." The Alpha whispered in her ear as he pulled her close against him. Enveloped in his heat she did just that. Jake sighed as he looked over at the bed and Bella's sleeping form for what felt like the hundredth time in the last half hour and then returned to his school books. All he wanted was to curl himself around her and sleep with her but Sam had set conditions on him being the one to take care of Bella every afternoon and having his homework done by dinner had been one of those. Sure he could have fought and argued with Sam and probably won the argument eventually but with Quil still not phasing and signs that both Seth and Leah Clearwater would be joining them soon Sam had his hands full.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by the change in Bella's breathing. "Hey Sleeping Beauty." He said without turning around.

"Jake." came out in that breathy way that sent shivers up his spine.

"Yeah Bells, I know."

"What time is it?"

"Just before five. Feel better?"

"Much, What have you been doing since I passed out?"

"Homework."

"Wow."

"Don't get too excited." He said as he turned just in time to see her slide out of her bed into her chair. "I still hate it but between you, Sam, Dad, and Charlie, I figure I might as well just do it so you guys will cut me some slack."

Bella pulled up next to him and pulled his head down to hers kissing him until she pulled away breathless. "I am proud of you Jake."

"I am proud of you too Bells."

"I haven't done anything special Jake."

"Bullshit Bells. Do you think I don't see it that I don't feel the pain you are in even now. You and both know I could relieve that pain with one touch but you don't ask for it. You never do unless it is so bad you can't sleep. I want so much to be able to take it away permanently Bells" Noticing the look in her eyes Jake continued in a softer quieter tone. "Bells, I could care less if you walk or not but I want you to be pain free. Without another word he stood up to his full height and picked her up at of the chair taking her back to bed.

He stripped her of the tank top and shorts he put her in and grabbed Sue's salve off her night table. His fingers explored her back with a painstaking gentleness that brought tears to Bella's eyes. "Am I hurting you Bells?" He asked gently.

"No, Jake." She sniffed,

"Want me to stop."

"No Jake, please don't stop."

"Then relax Baby."

Bella wasn't sure how he expected that to happen. Every touch of his fingertips set her back ablaze with sensation. She craved it. Needed it. Nothing with Edward had ever come close to this. Carlisle had saved her from herself and Rose was right she had not belonged with the Cullens. Jacob was her destiny. That was Bella's last coherent thought for a long time as Jake flipped her over and gave her front the same attention as her back. Fingertips burning a path to send her completely over the edge.

When she finally caught her breath she found the courage to speak the words she had wanted since that time in the shower when he shared the intimacy of letting her see him cum. "Jake?"

"Hmmm?" He said as he stroked her hair.

"I want to do that for you?"

"Do what Bells?"

"What you just did for me. I wanna do it for you?"

Jake was speechless. Not sure what to say. "I don't think that is a good idea Bells."

"Why not?" She asked rising off his chest a little bit.

"Well, the wolf for one thing. I may lose control of him during and I won't let him hurt you Bells not ever." He tried to pull away and get out of bed. Trying to put distance between them.

Bella pushed him flat against her mattress. "Jacob, you and I both know even if you let him have control he would not hurt me and I want to so bad. It's not fair that I get all the pleasure Jake."

He kissed her breathless before answering. I get plenty of pleasure Bells."

"I can feel and see that you do but that is not what I am talking about Jake and you know it. I know it has got to be hard taking care of it yourself all the time."

"But Bells..." He tried to protest as her hand slipped into his shorts.

"Have I told you what a turn on it is that you go commando most of the time."

"Bells..." He whined.

"Shut up Jake and stand up."

He did as she asked because he could deny her nothing. His eyes never left her as she situated herself into the sitting position on the bed in front of him. He held his breath as she hooked both her fingers in his shorts and pulled them down until they puddled at his feet. His breath caught as her fingers wrapped around him and explored at her leisure. Tracing the veins with her fingertips. He was pretty sure he had died when her lips wrapped around the head and pulled him into that sweet mouth of hers. By the time she was finished there was little could do but collapse at her feet panting. When he recovered Jake picked her up off the bed and kissed her soundly while heading for the shower. Only beneath the hot spray did he finally speak. "Mine Isabella, Mine."

"Yours and Jacob's , Forever." She answered back as she pulled his head down for another kiss.

Jake had managed to strip Bella's bed and had her bedroom window open. Bella giggled behind him. "Haha Bells, laugh it up. Sam, Paul, and Charlie won't kill you."

"They won't kill you either Jake or have you forgotten that was my idea."

"Oh yeah like they will blame you." He said as he ran to get the clean sheets and covers out of the dryer. Bella watched as he made the bed. He fingered the dreamcatcher that hung above her bed.

"Jake, I am not hurt."

"Bells, it is not gonna matter when Sam and Paul get a whiff of this place."

"Like Paul Lahote has any room to be mad at us for doing that."

"Paul won't be mad at his "Little Bird". He will be pissed at me." Jake said as he pushed her towards the door.

"Wait Jake, I am not done with math."

"Bells...I have to get out of here or it is going to be more than the smell that is the problem."

"Jacob.."

"Don't Jacob me Isabella this is all your fault."

"How is it all my fault?" She asked as he placed her on the chairlift.

"You smell so damn good and you keep pushing and I can only say no so much. You are killing me."

"I'm not sorry."

"Me either. I just hope that I don't lose my balls in the offing.

"Bella giggled. "I promise you Jake, I will make sure your balls are still firmly attached by the end of the night."

"Thanks Beautiful."