Disclaimer: In case you didn't figure it out, nothing that belongs to Stephenie Meyer belongs to me. However, she is nice enough to let me share. Thanks!

Chapter 4: Scent of a Woman

Bella walked slowly up Angela's drive way. She had no idea how Jacob would react to her, and the possibilities scared her. He could get angry and call her a leech, try to kill her for being a vampire on their grounds, post treaty. He could get sad and cry, but that was the least likely. But, for some reason, those two did not even compare to the fear she felt if Jacob answered the door and treated her like a stranger. She was not sure if she could handle it if he was indifferent, so wrapped up in love with Angela that he had forgotten about her. She took a deep breath and rang the door bell.

Jacob's head jerked up from the lines of toy soldiers between him and Marshall. "Bella." He murmured. A second later, he heard Angela opening up the door. "Bella!"

He stood from his position on the floor, waiting. "Hey, Angela. Thanks for inviting me." Jacob winced. She sounded just the same. Her voice was somewhat ethereal to him. It was like a dream. "Jacob couldn't make it?" He could not interpret her emotions from where he was, but it seemed like she was split up between disappointment and hopefulness. "No, he's in the back with Marshall and Charlotte. "JAKE!"

Jacob swallowed heavily before walking out of the bedroom and into the hallway. Suddenly, his nose perked up. He inhaled and swayed on his feet for a moment. Sam had been right….she smelled like herself only better. He walked around the corner and saw her.

Jacob felt all of the muscles in his back seize up. She was….she was indescribable. Something about her. He needed her now. He felt excitement run through his body and told himself to calm down. She hurt you…she hurt you, Jacob. His body and mind were fighting, and he was sure that if the two women knew the sort of bloodshed the two were causing each other on the inside, they would mercifully put him down.

He looked blatantly up and down her body. She had matured. Her curves were more pronounced. She looked healthy and strong. Her hair had also gotten longer. It hung down to the middle of her back in flawless curls. Her skin was pale and ivory like, and her lips were full and aching to be kissed. He heard a strange noise come from his throat as he realized she was looking at him in just the same way.

Bella, in the meantime, was also having an inward battle. For some reason, she wanted to run to Jacob, kissing him fully on the mouth and tell him she would never leave again. However, she could not do that to him or Angela. She was not sure if his was a wound that had healed over time. Still, she could not help herself from looking over him. Time had done him good. He looked strong. His hair was still longish, down to his chin. His skin was golden and beautiful. And his eyes…..they raked over her body shamelessly. She was used to that, though. She saw his hands were clenched at his side. Slowly, she moved back up to his face, ignoring the idea of what was hidden by all of the obtrusive clothing. His mouth was slightly open a bit, and she licked her lips without knowing it. He must have seen the action because, suddenly, they were staring straight at each other. "Ja…Jacob." She whispered, breathless.

Jacob heard his name and suddenly realized what was happening. But, it seemed impossible. Afterall, if he was to be imprinted to her, it would have happened the first time he saw her. Not now. However, what he was feeling could not have been described as anything else. He wanted her, and he knew that this time, if she disappeared, he would die. He exhaled an unsteady breath he didn't realize he had been holding. No, he couldn't be imprinted to her. That wasn't how it worked. He had just missed her, and seeing her again had thrown him for a loop. But, had she ever smelled or looked as she did now? Surely not.

Angela cleared her throat, uncomfortable as the kids had now come in to stare at the two other adults strangely. Not that that was so odd. They looked like they were ready to rip each other's clothing off. "Uhm…dinner is ready."

At Angela's voice, Bella stiffened. She snapped her eyes away from Jacob and onto Angela. "I…." she started in a weak voice, "I'm sorry, Angela….maybe I should go?" She started to turn but a strong grip had grabbed her by the wrist. She was spun around to see Jacob looking at her with an indescribable expression on his face. "You would not want to waste the food Angela worked so hard on, would you?" he said. Bella shivered at the voice. It was rough and melodic at the same time. It had some sort of maturity behind it, despite its depth. She had the feeling she knew where he had gotten such maturity. She had done it when she left. She looked down on his hand on her, feeling the warmth that his body gave off. Perhaps Jacob had been wrong…maybe he was a drug for her?

She exhaled in the same manner as he had, unsteadily as if each tiny particle of air was labored and precious. "No, no, I wouldn't want to do that." Jacob felt his body heat up even warmer as her eyes met his again. He dropped her wrist and stepped back. "Well….let's eat," Angela quietly said. Bella winced and nodded. She followed Angela into the dining room, feeling Jacob's eyes on her the whole way. She sat down in the empty chair across from Jacob, keeping her eyes down and on her plate.

Dinner was uncomfortable to say the least. For once, Angela's kids behaved. They seemed much too interesting in what was happening to pay attention. Bella was keeping her head down for the most part, ashamed of her behavior when she knew that Angela and Jacob were together. Jacob's eyes were, always, on Bella. He answered questions without looking away from the woman across from him. Angela was trying her best to break the ice. "So, Bella, did you go apply for the teaching job yet?" Bella shook her head. "No, I haven't. I have had to get things settled…my furniture just arrived today. I was planning on going in the next few days though. Do…do you still think I should do it?" Angela shrugged, "Why not?"

Bella looked at her in shock. She was that at ease with Bella being around Jacob? Or in the same vicinity for that matter? She was really mellow and confidant with the relationship. She must know that Jacob would never leave her. She felt a flush of disappointment flow through her.

"Uhm, okay. I will go do that, then."

"So, how was moving in?" Bella smiled; Angela was trying to make her be so comfortable when she was over here fantasizing about what her boyfriend looked like under his clothes. She felt insanely guilty about that. "It was good. There are still some things I need to get, but the big stuff is taken care of."

"I am surprised they got your belonging down here so quick." Bella shook her head, "They didn't. I didn't bring anything with me. I just went out to my car and drove off. My stuff is still in Alaska."

Angela's eyes widened. "You must be doing pretty well for yourself then." Bella nodded, "Yea, not too bad."

"So….whatever happened to Edward anyway? You seemed very much in love last time I saw you." Bella looked up in time to see Jacob cringe.

She caught eyes with him as she answered. "Well, Angela, I guess you could say that one morning, shortly after we married, I woke up. I was a completely different person, I felt like. And, I realized I had made a huge mistake….I regret marrying Edward. I think, though, that I will just have to live with my mistakes." Jacob was once again looking at her strangely. She looked away from him and didn't look back for the rest of the meal.

When dinner was over, Angela sent the kids up to their rooms to play and get ready for bed. The three adults retired to the living room. Angela sat down next to Bella on the couch, and Jacob sat in a chair across from them.

"So, any men in your life, Bella?" Bella noticed that this seemed to pique Jacob's interest. "No. I don't see myself getting married again. Edward was a mistake, and I do not want to hurt anyone else again." She saw Jacob look at Angela and then back to her and then decided to get it over it. "But, uhm….great news about you guys. How long have you been together?" she asked Angela, doing her best to smile. It didn't quite reach her eyes though.

Angela's eyes widened. "How did you know?"

"Well, it is pretty obvious, I think." She looked at Jacob and then at Angela pointedly. "Listen, Angela, I am going to come clean. I know that you are together. And I am not sure what you know, but I will respect your relationship. I do not want to hurt either of you. I will not do anything to ruin your happiness together. Also, you don't have to hide it from me. I am okay with being the third wheel, honest. You don't have to worry about me. I'm sorry if I made you feel that way. I am happy you care so much about each other. You both deserve it."

No reviews for my last chapter! I wrote extra long and I got no reviews. Really, I need the encouragement. I am trying to force myself over writer's block here! Please, review. Tell me what you think, even if it is bad. Without people pushing me for an update, I am having trouble writing!