A/N: Y'all are awesome. Really. Thank you to everyone who reviewed!

I still don't own anything. Shocking, I know.

Huge thank you to betas Lharkcom and ginginlee.

And without further ado, here is chapter 4:

Aftermath

Chapter 4

~*~JPOV~*~

It took the drive back to my house to calm down. I tried to focus on what lay ahead: Nessie was staying the night with me, and we'd have all day Saturday to be together. I wanted to put what happened with Edward behind me, like Nessie had asked, but dammit if it wasn't easier to imagine what I wanted to do to Edward's pretty little face.

"Are you okay?" Nessie asked as we pulled up to my house. I took a deep breath and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm okay." I got out and took her hand as we walked inside. She set her bag down on the couch and turned to me, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"I'm so sorry for what happened there, Jake. I told Edward and Bella that if they did anything to you that I was never going to forgive them. Then Edward started talking about what happened, and I guess I got the whole situation in his head. I didn't want him to do that." She buried her face in my shirt, and I sighed.

"I know you didn't, baby." I kissed the top of her head and held her tightly.

"Did you know that Edward had applied for the same job you got?" she asked suddenly, pulling back to look up at me.

I looked at her curiously, furrowing my brow. "No, I didn't. Did he say he did?"

She nodded. "He said he'd applied and was told he got the job, and then two days later the boss called him back and said someone else got it. It was you."

I shook my head, disbelieving. "That's what he got so upset about?"

She nodded again. "He said you knew about it. I mean, I believe you that you didn't, but that's what he says."

"If I had known… I mean, jeez; I'd applied for the job three months before we graduated. It was after we graduated that Mike called me back and said he'd reevaluated my application." I hugged her tighter, unable to believe that a stupid job was the cause of all of Edward's malice.

"So you didn't get it when you first applied?" she asked.

"No; I'd originally applied for an engineer position and Mike told me I wasn't qualified for the job. Then one day after I graduated he calls me back, and says he's reevaluated everything and that I'd be perfect for the manager position. I figured it was just because I hadn't graduated when I first put the app in."

She kissed my chest and sighed, her nails scratching down my back. The sensation went right through me and my body responded to her touch. I kissed the top of her head again and started rubbing her back. I wasn't sure if she'd be ready for sex tonight, but somehow I really hoped she would be.

"Jake?" she asked, leaning back to look up at me. I hummed and ran my fingers through her hair.

"Do you think Edward would stop being such an asshole if he knew the truth?"

I sighed deeply and took her over to the couch, pulling her on my lap. "I don't know, honestly. I'd like to say he would, but he might not."

She nodded and nuzzled her face in my neck. "I just wish it was easy, you know? I wish we could just bash him over the head and make him see. I feel like I'm at war, and Bella's not acting like the rational sister I knew before she met Edward."

"I'm sorry, Nessie. I can try to talk to him if you want." I never thought I'd put myself there again, but I knew I'd do it for Nessie in a heartbeat.

"I don't want you to get hurt. Or for you to hurt him."

I nodded. "I do have to say that now that I know what he was thinking, I can understand why he got mad. I can't see why he took it as far as he did, but I would have been upset, too, if I thought someone took the position out from under me. Maybe he'd believe me if I just explained my side." I could have that much faith for Nessie.

I felt her smile against my neck. "Thank you, Jake. You don't know how much I appreciate you trying." She kissed me and sat up.

"Anything for you, baby."

She smiled and looked down for a second. "Anything, huh?" she blushed as she looked at me through her lashes. I licked my lips and nodded. "Anything at all?" She bit her lip.

I smirked. "Anything at all."

"What if I asked you to take off your shirt?" she asked, picking at the shoulder of my shirt.

I sat up and reached behind me to pull my shirt off. I tossed it to the side, and she smiled as she ran her fingers over my chest.

"Okay, what if I asked you to take off my shirt?"

I grinned and kissed her as I grabbed the bottom of her shirt and lifted it. She helped me get it off, and I threw it to the side with my shirt. She sat there on my lap in her bra, and I couldn't even try to keep myself from getting hard. I wanted her madly. I ran my hands up her sides, her hands resting on my wrists. I met her eyes and watched them closely as I reached up and palmed her breasts. She smiled and ran her hands up my arms, her fingernails scratching me lightly as she went.

"I love you, Jacob," she said softly, leaning into me. Her eyes gleamed with desire and love and intensity, but there was a fear there that I didn't want to see. I pulled her close to me and kissed her deeply.

I pulled back and looked into her eyes as I touched her cheek and said, "You know, it's not my fault I fell in love with you. You're the one that tripped me."

She smiled brightly and threw her arms around my neck, her body flush with mine as she kissed me again. I held her tightly and kissed her deeper when she grabbed my hair. Her breasts pushed into my chest and her hip rubbed against my erection. She broke the kiss and leaned back, her eyes burning with need.

"Take me to your room, Jake," she said heatedly. I didn't hesitate to pick her up and carry her to my bedroom.

I woke up to Nessie squirming beside me. I opened my eyes and blinked a few times, turning my head and expecting to see her eyes open. She whimpered and furrowed her brow, her eyes still closed. She squirmed again, throwing an arm out and smacking my chest.

"Ness?" I said groggily. I sat up on my elbow and rubbed her arm. "Baby, you okay?"

She whimpered again, and turned on her side away from me. I leaned over and grabbed her arm, gently shaking her.

"Nessie, wake up babe."

She whimpered again, louder this time. I shook my head to wake myself up more and pulled her over to me. She fought me, pushing on my arm and whimpering like she was scared.

"Nessie," I said louder, hoping to wake her up. "Baby, it's time to wake up." I shook her a little harder and suddenly she gasped, sitting up a little. She turned quickly and looked up at me. I smiled and ran my hand up her arm. "You okay?"

She sighed and closed her eyes, dropping herself back down beside me. She snuggled up to me and put her face against my chest.

"I don't know," she said softly. "I guess."

I held her and rubbed her back. "What was it about?"

She didn't answer me for a minute. Finally, she pulled back and met my eyes. "Do you think it means anything special if someone has the same dream more than once?"

I shrugged. "I guess it depends on the dream."

She nodded and ran her fingers over my chest. "What if someone had the same dream since they were fourteen?"

"Every night?" I asked.

She shook her head. "No, but at least twice a month. Sometimes more."

I played with her hair and held her tightly. "Is it a scary dream?" I felt like rolling my eyes at myself; nightmares were generally scary.

She shrugged. "It didn't used to be. But for the last two years it's been getting worse. It's like something's coming and in my dream it keeps getting closer and closer. It almost touched me this time." She shuddered and pushed her face into my neck.

"What gets closer?" I asked, holding her tightly and wishing I could protect her from whatever scared her in her dreams.

She sighed and pulled back again. "Since I was fourteen, I've had this dream about a wolf. At first, it was just lurking in the shadows of my dreams. Then, when I was sixteen, it started showing itself, always staying far away and right at the edge of my consciousness. When I was nineteen it started following me everywhere I went. Just out in the open, following me. That went on for a few months before the scenery around me changed, and I've been in a forest ever since. The wolf always stayed back, never getting closer than ten yards or so. But a few nights ago, I dreamed that it chased me and got a few feet away. Tonight I could almost feel its fur. I always trip and it's always right there. I wake up before it really attacks me, though." She shuddered again.

I wiped her cheeks, getting rid of the tears before I kissed her gently. "Whatever it may be, Nessie, I'm here and I promise I won't let anything hurt you."

She smiled and nodded. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Most of the dream stuff I read about it says that a wolf in dreams means something bad is coming. I wish I knew what it meant."

"Coming from my heritage, Nessie, a wolf in dreams is not a bad or dangerous thing. It has a message for you or is somehow protecting you." I held her, hoping I could give her some peace of mind.

She nodded and kissed my chest. "Protecting me from what?"

I shrugged. "I wish I knew, baby."

"Have you ever had dreams like that, Jake? Something that sticks with you?" She pulled back and looked up at me.

"I have. For about four years, ever since I learned I was supposed to be chief someday, I've had this dream that I am a wolf. I think it's just an overactive imagination mixed with stories of our past, though." I shook my head, dismissing the dream.

She nodded and pulled herself up to me to kiss my lips. "Thank you for waking me up."

I smiled and kissed her back. "You're welcome. Try to get some more sleep, okay?"

She nodded again, and scooted down to rest her head on my shoulder. "You, too. Love you."

I kissed the top of her head and yawned. "Love you, too."

I woke up after ten the next morning to an empty bed. I felt Nessie's side of the bed, still half asleep and expecting to pull her over to me. At first, it didn't connect that she wasn't there. I patted the bed and looked up, furrowing my brow when I didn't feel her.

"Ness?" I said, sitting up. Where did she go?

The door opened, and Nessie smiled brightly at me. "Good morning," she called, carrying a mug over to me. "It took me forever to figure out your coffee maker, but somehow I managed." She handed the cup to me, and sat down next to me. "You can tell me if it's awful."

I smirked and took a sip. "It's not bad," I said, nodding in approval. "Thank you. How long have you been up?"

She shrugged. "A little while. You looked so peaceful sleeping, and I couldn't wake you up." She bit her lip and blushed. I put my arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close to kiss her lips.

"Did you sleep okay?" I asked, taking another drink.

She rested her head on my shoulder and nodded. "Yeah. But then I woke up at eight and couldn't go back to sleep. I watched you sleep for like thirty minutes before I finally got up."

I chuckled. "Why?"

She looked up at me and I met her eyes. "Because you're very handsome."

I kissed her, ignoring the impulse to strut for her. "I guess I can't be upset; I watched you sleep for a little over an hour last night after you had your nightmare."

She smiled and blushed. "Over an hour?"

I nodded. "I had to make sure you were sleeping okay. And you're very beautiful." I kissed her again.

She laughed and kissed my neck before standing up. "I made breakfast. I hope that's okay?" She bit her lip.

I got up with her, and followed her to the kitchen. "Of course it is, babe. You have exclusive rights to anything in this house."

She smirked at me over her shoulder and bent over to get something out of the oven. Whatever it was, the smell permeated the air once she got it out and it was divine.

"I made a breakfast casserole," she said proudly, setting the pan on the stove. She stepped back and let me admire her work.

"It looks good. It smells even better. Do you cook often?"

She shrugged as she got some plates and forks out. I smiled to myself; I could get used to seeing her in my kitchen every morning.

"Just for fun, when I have the chance." She dug out a piece and handed me a plate before getting her own. We went to the bar, and she sat beside me. She watched me as I took a bite.

"Wow, this is good," I said honestly. She smiled brightly and started on her own. We ate mostly in silence, just enjoying the casserole and each other's company. When we were through, I helped her clean up and then we went to the living room.

"So what are we going to do today?" she asked, wrapping her arms around my waist.

I shrugged and held her to me. "I didn't really make any plans. Is there anything you want to do?"

She blushed and looked down for a second. I smiled to myself, hoping her blush meant what I wanted it to mean. She finally looked up at me shyly and smiled a timid smile.

"I guess as long as we spend some time in the bedroom today, I'm up for anything."

I nodded and kissed her forehead. "I'm sure we can fit that in somehow."

She smiled a brighter smile and stood on her toes to kiss me. "Could we fit it in right now?"

"Hell yeah." I kissed her harder, and she grabbed my hands, leading me down the hall.

"This is so beautiful, Jake," Nessie said as we walked along the cliffs about a half a mile from my house. The sky was overspread with multi-hued gray clouds, and the sea was dark with wild waves smashing against the face of the cliffs. "It must be nice to be able to come here whenever you want."

I held her hand as we walked, and smiled when she would point something out to me like the patterns in the clouds or the wildlife that didn't seem to care we were here.

"I guess it's nice. It's much nicer sharing it with you, though."

She smiled up at me brightly and I squeezed her fingers. She stepped a little closer to me and her smile fell.

"I don't want to go home, Jake," she said softly. It was nearing the end of our day, and I'd have to take her back in an hour.

I stopped walking and pulled her into my arms. "Then stay here."

She shook her head. "I can't. I have to work and go to school and you have work." She squeezed her arms around my waist and I held her tighter.

"So? Stay with me and you can just go to work or school from my house."

She looked up at me and bit her lip. She was quiet for a minute before she finally sighed. "As much as I want to, Jake, I just don't think now is the right time." She shook her head and pushed her face into my chest. I ran my fingers through her hair and kissed the top of her head.

"It's okay, baby. Someday I'll change your mind."

She nodded. "Someday; when it's right."

I held her for a few minutes before she sighed again and pulled away. "We have an hour, Jake; what are we doing mourning when we should be taking advantage of it?" She took my hand and started walking again. I smiled and kissed her knuckles as we walked. "Show me around your woods."

"As you wish."

I took her back to my house, taking a leisurely path through the woods, showing her everything I thought she'd find interesting. She was taken in by the beauty of the place, and I loved the look on her face when she found something fascinating to her. She was amazed when I pointed out an eagle's nest in one of the trees. The look of awe on her face was radiant and her enthusiasm made me realize just how lucky I was to be here. I'd never thought of things she saw so easily, like how peaceful it was with just the sounds of wildlife or how magnificent the trees were. They were things I'd known all my life, and yet somehow it felt like I was noticing them now for the first time.

It was starting to get dark when we got back to my house. Nessie got her things together, and I did my best to help her. She didn't have much, and it was bittersweet when she set her things on the couch and turned to me.

"I love you, Jacob," she said, pushing herself into me. I held her tightly.

"I love you, too. If it's okay, I'd like to pick you up from school on Thursday and we can do something."

She nodded and kissed my chest. "I'd like that."

We were both quiet for a moment as I held her, just enjoying the feel of her in my arms. I didn't want to let her go, but I knew it was inevitable. I squeezed her a little tighter, and she squeezed me back for a moment before pulling back.

"We should go." She looked up at me and I wanted nothing more than to take her back to my room and keep her there. I touched her cheek and nodded.

"Okay." I kissed her, and carried her bag to the car with her right behind me.

I tried to keep my groan to myself when I saw Edward's car parked in her driveway. I parked the car, but took a minute to make sure I could keep my temper in check before I walked her up to her door.

"You okay?" she asked, glancing at Edward's car before looking back at me.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just don't want any confrontation." I shook my head; confrontation with Edward was inevitable.

She smiled sadly. "You don't have to come up."

I shook my head again. "I'm not going to let him keep me away from you. I want to walk you up there and kiss you goodbye." I squeezed her fingers gently, and finally got out of the car. I carried her bag for her and she took a deep breath before we started our way up to the house. The door opened before we made it all the way, and Bella appeared in the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Welcome home, Nessie," she said with disapproval in her voice. I hated that Edward's issues with me had caused Nessie problems with her sister. As I looked between Nessie and Bella, I knew I needed to try to end this. It wasn't fair that Nessie was affected by it, especially now that I knew where to start.

"Hi, Bella," Nessie said, matching her sister's tone. "Can I come in, or are you going to make me stay outside?"

Bella glared at me before stepping back and letting Nessie in. I walked in behind her and I could feel Bella's glower burn through my back. I sighed as Nessie turned to me.

"Thursday, right?" she asked, putting her hands on my chest. I nodded and kissed her.

"Thursday."

"What's happening Thursday?" Bella asked, looking between Nessie and me.

Nessie didn't even look at Bella as she said, "Not that it's any of your business, but we have a date on Thursday."

Bella huffed and Edward appeared in the doorway to the hall. I took a breath to try to control myself and gather my courage at the same time.

"So you decided to bring her home after all?" Edward said. I noticed Nessie roll her eyes.

"Can I talk to you outside, Edward?" I said, looking over at him. Nessie looked up at me, and I tried to smile for her.

"Why?" Edward asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

I stepped back from Nessie and turned to face him. "Because I'm fed up with this. You can torment me all you want, but you leave Nessie alone. Why the hell did you never tell me what happened? If I had known about the job—"

"You knew, Jacob. You knew that I'd gotten it and you just couldn't accept it." Edward came up to me, and I pushed Nessie back so she wouldn't be in the way. She and Bella both stood there and I prayed I could keep this from turning into a fistfight. Anger surged through me at his accusation.

"For god's sake, Edward, if I had known you'd gotten the job I would have declined the offer." I tried hard not to yell, but it was difficult.

"How could you not know, Jacob; I told your sister and I know she tells you everything." He was yelling now.

"Don't you dare bring Rachel into this; she and Paul had enough shit going on with the miscarriage, and you knew damn good and well that she wasn't okay."

He rolled his eyes at me. "Not Rachel, you asshole; your other sister."

I stopped for a minute, not even sure how to react to that. "Rebecca?" I said. He nodded his head like I'd gone crazy. I closed my eyes and turned away for a second just to keep from knocking his teeth out. "You told Rebecca and just expected her to tell me? Edward, she was worse off than Rachel; she got herself hitched and left the state. The only time I've heard from her in the last five years is a postcard saying she made it to Hawaii, and didn't want anything to do with the family anymore."

That seemed to get to him. He rocked backward slightly and his face sobered, no longer angry.

"So, she didn't tell you?" he asked.

I huffed. "No, she didn't tell me!"

"Mike told me you put the application in once you heard I got the job."

I rolled my eyes. "Mike lied; I put the application in three months before we graduated and he turned me down. He called me back after we'd graduated and told me that he'd reevaluated my app. I didn't resubmit anything."

He blinked a few times and sucked in a deep breath. "You really didn't apply just because I'd gotten it?" he asked, furrowing his brow like he wasn't sure what he wanted to believe.

I sighed and held out my hands. "Honestly, Edward, why would I do that? We both had the same degree and if I had known you got the job I would have thrown you a party, not steal it from you."

"Why would Mike lie to me?" Edward asked, getting defensive again.

I shrugged. "I don't know. Why would Mike call me back for the job if he'd already hired you?"

Edward looked down and sighed. He shuffled his feet a little. It would be a while before he accepted what I was saying was true. I didn't expect an apology; Edward wasn't a man to apologize for anything. But I did hope that this at least settled things down for Nessie. I looked over at her she smiled at me. I smiled back; she and Bella were standing together, hands clasped.

"So I guess this means I was wrong," Edward said, still looking down. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked up at me warily.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Just think it over, Edward. Let it sink in." I went to Nessie and she pushed herself against me. Bella went over to Edward and I briefly wondered what she thought of me now.

"Thank you so much, Jake," Nessie said, kissing my chest. I kissed the top of her head and she smiled up at me.

"I love you, baby."

She nodded and stood on her toes for a kiss.

I left with a final glance over at Edward. He looked truly shaken and an angry part of me hoped he was tearing himself apart. He was nothing if not melodramatic like that.

When I got home from work on Wednesday, Edward's car was parked in front of my house. I sighed to myself and tried to prepare for whatever it was he wanted. I got out and noticed him getting out of his car, too. He stood by his door, rubbing his neck for a moment before starting over to me.

"Hey, Jake," he said hesitantly, as if he expected me to kick him off my property. In any other situation, I might have, but I had a feeling this had something to do with Saturday when I had taken Nessie home.

I nodded in acknowledgment and stopped on the lawn. He stopped in front of me and took a deep breath.

"I don't really know what to say," he started, finally looking up to meet my eyes. "For so long I thought you'd gone behind my back and betrayed me. I hated you. Now that I know that's not what happened, I don't even know what to feel."

I nodded. "I know what you mean, Edward. I always thought you just up and decided I wasn't your friend anymore and tried to make everyone else think it was something I did. I thought it was intentional, not something like this—not a misunderstanding."

We were both quiet for a moment, and I could tell from the look on his face that he was struggling with himself. Finally he held his hand out.

"No more enemies?" he asked with a smirk.

I took a breath and shook his hand. "No more enemies. And can you tell your girlfriend to back off my girlfriend? Nessie's been taking it pretty hard."

He nodded. "Yeah, I talked to Bella and she understands. From what she told me, she and Nessie had a good talk about it Sunday."

"Good." I was happy to hear that Nessie's war was over. We dropped our hands and it was awkward again for a minute.

"You want a drink?" I wasn't sure if we were friends again yet or not, but I figured we'd have to start somewhere.

He shrugged. "Why not?"

~*~NPOV ~*~

I kissed Jake goodbye Thursday night and bit my lip as I watched him walk back to his car. I shut the door when he pulled out of the driveway, and turned around to see Bella standing by the kitchen door with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Hey, you did decide to come home," she said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes; I'd been out later than I had anticipated.

"Yes, mother," I said jokingly. She chuckled and came up to me for a hug. I hugged her back tightly, glad to finally have my sister back.

"I don't suppose you're hungry at all?" she asked.

I shook my head. "No, Jake took me to dinner. Thanks, though."

She nodded and pushed my hair behind my ear. Her smile was maternal and reminded me of our mother's smile. "I'm glad you had a good time."

We walked into the kitchen where she had her dinner set out. I grabbed a plate and nibbled on the chicken anyway, even though I wasn't hungry.

"So, have you seen Edward lately?" I asked, wondering if he'd talked to Jake like he said he was going to. Jake hadn't said anything about the situation other than to ask me how Bella and I were doing.

She nodded. "Yeah, he said he went out there yesterday and they were able to put most of it behind them."

I plucked some more meat off the chicken and nodded as I munched. Bella and I had talked about the whole situation on Sunday and she apologized to me for how she'd been acting. I accepted her apology; I didn't want any more fights in the house, and I just wanted the whole thing over with. Knowing what Edward had thought, it was easy to see that Bella was just trying to protect me. Now she knew what I knew all along; Jacob was a really good man, and would never intentionally hurt someone.

We finished off the chicken and I went to bed, looking forward to Friday night when Jake would come get me again for another Saturday together.