A/N: I know this story is going kind of slow, but after this chapter it picks up. I can't stress it enough, this is a Jake/Bella story... if you've read LTM you know me... keep the faith peeps! Also I've added more pics to my photobucket account for this story along with a banner that La Push Starlight from Printing Paws has made for me. One more thing I am going to be changing my name here on . My name change isn't a big one just dropping the numbers at the beginning and going with plain ole Lynn, so when you see alerts or updates don't delete :)

Chapter 3

When Dakota woke up later that afternoon, Jake's head was resting on the cushion by her hip. She knew he was tired. Wanting him to rest, she slowly rose from the couch and made her way into the kitchen. Sarah was sitting at the table slowly sipping a cup of black coffee. When Dakota walked in Sarah looked up at her and gave her a sad smile, "He says you are going with him?"

Dakota bowed her head not wanting to answer but wanting to scream from the rooftop at the same time YES YES, "I am," she chose to whisper instead still not meeting her tribal elder's eyes.

Sarah hummed her response and the two sat quietly for some time before Dakota heard her shift in her seat, "Look at me girl."

Slowly Dakota's eyes rose to meet Sarah's, "He loves you; that much I can see, and you him."

Still looking at Sarah, Dakota slowly shook her head.

"You will treat him good; he's a good man, better than half the lot within our own tribe. He holds respect for his father and his land. He's told me many stories but has kept their traditions and legends secret as I would do the same."

Dakota's hands were gripping the seat of her chair, nervous as to what Sarah was going to say next.

"I know him Dakota, he needs a woman to care for him. He's never really been cared for before the right way, nor has he experienced the right kind of love. He's told you this before?"

Dakota's eyes were filled with tears remembering what Jake had told her the night before of the girl named Bella Swan who he had loved since he was little and what their relationship was like, "I know what he's been through and I wouldn't ever do something like that to him."

Sarah almost beamed at her before she gave Dakota a swift nod and then lifted her chin looking past her. "He's a good boy."

Dakota felt a shiver run down her spine when she heard his chuckle behind her, turning in her seat she smiled at him as he made his way in the room to her.

Bending down Jake kissed Dakota before standing back at his full height. Walking over to Sarah he held out his hand and she took it, allowing him to help her stand. Enveloping Sarah in a hug Jacob laughed when her breath caught at the shock from it, "thank you." He said into the top of her head before pulling back from her.

With out looking back Jacob made his way upstairs to pack what little things he had gained since moving in with Sarah. When he came back down stairs Dakota was sitting at the table silent tears rolling down her face. Striding over to her he wiped them away before pulling her from the chair, as they walked out the front door he could hear Sarah in her room humming a song that she often did when she was sad. It was hard leaving the woman behind but he knew at some point he would be back to see her.

They weren't far from the house when Dakota pulled him to a stop, her eyes showing her worry, "we're really going to do this?" He could hear the uncertainty lacing through her words.

As he began walking again, Jake tucked Dakota into his side. "Never been more sure of anything in my life, so is there a bus station around here?"

Placing her hand on his stomach as they continued to walk down the sidewalk, Dakota smiled up at him, "Oh I have something better than a bus."

A smile spread across her face, and Jake raised an eyebrow to that, "Really?" Nodding, Dakota led them down the street.

The dust was flying around the storage unit as Dakota pulled the bright blue plastic tarp off a small SUV. His jaw dropped open as he walked around the car; when his finger touched the glossy pain he let out a low whistle of appreciation.

"Who's is this?"

She could see Jake was practically foaming at the mouth, she felt the same way about the truck the first time she had watched it slowly roll down the road.

"Would you believe me if I told you it was mine?"

His head snapped up to hers, their eyes locking across the back of car. "Really?" He smiled slowly at her a gleam in his eye, "How so?"

"Well I've been working since I was fifteen and wanting this car since the first time I saw Roger Lukin cruise the strip in it. Last year when he left town, Mr. Lukin put it up for sale and I bought it, well I'm still paying on it but the title is in the glove box. This baby is mine," she said while running her hand across the hood.

"You know how much this is worth, right Dakota?" Jake asked as he took a step back, eyeing the truck.

Rocking back on her heels she placed both of her palms on the hood of the truck, "Jake I haven't done anything since I was fifteen. I work and go to school and pay rent, that's it. I've had three years to save up money from working at Western Curios and tutoring, and Mr. Lukin just wanted to get rid of it, he gave me one hell of a deal."

"Do you owe a lot on it; I mean I could help you-"

"No I don't and even if I did I wouldn't ask you for help, its good Jake, I promise."

Opening up the door, Jake could see why Dakota had gotten, as she called it, one hell of a deal. The inside of the truck was a total wreck. There were wires hanging down from under the metal dash which was littered with rust, the seats were two different types and were riddled with holes the fake leather peeling. It was then he noticed Dakota digging under the dash for something, he practically snorted when he saw her pull a jumble of wires toward her and stick a key in the ignition somewhere in the mess. Looking at him, her face lit up when the truck started with two pumps of the gas.

Slowly making their way down the road Jake kept watch on Dakota, she kept biting her lip and squeezing the wheel harder.

"Hey," he said while brushing his knuckle against her jaw, "if you want me to, I can go in and get your stuff. It's not like they can hurt me." He said trying to ease the tension swirling around in the car.

She just glanced at him before nodding her head.

When they finally pulled into the driveway, Dakota let out a breath of relief, "they aren't here!" She almost squealed as she slammed the truck in park and bolted out the driver's door. When she got to the front door of the house she didn't even bother with trying to unlock it she just shoved the door open and made her way down the hall.

Jake followed her, stopping in his tracks when he saw her room. The sight caused a growl to roll from his chest, and his fists were clenching trying to ebb his anger as the wolf was tried to fight its way out. Dakota's room was nothing more than a twin sized mattress thrown in the middle of the floor, a dirty looking quilt made up the bed, no furniture was in the room and her clothes were in baskets or neatly folded on the floor. The paint was peeling in every corner and the two windows that were in the room were broken, covered with clear plastic and tape. Her room was much different then the rest of the house with its new paint, carpet and furniture.

Dakota's eyes snapped to his and she looked scared for a second before she was running over to him pressing her hands into his face and then threading them through his hair. It took her a while to calm him down; eventually she had to cover his eyes with her hands. When he was finally calm she turned him around so all he could see was the wall, covered with every single thing he had given her or written to her since they had been together. He stayed calm while she packed the rest of her room. Grabbing his hand she jerked him toward back down the hall, but not before he could jerk the cork board from the wall.

Looking back at the room before he let her jerk him down the hall, he vowed to never let her live like that again, and any doubt in his mind about her missing family when she moved with him was completely erased.

Jake's palms were wet with sweat and sore from having them clenched into fists nearly the entire ride from Browning to La Push. On top of the anger from her living conditions. Jake was nervous about his reintroduction to the pack and about answering to his sister, that was for sure, but seeing his father was another thing all together. When the truck rumbled past the sign welcoming them to the Quileute Reservation, Jake shot a weary glance toward Dakota, what if she didn't like it? What if the sight of all the small little wood run down houses and beat up old cars turned her off? The Blackfeet Reservation was much larger than the Quileute Reservation, and everything was overall much nicer there. He was pleased to see a wide smile on her face as she took it all in.

When he pointed in the direction of the little red house, his nerves got the best of him and his heart started hammering in his chest. His wolf began to move under the surface, it knew he was home. He was scanning the forest longing to bolt out of the truck and just run. His fingers laced around the door handle when his eyes caught sight of grey fur just far enough into the forest that any normal person wouldn't have been able to see.

Leah.

When Dakota turned into the driveway she parked in the same spot that Bella always did. His rabbit was no where to be seen. Before the truck completely stopped, Jake was out of the car. The moment his feet hit the ground a weight was lifted off his shoulders, one that he didn't even realize was there, and he felt a zing of electricity shoot through him. Before he could make it completely around the truck, Leah came running out of the woods into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist. Falling back on the ground, Jake grunted when she punched him in the stomach.

They wrestled in the yard for a bit, Leah holding one arm behind his back while giving him a noogie, he of course, was stronger than she, but he was having fun and Leah was happy, so why not? When a throat cleared behind them, Leah stilled and Jake shot up to his feet dumping her onto the damp ground below.

Dakota's heart was beating almost out of her chest, her eyes were hesitant and a little worried. As Jake made his way to her Leah shot out from behind him and came to a halt a few feet from his imprint. He fought a growl working it's way up his chest and when Leah turned and bared her teeth at him, he couldn't help but smile.

"Leah Clearwater. So you must be Jake's imprint?"

Dakota moved to the side, searching around Leah to get the OK from Jake. When he smiled at her and bobbed his head Dakota stuck out her hand and shook Leah's, "Dakota."

Leah didn't bother shaking Dakota's hand, she just smiled at her before turning on Jake. "Sam is so pissed; you're in for it tonight. Oh yeah, bonfire, eight o'clock. See you there, lover boy." With that, Leah cut back into the woods. Jake could hear her phase right out of the dress she was wearing, then her four paws digging into the earth as she made her way to the patrol route.

When he looked up at Dakota she was watching the woods her mouth open wide. "She's nothing like you said she was."

"Weird huh, something must have happened when I was-," a wolf whistle stopped him mid-sentence, he could hear four feet thundering down the gravel road "These two," he said while throwing his thumb over his shoulder to the end of the drive way, "have been bugging the shit out of me since I was a kid."

When Quil and Embry spotted Jake, they nodded at each other in unison, a daring look in their eyes. Jake turned and placed himself in front of Dakota, awaiting their antics. The two of them took off at a full tilt toward Jake. Reaching him, they picked Jake up behind then knees and slammed him down on the ground ganging up on him. Dakota was watching the three boys wrestle in the back yard when Billy rolled up beside her.

"Sadly," Billy started making Dakota jump and place a shaking hand over her heart. He chuckled before he started again, "this is something that you're going to have to deal with quite often now that he's back."

Looking down at the man in the wheelchair, Dakota could see Jake in Billy, she smiled at him before looking back at the boys. Both of them were sitting on his back, one of them had him in a head lock while the other was trying to fold his legs into some sort of pretzel.

"I'm Billy Black, Jacob's-"

"Father." Dakota whispered as she continued to watch the two other boys wrestle around with Jake, "Chief of the Tribe." She stated still not taking her eyes off Jake.

When she finally did tear her eyes away from the wrestling match, she saw that Billy was nodding his head but he too was watching the boys, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Its good to have him home."

"Jacob Ephraim Black!" A woman's voice cut through the air, making the hairs on the back of Dakota's neck stand on end and her body freeze. All activity in the yard stopped as the two boys that were on Jacob jumped and then backed away from him swiftly. Jumping to his feet, Jake brushed the mud and grass off his pants before looking sheepishly up. The small girl charged between Billy and Dakota brushing shoulders with her as she marched toward Jake. When she got to him she stood on her tip toes before slapping him across the face and then jumping into his arms to hug him all the while yelling at him for scaring the shit out of her and Billy. Her yelling turned into sorrow filled apologies.

Jake held the girl in place, telling her that it was OK, that he was sorry too, all while rolling his eyes at Dakota and Billy. When Dakota felt heat, much like Jake's, to her right she turned but was met with a wall of naked muscle. Looking up she saw a man staring at the two, he didn't look mad nor did he look happy he was just watching.

"Rach, get off of him," the rumble of the mans voice rolled over Dakota causing her to take a step toward Billy. "I'm sure your dad wants to see him too. What with these two assholes and Leah jumping him as soon as he got out of the truck, he probably hasn't even gotten to see him yet."

So that means, Dakota thought to herself before the man turned his head to look down at her, "Paul, and that's Rachel," he stated before his head snapped up again, "damn it Rach!" Paul yelled before jogging off toward her ripping her off of Jake before she was able to put up a fight, earning himself a smack to the chest and then her tongue. He didn't seem to mind in the least as he stuck out his large hand to take Jake's.

As Paul and Jake exchanged conversation, Embry and Quil walked up to Dakota. Introducing himself Embry just sent her a wave, but Quil, being Quil, he had to bend at the knee and then plant a wet sloppy kiss on Dakota's hand. Walking up behind Quil, Jake slapped his hand down on his neck and pulled him up, "hands and lips off the imprint, Atera."

"So dude, you hear about the bonfire tonight, eight o'clock?" Jake rolled his eyes wondering how many more of his friends were going to stop by and tell him about the bonfire.

"Yo Em, we gotta jet!" Quil yelled over his shoulder while shooting Dakota another wink and then darting out of Jake's reach before he could get him. Once they were completely out of sight, Rachel introduced herself and Paul, before she ordered him and Jake to get the bags from the car while pulling Dakota toward the house.

Hours later, Jake and Dakota were walking down the dirt path toward an already roaring bonfire. They were already an hour-and-a-half late but Jake wasn't concerned. It had started raining right after everyone had left and then Rachel went about holding Dakota hostage until she told her everything. Finally Rachel had stopped drilling her long enough so that Jake was able to steal her away. He had sheepishly shown her his still messy room, and then the two lay down on his tiny bed and fell asleep in each others arms. Sleeping in a La Push with his imprint in his arms Jake's wolf was totally and completely at ease.

The bonfire went well enough; until a truly irate Charlie Swan pulled into the First Beach parking lot, sirens a blazing, he apparently heard though the grapevine that Jacob was back. The pack actually laughed at Jake when his mouth popped open just as Charlie took out his handcuffs and threatened to take Jake down to the station unless he told him just what the hell he had been doing for a year and a half. When Billy told him that he would tell him later, Charlie gave them both a huff and flopped down on a log next to Sue Clearwater but kept his eyes on Jake and Dakota for most of the night.

Sam didn't say much to Jake really, he told him with enough Alpha timbre in his voice that the pack felt it that they needed to talk and soon. Jake merely nodded and went back to holding his imprint. Dakota got along well with the other imprints; the girls sat and got to know her while all the guys and Leah caught up with Jake. He could have sworn that he saw some glances being thrown around between Embry and Leah, but he wasn't sure.

As the night wore on, everyone gathered around the campfire readying themselves for the finale. When Billy began the stories Dakota watched with rapt attention. Jake told her these same stories word for word, but this time even he was caught up in it all. His father's voice took on a tone that seemed to captivate everyone. While he talked their chests puffed with pride and their hearts broke, it was like they were right there. When Billy finished with the stories he was actually able to tell while Charlie was present, Sue made it a point to excuse herself and ask Charlie if he would take her home. As Charlie rose from the log, Jake could clearly see the blush on his cheeks and he was reminded of Bella. It was then that Sue bent down and gave Dakota a hug and welcomed her to the pack. As Charlie and Sue walked toward the parking lot, Billy slowly began to tell the rest of the stories, the most sacred ones. Later in the evening, Jake and Dakota stood beside Billy as the council and the pack welcomed her, as an imprint and as a member of the tribe.

After that night, Jake got back into the groove of patrolling and working. While Jacob was away, Sam. with the help of the council, opened a construction company which most of the pack, minus Leah and Seth, worked for. When he wasn't working or patrolling, Jake and Dakota were spending as much time together as they could without Billy's constant watching. The rest of their time was spent with the pack. Dakota had grown really close to Kim and Emily.

Three months after they came back to La Push, Dakota asked about the garage. They were sitting on Jake's front porch, she was bundled in a blanket, her feet where in his lap as he was bent over working with a small piece of wood. His hand slipped off the wood and the knife sliced right through the pad of his thumb. His eyes didn't move from the knife or the blood flow that was slowly beginning to trickle off, the red puddle on the step of the porch seemed to still have his attention when she pulled her legs from his lap and scooted over to him.

She sat there, her arm pressing into his before he finally looked up at her, sorrow in his eyes. He was avoiding the garage. Mostly because he knew that even after being closed up for as long as it had, somewhere in there he would be able to smell Bella. They had spent as much time in that garage as he and Dakota had spent sitting on the front porch watching it rain. He didn't say anything but watched as Dakota pulled the wool blanket tighter around her body and took off toward the abandoned structure. When she got to the front doors she turned toward him and waited. He didn't want to go over, but the first shiver that rolled through his imprint had him moving. His heart was hammering in his chest with each step that he took. Just as he reached the garage, Embry and Quil stepped out of the woods pushing each other and laughing. With a smack to Quil's chest Embry pointed toward the garage, they froze where they stood and waited.

Jake felt them watching him, waiting for his move, his imprint was now standing with her arms crossed, tapping her foot, waiting as well. With a side glance at his two best friends and then a glance at Dakota, Jake reached for the chain and snapped it with a flick of his wrist. He could hear both Embry and Quil's exhale and then he flung the doors open.

As the doors swung open, the musty scent of the garage wafted across Jake's face. He could smell the damp dirt and dust and the grease. When Bella's scent finally made its way to him, he was a little shocked when he found himself drawing in a deep breath, actually wanting to smell herscent then. The thought of Bella alive and well skittered across his mind and then his heart did a little drop because deep down he knew she wasn't. With a shake of his head, Jake stepped away from the garage and closed the door earning a look from Dakota. Taking her hand Jake led her away from the garage not wanting Bella's memory to surround him and his imprint.

They didn't venture far from the house mostly because Dakota wasn't used to that much rain and because Jake really just wanted her all to himself. Billy was like a watch dog, always watching every move they made around the house, and even Charlie although he wasn't talking to Billy much seemed in on it too. When they would venture to Forks his eye was always on the two of them.

Jake had given Dakota his old room while he slept in the twin's room on a day bed with a mattress that seemed much smaller and more lumpy than his own. He would sneak into his old room after Billy had gone to sleep to just simply lay with his imprint. They would stay awake until the early hours of the morning talking, per Dakota's request they were taking things slow. Almost at a snail's pace, but Jake was fine with that. Whatever his imprint wanted, not only that but every time they would try to do something, take things to the next level, Billy was always around and, it never failed, always interrupting them. He would sigh out his disappointment while Dakota would hug him close to her body and laugh.

Slowly, fall turned into winter and then into spring. Jake could tell as the months passed that Dakota was going stir crazy. He would catch her staring out of the windows, and sometimes pacing the house. Eventually he and Billy talked her into signing up for online classes through Peninsula College, but even then Leah would tag along with her when she really needed to go on campus. It wasn't enough.

They were once again sitting on the front porch; Jake was tearing apart a carburetor while Dakota sat on the last step, her head hung back between her shoulder blades soaking up the warming rays of the April sun. It had been an unseasonable warm day. Billy called out for Jake, asking him if he could run to the store to pick up a few things. He knew it was getting close to his patrol time, but he also knew that Sam wouldn't give him much trouble if he told him Billy asked him do to something. Setting the carburetor down on the porch, Jake leaned forward and wrapped his hands around Dakota's waist drawing her near him.

"How bout it honey you wanna run to Forks?"