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We Meet Again – Ch 4

Jacob. I heard Sam call in my head. Come home. I was left in silence.

I pounded through the trees. Incredibly though, all I could think about was the fact that I had ruined one of my better pairs of shorts – torn it to shreds. My brain refused to replay what had just happened. I focused on the lights that had just come into view. Silhouettes made the lights seem to flash on and off. Voices called out to one another, and I recognized all of them.

Elena met me as I came out of the woods, and, bless her, a pair of shorts was hanging over her arm. I phased back, took the shorts, and pulled them on wearily. The others gathered around us, their faces full of concern.

"They're here," I said, answering the unspoken questions. "Bella's with them… and one of them."

Paul growled. "If one of them so much as puts a toe over the line…" He cracked his knuckles menacingly.

"Paul, the treaty's obsolete!" I exploded. I closed my eyes and fought for the control that I had perfected, fought the heat that shivered down my spine. When I opened my eyes, the pack was staring at me with shocked expressions. Elena stared at me wide eyed. Sam was the exception; his face showed no surprise, the few seconds he had in my head had told him everything.

He backed me up. "Jacob's right. The treaty no longer applies. You'll all have to learn better control now." He looked pointedly at Paul before continuing, "We may be having visitors."

"No! None of this would have happened if he hadn't gotten involved with that leech-lover!" Leah pointed an accusing, shaking finger at me. Her whole body shook and everyone backed away quickly.

I snapped. Leah reacted and we phased simultaneously. I charged her, nipping at her neck as she dodged my attack. She bolted into the woods.

It's true, Jacob, and you know it, Leah sneered, weaving in and out of the trees.

I growled savagely, but stopped chasing her; there was no point, and it would only cause Elena to worry. Leah would keep running if she knew what was good for her.

I trotted out of the woods, disgusted with myself. After all these years, I had lost control. I snapped at the slightest provocation. And I had broken my promise to Elena; that Bella's return wouldn't matter, that everything would be fine. I knew that I had hurt her. But when I saw the third pair of shorts hanging over the short wooden railing that followed the steps up to the house, I knew that she loved me – unconditionally – and that she would forgive me even though I didn't deserve it.

I phased back for the third time that night, pulled on my shorts again, and went inside. Elena was methodically washing the dishes in the little kitchenette. I walked around the table and headed into the tiny living room. I fell heavily on the old couch, resting my elbows on my knees, my head in my hands.

The cushion sank beside me moments later, and gentle, loving hands pried me hands away from my face. I stared at the floor, keeping my eyes away from her face. She took one of my hands in both of hers. "Jacob," she said softly, her voice infused with the love that I didn't deserve, "it's ok."

No, this was not okay. It was wrong. She shouldn't be comforting me; I should be comforting her, after what had happened. I met her gaze slowly and placed my free hand on the side of her face, stroking her cheek with my thumb. She turned her head and kissed my palm. I smiled. "It will be okay, 'Lena. I promise not to hurt you… only, I know I'm doing a lousy job right now."

"You're dealing with this in the only way you know how," she said. She was all too understanding sometimes. "I love you no matter what, Jacob."

"You love me more than I deserve," I complained. I pressed my lips to hers tenderly. She pulled away after a long moment.

"You're right, but I wouldn't have it any other way." She stood up and grinned, her white teeth flashed in the lamp light. "Now, it's nearly midnight, and you hardly get any sleep any more. Time for bed." I followed her obediently into the bedroom and sank gratefully onto the pillow.

The last thing I remembered as I fell asleep was Elena turning off the lights as she whispered goodnight.

Bella was laughing, her face slightly flushed, as she ran ahead of me. She danced through the trees, never even tripping once. I called after as she stepped into a sunlit clearing. Her back was to me as I entered. She seemed radiant in the sun. I walked up to her as clouds began to cover the sun and the clearing grew dark. Bella turned around suddenly, but it was a different Bella than the one that had gone into the clearing. Her face was no longer happy and carefree. She was smiling, but it was a wild, insane smile. Two sharp points poked down from under her white lips. Her skin was pale. She looked at me with mad, blood red eyes, and laughed wickedly.

I hit the floor with a thud and was jarred awake. I lay on the cool floor, gasping for air.

"Jacob?" said Elena, alarmed. Her head appeared over the edge of the bed. "What is it? You started moaning, and then you fell off the bed."

"Nightmare," I muttered as she turned on the lamp on the bedside table. I used the bed to pull myself up. My chest shined from the sweat in the glow of the lamp. Elena looked at me worriedly. "Go back to sleep honey, I'm just going to step out for a bit." She nodded and kissed my forehead.

The cool night air helped soothe my nerves. I sat on the steps, listening to the night life chirp contentedly, unconcerned about the future.

After a while, the sky lightened noticeably. I sighed and went back into the house. Elena was in the kitchen, cooking breakfast like always. I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist.

"You worried me last night," she said quietly, flipping the pancakes.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. I kissed the top of her head.

There was a knock at the door. The knocker didn't wait for me to open the door. Embry came in, followed by Quil, who had six-year-old Claire on his back, laughing delightedly as Quil galloped around the house. Elena set the plate bearing a mountain of pancakes on the table. Embry and I sat down and helped ourselves, while Quil set Claire in a chair and gave her a pancake before digging in himself. Elena set a pitcher and sat down between Claire and me.

Embry said something incoherently through a mouthful of food. Claire giggled. Embry swallowed and began again. "Sam wants us down at First Beach again. As soon as we're done," he added.

I glanced at Elena, who smiled. "Emily and I have some shopping to do." She cleared the empty pancake plate and pitcher of juice. I got up and cleared the plates. I kissed Elena's cheek and then followed Embry and Quil out the door.

"I'll be right there. I have to drop Claire off with Kim," Quil told us.

Embry and I nodded and raced each other to the beach. Sam, Paul, Jared, and Seth were sprawled along the beach already. Leah still hadn't come back. Quil joined us a few minutes later.

Sam sat up and told us why he had gathered us together. "I think we should start going over some drills." He explained more, "With the Cullens back, a new threat could easily come up. We need to stay alert now."