Chapter Seven everyone! I've worked real hard on it! I'm so sorry its taken so long! I've had to deal with a lot and I've been really depressed...I haven't wanted to do anything to be honeset...Sorry my dears!

Disclaimer!~ All characters except my OC's are Stephanie Mayers!


For once in my life I can see,

I have somone to stand beside me.

You are here and that's what matters,

For once I am not alone.


Chapter Seven::

Era

I knew I should have pushed Jacob away from me, but I didn't. The warmth that radiated from him and the safety I felt wrapped up in his arms stopped me. I had never felt like this before in my life with another man, I had always been afraid of them, but Jacob was somehow different, though I couldn't quite understand why.

"Era," Carlisle said, reaching out and softly touching my shoulder. Jacob growled at him and pulled me closer to his chest. Carlisle smirked and slowly stepped a few respectable feet back. I eyed him curiously. Wouldn't he be upset at Jacob's growl? "Lucian will be fine. He has the flu," my heart seemed to stop and I stopped breathing. "He'll need some time but I can give him medicent that'll help kick it out of his systems."

I didn't think twice before launching myself at Carlisle and hugging him tightly. "Thank you! I...I don't...I don't know what I would've done if I had lost my little boy! Thank you Carlisle!" I sobbed like a small child as he hugged me back, overjoyed knowing Lucian was safe.

"It was my pleasure," he murmured and placed a kiss on my forehead before pulling away. Jacob's arms immediately were around me again and he snarled at Carlisle again. "Now, he should be fine tonight, he just needs rest. Alice will be over in the morning with his medicen." With that, he left and it was only Jacob and I.

"Era," Jacob murmured, bending his head down to press his lips against my ear. His warm breathe against my skin made my body tingle and my blood thrum through my body. "Rest, you need it. Any longer like this and you'll end up worse off than Lucian. I'll stay with you until fall asleep."

Before I could tell him to back off and let me go, he picked me up. I gasped and blushed, grabbing onto him. I turned even redder when I noticed that he was shirtless. Oh damn...I whispered in my head and as he pressed his lips to my hair. "I'll watch over you until Charlie comes home."

The exhausten and no sleep of the past few days finally dragged and wared on my body. My eyes slowly began to close and my body relaxed into Jacob's embrace. For once in my life I felt safe, and it was a strange feeling.

As he laid me down beside Lucian on our bed, he pulled my blanket up and over me and placed yet another soft kiss on my forehead. I fell asleep slowly, drifting off into nothing and my last thought in my head before I went into a deep sleep was this; Am I actually starting to like Jacob?...


"Hello!?" I looked around, walking through the abandoned warehouse. Liam and his friends had talked in me into going with them to raid this place. I can't believe I let them talk me into it!

"Liam!" I shouted, flinching and shaking slightly at the sounds of clattering and things falling over in the warehouse. "This isn't funny you guys!"

I heard laughter and suddenly, I was grabbed from behind. My hands were bound above my head and a hand slapped over my mouth. I screamed and struggled against whoever it was. The person behind me chuckled deeply and I felt his breath fan my face and his lips against my right ear. "Keep doing that, its a major fucking turn on baby."

I stopped struggling but my fear spiked. "L-Liam...? W-what...what are you doing? LET ME GO!" I screamed and his hand moved over my mouth again. Tears bloomed in my eyes and I tried claw at his hands

"Mmmm, you are so fucking hot when you cry. SO beautiful. The pained look you get is so sexy. Right fella's?" Liam growled and his friends all came out of the shadows, all of them sporting tents in their pants. I froze, the tears flowing faster as I realised what was going on...they brought me here, in the middle of no where, to rape me.

"Damn right she is," Tony said, walking forward and wrapping his hands around my throat, cutting off my air. "Mmm, we all get a chance at her, right?"

"Sure do. Best part is, she's a virgin. Wouldn't let me at her so I figured I could get some this way. Besides, it'll be fun messing up and defiling that pretty face of hers."

All of the others gathered around us and they pinned me down. I saw their eyes shift color from brown, greene, and blue, to pure blood red. I screamed and Liam, the man I thought I loved and who loved me, used his oddly sharp nails to slice up my clothes and he slapped across the face. I felt the skin break and knew I would have scars there for forever. I screamed again and struggled, feeling my own blood pool beneath me.

This couldn't be happening...LIAM!


That morning, I woke up thrashing and screaming Liam's name. I sat up and looked around, breathing hard and pressing a hand to the sweaty hot skin of my chest to calm down. Why? I thought, starting to cry like a baby, why did I have to remember!?

"M-mommy...?" A sweet, innocent voice asked softly and I felt a tug on the sleeve of my shirt. I turned my head to see Lucian standing beside the bed, looking much better than he had just the night before. Charlie was standing behin him a concerned and frightened look on his face.

"What's up Charlie? Why's Lucian up an about? He shouldn't be up yet." I told him, slightly pissed off that Charlie had let him up and out of bed.

"I-I...h-he wanted to follow Jake around..." Charlie loooked down, his eyes growing bigger. "Era! Your face!" Charlie sounded very alarmed so I groaned, getting up and stumbling into the bathroom, I once again groaning.

I had a huge-and now definitely throbbing-bruise on my right cheek and I had the startings of a very hurtful and painful black eye. I sighed softly and went back into the room, looking at my clock. "Oh my god! Charlie! Its three in the after noon!" I shrieked, whirling on the poor man.

He blanched and held up his hands in a sign of peace. "I'm sorry, I knew you hadn't slept so I just wanted you to rest." He mumbled and I felt absolutely awful in that moment, seeing Charlie's hurt expression. The man had been nothin but kind and caring to me when I came into his life and I was being a total bitch. Maybe its time I changed my attitude towards him.

"Sorry Charlie. How about I make some soup? And it'll be a surprise! And you can invite anyone, I mean, we gotta have some fun while Bella's off somewhere, right!?" GAH! BEING THIS FAKE HAPPY IS BAD FOR MY BRAIN CELLS! KILL ME NOW!

Charlie smiled and nodded, picking Lucian up and taking him downstairs. The smile instantly fell from my face and I groaned again, randomly pulling something out of my closet and getting dressed. I didn't pay any mind to it, in fact, I didn't even realise what the fuck I was wearing until I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I was wearing an old pair of booty shorts that were fringed and looked like you could tear them off with a single pull on a belt loop.

I also wore one of my favorite t-shirts. Which, of course, wouldn't be a problem if...ya know...IT WASN'T A SKIN SHOWING SHREDDED ONE! I smacked myself for my stupidity, hissing as I hit the damned bruise on my cheek. I glanced at myself again and waved it off. It was probably only going to be just me and Charlie anywats so it's not like I had anything to worry about.

I walked down stairs and smiled at Charlie, who was on the phone with someone. I couldn't tell who and I didn't really bother asking. I went into the kitchen and picked Lucian up as he toddled around my legs, setting him down on a clear spot on the counter. He giggled and smiled, hugging my tightly. I knew he loved sitting and watching while I cooked. I liked to think he wanted to learn how to cook from me and I enjoyed it.

I bustled about the kitchen, getting out the ingredients I needed and-thanks to my grocery shopping a few days ago with that annoying oaf-I had all of them. I moved about, humming softly, smiling softly when I noticed Lucian start to sway to my tune. He recognized it.

As I began to work to prepare things for dinner, Charlie came walking in with a smile on his face. "Billy, Jacob, and his friends are coming over! They're all gonna watch the game!" I groaned. I didn't want to see Jacob again, not after letting him get close to me. I mean, I barely knew the guy and yet I curled up in his arms and cried like a baby. Its mortifying!

"Alright. I'll make enough."

About an hour or two later, I was busy stirring the soup in the crock pot when I heard loud voices. I stopped for a minute and picked Lucian up from the counter, going to the doorwat to watch. Charlie and an indian looking man in a wheelchair were busy laughing and the indian was chasing Charlie down with empty threats. Seeing as how old the indian was, I assumed he the one Charlie called, "Billy."

I heard more laughter, this time more young. I turned and nearly choked. Jacob was standing there shirtless and barefoot, wearing nothing but holy and torn jeans. His friends were no better. I blushed bright, trying to look anywhere but at him. I couldn't. Each time my eyes were drawn straight back to him.

Jacob caught me staring and grinned, rushing over to me. I blushed at his closeness and mumbled something before going back into the kitchen, trying to find some more food to make. I set Lucian down and he toddled into the other room, his curiosity taking over. I smiled. It would be good for him to be around other men.

Through the next hour, I chuckled quietly at the antics the guys watching the game would get up too. And then I found myself back in the kitchen, getting a bowl of my lovely taco soup when I heard someone clear their throat. I glanced up and saw Jacob standing there with a smirk on his face and his eyes roaming over me. Immediately I blushed and turned away like a shy child. I growled. Damnit! This so wasn't like me!

I shook my head and turned around, facing him head on. "What?" I snapped and instead of being scared or pissed off enough ot leave me alone, he only seemed amused by my anger. I growled.

"Go out with me." He said it in such a blunt way that I froze, gawking at him. He stared back at me, his dark-almost black-chocolate brown eyes dead serious. "I want to get to know you better." He walked up to me and pressed close. I could feel the pure body heat that came from him and instantly, I felt my body melting.

SAY NO! SAY NO! "Y-yes..." AGHHHHH YOU IDIOT! THINK BEFORE YOU SAY! WAAAAAAAA! I blushed crimson as I heard those words come out of my mouth.

Jacobs entire face lit up and a thousand watt smile graced his face. I had to admit, he was even more handsome with that smile. "Great. I'll pick you up at three tomorrow."

Jake

I mentally cheered when Era agreed. I couldn't believe! I was actually gonna go on a date with her! Of course, I thought, I wish she wouldn't be so scared of me. My mate isn't supposed to be scared. I sighed softly but my smile was kept in place as I walked into the living room.

"What's got you so happy son?" Billy asked, a knowing smile on his face.

My smile widened and I said, "I got a date with Era tomorrow." It was like someone hit a pause button. Whole room when silent and Charlie turned to stare at me.

"You do huh?" Charlie said, a dark aura emanting from him. I stepped back a little, cringing. "You better not blow it." I nodded frantically and Charlie turned back to the game, roaring and cheering. I groaned softly. I would have never thought Charlie could be scary. CHARLIE OF ALL PEOPLE!

Sitting down and watching the game didn't work for me trying to chill. My mind kept turning back to Era. Her white hair was ever present over the right side of her face, hiding her eye from me. I wanted to see it. I wanted to see the secrets that she kept hidden. I knew though, that would take time.

Era came out of the kitchen a little while later carrying Lucian in her arms again. I smiled. It was nice to see them both ok.

Watching the game with Era and the others was fun, surprisingly. I could tell by her scent that she was nervous about being near me, and whenever one of the guys or even Charlie, there was always the tint of fear. I didn't understand why.

I didn't dwell to long on it.

As the game was ending, I was sitting on the couch with Era sitting beside me, fast asleep. Her head lay on my shoulder and her arms were wrapped losely around a sleeping Lucian in her lap. I chuckled, smiling softly and kissing her forehead, wordlessly picking her up and taking her to her room I gently laid her down and pulled a blanket over her and Lucian.

I glanced down at her and then at the door reluctantly. I wanted to sty with her, I didn't want to leave, but I knew I had too. With one last sigh, I went out and outside, stripping down and taking my pants and tying them around my leg. I shifted and ran off, howling sadly.


OMG! I'M SO SORRY! I KNOW ITS BEEN SOOOOOO LONG SINCE I POSTED! CAN YOU FORGIVE ME?

Anywho! SQUUUUUEEEEAAAALLLLLL~! They're FINALLY getting all close and things! I hope you guys enjoy the next chapter! And I hope everyone's enjoying things and my writtings! See you all at the next installment!

~LonelyAnimeLily