A/N: I know its been a long time since I've updated, I've just gotten bit with the writing bug again. Also, receiving some recent reviews on this inspired me. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! It kind of led me on a wild goose chase into a territory I didn't think this story would go. Let me know what you think! Also, some adult language used. Just a warning.

Time seemed to drag on as the evening approached. I distracted myself as best I could with some light reading, even turning on the television to some mindless drama when the former failed to help my spinning thoughts. Charlie seemed surprised to find me on the couch when he returned from his shift.

"Hey, Bells. Anything good on?" He glanced sideways at me as he approached the worn couch. I shrugged and reached to hand him the remote, tucking my legs against my chest as I made room for him beside me.

"Not really, just passing the time."

Charlie flipped channels until he found the drone of an announcer giving a play by play of an athlete he seemed particularly impressed with. He watched, enamored for a moment before remembering my presence and returning his gaze back to me.

"Hey kiddo, you talked to Angela or Jessica lately? It's summer. You should be out with friends. You can't spend all your time in La Push, you know." His eyes seemed concerned as he took in my reddened eyes and my pajamas that I had thrown on earlier in the day.

"Angela is visiting her Aunt in Michigan all summer, and I'm pretty sure Jess isn't speaking to me." The latter was true, though I wasn't sure Angela hadn't returned already from her annual summer trip. School would be starting soon, as much as I tried not to think about it. Of course, involving them in the war between wolves and vampires was the last thing on my summer bucket list, as it stood.

Charlie seemed unsatisfied with my answer, but he let it go for now, returning to the announcer on the screen. I pushed myself off the couch and began to rifle in the fridge for a quick dinner. I really didn't have the motivation or energy to pull together a meal for us tonight, so I settled on sandwiches. I knew Charlie wouldn't mind.

"You okay, kid?" I could feel his concern as I brought his food to the living room. The last thing I needed was Charlie suddenly getting all observant and concerned. My supernatural struggles needed to stay under the radar where my father was concerned.

"I'm fine, just tired. Maybe I'm coming down with something. I think I'll head to bed." I rubbed my eyes for good measure and retreated towards the stairs.

"Alright. Call if you need anything."

He let it go easily enough and I quickly shuffled the rest of the way up the staircase. I stopped in the bathroom to wash my face. I really was tired, and the dark circles under my eyes seemed to affirm how exhausted I really was. Shrugging to myself, I decided an early night was probably a good idea after all. I left the window cracked a bit, as usual, and snuggled onto my mattress, which gave way to an easy slumber.

I awoke in the darkness to a chill drifting through my small bedroom; glancing to the window to find it still open, though no sign of Jake. As I was about to return to my pillow, a shuffled movement caught my eye across the room. I nearly screamed as the pale marble creature came into focus. The figure anticipated my reaction and rushed to my side, its movements too fast for my eyes to follow.

I sat frozen as fingers like ice grazed my neck, then moved to my face. I couldn't speak, my brain still trying to catch up with the last 30 seconds. A sweet scent permeated the room, overpowering. It made my almost drowsy, though my heart felt like it wanted to beat out of my chest.

"Oh, Bella. Sweet Bella." An ethereal voice filled the space between the pale figure and myself. I tried to lean away but the iron grip pulled me closer.

"Edward?! What the hell!" He seemed shocked by my words, though his grip on my face remained. I tried to pull away again, and this time he let me.

"I'm sorry. I told you I wouldn't return. I just couldn't take it anymore." His eyes traced over me and my heart quickened again, an old habit I suspect. He smiled at that.

"Wha.. Why are you here?" I backed away from him, moving towards the head of my bed. A longing in the back of my subconscious flashed in my eyes before anger replaced it.

He moved toward me slowly, watching me with those golden honey eyes of his. My brain felt like mush. My fingers betrayed me and they twitched as I pushed down the longing to trace the deep circles that lined his eyes. What the hell was wrong with me?

"Oh Bella, I just couldn't stand to be away any longer. I would have been here sooner if not for this stubborn head of mine." He smiled gently and moved towards me, hovering over me as I backed into the wall behind me. An electric buzz seemed to surround me, sending my head spinning, making my thoughts heavy and slow. He lowered his face, slowly, his scent enveloping me, dulling my senses. I closed my eyes for a moment before realization hit me.

"Stop! Ugh. Get away from me." I pushed against his chest, the marble icy planes almost burning my fingers. Edward seemed confused for a moment, though he didn't budge. He watched me a moment longer before his expression changed to one of recognition.

"Ah, I see. I should have expected as much." He quickly pulled away from me, and I noticed another figure standing in the darkness. If my heartbeat was erratic before, it felt like it wanted to beat out of my chest and take off running now.

"Jake!" My voice trembled as I tried to be mindful of the fact that my father was sleeping in the next room. An all-out war was about to break out in my bedroom and I could almost feel the tension buzzing around me, filling all the empty spaces between all three of us.

"Get away from her you filthy leech." Jacob practically spat the words out between gritted teeth. His eyes were locked on the vampire in front of him, and I found myself holding my breath. His body was trembling, and I knew if things didn't change fast, it wouldn't be good for anyone in this tiny space.

Edward sneered at Jacob, his mouth twisting into a snide grin that I'd never seen before. He lifted his hands, as if to admit defeat, but his eyes burned as he stared ahead at Jacob.

"Hey, don't hold back how you really feel then." Edward let out a hollow laugh, taking a step between Jacob and I. Jake let out a deep growl in response, his body tensing as he noticed Edward's position between us. Edward smiled in response to this before moving again, this time taking a step toward Jacob. The sickly sweet scent that had filled the room moments before seemed to strike a nervous energy in me now. My entire body tensed in response and I felt as if all the nerves in my body were on edge. I briefly wondered if this is how I should have felt all along in his presence.

"Ah, it seems I hear my brother calling. Another time then." Edward started for the window, pausing just for a moment to look back at me once more.

"Goodnight, sweet Bella." His eyes twinkled again for a moment before he was out the window, faster than my eyes could comprehend. I sat dumbstruck for a moment before coming to my senses. Without thinking, I rushed over to Jake and wrapped my arms around him. He shuddered violently and I took a step back and looked up at him. He was absolutely seething.

"I'm gonna kill him. How dare he come here. How dare he touch you!" Jake's eyes were closed and I could see him visibly shaking as I took a step back. He made a move to head towards the window but against my better judgement, I planted myself in front of his towering frame.

"Stop. He's gone now. Stay with me." I tried to make my voice soothing and calm, but I could hear it quiver as I spoke. I was thoroughly freaked out by all of this, and the last thing I wanted was to be alone, much less worry about Jacob out there chasing after yet another vampire.

"Please Jake, don't leave me." I pled with him, even as I saw the pained expression cross his face. I could feel his entire body tense and he balled his fist, taking a deep breath before he sank onto the bed, his head in his hands.

"Fuck. What the hell is he doing back here?" I could hear Jake mumbling into his hands and realized he wasn't really speaking to me, though I responded anyway.

"Jake.. I don't.. I just woke up and he was here. He must have let himself in." My voice trailed off as I traced the icy lines his fingers had left against my skin. It was familiar, but certainly not comforting, like it had been so long ago.

"Filthy fucking leech." Jacob spat the words out before lifting his face to look at me. He saw my bewildered expression and his eyebrows furrowed.

"Well I don't know about you, but this certainly doesn't change things for me. And I will not give up without a fight." His expression hardened and he reached for my hand. It took me a moment to realize what he meant.

"What? No.. Jake, I don't love him. I don't even know what the hell he's doing here. You have to believe me, this was the last thing I wanted." I tried my best to sound convincing. It really was the last thing I wanted, or needed right now, for that matter, but Edward's presence had made everything foggy. It was hard to even think straight. I reached for Jacob, folding myself into him and breathing him in. That helped the fogginess, just a bit. My heart still raced a mile a minute though.

Jacob tightened his grip as he pulled me into his lap, laying kisses along my hairline. Slowly, my body seemed to calm itself. Being near him like this was like coming home. Warm, familiar. Everything I needed. His intense body heat and soothing touch seemed to drown out the uneasy buzz that Edward had left behind. Jacob seemed to feel it too, and I could sense him relaxing, bit by bit.

"Jake, something is.. different. I never noticed it before, but I think now that I've come out the other side, I can finally see how it affected me. I mean.. Him being here, it was intoxicating, but not in the way you think. It's like he controlled all my senses and I couldn't think straight. It was like he knew exactly what he was doing to me, and he didn't care. It's…well it's fucking creepy. Why didn't I see it before?" I spoke absently, not really talking to anyone in particular, but more like coming to this epiphany all on my own.

"You're just now realizing that? I've been trying to tell you that all along!" I could feel Jake's body tighten again, though he didn't let go of me.

"I know. It's just one thing to realize it and another to actually fucking experience it." I shook my head, burrowing myself deeper into Jacob's arms. How could I let myself be so fooled before? I briefly wondered if spending so much time with my werewolves had dulled Edward's effect on me. It was hard to know for sure.

"Well, the pack is going to flip when I tell them the Cullens are back. Ugh. It fucking complicates things, that's for sure." I could see Jake's annoyed expression and wished I could take back ever meeting the coven of vampires I had been drawn to many months ago.

"You'll have to come with me, no way I'm leaving you here alone. Not with that leech running around." Jacob stood then, gently pushing me off his lap and he began pacing the floor.

"What about Charlie? I can't just leave, Jake. School starts in a few days, too." I mentally cursed the normal day to day tasks that lie ahead of me as I thought about the supernatural war raging in the forest outside.

"Dammit. I need to talk to Sam. Just… give me a moment." A pained expression crossed Jacob's face as he took my face in his hands, laying a chaste kiss on my lips before disappearing out the window for the briefest moment. I barely had time to crawl back into bed before he'd returned.

"Okay, I'm going to stay here the rest of the night. In the morning, I'm taking you to La Push, and we'll figure things out from there. Fuck." Jake paced back and forth again for another moment before climbing into bed with me. I could feel his body thrumming with adrenaline and it made me on edge.

What the hell were we going to do now?