Disclaimer: The only thing that is mine is the plot. Thanks for sharing your characters and ideas with me, Mrs. Meyer.

Chapter 7: The Smell of Wet Dog in the Morning

Bella walked down the stairs to see Jacob with two bowls of pre-poured cereal in his hands. "Wow, I was about to put this up. It could have gone stale with the amount of time you take to shower. Good thing I was smart enough to wait on the milk; it would have turned to oatmeal.

Bella scowled, taking her bowl from him. "Go ahead; sit down while I get the milk. Coffee?"

Jacob nodded, "Please."

Bella poured two cups of coffee and joined him at the table. They ate their cereal in silence until Jacob spoke. "Sam called while you were in the shower."

"Oh. What did he say?"

"He said that he wasn't surprised that I was here."

"That's what he called for?" Bella asked. Men. And they accuse us of being presumptuous and nosey.

Jacob shook his head, "he also wanted me to invite you on a group barbecue of sorts. As my date."

Bella nodded, "When?"

"Think you are free for dinner tonight?" Bella smiled. She leaned toward him and kissed him gently on the lips. "Sure. Who all is going to be there?"

"The pack and their spouses, kids, so on. Everyone there will know about us, so…feel free to say whatever."

"Good news travels fast?"

Jacob nodded, "Oh yea. Especially when a certain man you love takes a run in the wee hours of the morning, thinking about it."

Bella felt herself blush, "So, I am guessing that they…"

"Saw everything you had to show me last night," he whispered. "They won't say anything about it, though. We aren't teenagers anymore." Bella nodded, somehow doubting his confidence on that matter.

"So, what do you want to do today?" Bella asked quietly as she stood up, grabbing the empty bowls. Jacob grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his lap, "I was thinking about maybe spending the day mostly naked, kissing and touching you. Also, it might be nice if you would give me a bath. I am insanely jealous of the others getting pampered like that by their wives."

Bella laughed, "What?"

"Well, their coats are much shinier than mine, despite mine being the best looking. I would really blow them away if it was clean. And maybe brushed. I shed like crazy this time of year."

Bella looked down with a grin on her face. How many people could say that they discussed giving there husband a bath to clean their coat? She pondered on the oddness of this until she was deliberately kissed. "Stop thinking about the small number of people that could possibly have this conversation."

Bella looked at him scandalized, "Geez! Are you able to read my mind now?!"

Jacob laughed, shaking his head. "No, I just know you that well." Bella smiled, standing up again. "Okay. Well, I would much rather give you the bath first. Does it matter what kind of shampoo I use?"

Jacob shook his head. "No, I am going to run and get mine. It will be nice to have it used correctly for once. Usually I just put it in the tub and try to roll around in the soapy water. I'll be back in 15 minutes. Think we could manage to do it in the shower? I hate damn cold ground water…"

Bella rolled her eyes and nodded. "Sure, just hurry up." Jacob nodded. He jumped to his feet and kissed her quickly on the lips before running outside and into the forest. Bella was walking to the kitchen when her phone rang. She answered it to hear a familiar voice.

"So, I tried to call Jacob this morning, and guess what! He didn't answer his phone….. Any idea where he is?" Angela's amused voice said. Bella blushed, repositioning the phone on her shoulder. She put their dishes in the dishwasher and threw the ruined bacon in the trash.

"Fine, fine…he is here. He has to run home to get a few things though."

"Is he on your truck?" Bella mentally smacked herself over the head. "Uhm, actually, he left about 15 minutes ago. He should have gotten there and left already. But, yea, you can watch for my car."

"Cool. So, everything is settled with you guys I assume." Bella blushed and nodded before answering. She always did that, not thinking of the fact that no one could see her nod. "Yes, everything is great. I'm sorry if I made everything awkward last night."

Angela laughed. "It is fine, really. I understand. Besides, it is funny to see you both squirm like that. Plus, I am happy that Jacob seemed so happy. I think someone really broke his heart while he was away. That was the happiest I'd ever seen him."

Bella took a deep breath. "Long story there. Maybe I'll tell you some other time. Anyway, I am going to go clean up before Jacob gets back. Talk to you later?" They said goodbye, and Bella had just finished cleaning the kitchen when a very enthusiastic oversized wolf walked into her house. He was carrying a bottle in his mouth and wagging his tail quickly.

Bella rolled her eyes. "Stay…" The dog whined, dropping the bottle. "Okay, fine…go upstairs and get in the shower. I'll be there in a second."

The wolf yipped and seemed to nod before he ran up the stairs. Bella picked up the shampoo bottle and followed.

An hour and a set of wet clothes later, Jacob jumped out of the shower. He made a show of shaking off his coat in Bella's direction. She glared at him, using a towel to wipe off her face. "Don't do that! I don't want to spend the day cleaning. Go outside if you are going to do that!"

The dog whined, lowering its head. "Don't be such a baby. Now stay still." Bella did her best to dry him off. It really didn't take that long considering how hot his body temperature was. She admired him for a moment. "Your coat really does look fabulous. It's a good think that I used flea shampoo. You had tons…"

Jacob seemed to glare before hiding around the corner and changing back. "I do not have fleas. And I never have. And I never will. You are just jealous."

"Jealous that I don't get to pee with one leg up in the air? Very jealous, I am. Here, take this." She handed him a towel which he wrapped around his waist before stepping in front of her.

"No, you are jealous that you haven't gotten a bath yet. I'll be happy to bathe you any time. Promise." He walked two fingers up her shoulder and leaned in, kissing her gently. "I love you, Bella."

Bella smiled, rolling her eyes. "I love you, too, dog." She kissed him back as he grabbed her hand.

Bella and Jacob spent the rest of the day doing exactly what Jacob said he wanted. They didn't bother getting dressed other than what they slept in. The simply relaxed around the house, kissing and talking together.

Bella had forgotten over the years just how Jacob had made her feel. It seemed like her disposition was just better around him. She was happier and more optimistic. Of course, at this point, she couldn't find anything to be pessimistic about. She was with a man who would never want to leave her and that loved her for who she was because he wanted to. She didn't have to keep secrets around most of the people she knew because they knew what she was. She was living somewhere that felt like home and not a vacation.

Over the years, Bella had learned how vacations worked. If it felt like a vacation, there was always somewhere else waiting to go home to. On vacation, one eventually yearned for home. Eventually, one might get tired of being at home, but they always wanted to come back. She was tired of her fifteen year vacation, and she was enjoying every moment of being home for the first time in so long.

Bella sighed, breaking out of her thoughts. She as sitting between Jacob's legs on the couch, leaning her head back against his chest. He had been watching television, but the sound of his breathing let her know he had fallen asleep. She smiled. Simple moments like these had not come around way too much when she was with Edward. Not since they had been married, anyway. It was nice to simply relax and not worry about who was going to come and try to kill one or both of them. For a moment, she wondered when the proverbial shit would hit the fan. Things couldn't stay good all of the time, could they? She shook those thoughts away when Jacob made a mumbling noise in his sleep, tightening his arms around her.

She smiled. Might as well enjoy the good times. She snuggled her head back into his shoulder, closing her eyes. She suddenly wondered what time it was and opened her eyes to glance at the clock on the wall. Six, already!

She sighed, turning her head to gently kiss Jacob on the side of the mouth. "Jacob…it is six. What time are we supposed to be there?"

Jacob groaned, keeping his eyes shut. "I told them we would show up before seven."

Bella nodded, slowly sitting up. "Okay, I am going to go get ready. You might want to do the same." Jacob answered by snuggling back into the couch. "Fine, but I am not going to wake you up again. You had better just get up."

Jacob growled, opening his black eyes languidly. "Fine. You know it will take you longer to get ready though." Bella shrugged, standing and walking up the steps to her bedroom.

She only took thirty minutes to get ready. She wouldn't have taken that long, but her thoughts got away from her. She walked into the bedroom to see Jacob looking through her clothes. "Hmm..." he whispered, pulling something out from the closet, "Will you wear this?"

Bella looked at it and shrugged. "Sure, I guess. If it isn't too…showy."

Jacob blushed, seeming to think something to himself before shaking his head. "No, it is fine."

Bella nodded, taking the shirt and pulling it over her head. It was a dark blue satin halter top with a cowl neck. It scooped low and showed much of her back. "You look pretty," he whispered, a mischievous look coming over his face. He walked toward her, pretending to stalk. "Whatcha gonna do about the big bad wolf?"

Bella smirked and looked around herself. "Big bad wolf? I don't see Sam anywhere. Are you sure you aren't talking about the smallish, whiny wolf in front of me?"

Jacob mock growled before pouncing at her, knocking her back onto the bed and tickling her. She started laughing good naturedly, pushing him off. "Come on! Don't wrinkle my shirt! We need to go!"

Jacob rolled his eyes and got up. "Fine. By the way, we are going to have to talk about me having to come all the way out here to see you."

Bella nodded, "Later. Get ready."

Jacob grinned and started pulling on an invisible shirt. "Done," he grinned. Bella clicked her tongue in exasperation before smiling. "Come on, you…let's go." Jacob nodded and scooped her up in his arms to her amusement before walking down the stairs.

Author's Note: My trip is looming near, and I will probably go on a slight fall from writing upon return. Fortunately, I have already written through Chapter 10. I am not going to post it all of the sudden though. Your reviews keep me going, and they make me excited to write and please you all. Thanks for the encouragement! Let's break 50 with this chapter:-D