As much as she hated to admit, the trip to Seattle had been a lot of fun. It was extremely annoying how easy it was for them to be around each other. Jake had always known how to make her smile, she had always known how to push his buttons, and even though there was a lot of drama underneath the surface, as it always had been, when they were together, the rest of the world seemed to disappear.

Seeing Jojo so happy, enjoying a day out with his parents, well, it was amazing. They cruised the mall, did some shopping, tortured Jake with many, many trips to the fitting rooms, ate some good food, indulged in some yummy goodies, and joked around nonstop. But the whole point of the trip had been to get the stuff for the Thanksgiving dinner. At Party City, Jojo went crazy choosing the decorations, and then later on she ended up buying half the grocery story, thanks to her 'ooh, this looks good' duo.

Wanting to get home in time to have dinner with Billy, they decided to head back on the early side. Jake knew Izzy well enough to know she would rather he drove. She was exhausted, and her sides hurt from laughing so much. It had been years since she'd been able to let loose like that. But no, she would not give Jake the credit for it. Not even if deep down she knew it was indeed all his.

The trip home was a lot more relaxed than the one heading out. All three sang and danced along to music, played 'I spy', and even took little naps, in Jojo and Izzy's case, of course. Why the hell did he have to make things so effortless between them? Jake was, and would always be, the master of making boundary lines so blurry, they were practically nonexistent. She knew being friends with him would involve a lot of tactic, watching what she said to him, how she said it, and the way she behaved around him. But being friends was also gonna make things a lot easier on everyone around them. Except Chris. Yeah, that was gonna be one hard conversation to have.

… ***** … ***** … ***** …

From the rear view mirror, he could see the dashboard lights reflect off his son's little face, Izz was curled up on the passenger's seat, their faces looking peaceful and serene as they slept, and Jake couldn't stop smiling. That was exactly how things had to be, the two loves of his life, his woman, their son, safe, happy, protected by him, not anyone else. Engaged didn't mean married, right? He was gonna make sure the only wedding Izz ever had, was to him. Sorry, Chris, but having Izz was never gonna happen. Not as long as Jake was alive. And whattayaknow, werewolves were very hard to kill…

… ***** … ***** ,,, ***** …

A soft brush of a blazing hand was enough to wake her. Blinking her eyes open, she realized they were home. The car was off, and the interior was as dark of the outside, but the somber look on Jake's face, was still crystal clear to her. Something was up. The moment she finally focused her eyes and saw the Honda in her driveway, she knew exactly what that was. Chris was sitting on her darkened front step.

"I'll take Jojo inside" Jake stated, sending visual daggers across her front yard. His expression softened as he turned to her "I'll get the bags later"

"Yeah, thanks" she muttered, trying to come up with the explanation she was surely gonna have to give her fiancé.

Anybody else, they would totally understand how she and Jake had to achieve and maintain an amicable association, why it was necessary for Jojo, and how it would make things easier on the entire family. Chris however was so not gonna see it that way.

As Jake took Jojo from the back seat, she smiled nervously at Chris, who didn't look at her. His narrowed eyes were set on her driver.

"Hey" she smiled.

Chris ignored her greeting and kiss on the cheek, he was too busy glaring at Jake, who walked up without a care in the world, carrying Jojo with one arm, and a few bags in the other. Completely ignoring the duo having the utterly uncomfortable moment, Jake used her keys to open the front door, waltzed right in, and back-kicked the door shut. The moment was so tense and awkward, it was almost comical.

"Please tell me you found him in town and gave him a ride home"

Not even then did he look at her, his eyes were set on the dark trees ahead. His voice was monotone, so distant and cold, for a moment she thought about lying, telling Chris what he wanted to hear. But secrets didn't last long in her family, there had only been two they had ever been able to keep, and only because of their importance. Playing rookie with Jake, was so not qualified to go on the 'important' list, not as far as the guys were concerned. Sooner or later, someone would talk, something would slip, and it would end up being 100 times worse.

"Actually" she breathed "I, ah, sorta found him on the way out" she stumbled through the words. But they definitely got his attention, his eyes instantly on hers "He, umm…went with us…to Seattle"

"Wow" he chuckled darkly "Two weeks and now you're one happy family? The fact that he abandoned you, totally forgotten?"

His words got louder as he spoke, and unable to stay still any longer, he got up and began to pace around the veranda. She wasn't sure whether to let him work out his emotions, or try to calm him down.Holding her emotions in hadn't done her any good, so letting Chris to deal with his, she sat on the rail.

"No" she shook her head even though he wasn't really looking at her "Two weeks and we decided, for Jojo, and the family we share, it was absolutely necessary for us to be friends"

"And you decided to celebrate the moment by taking a day trip to Seattle?"

Izzy gasped in shock as Chris got in her face. She had never seen that side of him before, and though she understood his anger, to a certain level, she didn't like it, and she was definitely not gonna allow him to yell at her like that. Jumping off the veranda, now it was she who was in his face.

… ***** … ***** … ***** …

Jojo was still out like a light when Jake laid him on his bed. Silently making his way back to the living room, he sat on Izz's couch, hearing the voices getting louder, and though he knew his girl knew how to handle her own, his blood still boiled. Chris kept yelling at her like that, and he might not get to see morning.

"He's Jojo's father"

"Some father" the punk snorted

"That was not his fault" Izz snapped "He didn't know he had a son. Had he known, he would've never left" Hell no we wouldn't have!

"You're defending him?" The tone was enough to have Jake jump to the door, ready to kill.

"First of all…" Izz growled, and though Jake couldn't see her face, cause the punk was blocking they view, he knew she was also ready to kill. "…watch your freaking tone with me, honey!" The honey had nothing to do with endearment. "And second, I am the last person who would ever go around finding things to defend Jacob Black about" Ouch! "But it was me he did wrong, not Jojo. He broke my heart, more than once, he left me, he walked out on me, yet there's not a doubt in my mind, that if he'd known I was pregnant, he would've never left"

Though it hurt to hear her say how he'd walked out on her, it was also a relief to know how certain she was about him staying had he known.

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe you wanted to him to leave?" The punk's words caused him to clench his teeth. "Maybe, subconsciously, because of all the crap he put you through, you didn't tell him because you didn't want him around, Izzy"

"Oh, my god" she chuckled enigmatically "Do you not remember the hell I went through when he left?" Her sigh was certainly of annoyance. Jake knew that sound, and it made him smile. "I would've done anything for him to come back. And if I would've known the word would've gotten to him, hell, I would've broadcasted the news of my pregnancy on billboards across the country" But she knew where he had gone, there weren't people, much less billboards.

"But you didn't" the punk snapped "And he wasn't here. I was. I've always been here" he exhaled sharply "But I don't know if I can always be here"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Please break up with her! Lets end this now!

"I stood back and gave you time to get over him" Obviously Jake was the him. "I didn't say anything when you made his family and friends into your own. Shit, I didn't even say anything when you moved in with his dad! But I cannot just sit back and allow that jerk…" Jerk? "…to waltz back in and ruin everything we have"

"His? Uh-uh. These are my friends, my family, they became so long before Jake was gone, and whether he's here or not, that's not gonna change, ever, regardless of what you say, or don't say. Sorry" Ha, asshole!

"Look, Izzy, I don't wanna make you choose…"

"…then don't!" she snapped "Cause you might not like the outcome"

"Really?" the punk huffed in disbelief.

"You know what Chris, maybe its best if you leave and we give each other some time to cool off" A century sounded like the perfect amount of time to Jake.

"Why, cause you might just send me to hell?" Please! Come on, Izz, do it! "Now that he's back you're having second thoughts about us?"

"No. Cause I've been having a pretty shitty couple of weeks, Chris. Cause I've defending our relationship to everyone and their mama…" That was news to Jake, of the amazing kind. He didn't know there were so many opposers to the damn wedding, but he definitely needed the allies. "…and right now you're proving all of them right. So you better leave before we say things we might regret"

"I'm starting to regret a lot of things" the punk mumbled in a whisper. Jake heard it, he just wished Izz had.

"Well there's no need for regrets, boo" Jake had to hold back the laughter. She did hear it. He'd never thought he'd bee saying such a thing, but, thank the heavens for the vamp venom. "Here you go"

No matter how much he moved around, Jake couldn't see through the curtains what she had given the punk. Could it be the green mountain she'd been hauling around on her left hand? The smile on Jake's face got wider and wider as the punk stumbled all over himself, not sure what to say or do.

… ***** … ***** … ***** …

Even though she looked confident and totally in control, Izzy was shocked, unable to believe she had just returned Chris's engagement ring. Not what she had intended to do, but it went down without her realizing exactly how. Maybe it was for the best. She needed to be on her own, clear her mind and make decisions without anyone else or their feelings weighing on her and influencing her choices.

As he'd proven time and time again, Chris would fight for her till the end. He took his ring back, but made it clear he was not gonna give up so easily, it was not over, not by a long shot. After apologizing for his outburst, and his lack of patience, he kissed her forehead and left. The situation had not been funny, and it wasn't gonna be funny to deal with Chris and Jake, but suddenly she felt like it was junior year all over again, and as the Honda sped off, she felt like laughing.

Taking a look at her front door, she sighed. Werewolves could hear a pin drop a mile away, there was no way Jake hadn't heard everything. Facing him and dealing with his condescending remarks, was not something she was eager to do. Good thing she was wearing jeans and sneakers, climbing the side of the house to get to her window, was a piece of cake.

Sitting on the roof side, she laid back and looked at the stars. Suddenly, she began to laugh. The more she laughed, the less she could stop. Before long, she was in tears due to laughter. How the hell did she end up in such a predicament? When she remembered she had to break the 'no more wedding' news to Alice, she laughed even harder. Not event the thud beside her could get her to stop.

"Whats so funny?" Embry smiled, laying back to match her.

"Short version?" she chuckled, cuddling up to her friend as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, giving her one muscled pillow. "Jake and I are friends…" Embry's eyes went wide. "…he went with us to Seattle, Chris was here when we got back,…" His eyes couldn't get any wider, but he did wince. "…my fiancé freaked, we fought, engagement over, but he claims he's still not giving up"

"And you're laughing?" he asked as if she was one step from the loony bin.

"Beats crying" she smiled. He nodded as if the logic made sense.

Though she continued to look up at the millions of stars in the sky, she could feel Embry was looking at her. He smirked "You look relieved"

"No" she answered automatically. She wasn't relieved, was she? Well the fights with her family, aka the boys, would end, and being friends with Jake wouldn't be as tense, but calling off her engagement to Chris wasn't a relief. She didn't wanna believe so. Unfortunately, it was a lot easier to lie to herself than it was to others, especially those who knew her far too well.

"If you say so"

"I have a lot on my plate right now" she tried justifying "Not having to pretend we're…normal, is gonna be one less thing to worry about"

She knew what was coming after the deep breath of his. Big brother mode was turned on. Embry was actually a few weeks younger than her, but there were plenty of times the age difference seemed to be years in his favor.

"This is me you're talking to, Z" he smiled "Its ok to be relieved" And that was why she loved the guy. He got her. "With all the stupid arguments about whether marrying the kid was a good idea or not, and Jake's return, and how its affecting all of us, you need some time to get your head sorted out without dealing with extra crap, like jealousy and insecurities of a guy whose known all along his girl was not really his"

"Embry" She tried to argue, but the smirk and cocked brow she got, said 'you know its true' which deep down she knew it was.

"You need to have fun"

"Fun?" she chuckled

"Yeah" he nodded "Fun. Go out, date, enjoy being a 20 year old" Like it was possible to be a normal girl. She had a werewolf ex, a kid, and a family made up of werewolves and vampires, nope, normal was not in the cards for her. "You went from longing for Jake, to mourning him and trying to get over him, to settling for Chris" he made a throaty sound of disgust that made her laugh "You never gave normal a chance. Take it now" he playfully bumped shoulders "Don't deny Jake rattles your cage" he wiggled his brows, giving her a devious smile "You wanna hook up with him, go for it, you wanna go out with Chris, do it, hell, you wanna try dating some other guy, why not, you're single" he smiled as if at an inside joke "Sucks for Jake and Chris, but its about you now, they'll get over it"

She couldn't deny it sounded like a fun idea. Dating was never something she ever gave a try after Jake. But come on.

"Dating while I have two exes and almost two dozen muscled brothers watching my every move? Yeah, that sounds lovely"

"As long as you're happy" he smiled. She gave him a skeptical look that made him laugh "Hey, we never killed Chris, right?"

True. The guys had always tolerated Chris. There were times they even included him as part of the group, not always, but sometimes was a lot for them. The guys wouldn't kill her dates, they would probably scare the hell outta them, possibly traumatize them, but not kill. What Jake and Chris would do was another story altogether. But who was she kidding, Jake and Chris were the only two she wanted to date. Whoa! Where had that thought come from ?The realization caused her to widen her eyes at herself. Had she just mentally admitted she wanted to date two guys?

"You're crazy, Izzy" she breathed to herself.

"For what?" Embry laughed "Wanting to date Jake and Chris?"

"Did I say that out loud?" Embry nodded with a wide smile on his face. "Great"

"Its ok" he shrugged "Do it. Find out who your heart beats for. It's the best way to know where you truly stand. Is it still Jake for you, or did Chris finally do the impossible?"

"Not funny" she scolded, trying not to smile.Oh, my god, she was actually considering dating both guys. "They'll kill each other"

"Nah" Embry shook his head "Fight, injure, possibly mangle, but not kill" he smirked "They love you too much to do that to you"

"How the hell did I end up in a love triangle?"

Embry barked out a loud laugh "Z, it has always been a triangle" She looked at him, filled with confusion. "Jake left, but the memories kept his corner standing" he explained. Why hadn't she ever seen that? Or had she chosen not to see it, had it been yet another thing she stashed away in the file of things that hurt too much to deal with? "Along the way, Chris won some major territory, but not enough.." he shrugged "… and now Jake's back, and ready to come out swinging for what he believes is his"

"And I get to be the lucky referee who decides who wins" she mumbled sarcastically "Freaking awesome"

Embry laughed "Hey, Chris knew what he was getting into from the get go. You think he didn't know this was gonna happen sooner or later?" he smiled "And Jake, well, he's my brother and I love him, but…" he shook his head before looking at her in the eye "He deserves it"

Though they knew it was true, Jake deserved to be toyed with, and so much more, it was obvious that the thought of his boy being hurt, was not something Embry could handle very well. He had never stopped being Jake's best friend, not once. Funny how it was precisely him having the hardest time with his return.

"Speaking of brothers" she stated "How are things between you and Jake?" Embry shrugged. "Why is it so hard for you to have him back? You love him, you fought for him all along, I know you have to be happy to have him back"

"I am"

"But you're still hurt"

"Should I be?"

Izzy took a deep breath. She knew the feeling too well. Far too well. "Forgiving is not forgetting" Some things could never be forgotten. "I know how it is to have wounds, so deep, so profound, you believe they'll never heal. But they do" she sighed "You'll have scars, but the point is to give them a chance to fade, preferably to the point of near invisibility, enough so you can remember to be more careful, but not enough to stop you from doing what you wanna do, or to allow them to define you" She smiled fondly as she sat up, pulling her pant leg up to show her right ankle, and pointed to a tiny line "You see that?"

"Hardly"

"I got that the very first time we went cliffdiving" she smiled "Scraped it on some rocks" He frowned, not following. "Did I stop cliffdiving? Hell no" she laughed, he joined "Have I been more careful? For sure. And now everytime I see that scar, I smile cause I remember how much fun I had that day. So you see, not all scars are bad" she smiled "Jake's your brother, I don't like seeing you two act like the 16 years before his departure didn't happen. Its just wrong. And things are not gonna be right again until those three dummies I met four years ago, are a trio again"

Embry smiled and pulled her into a hug "You're one of a kind, girl"

"Nah" she laughed "My son just taught me to be more forgiving" They both laughed. "Have you seen him and Jake together? I thought he'd be a little skittish around him at first, call him Uncle Jake for a while, you know, cause he's so used to calling you guys uncles. Nope, it's 'daddy' from day one. The little traitor" she smirked "They instantly loved each other"

"That's cause he has an amazing mom"

"Its cause he has an awesome family" she smiled.

They sat silently until a buzzing sound filled the air. Thanks to the tech savvy, Rosalie, and her magazines featuring the latest gadgets, they had found a cell phone that was made of titanium, waterproof and practically indestructible, in other words, perfect for the a werewolf. Guess what they all got for that Christmas? It made it a lot easier for non-werewolves to get a hold of them. Definitely a lot easier than standing out in the woods and howling, hoping one of them was within hearing range.

Embry got the cell from his back pocket and smiled at the caller id. Izzy smiled as she rolled her eyes, it was probably a girl. As the only non-pup who had yet to imprint, therefore considered single, he got a lot of female attention. He'd dated many girls around town, had his fun, but fearing he might imprint later, and not wanting a repeat of the whole Sam/Emily/Leah situation, non of the relationships had ever been even remotely serious.

Izzy understood the wolves' hesitation, but could it possibly be any different than falling out of love, or growing apart? Relationships ended all the time, for one reason or another. The way she saw it, the guys should be free to have whatever relationships they wished, and as open, or as committed as they happened to become. If they didn't imprint, as not all would, well they had a loving relationship anyways, and if they did imprint, well, it would definitely suck for the girl, but she would find her soulmate later, and move on, happily, like Leah had. Unfortunately the guys didn't agree with her.

Embry texted something and turned to Izzy. "Lala said to hit her up. She's been trying to get a hold of you for a while"

"Oh yeah, I left my phone in my purse" she remembered "I'll text her later" Wait a minute, since when did Lala text Embry? Half of her said she was reading too much into it, but the other half remembered the way the two had spent Halloween practically attached at the hip. Could it be? "Hey, are you and Lala….?"

Instead of denying it instantly as she expected, he smiled. "We're…cool peoples"

"Cool peoples?" she smiled "Yeah, cause that hesitation made it so believable" His smile widened. "Oh, my god!" she sat up, pulling him up with her "I want deetz!"

Hours of texting back and forth, and a dinner no one had known about. The deetz were very good. Izzy was definitely gonna kill Lala for not telling her, hey, it was girl code, but she understood the need to keep it on the dl. Last thing they needed was the entire gang giving them grief for something that was still basically nothing. Embry and Lala were still on the friend zone, but considering Jake and Izzy were now friends as well, she knew that friend zone could be very wide and cover many things.

After discussing her theory on werewolf dating, and giving him a little shove in Lala's direction, Izzy and Embry said their goodnights.

Climbing through her window, she saw her purse dangling from her doorknob, and a few store bags filed up in the door way. She couldn't help but laugh. Jake could've left them on her bed, but he was making a statement, he knew and respected 'her room was off limits'. Her phone was buzzing as she fished for it, and there were many messages waiting, ignoring them, she sent a text.

Been to any good restaurants lately? – Izz

O.O A. O'Brien

Lol yeah, I know!– Izz

You gonna kill me? – A. O'Brien

Idk yet lol brunch Em's tomorrow? – Izz

:( c u there A. O'Brien

Laughing, she tossed her phone on the bed. The intention was to lay back for a minute, gather the strength to undress and crawl into bed. It didn't quite happen that way. She closed her eyes for what was intended to be a moment, but her eyes stayed closed for the night. The exhaustion of the long, yet interesting day took its toll. Things were definitely gonna be rather different in the morning. She just wasn't sure just quite how much…