A/N: Hey y'all! I felt so loved last week. I didn't get many reviews the day I posted and figured it was because it was a pretty boring chapter. Then, the next day I got a TON! So thank you for the response. They made me feel good. The people who don't like Ness make me smile. Not because I think you're wrong, rather, I just don't understand it. I love hearing from you because you're making me see something in my story I never had. And I wrote it. Keep your comments coming. I hope I please all of you in the end.

Thanks to MarinaNamaste for the beta and ideas. She really helps round out my writing.


"Hey Paul! I found your grape soda!" Jake called, hiding the smirk. Jake wanted to have a good set so he thought he should let Paul have at least one soda before they went on. The meet and greet hadn't gone so well because Paul was one grumpy mother fucker.

"Fuck, yeah!" Paul called and ran up behind him to look. There in the mini fridge, hidden behind the door, was a six pack of Fanta—grape flavored.

"Your herbalist—" Quil started. Claire shushed him from his lap.

"You fuckin' start with me Ateara," he said, pushing Jake out of the way, "and you won't be able to father puppies," Paul warned. He grabbed a can and popped the top. He took two gulps after a big slurp, tilting his head back. He closed his eyes, righted his head, and let out an enormous belch.

"God, Paul! You gotta be so crude?" Embry asked. All of them turned their heads to look at Embry, including Seth who'd just walked in carrying Embry's bass. "What?" he asked, looking around at their stunned faces.

"I don't know, dude," Seth answered holding the bass, "not only are you, like, the gassiest person I know, but you're proud of it. I thought you'd congratulate him for that."

"What-the-fuck-ever," Embry mumbled reaching for his instrument. "I just think that maybe we could class up a little bit. Especially if we're going to meet with the public and reporters. If we start back stage, then it won't be such a front when we're with other, you know, people." Embry shook his head, huffing. "Give me my fuckin' bass, Seth," he ordered.

Jake was floored. He didn't know what the fuck just happened to Embry. And, Paul was right there behind him.

"What the fuck are you fucking talking about? You've blown your shit air all across the country and parts of Europe on tour. The fucking fog is so thick in La Push they ask us to leave twice a year just so the trees can grow. What just erupted from my mouth smacked of fruity-grape goodness. What is emitted from your ass," Paul pointed to Embry's ass, "on a regular basis creates toxic hazards guarded by government officials in hazmat suits. So, I would not-so-respectfully ask you to put that fucking rock you're about to throw at my glass house down, then quietly fuck the hell off!" He lifted the can to his lips again, draining it. Then, looking directly at Embry, belched with all the gusto of ten drunken cowboys and blew the air directly into Embry's face.

"You're a fucking pig," Embry sneered, waving the offending air out of his face. Seth and Jake stifled their chuckles, but Quil laughed out loud.

"It takes one to know one," Paul returned.

"Alright boys," Nessie said, bustling into the room, "do you think we can grow up enough to go on stage in a few minutes? Or do you want me to go out and get some doo doo to throw at each other?" Her voice was a mocking childish tone. Jake chuckled. But, when he looked at her and saw she was worried his chuckle faded. He didn't like her worried. Well, she worried all the time, but there was a difference between her normal work-worried face and her, I'm-about-to-have-a-breakdown worried face. He jerked his head toward the door that led to the little private dressing room. She nodded, and her eyes became glassy.

"Seth, I'ma be in there for a few. Get the white ready and I'll just trust you on this one," Jake said handing him the custom painted job he only used on two songs. Seth nodded, taking the guitar. Nessie'd already gone through the door and Jake hurried after her. He could change his shirt while he was in there anyway. Jake closed the door softly behind him and looked at the back of her beautiful form as she stood facing away from him. She was wearing the official TOAW polo with a pair of black stretchy pants. He never understood how she managed to make leggings look professional, but she did. Maybe it was her shoes.

"Ness," he cooed, wrapping her up from behind, "what's wrong?"

"I'm having a weak moment," Ness sniffled. "She wants to meet with you, Jake. You gotta do it soon. I can't take this. I need you to get this over with. I'm sick of the fear that fills me every time I walk around a corner or every time I see her. I'm scared that everything is going to blow up in our face. This is supposed to be on our terms, Jake. Not hers." She leaned her head back and nestled against his neck. "Please, can you just get it over with?" Jake's heart throbbed. Ness was rarely this insecure. This whole plan was to relieve Ness's fears about his feelings for Bella. He had to confront them by confronting her.

"Tomorrow. Set the appointment for tomorrow. I'll see her before I see Emmett, okay? You set it up or have Alan take care of it." He pulled her in tight, his hands wrapping over her smooth stomach and kissed the side of neck softly. He felt her draw in a shaky breath. "You know how this is going to turn out, Ness. You know it. I'm not in love with her anymore. There's only you."

"I know that's what you say, but she's so...sneaky. She's changed so much, Jake. In twenty-four hours, she's almost your old Bella. You're going to see her and remember all the reasons you loved her." Jacob felt her hiccup against his chest. He was afraid of the very same thing. He'd be lying if he said otherwise so he didn't say it. Ness always knew when he was lying. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, instead. He breathed her in and held her tighter.

"Tomorrow. This will all be done tomorrow," he promised. That wasn't a lie. Tomorrow would tell them both if he could move on or not. They stood there for a few more moments, just breathing. Jake could feel Ness pulling in her deep cleansing breaths. She was calming herself down. Finally she spun in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I don't doubt your love for me," she said, looking up into his eyes. She was always so honest with him. She was getting better with being honest with herself and this little private freak out was a sign of progress. "I just refuse to underestimate the power she had over you. I refuse to underestimate her ability to continue to manipulate you. And you can't either. Promise me you won't underestimate her." Her eyes pleaded with him.

He lifted his hand to pull a stray curl off her forehead. "I won't. But I also don't underestimate her ability to hurt me." His earnest eyes panned hers, swearing a silent oath of his convictions. "Ness, I'm in a much better place. You are the reason for that." He leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose. "I won't forget that, either." She pulled him close to her again.

"Okay," she breathed out, "I'm okay." She pulled back a little to wipe the unshed tears from her eyes. Jake let his hands fall and rest lightly on her hips. The radio on her belt squelched with some order from Sam to a roadie. Suddenly she looked horrorstruck. "Oh, Jake! I'm so sorry! I did this right before you went on stage! Shit!"

"Ness," he said pulling her back in and nuzzling her, "I would have been more worried had you not done this. I need to know that you're okay, or at least telling me when you aren't. This is better. I promise." She just hugged him back.

"Jake, I'm just so..." she didn't finish her sentence, but the resolve hardened in her eyes. She was pulling her walls back up. She had to go back out there and deal with stuff as well as face the one person who could destroy everything they'd spent the last three years building. It'd been a rough ride, too. Jake understood her anxiety. He not only felt it, he shared it. He feared it more than she did. He knew though, that if she felt his fear that, it'd make it worse for her still. He never wanted to make things worse for Ness. It was bad enough that she had to deal with the baggage of his ex.

"I know, honey. Hurricane. We're stepping out of the eye. We know what to expect. We can do this. We've made it through worse. We have," he added in earnest. He wanted to kiss her to reassure her, but she pulled away when Sam's voice called for her.

"I know," she said reaching for her radio. "I just needed one last freak out before I batten down the hatches." She mashed the button on the radio to speak into it. "Almost there, Sam. Give me thirty seconds," she said and then looked up at Jake. "Quick, give me thirty seconds of wonderful," she smiled. He couldn't resist.

Their lips crashed together with a raw urgency that revealed the anxiety on both sides. It also spoke of their mutual love and passion. A kiss like that eased his fears. Even all these years later, Jake never remembered Bella giving him a kiss like that. He'd never imagined kissing her like that. What he had with Ness was real and his head knew it. He just hoped his heart would agree when he was alone with Bella.

Ness pulled away too soon, but she was breathless. She reached up and wiped his lip with her thumb. "That was wunderbar!" she smiled. "I gotta go and so do you." She watched him pull his shirt over his head. Jake knew he could get another two minutes out of her if he really pushed it, but he didn't want to start something that he couldn't properly finish for a few more hours. She threw him his show t-shirt. "Damn, you're hot," she smirked and exited the dressing room.

Jake exited the dressing room a few beats after Ness, pulling his torn concert shirt over his head. He loved this shirt and he didn't give a fuck that had a huge hole in the chest. Quil was busy getting some last minute lovin' from Claire, Paul was finishing up what looked like his third grape soda and Embry was just standing there giving him the stink eye. Jake had just about had enough of Embry's moodiness. Embry just scoffed as Jake adjusted his belt.

"What the fuck is your problem, dude?" Jake asked.

"You, man. My problem is you!" Embry declared. "It's not enough that you got Bella in high school and drove her away, then got the finest woman on tour, but now you've invited the former to meet the latter and you're stringing both of them along." The vitriol dripping from Embry's honest words revealed more than Jake had originally suspected. Jake had always known that Em was sweet on Bella, but he did not know he'd felt that way about Ness. Of course everyone loved Ness, she was friendly, efficient, and did a great job. But the way Embry stood there, looking at Jake in disgust as he adjusted his show clothes. Embry must have thought more went on in that little dressing than actually happened. It wasn't too long ago, that would have been the truth, but not with Ness. Never with Ness.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Jake said, rolling his eyes. "Seth?" he called, knowing the kid was never too far this close to go-time.

"Embry's just pissed thinking you just got a quickie," Paul belched towards Embry again. "Way to show your cards, Call. You had him fooled about your little Ness crush for a long time." That confirmed Jake's thoughts. Embry was standing directly in front of Jake, blocking his way.

"He's fucked enough women in closets in the past. Nothing is ever enough for you, is it, Jake?" Embry said, revealing an even deeper jealousy than Jake had realized. Jake didn't want to start something this close to show time. They'd have to deal with this later. Embry was obviously letting out some deep seated concerns.

"You're fucked in the head if you think I treat Ness like that," was all Jake said, bumping Embry in the shoulder as he passed him to get his guitar from Seth.

"Am I?" he raised his voice, pulling Claire and Quil's attention to them. Jake didn't say anything for a few beats.

"You know why Bella is here. We all know I have to figure things out. I am not out to hurt or use anyone. Everyone involved knows that," Jake explained, again, as patiently as he could.

"Except Bella," Embry spat. Jake bit the inside of his cheek.

"I'm going to meet with her tomorrow. Ness is setting it up. It'll all be settled tomorrow."

"On your terms, I'm sure." Embry said. He was unrelenting. Jake wondered if Embry had remembered what had happened over the past decade.

"Jake," Seth interrupted, handing him his white guitar.

"Thanks, Seth," Jake managed in a softer tone. It wasn't Seth's fault that Embry was an asshole.

"That shade of green is not good on you, Call," Paul reminded.

"I'm not fucking jealous!" Embry protested, though it was obvious that that was exactly what was going on. "I'm just sick of Jake never appreciating what he has in front of him."

"What the fuck, ever." Jake headed out of the green room towards the stage entrance. Embry didn't know the half of how much he appreciated Ness. He thanked the gods for her every day, and every night. Especially last night… Embry was just jealous. Jake stopped and turned around with a final thought. "You heard how appreciative I was last night, Embry. You also heard how much she enjoyed how I show my appreciation. And that's what pisses you off." He let the heavy door slam behind him. Jake should have held his tongue, but Embry was asking for it.

Jake realized that he didn't know where Bella'd be that night. That was okay. He could handle this. She was just another woman he'd fucked who was in the audience. She was the first woman he'd fucked. And, she'd actually fucked him and then fucked him over, but he wasn't thinking about that. He needed to do this show.

It seemed Embry was able to keep his shit together during the first few songs, but the excess of grape soda was affecting Paul's voice. During Quil's drum interlude Paul came over to Jake.

"Dude! I need you to take the next song," Paul yelled over the crowd.

"What?" Jake yelled back. He'd heard Paul clearly, but he couldn't believe it.

"I need some hot honey water," Paul clarified, nodding towards Sven, the herbalist. Fucking Paul and his fucking grape fucking soda!

"Fine!" Jake said, looking down at the set list. Out of My Head was an easy enough song for Jake to take on short notice, but Jake hated doing the whole seduce the audience thing that Paul was so good at. Jake liked strumming his guitar and throwing his picks at people and not making eye contact at all. Eye contact is what got him in to too much trouble.

Paul crossed the stage to tell Embry what was happening before disappearing off stage to suck down his throat treatment. Quil finished up his solo and Embry strummed the first chord. Jake stepped up to the mic and began singing, "I-I-I-I-I can't get you out of my head, God knows I've tried, but I just can't forget those crazy nights and all the things that we did. I-I-I-I-I can't get you out of my head."

Screams from the audience erupted at the recognition of the song and others screamed Jake's name, noticing that he was the one singing it. Jake decided to suck it up during the musical interlude and make eye contact to play the crowd a little. When the words began, he scanned the front row and saw a few guys, but mostly women pumping their fists to the beat.

"Maybe it was the way you talked. Maybe it was way you laughed," he smirked at an older woman who was pressed up against the barrier holding them a good five feet from the stage. She giggled and looked to her left at her friend. "Well, I don't know just what it is," he sang as his eyes scanned and fell upon the brunette he'd known so well, "but I know I want you baaaaaaaack." Jake was mortified when he realized what he had just sang and to whom. And he couldn't stop. He didn't even have the presence of mind to look away. "I-I-I-I-I-I can't get you out of my head…"

He watched as her face morphed from surprise to huge, knowing grin. She looked at Claire and her friends, standing next to her and Amy and Brittany were just beside themselves for her. Claire looked from Jake to Bella and back again, confused. Jake was finally able to move his eyes away from Bella and focus on other audience members, but the damage had been done. Jake knew that Bella thought he was singing to her. When he thought about how the whole thing must have looked from her point of view he cursed himself.

By the end of the song, Jake was about to throw in the towel for the whole night and crawl into his bunk with Ness, but somehow he knew that wasn't going to happen. He had a sinking feeling that stepping out of the eye of the hurricane was going to much rougher than originally anticipated.


A/N: It's a little cliffy. So? Thoughts?