Thankyou Reviewers for telling me that I have been mis-spelling Carlisle this entire time! I will fix that from now on, promise. Keep reading and reviewing! Thanks for following!
Disclaimer. Don't own Twilight. Wish I did!
Bella opened her eyes. Even though she was blind she still kept her eyes open like a normal person. From a distance you could not see the cloudiness in her eyes and she liked her eyes open. It made her feel like she blended in more. Besides, her eyes were a beautiful green. Even cloudy, Esme said they were still her piercing green.
She was warm. There was something holding her, someone. Someone who was warm and smelled like the forest. Bella knew it was Jacob. Jacob, her mate. Jacob. The wolf. Jacob, the Alpha of many wolves. She squeezed her eyes shut tight to let her mind regroup and resolve its issues. She was okay. She was accepting things.
Jacob's breathing was still deep and even, a snore escaping. Bella allowed her hands to trail up his bare chest to his neck, feeling the strong cords of muscle there. He was deeply asleep. Bella was sure of it. She held her breath and ran her hands to his chin and up, feeling his cheekbones the soft stubble of hair on his face. She liked how it was prickly on her skin. His eyes were shut and his lids and lashes were soft against his cheeks.
Bella gave herself a few more wonderful moments of tracing his features, commiting them to memory.
Then she took a deep breath, and got up. She scooted her feet over the side of the bed after untangeling herself from Jacob's resisting arms. She felt for her clock and pressed the button that would read aloud the time.
"Seven Forty-Five AM"
Bella sighed. Force of habit. She got up to fix breakfast, sure that Alice would be awake soon. Jacob she was not so sure of. He had run here all the way from Maine he said…..without stopping. She didn't know what cardio was for a wolf, but that was A LONG way even in car for a human so she thought he probably needed a lot of sleep.
Bella walked out to hear Alice already up, watching Saturday morning cartoons. She walked over and stood over Alice who was sitting on the floor and ran her fingers through the tangles in Alice's short hair.
"Hey, sweetie. You're up early. "
"I know. But I went to bed super early and my tummy kinda hurts and it woke me up."
"Alice, why didn't you wake me up?"
"Cause you looked happy. I saw you with Jacob. I promise I wasn't spying or nothing. I went to wake you up but I havnt seen you look that happy in a long time Siss. Besides, I knew youd be up soon, and I wanted to watch TV."
Bella stood partially frozen. She hadn't thought about Alice seeing her and Jacob together.
"Alice, I'm sorry I didn't tell you Jacob was staying the night."
"It's okay. I like Jacob. And I think Jacob likes you." Alice giggled; to a ten year old cooties still existed. And Bella was SO glad that they did.
"I think he does too." Bella said with a smile in her voice.
"Sissy?" Alice said, turning her face up into Bella's palm.
"Yes?"
"I know my tummy hurts but can I have hot chocolate? It's still really cold outside and I really want some. Plus, it's Saturday. Maybe Jacob would want some too! Can I go ask him?" Alice's voice was young and hopeful, excited.
"Ask Jacob what?" A rumbling voice sounded from near the bedroom.
Bella's stomach turned, butterflies assaulting her just at the sound of his voice.
"Hot chocolate! Bella's gonna make some for me and you too if you want some!"
"Oh is she?" His voice was closer.
Warm hands found her hips and rubbed around them, slowly coming together in the front, holding her. Alice giggled and Bella blushed.
"Yes, I'll make some. Alice, go get out the mix in the jar from the cupboard and get out 2 mugs. I'll be right there to start some water boiling." Bella heard Alice scramble up and little feet scramble into the kitchen.
It was then that she was turned around into a hard chest and pulled against him. Jacob pushed his nose into Bella's neck, nudging, and she brought her hands up his chest to his face, tracing again.
"You weren't there when I woke up." His voice was accusing.
"No, I've been up for like 15 minutes. And you need sleep. You've been on the move for God knows how long. Why didn't you stay in bed? When I left you were sound asleep."
"You left. That's why I woke up. Can't be away from, remember? I'm rested enough, and I would much rather be standing here with you than lying in bed alone."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."
"Bella, stop. Now, please don't take offence to this, but can you make the hot chocolate okay? I mean using the stove and…."
Bella grimaced, but ignored her natural instinct to fight because she knew Jacob was only worried about her safety, not that she was incompetent."
"Yes Jacob, I handle it just fine. You'll be surprised to know that I'm actually a really good cook. There are special tools that I can use if I need them to help me. Remember, just blind okay?"
"I know Bella. I don't want to hurt you, I just need to adjust to the feeling that I need to do everything for you because I don't want harm to ever come to you."
"It's okay Jacob. Ask questions whenever you want to. I'll answer them as best I can, okay?"
"Same to you Bella. And it sounds good to me."
Bella forgot the subject as Jacob took a bold move and kissed her neck softly from where he was nuzzling her. Bella's breath hitched and she giggled like Alice.
"Bella!" rang out from the kitchen.
Jacob pulled away and Bella could feel his smile. "You go make us some hot chocolate. Do you mind if I use your shower?"
"Go right ahead. Although the only soap I have is all girly stuff. There's a master bath in my room. You know the way."
"Okay. I'll be quick. Promise."
Jacob pressed another kiss to her neck and was gone. Bella heard the door to the bathroom shut and was amazed at his speed. But then again, he wasn't human. Who knew how fast he could be when he really put his mind to things…..Okay! She so wasn't going there.
"Bella are you coming or not?" an irritated Alice asked.
Bella smiled and walked to the kitchen. "Yes Alice, I am. Come on, lets get this going. Shall we fix breakfast while were at it?"
"Yeah! Muffins!" Alice's young voice was exited. "
"Come on then. Lets get cooking." And they worked together, Bella teaching Alice as they went along. Bella couldn't help herself, but she just couldn't stop smiling. Her…..boyfriend? Her mate was showering in her bathroom, her little sister was watching cartoons and eating a warm muffin, and she was as happy as could be between the both of them.
Bella spent the day listening to Jacob and Alice while they played board games. Alice won 'Sorry' and 'Jinga' and Jacob won 'Candy Land' and 'Shoots and Ladders'.
The snow was still blowing against the cottage, not as heavy as yesterday. The cold was piercing in the Washington air and they all stayed inside all morning. Bella made hot soup for lunch using veggies frozen from the garden earlier in the year. Alice's fever was low during the morning but by the time lunch was done it was back.
Jacob pulled Bella aside and told her that he could smell the fever in Alice. Bella was only slightly weirded out.
Bella took Alice's temperature with the talking thermometer. 102.3
Bella decided it was time to go to the main house and see Carlisle. Besides, they had to go eventually. They had never gone a day without seeing Esme and Carlisle.
Bella and Jacob decided it was best if he stayed behind. Bella explained to Alice not to mention Jacob at all to Esme or Carlisle, that for today it was their secret. Alice agreed, always willing to keep her sisters secrets.
Carlisle hadn't gone to work that day, the roads still to bad to drive. He and Esme were sitting by the fire and reading with the music playing quietly in the background. Carlisle took one look at Alice and smiled, ushering her into his office. Bella and Esme chatted for a while, talking about the snow and when they thought they might get out. They talked about the bookstore and what was in the paper today.
Alice and Carlisle came out of his office, both smiling.
"Bella, I gave Alice some Motrin to bring down her fever. She'll probably sleep or a while. Make sure she wakes up for dinner and then give her some more Motrin and send her to bed again. Shell be fine, just the winter sickness."
Bella smiled and went to Carlisle. "Thanks Carlisle. I'll go put the squirt in front of the TV until she falls asleep."
She kissed his cheek and then hugged Esme and ushered Alice back to the walkway to the cottage.
Jacob was waiting when they returned.
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