Jacob Black woke up to someone thrashing in his bed. His eyes opened up and he realized he was in Bella's room, and she was murmuring in her sleep, "Leave me alone! Edward...stop now...Jake...help..." she whimpered, and he immediately gathered the scared young woman in his arms. Feeling his warm bulk against her skin, calmed her down. She stopped murmuring, and a wave a peace wafted over her. He smiled lightly, and brought his chin to her shoulder breathing in her scent. He looked towards her clock, and saw it was only three in the morning. He was glad that neither he nor Bella had to go to school the next day. "Jake?" she questioned tiredly, and his gaze turned downwards. One eye was opened, and he had to hold back a laugh as he saw her tired expression, "Is something wrong?" she yawned.
"I'm okay," he tried to assure her.
"Well...ok," Bella murmured uncertainly, turning around in his embrace. He gave her an encouraging smile. "Jake...if you need to talk..." she murmured, placing a hand on his warm cheek.
"I'm sorry," he murmured suddenly, "if I had been faster..." he started, and she shook her head.
"You got here and saved me," she reminded him, "that is all that matters," she assured him, pulling his face down for an emotional kiss, making him feel that he had every right to relax and calm down. She pulled away and gave him a tired smile. "Now come on..I have been keeping you up because of Victoria all this time, and you are wasting this time off not sleeping," she yawned, resting her head underneath his. He relaxed, and brought her closer to his warm body. "Love you..." she murmured tiredly.
"Love you too Bells," he rumbled lowly. She was fast asleep in moments, and Jacob was left alone with his thoughts once more. His hand lightly went under the bottom her shirt, and placed his hand on the small of her back. She leaned in closer to him, and he sighed. He sighed, and felt himself relax; knowing that Bella was right, he should relax. He closed his eyes, and he heard her murmur his name. He squeezed her against him; reassuring her that she wasn't going to leave him. He looked down at her; she was so beautiful to him. She never seemed to think that way at all about herself, she always considered herself plain. He squeezed her once more, and closed his eyes again.
Hours later Bella woke up to Charlie knocking on her door. She turned around and saw that Jacob wasn't on the bed, but her closet door was closed. "Hey Bella," Charlie said opening up her door.
"Hey Dad," Bella yawned, wincing as she stretched. Her wrist was still hurting like hell from when Edward had attempted to; she stopped thinking that. "What's up?" she questioned, sitting up.
"I know you don't really like the whole going out with your dad type thing much anymore..." he started, and Bella looked at the clock, seeing it was still early.
"Dad...of course I want to go do breakfast...it will be just like I was little," she said, hopping out of bed. "Just give me a few minutes to freshen up, and I'll be right down ok?" Charlie grinned and slowly hobbled down the stairs. Bella opened up the closet and saw Jacob there. "That was close," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. He smiled and placed a kiss on her lips.
"I'd better go..." he murmured, "come over later?" he questioned, pulling away lightly.
"Definitely," she told him. He grinned and kissed her once more before heading out her window. She quickly changed and went downstairs. She saw Charlie leaning his hands on the table, taking a deep breath. "Dad...you ok?" she questioned, placing a hand on his shoulder.
He nodded his head, "Just a little winded," he assured her, "stairs and me aren't really working well right now," he tried to give her a smile, but it came out as a grimace.
"Dad...you know you don't have to go to work right away," she reminded him, "I did save some money so we can survive this month," she said to him.
"Bella," he sighed, "as much as I want to, the police force needs me there," he said. He turned to his daughter and saw a look on her face that mirrored his months ago. "I'll be okay Bella," he promised. She nodded her head and gave him a smile. "So..." he started as she helped him towards his police cruiser, "you and Jacob huh?" he questioned.
"Yep," Bella said to him. "I am not sure if you should be driving there Dad," she said to him. "Give me your keys," she demanded, changing the subject. As comfortable as she was with Jacob, she wasn't ready to talk to her father about their relationship as of yet.
"Fine," he said, giving her the keys, "I was just going to say...I have never seen you happier...even with him," he said, and Bella smiled, glad that Charlie remembered to not say his name.
"I am happier," she said to him, "and I think it makes me happier that you approve," wincing slightly as she turned on the car. Maybe she should have a doctor go look at her wrist.
Apparently, Charlie thought that as well, "Bella, what's wrong with your wrist?" he questioned, "its swollen," he said to her, lightly touching her hand. "Jacob-,"
"No!" Bella said appalled, "not that wasn't from Jacob," she promised him. She wasn't sure if she should tell him that Edward came over last night to do horrible things to his daughter. It wasn't like he was going to be able to do much against a vampire.
"Bella," he snapped, his police chief face on with a vengeance. "You need to tell me who left these marks on you,"
"Edward came over last night...and if Jacob hadn't shown up..." she shuddered, can't believe that she was telling him the truth. She saw her dad loading up a gun, "Dad...I'm ok..Jake came over, and smacked some sense into him," she said, "if anything just talk to Carlise," she said to him, not wanting to risk facing Edward. He let out a sigh, but nodded his head. "Thank you Dad..." she sighed. "Please don't look like that Daddy," she sighed.
"Alright...I'll calm down," he promised, "lets just go get something to eat," he said, giving her a weak smile. "I would feel better if you would go see a doctor about your wrist though Bella," he admitted, as they turned into the local cafe.
"If it will make you feel better, I will go after I drop you off at work," she promised. Seeming content with the answer, he picked up his crutches. He maneuvered himself into the cafe, and Bella followed her father. She didn't know what was going on with her father. "Dad, are you ok?" she questioned. He nodded his head, but she didn't really believe him. "Dad..." she said as they sat down in a booth. "If this is about Edward-," she started.
"It's not," he assured her, reluctantly putting his hand into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a couple letters, and they were addressed to Bella. They were from her mother, and Bella numbly took them, and she saw her father's face turn away from hers. "Your...your mother has been wanting me to ask you to go to Florida with her and Phil..." he murmured gently, "because of how miserable you have been here," this was the first time she had ever seen her father get this teary eyed. "Maybe you will be happier with them..."
"Dad..." she sighed, "Dad,' she said again, trying to get him to look at her. "Look at me ok?" she requested, and for once she wasn't the one who was crying. "I am very happy where I am...and I have to admit it not only to you but myself..." she said, reaching out for his hand. He reluctantly took it, "I was very miserable for a long time. A big part of me wished that the guy who had stolen my heart would come back and make me better again. It took me time to figure out that Edward Cullen wasn't my whole life. I made not only myself miserable...but everyone around me. You, the Blacks, the very few friends from school I had managed to save...." she sighed.
"Bella..."
"Things are different now though," she said to him, "I'm happy again...and I had spent so many years away from you Dad, and I don't want to leave," she said to him. "I am not only staying here for you, and Jacob," she took a breath, "but for me. So don't think anything more about this ok?" He smiled, glad that his daughter did want to be here. He nodded his head, and before they knew it, their usual dishes were placed on the table.
"So...has Renee talked to you about this?" he questioned, motioning towards the brochures for colleges in Florida.
"No...we haven't talked about them," she said, "and if she had, I probably would have snapped at her. Me and her have been talking a lot recently...I thought I had convinced her that I was better," she said on a softer note. "I mean...even when I had talked about Jacob...she had seemed so happy and proud that I had moved on,"
"Well," he started, "I know that it probably won't mean much, but I am very proud of you," he said. She grinned, and she was glad that for once he wasn't protecting her from the world. It was a great feeling, finally being able to be herself again. Sure the Cullens were back, but that wasn't going to make her go crawling back to them and beg to be apart of their family again.
"Thanks Dad..." she said with a grin. About an hour later, they were done with their breakfast, and Bella was driving him towards the police station.
"Bella...the funeral for Harry Clearwater is tomorrow..." he said with a sigh.
"I know..." she said, flashing him a sad smile, "I'll be there ok?" she promised him.
"Jake has been really good for you hasn't he?" he questioned, as she parked the car.
"Yeah..." she said, and she found him giving her a strange look. He never really got to keep her as his own little girl, and here she was, almost grown up. She placed her hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently. "So...do you want me to leave the car here? I can get Jake to come pick me up..."
"That's ok Bells," he said to her. "You can go do what you want...I'll have someone drop me off later," he said, and he went out of the car. She pulled out her cellphone, and dialed Jake's number. She waited for someone to pick up the phone.
"Hello?" Billy's voice came through.
"Hey Billy...how are you holding up?" she questioned.
"We are all hanging in there," he said softly. "Did you want to talk to Jacob?" he questioned.
"Yeah..." she started, "but before you let me go, is there anything I can help with the funeral preparation?" she questioned.
"No...just you coming over, and helping your father is more than enough help," he assured her. "Jake!" he called out, and after a bit of shuffling, Jacob came on the line.
"Hey Bells," he said in a soft voice.
"I'm free...did you want to hang out?" she questioned.
"That sounds great Bella," he exclaimed, his voice brightening immediately.
"Be there soon," she promised, before hanging up. She felt a smiled as she headed down towards La Push. As she drove down there; her thoughts had drifted to just only a few months ago. She couldn't believe she was willing to give up everything for the Cullens. With Edward showing his true colors when he left her, who knew what he would have done after spending a few years with her. She would have been out. The Cullens were a close knit group, and as much as they said she was a part of their family; she wasn't.
If it wasn't for Charlie, Jacob, and the pack, she would probably be dead by now. To think she kept doing reckless stupid things just to hear a voice. She shook her head; she was glad that she had matured enough to realize that there was a lot of good things that she had in her life. She had always told herself that Jacob was her own personal sun, and felt herself no longer feeling the guilt from that. He was meant for her, and there was nothing going to be in the way of their happiness. A knocking on her window startled her out of her deep thinking, and she saw that she was already down in La Push. She turned off the car, and opened up her door. Jacob's eyes were flooded with concern, but she saw some sadness behind them as well. "Bells..." he started, but stopped when she placed a hand on his cheek.
"You ok?" she questioned, concern flooding her whole entire being. Jake was surprised; he was feeling down about the funeral tomorrow. Besides Charlie, Harry was like an uncle to him. Memories had been flooding while he slept.
"I'm ok," he started, trying to make it seem like there was nothing wrong with him.
"Jake..." she sighed, "its ok to talk to me," instead talking, he just brought her to his arms. Normally he would crush her against his chest, but he was just sagging against her. Bella brought her arms around him, for once crushing him against her smaller body.
"Bella..." he murmured, attempting to pull away. He didn't want to hurt her, but she refused to let go. "I can't believe that it's tomorrow," he murmured into her shoulder. He was trying not to let his emotions go on overdrive; it wasn't what she needed.
"If you aren't comfortable talking about it, its ok," she sighed, "but don't hold that stuff inside...you know what that can do to a person," she shuddered remembering how zombie like she was. He shook his head and pulled away.
"I...I would just prefer if we just did something to keep my mind off of it," he said softly. She nodded her head, and got on her tip toes and threw her arms over his shoulders. He smiled, wrapping embracing her close to his body. It felt good to do this without feeling any guilt flooding through his system. Her lips went on top of his, and he let out a growl as she pressed herself closer to him. After a few moments, he pulled his lips away, and leaned his forehead against hers. "So...what do you want to do?" he questioned.
"How about we walk on the beach?" she questioned, looping one of her hands in his. Jake smiled at that thought, and he nodded his head. It was a silent and comforting for the both of them. As they were walking, she noticed dark bags under his eyes. "Jake..." she started, stopping them from walking. His eyes were bloodshot from crying earlier as well. "We don't have to go here if you don't want to," she said, placing one of her hands on his cheek. He sighed, nuzzling into her hand.
"Bella..." he whispered softly, "I don't want you to be bored..." he breathed.
"Jake..." she chided softly, squeezing his hands softly. "Not everything about this relationship is about keeping me safe and sane," she reminded him. She tugged on his hands, starting to lead him towards his house. He seemed very reluctant to go, but she wasn't going to take no for an answer. It felt nice to have someone taking care of him. Ever since he was ten, he had been taking care of his dad. He didn't regret doing it, but it was nice to felt cared for.
"Ok," he said to her, finally breaking down. They walked into his house, and saw that Billy wasn't there. She started to push him towards his bedroom, and saw that it was semi-clean. "I'm sorry-," he started, but stopped when she jumped down onto his bed. He smirked, and laid down next to her. He didn't realize that he was this tired until his head hit his pillow. "Bells...are you sure-," he started to ask, letting out a yawn.
"Yes I'm sure," she assured him, as she pressed her head onto his chest. His arms wrapped around her, and she felt the warmth of his body wanting to lull her to sleep. She also placed a hand on top of his chest, and he let out a sigh.
"I love you Bells," he murmured lowly.
"Love you too Jake," she yawned, before falling asleep. He was content with her in his arms, and he fell asleep as well. For the first time since Harry Clearwater died, he had a peaceful sleep.