Don't own even one of these characters.

Hope you enjoy, if you guys are still reading this story after ~30000 words then I consider it a success:)

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Jacob's P.O.V.

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It took me almost twenty six hours to catch up to Bella. She had made it across the Canadian border, and up into the Rockies. It was lucky that she had made no effort to mask her trail or I would have lost her. When I finally found her she was sitting at the edge of a glacier watching a small trickle of water dripping into a stream that ran along the base. She was curled up with her knees to her chest. So little of her clothing remained that it was hard to spot her pale skin against the ice she sat on. I was fairly certain the only covering she had were the remains of the pair of jeans she wore when she was attacked at her cabin. I had found the remains of her shoes, bra, and tank top on the way here. There really wasn't much left of them after her fight with Paul.

I knew that she had heard me long before I arrived but she gave no indication of it. I quickly phased back to my human form and dressed. "Bella?"

Slowly she turned to face me, but wouldn't meet my eyes. Her face was crumpled in misery and I asked, "What's the matter Bells?"

The familiar nick name seemed enough to get her attention. She glanced up at me and whatever she saw seemed to make her relax a little. "You're not mad?" She asked.

That kind of confused me. "Of course I'm mad! Paul tried to kill you, he's lucky I didn't finish him off."

Bella's forehead wrinkled in confusion, "But he's you're brother, I would have killed him if Sam and Jared hadn't shown up."

Did she actually feel guilty for trying to protect herself from Paul? Before I could help myself I blurt out, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

She smiled weakly and I approached her cautiously. When she didn't cringe away I sat next to her on the chilly ice. Cold didn't bother me much anymore, but I was still glad for the layer of protection my pants provided me against the glacier. I slung an arm around Bella and asked, "What would ever make me take Paul's side in this mess."

Bella snuggled closer to my warmth and I had to suppress a shiver at her nonexistent body heat. As she pressed her body into mine I became painfully aware of the fact that she wasn't actually wearing a shirt. Just a friend. Just a friend. Just a friend. I began repeating over and over in my head.

"H-how is your l-leg?" I managed to stutter out.

Bella shrugged against me. Without lifting her head from my chest she answered, "Fine, the bite marks didn't even leave a scar."

We lapsed into silence again and I could feel the past twenty six hours catch up to me. I was hungry and exhausted, I could feel myself drifting off to sleep when I felt Bella shift next to me. At first when she pressed her lips lightly to my collar bone I wasn't sure what she was doing. I looked down to ask her and she met me half way. At that moment my empty stomach and sleep deprivation were completely forgotten. Bella Swan was actually kissing me!

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Bella's P.O.V.

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As hard as I found it to believe Jacob was still on my side after everything that had happened. I wasn't an idiot. I knew the rest of the pack would have a problem with the fact that I had nearly killed one of their own. They would without a doubt resent the fact that their Alpha was siding with an outsider. Still, as I sat curled up against Jacob's side I just couldn't bring myself to care about any of that.

I was slightly self conscious about the fact that I hadn't managed to find a replacement shirt after my encounter with Paul, but Jacob was doing an admirable job trying not to look.

Like before Jacob helped close that gaping wound in my chest and let me breathe easier. I inhaled lightly, taking in his heavy animalistic scent. He still smelt terrible, but at least it was comforting. For whatever reason he had chosen me over his pack, over his tribe. He was giving me so much despite the fact that I couldn't return the feelings he wanted.

How many times had I wished that Jacob were my brother so I could have some kind of claim on him? There was another option, I could stake a claim, give Jacob some of what he wanted in return for everything he had done for me.

I had to admit that I cared about Jacob more than any other individual out there, and I would be lying to myself if I said I didn't find him physically attractive. I just didn't think I could love him in the same all consuming way I had Edward.

There was still a hollow emptiness in me from where Edward had torn out my heart. Even if it didn't hurt anymore, I still felt empty. Could I really let Jacob try and fill it? If anyone could do it, it was him. Of course this all hinged on one big if. It would only work IF Jacob still wanted me that way.

As the sun began to rise I turned my face towards Jacob's collar bone and pressed my lips to his dark skin. He stiffened and his heart beat picked up. He looked down and I could almost feel the question form on his lips. Taking the initiative I lifted my head from his chest and kissed him.

I wasn't surprised when Jacob kissed me back, but I was surprised at how natural it felt. True, part of my body was rebelling at being this close to its only natural enemy. But for the most part it was warm and comforting and right.

Jacob quickly gained confidence and flipped me onto my back. He was a little awkward, but it wasn't like I had much experience with this either. Our kiss deepened and I was surprised when I began to feel aroused. Jacob's rapid heart beat brought a surge of venom to my mouth.

Suddenly Jacob was off me and my ears were filled with the sounds of him heaving up the contents of his stomach into the icy stream below the glacier. The smell of bile filled the air. I don't think I've ever heard someone gag as violently as Jacob currently was. If it were still possible I would have flushed red in embarrassment.

Self-consciously covering my chest with one arm I ran soothing circles over Jacob's back as he continued to heave into to the stream. It was five minutes before he could talk again. The first time he was incomprehensible, "What?" I asked.

Jacob turned his head to the side and gave me a weak smile that reminded me of him before becoming a wolf, "Completely worth it." He then turned back to the stream. I was surprised at the happy leap my stomach made when he said that. Despite all this he was still willing to give it a chance.

I continued to rub circles on his back and eventually said, "I guess we'll have to be careful if we want to do that again." Jacob nodded without looking away from the stream.

The trip back took Jacob and I a couple of days. Jacob spent the first ten hours asleep while I hunted down some hikers to steal a shirt. Just because Jacob and I were giving dating a try didn't mean I was comfortable walking around topless in front of him. While I waited for him to wake up I was able to run into the foot hills and catch something to eat.

Remembering Jacob's adverse reaction to my venom I made sure not a drop tainted the meat of the deer I had drained. I wasn't really feeling up to cooking it, but Jacob had been getting used to eating meat raw when in his wolf form.

When he woke he kissed me gently on the lips before grinning when he saw the deer carcase. Neither of us had a phone so Jacob had to phase to get news from the pack anyway. I waited patiently as he ate, sure he was talking to Sam and possibly Jared.

When he phased back his expression was troubled. "What's wrong?" I asked, I was surprised that I was actually worried about Paul.

Jacob frowned, reading my worry for what it was, "Paul's fine. His ribs are better, but his nose didn't set right."

Guilt twisted in my stomach, but I was confused, "I don't remember breaking his nose."

Jacob gave a smug smile, "You didn't."

Oh, I guess Jacob took a bit of a detour before coming to find me. Before I could admonish him he continued. "That's not what's worrying me. Dad was with Sam, he's really pissed at me. He thinks my coming after you is leaving my people unprotected." I noticed a slight tremor in his arms as he continued, "I just don't understand why they can't trust you, you've spent more time running patrols than any of us."

I didn't really want to think about how my presence in Jacob's life was causing him so much trouble and touched his arm, "Let's head back home so your dad doesn't have any more reason to hate me." Jacob nodded and got ready to leave. The mention of home saddened me, I had grown attached to my little cabin I would miss it now that it was gone and wondered where I could stay. My control was pretty good, maybe I could move back to Charlie's?

Despite the inevitable confrontation that would occur when we got home I found myself enjoying the long run. The first day was passed in companionable silence as I ran beside Jacob. The miles flew by and when night came he slept in the open with his arms wrapped around me.

While I was unable to sleep, I enjoyed the human contact. The past couple of months Jacob had been keeping a respectful distance between us and I found that I had missed the casual touches. I began to understand why Edward had always said he loved watching me sleep. When Jacob was unconscious I could pretend that we were just two normal teenagers. No wolves or vampires, just us.

There wasn't much time for conversation since Jacob couldn't really talk in his wolf form, but it was obvious that he was happier than I had seen him since his first transformation. He would goof around a little more and seemed lighter on his feet. Honestly, if I had known he would react this way to a kiss I would have done it a lot sooner. It gave me a warm feeling in the pit of my stomach seeing him so happy.

Sam met us at the American border. He flanked Jacob's right side while I ran at his left. It took me a while to realize we were headed to my former cabin. I usually took that route unconsciously and hadn't remembered that there was little more left than rubble. I guess I would have to try and salvage what I could from the ruins before heading back to Charlie's. Not something I was looking forward to.

The smell of humans and fresh sawdust caught my nose as we neared the clearing and I could hear the heavy chug of a gas engine. I slowed and gave Jacob a questioning look. He merely winked at me, which looked very odd coming from a wolf's face, then stopped running. I continued for a few more yards to give him some privacy to phase back. He and Sam soon joined and me. Jacob grinned and slung an arm over my shoulder, "Go see your surprise."

Giving him a skeptical look I turned back towards the cabin. I already had a fair idea of what I would find, but was still surprised at what I saw when I entered the clearing. Charlie and Harry Clearwater were both there. My dad had rented some power tools and a portable generator. I could see my personal belongings piled at one edge of the clearing, loosely covered with a tarp.

There was a large pile of splintered wood that had been removed from the cabin. Charlie and Harry had already managed to replace the back wall of my home and had put up fresh studs to frame the front door. I hadn't known Charlie was that good at carpentry.

It was about then that Harry noticed us. He put down the pencil he had been marking a sheet of plywood with and waved, "Welcome back Jacob, Bella."

Charlie looked up and hurried towards me. He stopped a few feet away, just like Billy had drilled into him. "You alright?"

I nodded and he said, "Billy told me you and one of the wolves got into a fight. He said you were alright but needed to calm down."

That wasn't exactly what happened, but if Charlie knew the real story he would probably try and kill Paul. That would probably end badly for Charlie. "We both just needed some time to cool off. Sorry about disappearing on you."

Charlie nodded, I could see the doubt in his eyes and wondered how much of the story that Billy had told him he actually believed. I glanced back at the house and felt my throat constrict slightly. Even after over a year in Forks, it still touched me whenever Charlie did something like this. I stepped forward and gave him an awkward hug, "Thanks for fixing my home dad."

He patted my back affectionately, "No problem Bella, I just hope we don't have to do this again."

I stepped back and Jacob remarked, "Don't worry Charlie, I'll keep Paul in line."

Charlie nodded, there was a pause and he shrugged, "Well better get back to work, this should be done in another couple of days."

I stepped forward and asked, "What can I do to help?"

"You just got back Bella, take a rest." Charlie hesitated, "Right, you don't get tired." He looked down at his work and said. "I guess you can give Harry a hand with the plywood."

I was about to do just that when Jacob grabbed my hand. "I'm gonna crash Bells." I nodded and he suddenly stepped forward and gave me a peck on the lips. Everyone in the clearing noticed it and I saw Sam frown. No guessing what he thought of Jacob's actions. Jacob ignored everyone an just walked over to the tarp covered sofa that had been removed from my cabin.

Not bothering to remove the tarp, he collapsed on the piece of furniture in a boneless sprawl. I was wondering if he was being purposely nonchalant but then remembered he had been running solid for the past twelve hours. I laughed when I realized from the sound of his heart beat that he was already completely unconscious.

Charlie had a knowing smile on his face, but Harry looked troubled. I decided to ignore both of them and get to work. It wasn't long before Harry and Charlie began to show signs of exhaustion. It was easy to forget how human they were.

I eventually insisted they go home. I worked through the night and by the time Jacob was waking, my home was almost as good as new. The plaster on the drywall was drying and the outer wall was ready to have siding applied. I was pleased with myself. While human I had never been coordinated enough to do this type of work, but now that I was a vampire learning things like this was laughably easy.

A lot had happened these past couple of days. Ironically the attempt on my life was not the most unsettling for me. Since I had been changed, most of my life had been focused coming to terms with it. That and making sure I didn't eat anyone by accident.

I had been cooking for Charlie, and e-mailing Renee. By kissing Jacob, I realized that I needed to move on and I didn't just mean from Edward. I couldn't just pretend I was the same teenage girl I had been months ago.

I wiped my hands off on my jeans and walked over to where Jacob was still sleeping on my couch. I smiled watching him so carefree. He had a massive responsibility to his people, but he had taken it up. He hated what he had become, but that hadn't kept him from spending hours with the newly phased wolves teaching them to control their new strength and tempers.

Maybe it was time I started moving on. How easy would it be to get stuck in a routine of hunting and patrolling the borders of Forks? Time didn't mean the same thing to me now that I was immortal and I was worried that I would look up one day and find a hundred years had sped by. I had never put much thought into what I would do with my future. Before Edward I had always leaned towards something in the field of literature. As I waited for Jacob to wake I mulled over the potential jobs available for a high school drop out stuck eternally in the body of an eighteen year old.

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Author's Note:So Bella has decided to give a relationship with Jacob a try. As you may have guesed they still have plenty of challenges headed their way. The issue of imprinting, Victoria, the pack, and let's not forget everyones favourite family The Cullens.