Chapter 10: The Pancake Wars

Disclaimer: Twilight is owned by S. Meyer.

~ oOo ~

Jacob was right. Where were they going to put all of that stuff? His closet was already crammed full, and her clothes weren't even in there yet. Jacob had to remove some of his things from his dresser so she could at least put a few pieces away.

It was so claustrophobic in there that Bella had to leave the window open just so she could breathe. It was going to get awfully cold in there when night fell; luckily Jacob's heat would keep her from freezing to death. She knew without a doubt that he would take care of that problem eagerly.

They set to work getting everything rearranged in the Taj. Jacob had to move his beloved Rabbit—gasp—out into the elements. The air compressor that Paul alluded to also had to be re-sited. It finally found a home under the overhang for the firewood, with a tarp sitting on top to protect it. Jacob promised himself that tomorrow he would talk Quil into storing it at his place. There was no way he was gonna let that expensive piece of equipment get ruined by the rain.

Rachel, bless her heart, fixed dinner for everyone. Bella hardly said a word. She was too pooped to pop off! Anyhow, the rest of the family didn't seem to notice. They were so busy chatting about this and that.

Even though she was dog tired, she still helped with the dishes, while Jacob stripped and remade his bed with clean linens. She and Jacob hit the sack early, and as expected, he was stuck to her like a piece of cellophane tape to keep her warm and to remind himself of how lucky he was.

At around ten o'clock, Bella was awakened by some obvious moaning in the next room. It didn't seem to bother Jacob though; he was still snoring softly. After some heavy breathing and some other stifled sounds, it got quiet. Just as she started to drift off again, she heard a rapping on the wall. Paul's voice taunted, "Hey, are you guys alive in there? I'm not hearing any love noises from either of you. Honeymoon's over, huh?"

Rachel was mortified. "Paul, stop. You're going to embarrass the poor girl."

Bella overheard Paul say, "It's no big secret. It's a fact of life. Anyway, I'm only teasing them. You don't have to get so mad about it."

"If I wasn't so mad about you, I'd be sending you to sleep out in the garage about now."

"Yeah, well, I'm so mad about you—that I'd let you." He grinned at Rachel. His arms were still gently wrapped around her shoulders."

"C'mere, stupid," she whispered. She couldn't resist the lovable jerk. Rachel pulled him closer and devoured his lips. Bella never heard another peep out of them for the rest of the night.

~ oOo ~

Bella was the first one up in the morning, so she started on breakfast. Soon, a bleary-eyed Jacob was up, sliding close behind her, his arms circling her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder, and his ear flat against hers. He yawned, and asked, "Did you sleep okay, honey."

"I guess."

As usual, he could tell something was bothering her. Jacob straightened up, speaking softly in her ear. "What do you mean, 'you guess'?"

Turning around to face him, she replied, "I mean I was sleeping okay, until Paul rapped on the wall. He was complaining because we weren't making the house shake."

Jacob groaned loudly. "I guess I'll have to beat an apology out of him." Jacob took a few steps toward his sister's room; Bella held onto his arm. Don't worry about it—Rachel put him in his place."

She turned back to scrambling more eggs when Billy's voice rang out. "Jacob is that you? Can you come and help me?"

"Sure, sure, Dad. Be right there." He kissed Bella's cheek and murmured, "Duty calls."

~ oOo ~

The food was all set out. Everyone except for Jacob was at the table. He was the last one to use the shower. By the time he got to the table, there was one strip of bacon and two eggs left. Paul was a legend as to his eating capacity, and today was proof. He wolfed down more than twice his fair share.

Jacob was beyond irritated. Pointing at Rachel he barked, "Hey, Rach, do you think you could teach your guy to control his appetite? Or at least have enough sense to leave some food for the rest of us?"

"Paul patted his stomach and smiled. "The early bird catches the worm. And they were some mighty fine worms, I must say. Your Bella is one mean cook, Jake. Too bad you weren't fast enough to get here."

Bella pushed her chair back, and took her plates and utensils to the sink. She got out a heavy skillet and made Jacob some pancakes. What she really wanted to do was hit Paul up the side of his head with the pan.

She placed the stack of pancakes on Jacob's platter, and handed him some peanut butter and syrup. Paul leaned over and stabbed his fork into one of them, in an attempt to transfer it onto his plate. A duel for the pancakes ensued, with forks being the choice of weapons.

"En Garde!" Jacob growled.

Paul parried Jacob's attack, but Jacob used broken time to confuse him. Then with a feint, Paul was open to a riposte that was successful at hitting the target, being his unprotected hand. Poor Paul wasn't quick enough and got skewered by his opponent's fork. It was as much a surprise to Jacob as it was to his pack brother.

Swearing loudly, Paul whipped his hand back with the fork still standing upright in it. Bella and Rachel both screamed. Billy sat there laughing. And Jacob was mad as hell. "That'll teach you to steal my pancakes!"

Paul gritted his teeth, and winced, yanking the weapon out of his bloody flesh. "God dammit, Jake, what's the matter with you? I only wanted to taste a little sample." Rachel rushed to the sink, and came to the aid of her man with a clean dishcloth to stop the bleeding. Holding the rag to his hand, she walked him into the bathroom to clean and dress it.

Billy ate the last few bites of his breakfast and put down his fork. He looked over at Jacob, nodding his head. "I don't blame you one bit, son. That boy could eat his way through a whale. Maybe he needed to learn the hard way not to be such a glutton."

Bella sat beside Jacob. She was silent as a tomb, and as pale as a tombstone. Jacob stretched his arm out and covered Bella's hand, squeezing it. Billy wheeled himself over to the counter and reached into a drawer. He returned to the table and handing Jacob another fork, remarked, "Your pancakes are getting cold." He wheeled into the living room, snickering as he went.

~ oOo ~

Jacob finished eating, leaving one lone pancake on his plate. He walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door. "Hey, Paul, come out here."

Paul countered with," Get away from that door, Jake. I'm going to freakin' kill you."

Yelling through the door, Jacob apologized. "I'm sorry. You know it was an accident, right?"

"Was it? Could've fooled me," he snarled.

A female voice piped up. "He's my brother, Paul. You two need to shake hands and call it a draw. After all, you did eat his breakfast."

Jacob looked down at the rough wooden floor, scuffing his shoe on it. "C'mon, Paul. I said I was sorry. Look, I even left you a pancake."

The door swung open, and Paul bolted out, giving Jacob a searing look. Rachel was behind him. She gave her brother the okay signal and rolled her eyes.

In a flash, all was forgiven, as Paul sat at the table scarfing down the pancake. He scooped out the remaining peanut butter from the jar and held it in the air. "Hey, we need more peanut butter, that was the last of it," he mumbled, his mouth full of food. "Someone want to hand me that strip of bacon and the rest of those eggs?"

All eyes were on him. One of his eyebrows shot up. "What? No sense wasting good food."

Bella leaned into Jacob's shoulder, obviously calmer and quite astonished that Paul could pack it away like that. "Where does he put it all? I've got a stomach ache just watching him."

~ oOo ~

The newlyweds sat on the edge of the bed. Jacob kissed the top of Bella's head and muttered, "Sorry you had to witness that. I should have warned you about Paul's eating habits. Next time set aside a plate of food for someone if they're not at the table."

Bella sighed. "When Sunday comes around again, let's go to Charlie's for breakfast. I'll fix us some waffles with berries and whipped cream."

"Oh, no—we are gonna be gone from here by tomorrow even if it kills me! We're going out this afternoon—apartment hunting. I don't wanna have to fight for my eating rights."

Pulling away from his arms, Bella rose to her feet and walked over to the door.

"Where you going?" he asked.

"To the kitchen. I need to help with the dishes."

"Come back here. I didn't get a good morning kiss yet." He pouted his lips, in a joking manner.

"It hasn't been a good morning." She groaned, leaning against the door jamb.

"Well then let's make it better, buttercup!" His face lit up with a grin.

She stepped to the edge of the mattress and Jacob quickly hoisted her onto his lap, making her giggle. He kissed her up and down her arms and neck, saving her lips for last. The joking stopped as their eyes made contact. Slowly, he inched his face closer to hers, his lips lightly brushing against hers. Her eyes closed; and her mouth opened to invite him to enter. His lips pressed harder, this time in earnest and Bella's arms were encircling his neck, fingering his hair. Their breathing rapidly got heavier.

Paul walked by the open door, stopped at the threshold, and poking his head inside the room, commented, "Now that's more like it."

Jacob reached behind himself and grabbed a pillow, chucking it at the pervert. Paul caught it and threw it back, then trotted down the hallway to the bathroom.

Bella shifted in Jacob's lap and stood up. She straightened her clothes and smoothed her hair. "The dishes are calling me." She remarked wearily.

Placing a hand on the small of her back, Jacob followed her to the kitchen. "I'll help you. The faster we finish with them, the faster we can find a place to live in peace."