Hey everyone, I've found the perfect theme song for this fic and it is amazing. It's an older song, but I wanted to share it with you and see if you thought it went with my story. You can find it here:

hxxp://www dot youtube dot com/watch?v=wAeMvFtpgc8 (change xx to tt and the word "dot" to an actual dot to create the link) I love it and hope you do too. Thanks to everyone who has been reading my story. Also, this chapter is in honor of New Moon, the movie released this week, and what SHOULD have been. I love you all!!

Chapter Ten

Unwelcome Changes In La Push

My mind replayed everything that had happened while I was at Jake's. From the fun Quil, Embry, and I were having, to that sweet moment when Jake softly brushed his lips against mine and I found my fingers trailing along my lips remembering his heat against my mouth.

Then I remembered how hot Embry was. I began to worry about him and wondered what he might have that could cause him to have such a fever. By the time I got home, I had decided that I would call Jake before going to bed, to see if he had heard from Embry. I only hoped that he would be okay.

Charlie hadn't made it home yet, so I made a batch of tuna sandwiches and arranged some carrots, celery, and pickles on a plate with a bowl of ranch dip in the center. I knew if I wanted Charlie to eat some vegetables, I would have to give him something to disguise them with.

"Hey Bells, I'm home," he called, as he went to the hallway to hang up his jacket and gun rig.

"I'm in the kitchen dad."

He finally appeared in the kitchen, after getting washed up and began asking me about my day. I told him I had gone down to La Push, so Jake could look at my truck for it's weekly maintenance, and he practically choked on a stick of celery.

"You know, that Jacob Black is something else. I have to give the boy credit. He sure knows his mechanical abilities."

I smiled to myself feeling flattered that Jake would use his skills to keep me coming back to see him and knew that I would probably play right into his plan; I was already in too deep. But the idea of that seemed very appealing.

"Oh yeah. I almost forgot. Billy wants to take you on at a game of cards this Saturday, so he and Jake have invited us over for dinner. I told Jake we would come, is that okay?"

"Sure. Sounds like I don't have a choice. But it will be nice to put Billy in his place. He never wins when we play cards."

After dinner, I read a chapter for history and finished my math homework, then took a shower and went downstairs to get the phone. I needed to call Jake to check on Embry. When Jake answered the phone, I could tell he seemed worried.

"Jake. Is everything okay? I was calling to check on Embry."

Jake went on to tell me that he had called just a short time earlier and Embry wouldn't talk to him. He said he seemed jittery or something. I knew by the tone of his voice, Jake was worried about him, after all, he was one of his best friends.

We finally called it a night after an hour and a half of talking. Jake said he didn't want to give up hearing my voice, but he knew we had to get to bed because of school the next day. So after I told him bye, I put the phone up and trudged back upstairs to climb into a nice warm bed.

The next morning, it was drizzling and cold when I left for school. By the time I made it there, my truck was just getting warm, so I was naturally freezing. I ran inside and went straight to my locker. I wasn't really in the mood to talk with anyone, so I hoped I could just go onto class.

But as luck would have it, I turned the corner just in time to met Mike and Eric as they were going to their first class.

"Hey Bella, how's it going for you these days?" Eric asked.

"Um good. How are you?"

"Doing good. Hey, have you seen Angela? I need to talk to her," he asked as he began walking past me.

"No, I just got here. I haven't seen her this morning."

Eric told me goodbye and headed toward Angela's locker and I was left there facing Mike.

"You look really great today. You know if I didn't know better, I'd say you had the glow of a woman in lo.... Nah never mind," he said, and I thought I saw him blushing.

If he was about to say what I thought he was about to say, I might inwardly agree with him. But surely to goodness he wasn't thinking I was happy because I was seeing him this morning. I had to get out of this situation and fast.

"Hey, Mike, I've got to get to class. I'll see you later," I said, as I walked past him, but he stopped me and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah, I'll see you around. But you do look really happy today and I'm glad," he said, smiling at me like an idiot.

Oh brother, he just didn't get it, I thought, but I quickly slid out from under his hand and went to my first class. As soon as class began, I slid down in my seat and began thinking about where things were going for me. I mean, if it was apparent to Mike that I was glowing, I must be changing more than I had realized.

This was, however, a good thing and I knew that it had so much to do with my new feelings for Jake. He was becoming a very big part of my life and that pleased me greatly. I couldn't help but have a nagging feeling though, in the back of my mind, that something so good couldn't last. But I chose to push those thoughts away and try and be positive.

As the day progressed, classes came and went and by lunch, I was ready to eat and contemplate things some more.

"Bella. Bella, are you actually here, or are you floating around somewhere else right now?" Angela said laughing, as she pulled me back to reality.

"Hey. Sorry, I was just thinking...."

"About a guy, but you haven't told me his name yet," she whispered.

How could everyone tell that I was feeling differently these days? Did I have some flashing neon sign on my forehead that says, Bella Swan has found something really worth while, or what, I thought?

"You my dear, are very funny. What, can't I just wake up one morning and think that life is worth living and I'm glad to be in it?"

"Nope. Not with the look on your face that you've been sporting the last few days and something tells me he's not from around here."

Angela and I continued to discuss the possibilities of my emotional state, with me never offering any real information, the rest of the lunch break, then it was back to class and a countdown to the end of the day.

I left school that afternoon, wondering if I should go to see Jake or not. With him trying to check on Embry I knew he was very concerned. So, I decided I would go see him in hopes that I might cheer him up.

My mind played over all the possibilities for what could be wrong with Embry while I drove to La Push. I thought of the flu, pneumonia, even typhoid fever, but I knew that one hadn't been around in many years, so I settled on maybe one of the others. But that wouldn't explain his sudden change in personality.

Jake had told me that when he tried to check on him yesterday, he had actually snapped at him and told him to leave him alone. This just didn't seem like the Embry I had met. By the time I made it to Jake's, I had mulled over every disease scenario, but still wasn't satisfied with my conclusions.

I was just about to pull behind Jake's house, near his garage, when I saw him come out onto the front porch, so I stopped and started getting out. By the time I had unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door, Jake was there to greet me.

"Hey, Bells. What are you doing here today? Not that I'm not glad to see you or anything," Jake said, as he pulled me into his arms and held me there.

He hadn't offered me his usual sunny smile and I could tell he was preoccupied, most likely worrying about Embry. I lay my head against his chest and locked my arms around his waist. If nothing else, maybe I could try to get his mind off of his worries.

"I wanted to come check on you and see how he was and to see how you were holding up," I said, taking a deep breath of Jake.

He slowly began pulling away and I could finally see his face again. He looked tired and troubled which made me concerned about him too.

"I'm not sure. Quil and I went to check on him a little while ago but his mom said he had gone out and hadn't come back yet and he didn't go to school today. Quil and I went to a few spots we thought he might be at, but we haven't found him yet. I don't know where he could be and his mom was beside herself," he said, absentmindedly rubbing a few strands of my hair together between his fingers as he thought.

"Have you told Billy what happened today?"

"No, I was just about to go in, when I heard you pull up."

"You want to go talk with him? I'll go with you."

"No. I'll talk to him later. You want to walk down to the beach?"

"Sure, if you're up to it, or I can go if you want to go back out looking for Embry," I offered.

"No. I want...need to see you for a while. I know you can't stay long and it's nice to see you two days in a row so let's go to the beach," he said, finally giving me a half-hearted smile.

"Well yesterday I thought you were concerned about my truck and wanted me to come down here for that?" I asked, trying to cock one eyebrow up like he does sometimes.

"Sure, sure, whatever you think Bells," he replied with a laugh.

He took my hand in his and we started walking toward the beach. If it weren't for this situation with Embry, this would have been an almost perfect moment, just the two of us in our own little world.

"You haven't told me how your day was?" Jake asked, swinging our arms back and forth between us.

"Oh, it was okay. At least I only have some reading to do tonight."

"Yeah, I've got a test in math tomorrow—not much studying to do for it though. Hey, did you talk with Charlie about Saturday? You're both coming, right?"

"Oh, we'll be there. Charlie can't wait to teach your dad a lesson in card playing. Do we need to bring anything?"

"No. Dad and I have it all covered. I'm looking forward to having you alone in my room for several hours. I have some things I want to show you," Jake said, as he stopped walking and pulled me around to face him.

I felt my face turning red, "Jacob Black. I'm not sure I should come. It sounds all to premeditated and risque to me."

"No, no. Hey, I'm an upstanding guy. I'd never try to take advantage of a beautiful woman, especially you," Jake said, trying to look all innocent.

"But you might take advantage of another beautiful..."

He cut me off by placing his finger to my lips, "no. No one else Bella," he said, looking at me with dark serious eyes.

I knew I shouldn't have pushed the little innuendo, but he had opened the door for that one. But I let it go because I didn't want him to feel any worse than he already did.

We walked until we reached the old driftwood tree on the beach, where we sat down and looked out at the waves. Jake seemed to be less tense now, and I thought that it was probably good for him to come out here for a while.

It had been about twenty minutes since we sat down and started watching the waves and we hadn't really done much talking, so I got up and walked around behind Jake.

"Here, lean against me, and I'll take all your worries away," I said, as I slid my hands under his long black hair and found my way to his bulky shoulders and neck.

"Why Bella Swan, you're not going to take advantage of an under aged adolescent are you?" Jake asked in a husky voice, as he leaned against me.

"No Mr. Black, I'm not and besides you're older than me. Remember? What with you helping me cook Saturday night and all. I'd say you were twenty-five and still counting by now," I said, as I began to rub his tight muscles.

"Oh man, you have no idea how good that feels. Bells, you have magic hands, I...."

"Shh, just relax and let me make it better," I whispered as I kissed the top of his head and continued rubbing his shoulders.

As Jake began to lean into me even more, I could feel some of the tension leaving him. I just wish it could stay like this for him, but something told me it couldn't and that this was the calm before the storm. But I tried not to think about it and just enjoyed being with Jake and helping him.

After a long while, Jake sort of moaned and cleared his throat at the same time, and lay his head back against my chest so he could look up at me. I smiled down at him, "feeling better?" I asked.

He pushed himself up off the tree trunk, turned around climbing over the tree to sit facing me, while he pulled me closer to him and wrapped his arms around me. We just gazed into each other's eyes for a long time, no words being spoken, but we were feeling each other's emotions like we had this connection.

"I'm so glad that we're friends, Bells. You know I'd do anything for you and I'm always going to be here for you? You do know that, don't you?" Jake whispered, as he pulled me against his chest and lay his head on my shoulder.

"Yeah, I know Jake. I know," I said, nestling my face into the curve of his neck.

We'd been like that for a few minutes, when we heard someone calling Jake's name. We both looked up to see Quil, running toward Jake.

"Jake. Jake, you're not going to believe this, but I just saw Embry going into the woods behind his house with Sam and the others. I tried to follow them, but they just, well they just seemed to vanish," he said, as he tried to catch his breath.

"Are you sure? It can't be. He felt the same way as we do about Sam," Jake said, sounding hurt and upset.

"I'm sure man. I saw him with my own eyes," Quil assured him, as he rested his hands on his knees, still trying to breathe deep.

"Bella, I'm sorry, but I need...."

"It's okay. I understand, but you promise me, promise me that you'll be careful?" I said, moving in front of him.

"I promise and I'll call you later," he said, as he pulled me in for one last tight hug, before running off with Quil down the beach.

I watched for a while, then went back to my truck and drove home. I wasn't sure of what this all meant, but if Sam was involved that made things even more uncertain. Why was he so appealing to these young men, I wondered? And what hold did he have over them?

I was not quite home when a song came on the radio and as the words filled the cab of my truck, it took my breath away. I pulled over to the side of the road and listened to every word the singer said, and thought of how much the song made me think of Jake.

I cried a tear, you wiped it dry. I was confused, you cleared my mind. I sold my soul, you bought it back for me. You held me up and gave me dignity, somehow you needed me. You gave me strength to stand alone again, to face the world, out on my own again. You put me high, upon a pedestal, so high that I could almost see eternity. You needed me; you needed me.

And I can't believe it's you, I can't believe it's true, I needed you and you were there, and I'll never leave why should I leave, I'd be a fool, cause I finally found someone who really cares. You held my hand when it was cold, when I was lost, you took me home, you gave me hope, when I was at the end and turned my lies back into truth again, you even called me friend.

As the song continued, I felt it in my heart, just how much Jake had come to mean to me. The singer was singing my life—my life with Jake. The tears slid down my face slowly, as I realized how lucky I was to have Jake in my life and I vowed right then and there that I would let him love me and I would love him in return, I would let us have a chance, because he was so worth it.

When the song ended, and I regained my senses, I drove home feeling a bit lighter and happier than before, if that was even possible, knowing that Jake was a part of my life. I wanted to tell him how much he meant to me, but I would wait until the time was right, hopefully soon.

Charlie was getting out of his car when I got home. He came to my truck and opened the door.

"Hey Bells. Where have you been? Hey, are you okay? You've been crying."

"I'm good dad. I'm good. I just heard a song on the radio, that's all," I said, as I got out and slid my arm around his waist, "love you," I said, as we walked inside.

"That must have been some song," he commented, looking back down at me.

"Yeah, it was. So, what sounds good for dinner tonight?"

"How about I take you to the diner tonight? You've been cooking a lot lately and besides, a steak sounds nice."

"Okay, you win," I agreed, and went upstairs to wash my face.

We drove in silence to the diner, went in and ordered, and talked about our day while we waited. After eating we drove back home and I went upstairs to do my homework. When I finished my reading I took a shower, and was just getting ready for bed, when Jake called.

"Hey. Did you find out anything new?" I asked then listened as Jake told me they had confirmed that Embry was hanging around Sam and the others, but that they hadn't been able to talk with him because Sam wouldn't let them near Embry.

He seemed angry, but I tried to tell him not to worry and that I was sure Embry would get away from Sam as soon as he could, regardless of the reasons he was with him now. He just said he couldn't understand why Embry had gone with Sam, when he too couldn't stand the way Sam seemed to control Paul and Jared.

I asked Jake if he had studied for his math test, which he hadn't, so he said he needed to do that before going to bed and that he would talk with me the next day. I told him goodnight, but before I let him go, I said, "Jake, um, I just wanted to say thanks, you know. Just thanks. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Good night, Jake," I said, then I went upstairs and climbed into bed, thinking about my Jacob as I feel asleep.

The next day was Friday, and school actually went by fast. I didn't really have a chance to talk with anyone much, except for Angela during lunch. She was still trying to get me to tell her who had me smiling these days, but I kept changing the subject. I thought, for now, it was best to just keep things to myself.

That night I talked with Jake by phone, he really didn't have anything new to report on Embry, but he was excited about us coming over for dinner the following day. When we finished talking, an hour later, I got my shower and went to bed. That night I dreamed about my wolf protector, walking with me through the forest and out onto the beach. I was afraid someone would see him on the beach and remembered wanting to keep people from seeing him. I was afraid they might try to hurt him.

I woke up the next morning feeling confused and trying to remember bits and pieces of my dream, but I had things to do so I got busy and worked doing my housework and laundry until time to go to La Push.

I changed clothes and brushed my hair, wanting to look nice when we went to Jake's.

"Are you getting fixed up for a reason?" Charlie asked, as he came to tell me it was time to leave.

"No. No reason," I replied and smiled at him as we left.

When we pulled up at Jake's house, he came out to greet us. Charlie looked like he was embarrassed or something, told Jake hello, and went inside. I too felt something different as I stood there with Jake, but I was beginning to understand what it was and why I felt it.

"I'm glad you came," he said, taking my hand in his.

"Did you have any doubt?" I asked giving him a little shove and smiling.

Then he wrapped his arms around me, and I hugged him to me as long as I could.

"Come on, they'll be wondering what's keeping us. Are you hungry? We have roast, potatoes, rolls, and macaroni," he said proudly.

"It sounds good. How much of it did you fix?"

"A lot," he said, poking me in the ribs as we ran into the house laughing.

After we ate, Jake and I cleared the table and washed the dishes, while Charlie and Billy set up their card game at the kitchen table. Jake and I talked quietly and he filled me in on what little information he had about Embry.

He told me that he had been seen a couple times near the woods and that his mom was still beside herself, but that the council had gone to her house and talked with her telling her he would be fine and that he would be back home as soon as he could.

After we finished the dishes, Jake motioned for me to follow him to his room. He dug out a large book from under his bed and sat down at the head of the bed, still holding the book in one hand as he spread his legs apart and patted the bed in front of him.

"Come here and sit by me," he said.

I eyed him cautiously and felt the blood rush into my cheeks because I knew being that close to him in that position might be dangerous. Then he patted the bed again, and I couldn't refuse the pleading look on his face.

I crawled onto the bed, turned around, and wiggled up close to him, so my back was resting against his chest, then he lay the book across my lap and opened it up.

"What is this?" I asked, now full of curiosity.

"This, is what I wanted to show you. These are pictures of me and my family when I was growing up. But there's one in here in particular I want you to see," he said, as he leaned around me and began moving the pages.

It took me a few moments to acclimate myself to this position and being this close to him. His arms were warm on either side of me and he felt good as I leaned into him. His hair tickled the side of my face and neck as he moved forward to turn the pages.

When I turned my attention to the photos, instead of him, I was immediately drawn into a world of "ew's" and "aw's" as I looked at how cute he was when he was a little boy. My first memory of playing with him would have probably been when he was five or six, but these pictures dated back to when he was a baby forward.

He went through the pictures and told me tidbits about each one, where he and his family had camped, or what vacation they had been on, and then we came to the middle of the photo album and he pointed to a photo in the center of the page.

"Is that...."

"Yes. That is you when you came down one summer. Do you remember that day?" he asked, brushing the hair away from my neck with his lips.

"Yeah, I remember. We were playing on the beach that day and our dad's were fishing in the surf. Your mom came down to the beach and found us digging a huge hole. We were digging for buried treasure," we both said at the same time and started laughing. "I guess we've known each other a long time, haven't we Jake?" I asked, turning my head to the side to find him looking at me.

"Yes we have and you know what? I found the treasure, it just had to come to the realization that it wanted to be found," Jake said, his breath fanning softly against my cheek.

We were both still and quite, except for our breathing and the thudding of my heart fast, then slow. Jake was wrapped around me and I was warm and safe and things had never felt so right, as they did right then. Jake moved closer, letting his lips barely graze mine, as I gave way and lay back against his chest, turning so that I was sitting sideways as I leaned against him. His hand brushed against my cheek and he looked into my eyes.

"What if I'm the one who found the treasure?" I countered, as I let myself enjoy our closeness.

"Then we're both very lucky," he said, as he again moved closer to me and this time pressed his lips to mine.

I let myself fall into his arms and reached up to feel his long silky hair as it fell against the side of my face. I found the edge of his ear and traced around it with my finger, lingering on the soft delicate skin of his ear lobe.

He pulled away and pressed my head to his chest as he ran his hand over my hair and the side of my head, just holding me. This was where I belonged and Jacob Black completed me in so many ways. I wanted to share how I felt, "Jake....I...."

"Hey, it's okay. Let's just enjoy the night and next weekend we can have a long talk. I'm looking forward to our date," he said.

So he just held me and we shared a quiet time together, then we looked at the rest of his pictures, and before long it was time for us to go home. Jake walked me to the car, while my dad was telling Billy goodnight.

He kissed me on the forehead and again brushed his hand over my cheek, then helped me in the car as Charlie came out and told him goodbye and thanked him for the dinner. We pulled away and Charlie asked if I had a good time, I just smiled and told him yes, and couldn't help but think about Jake and me all the way home.