Bella, was tired, so tired, but her mind was awake. She kept replaying the events of the night, and had so many questions for Jacob. Did the imprint explain the dreams she had been having all these years? The way she just couldn't let him go? Did the rest of the pack know? All of these questions went through her mind while she was doing her damnedest to stay awake on the back of Jacob's Harley. Just when she thought she couldn't keep herself up any longer, Jacob turned down a dark gravel road. When they came to a stop she had no idea where they were. In front of her was a beautiful two story cabin surrounded by the forest on either side. Tree's grew right up to the sides of the house, blocking anyone from viewing the sides or the back of the house. Bathed in moonlight, she thought it was a beautiful home. Dormer windows stood out on the second story flanked on each side by cedar shutters. A set of steps led up to a large cedar door.

"Jake, where are we?"

He grinned, helping her slide off the seat of the bike. "My house".

"Your house?" Bella was shocked. Never had Jacob mentioned that he moved out of Billy's place.

He looked down at her in amusement. "You're surprised?"

"No. I mean, yeah, I guess I just assumed that you were still living with Billy."

"Rachel takes care of him now, and Paul is constantly there." He gave her a knowing look. "Let's just say I see enough in Paul's mind without needing to attend the live show."

Bella blushed. "Yeah, understood. Don't need details."

Jacob barked out a laugh, and tugged her hand. "No kidding. Neither did I. Come on, let's go inside." He unlocked the door of the house, dying to see what his Bells would think of it. When he built the house, he knew he was being a martyr, but he kept designing things with her in mind. He flicked on the lights, and turned around to Bella who was staring wide eyed at the great room. "Well, what do you think?" he asked, nervously.

Bella was amazed. The entry was laid in beautiful blue-gray stone. The rich dark colors of the hardwood floors (easy for cleaning up mud that 6 foot werewolves were bound to track in), gave a warmth to the room. A long deep forest green sofa sat on top of a chocolate brown rug, facing a large stone fireplace. Birch and driftwood sat in a big copper kettle, the kind the pioneers used to make apple butter in, and logs were laid on the hearth, ready to be lit. Stairs in the same dark wood flooring led to the upstairs of the house. Bella thought the place looked as if it was an extension of the forest. The room was, for lack of a better word, cozy. She could see herself curled up with a cup of tea and a good book in front of the fireplace. Bella, blushed at the thought, although she wasn't sure why.

"Jacob", she whispered in amazement. "It's beautiful. It's so beautiful."

Jacob smiled and his heart soared. "Come on in, Bells, you look like you're ready to fall over." While Bella got comfortable on the couch, Jacob busied himself in the kitchen, fixing tea. He didn't know why, but he didn't want her to see this room yet. Everything else was an open floor plan, even the behemoth of a dining table to accommodate his pack blended seamlessly into the great room. But this room, the kitchen, was was separate, entered into by a swinging door. It was a beautifully proportioned space. When he worked on the house, he kept thinking of her. Memories flooded his mind of her fixing meals for him and their fathers, helping Emily feed the pack. Beautiful off white cupboards that looked as though they belonged in a farmhouse hung on the walls. Silver tin back-splashes met black granite counters. A large butcher block island, with legs he carefully carved with leaves, vines and flowers. Another stone fireplace, this one with a cedar mantle that Billy had carved with wolves chasing through the trees. Light blue walls, and breakfast nook with a bay window that overlooked the back yard. Yes, he had thought of her when he built this room. Even down to the pot rack above the island that raised and lowered on it's chains. As he stood there, pouring honey and milk into her tea, he wanted nothing more than to see her in this room every day. To share breakfast with him as the sun came in through the large window. He wanted to drink coffee with her in the mornings, watch her dance around the kitchen in her own world, baking and preparing meals. He wanted a life, a life with her in it. They still had so much to work out, but he had always been one to know his own mind, and pursue what he wanted.

Jacob carried her tea to her, and placing it on the coffee table, he asked "Are you cold?"

"Just a little. I'm tired, and I always get cold when I'm tired. Once I have some tea I'm sure I'll be warm" she replied.

Jacob got up and lit the fire. The two of them watched the flames lick the salt dried driftwood, creating a myriad of colors. "Jake, it's almost like being at the beach."

"I know" he smiled.

They sat there in comfortable silence for a long time, watching the fire, Bella drinking her tea, leaning into Jacob's side and reveling in his warmth. She knew she was getting more and more tired, and that she needed to go home.

"Jake, it's late. I'm exhausted", she yawned.

Jacob stood up and reached for her hand to help her up. "Come on."

Bella turned to the door as Jacob turned to the stairs. Unable to move, she looked up at him nervously. "Jacob, where are you going? Door is this way."

He tugged her arm gently. "I know, but bed is this way."

"Jake -"

He cut her off. "Bells, nothing is going to happen. I just want you here with me tonight. I can't bear the though of leaving you right now. Please?" He looked at her with puppy dog eyes.

Bella felt her will breaking, giving into him.

"Charlie doesn't know where I am." It was a weak protest, and she knew it.

Jacob let out a laugh. "Bells, Charlie knows you're with me, and he knows I'd never let anything happen to you. I've been telling you for years, don't worry, Charlie loves me."

Bella knew he was right, and her body was at war with her, fighting off sleep as it was. "Ok. Do you have something I can sleep in"?

Jacob grinned and pulled her to his chest. "Of course. Old t-shirt coming up." He led her up the stairs to his room and pulled the door closed behind him. His room was a perfect reflection of him. Everything was simple, cluttered, and in the corner she spotted an overflowing hamper. Above the bed, hanging from the wall was a beautifully woven dreamcatcher, similar to the one he had made her so many years ago. Jacob walked into his closet. He had planned on giving her an old t-shirt, but the man in him couldn't resist, and he pulled out a sky blue long sleeved button up shirt for her. It was soft, made of cotton, the sleeves would be way to long and need to be rolled, but he knew how sexy she would look in it. He felt a little devious, but since he had no plans on sex for tonight, he thought he could get away with it. He handed her the shirt. "Here you go. Bathroom is through that door, and you'll find a spare toothbrush in the drawer closest to the wall."

"Thanks Jake."

Bella changed quickly, not paying attention to her surroundings. When her teeth felt minty fresh, she quickly walked out of the bathroom to find Jacob in nothing but a pair of boxers. She sucked in a breath. Good God he was beautiful! It should be a sin look so hot. She couldn't help the staring she was doing at his perfectly toned chest. In fact, if she wasn't careful, drool would start leaking from the corner of her mouth. Jacob just smirked at her, took her hand, led her to the side of his enormous bed, and tucked her in. He walked over to his side, turned off the lamp, and laid down and pulled Bella into his arms. She fell asleep to him gently running his hands up and down her back, bare legs tangled together, little kisses pressed softly into her hair, and whispered promises of "I love you, I want you, I love you, I need you in my life".

Tonight they would both dream of little black haired children, running for the forest.

Jacob woke up early out of habit. He gazed down at the beauty sleeping curled into his chest. He closed his eyes again and then opened them, proving to himself that it wasn't a dream. That after all these years, she was here. Bella was here. With him. Sleeping in his bed. In his arms, finally where she belonged. He pulled her closer and could not resist burying his nose in her hair, breathing in her scent. Fuck! He wanted nothing more than to bathe in it. Bella sighed and began to stir. Slowly she opened her eyes and drowsily looked at him. "Hi" she spoke softly.

"Hi" he smiled down at her. "Sleep well?"

"More" she said snuggling even deeper into his chest. When her breathing evened out telling him she was once again asleep he too closed his eyes. He knew they would have to get up again in a few hours, but right now, nothing could convince him to leave this bed.

Bella's senses began to wake her up before she opened her eyes. The seductive aroma of coffee tickled her nose. Slowly she cracked one eye open, only to see a cup of coffee and a note on the nightstand.

Bells-

Going for a quick run. Enjoy your coffee and help yourself to the shower. Towels are in the linen closet next to the sink. When you're ready, meet me out back.

-Jake

Bella laid in bed, she contemplated the events of last night. Her whole world was changed, and she wasn't sure what to make of it. Not that she didn't want Jacob, didn't love him, it's just that he had spent the better part of the last month avoiding her. She could understand why, but then to jump in feet first like this, to literally dive right into the deep end - no, it was right. It was more than right. Drinking her coffee, she pulled the fog and doubt from her head. She would lead with her heart from now on. No more over thinking everything. Jacob loved her, he always had. This was life. Imperfect, and beautiful because of it.

Throwing aside the covers, she walked into the bathroom. Amazed at the size of the shower, she turned the nozzle on to allow the water to heat up. She looked around, and realized that everything in the bathroom was made to fit a giant, or in reality, an almost 7 foot tall werewolf named Jacob Black. She opened the linen closet, pulled out a towel, stripped and stepped into the shower, ready to wake up, let the water soothe away her self doubts, and begin a new day, a new chapter in her life.

Jacob was waiting for her outside, and as she walked out onto the patio his heart picked up in pace. There was Bella, wearing one of his old black t-shirts, complete with thin spots, and small rips. On him or another man, it would have looked ready for the trash. Bella on the other hand, rocked it. She looked like a fucking supermodel, whether she knew it or not. She just looked at him and shrugged. "Morning! Hope you don't mind." Jacob stood up from his seat, stalked over to where she was standing, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. When he pulled away from her, he looked down and grinned. "I think I should give you all of my old clothes." He pulled her close again, kissed the top of her head, and felt the wolf in him pleased that she smelled of his shampoo and soap. She had washed in his scents, and it felt like a mark in some small way. He would have stood there forever, holding her, reveling that in this moment, after so many years, she was here, in his home, waking up in his bed, having breakfast with him, kissing him, starting her day with him. However, Bella peeked up at him, arched an eyebrow and said "You know, I'd love to do this all day, but I'm cranky if I don't get some breakfast in the morning". Jacob started laughing. "Bells, I never thought I'd see the day when I wasn't the one begging to be fed!"

She smacked his chest playfully. "Yeah, yeah, very funny wolfboy! I'm still hungry!"

"Well, it's a good thing I have breakfast waiting for you". He stepped aside and showed her the spread he had put out of bagels, fresh fruit, juice and toast.

The sat comfortably, laughing at each other's appetites, talking about the day, making plans. "I really should get home soon Jake. I need to check my e-mail and my messages to see if any of the schools I applied to want to schedule interviews".

Jacob took a drink of his coffee. "Ok, I can do that, but you're coming back later."

"Of course I am." She was confused. They'd already made plans to spend part of the afternoon together.

He reached for her hand. "Bells, there's something I wanted to talk to you about. You've been back awhile now, and the only pack members you've seen are Leah and Seth."

"So?"

Jacob gave her a look. "Bells, you know what I'm getting at here."

Bella sighed. It wasn't that she didn't want to see everyone. "Jake, I just didn't know if it was a good idea. I know they must be mad at me, and with good reason."

"Bells, honey, believe me. Nobody hates you. Right now, you're their hero. Leah hasn't been such a bitch since you came back."

"Jake!"

"Well, it's true"! he laughed.

"Yeah, but still. You know, she's not really a bitch. I admire her. Leah's had to go through a hell of alot of shit, but she came out stronger on the other side".

"So did you."

"Yeah, I did.", she conceded. "I'm not the same pushover I used to be. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm still sensitive, I still want what's best for everyone, but I realized that I have to stand on my own, love myself and take care of me. I'm actually pretty damn proud of the person I've become."

Jacob lovingly stroked the side of her face, tucking her hair behind her ear. "You should be, Bells. You amaze me. You're still the girl I fell in love with when I was sixteen, but now you're so much more."

Bella closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Thank you."

"Ok, so that said, I think that you should see the pack tonight."

"Wait, What?" She got the feeling she was being railroaded. He wasn't going to give her a choice.

"Come on, Bells." Jacob pleaded with her. It was a really important step in their relationship. She needed to spend time with everyone. "I'll have everyone over here for a bonfire. Maybe we can get Sam and Emily to come."

"Yeah, when pigs fly", she retorted. "I'm sure Emily will come, but not Sam. Did I tell you about my lunch with her?"

"Nope. How did it go?" He wanted to know what he was up against. Jacob was willing to extend a branch, but he needed to know the facts.

"Oh, well you know, Emily. She was really sweet, very apologetic. She said Sam wouldn't let her say anything about me not being a Cullen. Frankly, I'm a little shocked at how controlling he was being of her. I know you have to work with him, Jake, but I'm not ready to forgive him any time soon. I came here feeling the need to apologize to him, but well, quite frankly he evened the score and then some."

Jacob sighed heavily. Sam was a huge problem. He was trying to make an effort since they all had to work together, but Sam wasn't making things easy. "Yeah, I can't stand him these days either. One day I'll have to take over the rest of the pack, and I'm afraid that day is going to be sooner than later. I don't know what will happen, but I don't think it's going to be pretty. I'd rather do it without a fight, but I don't see him relinquishing control."

Bella furrowed her brow in concentration. "Do you think he'll force a fight"?

Jacob shrugged. "It's just a gut feeling that I have."

Bella drummed her fingers against the table. "Well, in the meantime, I think that Emily found the most creative revenge. I'm amazed that Leah took her in, and that they haven't killed each other yet."

"That's your doing, Bells. I told you, Leah's been a better person since you two became friends. I don't know how you did it, but you did."

"Ok, well on that note, I think you'd better get me home before Charlie freaks out, declares me missing and has my picture printed on milk cartons."

Jacob dropped Bella off at Charlie's, and informed her he'd be back for in two hours.

"What? Why?"

Jacob sighed. "Bella, we have to shop. Haven't you heard that the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach? If you want to apologize to wolves, do it with food." He looked down at her with the most serious expression he could muster.

Bella playfully pushed his shoulders. "You really are incorrigible."

"Nope, just hungry."

Bella stood up on her toes to kiss him. "Ok. See you in a few hours."

As he was walking back to his car he felt his heart turn a cartwheel in his chest as she called over her shoulder "Jake, I love you. Don't be late, ok!"