** Updated as of 12-27-10 **
~Hey guys :P Another chapter back up :P Thank God. Lol. You find out who's calling Edward … and a little about what's going on with Jacob. Remember, at the end of Eclipse he ran off on his own, and no one has seen him since. I went a little left field with Jake's story, but I hope you like it, and don't think it's too lame. Please R&R.
Enjoy!~
Chapter Ten: Out with the Old, In with the New
"Hey Seth." Edward's face instantly brightened up.
It was still a little weird to me that they talked. After the fight with Victoria the two of them had become close. They didn't hang out together, because we all knew how much of a problem the werewolves and some of the Cullens would have with that. They still managed to call and keep in touch with each other though.
I liked Seth, so I didn't mind really, but it just reminded me of the pack every time they did speak. Thinking of the werewolves always made my mind wander to one in particular. Jacob. So, you can see how that might be a little bit of a tough thing to dwell on.
Thinking about Jake gave me anxiety so bad . . . that for the umpteenth time I felt myself becoming nauseous. Bathroom time! I came out after a few short minutes to find Edward was already off the phone, and having a very heated looking discussion with Alice.
The both of them swiftly became silent as they saw me, and I felt vastly confused looking at their faces. Edward's was very reserved and undecipherable, while Alice's was a plethora of emotions. The anger was what scared me the most. When she got riled up there was no hope for you.
"What's going on?" I almost didn't want to know.
"Love, why don't we go upstairs and talk," he whispered, grabbing my arm.
I was gentley pulled up to our room, and set on the bed. He was pacing back and forth, clearly at a loss of what to say. What could Seth have said that was so bad? Unless . . .
"Edward." I could actually feel my heart rate accelerating. "Did they . . . is Jake . . . did they find him . . . is he . . . dead?"
"Oh no, sweetheart." He kneeled in front of me. "Jacob is fine." He circled his arms around my stomach hugging me to him, probably listening for my heart to slow, which eventually it did.
"So, what's the matter?" I was close to tears now. Why couldn't he just tell me?
"Bella, please don't get upset. Everything is fine." I could nearly see the wheels in his head turning. He was looking for a way to tell me without doing much harm.
Screw that. "Just spit it out Edward. I'm not a child. I can handle it."
I regretted my tone instantaneously. It was apparent by the darkening of his eyes that I had hurt him, but of course he continued without a hitch.
"Jacob's back."
I was distantly aware of Edward releasing his grip on me, but I could only focus on one thing. Jake was finally home. He was back. So many questions were racing through my mind it made me dizzy.
What did that mean exactly? Was he over me? Why did this solicit such a negative response from Alice? Why was Edward still looking at me like there was more?
"Oh, is that all?" I could tell he sincerely wished I didn't ask him that.
"Yeah, there's more."
I waited patiently for him to continue. He had given me the time to think, and I would do the same in return. Whatever it was, I knew it would be difficult for him to tell me. I prayed his cautiousness was an overreaction. Jake was back, how bad could it be?
"Well, when Seth called with the news he also told me that, upon his return, Jacob has also imprinted." He stopped for a moment searching my face for something. I don't know what he saw, but all the same, he continued on. "He's imprinted with Leah."
"Leah." The shock was not well concealed from my voice.
Imprinting was something that happened to the werewolf race. It could be compared to what you would call soul mates, just a lot stronger. Another thing you could link it to was love at first sight. You knew right away. Jake and Leah had known each other for ages though . . . it didn't make any sense.
"Yes. It seems that Leah, and the pack, have known for a while. The only one in the dark has been Jake himself."
"How is that possible?"
"Well, he was too stuck on you to be aware of it. I guess with the time away he was able to think and focus better so that by the time he came back . . ." he trailed off, at a loss for what else to say.
"Oh."
"There's more. " He visibly cringed at the words.
"More?"
"He's obviously still living with Billy to help him out and everything, but she's moved in with them . . . with Jacob."
"Wow," I mouthed, not trusting myself to speak yet.
Before I knew it, Edward was in front of me once again. He placed the palm of his hand against my face for a moment, and then pulled back gently. I realized with another jolt of alarm that I was crying.
"Bella," there was infinite heartbreak in his voice. "Please don't cry."
What was I doing sitting here with my husband crying over some other guy? I was awful, pathetic, and unworthy of his comforts. I had told him that he would never see me cry over Jacob again, which also made me a liar.
"Edward," I sniffled trying to push him away.
"No Bella, I'm not going anywhere." To prove that point he sat on the bed beside me, lifting me onto his lap. The result of which made me cry even harder. I, in no way whatsoever, deserved this man.
"I don't even know why I'm upset."
"It's alright to be sad, Bella. You two have a history . . . and you loved him."
"But, I don't anymore." I needed him to know that, to know that he was my one and only. I hated breaking down like this in front of him.
"I know you love me, but you guys had such an abrupt ending. It's normal to still have some lingering feelings, even if you're not really aware of them until later. Listen Bella, I'm not mad at you. It's my fault you feel like this in the first place. None of this would've happened if I didn't leave. I have to deal with the consequences."
How anyone could think that Edward was a bad person was beyond me. He's amazing, and clearly too good for me. My sobs settled into silent tears as the reason they started in the first place hit me.
Maybe I was distraught a little bit because of Jake, but not in the same way I had been before. It was mainly the fact that with a girlfriend he would surely not want anything to do with me now. He had told me once that when I was turned that would be the end of us entirely. I would not exist to him.
With someone else to occupy his mind and time, he would not spare me a second thought. I was sad because of the friend I knew was gone from my life.
"Edward, there are no 'left over feelings' for Jacob. I married you. You are my husband. I love you. It's just that . . . we won't be able to be friends anymore, and I know that I knew that before, but it's just more real now, you know?"
He nodded in silent response. After a minute of looking into each others eyes, he bent down and kissed me softly. There was so much relief in it, on both of our parts. To make sure there would be no further doubts, I eagerly kissed back. Probably a little too eager, I noted as he stopped and pulled away.
"Bella," he breathed only inches from my face. His breath, his lips, his eyes, his everything . . . was dazzling me. "I love you."
"I love you too, Edward." Nothing could be truer.
He laid us both back onto the bed, moving me to his side, and pulling me against him. I loved when he held me. We said nothing for a long time, just simply enjoying each other's company. The silence could only last so long though.
"Edward?"
"Mm," he mumbled sleepily, and I giggled.
"Why is Alice so mad about this?"
"Alice," he asked surprised.
"Yeah."
"Well, she absolutely hates it when you are upset. She doesn't want anyone or anything to harm you, or the baby, and if anyone tries she will rip out their throat . . . exact quote."
"Aw." I loved her so much.
"We all do Bella. None of us wants anything bad for you. You're family, always have been, and will be."
He kissed the top of my head and I began drifting off to sleep. Crying really took a lot out of you, or maybe it was the pregnancy, but I was quickly down for the count.
When I woke up I was still in the same position. Edward had never left my side. It was still comforting to know that he stayed. That he didn't get bored with me even when I was asleep.
"Hello sleepyhead," he greeted me sounding cheerful.
"Edward do you think I'll be a good mother," the words were out of my mouth before I even knew what I was saying.
By the sudden hardness of his posture I could tell that he was undoubtedly as taken aback as myself.
"Of course I do. Why would you even ask that?"
"Well, why do you think that?"
He turned me over to face him before continuing. It was difficult to see his face in the darker light of evening, but his eyes were bright with emotion.
"You are smart, kind, strong, loving, and undeniably unselfish. You'll do anything for the ones you love, anything for your family. You will be a great mother."
"You'll be a great father Edward." There I go again with the water works. When will it end?
"I know," he replied with that crooked grin of his.
"And modest too," I added smiling.
He laughed. "Now, we should get you something to eat. You must be famished."
He was my knight in shining armor, always saving me, even if it were only from potential starvation. I laughed as we went downstairs. No matter what was to come in the future, we would all be alright. I had him, he had me, and we had our baby. Everything would be fine.
~So, what do you think of Jake imprinting with Leah? I always thought they would be good together. The way I figure it … if anyone was thickheaded enough to totally ignore it happening … it would be Jake. Of course he would be late to realize. Lol. Please let me know what you think :P Thanks so much for reading!~
