OMJ, (oh my Jacob), I am so sorry I haven't updated in that long. It's holidays here now, Christmas being less than two weeks away, and all. This chapter is sort of a shortie, but I promise the next is much longer.

Remember, reviews are like crack…okay maybe not.

Chapter 9

Forbidden Sight

The sun was shining from the east when Bella opened her eyes the following morning. She was a little dazed in her thoughts, until the memories from last night came seeping back.

"Oh!" She exclaimed, jumping up from the covers. She looked around her room, but nothing was out of the ordinary. But something had happened…

"Good morning, sleepyhead."

A husky voice greeted her. Jacob lay beside her, his glossy black hair looking unnaturally bothered. He had a cheesy smile on his face, but he was positively glowing with joy. "How are we today?"

Bella smiled back at him, and lied back down, curling into the side of his body. "I'm perfect now." Jacob laughed, a deep rumble from his chest. Bella listened to his steady heartbeat, and as she readjusted she remembered something; they were naked.

Her cheeks flushed as she took a peek to confirm it. Yep. "Sweetheart, are you alright?" Jacob's mildly worried face showed signs of amusement. Bella nodded. "I need a shower though."

Jacob laughed, and hid his eyes with one hand. "Go on then, I won't look." Bella smiled, then another idea occurred to her. "Would you like to join me, Mr. Black?" Jacob glanced at her warily. "Are you sure?"

Bella laughed, and pulled him up off the bed as she crossed the room. "Is that all you can say, 'are you sure?' They laughed in harmony as Bella pulled out a set of clothes, all the while keeping her shy eyes away from Jacob's bare figure.

Under the hot steam of the shower, strange things happened to the proximity of the two bodies and last night started to become just to familiar…

An hour later, Bella sat in her truck once again, sighing as she cruised through the sleepy town of Forks. Jake had gone to be the hero after another call from Sam, so Bella was going to pick up Emily; the two planned to go shopping in Seattle for the day.

But as she pulled up at the familiar cottage, Bella was sure their plans were about to go haywire. Three unfamiliar cars were parked out front, but judging by the makes and models, Bella guessed most of the pack had already convened here.

She quickly jumped out the truck, and hurried into the house where the sounds of raised voices emitted. She slid open the door, managing to catch the end of the conversation.

"Sam, if they're anywhere near here, we need to act fast! This is our chance to rid them, -"

"Paul, shut up, now!"

The whole group turned to face Bella, their faces in a dizzying array of emotion; shock, disappointment, determination, anger and the most confusing were Emily's; sympathy. Bella frowned, her cheeks blushing due to her sudden spotlight.

"Uh, hi guys." She mumbled, a shy smile on her lips. "What's wrong?"

Every single person in Emily's little kitchen exchanged a nervous glance, and it was only now that Bella realised Jacob and Embry were missing. Bella did notice Leah and Seth in the back, Leah glaring down at the floor as she leaned against the bench. Seth beside her looked positively joyful. "Where's Jake?" Bella asked cautiously.

Sam cleared his throat, shooting Paul, Jared and Quil a stern look. "Hey, Bella. He and Embry are on patrol. We caught another scent last night." He explained. Bella sighed; Victoria was never going to give up.

Sam moved across the room, to place an arm around Emily's waist. "I think you two should stay indoors today. Just in case."

Emily groaned, almost in synch with mine. I shot her a grateful smile; she would explain this to Sam better than I could. "Sam, Bella and I were planning to go to Seattle today, we can't stand to be cooped up in here anymore!"

Sam looked at her for a moment, sighed then squeezed her gently. "Okay, but I want you to take…" he looked around at his pack, the three of them all shaking their heads, worriedly. Don't pick me, please don't pick me, Bella imagined them repeating over and over in their heads. She let out a giggle before Sam continued. "Seth. He could use some downtime after training."

The rest of the pack looked smug as Seth's smile faltered, but he shrugged anyways and went to Bella's side, putting his hot arm over her shoulders. "Shopping…Yay."

He grumbled quietly. Bella laughed, reaching up to scruff his hair. "Aww, poor baby, how about I buy you an ice-cream, would baby wike dat?"

Seth tickled her playfully as she baby-talked him and Leah shot them both an evil glare.

Sam clapped his hands together and signalled his pack outside. He kissed Emily's face on her scarred cheek, then her lips and forehead before he followed them out. "Oh and Seth?" He paused by the door, the sounds of the wolf pack's laughter carrying through the trees. "Be careful."

Seth nodded as he watched his alpha leave, off to save the world once again.

* - *

"Never have I spent so long in the girl's change room," Seth groaned, looking nervously around himself as the three of them came out of Target, their arms tired already with the weight of their new purchases. He hoped none of his school friends had decided to appear and embarrass him further.

Seth caught most of the load, but since he was a member of the supernatural, he could afford some extra weight. This was not to say it stopped him whining all day. "Let's go eat, I'm starved." He groaned, his eyes zeroing in on the food court. Bella nodded, feeling much the same.

The three continued on like this for the rest of the afternoon, but Bella couldn't shake her gut feeling that Seth was looking out for something; something dangerous. He kept Emily and Bella close to him at all times, his soft brown eyes unusually alert for a casual shopping trip. But this was probably the only time Emily and Bella would have freedom; they would make the most of it.

"Okay, Seth." Emily sighed, as he shuffled them in the direction of the exit. "One last shop." She pointed to the clothing store directly ahead of them; the mannequins looked a little overdressed for Seattle weather.

Seth shrugged, leading the girls forward. Emily saw something on a rack close by and went to inspect, as Bella inched over to whisper to Seth. "Okay. Spill the beans, what's going on?"

Seth looked down, exasperatedly into her eyes. Bella saw some emotion flicker across his face, which may or may not have been anger. "It's nothing, Bells. Relax, your paranoid."

Seth barked a laugh, but his anxious eyes kept a constant surveillance of their surroundings. Bella shrugged, and caught up with Emily.

"What do you think of this?" Emily asked, holding up the ivory, knee length halter dress. Bella smiled, it was rather pretty. "I like it," She commented. "Try it on."

Emily laughed once, a mischievous smile coming over her scarred face. "Actually, I thought it might look better on you…as my bridesmaid."

Bella's mouth dropped open. "What?" Emily nodded happily, laying the dress over her arm. "You, Kim and Leah are bridesmaids. No further discussion will be entered into."

Bella teared up; she hadn't realised how very close these Quileutes had become to her, they were family, more than friends. Bella hugged Emily tightly, cursing her strange emotion outbursts. "Thank you so much!"

Emily giggled, patting her back fondly. "You're already like a sister to me; it was perfect." The two girls grinned at each other before Bella spotted Seth.

And then their smiles disappeared; Seth's face was pure shock. "Se-,"

"Let's go, right now." He said, his voice deep with fury as he moved them away from the racks. Emily gave one thoughtful glance towards the dress over her arm, before stashing it back on the rack.

"Why, what's happening?"

Seth didn't reply, his whole body quivering. Bella caught on in synch with Emily. The blood drained from her face. "Vampire," She whispered, the long forgotten term slipping uncertainly from her tongue. Seth just nodded as they made it to the parking lot. Bella took one look behind her, wondering how much of an advantage they had on their follower.

But there was only one figure that caught her eye as she glanced through the crowds. A tiny girl; because she had to be only a girl, she wasn't even five feet tall. Her spiky, black hair, although Bella was only seeing the back of her, looked awful familiar. And her skin; how familiar that alabaster tone had been to Bella.

But no. She couldn't be here. That was impossible. He promised; they all did. But as Bella took a double look, the pixie girl was gone. All that was left of her was confusion and grief-stricken memories of the best girl friend Bella could never have again.

The ride home was longer this time, but even in the stony silence, Bella could tell; the wolves were keeping a secret.