Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer, not me. I only wish I could borrow Edward and marry him, but alas it will never happen.

Author's note: I apologize for the delay in this chapter posting! I've been on vacation with my family for a few days, forced to ride roller coasters (which I hate), and then got a bad sunburn. Things have been crazy with college coming up soon. Thank you for the lovely reviews! It makes my day! Please keep reading! 155 people have this on story alert and I only get around 30 reviews per chapter. Kinda sad. I love that you are reading and wanna hear from you please!! Okay, on with the story!

Chapter 11 – Jacob

Bella POV

"Jacob…" I murmured, tears springing to my eyes. "Are you really here?"

He stepped forward, grinning. I knew it was my Jacob. Edward stiffened; still holding me in his arms, but didn't growl. None of the Cullens acknowledged that there was a werewolf in their front yard. My love released me, kissing my hair.

"Don't keep her out late, Jacob. She needs her rest."

With that, Edward slowly walked inside. My entire body was frozen and I couldn't move. Jake's smile faltered a little bit as he looked at me. Then he was beside me, reaching hesitantly for my left hand. My body sprung to life and I flung myself into his too warm arms. Jacob stroked my hair as heavy tears fell from his eyes. He knew. Of course, Seth couldn't keep a secret from him.

"Oh Bells, I've missed you," Jake whispered. "Come walk with me."

I nodded, unable to form a coherent thought. We started down the long driveway with his arms still around me. My eyes trailed up to his face and I found my hand touching his warm cheek, feeling the long hair on his chin. We stopped at the end of the driveway and he pulled me onto his lap, sitting down in the moonlight by a tall tree. For several long minutes, neither of us could find our voices to speak. I didn't want to ruin the happy moment by breaking the silence. Jacob sighed and found his voice first.

"Do you hate me for leaving?' he murmured in my ear.

"No, I have forgiven you. How have you been?"

Jake laughed roughly. "Horrible."

He looked down at me and stroked my hair, frowning. Tears escaped from my eyes.

"Seth told me everything. He couldn't help it, but he was nice enough to come alone to speak to me. I felt literally sick to my stomach when he told me how you responded, running away from Edward and… screaming on the beach. It was horrible to watch through his eyes. I had to come home. Besides, I couldn't let you get married and not be there to throw tomatoes at the groom."

My laughter caught in my throat and I felt the hot tears burn my cheeks as they dripped from my face to his hands. I stood up and took a few steps away from him.

"I have waited for you every day," I wept. "As each night, the moon changes growing and shrinking like the beating of my heart, I've wished that you would come home. When I found out… I was so angry with you, that you would leave me to face this alone. I even hated Edward. I'm such a terrible person. I don't wanna die! Jacob, you shouldn't have left me alone!"

He deserved this. Jacob left me and I wanted to be angry with him. He didn't speak for a long minute. I turned around to face him, letting the traitor tears be seen.

"Bells… I made a promise to never hurt you. It's a promise that I can't keep, but I will try… if you want me back as your friend."

I ran into his open arms, crying. Of course I wanted my best friend back. Almost all of my dreams involved him coming home, so I could dance with him at my wedding and say good-bye. Jacob held me tight, so tight that I felt slightly ill from lack of oxygen. He lessened his hold, but didn't release me. I couldn't help, but cry. It felt so strange to be in his arms again.

"Does Billy know that you are home?" I inquired.

"I came home last night, but I was too ashamed to come and see you. I spent the day with my father; we even called Charlie and made him promise not to speak a word to you. Charlie was very excited about my return and didn't ask where I'd been, mumbling about some bulletin board he could clear. Edward obviously didn't say anything about my return. I watched as you walked down the aisle with Charlie and Edward kissed you, but I couldn't say anything. It would have ruined the moment."

Methodically, I ran my fingers through his hair, ignoring the familiar feeling in my stomach as the medication slowly wore off. Jacob laughed as I touched his eyelids, still trying to decide if he was really in front of me.

"There's so much that I wanna know about where you've been and what you've been doing," I said, pulling Jacob to sit in the damp grass. "I don't know where to start."

He sighed, holding my chilled hands and warming them up. "It's not much to tell. I ate, slept and ate some more. You know how much I can eat."

"Jacob… that's not what I meant. Where have you been?"

"The woods mostly, where ever I could hunt and not be shot at. Edward will probably tell you later, since I don't feel like going into the details now. I want to talk about what's going to happen to you."

Jake swallowed, looking incredibly uncomfortable.

"Will he change you right after the wedding?" he sighed, unable to lock eyes with me.

I pulled his face up and looked into the depths of his sad eyes; eyes that held much more wisdom than they used to and eyes that would always love me.

"We haven't really discussed that. I don't think so. I think his plan is to have a nice and quiet honeymoon and then… I guess give me a few more weeks with my family. But Jacob, he can't wait that long."

Tears blurred my eyes again as I realized what was about to happen, I turned away from him just in time to throw up into the darkness. My cheeks went red as Jake rubbed my back like Edward normally did. I could see out of the corner of my eyes that his hands were trembling slightly. I needed Edward to come and carry me back, but then Jacob would leave. I couldn't let him go yet!

"Are you okay?" Jacob asked urgently.

"It's just my medicine wearing off. I'll be okay for a little while longer," I protested, sitting up and regaining control of my exhausted body.

"I really should take you back. You need your rest. Tomorrow… you'll be a married woman."

"Please, not yet!"

"Bella, are you okay?" a velvet voice asked from the shadows, coming closer. Of course Edward would have heard the sound of my heartbeat changing and my breathing.

Edward stepped into the moonlight, appraising the situation with his liquid golden eyes. He looked so handsome, smiling at me. I shivered as a breeze blew through the trees. Jacob tightened his hold on me, not wanting to be separated yet and trying to keep me warm like normal. Edward remained calm as always and still as a statue.

"You are welcome to come," Edward replied to one of Jacob's thoughts that I couldn't hear. "Bella, it's time to head in. Carlisle has your medicine waiting and your mother wants to kiss you good-night. It's a busy day tomorrow. Alice is waiting anxiously to put some lotion on your hands and such." He grimaced slightly at the thoughts of his sister. "I want you at your best tomorrow, love."

I got shakily to my feet, regretting not changing my clothes before going outside to sit on the porch. Edward had thought ahead, pulling out a blanket from behind his back. He gently wrapped it around me, kissing my forehead. I melted into his arms, ignoring the pain edging into my bones. Jacob was silent behind me. I turned my head to make sure that he didn't disappear.

"Good night Bella," Jacob declared, turning towards the road.

"Wait!" I yelled, putting out a hand. "Please don't leave me again."

"I'm not. I won't be far from you," Jacob promised.

I choked on the lump in my throat, not sure if I could ask what my heart desired to know.

"Will you come to my wedding?" I muttered. "I need you there."

Jake remained silent for a moment and then grinned, flashing his teeth at me. "I wouldn't miss it for all the food in the world. I'll be there for you."

"Thank you."

"You might want to clean up a little," Edward joked. "You stink worse than normal."

I laughed as Jacob blew me a sloppy kiss and ran off into the night. Edward gently cradled me in his arms and carried me back to the house. There was no need for him to ask what we had said; since I was positive he heard everything Jacob and I told each other. This might have bothered me, but I was too tired to think. I barely heard Carlisle wish me sweet dreams as I took the medication. Renee insisted on kissing me, gushing about letting me sleep in as late as possible so I wouldn't be tired. I simply nodded, caught up in Edward's loving eyes. Phil bid me good-night, dragging Renee upstairs so she would stop bothering me. Alice and Jasper followed us to their room, where Edward gently set me on the bed, so Alice could have some fun. I didn't want to see what she was doing, so I closed my eyes. I felt Edward lay down beside me, fumbling with the ends of my hair. I felt Alice rubbing some thick lotion onto my hands and feet. It didn't matter to me. I was happy, happier than I imagined on the night before my wedding.

"I'm all done," Alice declared as I opened my heavy eyes.

"Are you going to keep me from Edward until the wedding?" I retorted. "He'll see me in your thoughts anyway."

"In the morning," she answered. "He can lay next to you tonight so you'll sleep well."

"Thank you Alice," I murmured.

Jasper chuckled and wrapped his arms around Alice's waist. They wanted a little private time, I could tell. Edward cuddled me in his arms and carried me to his bedroom. The hallway light was off and there was no chance that Renee or Phil would catch us. It would be embarrassing to explain to them. I felt extremely physically and emotionally exhausted as Edward laid me on his bed, covering me with a thick blanket. It was strange, but I wanted to feel his cold skin against me.

"Edward," I mumbled. "Can you take your shirt off?"

"Bella… no, we've had this discussion before. Just one more day Bella."

Edward laughed, holding my hands in his.

"That's not what I meant," I protested. "I just wanted to feel your cold skin against me tonight. I promise I won't get cold."

He frowned, not wanting to upset me, but not wanting for me to get cold while I slept.

"You can wrap the blanket around me if I get too cold."

"Alright, I guess that's okay."

Edward pulled the blanket back as he lay down. I eased into his arms, feeling the cold seep into my shirt. It was relaxing to be chilled instead of too warm, wrapped in several blankets at night. My love kissed my forehead, causing me to shiver. He reached for the blanket, but I pushed his hand back. He began to hum my lullaby as I drifted to sleep, dreaming of Edward in the sunlight and hoping that our honeymoon involved the sun.

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Emma