[Original Author's Note: This chapter is really about Jacob and Edward learning to have some compassion to the people who can't adjust immediately to their Imprint, like they want them to—Paul and Bella. It's also the beginning of protective-fatherly-understanding Charlie and indifferent-angry-indignant Edward, which sounds contradicting—and, I daresay, it is; terribly so—so watch out for that in the next few chapters. It's pretty subtle in this one, though]

Warnings: Some coarse language.

Disclaimer: I do not-nor will I ever-own Twilight, or its characters. All rights to Stephanie Meyer.

Chapter 11: So, You're Gay?

When roles are reversed, opinions are, too.

— Julian Casablancas, Out of the Blue

Edward's POV:

After they had left the Black house, Jacob seemed to sink into himself, immersed in his thoughts, which were panicked and random. He was thinking about Bella mainly, which made sense. He seemed fidgety and a little desperate to keep his mind off of Bella since after he'd gotten that phone call from her.

Edward pursed his lips. Bella was a big obstacle. Considering he had just broken up with her today—which was an amazing when you think about it, because it seemed as though he and Jacob had been together forever, their interactions foreign, yet familiar. It was unbelievable to think he and Bella had been together just yesterday and—dare he say it?—in love.

But they hadn't been, he realized. He and Jacob were in love. It was ridiculous to even compare his love with Jacob with the relationship he had had with Bella—how can you compare everything to something that, in hindsight, was so… insignificant? Edward realized then that Bella wouldn't be pleased to see them anytime soon. Yet, Jacob wanted to see her. Maybe not today—hopefully!—but soon.

Edward cringed at the thought. He could imagine Bella's anger over them together, her screeching at them. When he read Jacob's thoughts, however, he realized that Jacob wasn't worried about her anger or even Charlie's anger. Jacob was worried that Bella would be disappointed. Edward would have stopped walking to think about this if it weren't for Jacob's hand tugging him along absentmindedly.

Why in the world would Jacob be afraid of Bella being disappointed? I mean, this was an Imprint, after all. It wasn't Jacob's conscious decision and, therefore, in no way his fault, Edward thought indignantly at the perceived threat.

Maybe Jacob and Edward didn't show as much regret as they should about the fact they were Imprinted, or something, but how can you regret finding your Soul Mate, your other half? Who would expect you to?

Bella would, he mused. She'd expect Jacob to be properly 'ashamed'. Or expect him to deny Edward out of loyalty to their friendship. She'd just be plain pissed off at Edward. He really 'should have denied the bond more' since he'd just broken up with Bella.

Edward rolled his eyes inwardly. The whole thing was ridiculous, but he supposed it was warranted. Who can understand the bond of an Imprint if they weren't bonded themselves? Even knowing how sacred and important an Imprint was, nothing compared to the real thing, so you couldn't have a proper respect for it, he supposed.

Take Paul, for example. The guy grew up knowing about Imprints, yet he still eye-fucked Jacob whenever he got the chance, even when Edward was around—to which Edward had to restrain himself from doing anything under a rather menacing, and heatedly seductive, glare from Jacob. So, how did Bella even stand a chance of comprehending this Imprint thing?

Well, that was it wasn't it? She didn't.

[][][]

So, Jacob wanted to see Bella, today.

Shouldn't she have some time to grieve their now non-existent relationship before they slap her around with their new one? Edward had asked his Mate.

"Don't you think she has a right to know?" Jacob had shot back.

"Okay, okay. Look, I know you and Bella are practically family, but this is a bit early, don't you think? I mean, you left Charlie's about to give me the tongue-lashing of my life, but you Imprinted on me instead."

Jacob winced.

"Shouldn't we, I don't know, let her down… gently?"

"How would we let her down gently? I can't exactly keep it a secret from her. Can you imagine our conversations? 'Jacob, why are your palms sweaty? And why are your boxers tenting? Eww! We're just friends, silly!', 'I don't know how to tell you this, but this erection is for Edward… Yeah, we're together and, yeah, we're just going to go masturbate mutually now. You take care…' I mean, really, it's going to be weird."

"Masturbate mutually?" Edward asked, confused. "Why wouldn't we just skip to the— —"

"So, I want to talk to her today," Jacob interrupted, pointedly ignoring Edward's half-finished question. "I can't lie to her, or Charlie. It'll hurt them more in the long run if I lie to them from the beginning."

"I… okay," Edward caved, looking at Jacob's earnest face. "But if she tries to kill me…"

Jacob laughed. "I'm sure you'll be fine. Charlie's a police chief, after all."

"Yeah, like we're on good terms," Edward muttered. "He'd probably let her castrate me and call it justice."

"Why would— —" Jacob's eyes widened comically. "You guys didn't— did you?" Jacob looked horrified.

"Oh God, no," Edward said, laughing a little. "We never— didn't even— —" he couldn't continue, he was laughing so hard. The expression on Jacob's face had been priceless!

Jacob's lips began to twitch with repressed amusement. Then, he burst out laughing. "Man, for a second there…"

Edward's laughter doubled. "No, no, we never had sex. Not even anything remotely close to it really, except for a time when her blood had called out to me to an extreme degree… But that was it."

"Well, then. Shall we go, then?"

"If we must," Edward said airily, looking away from Jacob so he wouldn't laugh again.

[][][]

When they reached the Swan residence, the place was clear of all cop cars, expect Charlie's own cruiser which was parked beside Bella's truck. Bella had been found long ago so they could all go home. So, they did, eagerly even.

Walking up the concrete pathway to the door, Jacob and Edward kept a polite distance away from each other. They wouldn't tell them immediately, they had to explain first. Jacob reached out and pushed the doorbell. Hearing footsteps padding to the door, Jacob and Edward took a step back. It was Charlie at the door.

From the way he looked at Edward and his very aggressive thoughts, Charlie would have slammed the door had it not been for Jacob being there too. Instead, he looked a little resigned, like he had expected this situation exactly. "Come on in," he said gruffly.

The pair followed Charlie inside.

"Bella!" Charlie called out. "You better come downstairs for this! Sit down on the couch, Jacob. She'll be down in a minute. It's her you want to talk to, correct?" he asked, pointedly ignoring Edward.

"You too actually, Charlie. It'd be great if you were in the room, rather than ease dropping from behind the banister," Jacob said with a grin.

Charlie flushed a little bit. "Yeah, well…" he trailed off, shrugging uncomfortably as he sat down on a recliner.

Bella came thumping down the stairs, as uncoordinated and ungraceful as ever. When she looked up from the ground, she saw Edward and Jacob on the couch. Her eyes darted between him, Jacob, and Charlie, as if one of them would tell her she was hallucinating. Edward cleared his throat noisily. She stared at him, then, eyes glazed, "Have you come to apologize, then?" she asked hopefully.

"What?" Edward sounded surprised though his face stayed mostly blank. "No, I— —" Jacob elbowed him. Edward threw him a withering glance. Jacob grinned cheekily. Charlie watched the proceedings with a wrinkled brow, as Bella watched Edward adoringly. "I suppose, although I remain firm that what I did was in everyone's best interest. This whole situation could have been much more complicated than it is." Jacob had to agree.

Bella's eyes cleared as Charlie frowned. "What's going on here?" the man asked.

Jacob and Edward looked at each other, then reached down and gripped each other's hands at the same time. Clearing his throat, Jacob said, "I've Imprinted on Edward."

The silence that followed was almost deafening and when Charlie spoke, it was as if a thousand glass bottles shattered—or maybe it only seemed like that because of what he said. "How come you never told me you liked cock?" the man asked simply.

Jacob face-palmed himself, as Edward dissolved into over-amused chortles.

…TBC…