Take Me By Storm

by JAKESGIRL4EVER

At 30 Jake's left emotionally mauled by Leah. At 26 Bella lost her dad & gave up hope for love after 2 failed relationships. She goes to Hawaii to start anew, Jake goes as a forced vacation to see his sisters, brothers & 6 kids. She's a force of nature a natural disaster, an earthquake in his soul. Who saves who when they are Taken By Storm.

11. Chapter 11

CHAPTER 10 - Baby Steps

APRIL 1ST

"..so soft..god you're so soft baby...mmmmm.."

Jake knew in that moment he could spend the rest of time holding this woman, feeling her body against his.

"Mmmmm yessss.." he was buried deep between her legs, his face in the warmth of her neck, cushioned by her plump breasts, curtained by her long silky hair, tickling his chest and arms.

This is how they were meant to wake up. Every goddamn day. He was sure of it.

His hips started pumping, his hands couldn't stop the slip and slide all over her silky body. "Mmmmmm, " he was in heavenly bliss...as his hands cupped the curves of her ass, he pulled her into his hips more tightly.

"baby your phone..." her soft murmur was barely audible.

"shhhhhh. nooo" he ignored the intrusion, blocking out all reality.

" baby..." her voice felt like a soft stroke across his body, wrapping itself around his throbbing cock.

Annnnnd, Fuck!

She was gone just like that. Poof!

Jake found himself naked, face down in his bed, on his mound of satin pillows...Seth's ring tone blaring from his phone on the nightstand.

It took a couple seconds for his groggy brain to reconnect to his hand, ordering it from the cushion of his thick pillows, now that he realized it wasn't Bella..and make it grab the phone from the table.

"SSEEEEETHHH.?" He yawned, loudly, into the phone as he stretched every inch of his massive naked, frame across the bed. Toes curled,legs spread, fingers splayed out way above his head, he hung over the edge of the bed, his cock standing at attention for a woman 2680 miles away.

His body ached from the long flight, the rest of him screamed for more REM. The time change sucked on this end.

"Hey boss..." Seth chuckled. " never heard my name yawned before. Rough night?"

"How'd ya guess..." he rumbled in a deep groggy voice.

" Well, my sister is asleep on my couch, and you're home, unexpectedly. One plus one still equals two.." he tried stifling the laughter.

"Very funny.."

"Want breakfast?"

"You cookin?"

"I could, but you prolly don;t have anything edible in the house."

"You're right. As always, little man..hmmm, order Mary's, put it on the card.."

" you want the usual? 4 eggs, spinach and ricotta?"

"No. Scrambled with bacon and lots of fresh fruit. Pineapple for sure! Thats so weird, I'm craving scrambled eggs, with cheese, lots of bacon, Crispy. Don't forget the fruit."

"Okayyy, whatever you say. Be there in a hour. We meeting at the office, right?"

"Yeah. An hour's good. See ya then."

Jake put his phone down reminding himself to get a new one sent to Bella asap. Theres no telling how long it would be for her to get an insurance claim in and get a replacement out to her.

He couldn't wait that long, he scoffed grabbing the remote.

Crawling across the huge expanse of his custom bed, clicking the remote, he finally hit the right button and the curtains across the room moved. Beginning their slow retreat. He walked naked across the room to the windows.

In place of warm ,tropical breezes and blinding sunshine, he was welcomed to the dark gray, cold rain, pelting against the glass expanse. Lights still twinkled across the city, the dark dreariness of the day not much improvement over the dark damp night.

A cold shiver took hold of his huge frame and shook him good and hard from head to toe.

Cupping himself, he headed for the warmth of the shower, his thoughts shooting 2680 miles away to all the real warmth he needed, and had left behind.

~o0o~

"How can you all stand this fuckin rain.." he growled loudly as the back door to Black Exports slammed shut behind him.

He stood before his small, dedicated, group of office employees shaking off all the water, throwing his umbrella to the corner.

E

"What?" he laughed at the sea of wide eyes, shoving the wet hair from his face, moving it around a bit hoping it looked somewhat decent.

"You're back!" His receptionist JJ, jumped up smiling, rushing towards him.

"Look at you! So tan.." she gushed hugging him innocently.

He accepted her warm hug with a smile and a platonic pat on the back. "See! Best Receptionist ever! That's how you greet people! " Jake joked, and JJ just beamed up at him. She adored Jake - it was no secret, but then JJ liked everyone.

"You kept everyone in line for me, while I was gone JJ?"

"Oh yeah, Jake. No one messes with me." she giggled. They started walking to her desk as the others made their way over to greet him, too.

"We worried about you in the hurricane and everything.."

"yeah, what happened?"

"You're back early.." The questions came nonstop, so he spent the next 30 minutes talking about his trip, the hurricane, being made to evacuate and come home early. Just catching up in general with his office staff.

Seth suddenly burst through the door, his arms full, and no drier than Jake had been 30 minutes earlier. Sputtering water from his face, trying to shake off what was dripping into his eyes...Jake rushed over to give him a hand.

"Krispy Kreme?" Jake's eyebrows shot into his hairline seeing the two boxes, two dozen freaking donuts..on top of the pile.

"Thought we agreed.." he said as sternly as his smile would allow.

"Not us. The girls." Seth motioned beyond Jake's shoulder with his chin.

"Oh! Yeah...right." Jake grabbed the donuts and set them down on JJ's desk.

"You know what to do with these, right?" he smiled.

"Sure do! Keep 'em away from you!" she winked. " Thanks, Jake! Good to have you back home.." she smiled snapping open the top box.

Seth stalked past them headed straight for Jake's office. The smell of bacon, eggs, fresh biscuits, lingering in his wake.

Jake's stomach growled loudly. "I'll be in a meeting with Seth." he turned nearly jogging to catch up. " No one knows I'm back so the phones should be quiet. We'll have a staff meeting a little later." He plowed into his office anxiously, shutting the door behind him.

Seth had the Keurig heating up. Jake took a moment to soak up his surroundings, breath in the comfort of home.

"Found Starbucks in K cups..." he beamed, popping a cup into the machine as Jake unpacked the breakfast onto his desk top.

"That's awesome..bet it costs $20 more.."

"More for the coffee service but still less than what you'd spend going down the street every hour...not to mention, dealing with Rhonda.."

"Oh god yesss. Totally worth it, just on that count Sether's!" he laughed pulling his chair out.

"Damn.." he sighed long and hard, settling into his chair, accepting the steamy hot cup from Seth. " Thanks."

"No problem.." Seth smiled and the two locked eyes as Seth took his seat across from Jake.

Both took long sips of the hot brew and relaxed.

" Soooo..." Seth drawled out.

"What do you want first?" Jake teased, crooking an eyebrow at Seth.

"Why are you home early?"

"Mandatory evacuations.."

"damn...that sucks." they sipped more coffee. "Told ya I had a bad feeling 'bout that one."

"Yeah you did, and thanks for the early warning man..you can't believe how off kilter the whole reporting system was with this hurricane, I would have been totally blind going in if it weren't for you."

"Did you have any ..fun? You look...really...good." Seth smiled knowingly.

"Fun? Hmmmm ." he smiled. " Yeah I did. 6 kids under 6. They were a blast."

"Okay. You know that's not what I meant, so,...what the fuck happened last night?"

" How the fuck, why the fuck, was she in my apartment?"

"She didn't talk to you?"

"I don't talk to her at three a.m..I showed her the door, she knows what floor you're on." He leaned back, feeling really good, really smug, that Leah had no effect on him this time.

"Well , now I know you met someone.." Seth laughed. "Three weeks ago, you would have never, shown her the door at three a.m." he laughed more, shaking his head.

"Lets just eat.." Jake scowled, setting his coffee aside for his food.

He couldn't imagine what would have happened to him if he didn't have Hawaii under his skin when she came crawling back..

Then again, he found it incredibly sad, that its what he really wanted for such a long time, and now, he couldn't care less, really.

Jake shoveled the food in faster than ever. He hadn't realized how hungry he was, and for..scrambled eggs and bacon of all things! Shit, he never ate that stuff. Leah as always very particular about what they ate, her preferences and obsessions about food, just stuck with him.

Maybe this was just him finally figuring out what he really liked.

"She's pregnant. Sam threw her out." Seth blasted it out into the silence of their meal.

"Why? Doesn't he want kids? Or did she lie to him too?" Jake kept up between mouthfuls.

"Nope and Yeah." Seth said sadly.." No kids, No way, and she lied about being on the BC."

"How fucking ironic.." Jake ground out curtly. " Well, can't say Karma won't bite you in the ass.." He shook his head, really trying to shake off the pain.

He would've given his left nut to have kids with her at one point. Now, who knew if he'd even get the chance, thanks to her, fucking him over for so long.

"Well, at least one of us, gets to be a parent..." Jake growled, more pissed that it was her.

"She's pissed at Sam, can't believe he followed through with the threats to break up if there were kids. She says if your dad were still around..."

"Yeah, if only my dad were still around. He'd see that every Quileute man stood up to his responsibilities and that all Quileute children were cared for and reared by their biological parents, even if he had to beat it into a few guys..." Jake stared into his food, moving it around with his fork.

"and he did just that a few times as I recall.." Seth grinned. "miss your dad, Jake. Big shoes to fill. When are you.."

"Yeah, sure are.." Jake set his fork down suddenly gathering up his mess and tossing it all in the can.

"Sorry dude.." Seth mumbled in shock. It had been a long time since Jake got emotional over his Dad's stuff.

"No, not a thing..I'm just anxious to get started. With work, that is.!" Jake stood up, clasping his hands together.." Dude! I've got soooo much going on! You ready to dig in? Cuz I got a honey do list a mile long!"

"Okay.. But I'm not your honey-doer.." Seth reached over the desk hitting the phone intercom.

" Honey..Come on in..it appears he's had an epiphany.." Seth laughed with the sweet sounding woman on the other end.

'She's fucking awesome, Jake...so glad you found her... ya know, if you ever got the groove on for a bit of cougarish action...oh my god...no?" He laughed, wiggling his eyebrows, and Jake had to palm down his twitchy dick, hard.

"Stop it Seth..." he laughed. "Be my guest...go for it.." Jake challenged.

" Go for what?" Honey asked walking through the door.

Both guys paused, appreciating the feminine form before them, worshiping the wisdom..everything about her...except the 15 to 20 years between them. But who could tell?

"Hawaii!" Jake recovered gracefully. She'd already caught them too many times, oogling her and obviously talking guy shit about her...she was the cougar of a cubs dreams..the one, for sure.

"Anyway..I need a full report on adding operations in Hawaii." Jake grinned smugly ,slapping Seth on the back.

"Who do you wanna use for transport ?" Honey asked, writing notes quickly.

"Honolulu freight or Matson Navigation. Work up Northland, too, just to see?"

" Branch size?"

"'Bout the same as here...smaller support staff. My brothers will be operations managers. In fact, Honey, here's Paul's cell number. He has a line on specific locations already and he'll do any foot work you need. Things are still really rough there, you may not get what you need directly. Forget about phone calls too for a while. "

"Sounds like a lot of internet research for the time being and getting with Paul. Paul's a cutie, hows he doing and the kids? and Embry, hes a sweetie too.. you're sisters sure did themselves just fine.."

"Yep! everyone's great. The kids are a scream. I'll show ya some pics later."

Seth looked happy, yet, a dim concern layered his face.

"Honey, go ahead and ask the staff if any one or two of them wants to relocate to Hawaii, permanently or temporary to help get this new location off the ground there. Wanna give these guys the first shot if there's an interest and put them on the relocate team up front."

'Gotcha!" she smiled. " What if I want to go?"

"Oh No! I need you here with Seth. May have to make you VP,huh?" he winked as she scooted out the door with her week laid out.

Seth stood up and quietly closed the door.

"Well that was a bombshell..who's going where and when?" he asked, fixing another cup of coffee.

" I dunno yet..Paul and Em need something steady, more in their control, and seeing the devastation first hand,I know its a huge money maker sending quality vehicles over there - instead of say..South America for the time being. Insurance money will be pouring into that area to replace vehicles, and I wanna be there."

"Okay I buy that. That's typical Jacob Black Business. But there's more, Jake.." he raised his eyebrows in direct question.

"Yeah, there is..I just don't know how much more right now." He smiled sitting back down.

Seth paced back and forth, drinking his coffee, giving Jake a chance to speak if he was gonna.

"I need you to find me a Metallic Blue or Metallic Gray Jeep Wrangler, loaded, available right away for shipping to Hawaii. Removable hard top."

"Okay..no problem." he scribbled the notes on Jake's note pad.

"I need a baby blue Iphone 5, activated and added to my account. Can you go by the Apple store and handle that for me, right now?" They both looked out the window. " Or when the rain stops.."

"It'll cost ya.." Seth smirked, cleaning up his breakfast mess.

"What?" Jake rolled his eyes, wiping his desk off.

"What's her name?" Seth asked point blank, sitting back down.

A long, stiff, silence stretched out between them...

Jake's heart hammered in his chest. He could hardly breathe.

Would she disappear if he made her a reality? Would he fail at long distance as badly as he had here in Seattle? God...did she even know how much...he wanted to be with her?

"Bella.." he choked out softly.

" Nice." Seth smiled, his heart warming for his best friend and brother in law as he got up, gathering his notes from Jake's desktop. "Lets get to work. Some of us, need to get back to Hawaii.."

2 Weeks Later April 14th

" Oh my god, Jake! Jake! Jake...I love you!" She sang out over the phone in her enthusiastic, bubbly way.

His heart soared, as 10 sets of curious eyes locked on him instantly, silencing the meeting.

"Fuck! baby? its you?" he whispered into the phone as he stood up excusing himself from the meeting he was in.

"Family...from Hawaii..." he whispered to the group, as he backed out of the room.

He heard others go on to explain how he and his whole family were wiped out in that most recent hurricane..sympathetic Ohs! filled the room.

She chattered away a hundred miles an hour as Jake frantically looked for a private spot to talk to her in outside the conference room of his bank.

He closed himself in a restroom designated for "Family Use" and locked the door.

"Bella, baby.." he nearly cried with joy at hearing her voice.

"yeah..so ..gosh..2 weeks to get the phone and get service here! I'm so sorry it took so long. You must have been thinking all kinds of crazy stuff..not hearing from me."

" Not really..I'll always have hope when it comes to you and me, Bella..but goddamn, its hard hearing your voice." he shut his eyes, seeing her perfectly in front of him. " I can picture you perfectly, and damn..baby I need you so much."

That was the understatement of the year he thought, as his cock stiffened within his pants, thickening with every word she whispered, every time she giggled. It crawled down the inside of his pants leg, eventually just trapped there painfully, throbbing for her.

No woman ever, made him react like that.

Well, not since he was laughed to himself.

"I've been so damn tired, lately, I don't think I can handle much more Volunteer work for the Red Cross on top of my regular Hilton hours. I was late three times this week, and got wrote up.."

"What? sorry hun.." Jake snorted, rearranging his hard on and trying to bring his thoughts back to the conversation.

"Nothing...hows your week been? Tell me about you!" she insisted.

He rambled on pretty well, trying to ignore his pain and the fact his meeting would be blown to shit if he didn't get back in there...but, fuckitalltohell..he had her here with him right now.

"So, yeah, things are moving slow...and..I miss you.." he choked, trying to keep the emotion out as he slid down to the bathroom floor, leaning against the door.

" We have a three hour time difference don't we?" she murmured.

"Yeah...why? What are you doing, its 8:15 your time?" Jake asked looking at his watch, and loosening up his shirt.

"Meee?" she asked way too innocently.

" Yeah you.." Jake accused with a smile, suddenly hoping this conversation was about to wrap right around his cock.

"I'm sooo tired, I came right home, took a hot shower and crawled into bed."

"Its only eight o'clock and still kinda light outside, isn't it?' Jake chuckled.

" Yeah, but...shit...I feel like making love to you, Jake. Do you ever feel like that?" she purred like a kitten in his ear.

"shit..all the time, baby...I feel like having you alllll the time." he smiled rubbing his broad palm up and down his hard on.

"God Jake, when I think of you, naked ,next to me...I get so...wet" she whispered in so soft into the phone..driving him even crazier. " I couldn't wait to get in bed and just think of you..."

"What do you think about? what are you wearing?" his voice rumbled low, from his chest.

'Nothing...I slipped between the sheets naked, wanting to feel your hands and your mouth all over me...I love what you do to me, Jake...I love when you take control, love it when you get a bit rough cuz you're so horny..."

"Unnnff." Jake grunted, closing his eyes, seeing her clearly as she was always so beautiful beneath him. "God you know your breasts are so perfect, they stay perfectly shaped and standing up even when you lie down. That fucking gets me..." Jake groaned. " To look down and see your perfect tits standing up , your tight tips straining for my mouth. You're the first set of breasts that ever made me cum just looking at 'em.." he groaned again, tucking the phone up on his shoulder, freeing his hands.

"Jake...do me a favor?" she dripped with so much sweetness, he wanted to lick her, bad, but he just grunted his assent.

"unzip your pants, slowly, like I would..." her voice softened further, till she was just an erotic purr in his ear. His hands obeyed without thought..

" Do me a favor.." his deep voice stirring the steamy silence. "put your hand between you legs like I do.. what do you feel? Describe it to me.."

"oh god, Jake...ummm..you're so much bigger, heavier, thicker...than my tiny hands." she moaned at the thought of his physical invasion of her small body.

He could picture her arching up into him. He could picture those tiny cool hands wrapped around his hot throbbing cock. He saw her taking it all down her throat, squeezing it like nothing ever...

"Fuuuck.." He wiggled his slacks down his thighs, grabbing himself through the boxer slit, pulling it into play, Hard.

"Its warm, soft...mmmmmm, sliding a finger through, its...soooo wet...for you Jake..mmmm."

He could hear her breathing speed up and deepen.

"Tell me what you want, Bella.." he grunted, stroking himself, long and hard, up and down...up and down.

"I wanna be on top of you Jake...oh god...remember when...you put it in me.. for the first time..."

A shiver rocketed through her body.."oh fuck...I almost came thinking about it...you're so damn big, so fucking beautiful...I remember getting so fucking wet at the idea of all you inside of me... ughh"

She fell back on her pillow heavily...panting openly for him, swirling her fingers over her hard bud, fast and tight circles just like Jake taught her. "mmmfuckme Jake"

" oh shit Bella, shhhh.." he barked a tight laugh. "You're gonna make me cum.." he put his head back, then reached up for some soapy lotion, settling back down quickly.

"Oh no...don't you dare cum.." she panted sternly.

"Never, ladies first, always" he growled, squeezing his dick hard, trying to control the heat licking up from his balls..wanting to explode at just the sound of her voice.

"Talk to me Jake" she begged breathlessly.."just your voice makes me wet" she confessed.

"Oh, baby, you should have never told me that.." he cooed into the phone.

"I'm gonna tie you up next time I see you and you're gonna let me be very, very bad to you, aren't you? I'm gonna tease you till you're screaming for my cock. You're gonna suck me while I suck you, I'm gonna cum down your throat just like you took me in the shower. All of it, baby, with my tongue buried deep inside you. We're gonna cum, moaning and groaning into each others mouths, then I'm gonna put you on your knees, weak and shaky, and fuck you from behind. while you're orgasms are sucking the hell outta my dick, I'm gonna fantasize about putting it in your tightest spot...and I'm gonna touch you there..."

"Fuuuuck! ooohgoooodjaaaake.." Bella's voice drifted far off as the phone landed in the bed sheets, and she came apart by Jake's words and her hand. He could picture her thrashing about a little her legs shaky and wet between them as she came down.

Jake dropped his phone, pumping his dick harder, knowing Bella was coming apart by his doing. He just had to picture her writhing on her white sheets, her dark hair splayed everywhere, her rosy lips parted, her tight nipples straining for his mouth, her tiny hand buried between her legs...and...

" fuckyesssss.." he bucked over and over into his tight fist, while images of Bella flashed nonstop through his head.

Later that night...10 pm Jake's Time 1 am Bella's Time

"Sorry for calling so late.. you asleep?"

"Mmm no its fine" she purred into the phone " you did put me to sleep , so nicely.."

" yeah.." he laughed.." I was in a meeting when you called and I just left... when I went back, everyone was gone."

"Oh my god Jake." she was awake now.. "you shouldn't have done that. Now, I feel bad!"

"Okay its okay...the phone needed to be broke in. It wouldn't be one of our phones if we didn't break it in with phone sex...ya know..s'all good." he laughed tightly.

"What's wrong, Jake?" She rubbed her eyes trying to wake up a bit.

"Nothing..I'm just really glad I can get you on the other end of my phone now. I felt bad before, but ever since you called...I feel ...great. I L..L...Love having you...in my life Bells. Thank you."

"Noooo, Jake. Thank You!"

Bella sat up in her bed, trying to shake off the groggy and figure out what Jake's call was all about. "You're the one thats made such a difference in my life. And I know, I was a silly stupid girl, saying I love you all over the place, acting like a emo, clingy girlfriend or something, giving you a hard time about leaving...putting you through all that shit after the hurricane. I'm sorry, so sorry - I won't do that to you anymore. I know you have your own life in Seattle."

there was a long stiff silence...

I'm trying to back off. I am, But then you go and do something amazing like send me this new phone. I wouldn't have even been able to get a claim in for a new phone till now, and there's a wait for phones here on the islands. As always, you're the lifesaver."

"Wait. What? you're backing off from what, Bella?"

"From..being this clingy emo, frie...person in your life...someone you just met on vacation... I'm getting things into perspective better, so sorry to have embarrassed you with all that I love you stuff. I know right? What do you say to someone so out of touch? I know I was a handful for you. I'm so lucky you didn't dump my phone number right then.."

Man...Jake's heart sunk to his gut. This was not going how he thought...now she was doubting them big time.

"Look, Bella, just because I couldn't say it back to you at that moment, doesn't mean I don't like hearing it from you, and it doesn't mean I don't think about saying it to you, or want to know what that would be like.. I don't think any of those things you're telling your self. Please stop, second guessing us. I'm trying to be invested in a relationship with you. Can't you tell?"

"Bella?"

"BELLA!" Jake looked at the dark screen on his Iphone.

"Fuck! dropped connection?"

It was the first of many, dropped calls between them. It would prove to be a difficult connection between her hotel location and his high rise condo. Everywhere else seemed to be fine.

A week Later - April 21st - Jake's Apartment

"Goddamnit Leah! You have to stop breaking into my apartment!"

"Jake, don't be such a douche. I'm starving - finally feel like eating and you expect me to cook in Seth's rinky dink kitchen?"

"Its always something, with you, Leah..when are you and Sam gonna patch this up?" he demanded, tossing his jacket and new contracts on the table.

"I'm 2 months today.." she smiled running her hand across her flat stomach. "I finally stopped puking 24/7, so maybe I can figure this all out now,"

Jake rolled his eyes, and headed towards the stove.

"What are you cooking?"

"Scrambled eggs with cheese and lots of bacon.. I'm craving it. Isn't that weird?"

"sure the fuck is"...he mumbled spooked out a little and moving slowly away from it all.

"You wanna have some with me? Sit down like a regular family meal?" She just stood there smiling like nothing in the world was wrong. Jake felt like he was going insane, or in The tWILIGHT zONE at the very least.

"Look! You didn't wanna be a family with me! Remember! Sure wish you'd stop rubbing all this..this..family shit in my face!" He stormed out of the kitchen to his room, slamming the door shut.

"Fuck!" dejavu...he didn't need.

Slumping down on the bed, pulling his laptop in front of him, he started surfing for cheap tickets to Hawaii. His new hobby.

He needed a hit of Bella. Bad.

When he didn't have any luck..he sent her a text.

Hey honey, Skype? I need to see your beautiful face : )

Several minutes passed and no answer so he decided to take a shower.

Still no answer when he got out so he started dialing.

Its only 8:30 there...he wondered.

Then worried.

Then imagined..the worst.

By 11:30 he still couldn't sleep. He was convinced she was moving on and would be gone before he could even get back there and surprise her. Now he really wasn't gonna tell her about his plans to move to Hawaii.

The last thing he wanted was for her to feel obligated to him cuz he picked up and moved all the way to Hawaii "for her."

Oh hell no, "for her" he'd never give anyone that power over him.

He finally fell asleep listing all the non- Bella reasons for moving to Hawaii.

When he woke up disappointed it was another dreamless night, he felt even shittier.

His sex life was gonna have to improve, vastly. He snorted to himself, reaching for the remotes.

He could not survive on Dream Bella alone! God this was all her fault, he cussed, recalling the way she made him feel all like this again, as the curtains opened, to yet another fucking rainy morning.

Grabbing his phone from habit, he laughed out loud. He had a text from Bella.

Morning Jake. So sorry I missed you last night. I was asleep! Fell out as soon as I got home from work! Don't know what's wrong with me, am exhausted. Had to quit Red Cross, and am in hot water with Hilton for being late... just not like me. thinking I have mono. Sanitary conditions have been shit here...lots of people sick. are you feeling okay?

His thumbs sped across the tiny keyboard.

Much better now, that I heard from you. Sorry you're feeling sick. TTYL? I'm on the way to work rite now.

He didn't know what to make of all that, the events of last night. He rolled it all around his brain on his way down stairs.

"Jeeezus! Leah! GO HOME!" Jake barked at the sight of Leah cooking in his kitchen in nothing but a tiny tee shirt.

"What is wrong with you Black? You aren't getting any are you?" she smiled curling up into his chest.

"How the hell am I supposed to with my pregnant EX taking over my place?" he growled down at her.

"Oh I suppose you should just give it up and come back to me.." she smiled. curling her arms around him tightly.

"Over my dead fuckingbody!" he spit out, wrenching her arms away from him.

"This isn't a joke Leah! You've fucked up a lot of peoples lives here, you need to be working on fixing shit"

'If your dad was here.." she sniffed, pretending tears might be on the way and stepping back.

" Yeah..IF he was...Wait! I'm gonna do exactly what my dad would have done.!" he said with sharp determination. "Just give me a couple weeks Leah, I'll have Sam before the council, and ordered to work this out with you. I don't know a man that can resist their own kid - except an Uley, generations of them apparently.." Jake grumbled heading out, contemplating his first shot at being the actual chief of his people.

~o0o~

April 30th

The reports and plans for the Hawaii operations were rolling in like crazy. Everything was favorable, and pointing to a rapid, stress free expansion. There was no reason Jake couldn't make the commitment and start signing on the dotted lines and get vehicles moving over there so they could sell.

Which, reminded him of Bella's Jeep. She should have gotten it this morning...He smiled checking the calendar, then hitting One on his speed dial.

He was about ready to end the call..when he heard her.

"Goddamnit Alice" she sobbed, "hurry up and get up here!"

"Bella?" his deep voice rumbled through the phone.

"oh shit..." he heard her say..then the sound of running water..

"Jake?" her voice cracked, as she sniffled. She sounded terrible.

"Yeah, baby, its me. what's wrong? What's going on?"

She took a deep breath and then just started crying...

"Bella. Talk to me.." Fuck! he hated being useless...2680 miles away from her.

" I don't feel well ,Jake! I'm here at work, sick in a guest room - I took a key from housekeeping.." she sobbed unable to catch her breath.

"Okay..that's not the end of the world, baby, tell them you gotta go home. I want you to go to the doctor, too! I'll pay if you're insurance isn't kicked in."

She just cried harder.

Jake heard people with mono could get pretty sick in the beginning, like strep throat.

"Is Alice on her way to help you?" he continued, trying to keep her talking.

" yeah..." She hiccuped, still sounding breathless.

"Okay..you want me to let you go?" he offered reluctantly.

" Yeah..I'll call you later." she promised with another hiccup.

Damnitall..he wanted to be there for her.

"Bella..." he wanted to say it, he wanted to be able to say it freely.

"What Jake?" she sounded bad. Tired and put out with this conversation.

"Nothing...get better. I'll call you, later..okay.. bye.." he ended the call, chickened out and for some reason was shaking like a leaf.

He couldn't stand for her to be suffering without him to protect her. He decided to make a trip to Hawaii. There were plenty of business reasons now and plenty of Bella reasons too.

Pushing the button on his office intercom...

" Honey?"

Yes, Jake, what can I do for you?"

" I need a round trip to Hawaii for as soon as possible, maybe with 7 to 14 day advanced price tickets."

"How long are you staying?"

"Less than a week, I suppose I think United has business rate - 7 days advance booking, travel on a Saturday, no Sundays, return in a week. See what you can find for me?."

"Sure thing, hun, .I'll let you know as soon as I can get the info."

She pulled out his United portfolio, positive his cup had runneth over with miles. She was sure she'd get a freebie in business class, for right away, with an open return date. He was a man that needed his woman. That she was positive of!

~o0o~

May 15th

"ALICE!" she sobbed as the last round of vomiting finally stopped.

"No more scrambled eggs and bacon, ever..." she sighed with disgust wiping at her mouth.

She shut the toilet seat slumping down onto it. Her face was pure white and she was shaking.

"Here. Last one." Alice handed her the long white plastic stick.

"This one is so accurate they call it error proof!"