Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Well it's been 5 years. A lot has changed since I was last writing fan fiction.

For one I have a 6 month old baby girl who is the love of my life. Hence why I have a little bit of time while on maternity leave to be able to write.

Not to mention I'm a full time bartender (when I'm not on maternity leave or in school) and I'm half way through nursing school; so re-reading this story I cringe at some of the medical information I had gotten inaccurate! I'll have to go back and revamp some of the chapters to smooth those nitty-gritty details over.

Either way this is a much needed return and I can't believe I had such bad writers block that I stopped writing all together. Hopefully I can still keep up the momentum after being out of the game for so long.

Enjoy.


Lies

Jacob's POV


"So Bella, looks like the consulting OB agrees, as long as you follow strict instructions for bed rest as well as keep an eye on your blood pressure and the baby's heartbeat we can let you go home." Carlisle smiled as he placed his hand gently on Bella's. I joined him in a grin looking peacefully down at my mate comfortably sitting up in the hospital bed.

"Oh thank god, I'm getting pretty sick of looking at these white walls." Bella signed with relief.

The last 3 weeks had been hard, Alice and I had been taking shifts at the hospital. Alice only taking over so I could get some must needed rest. Additionally on my way home I had been checking in with the pack – no further signs of Irina… for now. But that didn't stop Sam from ordering constant runs to check all the perimeters for any sign of the bloodsucker's scent.

Bella's condition had steadily improved over the last 3 weeks, her abrasions slowly healing, the bruises turning from awful purples and blues to a fading unattractive mustard yellow. Carlisle had changed her cast on her arm so it wasn't hanging uncomfortably above her head and her legs and hip had much more practical casts placed on them. Carlisle had said another 4 – 5 weeks and they could be removed. Above all else, the baby's heart beat remained strong and steady. The gynecologist had frequently come in over the last 3 weeks with an instrument called a fetal Doppler and squeezed a strange smelling cool gel over Bella's stomach and wiggled the instrument around to clearly play our child's heart beat thumping away in a volume audible for human ears.

The first time the doctor had done it with Charlie, Renee and Billy around, I had seen tears cloud up in Charlie's eyes. But he quickly looked to side and wiped them away trying to shrug off his visible emotions radiating to surface. Of course, I didn't need the silly medical device to know our baby's heart beat was strong. It was clear as day to me, getting strong every day within Bella's womb as her condition improved.

Only thing left to improve was her memory.

Bella had become accustom to the fact she was pregnant even though she didn't remember she was my mate. In fact, she still didn't remember anything to do with the fairy tale ridiculousness she currently was entwined in. She had no clue that her round the clock care givers were a mixture of vampires and shape shifters and Carlisle had been adamant that we let her heal first, then worry about her memory coming back; despite the ongoing turmoil.

Between the ever present motion that Irina could be lurking around the next dark corner and the fact that I had to make the decision to step up as alpha or lose the lineage in the family bloodline – a decision I was counting on Bella to help me come to – I felt the urgency for Bella to be aware of the truth behind the world she was surrounded by.

Nonetheless, we had to wait. Bella couldn't handle the on slaughter of information in her fragile state. She needed to come to a realization in her own terms. For now, the pack and the Cullen's just had to do what we did best; hide it. Of course, hiding it to the general public and hiding it from someone so intimately involved with our lives like Bella were two very different matters.

How the heck was I supposed to explain coming home stark naked in the middle of night reeking of dirt and woods? Or how the fact the Cullen's never ate a morsel of food while they were around?

It was going to be a challenge now that we were going home finally.

"Home, god that will be nice. I'm sick of looking at these walls too and I hate the smell of hospitals." I muttered dragging myself out of deep thought.

"Home will be so nice – too bad I don't even remember what home looks like." Bella muttered sheepishly.

"It's nice, well it's more than nice, it's glorious. Home was your graduation present from the Cullens. It's a little on the large size for my tastes but the Cullen's do everything big. Go big or go home. You do remember that about them, right?" I interjected looking briefly at Carlisle. Carlisle smirked at my comment.

"Yes, I definitely remember that about your family Carlisle. Especially Alice, she's the queen of extravagant means." Bella drawled rolling her eyes in good humor.

"Yes, she definitely is." Carlisle chuckled.

The room fell silent momentarily. The one person Bella hadn't mentioned this entire time was Edward. I couldn't read her entirely but it almost seemed as if she was too nervous to even ask about him.

I cleared my throat.

"I'll hold her off for you so you don't get overwhelmed at home, Bells." I said softly kissing her forehead.

"Thanks Jake." Bella replied earnestly leaning in to my kiss.

"Well then, I guess I should get a nurse to help Jacob get you into a wheelchair and on your way before you get too exhausted from all this excitement." Carlisle said.

Bella gave away a brief light smile, "I guess so. Time to go home, finally."


After maneuvering Bella's wheel chair up the small steps that were modified for Billy's wheelchairs' sake, I unlocked the door and held my breath while Bella got a first real glance at the home she had no recollection of.

"Wow." She managed to mutter.

"Like I said yea it's a bit over-sized but I at least you were able to tone down the Pixie's crazed decorating intentions when we moved in." I quickly added defensively out of fear of her disapproval.

It was trivial trying to defend our home considering Bella had been the one who slowly had made it feel more 'ours' day by day. Of, course she would like it – it was ours.

"It's beautiful. It's so us, even if I don't remember what the true us really feels like. This feels like a piece of a distant me that I'm trying to get back." She said taking in a deep breath almost as if a weight was added to her shoulders and removed simultaneously.

She glanced over at the staircase with unease and I quickly interjected, "I moved the spare bed downstairs into the living room until you can walk again. That way you're close to the bathroom and you have a TV to entertain yourself."

Bella didn't say anything in return and continued to study the front hall. I took my jacket and shoes off and motioned to help her remove her jacket as well. I wheeled her onwards down the hallway passed the small dining room and into living room and kitchen, which were connected openly. I tried to read her expression but it remained blank and distant.

She sighed deeply grabbing a Quileute wood carving from a shelf to her right that one of the tribe members had carved for us when they heard we had become mates. She studied it intensely.

"Bells… What's the matter?" My words were slow and heavy with concern.

"Everything seems so familiar but so not. Like I'm just hitting a blank wall, like I'm missing something…. Something huge." She pondered running her fingers across the details of the wooden wolf.

A pang pulsed through my chest at her words and I sighed in return, "Don't fret about it too much, you're still recovering. Things are bound to start coming back to you sooner or later."

As much I as I hoped and tried to believe in my words, I was too sure of them either.

"I hope, for our sake, for our baby's sake."

"I'll love you regardless of what you remember about us, I'll love you until the end of time. I hope you still know that." I ensured.

"Yes I do. But there's so many questions I have. I didn't want to ask until I was out of the hospital and alone with you." She stated clearly.

My body froze up but I tried to not show the fear pulsing through my body.

If I told her the truth right now, she'd think I was crazy. It had taken years for her to learn and become accustom to all the information she used know, I couldn't just overwhelm her with the wealth of information about being a shape shifter and the Cullen's – and Edward.

How would I explain Edward's absence?

I gulped, "Ask then please. If it helps you."

I knew I was treading on thin ice.

"Okay… Umm, where to start." She paused, "I guess, first of all how did I end up pregnant? Was I not on birth control?"

"No you weren't." I replied simply, my pulse quickened and I took a seat on the couch beside her wheelchair putting my hands together in my lap.

"That doesn't make sense. If we were- you know, involved, why wouldn't I have taken precautions? That doesn't seem like something I would do. I know I'm not a risk taker like that." She questioned burrowing her eyebrows into a frown.

"You're scen – I mean you did take birth control – at first. It made you really sick so we decided to just to use condoms and I guess that plan went through the window. Apparently I have really good swimmers." I lied with a slight forced smirk trying to lighten the mood.

"Oh… I see" She rolled her eyes and laughed.

We fell silent for a moment again before Bella spoke up, "What about… Edward? Where is he? I remember leaving him, I remember choosing you, but I don't remember the details. I feel like when I try to think about him that black wall hits me again, it's so frustrating."

My pulse had just slowed before her words hit me again sending my heart into a frenzy.

I didn't speak immediately pondering my words. How was I supposed to explain this?

I hated lying to her… hated myself so much for doing it, even if it was what Carlisle insisted on doing until she was fully recovered and was herself again.

"Edward… well Edward left. It was hard for him to us together happy, even though all he wanted was your happiness. He was a – or err is a good guy. He decided it would be best if he left, so he… traveled to Europe to attend school there."

As much as I loathed myself for lying to Bella, I mentally gave myself a pat on the back for my response. It was very Edward-like to travel to some foreign country to study school and all. And it was kind of an elaboration of the truth. He did travel to Italy… only he wasn't there for school and he wasn't there now.

"I hope he's enjoying himself. I feel so awful for hurting him like I did. Especially considering I don't even remember the details." Bella replied believing my explanation without question.

Of course she believed me, I was her Jacob after all.

With that thought more guilt sank in.

"Alice said he's happy and at peace with himself there." I added, knowing this was partially the truth. He was at peace, his soul finally rested without any heart ache or regrets about his life.

"Good." Bella gave a half-hearted smile.

"Does that help you a little bit?" I asked feeling a little bit of the weight lifted – for now, until she started to remember more.

"Mhmm…. Thank you. But… I have one more question. But it's about after the accident. I remember hearing something, I'm not sure though, the first couple days were really foggy from the morphine." She injected with a little hesitancy.

I cocked my head in question, "Go ahead, shoot. What is it?"

"I remember you and Carlisle talking in the hallway, something about mating? And danger? I could be hearing things, I sound crazy, I was pretty drugged up." Bella pried.

I froze.

My body felt cold and numb.

I hated myself so much for having to lie and I cursed myself for being too careless with my words when she was in earshot.

"… Um… I'm not sure what you heard but I don't think I said that? You must've have been hearing things" I lied. I straight out lied when I knew this could've been my chance to explain everything.

This was so hard.

Bella shook her head, "Probably, like I said, I was so foggy those first couple days. And so confused. Too much morphine probably." She laughed a little. I sighed and smirked.

"Yea, definitely too much morphine," Then kissed her on the forehead and laughed, "You were pretty loopy some of the time. I couldn't believe they gave you that stuff with the baby and all."

She nuzzled into me and breathed in my scent, I felt a sense of peace wash over me despite everything going on. She just had that effect on me. I embraced her frail body careful not to put any pressure on her broken arm.

"I'm just happy to be home, even if it isn't what I remember." She mumbled into my shirt.

"I'm happy you're home too."


After moving Bella into her bed and I managed to make something to eat for the two of – which was only accomplished with strict instructions from Bella on how to cook something with burning it – she shortly after drifted to sleep from the emotional and eventful day we had had.

I mentally noted taking some time to learn how to cook. With a baby running around the house in a couple months, I would need to have some basic skills in the kitchen.

The TV hummed softly in the back ground and I took a deep sigh. It would probably be smart to check in with the pack now that Bella was safe and a sleep at home. I couldn't shift for long, just long enough to get an update from the pack.

Even that felt risky considering Bella's condition.

I slipped off of the couch careful not to disturb Bella and picked up the remote to mute the TV then softly crept to the back door and slipped out into the cool October air. I took a deep breath in, I closed my eyes then lifted the hem of my shirt upwards.

The heat of my body fought against the air as the wolf in me started to rumble forward. I unbuttoned my pants letting them fall to the ground and kicking them to the side before I let the wolf consume me, tearing through my bones and blood.

The fire ripped through me as I submitted to all fours, the russet fur covering my body.

Panic surged through my body as I sensed it in the other wolves.

'Jacob! She's back! We just chased her to the shore line again.' Sam exclaimed through the pack minds. I involuntarily let out a rabid snarl.

'What!? How!? This doesn't make sense. We haven't sensed her in nearly a month.'

'She was headed straight for Bella and your place when we caught her scent. It doesn't make any sense. You're right, we haven't even detected the slightest scent of her being here for a month. Not until this afternoon, when you and Bella left the hospital.' Embry stated firmly.

'It's like she knew you were leaving today.' Seth added.

I growled again, my blood boiling at the thought of someone harming my mate. We had almost lost her because of a foolish mistake, I would not let this blood sucker anywhere near her.

'I don't understand. Do the Cullen's know?' I questioned urgently.

'Jasper and Rose were with us, helping us on the other side of the treaty line. But we couldn't catch her with her jumping back and forth across the treaty line. They were just as confused and surprised as us.' Sam replied.

The pack replayed the images of the chase in my mind. I could see her jumping back and forth over the treaty line the Cullens and the pack struggling to get anywhere near her.

'Fucking leech. I will kill her with my bare hands if she even thinks she's going to get Bella.' I snarled. I shuddered with anger.

'Breath Jake. We got this for now. She's gone now and I doubt she'll be stupid enough to return tonight. Just worry about Bella at home.' Leah spoke up. Despite her anger at the world she did have the decency to never let something come between a pack member and their mate.

'I need to talk to the Cullen's. Sam make sure security is tighter than ever. Irina wants Bella dead and I don't think she'll stop until she gets what she wants.' I declared.

I didn't realize until after how much authority came through my voice.

I sounded like an alpha.

The thought gave me shivers.

'Will do Jacob. Don't worry. Nothing and no one is going to hurt Bella.' Sam replied.

'I'll check in, in a couple hours. Keep me updated if anything changes.'

'We will Jacob.' Sam assured.

'Before you go Jake, does Bella have her memory back in the slightest? Does she know the danger she's in?' Seth pressed, worry evident even in his thoughts.

'No. And not a word from any of you. She can't handle it right now. We have to keep everything from her. Her hearing about the Cullen's and the wolf pack and immediate danger that's she possibly in would be too much for her. She's just barely been home and that alone is overwhelming for her.' I hissed all too seriously.

'Gotcha.' Seth nodded in reply.

With that I phased back quickly pulling on my clothes and sneaking back through the kitchen's sliding doors. I silently grabbed my cell phone from the end table by the couch and headed straight upstairs to our empty bedroom.

I quickly dialed on the blackberry.

After only a ring the receiver picked up, "Jacob I was expecting you to call."

The pixie's voice was high pitched but serious in tone.

"Alice. Irina's back."

"I know. We're trying to figure it out too. Carlisle just got off the phone with the Denali clan."

"Her sisters? For all we know they could be behind this too." I growled.

"Jacob, I doubt it. They're not like that."

"Well Irina used to be like them, and apparently she's a blood thirsty murdered now." I hissed back.

"The Denali clan hasn't seen her for over 6 months. Not since before we told them about Bella's pregnancy and her being in your home. They didn't even know she was feeding on humans again. No one did." Alice exclaimed.

"They haven't talked to her? Who else would've told her about Bella leaving the hospital? She must've known she was in there and left today. That's why she's been gone for the past month; she was smart enough not to try anything with all the people around plus us constantly by Bella's side. Fucking leech." I snarled running my fingers through my hair.

"I agree with you about one thing. She must've known that Bella was in the hospital and when she left. I just don't know how yet. That's what we need to figure out."

"How come your visions didn't see any of this?" I demanded.

"I don't know. I've been so focused around Bella and the baby with all that has happened, it's too much of a strain to focus in too many areas. Plus with the pack interfering with my visions it makes it hard. I haven't been keeping my eye on the Denali clan so who knows." She explained earnestly.

I sighed and sat down on our bed still holding the phone far too tightly. It was a good thing blackberries were fairly durable or the phone would've been crushed by now.

"Wait a second – Tanya's on the other line. Let me call you back. This could be serious." Alice said with urgency.

"Okay. I'll be waiting."

With a beep from the phone signally the call had ended with Pixie I was left in silence to digest all the events that had just occurred.

Bella was barely home and nowhere near recovered yet, and that wasn't even taking into account her amnesia.

And now that fucking blood sucker was back, breathing down our necks again and I was leaving all the decisions up to Sam and the Cullens.

I felt my body shiver.

This didn't feel right, I needed more control.

Control over a situation I had absolutely no control over.

The words Sam had had left me with a couple months earlier crossed my mind again. More than ever I was considering them. I felt like the middle man at the moment, congregating between the Cullen's and the pack to work out the next move with Sam.

If I was the alpha I could call the shots with the Cullen's by my side regardless, without having to discuss everything over with Sam or the others. Not to mention I could loosen that rules regarding the treaty lines so that we could catch the stupid leech, something that Sam would never even consider.

Not to mention… our child, our child had the right to our bloodline.

I shook my head again.

This wasn't a choice I could make right now. Not with everything going on. I needed Bella for this – and that was the one person I couldn't talk to about this – at least not right now.

I sighed again, letting my head rest in my hands and sat for a moment just calming my breathing.

I don't know how long I sat, but I was lost in time until the chime of the blackberry woke me from my trance.

"Alice."


A/N: Well that came out a lot faster and easier than I ever expected. I hope it's on par with my previous writing.

Unit next time, please review!