A/N: I almost had a complete mental breakdown before posting chapter 13. I'd considered changing some things in it to focus on a possible sequel but then I realized I liked it the way it was. However, my sequel idea has now turned into a whole other story idea. So when Abandon is done, check out my new one to come soon, "Broken Promises." It will still be Team Jake, but in a whole other light. As I write Chapter 14, I'm sitting right beside my space heater… too bad it can't be Jacob Black… he can come warm me up any day… All the characters belong to SM… the big, black space heater to my right however belongs to me…
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JacobPOV
Bella fell asleep on my right side and nuzzled up to my chest. Alice also fell asleep, pinning down my left arm. I was helpless. Edward and Jasper were laughing up a storm in the front seat -they thought it was funny that I couldn't move.
We decided to stop just over the California-Oregon border to sleep. When we reached the hotel, I was impressed with the resourcefulness of the Cullen kids.
Alice had required that wherever we stay have not only room service and concierge services available, but also a hot tub - in the room. I found it funny that she and Bella had become such good friends, because they were obviously polar opposites. I was thankful to them, though. Not just for the cash that they had dropped in my rescue mission, but for the way the seemed to genuinely care for Bella and I.
I carried my Bella to the elevator. Once we got to the top floor and into the suite, I carried her into the bedroom. I couldn't wait to sleep next to her. She rolled over in the bed to that she was facing me once I laid her down. She barely opened her eyes, then she smiled sleepily at me and said, "Cuddle session?"
I knelt down beside her and said, "In just a few minutes. I have something I need to take care of."
She nodded and drifted back to sleep. I reached for her phone and dialed Quil's cell phone number.
"H-hello," Quil groggily answered.
"Quil, hey it's Jacob. Sorry to call so late. I wanted to let you know Bella is ok."
Quil sounded like he was trying to compose himself.
"Does Billy know?"
"Actually, no he doesn't. I'm not in Sacramento anymore. The new kids from Bella's school, the Cullens, drove her down to Sacramento to get me."
"Are you kidding me? Billy is going to have a cow when he finds out that she's with you and that you left Rebecca's!"
"I know. Has he said anything to your dad about his plans for tomorrow, or anything?"
Quil cleared his throat, "They're dragging the lake tomorrow to see if they can find Bella. Don't make him suffer anymore, Jacob. He's already feeling horrible enough for the things he's done. I overheard him telling my dad that he thinks it was a mistake to send you away."
So my Dad could admit his mistake to everyone except me? What was doing? Trying to save face?
"Quil, I need you to do me a favor. Tomorrow morning, go straight to my dad and tell him that Bella called you. Tell him she said that she's fine but that she wouldn't go into details. I'll handle it from there."
"Jacob, I don't know about this..."
"Please Quil, I really need your help. I'll make it up to you one day. When you find that one girl you've always dreamed about, I promise you I won't give you shit for it."
Quil laughed. "Fine Jacob, I'll do it. But you know I suck at lying."
"Just do all you can until I get home tomorrow afternoon."
I got off the phone with Quil and slid into bed next to my Bella. She was sleeping so soundly. I pulled her close to me and she molded her body to mine. I fell asleep holding onto an angel.
BellaPOV
I couldn't believe I spent almost the entire night sleeping when I should have been studying the face of the one person I couldn't stand to ever lose again. I woke up the next morning in his arms, and realized it didn't matter - I didn't lose him. As long as I was near him, I felt so much better.
The five of us got up and got dressed. Alice had been careful to make sure Edward did not park in a restricted zone last night so we could get a great start on the day. We ate breakfast down in the lobby, all feeling better from the night's rest.
We told Jacob the story of the boot and how I lied and said he needed a kidney transplant to get the guy to come down and remove it before the late afternoon. Jacob couldn't believe that I snatched the phone out of Edward's hands - and was exciting to have that bit of information to tease Edward with.
We packed the car and were off to Forks. The car ride was spent with Alice talking Jacob's ear off. I warned him, and he took it all in stride. He knew that he had gotten off lucky last night. Alice and I were both too exhausted to even carry on a conversation - but she was definitely making up for lost time.
Jasper pulled out a sheet of paper and a marker and wrote "Honk if you love blondes" and kept holding it up to the windows. Alice hit him in the back of the head. The Cullen kids kept us laughing so hard my sides hurt by the time we stopped for lunch.
Alice refused fast food again and said that she would pick this time. Jacob asked if needed a tie. Alice said he might.
She didn't subject us to fine dining, but, nonetheless, it was really good. I looked around the table and found myself a part of something I had longed for my whole life.
I felt like I belonged to… a family. Charlie and I had our own little close knit family but that was because we didn't have anyone else. Jacob had his sisters, his dad and a tight knit family of reservation members. But looking at Jasper, Alice and Edward, I felt like these were my long lost brothers and sisters, and I felt like a member of their family.
Jacob smiled and looked at me adoringly. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world to have such caring friends and my heart was finally full. For the longest time it had been filled with hate and sadness because of everything I'd lost. But when I realized all the things I had gained in the process, I felt whole and complete for the first time.
I almost hated for our trip to end. I knew it wouldn't be any time before we were back in Forks. Edward was driving like a mad man and thank goodness the Cullens thought to put a radar detector in their car. I once glanced up and saw the needle on the speedometer pushing 100. I tried not to think about, focusing in on Alice's one-sided conversation.
As the sun began to set over the horizon, we were an hour outside of Forks. I started to get nervous. I was not looking forward to what was waiting on us when we reached the reservation.
But, deep in my heart, I knew it couldn't compare to being without Jacob.
BillyPOV
I hated the thought of even trying to get some sleep. I was so scared that Bella would come home and I wouldn't know it. I sat on the front porch, listening to the waves crashing on the shore and looking up at the night sky. Every now and then, a cloud would pass in front of the full moon, darkening my already dark night. I began to feel horrible for my decision to move Jacob to Sacramento.
I saw a set of headlights appear in my driveway, then a car I'd never seen before pulled into my yard. A tall blonde man, who looked awfully younger than me, walked up to my steps. He was very well dressed - I instantly started to feel sick. I just knew was coming to tell me bad news about Bella.
"Are you Billy Black?" the blonde man asked me.
"Yes I am. Can I help you with something?"
"I'm hoping to help you, actually. I'm Dr. Carlisle Cullen. I'm here to talk to you about Bella."
"Oh dear God, please tell me nothing bad has happened to her!" I said, my desperation making my voice quiver.
I felt the tears beginning to well up. I'd let Charlie down. I'd let Jacob down. I didn't know how I could face him again.
"Actually, she's fine. I think you and I have something in common."
"How do you know she's fine? Has she called you?"
"Mr. Black, calm down. Let me explain."
I tried to shake off the tears and let the man finish.
"My wife, Esme and I were unable to have children, even though it was the one thing we wanted more anything in our marriage. She has the kindest heart, and it killed me the day we found out we couldn't conceive. So we decide to adopt."
"First came Edward and Alice. They are fraternal twins. We adopted them at a young age, and as the years flew by, Esme wanted more children. So, we adopted Jasper and Rosalie when they were young teenagers. The four of them seemed to get along beautifully. However, after a couple of months, I found out that Jasper and Alice were having a secret relationship. I was beyond furious; and threatened to send Jasper and Rosalie back to their group home."
"I see what you mean when you say we have a lot in common. I sent my Jacob away because he and Bella were sneaking around behind my back," I said to Dr. Cullen.
"Yes I know."
"Esme wouldn't have any part in removing anyone from our house. They had settled in so well with us - we knew we couldn't send them back to their former life. In fact, instead of sending them back, we adopted Emmett. So now, I have a house full of teenagers - and my wife and I couldn't be happier."
"You do have your hands full, Dr. Cullen. But I don't understand what this has to do with Bella. I know that I shouldn't have sent Jacob away. But are you going to tell me where the hell Bella is?"
"She's gone to Sacramento to get Jacob."
My face turned a bright shade of red.
"Then why, Doctor - when the cops came to question you, did you tell them that you hadn't seen Bella?"
"Mr. Black, please hear me out. If there is one thing I've learned about living in a house full of teenagers, it's that they will figure out a way to get what they want.
"My son Edward came home and said that Angela, Bella's close friend, was extremely worried about Bella. She was so happy when Bella finally started to open up more, and she knew what needed to be done."
"Edward asked my permission to take Bella to Sacramento to get Jacob. I knew that, if I told him no, my wife would have killed me. Alice, Edward and Jasper drove her straight down there, and they are on their way back now. They should be here sometime tomorrow."
I wanted so badly to tell Dr. Cullen to get off my property. I wanted to have him arrested for accessory to kidnapping. Part of me even wanted to strangle him for not telling anyone that Bella was fine.
I couldn't find it in myself to go through with any of that, though. My mind was very curious about something else.
"How do you do it, Dr. Cullen? How do you stay on your toes, and make sure they don't screw up?"
"I trust them. They haven't done anything to prove me wrong so far. They always come to me when they need something; and even though they don't always get what they want, they don't feel the need to keep things from me. I'm sure if you made it clear to Bella and Jacob how you feel about their relationship and set some ground rules, they'd adhere to them."
I studied the man's face. He had to be at least ten years my junior, yet he had an obvious wisdom about him - especially where this matter was concerned.
However, I still felt like I couldn't handle this under my roof.
"Dr. Cullen, I just can't seem to get past this though. I hate keeping them apart, but I hate the thought of them having a relationship under my roof. It seems like I'm condoning things that I was brought up to believe are not right."
"I've talked to Esme about this, Mr. Black, and I didn't just come here to tell you my story. I think we can come up with a temporary solution," Dr. Cullen said.
BellaPOV
We made it to Forks just as the sky completely turned black. The stars were a barely visible tonight. As we drove down to La Push, I felt like I couldn't go through with this. I tried so hard to figure out a way to stay away. But when I realized then that my birthday was still several months away, I knew that I had no other choice.
I'd considered seeing if I could get my money earlier so I could live on my own. I even considered getting a job, anything to keep from being away from Jacob.
As Edward pulled into our driveway, Billy was waiting on the porch. Standing beside him were Quil and Dr. Cullen. Edward, Alice and Jasper were all confused as to why he was here, but I didn't even want to consider what the possibilities were.
The five of us crawled out of the car and Edward popped the trunk for Jacob and me to retrieve our bags.
Jacob and I walked hand in hand to the steps. We braced ourselves for the next obstacle.
Billy smiled at Jacob and said, "Welcome home son, I've missed you."
Billy reached his arms open and Jacob let go of my hand. He headed straight into his father's arms.
The two of them broke down into tears - and I don't think there was a dry eye around them either. After their long embrace ended, Billy looked down at me.
I was waiting for the "I'm very disappointed in you" speech that most fathers give their children after they'd done something completely stupid. Instead, he reached his arms out for me, too. I quickly made my way up the steps and into the arms of my Jake and the man who'd been my father figure for the past four months.
Jacob and I sat up and composed ourselves. Billy looked up at us, and began to speak as we dried our tears.
"The two of you should feel very lucky to have the friends you have. Dr. Cullen came by last night to tell me about what was going on. I want to first say that I'm sorry for not trusting the two of you. I overreacted and I feel bad about that."
"I promised Charlie I would take care of you, Bella. I felt like I'd let him and you down when you left. Promise me you won't do something like that again. You are like a daughter to me - and it tore me up inside when I had no idea where you were. I'm really glad you are ok."
Jacob and I both glanced at each other. We were waiting for the "but."
"But," there it was, "I don't like the idea of the two of you continuing your relationship under my roof. It's not that I don't trust you, I just can't keep an eye on the two of you all the time."
Jacob and I looked at each other as if the past forty-eight hours were for nothing.
"Billy, please, I can't stand being torn away from him again."
"I know, Bella. But I've, I mean we've, come up with a solution that should not only appease you, but me too."
"And what exactly is that?" Jacob asked.
"Bella, you need to get your things together. You are moving out tonight."
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A/N: Yes, I know short chapter. Sorry about that. I have to keep you in suspense but I promise, you won't be disappointed.
Huge thanks to CandyP who sat through my 4 revised emails while I was making up my mind what exactly I needed in these chapters. She was very patient with me and it is very awesome of her to put up with me every single night. You need to read her "Pas De Deux" and then leave her a comment asking her about the balloon/saran wrapped cow…
Chapter 15 to follow once I learn reading comprehension skills in my Psychology class… I think I've got a grasp on it… so I'll be writing it during class, just for you!
