Chapter 14- Resonating Light

When Jacob awoke later that morning, he noticed that the sun was streaming through windows brightly. He blinked rapidly against the light and raised a hand to rub the sleep out of his eyes. He yawned and stretched, man he felt good. It was then he noticed that a blanket had been draped across his body. Had Edward tucked him in or something?

It seemed almost too bright in here. Jacob sat up and looked around for a clock of some kind. He ended up looking at the Blu-ray player on the entertainment center and saw that it was just after 11:00 AM.

"What the fuck!" Jacob yelled, knowing that no matter where Edward was in the large house, he would hear him. "That was some wake up call. You never even woke me up!"

Edward appeared from a doorway that led to the kitchen. "Good morning to you too," he said calmly.

"Good morning? Good morning! It's practically afternoon. Why the hell did you let me sleep so late?" Jacob yelled, jumping up from the couch and throwing the blanket off him. "Now I'm going to be late for work!"

"Actually, you won't," Edward continued calmly. "Follow me to the kitchen and I will explain."

"What? No! I'm leaving!"

"You don't have to work today," he explained.

"What are you talking about?"

"I called in sick for you."

"Why the hell did you do that?" Jacob yelled, staring at Edward incredulously.

"Because you needed to rest," Edward replied calmly.

Jacob felt like Edward was 'handling' him like he was a toddler having a tantrum. He did not like to be handled. "That was not your call to make!"

"Someone needed to look after you…"

"Well, I don't need you to do it!" Jacob yelled, absolutely furious. "I know you're rich and all, so you wouldn't understand, but the rest of us need to work for a living. I have a daughter to support! I can't just take the day off from work. I need the money! I have a lot of debt to pay off-" Jacob cut himself off as he realized he was beginning to say too much.

"What kind of debt?" Edward asked curiously.

"It doesn't matter," said Jacob, walking toward the front door.

"Listen, don't go. I'm sorry you're upset, but I was just trying to be nice," he said, grabbing Jacob's arm like he had last night.

"Get off me!" Jacob yelled, pulling away from the vampire. "Sarah is going to be upset. Did ever consider what my family would think about me missing!"

"Actually, I did… I called Billy and explained," Edward said, his voice still remaining calm. "He said that he'd tell your daughter that you had to go to work early."

"You called my father… I- I…" Jacob began, not knowing what to say. He was still angry, but it did appear that Edward had been kind enough to think of everything. "And he was just okay with it?"

"Not really," Edward admitted. "But when I explained that you looked dead on your feet and that I was a little worried, Billy agreed that it was for the best that you got some rest. Apparently he has been worried sick about you. He said that you haven't been sleeping… or eating."

Jacob stood there in the main foyer, not knowing what to say or do. He couldn't believe his father actually agreed to allow him to spend the night at the home of a vampire- their sworn enemy. It was too bizarre. He felt like he was trapped in an episode of the Twilight Zone and everyone he'd come across today would have pig noses or something.

"Come into the kitchen and eat something before you leave," Edward said, leaving Jacob alone now in the foyer.

The shifter stood there feeling quite unsure of himself, and it was then he began to notice the house he slept in last night. He stared open mouthed at the amazing interior.

It was truly something to behold and Jacob couldn't remember seeing such luxury before. There was a grand piano off in one corner, flanked by large window that rose from floor to ceiling. Custom made sofas had been placed on either side of a large fireplace in one sitting area. On the other side of the large room were large black leather couches that were group together facing a flat screen TV mounted on the wall, which is where he slept last night. Beautiful rugs warmed up the marble floors and an amazing display of eclectic artwork framed each of the walls.

Jacob's entire house could probably fit in this space alone. He felt like he was in a dream. This can't be real! People don't really live like this, do they?

Jacob didn't know what to do. He should leave, before things got too out of hand, but part of him was curious too. He was pulled to Edward, not just because of these acts of kindness, though that did help. His stomach suddenly growled loudly and seemed to make the decision for him.

Jacob walked numbly toward the kitchen and stepped inside. Again he was amazed by the beautiful décor. The kitchen had warm cherry cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a black granite countertop. He briefly wondered why the Cullen's had all these things if vampires didn't eat food.

"To keep up appearances, of course," Edward said, reading his mind again.

"Stop doing that!" he said irritably. He wasn't in the mood to have his private thoughts invaded by this insufferable man. Jacob was about to turn around and leave when he noticed the spread on the table. There was a bowl of assorted fruit, a basket of muffins and bagels, and a large cup of coffee, still steaming. A plate, napkin, and silverware had already been placed at one of the chairs at the table.

"Sorry, you must still be tired or something."

When Edward saw the confused look on Jacob's face he explained. "I went out and got you some breakfast, though I didn't know that you'd sleep almost until lunch."

"You didn't have to do that," Jacob muttered, eyeing a chocolate chip muffin.

"I wanted to," Edward explained, "to apologize for pestering you about-"

Edward stopped there and Jacob was thankful he didn't continue his sentence. He didn't want to bring up the conversation about Bella again, or remember the way that Edward had held him that night while he cried.

"Thanks," Jacob replied genuinely, taking a seat at the breakfast table. He reached for the muffin he'd been eying and tore off a bite, relishing the taste of it. These were definitely fresh. Nothing like the store bought junk he was used to. Edward must have gone to the local bakery.

"I wasn't sure what you liked. Is this okay?"

"This is great," Jacob replied, a mouthful of muffin still in his mouth. He then reached for the coffee and took a sip.

"I reheated the coffee in the microwave a little while ago," Edward explained, looking almost worried he had done something wrong.

"That's fine. It tastes great." Jacob quickly finished his muffin and polished off another, sipping his coffee in between. He still felt absolutely famished. He then reached for an apple, biting into the crisp flesh and wondering when the last time he actually ate a decent amount at a meal.

After he had had his fill of fruit, he reached for a bagel and noticed that Edward had also remembered to get cream cheese. He slathered on a thick layer of spread and bit into the wondrous treat, believing he might have possibly and died and gone to food heaven. Breakfast had never tasted so good. He must have moaned in his enjoyment, because Edward laughed suddenly at him and said, "I guess you're enjoying it."

Jacob couldn't help the smile that spread across his face and nodded. "Soooo good," he said with his mouth still full. "Why are you watching me eat?"

Edward shrugged. "It's amusing. I've never known anyone that could make eating seem almost appealing to me."

"Wanna bite?" Jacob asked curiously, handing over the other half of his bagel.

"No, thanks. I can't… literally. I'd have to choke it up later."

"Ew," Jacob replied. Feeling as though he were finally done, he wiped his hands and face on the napkin and set it aside.

"So why haven't you been eating?" Edward asked curiously. "You obviously had no problems eating nearly all of what I brought you."

Jacob suddenly felt self-conscious and didn't feel like explaining his loss of appetite to the other man. "Just had a lot on mind," he said, giving the same explanation he did last night for his insomnia. It was definitely strange that Jacob had no problems sleeping in a vampire's home, when he couldn't get comfortable in his own bed- or that he barely at a few bites at home, but just nearly wolfed down everything Edward had brought him for breakfast. Jacob decided not to dwell on it.

Feeling as though he needed to change the subject, he took a look around at the kitchen once more, noting that there were quite a few personal belongings lying about and not just Edward's. "How come it looks as though your family never left?" Jacob asked.

"We usually leave our houses furnished so that we can come back to them when we need to."

"Houses? As in several?"

Edward nodded with a sheepish smile.

"Jeez you people really are rich!"

Edward laughed unable to deny the fact.

"Do you move around a lot?"

Edward nodded again. "You have to when you don't age. We move about every five to ten years."

Jacob could understand that. The pack didn't age as long as they continued to phase. Thankfully they all looked to be in their mid twenties anyway, so it shouldn't be a problem for a while. Jacob had wondered what would happen if he were forty years old and still looked like a young man. That would be a bit odd to have to explain

"So what do you do in your spare time?" Edward asked. Even after patrolling the last few nights together, they had never really talked about anything too personal.

Jacob shrugged. "I don't know. I really don't have any spare time. Why? What do you do?"

"Watch movies. Read. Play the piano-"

"You're pretty good," Jacob admitted, having overheard the vampire playing last night. "What is it you were playing? It sounded as though you were playing the same tune over and over again."

"I was composing," Edward said with a smile.

"Figures."

"What?"

"Nothing fancy boy. What else do you like to do?"

"I like playing baseball."

Jacob nearly choked when he heard that. "Baseball? Really? I wouldn't have pegged you for the sport."

"Why?"

"Don't know… just wouldn't seem like something you would like."

Edward seemed to take offense to that. "I'll have you know that my family and I play all the time… well, that's not true. We usually wait for a thunderstorm… but we play as often as we can."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you wait for a thunderstorm?"

"The thunder masks the sound of the bat hitting the ball."

"That must be some game," Jacob commented, wondering if they used reinforced balls if they were hitting them that hard.

"Hey, want to throw a ball around?" Edward asked.

Jacob was surprised by the question at first, but then he was excited by the proposition. "I haven't thrown a ball around in years. Quil, Embry and I used to do that all the time, until…" he left the rest of the sentence incomplete. By the time the baby came around, Jacob was finishing school and working. There was little time for anything else. Then after Bella's death… well, the idea just never occurred to him. He played catch with Sarah, of course, but it wasn't the same. His child was rather uncoordinated and he found himself more frustrated than anything else. And Sarah usually ended up with a Band-Aid or two. Like mother, like daughter.

"So what do you say?"

Jacob was about to agree, but then remembered that he had other responsibilities. "I shouldn't. If I have a day off I should really spend it with Sarah. I see her so little as it is."

"I understand that. Really I do. But when is the last time you ever did anything for yourself?"

Jacob made to reply but then stopped and shrugged, "I don't know. Never."

"I don't think a couple of hours would hurt if you chose to do something for yourself," Edward reasoned. "And you'd still have the rest of the afternoon to spend with your little girl."

Jacob knew that he shouldn't do this… he was heading down a road he promised himself that he would not tread, and yet he couldn't say no. The offer was just too irresistible.

"Alright. Why not!" Jacob said, standing up from the table.

"Do you want to borrow some more clothes?" Edward asked, gesturing towards Jacob's bare chest.

Jacob considered, but then nodded. "If you don't mind…"

After borrowing a t-shirt, socks, and a pair of sneakers, Jacob followed Edward outside and into the woods. They walked through the forest amicably, until Jacob could not stand the silence any longer.

"This is weird. Are we like friends now?" he asked.

Edward smiled. "I guess. Why not?"

Jacob merely shrugged. "I'm going to smell like leech all day. The pack is never going to let me live this down," he thought.

Edward raised his eyes, and said "I beg your pardon?"

"Sorry, but it's true," Jacob said, hardly believing that he let himself slip again. It was so much easier to keep his thoughts guarded when he was angry. "I somehow keep forgetting that you know what I'm thinking. I have to be more careful."

"I wish you wouldn't. It makes it harder for me to know what is going on with you," Edward commented.

"Why do you need to know?" Jacob asked, feeling annoyed.

"Because you're a man of mystery…" said Edward, sounding dramatic.

"And maybe I still have secrets to keep!"

"What secrets?" he asked.

"Nothing! Stop doing that!"

"Sorry! It's not like I can turn it off," Edward countered.

"Well try!"

They continued to walk in awkward silence until they finally arrived at a clearing. The clearing was only a few miles away from the house. It was rather large and completely secluded. Jacob could understand why the Cullen's would have chosen to play here. Wild flowers were starting to grow along the border of the trees and spring grasses were just beginning to grow across the field. It was quite beautiful and picturesque.

Edward had brought along a couple of gloves, a ball, and a bat. For a long while, they chose to throw the ball back and forth. It started off peaceful enough, but it soon turned into a competition as to who could throw the farthest, hardest, highest, etc… In order to continue playing "catch," Edward and Jacob had to run quite far and climb many a tree in order to chase after the ball. When they grew tired of this, they took turns at batting practice.

While the played, they made idle chit chat about favorite music, movies, and television shows. Surprisingly, they had similar tastes.

Jacob was about to say something about a movie he had disliked when he suddenly noticed something peculiar on Edward's face. Curious he took a step forward, wondering where the strange light was coming from. Still not clear what he was looking at, Jacob continued to move toward the vampire.

"Are you wearing stripper glitter?" he asked suddenly, noticing that Edward's skin now had an opalescent quality. He had never been to a strip club, but he had heard some of the older pack members talk about it and they said the girls wore glitter almost every where. The image had stuck with him for some reason.

"What? No!"

"Then why are you so shimmery?" Jacob asked curiously. He cocked his head in wonderment, amazed to see that Edward's porcelain complexion seemed to have a rainbow like sheen to it.

"Oh, that…" Edward began, looking almost self conscious as he raised a hand and ran it over his face. "It's because of the sun." Edward then glanced up at the sun, now peeking out of the clouds, and gave a shrug.

"Wait… the sun makes you like all sparkly?" Jacob asked, smirking now.

"Yeah."

"That's why you can't go out in the sun?" he asked, clearly amused. He reached out and gently poked Edward's cheek, trying to see if he weren't really wearing glitter. Edward had seemed surprised by the move and leaned away slightly. Since he didn't seem too offended, Jacob then tried to rub the glitter off just to make sure.

"Cut it out," said Edward, finally knocking his hand away.

"I thought you'd like melt in the sun or something. Or turn to ash, like they do in the movies." Jacob began to chuckle, a smile spreading across his face.

"Misconception," he explained.

By now, Jacob was laughing out loud unable to control himself. "Oh, this is too much… this is just too funny."

"Why is it so funny?" Edward looked truly offended.

"Cause like I get the whole vampire speed and strength thing. And the fact that you are supposed to be attractive to lure in prey or something… but what possible purpose would there be to sparkling?" he asked, continuing to laugh openly.

"I don't think there's a purpose, more like a side effect," Edward muttered. "Our bodies are like stone, so I think we reflect light like quartz."

"Whatever! I never heard of anything so dumb in my life," Jacob said, doubling over now and slapping his leg as he laughed and laughed and laughed. He laughed so hard he was in tears. "This is too much. I'm going to call you Mr. Glitter."

Edward folded his arms over his chest, looking quite disgruntled. "At least I don't have a tail or smell like wet dog."

"Whatever makes you feel better Mr. Glitter," Jacob said, still chuckling.

"Say that again and I'll make you pay for it," Edward said, his voice almost menacing.

"Why? Would you rather I call you Shimmer Boy?"

Apparently that was the wrong thing to say, because Edward suddenly leapt at him and pushed Jacob playfully to the ground. Feeling giddy from all the laughing, Jacob knocked Edward away good-naturedly and rolled back onto his feet, jogging a short distance away. Jacob then waved his hands to say "come and get me" to egg the vampire on.

Without hesitation Edward came at him again, though still without any real force. Edward lowered his shoulder as he ran toward Jacob and proceeded to plow into his stomach, wrapping his arms around Jacob's torso and pushing him back a few feet. In return, Jacob reached down and grabbed a hold of Edward's legs and flipped the vampire backward over his shoulder. Edward landed squarely behind him just as Jacob turned around swung his arm in a punch. Edward easily dodged it and then swung his own arm up and grabbed a hold of the back of Jacob's neck, forcing his head down so he was bent double as Edward wrapped his arms around him and tried to take him to the ground.

The pair was suddenly locked together in a light hearted wrestling match. They were both of equal strength and stature, so neither ever got a chance to get much a hold on the other; though if either of them were to use their real strength, it could have been quite damaging. Both were laughing now and Jacob's sides were beginning to ache from the merriment. They both were enjoying their childish antics. Jacob took a brief moment to pause, and then somehow found himself flat on his back with Edward straddling him from above. Jacob's arms were pinned on either side of his head.

"What's wrong puppy? Did the big ol' vampire get the best of you?"

Jacob was about to come back with some sort of witty reply, when the clouds parted and then sun came out completely. Jacob was nearly blinded as the man above seemed to suddenly glow with an ethereal like quality, the light resonating as Edward moved slightly above him. It was like looking into the face of an angel.

"Oh wow…" Jacob said breathlessly, noticing the way the light played across

Edward's face and arms, making his flesh glow with that rainbow like quality again. His skin seemed to be embedded with thousands of diamonds, each one throwing the light in a different direction. It was rather mesmerizing and something inside Jacob stirred. The longing he had so desperately tried to ignore made his chest constrict painfully, and it was all he could do to restrain himself from attacking Edward with his lips.

Edward let go of his arms and sat back, looking at him curiously before rising to his feet, though he didn't seem to know what Jacob had been thinking. He offered a hand and Jacob took it obligingly. Edward turned his back to the sun so that the sparkly effect was less obvious. There was an awkward moment and neither seemed to know how to recover it.

Jacob couldn't help but notice once again just how beautiful Edward was. It was agonizing at times to be in his presence. For so long Jacob had focused as much negative energy toward Edward as he could in order to distance himself, but now he found that to be just impossible. It just felt too good being near to him.

"I haven't laughed so much in… like ever," said Jacob, feeling nervous all of a sudden.

"Me neither," said Edward, smiling again now. "It was good to see you laugh. You're always so serious."

"Me? What about you? You're the one who's always so dark and moody, Sullen Cullen."

Edward frowned at the horrid nickname. "I think I liked Mr. Glitter better."

"Don't forget about Shimmer Boy," Jacob added.

"Like I could forget," Edward replied with a roll of his eyes.

Jacob was truly having a good time, but as he looked up at the position of the sun and estimated the time he realized he should be leaving. "This was fun, but I should really go."

To his surprise, Edward actually looked disappointed. "Really? But you have the day off, remember?"

"I know. I should probably thank you for that, but I never get to spend enough time with Sarah. I really should go and take her to the park and for ice cream or something."

Edward sighed, which seemed sort of strange when you consider the guy didn't need to breathe or anything. He seemed to do that a lot. "I still can't believe you and Bella had a daughter."

"I know."

"I'd like to actually meet her sometime. You know, officially…I'd like to get to know her."

"Really? Why?"

"Because she reminds me of Bella… and I'd like to help in anyway I can… to make amends for not being there for her mother," he said, the guilt evident in his voice.

"I don't know about that…" Jacob said slowly, feeling reluctant about the two of them meeting officially. It would be too weird.

"Well, if you ever change your mind, I love to get to know her. She seems sweet."

"She is," Jacob agreed. "Thanks again for today. I really did need to sleep and it was nice to do something other than go to work or patrol the border. It can all get rather boring."

"No problem," Edward said easily, looking pleased. "Can I give you a ride?"

"No, the rez isn't too far from here."

"Are you sure?"

Jacob nodded, and said, "Well, I'll see you around… and I'll return the clothes I borrowed when I can."

"Don't worry about it. You can keep them." Edward didn't have to say that the brother he borrowed them from wouldn't want them back.

Jacob nodded again and then began to back away slowly, his heart beginning to ache. He knew that if he didn't leave now, he might not be able to make himself leave at all. He forced himself to turn around and walk away. Part of him wanted nothing more than to turn around and go back to Edward, but a bigger part of him was looking forward to spending time with his daughter.

Jacob quickly made his way through the forest, back to his tribe's land. He usually felt like the weight of the world was resting on his shoulders, for some reason his burden felt a little lighter this afternoon.