Chapter Fourteen

-Vasha-

I sat on the front porch of Jakes's home, a light breeze lifting my hair in a lazy swirl. I had returned to my natural state during the fight, my hair was several feet long again. The breeze lifted small leaves and flowers, slowly circling around me, trying to calm me down as I listened in anguish to Jake's screams. Carlisle was re-breaking his bones, in order for them to heal properly. Jake begged for me to wait outside. He didn't want me to watch.

I was waiting outside for a different reason.

Victoria had found Edward and Bella. Edward was able to kill her with help from one of the pack members. Besides my Jacob, no one was seriously hurt. And princess Bella was safe, once more. Wooptidoo.

Edward and Bella pulled up in his Volvo. They approached us, as Carlisle was emerging from the house.

"He'll be ok." Carlisle assured us in his melodic voice. "I'll be back to check on him later. Vasha, he's asking for you." With a final nod to Jake's father, he left.

I sat immobile, staring at Bella. She seemed to be on the verge of saying something, but thought better of it.

"We'll come back." She said, quietly. Smart girl.

Jacob was fully healed a week later, thanks to his strength and quick recovery powers. We were in my house; Uncle Nedu had been away for weeks, visiting other family. We knew it wasn't safe for me to ever go back home, so I'm often left behind on these trips, a miracle, considering the events of the last few months.

"Woman, you've got to stop feeding me!" Jake laughed, as I placed another plate of pasta and garlic bread in front of him.

"You need the energy, Jake." I said with a serious face.

"I need you." He replied, pulling me into his arms. I felt tingly and excited. This was the closest we had been, since the night on the beach, a lifetime ago. I was ready to give him all of me right then and there.

As if he read my mind, he started placing kisses on my face and neck, finally meeting my lips as our tongues explored each other. I straddled his muscular thighs, kissing him back. To my surprise, he lightly pushed me away and stood up. I looked at him, puzzled. He took a deep breath and scratched his head. I knew that his hallmark expression of discomfort. What was going on?

"Vasha, you're not only the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, but you've healed me and completed me in ways that I thought would never be possible." He began after another huge breath.

"You literally made me believe in my life again, and I just can't stand one more day, one more second, not knowing if you're going to spend the rest of it with me." He knelt down. This couldn't be happening.

"Marry me, Vasha." Jake whispered, holding an intricately carved box open in front of me.

I could tell he had made it himself. I spent a moment, amazed at how such strong, muscular arms and hands were able to delicately design such an exquisite piece. The dark wood had light and shade, as the different shapes and textures met the light. I looked closer. There was a wolf carved, with flowers all around, swirling in a light breeze. It was amazing. So much so, that I initially didn't notice what the box held. The ring was breathtaking. It may have looked simple to some, but the square stone was a soft blue, with ripples and waves. It looked the water, like the rain. I could only stare.

"Jacob…" I breathed.

"Have me, Vasha. And let me have you." His voice broke with emotion. As if I needed any more convincing.

"Yes, Jacob!" I said between sobs. Outside, a soft rain was falling, mimicking my tears.

He broke into that smile that melts me to my core and we kissed for what seemed like eternity, my arms around his neck. I had to be outside. I needed to be outside. All I felt was joy and light, and I wanted to share my happiness with my family in nature. Jake followed me and we sank into the garden, kissing softly as a vivid rainbow stretched across the sky.

"You've probably caused the biggest round of lay-offs the weather station has ever seen, honey." Jake said jokingly.

"I love you, Jake." I replied, ignoring his silly comment.

"I love you, too, V." Jake said, his hands running over my body. "I want to show you, honey." He murmured into my neck.

He traced kisses down my neck

As I held him, I noticed he was heating up, fast. He was almost scorching me. I looked at him, confused. He rolled his eyes and stood up, as Edward's Volvo came round the corner and parked in front of my house.

"What now, Cullen?" he asked annoyed. Edward stepped out silently. Bella had already pushed her way out of the passenger seat before the car had even come to a full stop.

I lay in the flowers, feeling murderous. The rainbow was long gone.

"I just wanted to see how you're doing, Jake. And thank you for everything. Vasha, too." Bella said, looking at me.

I stood up slowly and dusted myself off, unnecessarily, as the soil slid away from my skin back into the flower bed, of its own accord.

"Shall I excuse you two, Bella? Give you some privacy, so you can try and kiss Jake again?" I asked, as rage built up inside me.

Bella looked like she wanted the earth to swallow her, like it had with the vampires I was fighting. I was severely tempted to oblige her. Edward looked between me and Bella. Probably judging how long it would take to jump in front of her, if it came to that. I knew he could cross my expansive front yard before I even thought about doing it.

"That's right, Bells, I was there. The Tiger is not my only form." I continued in a sickly sweet voice.

Jake had tensed. We had already talked about this, and I wasn't upset with him, especially in the wake of his injury. He did nothing wrong. HER, on the other hand…

"It's nothing Jacob has never tried before, Vasha." Edward said to me. Now it was Jake's turn to have the earth swallowing look.

"He can hardly be blamed, can he Edward?" I retorted. Was he serious?

"With all the damned mixed signals she was giving him, it's a miracle he didn't have a total mental breakdown! But you wouldn't know about that would you? NO. You were busy vacationing with those Volturi people, at the time." I spat the words angrily, and for the first time, I saw his immovable, marble face flinch. Bella looked sick.

"V…Baby.." Jake started, hesitantly. I whirled on him, the winds picking up and tousling my hair. Bella's was whipping around her face, too.

"No, Jacob!" I yelled, my voice quivering with emotion. "It's time somebody SAID something!" Thunder rolled in the heavens on my last word.

"And YOU!" I continued, turning back to Bella. "Aren't you tired of playing tug of war with Jacob's heart? After everything? Especially after Jake and I have found peace and happiness, you still think you can waltz over and kiss him and have everything go your way?!" I was screaming now.

"I'm sorry!" Bella cried over the thunder. "I just wanted him to be sa-"

"Save it, Bella!" I interrupted. We all know that no one's safety matters apart from yours." I said, bitterly. Branches were swaying and smaller trees were bending under the increased wind speed. Edward moved next to Bella in a flash.

"YOU brought that Victoria bitch here, because you were tired of your pathetic little life and you wanted to be a vampire." Jacob looked shocked, but I wasn't done yet.

"You wrapped Jacob around your little finger because you were lonely, and then dumped him like a bad habit when precious Edward decided not to kill himself, after all. You've had your life saved more times than I change clothes in a week!" My voice shrill over the wind. I turned to Edward.

"For the love of God, just CHANGE the girl, already! That way, people don't have to keep saving her ass all the time, and getting hurt in the process!" I screamed as the lighting flashed through sky. I knew Jake would be coming to restrain me any minute.

Bella was in tears. Good. It was about time she felt some of the pain she inflicted on Jake.

"Blame me!" Edward yelled. "I left her alone. It was my fault. She was depressed and needed Jacob. I caused this, so blame me."

"No." Bella said, quietly stepping in front of Edward. She crossed the distance between us and stood in front of me. I cocked my head at her boldness.

"Jake is my best friend." She looked round at him. "And if he wants to be my friend, too, there's nothing you can do about it." She finished defiantly.

Nothing, huh?

I lunged at her, clearing the remaining few feet between us, and hit what seemed to be a brick wall. I fell back, dazed. Edward had placed himself between me and Bella and nearly knocked me out cold with his hard body. His eyes flashed as he looked at me, waiting.

I jumped up, enraged. I could hear Jacob saying something, but I wasn't listening. I flung my arm towards Edward and the thick roots of the nearest tree snaked upwards from the ground and around his legs, lifting and turning him upside down. Bella screamed, and tried to run towards him. I looked at her and she was swept away by a strong gust, flying 30 feet into the bushes.

Edward yelled for her, ripping the roots apart. I was momentarily stunned by how strong he was. In a flash, he was in front of me, poised to strike, when a gigantic wolf sailed pass, knocking him out of the way. He flung Jake like a rag doll, slamming him against my Malibu, crushing in my hood.

"Jacob!" I screamed, as Edward pinned me against the side of the house. I strained against him, but it was futile. He was like granite. I looked to the heavens and summoned the lightning. It struck a few feet to the left of us, causing a flash of fire. Edward leapt off me to stay clear of the flames. Thick roots grabbed him around the neck and slammed him repeatedly on his precious Volvo, crushing it flat.

"PLEASE!" Bella screamed, as Edward freed himself and prepared to attack me once more. All was still for that one moment.

"I'm SORRY, ok!?" She cried, looking wildly between me and Edward.

"I should never have kissed Jacob, it was wrong of me. A stupid decision made in a desperate moment! Jacob is happy now and I understand that. I don't want to mess that up, honestly, I don't. I just don't want to lose him as a friend, and I felt…. I felt threatened by you. I've never seen him like this before, and I was just scared that.. He would leave.. Or- or maybe run away with you and I'd never hear from him again or something." She looked at me with a tortured expression, her hair still whipping around her face.

"Look, Jacob… Vasha was right about a lot of things, ok? I hurt you and it kills me every day."

She glanced at Edward before continuing.

"I'll always love you, Jake, and you guys can fight all day about it, but that's not going to change! I just want to find a way for us to all be happy with our decisions, and, I don't know….Maybe even be friends."

She looked back at me. I sneered at her, but the winds had calmed and the roots had returned into the earth.

"Vasha, the fact that you are willing to fight for Jacob like this, proves to me that you're the one for him. I really wish you guys every happiness, ok? So, please stop trying to kill me." She said with a weak smile.

Jake had gone into the house as a wolf, and came out with a fresh pair of jeans on.

"We just came by to thank you for your help the other day, both of you." Edward said softly. Does the man ever speak up? He looked completely untouched. Only his ripped clothes showed any signs of our fight.

"It also appears that congratulations are in order." He said with smile, eyeing my ring finger.

"The same could be said of you." Jacob replied, noticing the huge ring on Bella's hand.

Bella and I stared at each other. I nodded, stiffly.

"Great. Maybe we could go halves on a venue." I said with dripping sarcasm.

"It looks like we need exchange insurance information, first." Jacob said smiling at the two wrecked cars.