Chapter 14: Gravity

A/N: Ok guys! I hope you like this chapter!

Jacob's POV

Cullen Clan,

We of the Quileute Tribe Wolf Pack would like to schedule a meeting.

The day after Christmas at 3 pm, we will send a representative

to your house, to discuss a better time for you all to meet us again.

There will be others waiting in the woods.

We ask this of you in peace, there are no bad intentions here.

We thank you for your participation in the meeting.

I fold up the letter and put it in an envelope, sticking it in the mailbox at the Cullen house. I know that the mail carrier isn't dropping anything by here anymore due to the giant spider and cobweb inside, so I feel comfortable leaving it. I phase, running back home to wait. There are 2 days until Christmas, and we are having our Dirty Santa pack party tonight. Bella seems to be feeling pretty good today, so I look forward to her hanging out with us. She's even talking about maybe having a drink or two.

I get home from running and take a shower so that I don't smell like a barn animal, then head over to Sam and Emily's so that we can help them get ready for the party. When Leah comes in, I can feel the difference between her and Emily's relationship. Since Paul imprinted on Leah, all of the tension is gone. I'm so glad to see them laughing and joking like old times, like nothing happened.

Bella is responsible for chopping vegetables again, sitting at the table and slicing up the peppers and onions for the chicken fajitas everyone will be eating. Emily uses fry bread instead of tortillas, and they are a big pack favorite. People start coming in slowly, the pack, our family, working together to get dinner and dessert done for our large crowd. I'm actually excited, looking around and seeing the tree where people are putting their Dirty Santa presents. Some of the packages are really oddly shaped, so no one will guess what is inside. Some look a little more obvious, probably having been wrapped by one of the younger guys.

We are taking a chance for an hour, having no patrols. Bella begged that everyone could be here, and Sam has gotten so soft for her lately with her being sick. I almost told him that he was being too nice, but I looked at her face and knew that I would give in, too. Bella notices that everyone has arrived and starts the game so that the patrol can go back to work.

"OK YOU GUYS!" she shouts as loudly as she can. Everyone promptly quiets and looks at her. She was made to be an Alpha's wife, commanding of attention and respect. My gut fills with butterflies, and I shove it down so that I can listen. "It's time to start Dirty Santa! First you will all take a slip of paper from this hat. I've written numbers on them, and they will tell us what order we choose our gifts in. House rule is that you may NOT choose the gift that you brought, and I'm also adding the rule that any gift chosen 3 times is out of rotation. Jake, pass the hat, please."

Everyone received their slip of paper, besides Bella. She creates a new slip for her, saying she forgot to count herself, writing the last number and putting it in her lap. Brady got first draw. He reaches in and grabs a small envelope, pulling out a $25 gift card to Walmart. On the back it says "For shredded clothes" and we all get a good chuckle out of it. Play continues going through the numbers, Dad, Jared, Charlie, and Paul all picking their gifts. Paul opens the gift he chose, revealing the blender that I bought. He laughs and yells "Margaritas!", and I laugh with him, so happy that someone appreciates it. I watch Bella as the scene unfolds, looking content, resting against Charlie's side. Her dad has really stepped up the affection since her diagnosis. I smile at him and he nods his head at me, smiling back and looking down at Bella.

"My turn!" I shout as it's time for number 10. I've been eyeballing this package, it's smallish and oddly shaped. I pick it up, turning it over and over in my hands. It feels like whatever it is has been reinforced with cardboard. I rip the paper off and see that whatever it is has been wrapped in duct tape. "Shit, guys! Can I have a knife?"

"New rule! Only hands!" Bella makes up off the top of her head, clutching her sides and laughing hysterically. I start pulling the tape off, playing along for her sake, laughing with her. After I pull off the duct tape, there is a layer of strapping tape, causing another round of hilarity. After slaving away at the thing for 5 minutes, the love of my life finally relents and brings me scissors. I cut it open, and reveal a rubber chicken.

"This is the best game, ever!" laughs Seth, who is high-fiving Collin. "Never thought we'd get Jake with it! It just gets better and better!"

"Hahaha very funny!" I mock him, laughing as well. I'd take a rubber chicken any day to have us all here, happy like this.

There are a few steals, finally, with Leah taking the blender from Paul. He makes the argument that they will be living together as soon as they get married so they will share the blender anyway. She makes the case that until then, she will have margaritas and he won't. Everyone is laughing in good nature. I watch as Bella is the last to go, seeing her eyes scanning the room for the thing she wants. Her eyes land on me, and she gets up to steal the rubber chicken from my lap.

"Bells, really? It's a rubber chicken!"

"I want it. It's a good memory, and it will make me laugh. I need it right now. Now, give it here!" she laughs again, bringing the last gift under the tree with her and sits on my lap. She helps me open it, since I have one arm around her waist. From the wrapping paper, I unearth a photo in a really nice frame, showing Bella and I at the beach on the day I imprinted on her. My heart stutters in my chest, and I look up to this beautiful woman sitting in my lap with tears in my eyes, suddenly so afraid of losing her.

"You forgot to count yourself, huh?" I ask her with a thick voice.

"It was the only way I knew I could steal whatever you had gotten before. Everyone knew to avoid this one. I wanted it to be a surprise. I know it kind of defeats the purpose of Dirty Santa, I cheated a little," she sighs.

"I love it, Bells. Thank you so much," I lean up a little, kissing her, losing the crowd of people staring at us. Charlie clears his throat after a few seconds, and I pull back, slightly mollified for forgetting where I was.

"Ok you guys, dinner time! Patrol first!" Bella announces, standing up and steadying herself on my shoulder. The pups run into the kitchen where Em is waiting to regulate food portions. Bella sits back down in my lap, planting a chaste kiss on my cheek. The patrol heads back out after eating quickly, leaving the rest of us to enjoy the next few hours, feeling safe.

Bella's POV

We had a great night. I tried so hard to focus on everything going on, wanting to keep these memories in my mind for the rest of my life. I love these people. This is my family, where I belong. I know that this was my destiny, my responsibility, my reason for life. I can feel it inside me, the pull to mother these people.

"Jake, I have a question," I ask him while we are laying down for bed. Billy has went to sleep already, leaving the party with Charlie and Sue for the young ones to be able to get a little more rowdy. "Do you feel a pull? I mean... How do I say this? I feel like the pack is almost like my children. These people are my responsibility. Do you feel that way? I am just thinking that if I feel that way, you must, too..."

"Yes, I do feel it. I fight my wolf every day. He wants to claim his birthright, be Alpha. I am having a harder and harder time pushing it away. I don't want to take that from Sam. He knows what he is doing, more than I do. But I am feeling the time is going to come when I will have to take it from him. I know he will give it over willingly... We've known since we were kids that I would be Alpha one day, but when the time came, I just didn't want it. I was too mad that it was actually happening," he trailed off, looking sad.

I look over to the photo I gave him, that he put on his nightstand beside our bed. I remember that day, Jake's big cast covered in a plastic bag so that he wouldn't get sand in it. Finding a stick to put in there to scratch his itch. Bringing bucket after bucket of sand to him, so he didn't have to use his crutches on the beach. Watching clouds in the sky, and seeing an eternity of friendship in his eyes. I loved him even then, though I didn't know what that would eventually mean. I found the picture in one of Sarah's albums, and asked Billy if I could make a copy. He told me to just take it, that it will mean more this way. He was right.

I lay down in my sports bra and boy short panties, curling into Jacob's naked torso, and run my hand up and down his muscular abs. I look up at his face, and lean in to give him a kiss. He puts his hand through my hair, clutching the back of my head to bring me closer to him. I pull myself farther up his body, making us more comfortable, and he moves his hand down toward my back to help tow me. I can see his face scrunch up in confusion as he brings his hand away from me and in his line of vision. He tried to ball his fist up before I saw it: a clutch full of my hair. I grab at the hair angrily, pulling into my own hand and throwing it.

"Oh, Bella, I'm so sorry. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine. They told me this would happen. I'm going to look like a dog with mange," I whine. Then I can't stop it. I try to stop the flood of tears that start to fall down my face, but it's impossible. Jake pulls me into him, rubbing my back comfortingly. I fall asleep in his arms, wanting to ask him to run his fingers through my hair, but scared to lose more.

Bella's POV

Christmas morning I wake up, excited to see my family open their gifts. We are doing our festivities with the Clearwaters, since our families have been so close lately. Sue is making most of the food, but I am bringing my famous mac and cheese, deviled eggs, and Nutella cheesecake. I am just hoping I'll be able to keep my food down today. Jake packs up all of the gifts and food, and I push Billy out to my truck, since we all fit better in it than the Rabbit. It's a short ride to their house, and I'm happy to see that Charlie hasn't been called in to work today, his cruiser sitting in the drive.

Jake helps Billy back into his wheelchair and I push him to the door, which Charlie opens. Billy rolls his eyes and shakes his hand, their hilarious battle for Sue's attention continuing. Jake comes up behind me, and I push Billy through the door and into the living room. Sue is in the kitchen with Leah, while Paul, Seth, and Charlie are watching A Miracle on 34th Street in the living room, a Swan tradition. It's at the beginning still, but I'm a little sad that he didn't wait for me, and I say so.

"Dad. You started the movie without me?" I know I'm pouting, and I hate it. Everything is upsetting me lately.

"Bells, I'm sorry. Honestly, I thought you might want to start a tradition with Jake. I am trying to give you the freedom to do things with your new family. Jacob is going to want to do things with you, and I don't want to hinder that the way that my mother did with Renee and me. Speaking of... Have you heard from your mother lately?"

"I talked to her this morning... But I still haven't told her, Dad. I just can't bring myself to tell her. You know how much she worries! And she has her new life in Jacksonville... I just don't want to interrupt her day to day. It's Christmas, and you know how irresponsible she is. She's already low on funds and she would spend all of her money to come up here to stay with me. Billy would have another person on his couch!" I groan at the thought. Charlie chuckles and nods his head at me.

"You have a week to tell her, Bella. If you don't, I'll be taking this into my own hands. Don't make me do it, you know I will."

"Ok, Dad. I'll tell her tomorrow. I don't want to ruin her Christmas. I PROMISE, Dad," I emphasize when he gives me a look that says, 'yeah, right'.

"I'll be back in a while, guys. I have to go run an errand," Paul says. We sit and finish the rest of the movie in silence, while Sue and Leah prep and cook the rest of our feast. The movie ends and Charlie calls to them to let them know.

Paul comes back in the front door not long after, looking a little distracted. The ladies come into the living room then, and we all sit down so that Jake and Seth can pass out gifts. I actually got more than I thought I would, with 4 gifts sitting in front of me: one from Charlie, one from Sue and Seth, another from Leah and Paul, and the last from Jake and Billy. Once everyone has their gifts, we start tearing them open. I got a really nice crochet hat and scarf from Leah and Paul. It's because I'm always cold, I know, but I'm more thankful for the fact that I will have something to cover my soon bald head. Sue and Seth got me a gift certificate for a pedicure at the local salon, and Jake and Billy gave me a bottle of my favorite perfume. I was running low, and I am just in awe that Jake anticipates so many of my needs.

"Dad, I love the thought of your gift. But Jake has only a twin sized bed," I say, smiling and teasing, knowing that his memory for things like this isn't that great. The big bed in a bag has a Q printed in the top corner. "I don't want to hurt your feelings but I'll need to exchange the bedding set. I'm sorry," I apologize, knowing that there really isn't anything to forgive. It's just in my nature to apologize for everything.

"No, they'll fit. Jake and I both got you gifts that you'll need to go home for. We couldn't really carry them here," he said lightheartedly, his smile crinkling the corner of his eyes. I haven't seen him this happy in so long.

"Go ahead and go, guys! We'll keep cooking, just get back soon so you can help me make the tea, Bella!" Sue shoos, looking as excited as Jake and Charlie do.

Jake picks me up in his arms and Charlie tilts his head to the side a little, and smiles. I lean into him, breathing in the woodsy smell he always seems to have. We get in the truck and drive home, where I see my first gift sitting on the front porch: A pair of rocking chairs. They are so beautiful that they take my breath away, Jacob having carved wolves into one of them, and wildflowers into the other. I wrap my arms around his neck, and pull his lips down to mine. I am so overwhelmed with the love I have for this gorgeous man that I can't stand it.

"Babe, you made these? When did you have the time to do this?" I ask as he sets me on my feet on the porch. I walk behind them, running my hands over the backs and kneel down beside them, looking at the intricate woodwork.

"Bella, these chairs are my promise to you. I know we are too young to get married, seeing as we need to be able to pay bills and for a wedding, and neither of us have a job. But this... This is my promise that I will always be here. That we will sit in these chairs for the rest of our lives. We'll take them with us when we move to our own home. We'll watch our kids and grandkids play while we rock on our porch, holding hands, forever," Jacob whispers the last part, and I feel my grasp on control completely loosen.

"Thank you so much, Jacob. I can't tell you how much this means to me," I start crying, and stumble over to him, wrapping myself around his waist like my life depends on it. He picks me up and holds me there for a minute, gently swaying back and forth.

"Bells, would you like to see my gift to you?" Charlie asks me, still clearly uncomfortable with Jake and I showing affection like this.

"Of course, Dad!" I enthuse, drying my eyes, and start walking in behind him. I immediately spot the bucket of debris sitting in the living room, and I'm confused at first. When Charlie starts to open our bedroom door, I start to understand. I push past him gently and see that the wall between our room and Rachel's old room has been torn down.

"We were just here a couple of hours ago! How did you get this done?!" I inquire, shocked.

"I cleared it with Billy, and I paid Paul to do it today. He and a couple of the pups came and tore it down and cleaned it up really quick. I know the walls and carpet are different colors, but we can fix that. I needed to be able to fit your new bed in here. Technically this counts as my gift to you, too, Jake," he grinned. He knows that he did well with this gift.

"Dad, thank you so much. I love you!" I squeal, hugging him fiercely.

"Yes, thanks, Chief Swan. We appreciate it," Jake added.

"No problem. I... Love you, too. Both of you."

Jacob's POV

I feel so full I can barely move. I really wanted to get home to spend some time on the front porch with Bella in our rocking chairs. She seemed to love my gifts, and when she started crying, I almost was overcome myself. But when we got home, she went to our room and laid in our new bed. I made her a new playlist for her phone, and I think we can get a good night out of it. She loves music so much, and it's really been the only outlet that she has had recently. Sometimes I come home to her screaming Alanis Morrisette lyrics at the top of her lungs. Some days she whispers Fleetwood Mac. I can tell when it's been a bad day by the type of music she is playing. Tonight is a bad one. I know she is thinking about tomorrow.

"Scoot over, babe," I tell her, sitting on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling? You didn't eat much at dinner. Do you need me to get you something?"

"No, I'm good," Bella answers, moving over like I asked. "I'm just worried about how all of this is going to go, you know?"

"That's what I thought was bothering you. Listen, you won't ever have to see him if you don't want. I will make sure that he stays far away, if that is what you need. I really do need to know what you want me to do, though. The Cullens became a big part of your life when you moved here. If you want to see them, I have no problems with it."

"Yeah, I guess I would like to see Alice at least. I wouldn't mind seeing Edward. Not for any reason but for us to officially get some closure. I just really need to know that when he comes back, he won't try to do anything to get back together with me," Bella sighed. I know she was worried about how I would feel about this.

"Anything you want, Bells. But you know, of course, that one of us will need to be with you," I said, smiling.

"Can I take Leah?" she asked, looking down.

Ouch. That stung a little.

Thank you for reading! It looks like I'm probably going to start posting only once a week, guys. Please don't kill me! I'm starting another fan fiction, this one is a Draco/Hermione (Harry Potter), and I need a little time to work on it, too. Thank you so much for the favorites, follows, and reviews! You guys rock!