Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Bella was at work when her dad came in half an hour before she was supposed to get off work. He had only come in once before, so she knew what he had to say was important. He stepped up to the counter, looking crest fallen.

"Did something happen to Gran?"

"She's fine," he said as he shook his head.

"Am I going to have to keep guessing?"

"Sorry. That tree outside your window was struck by lightning this morning. It crashed through your room. It's pretty bad."

"You have home owner's insurance don't you?"

"Yeah, the claim adjuster is coming the day after tomorrow. Did you have anything important or valuable up there?"

"My jewelry box has Grandma Marie's necklace that she wore for her wedding in it."

"Do know how much it's worth?"

"Mom had it appraised before she gave it to me. It's worth at least three thousand dollars."

"What kind of necklace is it?"

"A diamond Cartier necklace, Grandma said that Grandpa Sean gave it to her as a wedding present."

"Okay. I'm gonna need to write that down. Can you think of anything else? What about your laptop?"

"I dropped it off at Jake's this morning. He has a paper to write that's due Monday."

"Well that's good. Sue says that we can stay with her."

"We can't stay at the house?"

"Half of the front of the house is gone Bells. The tree went straight through your room and into the kitchen."

"What about my clothes?" she asked in concern.

"Leah went over and got you some. I asked her not to go, but she went through the maze of branches and glass to get you enough to last for a while."

Bella nodded letting the news sink in. Not only would she be staying with Sue, she would be right next door to Embry. Yes, she was upset about the house, but the idea of seeing Embry everyday excited her even more.

XXXX

Bella took a different route to get to La Push. Her usual route would have her passing the house. She didn't want to see it. So she was driving nearly twenty minutes out of the way so that she would bypass it.

She pulled up to Sue's to see Seth and Colin in the front yard. She saw movement in Embry's backyard and she glanced over to see his car in the driveway. She crossed Embry's yard to find him working on Jacob's bike with him.

"Why are you working on the bike back here?"

"Because my mom would freak if she came home and saw the mess we're making. At least the grass back here is dead," Embry said over his shoulder.

"What brings you over here?" Jacob asked.

"I'm staying at Sue's for a while."

"Jake, you're on your own," Embry said as he tossed the wrench he was holding to the ground.

"Sorry," she called to Jacob as Embry pulled her into the house.

Inside he led her into the living room. She was in his lap once he sat down.

"I don't care why you are staying at Sue's, but you are spending all of your time here," he said as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"Your easy access to my room is gone."

"What do you mean it's gone?"

"It is now inside my house. Lightning struck it."

"That's why you're staying at Sue's?"

"Yes."

"At least no one was hurt."

"The good news is that you will see me every day for an undetermined amount of time."

"That is good news," he said cupping her chin.

He kissed her gently, letting his hand trail down her neck to rest on her shoulder. She turned her upper body to face him as the kiss deepened. A knock on the wall made them pull apart. Jacob was leaning against the entry way with his arms folded over his chest.

"I just wanted to let you know that I was leaving. Thanks for helping me."

"Not a problem."

"Bye Jake."

"See you later," he said with a wave.

Embry leaned back in, but Bella put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Do you realize that's the first time he's seen us kiss?"

"No, I did not know that," he said with a sigh.

"I think he took it well."

Embry nodded in agreement. Jacob had been more relaxed about their relationship. He had told Embry a few weeks before that he felt comfortable talking about his and Bella's relationship with him. Jacob had come a long way from the guy who had almost punched him four months earlier.

Bella pulled him from her thoughts by pressing her lips to his. Her hands were in between them pushing his shirt up seconds later. He pulled away long enough to pull his arms out of his shirt and pull it over his head. He quickly unbuttoned her shirt before putting his hands beneath it. Their hands explored as the kiss grew intense.

Her hands were on his chest before she pushed away. She was panting as she ran a hand through her hair.

"What was that for?"

"Just because," she said putting her forehead to his.

"Then thank you," he said as his fingers grazed her back.

"You're welcome," she said with a lazy smile.

She wrapped her arms around his neck then laid her head on his shoulder. She buried her face in his neck still smiling. They hadn't had the sex talk yet, but she wasn't ready for that yet. That didn't mean that they couldn't fool around.

XXXX

Bella lay on the floor in Leah's room shivering underneath the heaviest blanket Sue could find. Leah rolled over with a sigh. She leaned over the side of the bed to look at Bella.

"Sorry," she said through chattering teeth.

"Get up here," Leah said with a sigh.

It was bone chilling cold in the entire house. Sue was going through menopause and kept the air conditioner running constantly. Bella had bumped into her dad before going to bed. He was wearing his Forks police sweat suit and his thermal hunting socks.

Bella quickly crossed to the other side of the room.

"Even the floor is cold."

"I told you to dress warmer," Leah chagrined.

"I'm sorry that I don't own any flannel pajamas," she said with a huff.

"Just stay on that side. Because if I wake up to find you cuddling with me; Embry is going to be very lonely."

"I get it. I'll stay over here."

"I knew that you would catch on."

Bella could see into Embry's room from the bed. His light was on, but she couldn't see him. She reached for her phone before getting out of bed. She wrapped herself in the blanket from the window seat before sitting down.

I can see into your room, she texted.

He was at the window seconds later. He pointed down to the ground and she nodded. She opened Leah's window quietly and was able to climb out of it without too much trouble.

"What are you doing up?" she asked.

"I couldn't sleep. I keep thinking about you being next door. What are you doing up?"

"It's as cold as an igloo in that house."

He wrapped his arms around her waist with a sigh. Her skin was cold to the touch, even to him. He rubbed her arms to warm them as he led her to the hammock.

"It's warmer out here than it is in there."

"It will be spring soon; pretty soon we'll be spending all of our time at the beach."

"Or you could take me cliff diving."

"You would want to do that? After what happened last time?" he asked in concern.

"I wouldn't be jumping alone."

He turned to face her with a smile. She smiled back sleepily before closing her eyes. He draped an arm over her waist before she scooted closer.

"Good night," he said kissing her forehead.

"Good night," she said with a sigh.

The wind rocked them gently as they fell asleep. This was how he wanted to fall asleep with her. It was simple yet it was intimate. They would have to do this more often.