Disclaimer: I don't own it; I just play in the universe.

Ch. 21

Giggles and Guilt

I was currently curled up into Jake's side. His arm was thrown over my shoulder and he would either give my arm a squeeze or pull me closer every couple of minutes or so, like he was trying to remind himself I was really there. I couldn't stop the little smile that formed every time he did it because while reminding himself I was there, he was reminding me he was there as well.

While I was lost in that thought I heard Juliana shift and stir on Jake's shoulder and start to wake. I was holding Charlotte in my lap because my cast had made it uncomfortable for her to be held against my chest to rest. I knew it was getting close to their feeding time so I shifted a little to pull away from Jake so that I could go into the kitchen and make some bottles. Before I could move much or tell him what I was going to do, Rachel walked into the living room carrying two bottles and two burp cloths. We both thankfully took the bottles from Rachel.

When Juliana finally woke Jake shifted her in his arms so that he could cradle and feed her. I was so filled with joy watching him feed our daughter. He was so gentle with her and the look of contentment that filled his eyes when he looked at her filled my heart to the brim. I knew when I found out that I was going to have a baby that he was going to be an amazing father, I'm so glad I was right. I knew just by looking at him, he'd do anything for his girls.

While Juliana was happily drinking her bottle I felt Charlotte stir in my lap. Just as she started whimpering I moved the bottle to her tiny little lips and she began suckling on her bottle. Next to me I could hear Jacob taking in the sweetest, softest voice I had ever heard come from his lips to Juliana as she stared at her daddy. He would coo at her and then make weird little faces and never once did Juliana drop her gaze from Jacob. A face splitting grin was plastered to my face just staring at them. He looked so happy to hold and feed his daughter. While making another face, Juliana stopped suckling and Jacob removed the bottle and continued to speak to her. He must have said something or made a face she found particularly funny because she opened her mouth and smiled a big toothless smile at Jacob and all the milk she had in her mouth came rolling out down her chin and cheeks. Seeing her smile so broadly and then spit all her milk on Jacob made me laugh.

"Do you think daddy is funny pup?" Jacob cooed to our enamored daughter as he grabbed the burp cloth and wiped her mouth, neck and then himself off. He was continuing to make faces at her and she continued to give him big toothless smiles, raising her closed fists at him and every once in a while tiny gurgles that suspiciously sounded like the beginnings of baby laughter.

After a few minutes of contented gurgles and giant smiles Jacob gave Juliana her bottle back to finish feeding her. While I let Charlotte finish the rest of hers and then began to burp her. It was a little difficult to maneuver her up onto my shoulder but once I got her there she settled contentedly against my chest while I patted her back.

When Jacob finished feeding Juliana he put her on his shoulder and threw his arm back over my shoulder and pulled me close again, laying a kiss to the top of my head. I just snuggled deeper against him in response.

"Have they smiled before?" He asked softly, his chin resting on the top of my head.

"Yeah a little though not as much or for as long and she's never laughed before either."

"That was one of the most amazing sounds I've ever heard." He told me.

"Yeah," I agreed. I shifted a little so that I could look up at him. I was flabbergasted by the joy I saw shining in his eyes, joy I knew he could probably see in mine as well before I could say anything or even think about how happy he looked he dropped his face towards mine and captured my lips in his. He kissed me languidly stroking his tongue along mine and I moaned in response. He pulled back slowly placing a few gentle pecks on my lips and gave me a devilish smile.

"That right there is one of my favorite sounds." He said smugly.

"Okay you two cut it out. I'm already an uncle to two I don't need to be one to three before the first two are even walking and the way you two are acting today that seems to be an actual possibility." Paul yelled out happily from the doorway as he walked into the room and then over to the couch to plop down next to me.

"And seriously how could you go at each other like that while holding your daughters? That's just wrong. Corrupting them and they're only two months old what kind of example are you setting for them." Paul tsked us but smiled broadly.

"Oh like you're any better, as I seem to remember you are much worse than Jake and I. So don't you go accusing us of corruption when you've corrupted half the pack." I teased back raising an eyebrow.

"Oh how right you are Izzy, I have corrupted half the pack haven't I?" He boasted proudly.

"And you're worried my infant daughter will be corrupted by seeing their parents kissing, when I've seen you do worse?"

"Oh I'm not worried that you two kissing will corrupt them, if it was just simple kissing. That there looked like you two were getting ready for round- thankfully I don't know yet, but I know it's more than two cause you guys were gone all day- with your children in your arms. And wait until the pack see's today's activities I'm sure there is some corruption on your part." He cheered gleefully. I groaned in realization that everything I'd done today would be replayed to the pack. Sometimes I really hated their mind link.

"First Bells, you know I'll try to keep it private but you know I'll slip up some, I'm sorry." He said as he placed an apologetic kiss to the top of my head and I leaned into him. "Second what the hell is going on with you two? You're joking and being nice to one another and it's not the first time, you've been acting different around her for over a week now Paul. And where the hell did the nickname from, you've never called her anything other than leech lover or Bella."

"Uh Bella and I came to an understanding last week and our old animosity kind of died away. I don't hate her. The name thing-I figure since everyone else has given her a nickname I might as well too." Paul reasoned while he avoided the reason we came to an 'understanding', not that he could really say anything with the alpha order in place. Guilt curled in my stomach as I realized I was keeping something from Jacob, something he should probably know but I was still afraid of his reaction.

A noise from the front door brought snapped us all to attention and the previous mood was forgotten. Kim came trudging through the living room door way but stopped when she looked at Jake and I.

"Oh my god." She squealed while jumping up and down. "Oh my god this is so great." I couldn't quite tell if she was saying anything after that as her squeals had become unintelligible.

"Calm down Kim, what's got you so riled up." Jared said as he wrapped his arms around her in an effort to both calm her jumping and also to just hold her. He smiled at us as he rested his chin on her head.

Kim still vibrating with happiness smacked Jared's bicep as hard as she could without hurting herself. "Why the hell didn't you tell me?" She yelled at him.

"Tell you what Kim?" He asked rather uncomfortable, he never liked her mad at him, though I could still hear the excitement in her voice.

"That they were back together, I mean look at them, they look so happy and cute together." She said happily while her hand gestured wildly at me and Jake.

"Well babe it's a little more complicated than that and I wasn't going to tell you that over the phone." Jared reasoned with her.

"What's complicated about them being together, I'm assuming Jacob got over his issue with her going over to the Cullen's house yesterday? Or is that the complicated part?"

"No, that doesn't even really matter right now, you see um…you see Jake he a…imprinted today." Jared explained and silence fell on the room as we waited for Kim to react.

No one moved for what felt like hours but was most likely seconds when, "YOU WHAT!" Kim yelled as her eyes narrowed at Jacob. The volume of her voice so loud it startled both girls who jumped awake and quickly began wailing. Both Jacob and I shot her death glares and then we quickly tried to calm both girls down.

I stood as quick as I could and began bouncing Charlotte and patting her back gently trying to calm her down. My girls never liked being woken during the middle of their sleep and they always let me know how displeased they were whenever it occurred. Thankfully I wasn't by myself right now because there was nothing worse than being alone with two angry, wailing babies.

Kim had the decency to give me and Jake a sheepish apology and then she and Jared moved to the loveseat.

"Hey Paul, could you go to the diaper bag and grab two pacifiers out for me?" I asked over the din. He nodded his head and walked to where the diaper bag sat, pulled out two pacifiers and gave one to Jacob. He walked up to me and then motioned for me to turn. I did as followed and he gently coaxed the pacifier into Charlotte's mouth. He wiggled it around for a moment or two and then she latched onto in and sucked energetically, calming her almost instantly. Paul placed a kiss to her forehead and returned to the couch. I looked over at Jacob and saw that he had stood after being given the pacifier and was doing the same thing as I was, bouncing and patting Juliana's back.

When I knew both of my daughters were calm, I walked back to the couch and took my seat, moments later Jacob took his place as well. Once I was settled he threw his arm back over my shoulder and pulled me flush against him. We both turned our gazes to Kim and Jared sitting on the loveseat. Kim flushed with embarrassment.

"Would someone please explain what the hell is going on? You said Jacob imprinted, well how in the hell is he acting all lovey-dovey with Bella then?" Kim whispered yelled.

"Well if you had let me finish you would have heard me say that he imprinted on Bella." Jared told her, his voice matched the same volume hers just had. I response to his words Kim's eyes got wide and her jaw dropped comically and then she jumped up from her seat but still staring at us both. After a minute of awed silence a rather large smile slowly began forming on her face and her eyes lit up with elation. She then started dancing around squealing in delight.

"Oh my god, oh my god, ohmygod, this is so awesome." She squealed much quieter than her outburst before but her jumping around had suspiciously started looking like a spastic snoopy dance.

"What has Kimmie lookin' like a loon?" Quil asked as he walked in the room. It was just then that I remembered he had spent the entire day at the Makah res. and didn't know about any of the events of today. At Quil's comment Jared gave a low growl.

"What," Quil asked defensively. "I mean look at her she looks like she drank ten pots of coffee and is doing a scary snoopy dance on crack." When he finished talking he looked around the room at everyone else and his eyes stopped on Jake and widened.

"Holy Fuck, Jake got laid." Quil exclaimed. A growl fell from Jake's lips shaking the babies and me. They didn't even react.

"Don't swear in front of my children." Jake ordered.

"Sorry." Quil apologized.

"How do you know he got laid?" Jared asked.

"I know my best friend, he's been sexually repressed for months, and horny as hell since Belly here came back and ever since she woke up in the hospital he's given us all blue balls with his need to claim Bella. I haven't seen him that antsy since way before they started sleeping together and now look at him he's all calm, cool and collected. They're all snuggly and shi…stuff and he's fine, not even a twitch. He looks like he's over his little 'she went to the Cullen's' freak out. My conclusion is Jake got laid." He kept eyeing the both of us as if he'd solve the biggest puzzle by staring at us.

"Why do I have the feeling I missed a lot of shit today?" Quil asked as he eyed the room.

"Quil, what did I say about swearing?" Jacob chided.

"So are you going to tell me what went down or do I have to have someone phase with me to find out?" He asked as he ignored Jacob's comment.

"Glad you're here Quil, we were just about to have a meeting to discuss some things." Sam said as he walked into the room followed by Embry, Seth, Collin, Brady, and Leah. I dropped my gaze from Leah quickly afraid of what I'd see. As the wolves walked into the living room, I saw in the corner of my eye Jared pulling Kim into his lap. The room filled quickly as the wolves settled around the room for the meeting. I noticed Emily, Rachel and Sue walk into the living room from the kitchen. I was a little shocked because I didn't even notice that Sue was even here.

Not a minute after Sam and the other wolves had come into the room did I hear Billy wheeling through the front door followed closely by Old Quil.

"Holy shi…cow, I really did miss a lot if we're having a council and pack meeting." Quil said.

"Okay now that we're all here let's bringing Quil, Kim, Collin and Brady up to speed on today's events, from what I heard Kim knows some but not all." Sam said as Kim was bouncing slightly on Jared's lap a crazy grin plastered on her face.

"This morning while Bella was at her house packing the rest of her belongings she received two surprise visitors, at her door was Alice and Edward Cullen." Sam said but was quickly interrupted by Quil.

"Sam man, I swear to you when I left her there, there were no signs of any bloodsucker; you know I wouldn't have left her there if there were." He said, pleading for understanding.

"Quil, we all know you wouldn't have left Bella alone if you had had any clue about them coming, from what Bella told me today, they didn't arrive until later." Sam relieved Quil's worry.

"What we need to talk about is the fact that now that the Cullen's are in Forks, and from what was said, that they plan to stay for an unknown amount of time we cannot cross over the treaty line to patrol. This has severely reduced our patrol routes and made it easier for Victoria and those she has enlisted to get closer to Bella. It will be harder for us to find her before she gets close to La Push; the only good thing is that we are all within a short distance from any point on our territory meaning once she comes within range it'd be much easier to grab her or anyone she sends. The negative is that this leaves Forks and all its inhabitants vulnerable. As well as once she crosses back over the treaty lines we can't follow." Sam informed.

"Do they know about Victoria and here presence here?" Billy asked. They all turned to Sam who was staring at me and then everyone's gaze moved to me.

"Alice had a vision of Victoria feeding in Portland. They questioned me about her and learned that she is after me so they know she is currently in Portland but that we know she'll return for me."

"Okay, speaking of Portland, there have been several more disappearances this week as well as in Olympia. If we are to believe that everyone that has disappeared has been turned then we are looking at over ten new vampires along with the red head and the one that attacked Bella last week, we could now be outnumbered."

At Sam's words a sickening chill ran through me, this week alone ten people had most likely lost their life because of me, ten people who would now have an unnatural drive to suck the life from more people. People who had families waiting for them but would never see again. How much pain and heartache would be caused because of me. Why must it be for my life to continue dozen's of people's lives must end and endless more destroyed? I ignored this guilt, this relentless barrage of the faces of the ones who had died because of me, most days. Most days it sat in the back of my mind where I let other things take precedence so that guilt couldn't eat me alive. With the drama of coming home and struggling to find my way back to Jake I had barely focused on that guilt, it was like it was a distant memory. Just moments ago I was happy, so blissfully happy I didn't think anything could bring me down but now the dark clouds were trying to shield me from my sun. I felt the most guilt for the man who gave me the cast I now wear. His family has searched for him for over two years, they are in pain, and they are broken because someone took his life to make him into the monster he now is so that he could help take my life. I knew if I looked up the faces of the missing, of those who were becoming the weapon to attack me and the one's I hold dear I would forever scar my soul with guilt. It is just easier to live in ignorance. As the saying goes; ignorance is bliss, so in bliss I shall remain.

"Bells you have to cut that out, their deaths are not your fault, they are Victoria's fault. She is the one killing them; she is the one turning them, not you. Just because she is coming for you doesn't make it your fault. You have to quit feeling guilty over their deaths." Jacob ordered from next to me. I looked up at him and could see the resolve in his eyes, he wasn't going to let the guilt get to me. I just nodded my head in agreement to his order. He placed a kiss to the top of my head to comfort me and I melted into it and him.

"He's right Bella, their lives are not in your hands and neither are their deaths. Now with patrols we are going to up it to three to four wolves on at all times but we are going to reduce the amount of time that you are on duty. With more wolves on duty at once the chance of any vampire getting through our lines is slim to none and with us resting more we will be sharper. I'm still trying to work on the exact schedule and the best way to stack the patrols but once I do I'd like to keep the same rotation till the she-bitch is killed." Sam said.

"Okay so we know what to do about Vicky and the evil minions but what are we supposed to do about the Cullen's?" Quil asked.

While Quil asked the question Jacob moved his arm off my shoulder and slid to the floor with Juliana in his arms. He reached for the diaper bag and pulled out the supplies he needed. He laid Juliana on the diaper pad and proceeded to change her while the conversation continued.

"Right now, the treaty stands so we can't cross over in wolf form nor can we phase on their side of the line and neither can they cross ours. I would like it if you could avoid going on their territory at all costs. I know we have to go over to get our supplies and such but please try to avoid it as much as possible. Along with avoiding Forks I want you to be careful along the treaty line. I don't want them to antagonize you into crossing the line and breaking the treaty. We have enough vampires to worry about; I don't want to have to plan a war against them as well." Sam said with his brows furrowed.

While Sam was speaking Jake finished re-diapering and redressing Juliana and then he placed her on my lap. He stretched and grabbed Charlotte from my arms to change her as well.

"Well I believe the only thing they could say or do to antagonize us is to bring up Bella and the mind reader can just search through our thoughts for any information he wants." Billy said.

Jacob returned to my side once he had redressed Charlotte.

"He's right he doesn't need to say anything to pull what he wants from our heads, it's how he pissed me off today. Bella said something about me being the best for her and I started thinking about the last time we were together and he saw it and accused me of violating her." Jacob told everyone.

"There is one thing we can do, when on patrol we don't think about Bella." Paul said from next to me.

"I would like that; I really don't want him excavating our thoughts for information on Bella when he doesn't deserve any." Jacob said.

"Well, how the hell are we not supposed to think about a member of our pack?" Embry asked.

"There is only one way I can think of to make sure you don't think about Bella or anything that deals with her, but I won't do it unless you all agree to it." Sam said.

"What do you want to do Sam?" Seth asked from across the room on the floor, he raised his eyes briefly to me and then they fell to Charlotte. I couldn't stop the hurt that hit me when I seen his eyes light up once they landed on my daughter.

"If you agree, and only if you all agree, I could put an alpha order on everyone to not think about Bella while phased or in the presence of the Cullen's. That way he can't pilfer any information from us on that regard." Sam said.

A chorus of 'I agrees' came from the room. Paul, Jared, Quil, Embry, Collin, Brady and Seth agreed quickly. The whole room waited on baited breath for Leah's response. We all knew that if she didn't agree then Sam would never put the order up, the only wolf he never alpha ordered was Leah.

"I agree, I don't like it but I agree it's for the best." Leah quietly acquiesced.

"Thank you Leah." Jacob uttered quietly.

A look passed between the two and then I could see Leah put her mask back on.

"Okay, while near the treaty line or off the reservation, no one is allowed to think about Bella in any sense since the moment the Cullens left two years ago. This includes the babies, her relationship with Jake, and the imprint. Nor can you think or speak about anything of the like around any Cullen. The Bella we have all gotten to know since the Cullens left is essentially erased when near the line or off the res." I heard the Alpha in his voice as Sam issued the order to the pack.

"Okay does that mean that we will forget Bella?" Collin asked.

"No, you will know who she is but you won't be able to access any of your memories of her within the boundaries I just stated. If you are in Forks and you see her, you will recognize her but your memory will be fuzzy and you won't be able to remember specifics, facts will be erased until you return to the res."

"Now Jacob and Seth this order will not work for you because I can't order you to not think about your imprints, because of this Seth when you are on patrol you will stay on the southern border, furthest away from Cullen land. I would also like you to stay on the res. at all times. Jacob the same goes for you unless you need to accompany Bella to Forks. Now I have to ask that any council members or imprints also remain on the res. If you were to leave it could make this order invalid if you were to think anything while near Cullen. For supply runs Emily I want you to make a list of things you'll need and give them to either Jared or Paul and they will get what is needed."

"Okay, there is one thing I'm confused about. You said we couldn't think about the imprint, are you talking about Seth's imprint on Charlotte?" Quil asked, clearly confused.

"Um, no I'm talking about Jake's imprint on Bella…"Sam started.

"What…he…no that's impossible…"Quil stammered.

"Quil, Jake imprinting was the other thing that occurred today that we needed to tell you. After Bella left her house she went to the beach, Jake followed her and then he imprinted. We have several theories as to why it occurred today, but they are just that, theories." Sam gave a small smile as he told Quil. Quil got a stupid grin on his face but said nothing.

"So now that we've covered everything how about we eat?" Sam asked. All the wolves cheered in agreement.

Jake and I carried the girls to the bedroom and place them in the crib, the meeting had lasted long enough that it was now past their bedtime. Once we got the girls settled we found a spot at the table, Jake took a seat and unceremoniously pulled me into his lap. We all ate; the normal meal ruckus reverberated around the room as everyone talked to everyone. I stayed quiet, the guilt I still felt and the enormity of the order the wolves were now under were occupying my thoughts. Hell even the events of today were enough to keep me silent for days. Things I thought were supposed to never happen had occurred and I really couldn't wrap my head around anything. The Cullen's were back (at least Alice and Edward) and I knew if the learned exactly the type of threat I was under they would quickly send for the others. I really didn't know how I was supposed to feel about their return. It had been something I had wanted for so long but after a while I had come to terms with them never coming back. They were a part of my past that seemed unfinished but my future was enough that I thought I was okay with that. Now I wasn't so sure.

The one thing that shocked me the most but I was the most okay with was the imprint. I was relieved of the biggest most oppressing fear and even though the explanation for it happening was only a theory, it was enough for me because they believed I was always supposed to be his and it was only my past that got in the way of my future. That was something I already knew, something I was familiar with. My past had always impeded my relationship with Jake; my fear of the pain being repeated always got in my way and caused me to act with extreme caution. It was the cause of me pushing Jake away numerous times, to many times to count.

What I was really having trouble with was reconciling the imprint on Charlotte and my relationship with Seth and the effect Jake imprinting had on any relationship I could have with Leah. Though Leah had always been anything but nice to me I knew she was just taking her pain and resentment out on me, I had hoped after our heart to heart earlier this week that we could have come to some understanding, now I feared all would be lost.

"Hey," Jake whispered as he nudged my shoulder lightly with his.

"Hey," I replied just as quietly back.

"You okay Bells?" He asked his voice barely any volume filling it.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be, I have the man of my dreams forever and he just so happens to have an incredibly hot body as well." I joked to cover up my current unease but Jake being Jake saw right through it.

"You don't have to pretend with me Bells, I know this has been a very emotional day, if you're not okay that's fine." He breathed back as he placed a kiss on my cheek.

"I know it's just…" I stopped I really didn't know what it was.

"I have to do something okay?" I asked. He just nodded.

"Um Seth, could I talk to you for a moment?" I asked as I looked across the large room full of curious faces.

"Uh yeah, sure, no problem," He stammered as he stood. I stood as well and walked out the back door towards the woods. Emily and Sam had placed benches in their back yard and I decided that they would be a good place to have a talk with Seth about the tension between us and the giant furry pink elephant that seemed to follow us around.

I sat uncomfortably on a bench waiting for Seth to sit as well. I had no clue how I wanted to approach this conversation with him. His imprint on Charlotte had put a large rift between us, one I created. I felt like my relationship with him was being threatened, like I was going to lose my little brother if this didn't go well.

"Look Bella, if I could control this I would've never imprinted on Charlotte, you gotta know that. I know you hate me right now and Jake isn't much better but…" The tone of his voice was pleading and I interrupted him.

"I don't hate you and I know that Jake doesn't either. I feel a ton of things about the imprint but hate for you isn't one. I know you've seen some of how a feel from Leah's memories but I want you to hear it from me." I paused and took a deep breath trying to collect and order my thoughts.

"You need to understand that when I seen you imprint on Charlotte most of my freak out wasn't even about you, it was the manifestation of my fear of losing Jake. Now that doesn't mean I'm not worried or upset because I am. I don't like that her future is set in stone, I don't like that her love is set in stone. I hate how everyone says the imprint gets a choice but they will eventually choose the wolf, because nothing is better. I want nothing more than for her to have a choice in her life. I want her to be anything and be with anyone she wants and I fear this imprint will limit her.

"Not only do I worry about her choices I also worry about the importance of you in her life. I know for experience that Quil is everything to Claire, just as she is everything to him. And I hate that you'll be the most important person in her life, she's two and a half months old and as she grows so will her dependence on you. Jake, Juliana and I should be the most important people in her lives. She should depend on me more than you but I already know she won't and I want to hate you for that. I want to hate you because I fear her first word is going to be 'Seth' and not mama or dada like it should be.

"But it's not just her I'm worried about Seth. I'm worried about you too. I'm worried because I know you'll wait for her to grow up. You are going to have to wait nearly twenty years and hope that when it's time for her to choose she chooses you. I'm worried about what will happen if she doesn't. You are an amazing person and you will be an amazing partner and husband, so if that's what you become for Charlotte then I know she could have no one better. But here is the biggest problem I see, Jacob sees you as his brother. I see you as my brother and if Charlie and your mom continue on the romantic path that they are on then they will most likely get married. To Juliana and Charlotte your mom is going to be Grandma Sue and Leah will be Auntie Leah-though I think if either girl ever calls her that she'd skin me alive-and you will be Uncle Seth. I fear that she will only ever see you as her favorite Uncle Seth and not as anything else. I don't want you to wait twenty years and have her never see you as anything other than family.

"Seth you were meant to be in love and be loved. I don't want you to wait for her and then be heart broken when she doesn't choose you. Just like I want her to fall in love more than once, I want for you as well. I want you to date and be the sixteen year old you are supposed to be and not the wolf cosmically bound to your infant niece. I want you to fall in love and get your heart broken. I want you to break a few yourself and if you find a girl who you want to marry and start a family, don't worry you'll hurt Charlotte by doing so, she'll understand and find someone for herself. I love you Seth and I just want you to be happy as much as I want the same for by little girl."

"But Bella I am happy and I already love Lottie, not in the way Jacob loves you, you know that. I can see the amazing little person she is going to become and I only want what you want for her, if she doesn't find happiness in me I'll be fine. Right now I only want to protect her and care for her. I don't know what the future holds for me and her but I'm just going to enjoy being her uncle. I just want us to get back to how we were before all this, and as important as you think I'll be for Lottie, I can promise you and Jake will always be the most important people in her life hands down." He said in earnest.

"Lottie?" I asked with my eyebrow raised, he blushed.

"Well I figured that since Juliana had a nickname, Lottie needed one as well and I thought it fit."

"You're lucky I like it or I'd kick your ass buddy." I smiled at him. He laughed in response.

"Are we okay?" He asked hesitantly.

"We're good, I'm not going to stop you from seeing her and I'm not going to be upset when you want to hold her and help out with her." I responded back.

"Let's get back inside, you gotta wiped. I don't think you know how to have a boring day." He chuckled.

"Seth I'm the mother to twin girls, the mate of a werewolf, I have a vampire ex-boyfriend and another wanting me dead, you're right I don't know what a boring day looks like."

We walked back to the house together and I felt much lighter, I was still uneasy but I expected I would be for a while. We were in uncharted territory and we had to navigate it together. I had a feeling the road ahead was going to be bumpy but we'd find our way.

Once inside Jake pulled me into his arms and led me to my room, he helped me change into pajamas and we settled into bed together. We laid on our sides, my back to his chest. He wrapped a strong warm around me and pulled me flush against him. He took his hand and pulled all my hair over my shoulder to expose my neck. He placed several kisses on the exposed skin and sighed.

"Are you really okay with Seth now Bells?" He asked softly.

"As okay as I'm going to be for a while. We're just going to have to take this one day at a time." I gave him the best answer I could.

"If you're okay with it, then I'll be okay with it. Now go to sleep honey. I have patrol in the morning so I might not be here when you wake up, okay?" He said as he kissed my neck again.

I nodded back to him in response the events of the day finally dragging me down to sleep. I snuggled back into Jake's comforting warmth and fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

A/N: Sorry this is out later than I intended; this chapter kicked my ass. Because of the late posting next chapter will probably post late Tuesday or Wednesday. Thanks everyone who read, alerted, favorite and reviewed last chapter, it means a lot. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend holiday and a wonderful New Year. I shall be spending my New Year digging out of this blizzard. I hate snow. Please let me know what you think, your reviews really inspire me to write and to write quickly.