Jacob's POV

I got up, following Bella to the kitchen.

I was utterly amazed at how my chest didn't feel like it was being ripped out every time I looked at her now.

She turned to face me, and I could tell by her expression I wouldn't like what she had to say.

"You're my best friend in the world, Jacob." She said softly. I didn't nod. But I didn't shake my head no, either.

"I hurt you. Over and over. And you kept coming back, even though it hurt. You defended me, and my family. I love you, Jake. So I'm glad you don't hurt anymore." She whispered.

"But?" I questioned, my tone low and gravelly.

She bit her lip, looking away.

"I just wish it hadn't been her you imprinted on." She finally admitted.

I could feel the tremors of anger start at the base of my spine, but fought them. I would hear her out, at least.

"I mean, she's gorgeous, of course. I didn't look like that at fourteen. But Jacob, she seems really… messed up. I mean, did you hear her mother? You deserve someone that'll make you happy, Jake, without you having to deal with deep underlying issues. You had enough of that with me." Bella turned paler, if that was possible, her eyes going wide. Like she couldn't believe she'd actually just said that.

I clenched my fists, taking two deliberate steps forward. She took two back.

"Listen to me, Bella." I demanded through my teeth. "I loved you. I still love you, just not like that. Never again like that. You put me through hell. And while you may feel all guilt-ridden over it sometimes, at the end of the day, you go back to Edward- like you always did- and your vampire family and you live your little fairytale life. You got your happy ending, Bella. Now let me have mine."

I was too angry to regret speaking to her like that. What did I care, anyway? What kind words did I owe her? I ignored the vamps as I walked back into the living room.

"Mercy, come on, we've gotta go." I barked. She jumped up, all too eager to leave the awkwardness behind.

"Bye, it was nice meeting you!" She called, trotting to keep up with my long, angry strides.

She got in the car, and I slammed my door as I got in after her, peeling the Rabbit out of the driveway, and leaving spraying mud in my wake as we sped away.

"They didn't like me, did they?" Mercy asked me quietly, almost meekly. It was a tone I'd never heard her use before.

My entire being seemed to melt into a pool of affection. Poor Mercy, getting dragged into this mess.

I pulled over, slowing down, convinced I was far away from the Cullen house. The rain beat steadily on the windshield.

"It's not that they didn't like you. It's just… complicated." I sighed, running a hand over my face wearily.

I was stupid to have thought Bella and I could go back to the way we had been. To the easy way, before I was a wolf. Before I'd fallen in (and, more recently, back out of) love with her.

"So explain it. Take your time, start from the beginning. I have all night. I really don't feel like going home and meeting the Chinese guy anyway." She said softly, laughing a bit to ease the tense vibes.

God, I was so lucky to have her.

"Don't interrupt." I said

"I won't." She promised.

And so I told her everything. I started with the old Quileute legends, and then the treaty. Then I told her everything from the moment Bella had set foot back in Forks to what had just happened in the Cullens' kitchen. I told her every word spoken, action taken, emotion felt, and gory detail.

She listened with a caring, understanding, open face the entire four hours we sat there. She didn't interrupt once.

When I was done, I waited desperately for her reaction.

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. I let her digest the story- stories- a moment. Then her eyes opened again.

In them, I found pain, anger, understanding, acceptance, and love. So not what I'd been expecting.

"Bella Swan- Cullen- whatever- is the stupidest person on the face of this planet." She finally breathed.

I blinked a few times.

"I honestly cannot fathom how she gave you up. You, when you're so warm and accepting and amazing and absolutely- not sort of; absolutely- beautiful." She said.

I'm pretty sure my heart had stopped beating. I was speechless.

"So I want to say some things now. Please don't interrupt." She requested.

Seeing as she had just sat through all that, and not said a word, I nodded seriously and gave her every bit of my attention.

"First, are the things that randomly popped into my head as you told me all that. One: if the guy that I was falling for sparkled whenever he stepped into the sun, I would never be able to keep a straight face when with him ever again. Two: if said sparkly boyfriend ditched me, I wouldn't go into a depression. I'd be pissed. And while I wouldn't have let him kill himself, I wouldn't have welcomed him back with open arms, either. I would've called Buffy up to stake his ass, then made out with you in front of him as he exploded into a puff of sparkly dust." She said all this in the most serious, loosely venomous tone, looking me straight in the eye.

I stared at her, shocked, then exploded into uncontrollable laughter. That was possibly the funniest thing I'd ever heard in my entire life.

"I'm not done," she said sternly, and I tried to control myself.

"Go on." I managed.

"Another thing: if that James guy had a thirst for terrorists, Osama bin Laden would've been found by now. Also: those Volturi freaks need a life. And: I could put the most epic play list together based on all that. In fact, if you made it into books, you could be a millionaire." She said in that same serious tone.

I knew she was trying to make me laugh. Knew she was trying to erase the pain and bitterness that had erupted as I told my story.

It was working.

"On a serious note, though," she said and I sobered up at once, "you mentioned feeling like a monster out of some horror movie. I don't know if you still feel that way, but I know it's utterly absurd. You're clearly a loyal, gorgeous, and sometimes fuzzy protector."

I held my arms open wide, and she crawled into them, settling on my lap and laying her head against my shoulder.

"And," she went on, "if it makes you feel any better, I would've picked you. Being a cold, hard vampire, without a heartbeat to listen to, holds no appeal for me whatsoever. I've always thought that nothing is truly beautiful without an imperfection, and they have none. It's creepy." She shuddered against me, and I let out a huge breath.

I was in love with my imprint.

I mean, I'd loved her since I'd laid eyes on her. But I was in love with her now. I probably always had been, I'd just been repressing it.

I sighed heavily, suddenly feeling very confused.

Then Mercy's stomach growled.

She laughed and I smiled.

"There's another thing," she smiled. "I could never give up Twizzler's."

I grinned down at her. "Those your favorite?"

"Only the cherry kind. The others taste like plastic." She clarified.

I made a mental note of that, and she was quiet for a moment.

"Bella's an idiot." She finally said again. "But she got one thing right. You deserve better than me."

Ugh. I knew I shouldn't have told her what Bella had said earlier.

I put both hands on either side of her face, marveling at how soft her skin and hair was. "No, Mercy. I need you. You're my everything." I said firmly.

She looked doubtful, but said nothing. Unable to help myself, I rubbed my thumbs gently over her lips. Her eyes closed a few seconds, then opened again. Oh, God, I wanted to kiss her. It was so tempting…

"I mean it." I breathed, "don't ever think you're not good enough. I need you like day needs night."

"The moon is the one that needs the sun to shine, though. It has no light of it's own." She pointed out.

"And yet people think it has the prettiest light of the two. Wonder why that is?" I smiled.

She smiled back broadly, a teasing light returning to her eyes. "Because you'll go blind if you look directly at the sun."

I groaned in defeat, hanging my head. "You are not making this easy. I swear, I'm going home and looking up unarguable analogies."

She giggled; a very un-Mercy-like act. But it was cute.

"Okay, Mr. Sun. Let's go get some food." She said decisively.

"I know just where to go." I agreed.

Okay, so I want to clear a couple things up. Mercy and Jake are not yet a couple. Jacob is fond of blurring lines, as we all know.

Also, there is a bit of Bella-bashing in this. I have nothing against Bella (well, I do, but nothing that would make me bash her.) Mercy is Jake's imprint and therefore feels very protective and defensive of him. So you can imagine how hard it was for her to hear how Jacob felt through all that. Plus, she's extremely biased, having only heard one side of the story. (Bit of foreshadowing there for you. Hint. Hint.)

Besides, Mercy does have a few Bella-ish qualities. And while Bella is alot like her, they are in no way the same. I really wanted t show how differently she reacts to everything, or would react to it of put in that situation.

Now, as for the next chapters… I was debating on doing Bella's POV, but that would be really short. So I might just go ahead and do Mercy's. Or I might combine them. I don't really know yet.

Jeez, though, I've updated a lot lately! Thanks everyone, review please and tell me what you think!