AN:My fav quote of all time: "I couldn't let you walk away from me, it hurt just to imagine it." Send me a hi-five if you know what I mean- it so tops the lion and the lamb quote.

Ok enough swooning. I'm halfway through my second reading of BD and starting my next fanfiction- so it's incredible that this chapter got finished- but it did..YAY! Thank you to the few who reviewed the last chapter, kellicollen, twilightdaydream, bloomsky and xDreamOn'94. Kisses and Hugs to you.

Chapter 24: Paris

Bella lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling above her. She wasn't sure when she had woken, or how long she had been asleep. Nor could she remember the dreams from the night before, though she was left with a hopeful, positive feeling. It had been as though she had been asleep, and now suddenly she was wide awake, her brain buzzing with activity. The world outside her window was dark and quiet, but Bella couldn't tell if it was early morning or late night. She rolled over in the bed, and suddenly remembered the day before.

"Oh!" She exclaimed, sitting up. She wasn't sure what she expected, Edward sitting, watching from her rocking chair, maybe? She knew it was ridiculous to expect him there but she couldn't help the rising hope.

The room was dark, empty except for her. She wondered then if her memories were real or it had all been a very bad dream. Surely if it had been real, she wouldn't be alone now.

Rubbing her palms on her eyes, Bella got out of bed and turned the light on. The light was harsh and bright, making her blink. She felt dazed, confused from not being able to judge the time or day. How long had she been asleep?

A note on her desk suddenly caught her attention. It had that familiar, elegant scrawl, neat words making her heart flutter.

Bella,
I wish to talk to you, once you are fully rested.
Leave the window unlocked, if you will have me.
Edward.

She read through the note several times before digesting Edward's words. If you will have me, he had asked. But what was he asking? If she would have him visit the house, or if she would have him.

Her hands shook as she read the note again, as though the meaning would become clear with another reading. Five simple little words that filled her with trepidation. Of course, she would have him. She couldn't imagine a life any more perfect that with Edward, but she had been convinced repeatedly that he didn't want her. Could those five words possibly mean that he had changed his mind? What was he asking her permission for?

Regardless, she would never deny Edward of anything he asked from her. She used to believe that his golden eyes had to burn into hers before she would submit to his requests, but even his handwriting on a page ripped her school book compelled her to comply. She quickly moved towards the window, which was locked, possibly for the first time in the year she had been in Forks, and unlocked it. Her hands lingered against the cold glass and she closed her eyes, pressing palms flat against the pane. It was like his arm or chest under her hands, cold, hard and smooth, and yet not even close to the feel of him. She wondered how long it would take him to see that she was awake, and had granted his request. More than ever, she wanted to see him, to talk to him. To run her hands across his skin rather than the glass of her window.

She couldn't bear to wait for him, throwing the window open and staring out into the yard. An icy mist filled the air, leaving cold droplets of moisture on the sill, the waning moon was sitting low, over the tops of the trees. Nights ago, when the moon was still full, she had stared out her window and found Edward looking up at her. In that moment she hadn't expected to see him that night, and though his behaviour was so very distant, it was still a pleasure to find him standing there. But tonight she hoped to see him, watching her window from the shadows, and was disappointed by the empty darkness.

The cold air made her shiver and gasp. She wrapped a jacket around her, but kept her eyes on the window, expecting him to appear through it at any moment. She knew he could move fast enough that if she blinked he could suddenly materialize but she still couldn't resist watching. She sat on the bed, curling her legs up and gripping her knees, eyes glued to the open window.

Minutes passed, and nothing changed. The world was still dark, cold and wet outside, and Bella was beginning to shiver where she sat. Sighing, Bella told herself a watched pot never boils, and moved in the bathroom, taking her necessities bag.

She washed her face and brushed her hair, silently as possible. She decided not to shower, as she could hear Charlie's snores from his room and didn't want to wake him. A creak in her room made her jump, and she was suddenly very nervous. Was she right to assume his meaning? Had he really come to only talk to her, or did he also want more?

She wished she had taken a change of clothes into the bathroom was well, as she was still wearing the jeans and sweater than she had flown to Italy and back in. She moved slowly, carefully back to her room, aware that nerves would not help her weak sense of balance.

Jacob stood by her bed, his back to her, seeming to fill the small room. She wasn't sure if it was his height or the anger in his every move which made him seem to so huge. He was staring down at her empty, rumpled bed, heaving in rage or panic.

"Jake?" She asked softly, surprised by his presence. Though unexpected, she was still happy to see him there. He turned at the sound of her voice, his eyes panic filled and stricken.

Relief and shock took over his face as he strode the distance between them and pulled her into a warm hug.

"Oh Bells," he whispered into her hair, "I was so worried...I thought that the worst had happened."

Bella hadn't expected such a reaction, she had assumed by his previous posture that he was mad at her. After the way they had last parted, she thought Jacob would still be angry, but he held her as though he was only relieved to see her.

Finally Jacob released his grip, looking down angrily, and she swallowed her ease, knowing the fight was about to start. "Why would you leave your window open like that, Bella? Don't you realise, even with those Cullen's around, you're still in danger of the red-head."

Bella frowned at Jacob, pulling away from his grip. "I wasn't really thinking about that, Jake."

He stared open-mouthed at her for a few moments, then seemed to shake the shock away. "Honestly, I have no idea what you have been thinking about, this last week. Twice you've disappeared, and just now, when I was making sure that you were safe once more, I find an open window and an empty bed!"

Bella scowled at him, moving to lean against the desk. She didn't want Jacob to see the photos or the note from Edward, she suspected he wouldn't react any happier to see them. "I only disappeared once Jacob."

He snorted and crossed his arms. "So what do you call the last few days, Is-a-bell-a?" He drew her entire name out, emphasizing each syllable, making her scowl deepen.

"What do you mean? What day is it?" She was suddenly confused, "I saw you the day before yesterday, Ja-cob."

Jacob's face was incredulous at first, then the expression dropped, leaving him looking tired and so very young. "No, Bella I saw you on Saturday. It's Wednesday."

When she was silent, disbelieving that so many days had passed, he continued. "Well, actually it's almost Thursday. But you were missing until Tuesday morning. And this time Charlie knew that you were gone as well."

Still silent, Bella counted the days, realising that she and Alice had flown to Italy all day Sunday, and they had left Volterra late Monday.

"Have I been asleep since I got home?" She whispered, alarmed by how many days had flown by without her notice.

Jacob nodded solemnly, and then added, "We were really worried, Bella. I left you here alone, and Sam thought that..." he trailed off, looking at the open window. "Why is this window open any way?"

Bella frowned again, "Locked windows won't stop a murderous vampire Jake."

He sat on her bed, making it creak and mumbled, "Or keep out the unwanted ones."

Bella sat next to him, taking his big warm hands in hers, wanting to explain to him, but not wanting to start a fight.

"The Cullens knew where I was," she tried softly, "didn't any of you think to ask them?"

Jacob only snorted again, and looked away.

"I'm sorry you were worried Jake, I didn't mean for that to happen. Especially for Charlie to..." Bella trailed off, listening to the loud snores of her father in the other room. She could distantly remembered him yelling at Edward, as he carried her to the door, and she understood why Edward had stayed away, asking for her permission to visit.

The cold air tingled down her spine, making her shiver and Jacob looked up at the movement. "Geez Bells, your freezing arn't you?"

He rubbed his hands against her arms, warming her, and she rested her head against his shoulder. When she stopped shivering he sat there, holding her for a few moments, not speaking. Then he suddenly got up, moving towards the window.

"It's too cold for you pathetic humans to have their windows open," he joked, starting to close it.

"No!" Bella cried out, a little too loud. They stared at each other in silence, listening to Charlie grunt and mumble in his sleep. When his snores continued again. Bella relaxed but Jacob didn't.

"Why is this window open, Bella?" He persisted, his eyes curious with a hint of anger.

"I just... I need to..." Bella deliberated, unsure of how to tell Jacob that she was waiting for Edward. He must have spied the note over her head, because he was suddenly storming towards her desk. His eyes tore over the note and the photos before looking back at her.

"Are you crazy, Bella?" His voice was shaking as was his hands. "You find a note from a blood sucker, and you willingly leave your window open. I know it won't stop them regardless, but you welcome them in!"

"I know you don't like the Cullens very much, or even trust them. But I do like them, and I do trust them."

Jacob growled, the sound strange from his human face, and glared out the window. "What if it wasn't your beloved Cullen leaving a note, but the red-head setting a trap?"

Bella stopped, thinking of this for a second before shaking her head. "If Victoria had found a way past the pack and the Cullen's watching over me," she thought of Alice and smiled, knowing that any move Victoria would try and make would be anticipated. "Do you really think, if she got into my room, she would only leave a note? Victoria is not that polite, she would have taken me, or killed me here!"

All of this was said in a very frustrated whisper, and Bella found herself standing closer to the window, glaring at Jacob across the room. He glared back, his entire body shaking now. She knew that Jacob really wasn't angry about the imaginary trap he thought she could have walked into, he was mad because of the note from Edward he was crushing in his hand.

"Close your window and lock it, Bella." Jacob ordered softly, his eyes focused on the window rather than her.

"He just wants to talk, Jake, and I want to talk to him too."

"About what?" Jacob growled suddenly, "are you going to let him break you again, cause you so much pain you barely try to live afterwards?"

Bella flinched at the idea, she hadn't considered that Edward might be coming to say good-bye again, that the scene from the forest, which she had all but destroyed in her memories, might be replayed in her room. That with the ultimatum from the Volturi, and the constant danger she was in, Bella realised it was likely Edward would want to leave again. She knew she wasn't worth the effort, that he would rather die than have her for eternity.

"Is he your...?" Jacob hestitated, unable to finish the sentence. He swallowed loudly and tried again, "are you and him...?"

Jacob closed his eyes, turning away from her, his hands clutching his face, not wanting to hear those words. Bella couldn't answer, frozen in the moment. She wanted to say yes, she was hoping that she and Edward would be as they once were, but from the way Jacob was reacting to the idea, she knew that a positive answer would mean she had lost a friend. But the doubts of the moment before also clouded her mind. What if she said yes, hoping Edward wanted what she did, and she was wrong? What if she lost Jacob, to gain Edward, and Edward was only planning on walking away again? Could she survive in Forks without either of them? She knew she couldn't.

Could she choose between them?

"Just say it, Bella!" Jacob whispered harshly, looking at her with desperate eyes. Bella wanted to comfort him, to say the words that would put him at ease, but she couldn't let go of the hope that Edward loved her again. And she couldn't tell this to Jacob. She stood there silent, wondering how to resolve the situation.

Finally, Jacob got tired of her silence, and began marching firmly towards the window. He had one foot outside, when she suddenly woke from the panic filling her.

"Jake, wait!"

He turned back to her, his mouth forming a thin tense line.

"Don't make me choose," she whispered softly, reaching her hands out to him. He was just inches away, but she felt like they were now worlds apart. "Please Jake, isn't there another option?"

His expression softened for a moment, and he reached out his hand to stroke her face gently.

"No, Bella. If you tell me now that he's going to stay, going to be with you. There is no other option, we can't be friends."

Bella was silent, again the inner-turmoil dividing her between the best friend that was her sunshine and the love that was her air.

He must have taken the silence as her answer, because Jacob swiftly dropped himself outside of the window, and disappeared into the dark forest.

AN: Ok in case you didn't understand the chapter title- Jacob is Bella's Paris as Edward is her Romeo. It was originally intended to have some of that analogy fitted in, but the chapter got too long.