Again, this is a work of fanfiction- not mine, no money.

Between real life, work life, family life, etc., it's been a wild few months. Thank you so much for coming back! I'd like to give a big thanks to MeerNaamJoker (author of Better Now and the well-known Miror Quaenam Sis Tam Bella, currently posting Holding Sam) for her help with some...content. (insert smiley here) As always, Chef Diamondheart was ready and waiting when I finally had a draft for her, and many thanks to her for checking on me about things other than this story. She is a generous soul, and a kind friend.

Thanks to all of you, too. Your notes and messages make this more than than it probably should be!

Please enjoy Chapter 24.

Billy POV

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The plastic hospital mug let my coffee cool faster than I liked, so I topped my cup off to warm it up. I was down to my last little cup of creamer, so I only used half. I'd have to warm this cup up again before long, and I liked my coffee just so.

The young nurse who brought me the cafeteria carafe dropped in and checked Charlie over, jotting notes on a clipboard and gently checking the IV port they left in his arm. She'd taken out the IV earlier, so now Charlie's pain meds came in pill form. The first dose was about an hour and a half ago, and she warned me that he'd probably just sleep for a while when it hit.

"Has he roused at all yet?" She asked as she clicked her pen closed and slid it into her pocket.

"Not yet. I'm considering holding my cup under his nose. I'm pretty sure that will do it."

She looked over her clipboard again. "Hmm. Well, he has been complaining about not having any. Let me ask the doctor and see what I can do about getting the Chief a civilized breakfast."

I raised my mug in salute to her as she opened the door. She chuckled and closed the door with a quiet click.

Another ten minutes went by before Charlie took an irregular breath and shifted his head around on the pillow. A minute later, he opened his eyes.

"Hey, Bill."

"Morning again. How you feeling?"

"Like something crawled in my mouth and died. Must be the damn pain pills; I forgot how nasty they were." He sat up and used the bed controller to raise his head more.

"Judging by the way your moustache looks, it looks like something died trying to get out of there."

"Nice one." He grimaced and leaned back. "I don't hurt as bad today, though. That's a start. My leg is stiff as hell, though. That first round of PT yesterday felt like medieval torture."

I snorted at him. "That was nothing. Your therapist…Garcia? He just bent your knee and ankle a bit. You should see what Jake makes me do every day."

"No one expects the Spanish Inquisition. He'll have me on the rack today, I bet." He rested his head back and cracked his neck. "Maybe they'll save that for the rehab facility. You know, break me slowly." Charlie took a deep breath. "Damn, that smells good."

"The coffee? It's absolute grog."

"Better than no coffee at all. Besides, Billy, I'm a cop. I'm not sure I'd know good coffee if it paraded into my cup with a bullhorn."

"No crap. Bella can cook pretty well, but that girl needs to work on her coffee skills. She learned from you, didn't she?"

Charlie laughed and the smile lasted longer than any I'd seen on his face since he first woke up. "I guess so. I ought to ask Sue to show her how to measure more carefully." He looked around. "Is she at the cafeteria right now?"

"Nope. She and Jake went back to the hotel when you passed out." I shifted in my seat, putting on my best storyteller face. Jake and I agreed that Charlie had to want Bella to leave, anything less would be a problem. "They have some things they need to get ready, and I think Sue might be there by now."

"Sue? What's she doing here?"

"She came up this morning with Seth. She wanted to get away from home for a day or two, and, well…" I needed Charlie to take the hook.

"Well, what? Is anything wrong?"

"Not wrong. Bella's just…overwhelmed. She's got some arrangements to make back home, and she needs to get some work done to the house. It's tough doing it all from here."

Charlie frowned. "What arrangem- Oh. School." He rubbed his face harshly, remembering the conversations from the morning. "Shit."

"Yeah. Not to mention the grab bars and safety rails, and finding a hospital bed to rent that your insurance will cover, though I bet Sue can pin that down with a phone call or two."

Charlie was quiet. His wheels were turning and I knew it was a done deal.

"Billy, she can't just stay here until I'm released. It could be days before that happens, and she has to get enrolled in alternative school. I won't let this stop her any more than it already has. Tomorrow's Friday, and it's her last shot to get it done before the weekend." He shrugged helplessly. "But how is she going to get back? Drew left this morning, right? I didn't dream that?"

"Nope, he stopped by on his way out of town. Said he was going to spend the day getting the transfer rolling and trying to find a place to live in Forks." I set my cup down. It was getting cold again anyway. "You know, Sue did drive here. I bet she wouldn't mind letting Bella drive her car back home."

"How will Sue get back, then?"

I waved my hand. "She has a huge family. They'd love to drive up and get her. They're dying for something to do to help, and this is one favor they can do that actually will."

"Maybe. And what about the stuff at the house? I'm not sure she knows how to drive a screw without needing stitches. Contractors are expensive as hell."

"You think all the grab bars and railings in my bedroom and bathroom just appeared there magically? Jake knows how to do all that stuff; he can help her and show her how. No stitches, guaranteed."

Charlie picked his head up and leveled his gaze at me. "Why do I have the feeling you had this figured out already?"

"Because you're a very good cop and your instincts never let you down."

He sighed. "They won't go back alone, will they? I want them to be safe, and…damn, Bill. I'm her dad. I love Jake and all, but…"

"Seth came up with Sue. He'll go back with Bella and Jake." I smiled. "I have daughters, too. Remember?"

He sighed. "Thanks. I've got nothing against Jake, really. He's a great kid, but…"

"I know. You don't have to say anything else."

Men with daughters understood these things and it wasn't necessary to explain. We gave each other a sympathetic smirk and relaxed, the matter seeming to be settled.

A tap at the door interrupted. "Knock-knock? Anyone awake in here?" The kind nurse opened the door and poked her head in.

"Yep, I'm up. Do you need to suck more blood from me, or is this a courtesy call?" Charlie said teasingly.

"You might want to be nicer to me, Chief. I come bearing gifts." She opened the door all the way and wheeled in a small cart topped with plastic covers.

She lifted the insulated top off the first plate to reveal a small serving of scrambled eggs, a sausage, and toast. A second plate had a mini-bowl of oatmeal and yet another had fresh fruit. "The doctor said you could have real food today. And I even have," she pulled a Styrofoam cup out from a drawer in the cart, "decent coffee. Not the junk from the cafeteria. This is from the stand the doctors go to. My treat."

Charlie grinned from ear to ear.

"Now Chief, you eat as much as you're comfortable with, but you ought to eat the oatmeal first. Your plumbing is a bit rusty and could probably use the fiber."

He turned pink. "Just had to ruin the moment, didn't you?"

"That's part of my job, sir." She laughed and headed for the door. "Enjoy the coffee."

She closed the door and I sat and frowned at the carafe.

"What's wrong, Bill?" Charlie asked, his mouth half full of scrambled eggs.

"She brought you the good stuff. I've been drinking this shit all morning. She never even offered to show me where the good coffee was."

"Maybe you should grow a moustache."

…

It was a good hour before Charlie managed to finish the last piece of fruit, admitting that it was harder to eat than he expected. An orderly cleared the tray and Charlie was about to settle in for another nap when we heard a knock at the door.

"Anybody home?" The door cracked open and Bella poked her head in. Charlie snapped awake at the sound of her voice and sat up a little straighter. He'd been listing to one side after his meal.

"Come on in, Bells. We're okay." The door opened the rest of the way and Bella came, in followed by Jake. As Charlie told Bella all about his breakfast I slid my chair away from the bed and wheeled closer to the door to speak with Jake.

"Everything go okay? Is she here?" I asked quietly.

"Yeah, Seth came with her but Paul stayed behind at the hotel to make some calls. He's gonna gas up the car, too."

"Good. Once you're out of town, I don't want you making any stops. Just go."

Jake looked over at Bella and Charlie. "About that… Are we good to go? Did you talk to him?"

Bella was smiling at her dad, who was still awfully proud of some scrambled eggs and coffee. Who could blame him, really? I watched them for a minute and I saw him become more serious, gesturing for her to sit down.

"Yes, I think we're okay. Listen." Jake knelt down next to me and faced the wall away from the bed. My hearing was in and out, and passing carts and conversations in the hall muffled what they said, but I made out bits and pieces.

"Have to…education."

"Tomorrow…enrollment. Counting on you."

"Sue and Billy…staying…adult…house."

I watched Jake's face react as Charlie spoke to Bella. Over the last few weeks I'd seen my son leave childhood to take on danger and responsibility. In this moment, however, he was charged not just with a vague sense of burden and history, but also a tangible and very real job that tied his two halves together.

Charlie and Bella continued to talk, so I tapped Jake's shoulder and he turned to face me. "Some may be born to be leaders, but no one follows a boy. Will you do what you need to when the time comes, whatever it may be?" The tiniest nod answered me. I put my arms around my strong son and held him to me, knowing that after today, whatever the outcome, he would never be the same again. I only hoped that I would get to hold him again.

"Is it okay if I come in?" A familiar voice called just outside the door and Jake stood.

"Come on in, Sue. Charlie's decent." I tossed back in reply. Bella giggled and he gave me a disgusted lip-curl. As she opened the door the rest of the way I reconsidered my statement. "Well, he is decent. The moustache isn't." Sue came in, shaking her head, and Bella fished around in her backpack.

"Look at you two. I hope they haven't let you just lie here- they better be doing PT by now, Charlie." He grunted and Sue chuckled at his rolling eyes. "I think I have my answer, there."

Sue bent to give Charlie a hug as Bella pulled an old leather case out of her backpack. When Sue stepped back, she held it out triumphantly to Charlie. "Look what I remembered today. I can help you shave, but you might want to do the scissor-trim yourself."

Charlie took the case fondly and scratched at his scruffy face. "Thanks, kiddo. It started itching yesterday."

Jake stepped out into the hall to talk with Seth, who had been waiting by the door since the room was crowded now. Sue and Bella stationed themselves on either side of Charlie, fussing over him and filling a plastic tub with hot water to rinse out the razor blade for his shave. I tucked myself closer to the door to avoid being in their way and watched as Bella held a mirror for Charlie to trim his moustache. Sue stepped back once they were settled and pulled a chair next to me as father and daughter worked. Her gaze darted around the room and I realized it hadn't been nearly long enough since she was last in a hospital.

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Jake POV

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Seth and I stood outside the door, far enough so we could talk but still hear the snips of scissors and our parents' conversation.

"Everyone's okay, just a little tired from…well, everything." Seth reported. "Leah still swears to the one month limit, and it's gotten so that no one wants to patrol with her. I'm the only one who does now."

"I'll go with her when we get back if you need a break. When I'm gone, you'll have to stay with Bella."

Seth looked relieved for a moment, then tensed up. "At…her house? In Forks?"

"Hell, no. There's no damn way she can be away from La Push- not until this is over. I'm not turning her into bait." I felt the wolf inside bare his fangs again. I needed to phase as soon as we got back. "Any word from the Cullens about timing? The little one seen anything new?"

"Sam got a call this morning. Whitlock said that sometime last night she started having new visions. Something about having mud up to her ankles and being annoyed that her boots were ruined, but her hair was dry."

I cut him off. "I don't really care about the fashion report. Skip to the end?"

"But it matters- think about it. She said they've been staying in the nearby towns and never going out- they didn't want to risk tipping the nomads off that they're here, see? If she had mud on her boots, she was outside in the forest…"

I blinked. "And if her hair was dry," I continued, "then it wasn't raining." We looked at each other, having the same thought run through our heads because a split second later we were running down the hall for the nearest lounge with a TV.

…

So get those umbrellas ready, folks, because we've got a wild spring storm on the way. The rains will start to filter in Saturday with the heaviest bands hitting the peninsula Saturday night through Sunday and on into Monday morning. We can expect a break in the action sometime Monday afternoon, but keep those raincoats handy, because another batch might try to piggyback behind it if the system doesn't get bumped further South by a cold front that may bring us a late frost on Tuesday. Stay tuned for my forecast on the Seattle metro area, coming up next.

…

The channel flipped back to the Law and Order marathon as soon as the weather cut to commercial. "There. You boys happy now?" The grumpy old man said. "Jesus. I missed the interrogation."

"Sorry." I mumbled.

"Yeah, get going."

Seth and I left the janitor's office and closed the door behind us. We were both twitchy, but the nervous energy had direction and focus, something we'd never felt before.

"Monday." He said as he stared at the wall ahead of us.

"Monday." I replied. "We gotta tell my dad. Let's go."

…

After we got our parents to come to the empty waiting room with us, Seth and I told them what we thought we'd figured out. Sue held her hand over her mouth and looked anywhere but at Seth while my father frowned down at his folded hands.

Seth sat down next to Sue and I wheeled my dad away so we could talk and give them a chance, too.

"You know, son, it was easier to think about these things when we didn't know what day it might happen." He grumbled as we headed to the vending machines.

"Would you prefer it if I didn't tell you? We could have just gone today like we planned and let you know when it was over."

"If you could tell me when it was over, you mean."

I didn't really have a way to answer that.

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Bella POV

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Charlie and I sat quietly after I put his shaving kit away. Sue and Billy were still out and I guessed they were talking about the trip back, as we had. My dad emphasized the importance of making sure this didn't delay my graduation more than it had to.

Frankly, I didn't really care a whole lot anymore and said as much. For some reason, knowing details about the immune system and nineteenth century literature didn't seem to matter as much as how the next dressing change went. Charlie scolded me but I think he admitted, at least for the short term, that maybe I had better things to worry about.

"Bells, there are some things that will need to be done at the house, uh, modifications and stuff. The doctor and the PT guy gave me a list of things we'd need, so take the credit card and just get the basics for now, okay? Jake will help you, he's good at that sort of thing."

"Um, okay." I moped. Leaving him here made me feel like I was abandoning him; at the same time, there were dangers back home that I needed to face. As my dad spoke, I mechanically noted his instructions to check the air filter on the heater, make sure his deputy had gotten the cruiser back to the station, and call ahead so Drew could check the house over before we went there.

The notebook I had on my backpack was filling up with reminders of things to do. Dad and I went over the lists for the house, my school, and some insurance stuff, but I didn't show him the list in the back. That one was for Jake and me. We had things to keep track of, too.

I wanted to talk to Carlisle before we left, and I kept a yellow sticky note to remind me to ask Jake about that.

A tray with a light lunch was delivered. I didn't want to go to the cafeteria by myself, and Jake wasn't back yet anyway, so I ate a granola bar from my stash and watched my dad plow through.

"One more thing, Bells. I know John and Andy told you about…my accident. I don't want you to hold it against your mom. She didn't know what I was doing, and it was my decision. I…wasn't myself for a while, and I did some things that probably weren't very smart."

I bit down hard on my tongue, just letting him talk, but he kept eye contact with me. I'd never noticed just how much my father could say without any words.

"Don't let it affect your relationship with her. Maybe not now, but soon, I want you to call her."

I gasped. "Oh my god, Dad. Does she know?"

He sighed. "Yes. Billy called her yesterday; had to talk her out of rushing up since there isn't anything she can do right now, but in a few weeks, maybe she can come up and give you a hand." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Just make sure she doesn't convert a room for a hobby, okay?"

"How come she didn't call me?"

Charlie shrugged a shoulder. "For one, she's been traveling with Phil again, and two, she said she'd wait for you to call. She said she figured you had enough on your plate without making it more complicated."

I had to admit, it was probably the most thoughtful thing she'd ever done.

The room fell silent. Dad stacked some folders we'd been given and shuffled them into an even pile. I flipped the heavy zipper on the shaving kit back and forth.

My dad swiped at his eyes. "C'mere, Bells." I tossed his shaving kit onto the chair behind me and barely missed knocking his lunch off the rolling table as I leaned in for a hug. It was only when I heard the familiar swish-glide of Billy's wheelchair that I pulled back from my dad's embrace. We generally weren't the most affectionate pair, but the last few days made me need solid reassurance that he was there. Maybe he needed the same thing from me.

"Hey guys. Where's Sue?" Charlie asked.

"She went with Seth back to the hotel. She'll be back a bit later after the kids leave. Wants to see them off." Billy replied.

Dad chewed the inside of his cheek. "How long before you think you might be able to go? I'd prefer it if you kids weren't driving after dark." He refilled his cup of water. "Jake?"

Jake had worked his way into the room with us, and was standing behind me. "What's up?"

"You think you can give Bells a hand at a hardware store? There's a list of things –for the house- and if you can give her a hand with the biggies…you know. I'd really appreciate it."

"No sweat, Chief." Billy waved Jake over to the door to talk, and my dad grew quiet, frowning down at his hands.

"Here's where I kick you out for your own good, kiddo. Sue and Billy will stay here, so I'll be fine." I sniffled as I nodded at him. "You've got all the phone numbers you need, and don't you dare hesitate to call them. And make sure to rest, Bells. Honestly, you look terrible."

I leaned away and pulled my admittedly ratty hair back. "Thanks. You've looked better, too."

He grinned and an affectionately knuckled my chin. "At least you still have a sense of humor. Now get out of here."

I stepped back and gathered my backpack, stuffing the notebooks and folders in there. As soon as the bag was on my shoulders, I moved the tray table back into place.

"Be careful, Bells." My dad said seriously. "I want to hear from you as soon as you get back."

"I'll call. I promise."

.

Billy had to tug on my arm to get my feet moving. Leaving the room was one of the hardest things I'd ever done, but I thought about everything waiting for me back home and realized that I was more helpful by not hovering over Charlie anymore and putting our lives back in order.

*"You two go over everything, Bella?" Billy asked as we approached the doors of the hospital.

I just nodded, not wanting to trust my voice at the moment.

"Good." Billy got right to the point, sounding like a commander briefing his troops. "Don't dawdle at the hotel. Get your things and go, you can fill Paul in as you pack. Call Sam from there as well, but make it quick. Your risk of exposure increases as you get closer to home, so stop at a Home Depot before you leave Seattle and get everything Charlie needs at one time. Stick together. Take the Kingston ferry. Jake, you'll drive, but don't be too proud to have someone take over if you get tired. "

Jake's jaw clenched. "Will do."

The three of us stopped near the sliding doors, under a sign spelling "Exit" in glaring red letters. It really was goodbye now. Jake hunkered down to one knee next to his dad. I couldn't help but notice that Jake looked…harder than I remembered.

"Son, do what you have to do, but let them bear the brunt. They brought it to us, and it's your life that's been disrupted, not theirs."

"I couldn't agree more." Our heads whipped around at the sound of the melodic voice. Jake stood up as Carlisle approached.

"Dr. Cullen." Jake said.

"Mr. Black. Mr. Black." Carlisle greeted, bowing slightly to each before facing me. "Isabella."

"Hi Carlisle. Um, we're leaving today." I was unsure of what to say. We'd been in the same hospital for days and I'd never seen him, so I just blurted it out. "Are you mad at me?"

He recoiled slightly as if I'd struck him. "Heavens, no. Why would you ask that?"

"You never came to see me." The blunt words fell out of me. Days of sleeping in a chair and watching nurses prod at bandages had taken a portion of my reserve. "My dad and I have been here for days, and you didn't visit me. Is it…is it because I didn't want to talk to Edward and Alice?"

The pained expression deepened and creases shadowed his marble features. He looked like a tortured seraph. "I'm afraid I feared offending your father. I did not intend to offend you, as well. I thought you would prefer not to be bothered while you were here." He stepped nearer and took one of my hands lightly in his. "Forgive me for my misinterpretation."

I forced my lips into a smile. "Times like these are hard, Carlisle. I'm sure you meant well."

He lifted the hand that held the top of mine and looked down at the small Band-Aid I still wore. "May I offer my…reconciliation, then?" He brushed his thumb over the nearly healed cut there and Jake let out a very low rumble.

"Jake, it's okay. I think I know what he has in mind."

He quieted. "Fine. But I'm there the whole time, and you need to be quick, Doc. Charlie wants us back before dark."

.

I pressed on the gauze in the crook of my arm. It had to be the best stick I'd ever had. I gave Carlisle and Billy a small wave as we walked out of the hospital and onto the street. Billy didn't want to leave Charlie alone for long, so he politely refused to see us off from the hotel. I suspect it had as much to do with not wanting to say goodbye to Jake any more.

Jake's arms were empty on the walk to the hotel a couple of blocks away. He strode calmly by my side, but looked as though he needed distraction, so I took his hand and pulled him to a stop.

"Are you okay?" I asked as he squinted his eyes closed and leaned against a sign.

"I'm fine. I just…need to get back. Soon." He smoothed the fresh bandage on my hand and pulled me into a hug. "Let's get back to the hotel. I can say more when we're in the room, okay?"

We hustled the rest of the way and in minutes we were shoving a key card into the slot on the door. The door clicked and we opened it to see Sue and Seth sitting together on the small sofa. Paul, however, was surrounded by plates piled up on the table.

"What?" He said defensively. "I've never had room service before."

"Can it, Paul," Jake muttered. "I need to talk to you and Bella. Seth, pull up a chair." I dropped my bag on the floor next to me and sat on a chair at the table. I had to nudge a stack of plates out of my way. Paul pushed a last bite of something into his mouth and leaned forward, his face intense.

Jake perched on the arm of the sofa as Sue stayed at the other end, listening but not joining us. "Seth told me about what the fortune teller said-"

"Alice. Her name is Alice." I interjected.

"What Alice said, you know, about the ground being wet. We think we may have figured out what day they're coming. Bella, does your cell have a speakerphone thing?"

I dug the phone out of my bag and handed it over. "Yes, why?"

"We need to call Sam. I only want to have to explain this once more."

.

Jake POV

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Bella went white and Sam was silent as Seth and I explained what we'd seen on the weather report. The quiet continued for a few seconds after we finished. Sam finally made a low whistle that crackled a bit over the speaker.

"So, you guys think we have a date." He said flatly. "Did you tell Billy and Sue yet?"

"Yep. When we left, he and Doc Cullen were standing together at the hospital. I'm pretty damn sure it came up after we left."

"Good. Sue's car ready to go?"

Paul piped up. "I topped off the tank after she left to see Charlie this morning. Everything else looked fine."

"Then tell me why you're still on the phone with me and not driving back. Pack your shit, Jake. I want you guys back as soon as fucking possible."

I cracked a half smile. "On our way." I reached out to hang up the phone.

"Hey," Sam said, "everyone, be careful. Stay sharp, keep the windows down and your noses out. No surprises on the way back, hear me?"

"Yes, Sam." I tapped the button and hung up Bella's phone. Her hand shook as she took it from me, and I pulled her behind me to the bedroom and closed the door.

"Oh God. They're really waiting for me, aren't they?"

"Yeah. But hey, we know the day. We can be ready and with the Cullens, we'll outnumber them and maybe even surprise them. Maybe even choose where we fight them."

She rolled her eyes, a few tears dropping with the movement. "Only you could see the bright side."

I wrapped my arms around her and, for the first time in days, let myself remember her as more than just my best friend. The deep breath I hauled into my lungs was full of her. "That's my job, right? We just need to stay focused. You let us worry about them, and you worry about Charlie, okay?"

We sat on the bed, snuggling as if the clock wasn't working against us like it was. She ducked her head and planted a kiss on my neck as I rubbed my nose over her hair. She'd left behind the over-perfumed shampoos and soaps, and just used the hotel's. She smelled right, like soap and Bella and, if I was being honest with myself, a little like me.

I had to let that thought go as soon as it popped into my head. I liked the idea too much to get us out of here fast.

We stood up and hauled our half-unpacked bags onto the bed and got to work. I'd never travelled much, and had to keep walking through the room to find everything. Bella's years of experience with moving made her an efficient packer, and she had her bag ready and was grabbing up the shampoo and soap from the bathroom before I even had my dirty socks packed.

When we tossed our stuff into the living room, Paul already had the rest of the coffee and creamer packets stashed in the backpack he brought and was making to head into the bathroom in our suite.

"Sorry, dude. She already cleaned it out, but you can check the other one. Just leave one of everything."

Sue walked with us to the parking garage and did her best not to tear up. I couldn't watch as she said goodbye to Seth, and even Paul had the decency to pretend to be busy loading the bags into the trunk. She was red-eyed when she handed me the keys.

"I don't give a damn about that car. If you have to floor it, you floor it, just get back safe." She hugged Bella and then gave Paul and me silent hugs. She embraced Seth once more and smoothed his short hair. "I'll see you in a few days, honey." She said firmly. "Make sure your sister gets some sleep and if you get hungry, there's some stuff in the freezer. No parties at the house." She kissed his cheek and straightened her jacket. "Love you. Call us when you get back."

She turned and walked away very stiffly, not looking over her shoulder even when the parking garage elevator doors took a long time to open.

…

The drive from Seattle to La Push never seemed longer. The quick stop at the hardware store just made us antsy, no matter how necessary it was, and I sped the car as quick as I dared to get to the ferry. We listened to the car radio, and got confirmation about the approaching weather. I glanced back at Seth and Paul in the rear view mirror and saw their intense eyes staring back at me. They were the same eyes I'd seen in their wolf faces. Traffic was light, so we boarded the ferry quickly and were on the water in less than half an hour.

Highway 101 is twisty and narrow, but I'd driven it a million times and took every curve at speed. Silently I promised Sue some work on her car after this trip. For once, Bella didn't tell me to slow down, she just leaned back on the headrest and closed her eyes, though I noticed that her hands were tightly clasped; plainly she felt the same sense of urgency the rest of us did.

I could feel the knots in my back relax a little as the trees began to look familiar and the air took on a faint tang of ocean. I passed right through Forks and sped to La Push as fast as I dared. The crunching gravel of my driveway under the tires was the best sound I'd heard in a week. The engine gave out a relieved rattle as I shut it off and pulled out the key.

"Seth, Paul, give us a hand with the bags. I need to help Bella in and let our folks know we're here." Bella almost fell out of the car, exhausted. The light was getting weaker and we needed to call her dad before she crashed. I unlocked the door and flicked on the lights, guiding her in and sitting her at the table with her phone.

Paul and Seth dropped the bags in the living room. As Bella dialed her phone I leaned over her from behind, holding her shoulders. "Bells, I'm going to be right outside. If you need me, just yell and I'll hear you." The phone rang and she patted my hand, nodding.

Paul and Seth filed out first and I followed them to the closest group of trees. Just the sight of them made me pick up the pace, needing to strip out of my clothes and get to the cover of the woods as fast as I could. I ran ahead of them, tossing my clothes behind me and bursting into my wolf form as soon as I broke the tree line. The phase hit me hard, and the sensation of my bones shifting under my skin made me cringe for the first time since the second or third day after it all happened.

When the shudders went away, Seth and Paul joined me. Within seconds, I knew something was different. The training sessions I'd missed were all there, and I could see how it had happened.

They knew so much more now, but the training from the Cullens' second, Whitlock, was the least of it. We inherited spirits from our ancestors, and they had fought vampires as we would. The training had unlocked the memories of our spirit ancestors and we knew how to take them down, had always known, and we'd only needed to be reminded. Maybe we'd be on an even footing with what we were fighting.

No, there was no maybe about it. Not when Paul showed me more. Leah's speed, Jared's brains, Embry's intuition, Sam's power, Seth's persistence, Quil's versatility, and his own aggression were a powerhouse of forces when they were put together.

You guys learned all this? I panted in amazement.

Oh yeah. We're the shit. They just sparkle.

Hey, man. Seth interrupted. They're crazy fast and they can go one on one. We…aren't good at that, but if we team up, none of them can beat us. Edward can hear us, but he has trouble following it all. It's like one mind but with echoes, he says, and not even he can keep track when two or three of us are on him.

I couldn't help smiling a little at the idea of my pack mates piling it on Eddie. We agreed it might be something to remember someday, but for now, the same-team clause applied.

More flashes of the training sessions, with a run-down on the strengths/characteristics/traits of our allies. Through it all, Whitlock stood out. Aggressive and focused, he marshaled the Cullens and acted like an advisor to the pack. Either way, he was clearly doing something he knew and understood very well.

Paul grinned, his sharp teeth glistening. You ask me, I'd say he was enjoying himself. For a party favor, the guy sure can fight. His mental tone was of grudging respect.

Seth rolled his eyes andstarted changing the subject. Don't we have someone to talk to?

Okay. Let's call Sam. I started back towards the house. Maybe Bella's off the phone by now.

Where the hell are you going? Paul sniped, and leaned his head back. He let out a loud, piercing howl. Seth joined him. I leaned my head back with pride and joined in, our three calls bouncing through the trees and into the darkening night. The sound was incredible. We'd never sounded so strong and confident. There was the brush of more minds in my head and the next thing I knew, I was being bowled off my paws by Quil and Embry, chuffing and barking in welcome.

…

My clothes were scattered and damp when I came out of the trees. I was tired already from the series of long, anxious days, but as I walked back to the house, picking up my things as I went, I felt aches from not having phased in a while and the echoes of the pack's bruises from training sessions.

Sam had been sharp with me, but relieved that I was back.

Do what you have to do tomorrow, but we need to think strategy with the Cullens. We have to decide where we want to fight and how to make that happen. Be ready to work this weekend.

His words stayed with me as I walked up the ramp to the door, stepping into my shorts as I went. If the Cullens were willing to be partners in a treaty, then they would have to be willing to take some risks, too. The Doc and his second had made it pretty clear that they were ready to fight. How to best use that was another question. We had to make the enemy come to us, and give them no other options.

Bella's voice drifted through the door, bringing the world back into focus, and I listened for a moment to make sure everything was okay before I barged in.

"We're okay, Mom, we're just getting some things done here and we'll probably go back to Seattle on Monday if he's not transferred… Right, to the place in Aberdeen…"

I was glad she was talking to her Mom. I knew Renee meant a lot to Bella, even if they didn't seem to have much in common these days. Bella would probably need her help in the coming weeks, especially if…

The lump in my throat was thick. We were going to win, and I was going to walk away. So would everyone else. That was final.

The door gave its usual creak as it swung open and Bella looked up and smiled. It made the circles under her eyes look deeper. "Yeah, Mom. Great news about Phil's team… Of course, and good luck with the tin punching… Sure, I guess you can bring a panel when you come up." She rolled her eyes. "Okay, let me know when you book your flight. See you in a couple weeks. Love you, too."

She sighed when she ended the call. "I guess for once I'm happy that Renee has stuff keeping her from jumping up and playing Mom."

I eased into the seat next to her. "How do you mean?"

Bella frowned and rubbed her forehead like she was getting a headache. "Phil's team is traveling for another game and they're on their way there. At least she won't be here when… Monday." She sat back and dropped her hands onto the table. "You're sure?"

I took both her hands in mine, careful not to bump the fresh cut on her scarred hand. Dr. Cullen's sample had been small, but her wince when it was taken was enough to rip a growl out of me. "As sure as I can be."

She gave me the quick version of her call to Charlie, saying that he must have just had another dose of painkillers because he was pretty loopy when they talked.

"But he was okay, right?"

"Yeah," she said heavily. "I think he just needed to sleep again. Sue took the phone and said to remind Seth to call."

"No problem. He just had to run a patrol; probably home by now. Did my dad say anything?"

She smiled nervously. "He reminded me to call ahead to the school so they'd have the paperwork ready when we got there. He doesn't want us gone long."

We sat, letting the words sink in as we held each other's hands.

Bella faded fast after that, and nearly fell asleep in the chair with her head leaning on me. I lead her down the hall and while she was in the bathroom, I made sure that damn inflatable mattress wasn't too mushy.

I let myself feel tired for the first time in days. For the first time in days, I let myself feel tired. I hadn't had any spare time at the hospital to do more than take care of Bella and my dad, and wrap my head around the things the Doc and I had talked about. Now, I could feel my shoulders droop in spite of trying to bring back my sharp edge. When the door was locked and the house checked, I walked back to the bedroom. Bella dug around in our bags and pulled out the dirty clothes, smiling wearily at me as I went to take my turn in the bathroom.

That cheap mattress felt awesome and I sank facedown into my pillow. I must have fallen right to sleep, because I only barely registered when Bella slid in next to me, resting her forehead against my shoulder and laying her arm across my back. That bed may have sucked, but with her there, it was better than anything else I could imagine. My last thought was how happy I was that I had Friday off from Sam.

…

Friday morning brought overcast skies and the feeling that there were things to do. While Bella made breakfast I ran out to phase and checked in. The pack was going easy today, just close patrol, and Sam was on the horn with the Cullen's second. I was to call the Doc to confirm a meeting tomorrow where we would compare ideas on how to deal with Monday.

When I got back, Bella had already started working on her list. "Yes, Mrs. Cope. The transfer paperwork and my transcript ought to do it… Oh, really? Okay, I'll pick that up, too. See you soon, and thank you."

She plugged the phone in and handed me a fresh plate, pointing to the stove. I loaded my plate gratefully. "So, school stuff set-up?"

"Yep. And my teachers set aside work for me that I should be able to complete at the other school. The principal says that he'll even allow me to graduate with a diploma from Forks if I just complete the work and take the tests, no set deadline." She made herself a small plate and set it on the table. "You?"

"Gotta call Dr. Cullen. Make plans, and hopefully get this shit right the first time."

"Plans?" She asked around a mouthful.

We talked while we ate, and if you ignored what we were talking about, you might have thought we were having a completely normal morning over our scrambled eggs and toast. We finished and washed up, leaving the dishes in the rack to dry. Bella looked over her lists and I took an inventory of the stuff from the hardware store, still stashed in the trunk of Sue's car. Quil and Embry said they'd patrol around town while we were running our errands, so we would get a few things done at the house while we were out.

On the road into Forks, when we'd normally be chatting and laughing together, we were quiet. The whole morning felt weird to me, and Bella's stiff shoulders and white-knuckle grip on her backpack straps said she felt the same way. Her jaw clenched as we drove by her house, but she didn't say anything.

The school was quiet when we got there. It was around ten, so they were probably in their second class for the day, and we headed into the front office together.

"Miss Swan!" A friendly-looking red haired lady popped out from behind a filing cabinet. She gave me a sharp, searching look, then turned her attention to Bella, who was blushing as usual.

"Hi, Mrs. Cope. How are you?"

"Never mind me, young lady. How are you? And your father? The whole town heard on Monday and…" Her talk was like a solid wall as her pudgy hands sorted and assembled papers, and I tuned most of it out, staying by the doorway so Bella could take care of business. "…nice young man, Drew, told Diane at the diner that...figured you were too busy to call in to school… be in good hands with Dr. Gerandy…"

As Mrs. Cope paused for breath, Bella took the opportunity. "Actually, he can't come home yet. He's going to rehab first and I'll be spending a lot of my time with him to help. That's why I need the paperwork. Is it ready?"

The hairs over the secretary's ears poked out as she slipped on her reading glasses. "Let me see…"

We escaped soon afterwards only because Bella walked the fine line between being efficient and rude. I couldn't blame her; La Push could stifle you in gossip, but there weren't that many people, so you ran out of topics quick. Forks, on the other hand, was just big enough to have a never-ending stream of things to talk about and other people's tragedy greased the wheels like nothing else. We left and headed towards her house, stopping for some drive through on the way.

As soon as we got out of the car, I spotted movement in the trees. Quil poked his head out from the branches, then the rest of him followed, hands adjusting the drawstring of his shorts.

"Any action?"

"Naw. Embry ran the town patrol, I stayed close to the house. That Drew guy came by for a few minutes, but other than that nothing happened at all. You're good."

"Thanks. How is everyone?"

"Great! Can't wait for something to finally happen!" He sort of caught himself when he saw my frown and glance toward Bella. "Uh, what I meant was, we can finish this and do our job. You know, protect the peninsula and…stuff. Aww, hell."

"It's okay, I know what you meant. Look, we have stuff to do inside. Can you stick around a bit? I don't know how long we'll be."

"No sweat." Quil leaned over and pulled his shorts down halfway, then shaking his legs so they fell and flipped them up with his foot. "When you take off, I'll let Embry know. Oh, oops." Quil was gazing over my shoulder and I hardly needed to look to know what had happened. He ducked back into the branches and took off running before he even phased.

Bella's face was as red as I expected, so I didn't even bother to say anything as I opened up the trunk to get the tools. She carried the bag of bars and hardware, setting them down with a clank to unlock the door. I was going to tease Bella about Charlie keeping his house key under the eave when it occurred to me that these bad guys couldn't be stopped with a lock anyway.

I shut the door behind us and sniffed. Bella's nose wrinkled up. "Oh, no. I forgot about the garbage." I grabbed the bag and took it out, pulling the trash can up to the back porch, no doubt there'd be more to pitch when we tackled the fridge.

After the kitchen, we went upstairs to measure the bathroom for grab bars. I took notes on a few things we'd forgotten in the hurry-up trip through Home Depot, then showed Bells how to measure for the bars. She actually installed one on her own once I showed her how to brace her shoulders so the screws didn't jump when she drove them in with the drill.

For the first time in days, weeks even, it felt like time slowed down for us. Bella's hair had started in a neat ponytail, but over the two hours that we worked, even with the windows open, her neck began to sweat as we pushed furniture around the living room. The thin hairs that escaped went from neat and smooth to a crazy group of random curls around her face and under the hair tie. One, on the side of the back of her neck, coiled into a perfect spring. I stood behind her and let it wrap around my finger, smiling at the way it had a life of its own. Bella blotted the sheen of sweat off her forehead with a kitchen towel and smiled when she realized I wasn't just messing with her. Her hand drifted up to meet mine, resting on her shoulder.

We were facing a jumbled shelf of pictures, missing the one of us with our dads she left in Seattle, a mismatch of frames and time. The hand that wasn't holding mine drifted over the frames, touching them or straightening them aimlessly here and there. Her fingertips stopped at one, and she picked it up.

"Not much to look at, is she?" I said as we looked at a picture of my dad handing Charlie the keys to the old red truck. She squeezed my hand then wiped at a streak of dust.

"Maybe not. But it was yours and then you gave it to me. Even if it wasn't much, it was what you had, that made it a lot." There was a smile in her voice as she said, dreamily, "So different then."

Her voice changed, becoming flat and hopeless. "So different…before we knew the world was full of monsters and magic." Her shoulders slumped drearily.

Turning her to face me, I cupped her cheeks in my hands and wiped away the beginning of a tear with my thumb. As solemnly as I knew how I said, "Honey, I won't lie, I promised you I never would. I-I don't know exactly what's going to happen, and I'm still figuring out how to make it work, but I swear to you Bells, you're going to take care of Charlie, start school on time, and I'll be there sitting right next to you."

Bella stared at me, then reached a hand out slowly and ran her fingertips along my jaw. I felt the sensation in the pit of my stomach. She leaned toward me, standing on tiptoe to brush her lips against my cheek, then kissed me softly on the mouth. It didn't last very long, but that was probably a good thing. We had more work to do.

Bella was quiet on the way back to the car, and I whistled to Quil to let him know we were leaving. A quick yip came back, and we were escorted by a shadow in the woods all the way back to La Push. Quil peeled off once we got to the residential streets and Bella and I were alone. We hadn't even turned on the radio on the way back from Forks- all that was ever on the radio was the weather and reports of crime, both were reminders of things we seemed to silently agree had no place with us this evening.

Rain had begun to splatter on the windshield. It wasn't the big rain we were waiting for, but the familiar and constant mist we were accustomed to. The air cooled with it, and I hurried to unlock the door so she wouldn't get too cold.

.

Bella POV

.

Being the outsider for so long had made me view everything in a disconnected way, always seeing what was happening but never being a part of it. Part of me wished for the numbness and disinterest that came with that distance, yet if I was, that meant I would lose so much more than just the pain.

Now I was dead center. I snorted to myself as Jake unlocked the door- my choice of words was unfortunate, but apt. I might end up dead, or worse, Jake and the rest of the pack could be slaughtered. I saw Jake and some of them chase Laurent, but they were talking about lots more than just a straggler. I'd even heard them use the word 'army'.

And so it felt like a gulf had opened between us. The last few days had left us with no privacy, no chance to talk with each other openly. I felt reconnected to my dad, and it was wonderful to know that he and I were more alike than I thought, but in the process I'd lost some of the security I felt with Jake. We'd both had our own things to attend to, and we might only have a few days left.

We ordered pizza, exchanging small talk and smiles over our paper plates. We folded the first load of laundry together and got more going, then we went into the garage and I watched while he checked out a car that someone had dropped off with a note about the trouble it was having. Jake fiddled with something under the hood while I sipped a soda. I could almost pretend the clock wasn't ticking on us.

"Bells?" Jake said suddenly as he reached for a rag.

"Yeah?"

He wiped his hands. "I, uh, need to check in with everyone since we've been gone all day. Are you okay here for about half an hour? Um, there'll be a, uh, security detail outside. I'm not sure who."

"Sure, sure. I'll be fine. I'll take a look at what's in the fridge and figure out some menus. Maybe take a shower, too."

Jake smiled at me and tossed the rag aside. "I won't be long." He said softly as he held me in a gentle hug. His hugs had lost that bone-crusher edge, and turned more into him holding me like I was something important. Sometimes it felt like a full-body caress. I liked that he'd gotten past the idea that the tighter he held me the more it meant.

He kissed my forehead and then drew back and tilted his head like he was listening to something. A moment later I heard a faint howl in the distance.

"Go, Jake. I'll be fine. See you in a bit."

After a quick kiss, he leapt into action and ran out of the garage. He disappeared around the side of the house, a trail of clothing marking the path he entered the trees by. I went back into the house and opened the pantry, taking note of what we had before moving on to the refrigerator and freezer.

After I had a couple meals planned out in my mind, I grabbed my bags and dug for my shower caddy. The scented shampoo I'd always used smelled like plastic to me now, so I passed on it in favor of the plain stuff Jake kept. He'd had long hair, so whatever he had was likely to be good enough for mine, too. The hotel soap reminded me of being there, so I passed on it for the plain white bars already in the shower. They smelled clean and good. Like Jacob.

When the water had warmed, I stepped into the shower and scrubbed myself pink with the threadbare cloth. It was the longest shower I'd had in days, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The steam was thick, and it filled the small bathroom in minutes. Water flowed over me to places where only he had been, and I leaned against the wall as I felt myself beginning to respond to the warmth and images that kept passing behind my eyelids. Which were beginning to burn. I'd gotten soap in them. I cursed myself as I rinsed my eyes in the ragged streams of water. Evidently, I couldn't even fantasize without screwing it up. The towel bar was just outside the shower, and I reached out to grab one to help clear my bleary vision.

No towel. I'd washed them all this morning, and folded them with Jake this afternoon. Squinting and fumbling through the fog, I tried to see if there were any in the bathroom, but no luck. The burning was getting better, but I still swore loudly in frustration at my absentmindedness.

"Bells? You okay in there?" Jacob's voice, barely muffled through the thin door, was startling and reassuring at the same time.

"Jake, thank god. Can you bring me a towel from the living room? I forgot to get one."

"One sec."

I sighed in relief and shut off the water, waiting behind the shower curtain for Jake to come back with a towel. The door opened a moment later.

"Here we go, brought you one for your hair, too. Um, I'll just hang them on the bar, okay?" From around the edge of the curtain, I could see Jake's hands settling a towel onto the bar. As he smoothed the second over it, I moved without thinking, setting my hand on top of his.

Time slowed. Droplets of water rolled down my arm and over Jake's hand; my eyes were fixed on the sight of my pale hand against his darker one as the ripples streaked across our skins and onto the towel. It was our first not-just-friends touch in a while, in too long. The open door allowed the cool evening air in, seeping around and into the shower with me. The draft didn't chill me though.

"Jake?" I moved my hand so my fingers slid in between his. The shadowy outline on the other side of the curtain wasn't moving, but his fingers gently spread so I could nestle mine more deeply. "Jake, I've missed you. I hate feeling disconnected from you, and the idea that something is going to try to hurt you. I…don't know how to say it better, but, I just…missed you. Us." The flimsy barrier of the shower curtain somehow made it easier to say things so close to my heart.

The shadow moved, but was too vague to judge what he was doing. He loosened his fingers and slid away, but before I could feel rejection, the edge of a towel came into view and nudged the curtain a couple inches aside and stopped. I pushed the wet plastic out of the way and was greeted by Jake's eyes, pink at the lids, and the towel held up for me to step into.

"God, Bells. I've missed you too. I was afraid to bother you. We had so much happening, I wasn't sure it was right anymore to…you know." He wrapped the towel around me and held me in a hug, lifting me up and setting me on the counter.

He stilled suddenly, staring into the space behind me, his eyes intense but somehow unfocused.

"Bells?" Jake said softly, his hands paused on my knees, exerting no pressure.

Grabbing his cut-offs, I tugged him to stand between my legs. A low growl rumbled in his chest. He moved his hands up my thighs and pulled, sliding the towel and me forward a few inches. The fabric of his cut-off sweatpants felt soft against the insides of my thighs and I braced my heels against the cabinet to open myself to him. The growl grew louder.

I felt warm all over despite the cool air rushing into the room. Every inch of me felt touched by his hands, their heat leaving a lingering trail over my body. Our mouths touched again, and Jake stayed motionless but for the slide of our lips and tongues. I wanted to pull him closer, as if half of our bodies weren't touching already, and I slid my hands into his hair, letting the short strands spring up between my fingers.

I reclined onto the mirror, letting the towel drop away. Jake took the unspoken invitation to go lower, running his tongue down my chest and farther until he dropped to his knees and huffed a breath out, his face hovering between my legs.

Looking down at his heavy-lidded eyes, I saw the passion and life I knew I needed. I sighed as Jake ran his lips lightly over my thigh and kissed my knee. He shrugged down and set one of my legs on his shoulder. As the towel opened and fell away, I began to tremble, grasping at the edge of the counter for something to hold.

He leaned forward, lifting my other leg over an elbow, and skimmed me with his mouth. It wasn't even a kiss, just a touch, but I could only lean my head back and feel the pounding need grow stronger where he'd brushed against me. Jake exhaled and gripped my thighs.

.

Jake POV

.

When I set Bella on the counter, I meant to be able to look her in the eyes and kiss her. It turned out to be a mistake because now, in the mirror behind her, I could see drops of water run down the curve of her naked back and the swell of her hips.

"Bells?" I said softly. She was staring at me, breathing hard and still clutching the towel at her chest. I looked down, waiting for her to respond. There was no way she was confused about what was on my mind from where we were and what we were doing. Bella's eyes drifted down, and I felt the wave of heat that came off her when she pulled on my splattered shorts. She leaned back, splashing her hair onto the mirror.

My gaze slowly moved up from her gorgeous spread legs, the towel rucked up over them, to her chest, flushed from the heat of her shower—or was that it?—to her parted lips and wide, misty eyes. I caught a glimpse of my own face in the mirror the wolf was close to the surface and I saw him flash in my eyes, for just a moment. The smell of Bella cut through the soap and water, amplified now, and it got into my nose, my brain… my soul.

My thoughts went on hold as my tongue made a trail down her throat, between her breasts and along her stomach, I just followed it. When her back arched up, I buried myself in the heat between her legs, holding my mouth to her and sucking at the slick skin while I bore her weight on my arms.

"Fuck, Bells. I can feel your heartbeat in my mouth." There was only one thing better than the moan she answered me with, and that was her being as alive as I was, here with me. We'd been surrounded by sickness and tragedy for days. Now it was like we were staring down the barrel of a loaded gun- a coming threat that had a name and an expected arrival date. I was desperate to spend every available minute we had left making it count with her.

Bella arched up higher as I stroked her with my tongue. Her hands gripped my hair, the counter, and the mirror behind her in turn.

"Oh God, Jake…" She flexed her legs and pushed herself against my face again.

My head spun, but I forced myself to focus. "Honey, this isn't safe. I'm afraid you're gonna fall and hit your head. That would really trash my plans for this weekend."

She gasped, pulling up the towel and looked around. "Oh. What do I do?"

I kissed her one more time and sat back on my heels, trying to make my brain work enough to come up with an alternative. It was kind of difficult when almost all my blood flow had redirected straight to my dick. "Just hang on."

I gently peeled her legs from over my shoulders and stood halfway up. While I was stooped, I braced her legs around my hips and she held on to me, burying her face in my neck. Standing, I wrapped an arm around her and walked into the hallway.

"Mmmmm," she hummed, and started nipping at my chest. Zings of electricity shot through to my fingertips. I had to press her against the hallway wall outside the bathroom to keep from dropping her. Somehow, Paul's recollections of moments like these were way smoother.

"Jake!" Bella pressed her back against the wall and ground into me, hugging me closer with an arm. Her tongue slid out and wetted her bottom lip, and her damp hair stuck to her bare shoulders and…

Fuck smooth.

I pushed harder against her, driving her into the patched drywall. Her mouth was on my neck again, sucking on my skin and licking. I drew back and looked at her red lips and the deep pink that had started on her face in the bathroom. Now it was on her neck and spreading over her chest.

The only thing I knew for certain was that Bella was here, with me, wrapped around me, and we both wanted it. That was enough to turn me into a lit fuse.

My right arm was still holding her to me, the left clutching the doorframe to my room. Her mouth was so soft, the skin on her back so smooth. She pushed against my arm again, stretching to reach me better. I squeezed her and pulled her up.

She didn't gasp this time when I started on her chest; I didn't think she was able to draw the breath, but she did shove her hands into my hair and pull. The tiny bit of pain was enough to make me bite just a little.

God, the throaty sounds she made. It wasn't enough for me, though. I had to lay her down. I needed to see her, to lie against her full-length and feel all of her, heart, soul, spirit and love, alive and pulsing. The wolf growled at the thought; we would make certain that never changed.

Bella let out a surprised "God!" when I pulled her away from the wall. The nearest room was mine, with the narrow bed, but at least it wasn't inflatable. That fucking inflatable mattress might just launch us.

Her hair spread out on my pillow. The growl got louder.

"Jake? Are you okay?" Bella started to sit up, worry breaking through the arousal on her face.

To answer her, I knelt down in front of her and crawled the few feet until I crowded her. She leaned back on the pillow. I kissed her shoulders, then her neck, and finally her mouth. Bella's lips started tight, so I drew the lower one between my teeth. She sighed and flicked my upper lip with her tongue; the feeling shot straight down to my groin.

Balancing my weight on my forearms, I moved down and rested my chin lightly between her breasts. "Bells… Just because we've done this before doesn't mean that we … doesn't mean anything." I brushed the soft swell next to my cheek with my palm. "Do you still want me?

Her brown eyes shone at me in the soft dusk light of my room. She smiled; the reassurance I read on her face made my chest hurt in the best way. "Of course, Jake," she whispered. "I always want you." With that, she lifted her knees to cradle me, squeezing slightly.

It was like she was blooming; her body started throwing off the kind of warmth you feel when you get that first ray of sun after days of rain. We hadn't been together since that thing came out of her arm, and I had to wonder if this was what she was supposed to be like.

While her arms tugged at me, trying to get me to kiss her again, I smiled and scooted down. I dragged my chin over her belly and when I did that, I could feel her heat against my chest. It was scorching, not so much from temperature, but because the fragrance of her had started to burrow into my brain. Once again, I lowered myself between her thighs, this time knowing how to work her.

Best of all, we had time…not forever, but between tonight and whatever time we could steal over the weekend, we could make up for the days of awkward conversations and tension at the hospital.

I smoothed my lips across her hip, letting them drag on her skin. It was still moist from the shower and smelled like soap and Bella's natural scent. Ever since our first time at the beach, that fragrance had been stuck in my nose, woven into that shirt, and the only perfume I ever wanted her to wear again. As I inched to the side, her fingers dug into my scalp again, gently this time, just the slightest pressure to let me know I was heading in the right direction.

My destination was waiting, and the closer I got, the further Bella's legs moved apart to make room for me. I couldn't help the rumble of approval that came out of my throat. She responded by lifting one knee higher, spreading herself wide. I braced her leg on my arm and flattened my tongue where she throbbed for me. Her sigh sounded like someone taking a cool drink after a long run.

It was so much more than last time, she was more real somehow. I slipped my hands underneath her rear and ran them up her back and down her sides as I sucked and flicked at her.

I was ready to really get to work when her hands on my head nudged me away.

"Are you okay, Bells?" The lazy smile she had on her face confused me; it said she felt fine.

"Come here, Jake."

"Are you sure? I thought you'd want-"

"Stop thinking."

I would have liked to make her come, but she pulled me up and barely gave me a chance to wipe my face on a t-shirt before she kissed me. A tremble ran beneath my skin as she stroked my lips with her tongue and pushed my shorts down as far as she could reach. After I tossed them to the floor, I tried to hold my body up and not drop my weight on her, but she kept pulling on me to bring me down to her.

The difference in our heights wasn't as big a problem as I expected. I moaned the moment our bodies aligned. Her knees were still bent up and as we kissed, my tip jumped and slid against the soft skin of her belly.

"Damn, Bells." I panted into her neck. "I-I can't wait too long."

"Then don't." Her arm slinked out to the drawer, opened it, and pulled a strip from the open box.

A pang of guilt shot through me at her words. I was being pushy. "We have time, Bella. We don't have to rush. Sorry."

With a little smile, she snapped off a condom from the strip. "You're right." The smile widened and grew mischievous. "We might do this all night."

.

Bella POV

.

I had no idea where my confidence was coming from. Maybe I was just tired of watching life from the edge, or the days of new responsibility and taking charge, or maybe it was like those people who do crazy things when they get snowed in or stuck in sandstorms. Whatever it was, it had me saying things to Jake that I never thought I could.

His eyes popped wide for a moment and I tore the packet open right in front of him. I reached down and very gently ran my hand over his lower abdomen. The sleek muscles bunched and tensed under my fingers, then went perfectly still. I cupped him gently, stroking his full length and watching the little tremors in his shoulders. He balanced his weight on his knees and one arm, using his free hand to guide me as I rolled the condom on , then I lay back onto the pillow. His bed smelled like the woods and rain and the ocean. Jake leaned over me, and rested some of his weight back onto me.

It was a delicious feeling, and it set of a fresh wave of heat over my skin and a tingling jump in my tummy. I hadn't spread my legs around him yet, and he seemed to be in no hurry, but I slid one leg out and rubbed his side with my thigh. His eyes rolled back in his head when he felt the pressure change; I couldn't suppress a smirk of satisfaction with my new power over him.

Jake pressed his hips forward, and I felt the head push against me. This time I wasn't nervous—I was just sick of waiting. I stroked my hand over his cheekbone and down, turning his face so I could taste his lips. Jake's dark eyes met mine and I raised my legs up, feeling his powerful flanks with the length of my inner thighs. "Come on, Jake. I want you. I want you. Please."

The press was gentle and came with only the slightest fading sting. Jake's breath was hot against my shoulder where he'd turned his head. Glancing over, I saw his eyes clench shut while he murmured words I didn't understand under his breath.

"Can't." He shook his head jerkily. "Want you to finish too."

Jake drew back a little, his face taut with concentration. His hands moved underneath me to grip my bottom and he said, "Lock your legs along mine." Almost before I could comply, he heaved and shifted, rolling onto his back, carrying me with him. My elbow banged against the wall, but even that couldn't compete with the intense awareness and the way we held onto each other. He steadied me when I lurched forward for balance, his breath coming in spurts and a shock wave travelled from where we were joined clear down to my toes. The feeling took me over, moving me against him to make it happen again.

"Bella?" He whispered between breaths.

"Hmmm?"

"You have to" -pant- "stop me if" – pant - "it isn't good."

"It's…good. Very good." To prove it, I slid forward again. And again. It was what we had mimed on the beach, and now I understood the rhythm his hands had pushed then. The cords and veins in his neck stood out as I moved, and he flexed under me as he growled my name.

"Um, sit up for me?" I pushed myself upright. He caught me around the waist and held me still as I slid down further on his shaft. He reached up and caressed me, tracing around my breasts and nipples, down my ribcage, then around the arm that had hurt me for so long. The ache was gone, the cold was gone, and all that remained was the warm buzz Jake's touch sent through my entire form.

A sort of buildup began, starting deep and radiating out to warm my face; a flush surged through my veins but I wasn't sure how to chase it down. I continued to grind myself against him, and just as I was about to lose my concentration, I felt Jacob's hands tighten on my hips. He pulled and pushed, encouraging me to follow his lead. When I did, the white-hot rush made me buckle, and I grabbed the headboard, bracing against it.

"Oh, fuck, Bells!" Jacob slammed his head back into the pillow and increased the pace. I felt the coils in my belly tighten and I looked down into his dark, passionate eyes. He glanced down for a split second and lunged at me, sucking my breast into his mouth as we thrust our bodies together. The shocking sensations raced through me, the fullness, motion, and heat, colliding somewhere deep inside and releasing a wave of pleasure that knocked the breath from me.

My entire body clamped down on him and I held the headboard so hard the engraving cut into my hands. As I gasped and held myself up, Jake thrust his body up into mine, lifting from the mattress. Beads of sweat gleamed on his chest and shoulders as he dug his fingers into my skin. Deep within, I could feel a pulsing movement as he twitched, holding me tightly as if I'd float away.

Minutes later, as I lay on him, still panting and drifting in my own skin, I couldn't help wonder if he might have been worried for good reason. My head felt light and the cool air tickled my skin rather than chilling it. I was firmly grounded in my body, even as my mind seemed disconnected.

"Hey." Jake softly murmured.

"Hey, back." I managed, and lifted my face from his chest for a tender kiss.

He stepped away for a moment later, I can't be sure how much later, and when he came back he brought glasses of water. When I returned after a quick break, I found the air mattress wedged in the room, taking literally every inch of space available on the floor. Jake had on a pair of boxers and smiled when he saw my tank top and shorts, pulling back the blankets for me.

I have no idea what time it was, because it didn't really matter, but we slept so well that neither of us was surprised that we woke up during the night wound around each other. We just smiled and fell back to sleep.

There you have it. So, some 'old buddies', a little trou drop from Quil, a bit of plot, and a healthy squeeze of lemon. All in all a decent update.

Again, thank you very much for reading. I'll be writing!

-sfiddy