Warnings: Hmmmmmm..? Nothing, actually, that I can think of.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight (if you didn't get that from the other 28 times I've said this). It belongs to Stephanie Meyer!

Chapter 29: Who's Surprised?

Jacob's POV:

The itch to Shift had been plaguing him for two days, and even though Carlisle had assured him that his body would be able to handle the transformation without harming the baby after three days, he wasn't willing to take that risk. Problem was, it seemed his body was disagreeing with him. It seemed adamant that today would be the day he had to change, but Jacob was just as adamant today wouldn't be the day.

Frustrated, Jacob sat down on the couch in the Cullen's living room. It had been decided that he would stay at the Cullen's because it'd be easier for Carlisle to keep an eye on him. Yet, he wasn't quite so soothed by being in the same home with so many Vampires. The only Vampires he felt comfortable with letting be around him were Edward—which was a given—Jasper—as he could manipulate Jacob's emotions—and, strangely enough, Rosalie—he had no logical explanation for that last one. The two of them just seemed to click. He thought, maybe, it's because Rosalie seemed to share the same disposition as Leah and he was therefore comforted by her present.

Jacob groaned. He didn't know where Edward was. The Vampire had left earlier, saying he had to feed, with Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett, but they had all returned already, so he didn't understand why Edward hadn't yet.

"Are you okay?" a soft voice inquired gently.

"I'm fine, just stiff." Jacob stretched, trying to loosen his muscles, but to no avail.

Rosalie entered the room fully, and took a seat close to Jacob. "How are you doing?" she asked, reaching out to grab his hand.

Jacob smiled at her. "I'm alright. Really. I'm just exhausted."

"Carlisle told me that you could Shift already. How come you don't change? That's why you're tired, isn't it? Because you want to change?"

Jacob shrugged. "I just don't want to risk changing yet, at least not by myself." Jacob gave her a meaningful look.

"Oh, I see." Rosalie nodded. "Well, you'll be pleased to know, then, that Edward— —"

"—will be back soon!" Emmett interrupted, sending Rosalie a sharp glance when Jacob looked away. "Yeah, he just thought he'd get some… extra blood, so he could stay here with you, if you need him." Emmett nodded to himself when he finished, proud of his improvising.

"Uh huh," Jacob said, looking amused. "Well, how nice of you, Emmett, to share such a lovely story, even if it is fictional." Emmett looked surprised Jacob discovered him—he delivered that lie pretty well, considering he'd just made up the whole thing on the spot. "Now that that's established, where is Edward?"

"Edward is right here!" Edward said as he walked into the room.

Jacob smiled, a bright, million watt smile. "Hey, where have you been?"

Edward pushed himself between Rosalie and Jacob, carefully prying her hand from Jacob's. Rosalie grumbled, rolling her eyes at her brother. "Well, I was not getting extra blood," Edward said with a grin, "if that's what you mean."

"No. Way," Jacob deadpanned, a grin on his face.

"Unbelievable, I know. I did go to the Reservation, however, and I brought some friends." He gestured toward the doorway, where the Pack was huddled together. Jacob didn't notice, what with Edward's presence. Now, though, his grin widened, splitting from ear to ear.

"Hey, guys."

"Jacob," they all replied, smiling at him. Seth pushes forward out of the group, sending Jasper a coveted look as he passed him to reach Jacob. Kneeling beside the couch, Seth smiled. "I always thought that that man on the reservation was one of a kind. To think, you're going to have a baby!" Seth beamed, a twinkle in his eye. Jacob understood, too. If he could have a baby, Seth could have a baby. Since they were in the same situation, Imprint wise, Seth was glad he wouldn't go through these experiences alone, that he had someone to learn from, to talk to.

"As long as the bonding rituals are followed, everything's smooth sailing," Jacob told him.

"I'm guessing you didn't follow the bonding rituals, then?" Sam asked.

"You know Jacob, always the rebellious one in the group," Embry chimed in teasingly, smiling at his friend. Jacob's eyebrows rose in surprise when he saw Embry and Paul's interlocked hands, and the way Paul seemed to be trying to merge himself into Embry's body. By the way Embry shifted his eyes away, Jacob figured that that was another question, for another day.

"What was your first clue?" Jacob asked in good humour, opening his arms to embrace Embry. Thankfully, Paul let go of Embry's hand for that moment of hugging, so it wasn't awkward. Moving back, Embry patted Paul on the shoulder. The older Wolf outstretched his hand for Jacob to shake, causing Jacob to frown. Maybe he spoke too soon about the whole awkward thing then.

Beside him, Edward was chuckling. Rolling his eyes, Jacob nudged Edward in the ribs. "Everyone, these are Edward's siblings: Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper. I'm not sure where Alice is," he looked towards Jasper, who shrugged. He seemed like he could care less, with his arm slung around Seth's shoulders. A smile flitted across Jacob's face, before a worried frown replaced it again, as he searched the crowd for black, spiky hair. She'd been disappearing a lot lately. Jacob couldn't remember the last time he saw her, actually, although he knew she had been by; Edward had mentioned it offhandedly every once and a while.

Edward leaned toward him, lips against his earlobe, breath cascading in waves, causing Jacob to shiver, and whispered, "She went to Bella's."

It took Jacob a moment to understand what Edward had said, as he was lost in a haze of memories of other whispers and soft lips. "Wait, what? Why is she at Bella's?"

"Her cover story is that she wants to make sure she's okay, which she isn't lying about; it just isn't her primary motive. She's trying to lay the groundwork."

"Ah," Jacob said softly in understanding. "She moves fast, doesn't she?"

"No more faster than you and I."

Jacob nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Different circumstances, though."

"Not quite so different," said Edward.

"Not quite the same," Jacob repudiated. "Imagine how vulnerable Bella is right now; she'll cling to Alice like a lifeline, especially since clinging to me isn't exactly an option. I know Alice won't use her like that, or, at least, I hope she's smart enough not to use her like that, but it's a position that Alice is most assuredly taking advantage of, whether it's with less than pleasant intentions, or not. Bella needs a friend right now. Alice is going to be that friend."

"That's good, though." Jacob looked at him sceptically. "No, really," Edward assured, "I mean, who else can really comprehend why I would leave her for her best friend, and then they're still friends even after. Alice, even if she's doing it for her own interest, in a way, is still giving Bella benefits. She's being a friend, an indispensable one. Maybe this is good."

Laying his head on Edward's shoulder, he agreed drowsily. "I suppose." Feeling a rumbling in his stomach, Jacob rubbed it absentmindedly. Soon, a warmth began to spread, and pain flashed, there and not there. Squeezing Edward's hand tightly, he gasped into his ear, "It's coming. I can feel it. We need to get outside. Now."

Looking Jacob in the eyes, wide expressive, frightened eyes, Edward didn't hesitate. Swiftly gathering his Imprint into his arms, he turned to the other occupants in the room. "Move out of the way, or I move you out of the way," he said, tone brooking no argument. Edward was sure he'd never seen any Vampire or Werewolf move quite so fast before in his life.

TBC…