Author's Note: This chapter on EAB is the first one with some extra content. About 1700 words worth of it. So hit up the link in my profile!
July 2010
Point Reyes, California – Bella
"Oh, congratulations, Dad!" I had run up to give him a hug as soon as everyone had started to stand. It was far from a typical wedding – I was sure Alice's eyes were about to pop out of her head when I'd put jeans on when I got up, and if she could have fainted, I'm pretty sure she would have when I said it was because we'd all be seated on the ground at the camp site. I was just glad the Cullens could come, despite some of the tense looks from the pack. The trees were so thick that it was possible for them to come and simply wear longer sleeves for the occasional beam that would peek through. I know Dad was glad to see Esme and Carlisle.
But it wasn't long before Alice danced over. "Okay, Bella! Already jinxed yourself enough. Let's go. We can start getting you ready!"
I stared at her. "Alice... My wedding isn't until after nightfall. That's not for at least another nine hours."
She narrowed her eyes at me. "Eight and a half."
I giggled. "Calm yourself, Alice. I just want to say bye to Jake, then I promise to subject myself to your tor-... er... beauty treatment."
She huffed, but gave a dismissive wave, as if to tell me I had her permission. With a grin, I turned to go look for Jake, but found myself quickly pulled to the side. "Bells, we might have a problem."
My eyes widened. "Please don't say that today, of all days."
"Sorry. Turns out Sue's been talking to the council. She wants to tell Charlie about the pack, since it's going to be around him so much – her on the council, Leah and Seth still live with her, Billy's on the council... not to mention his son-in-law. She doesn't want him to be tempted to go off on any hunts for bears..."
"Oh my god... just what I need... My dad to find out some of my best friends are vampires and he's going to give me away to a werewolf... Where's Sue?" I spun around to look for her, then dashed off when I saw her standing with a tense smile on her lips as Charlie chatted easily with Carlisle and Esme.
"Dad! Hi! Mind if I borrow my new step-mom for a couple minutes?"
He shot me a weird look. "No... what's going on, Bells?"
"Nothing. Just girl talk."
"Uhm... okay..."
I beamed at him before I shot Sue an urgent, pleading look. "Please?"
Sue gave me an equally weird look, but as Jake joined me, she seemed to understand, and followed me off a safe distance away. "Bella, I know what you're going to say. But he deserves to know. It's safer for him to know."
"I agree!"
"Huh?" Jake gave me a startled look.
"But please, not today? The Cullens are coming to the wedding later, and the last thing I need is for him to freak out about his only child marrying a mythological monster... It was three days before I could even tell him we were waiting until I finished college after I told him I was marrying Jake and Mom pretty much told me to."
A faint smile came to her lips. "I remember. I was caught between him and Billy for two days because Billy wouldn't forbid Jake from getting married at sixteen."
I turned to stare at Jake. "Your dad didn't even care if we got married while you were still in high school?"
He gave me a sheepish grin and a shrug. "No? Well, I mean... think of it this way. Even your dad thought we had some sort of mythical connection. My dad was around my mom all the time, he probably heard it every day and night. Not to mention I've had a crush on you since I was about twelve years old, and never even mentioned another girl."
I blushed, but threw my arms around him. "You're so lame, Jake."
He laughed. "Okay, future Mrs. Lame. Whatever you say."
Sue laughed a little as she watched us. "Well, that aside... I see your point, Bella. Besides, I think your dad has enough to handle today."
"Oh, thank you! If you tell him as soon as you get home, he might have calmed down by the time we get back from the honey-" I blinked as I looked back toward an impatient Alice, caught sight of Edward talking to someone, and smiled. "Honeymoon. Uhm... I think Alice is going to physically kidnap me if I don't go now." I leaned over to kiss Jake on the cheek, then gave Sue a hug. "See you later."
"I'll be waiting," Jake teased. "Better not be late. It wouldn't be hard to find you if you got cold feet."
I rolled my eyes. "Not on your life." I gave a wave as I jogged off. Alice beamed when she saw me coming, but she scowled when I came to a stop near Edward. "Hi, Edward. Hi, Seth."
"Hey, new sister." Seth shot me an energetic grin. "You know, Edward's not a bad guy."
"Yeah, I know." I shot a smile up at Edward. "What were you guys talking about?"
"Uh... nothing!" Seth shuffled his feet. "Hey, I'll see you guys later." He turned and jogged off toward where Sam and Emily stood.
"What was that about?"
"Just getting to know each other a little better, that's all."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right." I glanced back again and saw Sam and Seth walk off. But since Emily continued to calmly soothe the infant in her arms, I decided maybe there wasn't much to be worried about... yet.
"Isabella Marie Swan, you had better get back to the hotel with me right now! We've already missed one appointment!"
Edward rolled his eyes skyward as he laughed. "Better go, Bella. Don't want to freak everyone out when she manages to physically carry you to the car."
"Uhm... right. Good point." I gave him a quick peck on the cheek before I went to face my fate at Alice's hands.
A few hours later, I gratefully sank into a hot tub of water Alice had drawn for me, perfumed with something I couldn't quite pick out, with a stereo playing a stream of soothing music. I was glad of the hour she had set aside for me to just be alone and relax, even if it was under various threats about letting my professionally treated hair get wet or ruining my nails. Even as she constantly insisted I was beautiful to begin with, she said every girl should be pampered on her wedding day. I failed to see how subjecting myself to hot oil on my hair and getting waxed was supposed to make me feel pampered, but it was either agree or face Alice's wrath. But as I let out a long sigh, I somehow felt the hardest part of my day was over. Standing in front of the majority of my family and friends as I said my vows suddenly seemed very easy.
Eventually, I got myself out of the tub before Alice had to threaten to come in and get me. I slid into the fluffy robe and took in a deep breath before I stepped out to face the whirlwind I was sure was to come.
"Bella!" My mom grabbed me in a fierce hug. "Oh, honey... I can't believe you're getting married in just a few hours!"
"Yeah, I'm not nervous enough," I said with a small laugh.
"Oh, nothing to be nervous about, Bella! Believe me, I've seen Jake's face when he looks at you." Alice hummed happily as she led me over to sit in a chair at the table that was cluttered with an array of make-up and hair products.
"I drew in a deep breath. "Okay, let the torture begin."
Alice tsked at me, but patiently began to apply make-up. Rosalie had been seated on the floor as she played with Allie, but she looked up now. "Need any help? I could do her hair."
"Sure." Alice explained how she wanted my hair as I glanced toward my mom with a small grin.
"I'm sure Alice believes I would have gotten married in torn jeans with my hair in a ponytail if she didn't show up."
Alice sniffed indignantly as my mom laughed. "I certainly do not... You at least had a dress." Then she shushed me so that she could get back to work. At some point, my mom went into the bathroom to change and get ready, and when Rosalie finished my hair, she cheerfully took the task of getting Allie ready. Through it all, I was relatively calm. Until my dad showed up in his suit and I realized how late it had gotten.
"Bella, calm down."
"Oh, Alice! You're going to be my maid of honor, right? I had asked Angela but she told me it would be all she could do to get here in time for the reception, and then totally forgot! Allie's going to be the flower girl..."
"Of course! I even have a dress pretty much the same color as hers."
"Of course she does. We're here for a short time, and she brings half the dresses she owns." Rosalie rolled her eyes as she finished pinning her blond curls into place.
Alice stuck her tongue out in Rosalie's direction before she went to change.
"Oh, Bella! I almost forgot!" My mom turned to look at my dad. "Charlie, did you remember the box?"
He fished in his pockets and pulled out a small box that he handed over. Renee smiled as she opened it and put it in my hands. "Something blue."
"Something old, too... They were your Grandma Swan's." Charlie added.
Curious, I peered inside the box and found two heavy silver hair combs of intricate floral shapes set with dark blue sapphires. "Oh! Oh my gosh... thank you... I didn't even think to..."
Rosalie smiled as she got up to tuck the combs into my hair. "Don't worry, Bella. You can borrow my locket."
Suddenly, I recognized the locket as she removed it from around her neck. She gave me a playful wink in the mirror as she draped the thin chain necklace around my neck, and locked the clasp in place.
Alice danced back out. "Okay, shoo shoo! Those who need to be seated, go go. The sun's officially set. Time to get rolling!"
My mom leaned down to carefully kiss my cheek. "I love you, honey."
Rosalie and my mom left, and Charlie stepped outside with Allie. I sucked in a deep breath and stood to remove the robe that I'd worn over my dress to protect it from last-minute touch-ups. Alice hummed as she handed me a small, cascading bouquet of flowers. I suddenly recognized the scents she had put into my bath water.
"Oh, Alice... You can't believe how wrong it felt planning all this without you here."
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at me. "Don't worry. I dressed things up a little bit. Not much... You planned pretty well, Bella. It's very you." She patted my arm. "Now. I'm going to take Allie ahead. Getting a little girl across an entire expanse of sand and have her stay clean is going to take some talent."
She left and my dad stepped in a moment later. "Wow, Bells..."
I flushed as I walked over and slipped my arm through his. "Don't let me fall, Dad."
"I won't," he promised in a tight voice that revealed barely constrained emotion as he gripped my arm and led me down out of the hotel, then across the beach.
There was no music to announce my arrival – I saw no point in trying to rival the sound of waves as they crashed and rolled up onto the shore just a couple yards away. I was glad Alice had let that alone. But here and there things had been changed – the plain white chairs had small clusters of flowers that echoed my bouquet attached to the end of each row, the torches replaced with clusters of candles, and an archway now stood above my destination, decorated with more flowers.
My breath caught as I spotted Jake, and I saw by the expression on his face that he had much the same reaction I did. He seemed frozen as he watched me approach, the spell only broken when I finally arrived. His face broke into a smile and he extended his hand as Charlie placed mine into it.
Everything else seemed a blur as we exchanged our simple vows. I saw his eyes brighten as I breathed out "I do," as I shook a little as he stated it firmly in return. Then his hands cradled my face, and applause erupted as our lips met.
"You can't get away, now," he teased me softly.
"I was going to say the same to you," I replied with a smile before I was swept up into a dozen sets of arms for congratulations.
A small cluster of workers from the hotel came to clear away away the chairs and archway before the rising tide had a chance to come too close as the wedding party went to a large terrace where everything was set up for our small reception. On the way, Angela ran across the sand dressed in a pants suit and threw her arms around me. "Oh, Bella! I got here just in time to catch the kiss! I'm so sorry that I had to miss it!"
Alice came to my side and handed Angela the small bouquet that she had carried before skipping off to Jasper's side.
"It's alright, Ang, really. I know you've been doing year-round courses."
As everyone was already up on the terrace, we started trailing after them. "Yeah. But it'll be so worth it when I can take the bar exam a couple years earlier. There's so much that I can do... It's been... stressful, since Ben and I haven't really been living together since we were both at Washington State... he's living down here now, but he managed to nail a job working on a movie as a special effects tech in LA, and that's nearly seven hours from Stanford, so..."
"Thus all the rushing," I said with a smile.
"Yeah," she admitted with a quirked smile. "Like I said – hectic, but so worth it."
"I'm glad," I said as I gave her another hug before we separated and I moved to sit down with Jake.
As we sat to eat, Alice leaned over. "So, Bella... I'm curious. If you had no idea we'd be here, why did you arrange the wedding for night?"
I smiled. "Because this is the same beach where Jake and I first kissed, the same date, and it was at night."
Her face brightened in realization, then she smiled. "Worked out rather well then, didn't it?"
"Mmhm." I turned to watch as everyone laughed and ate. My curiosity was piqued when I saw Seth lean to say something to Sue, who frowned, but I didn't have time to dwell as one of the hotel workers walked over and handed a microphone to a nervous-looking Jake, who stood and cleared his throat.
"Four years ago today, I tried proposing to Bella with all the right words, at the right time, at the right place. Even the weather decided to be on my side. But, at the last minute... I choked up, and proposed just by pushing the ring into her hand, which sparked a... rather interesting conversation," he added, drawing forth light laughter from everyone gathered. "But, in all the years between," he began again as he glanced down to where I was seated, "I have never once gotten to say those words that I agonized over night and day, so... I thought I might say them tonight."
My heart fluttered a little as I saw him sinking onto one knee beside my chair, his shoulders and head still clearly visible over the top as I turned to face him. Reaching with his free hand to clasp both my smaller hands in his, he drew in a deep breath. "Bells... From the very beginning, our souls have been connected. So powerfully that nothing in the world has been able to keep us apart. Through all the trials of your life and mine, we have always found our way back to one another. Found comfort, support, love, and friendship in each others arms. There is not a single time that I look to your face, and look in your eyes, that I do not see the woman that I could gladly spend every day of eternity with, but for now, I will settle for knowing that you have my heart and I have yours until the day they stop beating." He paused to reach up and brush away a tear that had just dropped to my cheek with his thumb, and though I wasn't aware of anyone but him, I was not the only one with moist eyes. Taking my hands once again, he continued. "Being with you all these years, being your friend until we were both ready for something deeper, waiting until you were ready for this day... it has been as easy as breathing. Because I know that no matter what, nothing could possibly tear us apart. And I look forward to every breath I take from this day forward. Isabella Marie Swan, would you do me the unimaginable honor of spending the rest of your life with me as my wife?"
My eyes welled up with tears as I wordlessly nodded and fell into his arms, kneeling before him on the ground, feeling his arms go about me as Alice quietly accepted the microphone from his hand. There was some smattering of applause, but it was mostly quiet for a few moments as he held me and I pulled myself together. Then music began to swell softly from the speakers, and Jake responded by helping me to my feet and leading me out to dance, prompting everyone to finally freely applaud. As I glanced over, I even saw my dad surreptitiously have to turn away for a moment to swipe at his eyes.
Neither of us was much on our feet, but we'd known eyes would be on us, so we'd practiced a few steps that at least were better than having everyone just watch us sway together until others got up to join us. After the second song, Jake handed me off to my dad.
"I'm really happy for you, Bells... Jake... it seems Jake really is going to be the best thing for you."
I smiled faintly up at him. "He really is, Dad. So... thank you for letting Sarah and Billy baby-sit me all those years ago."
He chuckled a little and bent to kiss the top of my head. "You two really are something together. You've always seemed to bring out the best in one another, even when you were just friends growing up. And, uh... don't let your mom pressure you too much about that grand-kid thing, huh?"
"Dad!" I blushed softly, but gave a little laugh and a shake of my head. "Don't worry, I won't."
He nodded and gave me a firm hug before he stepped away at the end of the song, leaving me to be approached by Edward, who extended his hand. "May I?"
I nodded and went easily into his arms, laughed as he set me on his feet as he began to whirl about.
"You know, we haven't danced since homecoming..."
I smirked. "Could be because I haven't seen you in four years, Edward... Even hardly heard from any of you, even Alice."
"Well, we don't have many chances to just stop and rest, Bella. We have to move often, and fast."
"I know." I ducked my head. "I wish it didn't have to be like that... but I miss all of you so much..."
"Don't even think about crying," he said softly. "We have to leave again soon, and I'd rather remember you like this."
I managed a small smile as I looked back up at him.
"Better," he said as he carefully brushed a loose strand of hair back from my face. And then in silence continued to hold me as one song flowed into another.
I breathed carefully, then glanced as I saw Jake gathered off to the side with the rest of the pack that had come for the weddings, and my brow furrowed. "What's going on?"
He sighed a little. "I wish they wouldn't do this now..."
"Do what? … Edward?"
He shook his head. "Jake's planning to explain. It's more his place than mine. It's pack business." He leaned in to place a kiss at the corner of my mouth. "Congratulations, Bella. Be happy."
I bit my lip. "You're not leaving yet, are you?"
He chuckled. "No. But I doubt I will get to have you to myself like this for the rest of the night." He squeezed my hand, then left as Jake appeared at my side.
"Jake? What's going on with the pack?"
He raked a hand back through his hair in a sign of agitation. "Turns out a few of them have been planning to work it out so they can go help the Cullens."
"What? No! Jake!"
He shushed me as a few nearby faces turned to look in our direction at the sound of my voice, then led me a safer distance away. "I don't really like it either, honey. But they made their points rather well... We're protectors, built to destroy vampires... awakened to protect our family and friends... And there's not much we can do, staying put in La Push. Not to mention, it's sort of crowded and tense with us all there. Just... a lot of them think this happened for no reason." He frowned. "And that's especially hard on Seth and Leah."
I trembled a little as I tried to keep myself calm. "How many?"
"Leah and Seth... Embry, Brady, and Collin."
A faint laugh. "Everyone who hasn't imprinted..."
"Yeah. I know Paul and Quil would go in a heartbeat, if they didn't have Rachel and Claire."
"So...?"
"Sam's not happy about it. But... I'm trying to convince him otherwise."
"What? Why?"
"Because... I know how frustrating it is to feel like I was forced to give up my humanity in exchange for this strength, then not having a use for it. And as far as Leah's gone to make us miserable, she deserves to be able to escape."
I released a long sigh. "What about when it's all over?"
He shrugged helplessly. "A lot of kids get to leave, at least for a while, attend college. The pack hasn't really been able to do that. All we can do is wait and see."
I gave a slow nod. "I think I understand... And I'm glad I'm more of just an excuse than actually causing my friends to leave again."
He gave a half-smile. "I hate to do it, Bells, but Sam suggest we get this settled as soon as possible... I'll be gone most the night."
"Our first night as a married couple, and you're going to spend it as a hairy monster," I teased as I tried to laugh it off. "Alright. I understand." I leaned up on my toes to give him a kiss. "Just don't let it seem like you're abandoning your wife by running off so fast."
He laughed. "Deal. Sam's got to call everyone at La Push first anyhow."
Worried as I was, I was glad to see that I wouldn't have to act like a carefree bride much longer. It had been a long day, and no one raised any questions when we started bidding everyone farewell before I turned to toss the bouquet back over my head and into Jess's hands.
Jake made a point of sticking around long enough to carry me across the threshold into our room. When he set me down, he disappeared briefly into the bathroom to change out of his clothes and into a pair of shorts. When he stepped back out, he leaned in to give me what I was sure was meant to be a farewell kiss, but his hands were soon at my hips as he pulled my body tightly against his own. I happily melted into him, reached up to put my arms about his neck. After a few minutes, he groaned and managed to pull away. "Remind me to kill Sam later... possibly Seth, for bringing this up now..."
"He had to, the Cullens don't exactly stop by for regular visits... Besides, it's not nice to kill the best man."
"Why not? His job's done."
I laughed a little. "Seriously, Jake. Go. Get it over with. It's going to take me a little while to manage to get all these pins out of my hair and make-up off anyway."
"Yeah... last thing I need is... that on my mind while everyone can read my thoughts anyhow."
I blushed darkly at the implications and gave him an ineffectual shove. "That's not even close to funny... now go."
Laughter on his lips, he bent to place a quick kiss on my lips before he slipped out quietly. I sighed after he left and looked around the room. But instead of allowing myself to dwell, I slipped out of my dress and carefully hung it up before I went to the bathroom and started water in the tub, adding more of the bath oils Alice had left for me. Then I removed the few bits of jewelry I'd worn and searched for and pulled out all the pins that held my hair in place, brushed out the curls into soft waves, then put it into a loose bun as I sank into the tub. In no particular hurry, I bathed and soaked until my skin began to prune. Only then did I climb out and dry off. When I went to dress for bed, I was suddenly embarrassed that I hadn't allowed myself to pack any of my normal pajamas. Just the things Alice had gotten me years ago – most of them still with their tags on. Those that had ever been worn had lasted only long enough for me to glance in a mirror, blush, then quickly change before Jake came over.
With a sigh, I thought of what I should have been occupied with at this moment. Despite Alice and Rosalie's presumption, Jake and I had never let things go quite that far. Suddenly, I felt as if I could go a few rounds with Sam myself. In the end, I decided that I was actually pretty tired, took down my hair and slipped into a short, pale white night gown of silk, then slid into bed underneath the covers. But because of the heat, that didn't last long, and I kicked them away before I was finally able to drift off.
Some time later, I jerked awake without really knowing why. The darkness of the room was disorienting, and I sat up to look around as my eyes slowly adjusted. I was able to make out a figure at the foot of the bed, and gasped before I slowly remembered the previous twenty-four hours.
"Jake?" I reached for the lamp on my nightstand.
"Yeah... don't, please?"
My brow furrowed in confusion, but I lowered my hand, then rubbed at my eyes. "You must be exhausted, why are you just standing there? Get in bed and get some sleep."
"I was thinking about it."
"... What time is it?"
"A little before dawn."
"... You don't make sense, if it's so late and you're exhausted, why are you just standing there?"
"Because, I came in and saw you like that..."
I flushed, suddenly aware again of the short silken nightgown. "Oh... so...?" I raked a hand back through my sleep tousled hair.
"Trying to calm down so I didn't wake you."
"Uhm... too late, Jake," I pointed out with a nervous laugh.
"Yeah..."
"... Jake?"
"Yes?"
"Kiss me."
He was at my side a moment later, arms tightly about my waist as he gladly melded his lips to my own. With a happy groan, I pulled him down with me onto the bed.
The next time I woke, the room was completely brightened by the sun as it shone in through the windows. A smile curved my lips as I relived the events of the night before in my head as I slowly awakened to my new world, my new, wonderful reality. Only then did I allow my eyes to open as I reached out instinctively, only to find I was alone in the bed. "Jake?"
"Bells?"
I turned toward the sound of his voice, then smiled as I saw him seated at the table, dressed in a pair of jeans. He drew in a sharp breath, and my brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"
He released the breath shakily. "Well, for one, you should know by now that I have terrible self-control when it comes to you."
I gave a glance down at myself and blushed before I drew the sheet up over and round my body as I got to my feet and padded over to sit across from him. "And two?"
"Two... are you... okay?"
"Okay?" I looked over at him, completely bewildered at the question. "I've... never been so far beyond okay in my life, Jake. I'm wonderful!... Okay, we might have to deal with high electricity bills from how much I'm going to run the air conditioner," I said with a small laugh.
His brow furrowed further. "Quit joking, Bella... I hurt you again... I'm so sorry..."
"Hurt me? What, by going to the meeting with the pack? Jake, I don't care about that! I'm kind of used to things not going with the 'normal' flow, remember? Me, crazy, clumsy human girl who woke one day in a world where her best friends were vampires and werewolves and she ran straight into it with a smile?"
He almost growled as he spoke next. "Bella! I'm not stupid." He got quickly to his feet to stand before me, pull the sheet down from over my shoulder.
I followed the movement with my eyes, startled to find a bruise there as he tenderly matched his hand to it. "Oh..."
"Yeah. Oh." He drew back from me, looked disgusted at himself. "I'm so sorry, Bella..."
"Stop it!" My outburst must have startled him, because he turned back to me as I jumped to my feet to wrap my arms around his waist. The quick exertion made me realize that I was, in fact, a little sore, but I didn't care. "You know how easily I bruise, I've done far worse to myself in my life. Jake, I didn't even notice until you pointed it out. Just... getting to finally be with you, knowing that we officially belong to each other for the rest of our lives..." I kissed his shoulder, not wanting to press my luck quite yet. "We talked about all this before. Being together... it's definitely emotional. But I'm in one piece... I would gladly take a few sore body parts to feel like that again even for a few moments... and last night was definitely more than just a few moments," I teased with a soft smile. "So please... don't let my obviously pale skin get in the way of the fact that we're married and on our honeymoon, Jake."
He groaned faintly and leaned down to kiss me, his hands slipped about my bare waist. "It's definitely far too easy for you to seduce me, honey."
"Well, naked women have that affect on men..."
"No... the part where you said we're married." He bent to kiss me again as I blushed, paused, then gave a sigh. "You should get dressed."
I blinked. "Huh?"
"Well, for one... we both need to eat. Two, we're about to have company."
"Oh!" I quickly turned and grabbed clothes from the dresser, not bothering to double-check what I grabbed before I disappeared into the bathroom just as there was a knock on the door.
"Dude, Jake! I still can't believe last night! Did that seriously happen?" I recognized Seth's voice, wondered at what he was so excited over as I finished dressing, then quickly pulled a brush through my hair to untangle it.
"I can't believe it either, Jake... thank you. You have... no idea what it means."
"Leah?" I burst out of the bathroom, then ran over to give her a hug. I hadn't seen her in about a year. Sue's story had been that she'd gone to visit relatives, but the truth was that she'd taken to her wolf form and left to avoid things since just before Sam and Emily's wedding last August. Only Seth had heard from her in all that time.
"Hey, Bella," she replied as she returned the hug awkwardly. "Sorry, getting used to this... human thing again."
I shook my head to dismiss her apology. "So... what happened last night?"
"He didn't tell you?" Seth flicked his gaze back and forth between me and Jake.
"Seth!" Leah smacked his arm and glared at him. "They're kinda on their honeymoon, you know."
I flushed darkly as Jake gave an exasperated sigh.
"Oh, right. Uhm... Well, we had the meeting last night, and Sam... well, he didn't want any of us to go. Said it was bad enough Jake's moving to Forks, and that it's our job to stay and protect the rez..."
"Jake, on the other hand... pointed out that we're just humans that happen to turn into wolves. Not the other way around," Leah added with a smile that clearly showed her appreciation for the sentiment.
"Sam tried to tell us we couldn't leave... and it would have worked, but Jake kinda... went all Alpha."
"You took control of the pack?" I looked at him, confused.
"No... kinda." He sighed. "There's sort of two packs now... mine's the one with everyone who wants to be able to leave."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Didn't want to wake you," he said with a shrug. "Besides... I'm sort of working on believing it myself. I never wanted to have to lead anyone. And Sam's been great, it's just... he has sort of tunnel vision when it comes to the protecting part. He means well, I don't blame him, just... he doesn't see things beyond the pack and who we're supposed to protect."
I reached over to squeeze his hand. "I think you did the right thing."
"We'll see." His mouth was set in a grim line.
"Oh, Bella! We're all leaving as soon as the Cullens can get out of here without, you know... blinding people. They wanted to know if you'd go hang out with them for a little while."
I glanced up at Jake, and he gave a sort of half smile. "Go."
With a smile, I quickly kissed his cheek and left to head toward the rooms they'd rented on the other side of the hotel.
"Well, hello Mrs. Black!" Alice exclaimed as soon as she let me in.
I beamed. "You're the first one to call me that."
"I know," she chirped happily. I leaned in to give her a hug, happy that she'd become so accepting of the fact that I had chosen Jake over her brother, seemed to know that I did, in fact, belong with him. Even Rosalie smiled over at me and offered a quiet congratulations as Alice dragged me over to a table to look through the photos that she had spread out from the wedding and reception, telling me the stories behind some of the ones taken after Jake and I had left, a few minutes after the few pack members had slipped away.
As Alice gathered the photos to slide them back into their envelope so I could take them back to my room later, Jasper walked over to hand me a sketch. Looking down at it, I gasped softly at the detail. "Jasper, this is... amazing..." Done in coal on sturdy paper was a picture of Jake and I as my father placed our hands together, then another sketch on another sheet of when he'd drawn me in to kiss me. The detail was so vivid, each touch of light and shadow perfectly executed. I was so touched that I forgot myself and dropped the sketches to the table and threw my arms around him. "Thank you..." He tensed, but managed to actually wrap his arms around me and return the embrace.
As I released him to turn and talk to Alice again, Edward was suddenly at my side, his hand gingerly lifting the sleeve the rest of the way from where it had shifted upward, further revealing the bruise on my upper arm. There was suddenly a fire in his eyes that frightened me. "He hurt you?"
"Edward, it's not what you thi-"
"I'll kill him," he threatened flatly. In the next moment, I was back against the wall as it took the combined efforts of Carlisle, Jasper, and Emmett to push him back from the door and hold him from leaving.
"Son, think about this."
"I am," Edward growled up at Carlisle. "Half of them still want to kill us anyhow? Why not give them a chance? As long as I get to him first."
"Stop it!" My shock had finally worn off as Esme helped me back to my feet.
"I swore I'd protect you, Bella. I don't care who it's against."
"Oh, so you don't care that it means drawing your family, my family and friends into something that will probably kill most of you?"
His eyes tightened. "We all swore to protect you. I can't let him do this to you, Bella. I'd rather die than leave you with that."
"Edward, it happened while we were making love!" I was too angry to blush at my admission, to notice when the various holds on him suddenly slackened as he stilled completely in the aftermath of my words. My jaw tightened. "He loves me, he was devastated and beating himself up over this. Probably still is..." My hands formed into fists at my sides as I struggled to hold in my emotion. "And if... this is what your protection means, that you'd blindly attack the one I love and endanger almost everyone I care about? Without even stopping to listen to me? I don't want want it anymore. So, excuse me. I have to get back to my husband. Goodbye, Edward."
I turned and walked as calmly as I could from the room and kept up the measured pace as long as I could. But I was only a few feet from their door when I broke into a run, suddenly desperate to be away. Desperate to be back with Jake. When I burst back into our room, I went straight into his arms, uncaring of who else was in the room. Did not notice the looks they shot each other before they let themselves out quietly.
Jake simply held onto me as I sobbed against his chest. Didn't say a word as I clung to him, dimly aware as the room darkened as the sun set outside. Only when I really began to calm down did he attempt to move. He placed me on the bed and ordered something to eat to be sent to the room – I'd completely forgotten that I hadn't eaten all day. But I still only picked at the food as he ate and watched me carefully.
"Honey... you've said goodbye to them before. I know it hurts you, but... they have to be getting closer now, with all the help they have."
I shook my head. "No... I told them... told him... not to anymore."
His brow furrowed in confusion. "Why?
Then I finally explained what happened, and his whole body tensed momentarily before he pulled me to him tightly. "I... hate him for hurting you, Bella. But I can't say that if the situation were somehow reversed... That I wouldn't need to be held back from doing the same."
"Oh, you're both so stupid!" I shoved away from him, grabbed a pillow to cling to.
"No... we're both in love."
My eyes shot to him, and I sat perfectly still. It was strange to hear him speak so freely of Edward's feelings for me. The subject hadn't even come up in the years that the Cullens had been gone.
"We're both in love with an amazing woman who somehow... has the strength to love both of us in return, and still hold herself in once piece." He drew in a deep, shaky breath before he continued. "Love's never been rational, Bells. If it was, do you truly think it would have led you to ever love either of us in a way that was healthy?" When I opened my mouth to argue, he placed his fingers over my lips. "If you want to argue that point, look beyond you, beyond us. Look at Leah and Sam, look what happened to your parents, to... mine. My dad... Look at Quil and Claire, Sam and Emily... even... Paul and Rachel. It doesn't make sense most the time. But it's the most amazing thing in the world. So amazing that we would do anything to protect it, protect those we love." He paused to smile at me as I stared at him. "You find all those stories and movies where people fight for love romantic. Why not now?"
"Because those movies and stories usually have happy endings, Jake. Not to mention they're stories... Not too many people really think about it from the perspective of the one that's being fought over, just the fighters. Being torn between you two... is not romantic, Jake."
"No," he agreed. "I've seen enough of that in Sam's head. At least Emily and Leah aren't natural enemies. But... look at what you've done, Bells. Half the wolves are willingly fighting at the side of vampires. Leah is willing to fight alongside the Cullens. I'd trust no one else to protect you if something ever does happen to me. And when it comes down to it... I hardly think Edward would have found it in himself to make you a widow. He loves you."
"Jake!" I threw myself into his arms. "I... thank you. I love you so much..."
He gave a short laugh. "Yeah, well... it's easy to be the rational one when you're the one that got the girl."
"You have no idea how much you've got me," I said with a happy sigh as I melted into his arms, touch, and kisses.
