A/N: First of all, I apologize AGAIN for taking so long to post this chapter! Why is it that life always gets in the way of what you love to do? I hope you all didn't give up on me. My story is winding down, but of course I want to wrap things up, so watch for another chapter. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your reviews! You all are the best.
CHAPTER 44
Jacob POV:
"Oh my God, Jacob, I was so worried," Leah said into my ear as she squeezed the life out of me with a vicious hug. I had found Leah pacing in front of my house, waiting for me in human form as soon as I got home from Bella's.
"Thanks, Leah, but, could you loosen your grip a little? I can't breath!"
Letting go, she punched me hard in the arm. "Don't you ever do that to me again, Jacob Black!"
With a grin, I rubbed my arm promising, "I won't, OK?"
Her eyes set in anger, Leah demanded, "Turn around."
I wasn't exactly sure why she wanted me to turn around, but I knew she wasn't in the mood for arguing, so I did as she asked then as she stepped up behind me and I heard her gasp, I realized why. I could feel Leah's finger lightly skim the surface of the bite mark left behind and when she dropped her hand, I turned back to face her.
I watched the anger melt from her face as her eyes softened and she put her arms around me once again to hold me close. "I was so scared, Jake. I couldn't stand to lose you, too."
Wrapping my arms around her, I whispered, "I know. I feel the same about you." We stood there for a moment or two until finally Leah stepped back and leaned forward to put a soft kiss on my lips. Then I saw the mask slip back in place and Leah the Beta stepped out of my embrace to say bitterly, "So, their little devil spawn bit you and broke the treaty. Now what?"
Exhaling, I said, "Leah, it wasn't like that. She had no idea what she was doing . . . "
Now the anger was back in her eyes, flashing as she spit at me, "Oh, so since she's Bella's little brat we're going to just excuse this little incident? What if she would have killed you, Jacob? Would you want me to just excuse your murder because she's just a baby? That's bullshit, Jake! BULLSHIT!"
"Look, Leah, I get it, you're pissed. So am I, but not at Carly. She was just being used by her poor excuse of a father and his blonde bimbo accomplice. They are the ones you should be pissed at. They filled her head with all these lies about how Bella was human and didn't want Carly because she was different and how humans are only good for food. She attacked Bella because of them."
"Then where are they? Are they dead? Because they should be."
"I agree, they should be, but they aren't. Carlisle sent them away."
"Damnit, Jake!" Leah cried, her voice shaking with her rage. "Why do they always get away with this shit? The treaty clearly states that if they bite a human, the punishment is death. If we do nothing, then this precious treaty that we hold so dear is no more than a fucking piece of old paper!"
She had a point . . . and I knew it would be the same point that Dad would make as soon as I walked through the front door. Scraping my hand through my hair, I sighed as I asked Leah, "What do you expect me to do, Leah? Carlisle saved my fucking life for the second time up there. How could I say, 'Thanks for saving my life, now get out of the way while I kill your son.' I couldn't do it, Leah! As much as I want that bastard dead, I couldn't do it. So, I let Carlisle handle it." Then, being the smart ass I am, I added, "And besides, to be technical, it didn't happen on or near our land. It happened in Canada."
I knew that would get her. "Shut up, Jacob!" Leah spit out as she smacked me yet again. "This isn't funny."
"I know it's not. But what's done is done and I'm moving on, and so should you. This is over, Leah."
I watched as she stood there, hands on hips, biting her lip to keep herself from exploding, hoping she would give in for once and listen to me until finally she said, "Fine, Jacob. You're the Alpha. But I just want to go on record as saying that this wrong and someoneshould pay."
With a smile I said, "Fine, it's on record. Now why are you standing here with me when you could be all cuddly with Embry?"
Running her hand through her hair, she told me, "His mom grounded him as soon as he got home for running off and not telling her. I have no idea what story he came up with, but whatever it was, it didn't matter. She was royally pissed. She had the cops out looking for him even though I told her he was fine."
Poor Embry. I hated that his mom didn't know that Embry was part of the wolf pack. Sam would never allow him to tell, but I could see how it was affecting their relationship. They were the only family that each other had, and I hated to see how it was ripping them apart. "I think it's about time Embry's mom knew the truth, don't you?" I asked Leah.
Her eyes lip up as she smiled at me. "Really, Jake? You're going to allow him to tell her?"
"Hell, yeah. I hate how she thinks the worst of Embry."
"Yeah, me, too." I finally saw her smile again as she added, "Thanks, Jake."
"You're welcome. And you can be the one to tell him, if you like."
"I will. Right now. I'll go and let you face your dad. Good luck with that."
"Gee, thanks."
Leah turned to go and as I watched her disappear into the woods, I exhaled turned and walked slowly toward the house. I was really not looking forward to what was waiting inside for me. Dealing with Leah was one thing, but dealing with my dad, the leader of the tribal council . . . well, that would be a whole different ball game.
Taking a deep breath, I finally opened the door and walked inside to find Dad sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a piece of pie. "Hey, Dad. Is there any more of that pie?"
I could see by the look on his face, Dad had been worried . . . more worried than I realized. "Jacob, thank God you're home," he said as he wheeled his chair toward me.
I kneeled down in front of him and hugged him and noticed that he held on a little longer than usual. When I sat back on my heels he asked, "Are you alright, son?"
"Yeah, Dad. Doc says I'll be fine."
"Why, Jacob? Why did this happen?"
Standing, I asked him, "Do you want the long version or the short version?"
With a shake of his head, he answered, "Just tell me what the hell happened."
I nodded and moved to sit at the table as Dad wheeled back to his spot and picked up his cup of coffee. "OK, here goes," I started as I spilled out the whole horrific tale, beginning with Emmett coming to Bella to tell him that Edward had been lying, to taking the bite for Bella, to Edward trying to justify what he did and finally that Carlisle had sent them away and Carly and I made peace with each other. I tried to skate over the bite, not wanting him to know how serious it really was, but he knew. I could see in his eyes that he knew he had come close to losing his only son.
"So where are they now?"
"Carlisle sent them away. Jasper and Alice took them to Texas to stay with some friends of his there. Neither of them were happy about going, but Carlisle didn't give them a choice."
"And you say that you held this child? And that she didn't attack?"
"Yes, Dad. Carly has this . . . gift. She can touch you and show you her thoughts and memories. It's really something. Anyway, when she held her hand to my face, I saw things the way she saw them . . . it was like seeing it all played out in front of me. And when Bella reached for her, I could feel how she felt. Carly was filled with this . . . fear and confusion, yet it was like she was a robot or something . . . like she had been programmed to attack when she saw Bella. And when Edward whispered, "Bite her," she attacked and tried to do just that. I'm glad I jumped in front of her and took the bite. Doc told me that because of my healing ability, I was able to overcome it, where as . . . Bella might not have. I did what I did to save Bella and our baby and I would do it again in a heartbeat."
Dad was quiet for a moment or two then he looked up and said, "I understand why you jumped in front of Bella, Jacob. I would expect no less of you knowing how you feel about her and your child. What I don't understand is why it is going unpunished."
I sighed as I wiped my hand over my eyes. Here we go. "Look, Leah already chewed my ass for this, and I will tell you what I told her. Carlisle saved my life, Dad, for the second time. How could I thank him for saving my life then tell him to step aside while I kill his son?"
"I understand that, Jacob, and I am glad that he was good enough to save you. We owe him a lot. But that doesn't excuse the break of the treaty."
"Here we go with the treaty again. Look, not everything is written in black and white here. There is a lot of gray area that is not covered in this treaty!" Jumping from the chair, I paced the kitchen as I carried on my tirade. "I am so damn sick and tired of hearing about this fucking treaty! It's an ancient piece of paper that I understand was needed at the time it was written, and it has served it purpose, but if you insist on having it, then update it, will ya? I know when it was written no one thought that someone like Bella would fall for one of them and marry one and have a baby with one then realize she was really in love with me and become pregnant with my baby . . . it was unthinkable! Just saying it now makes me realize how fucking crazy it all is. But it happened, and now we have to deal with it, Dad . . . and realistically, for what's good for all of us. Do you get that?"
Dad sat there patiently letting me rant, never showing me any emotion, as usual. Now, as I leaned back against the counter watching him, he still sat quietly, I know trying to think of a way to answer me without setting me off again. Finally he said, "Jacob, I agree with you. The treaty does need some changes. I have already been drafting them, and I plan to meet with Carlisle to go over them. And, you are right in that we never saw any of this coming. How could we?" He gave me a small smile then, and I returned it with a nod as I watched his smile fade as he added solemnly, "But, this . . . attack . . . Jacob, I could have lost you, son."
With a sigh, I dropped my head and moved over to kneel beside his chair. "I know that, Dad. But you didn't. And I know you think that just because she's Bella's kid, I'm not thinking clearly, but I am. I've held her in my arms, and I know that she won't ever do anything like that again. I trust Carlisle to never allow it. You know that he doesn't believe in living like that, and he will teach her how to be like him. Carly is going to live with Carlisle and Esme and he promised Bella that he would not allow Edward or Rose to be around her at all. Bella trusts him and so do I. But, Dad . . . Bella loves her, and needs to see her, and with them living 5 hours away in another country . . . it makes that difficult. Would you consider allowing them to come here to visit? To bring Carly to Charlie's house, let's say, and let Charlie and Bella spend time with her?"
His face was again set in stone, and I wished that I had Edward's freaky gift of reading minds about now. Looking at me, Dad said, "I have no say over what goes no in Charlie's house, as you well know. But I would be cautious, Jacob. Very cautious."
"You know I will. I would never take any chances with Bella or my child. Thanks, Dad. You have no idea how much this means to Bella . . . and to me." I took his hand and held it for a moment before I turned to stand. Before I could move, Dad squeezed my hand to keep me there and then he turned my head to look at the back of my neck. OhGod...thescar.I held my breath as I felt his rough finger flow over it . . . and then his whole hand covered it as I heard him whisper something in Quileute.
"Dad, I'm sorry," I started until he hushed me and again whispered in Quileute. His hand felt warm even on me and I felt a strange vibration all of a sudden coming through his fingers into my neck . . . kind of a tingling. Was I imagining it or was Dad really healing my wound through some spiritual way?
Finally he finished and I felt his lips brush the scar before he let go of my hand. I turned my head slowly to look at him and saw not only my father, but the great leader of our tribe. Even sitting in his wheelchair, Billy Black commanded respect as a leader, and what I saw now filled me with pride at being his son. His love for me was evident in his eyes, as they pierced me now as he put his warm hand on top of my head and said, "I love you, son."
"I love you, Dad." Then we embraced again, and I felt whole . . . complete somehow, and stronger than I ever felt. I was Billy Black's son . . . the heir apparent, and I had been running from that for way too long. Now it was time to stand and be the Alpha Male I was born to be. I would lead the pack and someday, the tribe, and I would make my father proud of me.
We parted as we heard the front door open and close then Rachel hurried into the kitchen to say, "I heard you were home."
I stood and moved toward her as she wrapped her arms around me and cried, "Oh my God, Jacob. I can't believe we almost lost you."
"I'm fine, sis. You can't get rid of me that easily." As I stood there holding my sister, I realized how much family really meant to me. From now on, Bella was my family, along with our baby, and even Carly. And we would make it work, somehow, because family is everything.
Where do you want this, Jake?" Embry asked as he and Quil carried in Bella's desk. Bella and I were finally moving into our little house on the rez, and I conned the guys into helping.
"Um, good question. Just set it down here in the living room and we'll decide where to put it later," I told them as I shoved aside a couple of boxes to make room for the desk.
Once it was set down, Embry grinned as he elbowed me and said, "This place is sweet. You think maybe Leah and I can uh, 'borrow' it sometime?"
"You want to have sex in my house?" I asked increduously.
"Come on, Jake. Help a bro out," Embry pleaded.
"Uh, no. Can't do it. Bella would kill me. You'll have to get your own place, dude."
"Yeah, sure, like it's that easy. You have a rich girlfriend."
And just like that, I was pissed. "It's not like that, and you know it, Embry," I shot back angrily. I hated the idea that anyone thought I was living off of Bella's bloodsucker money. "I will pay the rent on this place, not Bella. Iwill provide for my family."
"OK, OK, sorry, dude," Embry said as he put his hands up in front of him and backed away. "I'll just go back out to the truck and get more stuff."
As I watched him walk out the door, I sighed as I felt like a dick for yelling at him. "Hey, Jake, you know Embry. He's always shooting his mouth off," Quil commented quietly. "We know you're not living off Bella."
"Yeah, well, I don't want anyone to think I would take his money," I insisted stubbornly. "Bella sold her SUV and she is spending some of it to buy some furniture, but that's all. That money is hers, not mine. I hate it, but . . . she has a right to buy what she wants with it." It still killed me to even agree to that, but Bella was right. We were going to be a team, and if she wanted to use some of her money to buy furniture, she should be allowed to do that. I would just have to suck it up and be a man about it, and as hard as it was, I was trying.
Quil left with a nod to go back outside as I took a look around at the chaos that was our new place. There were boxes sitting around and the new blue couch we bought yesterday was sitting in the middle of the living room along with the plaid chair and ottoman and coffee table. Charlie had encouraged Bella to take anything she wanted from the attic at his house, so we had dug around in there and found a couple of lamps that worked but needed new shades, and now they sat here on the floor, along with an old rocking chair that Bella wanted to refinish for the baby's room.
"Jake?" I heard Bella holler from the kitchen. "Did you find the box that says 'dishes' yet?"
"No, not yet," I called back. "I'll go out to the truck and see if it's there."
After I heard her answer back, "OK," I walked out to the truck and found Embry there, sitting on the bumper of the truck, head down, forearms resting on his knees. "Hey, Em. I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"No, I'm sorry, man, for being such a dick," Embry returned as he stood up to face me. "I guess I'm just . . . kind of jealous, you know? I want to be with Leah all the time, but . . . we have to play like little kids and sneak around. It's getting old."
"I get that," I said with a smile as I went on to admit, "I've been sneaking into Bella's window pretty much every night just to sleep with her."
"I'm just letting shit get to me, you know? Even though my mom knows now that I'm a wolf, she's still insisting that I finish high school, even though I'm barely passing. I'd rather just find a job and start working so I can move out and be with Leah."
"I know, I get that. You could always get a GED like I did. Maybe she could go for that?"
"I don't know, maybe," Embry shrugged.
"Look, since the Cullens are gone, I think we'll be able to ease up a little on patrols and run two wolves at time so I can give you more time to work at a job part time until you finish school."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. And, I've been thinking about talking to Jared's dad about maybe building some simple houses like this one for members of the pack, you know? I mean, Sam and Emily have a house, and my sister and Paul can live with Dad, but someday, Jared and Kim will need one, and you and Leah, and eventually, Quil here and Claire. We can all help with the labor when we're not on patrol or going to school to keep the cost down, and hopefully the tribe can help with paying for them. I think it's the least the tribe owes us."
I watched a smile curve onto Embry's face as he nodded and said, "Yeah. Yeah, Jake, that's a great idea."
Quil nodded his agreement, too, as I told them, "Well, I haven't been the best Alpha, but I plan to change that, and taking care of the pack is going to be my first priority."
"Jake? Did you find that box?" I heard from behind me.
Turning to Bella, I smiled, "No, sorry. We were talking."
"Uh-oh. Now you're in trouble with the little woman," Embry said to me under his breath as he stuck his elbow into my side.
Obviously, Bella overheard as she stepped up to Embry and said sweetly, "Little woman?" I bit my lip trying to hide my smile as I watched my best friend, a 6 foot 4 inch powerful werewolf, shrink before my 5 foot 5 inch girlfriend. "Embry Call, if you ever want to be invited over to dinner at my house, you will NEVER call me the 'little woman' ever again, is that clear?"
Sheepishly, Embry nodded and said, "Yes, ma'am."
Quil and I both snickered, earning a glare from Bella as she turned to walk back to the house, calling out, "Back to work, boys!"
Giving Embry a shove, I stepped up into the truck to look for the box marked 'dishes.' Suddenly I was in a hurry to get all this shit moved into the house, so we could put it away and I could start living life with Bella.
As Embry and Quil were leaving to run their patrol, Seth showed up to help. We quickly put him to work moving furniture, and unpacking boxes and after awhile I asked him if he was sorry he stopped by.
With a shrug, he replied, "Naw. I don't mind. Gives me something to do other than listen to Mom and Leah fight."
"Fight? What's going on?"
"I guess Mom finally figured out that Embry's been sneaking in at night. Didn't make her too happy."
"No, I guess it wouldn't." I tried to hide my smile as I remembered when Charlie found out I was doing the same thing. "What about you? Does it bother you?"
Seth looked up from the box he was unpacking and answered, "Like I have a choice? Leah's going to do what she's going to do. Doesn't matter what I think."
"Yeah, but speaking as someone who had to listen to Paul and my sister going at it, I know it's not easy, bro."
That's when Seth smiled as he shot back, "Yeah, at least I don't have to listen to Paul. That must be gut-wretching."
"It is, man. It is."
Looking back down into the box, Seth said more seriously, "I don't mind Leah being with Embry, I mean, I like Embry. And she's so much happier than she has been. It's kind of nice seeing the old Leah again."
"Yeah. I like that, too."
Just then the door burst open as Leah came stalking in. As she slammed the door behind her, she cried out, "Why do mothers have to be so damn frustrating?"
Hearing the door slam, Bella came out of the kitchen to ask, "What's wrong?"
"I just had a fight with my mother over Embry staying the night," Leah answered angrily. "I'm almost 21 fucking years old and I still have to get my mommy's permission to have sex in my own room? Really?" Leah plopped herself down onto the couch as she huffed, "She knows we love each other. It's not like I'm some skank bringing home a different guy every night."
I watched the grimace on Seth's face as Leah said the word 'sex' and knew just what he was feeling as Bella sat down beside Leah to say, "Well, I hate to say it, but having some experience in this situation, it is her house, and she should have a say on what goes on. I mean, when Dad first found Jake in my room in his underwear after he spent the night with me, he kind of freaked and told Jake to sleep at home, and I understood that. It's his house, his rules."
"Yeah, but it didn't keep you from leaving the window open for me every night, " I reminded her with a grin.
"OK, I'm out of here. Let me know when you're done talking about all your sexcapdes and I'll come back," Seth huffed as he stomped over to rip open the front door and slam it behind him.
"What's with the runt?" Leah asked.
"Seriously, Leah? Would you want to sit here and listen to us talk about Seth having sex?" I asked.
"Yeah," she snorted. "Like that will ever happen."
"Whatever," I returned with an eyeroll. "Look Leah, I'm not getting in the middle of any argument with your mother over your sex life, but I think she has a point. Have sex with Embry if you want, but just don't do it right under her nose."
"Yeah, you can say that now that you have this nice, cozy house for you and your pregnant girlfriend to shack up together in," Leah shot back as she jumped off the couch. "I'm so sick of everyone else telling me what I can and can't do! I can't take it anymore, Jake! I feel like I'm going to explode!"
"Well, please don't do it here. Jared's dad just had the carpet cleaned," I deadpanned.
"Oooooh!" Leah screamed as she stomped to the door and tore it open then added, "I hate everyone on this fucking reservation!" before slamming the door behind her.
Looking over at Bella, I asked, "What did I say?"
Bella stood up to shake her head at me as she said, "Leah came here for some support and understanding, and all you can do is joke. How supportive is that, Jacob?" Then she turned on her heel and went into the bedroom and closed the door.
What the hell? Leah comes here pissed off at the world, and now I'm in trouble? Man, I will never understand women.
Much, much later, Bella finally came out of the bedroom, where I peeked in earlier to see she was napping, to a clean living room. "Wow, where is everything?" she asked with a yawn.
"I finished unpacking the boxes and moved the furniture to where you said you wanted it. I'm not sure I put everything away just where you wanted it, so if you want it moved, just let me know," I told her.
"Thanks. That was really nice of you."
"Yeah, well, I'm not the stupid unsupportive male that some people think I am, you know," I pouted.
Bella smiled as she walked over to put her arms around my waist. "I know you're not. I'm sorry I called you unsupportive."
"Just so you know, I called Leah and apologized for not listening to her. I let her call me a jerk and listened as she ranted some more then I told her I would run her patrol tonight so she could spend some time with Embry. How's that for being supportive?"
Bella crooked her finger and whispered, "Come here, you." I leaned down to accept her tender kiss and hear her say, "You are the best."
"Yeah?" I smiled.
"Mmm, hmm," she purred against my cheek.
"You haven't heard the best part yet."
"What's that?"
"Since we haven't had a chance to get groceries yet, I called my sister and asked her to make her famous tuna noodle casserole that you love so much. She dropped it off and it is in the oven. Dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes."
"I am such a lucky woman," Bella told me with a grin before planting her lips on mine.
"Maybe a little later, you will get even luckier," I said as my lips grazed her neck.
"Oh, I hope so," Bella breathed as her hands entwined into my hair.
I kissed her lips again then tearing myself away from her, I said, "Come on. I finally found the box with the dishes in it, so you can set the table while I put on the can of green beans that Rach brought over with the casserole."
Bella nodded her agreement and we headed to the kitchen. Once everything was ready we sat down at our little table in the kitchen with the two matching chairs and ate our first dinner at home. As we ate, we debated on whether to get a real Christmas tree or a fake one.
"Growing up in Phoenix, we always had an artificial tree because real ones were so expensive.
"We always just go out into the woods and cut one down for free," I told her with a smile.
"Yeah, but we put it up right after Thanksgiving and leave it up until New Year's. You can't do that with a real tree."
"That's crazy, Bells," I countered. "Why do you put it up so early?"
"I don't know. For some reason, Mom loves Christmas. She starts playing her Christmas CD's in like October," Bella explained as she scooped up the last the noodles still on her plate and put them in her mouth. "Mmm, that is so good. I owe your sister."
Smiling, I told her, "No, you don't, I do. I already told her I'd change the oil in her car for making the casserole."
Bella laughed at that as she pushed back from the table and got up to put her plate in the sink. "Well, then I guess I owe you."
Picking up my empty plate, I stood to place it in the sink next to Bella's as I grinned and said, "Oooh, I like that you owe me." Snaking my arms around her waist, I brushed my lips against her neck and loved the shiver that it sent through her. "When can I expect this favor that you owe me?"
"How about . . . tonight?"
"Aren't you lucky? I just happen to be free tonight." Then I surprised Bella by scooping her up into my arms and capturing her lips in a long, passionate kiss before I carried her back to our bedroom. Setting her on her feet, I smiled and asked, "How about now?"'
"Now is good." I watched in excitement as Bella gave me the sexiest smile I had ever seen as she reached for the hem of my t-shirt, yanking it quickly over my head before running her hands down my chest and over my shoulders.
The rest of our clothes quickly disappeared and soon we were laying on our bed, side by side, skin touching skin, lips on lips . . . it was everything I had ever wanted. I knew then I was going to enjoy just living life with Bella and our baby. It was my dream come true.
