A/N: Picks up where Feathers left off.

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Stephenie Meyer, the creator of Twilight.

BPOV

I never got the chance to apologize to Edward or his family.

Carlisle and Jasper met up with Sam and Paul, letting them know that they would be leaving. All of them. I was none too pleased to find this out after the fact but Sam vehemently claimed it had been at their request that I not know of their meeting until the Cullens had left town.

Jake had taken my hand, warming my fingers with his own and squeezed affectionately. "It's for the best, Bells."

I stared at him sadly because I knew he was right. But that didn't stop me from being angry with the Cullens. Especially, when Sam passed a message from Carlisle to me publicly.

"He said you didn't need to worry about the Volturi. That they would figure something out and take care of it."

And just as I expected, Jake snapped to attention. "Wait, what was that? Volturi? What does that mean, Bella?"

Great. The only time he called me Bella these days is when he was angry with me. And as I saw the understanding that I had indeed been keeping this secret from him dawn on his face, he was definitely angry.

I bit my lip nervously and stared at him pleadingly while I explained everything.

Jacob was livid but not enough to keep away when I launched into the Volturi's plans for me. He snarled under his breath and immediately plopped down next to me, taking me in his arms, holding me protectively, as if the Volturi might burst through the door at any moment.

I tried to soothe his anger, assure him that the Cullens would take care of it as promised. Jake didn't say anything for a while, didn't look at me. He just rubbed my right arm, comforting me as he could sense just how uneasy I was.

"Filthy bloodsuckers." He mumbled it under his breath but I still heard him.

I waited until the others were distracted, talking about being ready and discussing a new patrol schedule that made me wince. Jake wasn't getting enough sleep as it was because of me. Now, it looked like he wouldn't be getting any. And again, because of me. Sometimes, I really hated Sam.

I laid my head on Jake's shoulder and looked up at him. "Hey."

He glanced down at me, still obviously annoyed but his eyes had softened. "Hey."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Honestly, I didn't want you to worry."

His jaw clenched. "Doesn't matter. You should have told me. I shouldn't have had to find out through Sam and...them."

I held his hand in mine and played with his fingers. "I know. I'm sorry. I should have. But, Jake, they will take care of it. They will. They always said the Volturi's timetable works differently than ours. When they say soon, they could mean in ten years or fifty."

He let out an angry breath. "Yeah, I bet. They have all the time in the world, don't they?"

I lowered my eyes to his chest. I knew he was angry and he had every right to be. I just wished it wasn't at me.

He sensed my uneasiness and let out a quiet sigh. He gave me a little shake. "Hey."

I lifted my eyes to his.

He gave me a small tight smile. "How are you feeling?"

I shrugged lightly. "Honestly?" He waited. "Really tired." I burrowed my head into his neck, molding into him completely.

He watched me, concern marring his expression. "I should take you back to the house, Bells. Let you get some rest."

I shook my head, holding onto him tightly. "Please don't. I barely get to see you as it is. Now that I'm working full-time and you're on this INSANE PATROL SCHEDULE."

All of the wolves' heads snapped up in my direction and I narrowed my eyes into slits at Sam. Paul glared right back at me and I felt Jake's arms tighten around me further. I could have sworn I heard a slight growl come out of his mouth but everyone went back to what they were doing so maybe it was just me. I knew Paul pretty well by now and he would never ever back down from a fight. The word made me shudder when I thought back to how Jacob had stepped in to protect me from him before.

Jake, thinking I was cold, cupped my chin and forced me to meet his gaze. "Honey, I think I should take you home. You should sleep."

I wanted to protest but I knew it would only serve to further his irritation with me and I didn't want that. And, I really was tired. "Okay."

He smiled, pleased that I had agreed, and got to his feet, pulling me with him. "Sam." Everyone turned towards us again. "I'm taking her home."

Sam gave a brief nod. "Just make sure to be back by eight. You and Jared are on tonight."

There was something about the way Sam spoke to Jacob that just set my teeth on edge. He was so...commanding and arrogant. And I hated it.

Jacob nodded and turned to walk us towards the door when I stopped. He looked down at me puzzled. "Bells?"

I didn't know what was making me do it or even what it was that I was doing. Until I was. I eyed Sam dangerously. "Sam, switch Jacob's patrol. Let him take tomorrow's instead."

The room was dead silent as everyone's eyes went wide and then focused on Sam for his reaction. Truth be told, I thought they were all in shock. I was.

"Bella, I can't just switch it because you're asking me to. Everything is already set up-"

"I'm not asking," I snarled.

I felt Jacob tug on my hand to get me to look at him. When I didn't, I heard him whisper in my ear. "Bells, don't worry about it. Honey, you're exhausted. Let's just go. We have a few hours together, come on."

But I wouldn't be deterred. Something about this made me so angry I couldn't think straight. All I saw was Sam and somehow it clicked in my mind that he was the one keeping My Jacob away from me. "Look at him." I grabbed Jacob's face and yanked it forward. "Look at how tired he is. He needs sleep, Sam! You cannot keep running them ragged like this. The Cullens are gone. You can relax a bit, don't you think?"

Before Sam could respond, Paul stood up, his body twitching. He didn't seem to notice when Sam put his hand on his shoulder, almost as if holding him back. "No, we can't relax. Because of you, now we have even more bloodsuckers to worry about. Again. How dare you question how Sam runs this pack. You're not one of us! If it wasn't for Jake, you wouldn't even be here."

In a flash, I was facing Jacob's back and I could see faint tremors rolling through him. "Do not. Speak. To her. Like that," I heard him speak through gritted teeth, followed by a warning growl.

"How can you stand there and pretend this is all okay? That it's okay that she's here with us, putting us all in danger once again? Now, because of her, we have a whole vamp army looking to crawl up our asses and she just forgot to mention it? And now she's upset with how Sam is trying to protect everyone including her because it makes you a little tired? We're all tired! And we wouldn't be if it wasn't for her! Think about it, Black. She wouldn't even be here if that pansy bloodsucker hadn't left her again."

I felt the fury explode inside my veins and I rushed forward, past Jacob, trying to get to Paul. How dare he say that? Two strong arms grabbed me, holding me tight, and tried unsuccessfully to push me back to where I had been moments before. "Go to hell, Paul! I left him! I chose Jacob!"

Paul sneered and stepped forward, only to be stopped by Sam. Jacob's grip got even tighter and he pulled me back, keeping me there, fully shielding me. I nearly climbed onto his back, forcing him to hold me, and peeked over his massive shoulder.

"Yeah, only because you got some. We all know that leech wouldn't give you any."

A growl sounded and I had no idea it had come from me until everyone watched me, even Paul, in surprise. Surprise that quickly turned to weirded out. I couldn't blame them. What was wrong with me? I was neither vampire nor werewolf so why I was sounding like one?

Jacob snarled, echoing me, and I felt his body rocking underneath me. I was so enraged it didn't even enter my mind that I could be in danger. Though I knew deep down that my Jacob would never hurt me.

"Don't you dare say that to her! Ever again or so help me-"

"Enough! Paul, you're out of line. She is a part of this pack, no matter what you think, and it's time you accepted it. She's not going anywhere. Handle it." Paul scoffed but retreated back to where he had been sitting, taking deep breaths. I growled quietly, watching him. I honestly didn't care what he thought of me. He was entitled to his opinion and truthfully, I had unwittingly put them all in danger yet again. He had a point. But he was dead wrong on what happened between me and Jake. Dead wrong.

"Jacob, take Bella home. I'm going to have Quil take your patrol so you can have the night off. It's obvious that Bella...needs you. So, take her home and head back here in the morning. You'll take Quil's shift then."

Jacob nodded, dropped me to my feet, turned around, and hurried out the door with me in tow. Emily gave us a strange look as we passed. Well, she more or less gave me a strange look. I wasn't sure what to do so I just gave her a tiny wave of my hand on the way out.

Jake and I got into the Rabbit and he drove back to my house. The entire ride was silent except for Jacob's heavy breathing. His body was still quaking but not nearly as bad as it had been back at Emily's. I kept giving his fingers reassuring squeezes with my hand but he never took his eyes from the road. Where a ride from La Push to Forks would have taken me fifteen minutes, he made it in seven. How we didn't get pulled over I would never know.

Once he turned into my driveway where my truck sat, he threw the car into park, got out, yanked my door open, pulled me inside and slammed the front door closed. I was surprised it was not laying in pieces with the force he put behind it.

He gently pressed me up against the door and embraced me, dropping his nose into my hair. I heard him inhale deeply a few times and the tremors slowed to a stop. He must have been closer to phasing than I thought. As quickly as the anger had flared up, it left me, making me feel horrible for getting Jacob so angry and causing friction between him and his pack brothers. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my lips to his bare chest.

"I'm sorry," I murmured.

He didn't answer me. Instead, he buried his hands in my hair, pulled my head back and placed a rough kiss on my lips. Within moments, his tongue parted them and was sweeping against my own, seeking some response. When I began to kiss him back, it seemed to excite him and he kissed me hungrily, practically devouring me. He leaned down and picked me up, prompting me to wrap my legs around his waist. He pushed me into the door a little more and groaned into my mouth when I threaded my fingers into his short hair and tugged, pulling him closer to me.

Our breathing through our noses was harsh but neither of us cared. We just needed to be...closer. Jake seemed to read my mind because he moved us off of the door and carried me up the stairs.

He laid us down on my bed, taking great care not to crush me with his weight, and our kissing became frantic. He rolled us onto our sides and before I knew it, he was quickly unbuttoning my flannel shirt. He pulled away, gasping for air, and focused on his ministrations, intent on undressing me as fast as possible. My breathing was shallow and fast and I leaned forward, taking his bottom lip in my teeth and tugging.

He moaned and tried to kiss me again. I ignored him and instead moved to his neck. Before I knew what I was doing, I sunk my teeth deep into his skin.

He actually yelped and jumped back, staring at me in surprise. "Bells, what-"

I sat up, my shirt hanging off of one shoulder, my tank top exposed. "Jacob."

He rubbed the skin that was now forming into a bruise, watching me warily.

I held out my hand. "I need you."

He glanced back and forth between my hand and me, almost as if wondering whether he should. I guess he could sense just how badly I really did need him and that part of him won out because in the next second, he had taken my hand and was crawling back on top of me, laying me down on the bed underneath him. He hovered above me, all of his weight on his forearms, as he studied me intently. I smiled up at him apologetically. "Sorry. I guess, I just got a little...overly enthused."

He chuckled and shook his head, flashing those brilliant white teeth. "Bells, what am I going to do with you?"

I reached up and took his ear lobe between my teeth, alternately nibbling, licking and sucking on the skin. "Hopefully, what you were about to do before I so rudely interrupted you." I extended my knee and rubbed my thigh slowly in between his legs.

Sure enough, I heard a sharp intake of breath next to me and before I knew it, I was flat on my back, staring up at him again. He was watching me hungrily and leaned in. He skimmed his nose along my left cheek, making sure to return to nip at my jawline before moving down to my neck. "I've missed you so much, honey."

I closed my eyes and tilted my head to give him better access. I licked my lips and moaned when he found that spot and honed in on it with his one-track minded tongue. I bit my lip and shut my eyes tighter when I felt teeth scrape against the skin gently. "I-I've missed you, too."

I felt him smile wickedly against me, obviously satisfied at causing my shortness of breath, yet again. Well, we couldn't have that, now could we?

"Jake, come here." He lifted his head and I kissed him before leading his hand back to the buttons on my shirt. "No more teasing."

I stared up at him meaningfully and he nodded, his eyes much blacker than normal. He continued to undress me and I held him close, kissing his neck, his cheek, his ear, as he did. I scratched my nails down his back before letting my fingers find their way to the enclosures on his jeans and undoing them myself.

As I worked on him, he kissed me deeply, rubbing my sides, hiking my tank top higher and higher as he did, his warm fingers brushing just underneath my rib cage. "I love you."

I found my eyes tearing up at his words. No matter how often he said them, no matter that we had been together a few weeks now, no matter that it had been proven to both of us that we belonged together, it still surprised me every time I heard the words. How could this incredible, no scratch that, wonderful and amazing person love me? I put him through hell, especially in the last week or so, and yet every time he said them, I could hear the pure love and devotion that saturated the heartfelt expression.

And every time it made me want to cry, especially when I thought back to how I had almost walked away from this, how I had almost given him up, so easily. The memories would stir pain inside my chest and it would just make the mistiness in my eyes worse until Jake would notice and then ask me what was wrong. I never told him, I never needed to. He would always know and he would hold me close, kissing my temple and stroking my hair, whispering, "The past doesn't matter anymore. We're together now and that's all that matters."

And every time, I would hold him to me tighter, thanking God or whoever was responsible for bringing My Jacob back to me.

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.

.

"What time is Charlie supposed to be home?"

I laughed, feeling his mumble tickle my bare stomach. "Luckily for you, not until 11 or so."

He glanced over at the clock on my dresser, noting that it was only six thirty. "Good." He yawned and laid his head back down on my stomach.

I rubbed his back and closed my eyes. I was so at peace in this moment. A peace that was shattered a moment later when I heard Jake's surprised exclaim.

"Wow."

"What?" I murmured.

"The smell is still there. It hasn't changed. If anything, it's gotten stronger."

My eyes flipped open and I smacked him in the head. He winced but I knew it was more to do with the fact that I was angry rather than me hurting him. If only I could. Where was Charlie's baseball bat when I needed it? Maybe I should start keeping it under my bed. He's got a gun, I should have the bat.

"What?"

I scoffed and pushed him away, crossing my arms. "What do you mean, what?"

He stared up at me questioningly. "Oh-kay...was it something I said?"

I smacked his head again. "What do you think?"

He didn't flinch so I picked up the pillow next to me and kept hitting him over the head with it until he held his hands up.

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry. Truce."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Sorry about what?"

He looked relieved that I had stopped. "Sorry about what I said."

"Why?"

"Because it was wrong."

"What was it that you said that was wrong?"

He bit his lip and stared at me, begging with his eyes for mercy. "That...um...well, I guess...all of it?"

I swung the pillow harder at his head. "All of it? You don't even know what you said that was wrong? Which means you don't think it was wrong, do you?"

He lifted his hands up again. "Okay, you got me. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, I bet you are," I growled before tossing the pillow next to me and laying back down, covering myself with the sheets and blanket and turning my back to him.

A minute later, I felt a timid press of his forehead against my right shoulder. "I'm sorry, Bells. I didn't mean to make you upset. I just didn't think before I spoke, I guess."

I whirled on him in a flash. "You guess?" I went to reach for the pillow again when he snatched it out of my grasp and hid it behind him. "Give it back."

"Not until you tell me why what I said got you so upset and stop treating the pillow as a weapon."

I huffed and turned back over.

I felt his warm arms wrap around me and as much as I wanted to continue being angry with him, I wanted him to hold me that much more. I melted back into him, sighing, and closed my eyes as I felt him kiss the juncture between my neck and my shoulder. "Talk to me, Bells," he murmured.

"When you say that, it makes me think...maybe I'm...that maybe I'm...not clean or something. Especially, when you're near..." I couldn't finish the sentence. My face felt more than hot enough.

Understanding began to dawn on him and he kissed my neck. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "That's not how I meant it. At all."

"I know but when you say it like that, especially after everything...it makes it sound like you did."

He kissed the side of my head gently. "Never, honey. It was stupid of me to say it without realizing that was what you would think but I swear it's not how I meant it. That smell-"

"Can you use a different word, please?" I hissed.

He kissed me again before placing his chin on my shoulder. "Okay, that scent has nothing to do with you needing to take a shower or...anything like that. It's more of an overall thing."

I turned in his arms, frowning at him. "What do you mean?"

He kissed my nose. "It's like I told you before, Bells. You still smell the same, it's just...heightened, in a way. And it just keeps getting stronger."

I bit my lip nervously. "What do you think it means?"

He kissed me before rubbing our noses together. "I don't know, but I don't think it's anything bad. I wish you'd let me talk to Sam about it and see what he thinks."

My face went red and I buried my face into his neck. "I really wish you wouldn't. Talk about embarrassing."

"It's not like that, Bells. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. He's going to hear it once we're phased together, anyway."

I scowled. "I hate your wolfy side sometimes."

I heard his laughter rumbling deep in his chest. "I thought you said you liked me better as a wolf because I couldn't talk."

I pulled back and glared at his arched brows and the amused glint in his dark eyes. "And sometimes, like right now, I still do."

He laughed again and hugged me tighter. "I'll make you a deal, if it's still like this in a couple of days, I'm talking to Sam."

"Jake," I whined.

"Bells, it's been a week already. And the only reason I didn't tell him then, besides you, is because you don't seem to be sick."

"No, just tired," I grumbled before yawning.

"Yeah, and pissier."

My eyes widened and I glanced up at him, wondering if he was suicidal or just plain stupid.

Before I could open my mouth, he cut me off and rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on. You know I'm right. I mean, you taking on Sam? And Paul? Really?"

I was going to make an extremely smart comeback but then thought better of it. I was really too tired to argue and I just wanted him to hold me. It wasn't too often anymore that I got him to myself like this. And he was tired himself, I could see it. He really needed to rest, so much more than me.

I shrugged and burrowed my head into his chest. "Sam is pushing you too hard. You need your sleep, Jake. And don't even try to deny it."

He sighed and rubbed my back. "Bells, you shouldn't worry about me so much. I'll be fine. I always am."

I lifted my head to look at him. "Jake, I know you are but you still need to rest every once in a while. The more sleep you lose, the more I worry. That's not going to change. You've got dark circles under your eyes, baby."

I trailed them gently with my fingers and he stared at me in adoration. I blushed and looked down. "What?"

"You just called me baby," he whispered.

I bit my lip again. Whoops. I had always vowed that Jake and I would never become that couple that had all of the worst pet names in history. There would be no Pooh Bears or Lovemuffins or Snuggles or any of that nonsense. Jake's Honeys were enough and they were only allowed because he meant them purely as my own personal endearment. He had always called me honey, even before we were together, so it was okay in my book. But, others were a no-no and he knew it. And now, here I was, calling him baby. As mortified as I was at the mental slip, though, it still somehow felt...right to be calling him that. Go figure.

"Oh...um...well...sorry?"

I looked up at him hopefully and he reached up and kissed me. "I love you," He nuzzled my cheek and smirked. "Pooh Bear."

I smacked his chest and he laughed. "Oh God."

"So, does this mean the pet names gate has officially been opened?"

I smacked him again, harder this time. I ignored the stinging in my hand and held up a finger, poking it in his chest. "Jacob Black, don't you dare. I just...forgot, for a second. That's all."

His smirk got wider and he bit his lip to keep from laughing again. "Uh huh. Funny what happens when you let yourself stop thinking for a bit and just feel." He winked and it made me smile but blush and I buried my face into his neck. Of course, he was referring to how I knew I loved him, how I chose him, really most of our relationship. Of course.

"Shut up, Jake."

"Whatever you say, Lovemuffin."

"Jake," I growled in warning.

I felt him shake as he laughed silently. He pulled his fingers through my hair in soothing strokes and nuzzled me before cuddling me completely. The heat combined with his gentle touches were too much and my eyes started to close. "So, do we have a deal?"

I pressed my lips together tightly. He knew me too well. Damn him. "If it doesn't go away in a few days, you'll talk to Sam about it," I mumbled sleepily.

"Yep."

"Okay." I didn't bother fighting it. What was the point? I was too tired.

He kissed my head and laid his cheek on top of my hair. "Get some sleep, Bells."

"You, too," I yawned.

I heard him yawn in response and I smiled. No matter what Jacob said, I also knew him well.

"Right behind you, honey."

I kissed his chest softly before laying my forehead to the burning skin, adjusting to the temperature like always and falling asleep.

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By the time Charlie came home, Jake and I were fully dressed and had moved downstairs to watch an old movie on TV.

We both smiled and said hello as he walked in, eyeing us suspiciously, making a show of taking his coat off, wittingly flashing his gun belt every chance he got. He sat in the recliner, glancing at the screen.

"What are you two watching?"

"Some old movie that just came on."

Charlie nodded. "Anything good?"

"I'm not sure of the title but Cary Grant's in it."

"Huh. Say, Jake, isn't it kind of late for you to be out on a school night?"

Jake flashed his dazzling smile at my dad like he always did whenever Charlie tried to pull off the overprotective father/cop routine with him. As much as Charlie may have been rooting for Jacob back in the day, once he and I were officially together, Charlie was just as strict with him as he had been with Edward. Must be a father thing.

"Actually, I was hanging out with Bells until you got home. I didn't want her to be alone. I was going to head back to the rez once you got here but my dad called and said I might as well stay over and just head home to change clothes in the morning before going to school. He doesn't want me driving this late. Would that be okay with you?"

I watched both Jake and my dad as he went through his whole show of mulling it over. I tried to imagine Edward sitting here, saying this to him as an excuse to spend the night with me and wondering just what his response would be then. Probably a bullet that would bounce off of his statuesque body which would have resulted in a fun night of explanations that I never wanted to give.

Charlie shrugged much to my amazement. Wow, he really did love Jake. Then again, Jake, in his eyes, didn't break up with me, leaving behind a daughter Charlie didn't recognize who had frightened him to death to go running off to Italy. So, I guess Jake would win out in that round. "Of course. You're welcome here anytime, kid."

Jake grinned happily and squeezed me. "Thanks."

"On the couch." Charlie turned and narrowed his eyes meaningfully.

Guess it was just a father thing.

Jake bit his lip and nodded. "Absolutely."

Charlie smiled triumphantly and turned back to the television screen, that wicked gleam in his eyes, as if he had broken up some secret plot of mine and Jake's to have nonstop sex up in my room after he had fallen asleep.

If only he knew...

And I hoped fervently that he never would. That was all I needed. Another uncomfortable sex talk with Charlie. Not to mention he would shoot Jake and then I would definitely have to explain that one. I shuddered at the thought. Jake held me closer and rubbed my upper arm subconsciously as we watched Cary Grant pace the boat incessantly.

I laid my head on his shoulder and he kissed my hair, oblivious to Charlie's small smile at the gesture that I inconspicuously caught out of the corner of my eye. I smiled myself and snuggled up to Jake.

Yep, definitely a father thing.

First written/posted: 11/27/10

Re-edited: 12/1/19