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

I paced the living room incessantly, paying no attention whatsoever to the television that was talking at me. I kept glancing at the clock and each time I would sigh. Time was going so slowly today, almost as if it knew it was killing me with its refusal to move forward to the hour I wanted.

I had already cleaned the kitchen twice, vacuumed the living room, scrubbed the bathroom down, and rearranged my book collection. And yet, 3:00 was still not here. I looked at the clock one more time to confirm.

12:53 blared back at me. Yep, still not 3:00.

I was restless. Today was my one day off since I would be working on Saturday until close. And I was not enjoying it like I should. Instead, I was worrying the floor nonstop.

Something about Jacob going out on patrol today after school made me anxious. I couldn't understand why. I was not afraid that he would come across any vampires, not like I had been the first few weeks after the wedding. No, now it was...some different feeling. I didn't know what it was and I didn't like it. All I knew was that I wanted Jacob here with me. And as soon as he got home to change, I was going to call him and tell him I wanted to see him.

I paced a couple of more times when a knock sounded on the front door. I glanced at the clock and sure enough the time hadn't changed. I had no idea who it could be.

I got to the door and slowly opened it to reveal a smiling Jacob. I gasped in surprise.

"Hi, honey."

He didn't get a chance to say anything more because in the next second I had run into his arms, hugging him tightly. Once I felt his arms wrap around me, just like that the uneasiness melted away. "Jacob," I breathed.

He chuckled and pulled back, staring at me. "Miss me?"

I smiled and hugged him again. "Always."

A minute later, he chuckled again. "Uh, Bells? Can I get in the door? Then you can jump on me all you like." I rolled my eyes. I could just hear the smirk in his suggestive meaning.

I released him and grabbed his hand, leading him inside. "Sure, sure."

Once the door was closed, he had me up against the wall, kissing me frantically, his hands roaming my body carefully, meaningfully. I was a tad uncomfortable, which was rare for me during these moments since I usually craved them, but I had to push him back slightly so he could get the message. And he did.

He jumped back, gasping for air. "Sorry, Bells. I didn't mean to-"

I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the living room and shoved him down on the couch before I crawled into his lap, my knees on either side of him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled. "It's okay. The wall and I just weren't meshing well."

He placed his hands on my back and held me to him. "Sorry, I-"

I smirked. "Carry on." I then attacked his mouth eagerly.

I felt his hands slip underneath my shirt and begin to glide along my skin. A few weeks ago, this would not have been okay. And even after my wedding night, I still would have thought he would be trying to cop a feel or make me go insane with need for him or both. But, things were different now and I knew what he was really doing.

Once his hands got done exploring my back, they moved to my front, always staying near my rib cage, trailing down my left calculatedly before doing the same to my right. He was checking me, making sure I was unharmed. Another effect of the imprint, Jake always felt the need to make sure I was alright with his own hands after we had been separated for a while. It always embarrassed him, his intense need to do this check on me, but I didn't mind it. I always gave myself over and remained patient during his examinations. If it made him feel better, then it was fine by me.

When I felt his hands slide out from underneath my shirt and stray to my covered thighs, I broke the kiss and put my forehead to his. "Do I pass the test?"

He watched me intently, his gaze a piercing one, almost as if he was trying to see what was going on inside my head. The action reminded me of someone past but unlike him, Jacob had full unbridled access to me. Everything I was thinking, everything I was feeling was always bared to him, whether I wanted it to be or not. He had always been able to read me well, even before the imprint.

"You needed me today."

I nodded against him and lifted his right hand to my cheek. "Yes, but not because I was hurt."

He stroked my cheek before tousling his fingers in my hair and pulling them through repeatedly in a soothing motion. My eyes drifted closed. He knew I loved it when he did that. "Then, why? Why were you so scared? Another second and I was going to charge over here and bust the door down. The only thing keeping me from doing it was that I knew Jared was here and he said you were okay."

My eyes opened wide. "Jared was here?"

He nodded and I buried my face in his neck as he rubbed my back. "I'm sorry, Jake. I'm trying. I don't know why but...it really bothers me that I don't get to see you more. I don't like that Sam is making you patrol this much. I don't like that last night you couldn't even stop by for five minutes."

"Honey, I wanted to be here. I tried to-"

My head snapped up and I watched him sadly, trailing my fingers gently along the circles under his eyes. "I know you did. I could tell. But, even if you had gone home to get some sleep instead, that would have been better. But you couldn't." He opened his mouth to protest but I cut him off. "Don't even. I can feel how tired you are right now."

He closed his mouth and kissed my forehead. He knew he couldn't deny it. Even if we weren't imprinted, I would still be able to tell just by the sight of him. By the slow drag in his walk, by the way he blinked at me tiredly as I spoke, the way I felt his body relax under mine when he pulled us down into a lying position with him under me. I knew. He was exhausted and Sam was running him right into the ground. The thought made my teeth clench.

I sighed and kissed his nose before laying my head down on his chest, burrowing into his neck once again, deeply inhaling and relaxing as his calming scent washed over me. "I'm sorry, Jake. I don't know what's wrong with me lately. I don't mean to be so...clingy. I don't know, lately I just...hate being away from you for so long." I fingered the collar of his t-shirt. "I guess that's why you're not in school."

He didn't say anything, just kissed the top of my head.

I drew circles on his chest. "I'm sorry. I'll try to be better, I promise. I'm going on about Sam but really I'm not helping either. I'm sorry."

He shrugged and yawned. "School's for the birds, Bells. It's fine. Honestly, it was nice to get out of there and come see you. I'm just glad you're okay."

I lifted myself until I was staring down into his dark eyes, my lips very near to his. "School is not for the birds. It's important." He rolled his eyes and I slapped his chest. "I mean it, Jake."

He smirked up at me. "What's the big deal? I have the old werewolf excuse, remember? And if anything, you'll help me with my paper."

That stopped me. "Paper?"

He yawned again. "Yeah, something about some book we're reading in class. I don't even remember the name. Honestly, I barely paid attention. I'll find out and get back to you. Now, c'mere." He pulled me down to him and kissed me deeply. I could tell he wanted to continue but he was just too tired. And I wanted nothing more than for him to get some much needed rest so I didn't push.

He nuzzled my cheek and pulled me closer. He buried his nose in my hair and closed his eyes, inhaling. "Mmmm. Bells?"

"Yeah?"

"I'd like to take you out tonight, if that's okay."

My brows knitted together in confusion. "Don't you have to patrol?"

He shook his head. "No, I switched with Emb. I'm going to take his late night shift."

A little whine escaped the back of my throat. "Jake..."

"Bells, come on. I've been missing you, too, you know."

I laid down on his chest. "I know, but you have school again tomorrow. Why don't we wait until the weekend? We'll do a date then."

And just as I expected, he refused. "Nope. You're working and besides patrols, I'm gonna be holed up with those cars in the garage. Come on, Bells, please?"

I didn't say anything. I really didn't want him to lose more sleep. Especially, because of me.

"You're going to make me beg? Really, Bells?"

I hid my smile in his chest and stifled my giggle. "On one condition."

"What's that?"

I lifted my head to look up at him. "You take a nap with me."

He arched an eyebrow. "When? Tonight?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes. Tonight. No, silly. Now. You're out of school, you don't have to rush home or go on patrol or anything, do you?"

"No."

"Then take a nap with me."

He glanced around skeptically. "Here?"

I rolled my eyes again and grabbed his hand, getting up. He followed and I led him upstairs to my room. He went to close my door when I stopped him. "Uh uh. You know the drill. If Charlie comes home while we're asleep, it's better if the door is open."

He shrugged and left it alone. He scooped me up into his arms, making me shriek in surprise, and then dropped me onto the bed unceremoniously. I grabbed my pillow and hit him with it. "Jerk."

He snatched it and fell onto the bed, face first into the pillow. "You love me."

I shoved him, not moving him one inch and crossed my arms. "Yeah, sure," I mumbled under my breath.

A second later, his arm flashed out and pulled me into him. I curled into his side and he turned his head to look at me. "So, movies tonight?"

I smirked. "Like I have a choice."

"Well, I think Face Punch is out of theaters but I'm sure we could find something that sucks just as much. You're good at that."

I smacked his arm and he laughed. "Shut up. Now, be good and go to sleep."

This time, he rolled his eyes. "Yes, Mom."

I smacked him again for good measure.

He rolled me onto my back and snuggled into me, keeping his head on my chest, right above my heart. Another habit he had formed as of late. And each time, he became serious and said things that always made me melt inside.

This time he didn't disappoint. "That's the best sound I've ever heard."

I chuckled as I played with his hair. "I bet."

"Seriously, Bells. You have no idea how scared I was that I wouldn't get to hear it ever again."

I kissed his head and hugged him tight. "You no longer need to be scared."

"I know." He lifted his head and kissed me before laying back down, pulling me closer into him. "And I love it that much more."

Silence passed as I rubbed his back and I could feel his breathing even out into slower deeper intervals. I was convinced that he was asleep until I heard him mumble to me sleepily, "I love you, Bella."

I smiled and kissed his head again. "I love you, too, Jake."

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We both stood in front of the theater, hands entwined, as we stared up at the board listing what movies were available to us.

"Tangled, what is that?"

"No way am I going to watch a kids' movie."

"Oh, that's what it is? Okay then, how about...Burlesque?"

"A chick flick and a musical? Awesome."

I sighed in frustration. Sometimes, Jacob really irritated me. He would shoot down everything I came up with but wouldn't offer any choices of his own. "Okay. What's Love and Other Drugs about?"

"Love and drugs?"

I glowered at him and almost as if he knew I was at the aforementioned limit, he smiled and began to play nice. "Kidding. I don't know but someone said the girl gets naked and there's a lot of sex scenes. You know, on second thought-"

"Pass!"

He ignored my glare and moved on, almost as if it didn't phase him. "Alright, what about...Due Date? Quil said it was pretty funny."

"Wait, wait, wait. I tell you that Sam and Emily both said Harry Potter was amazing and I wanted to see it and you didn't trust them but Quil, Quil of all people who thinks farts in five minute intervals are funny, says something's funny and you trust him enough to see it?"

He turned to stare at me helplessly. "Bells, come on. Please don't go make me see that stupid wizard movie. Please. They're running around yelling with a bunch of wands, making pretty light shows, and I do not want to pay to see that. There's no fight scenes or explosions."

I arched a brow at him. "Have you seen Harry Potter?"

He gave me the sad puppy dog look. I hated it when he did that. He always got his way and he knew it. Damn him. "Come on."

Considering that he had put up with my choice of films the last time we were at the movies, I acquiesced. "Okay, but when it comes out on DVD, we're renting it. I would like to see the pretty light shows and yelling with a bunch of wands." He grinned wide and I rolled my eyes for what felt like the millionth time in the last ten minutes. "Alright, pick something."

His mouth dropped in shock. "You're letting me choose?"

"Yes. Just not that...sex movie." I felt my cheeks heat up and I didn't miss his wicked grin before he turned to look at the marquee again.

"Whatever you say, honey. Okay, I'm going to go with...Secretariat."

My eyes widened as he eagerly pulled me over to the ticket window. "Secretariat? Wait, don't you want to see something with some car crashes and gun fire or something? You do realize I'm letting you pick whatever you want, right?"

He smiled happily at the lady printing up the tickets. "Yep."

"Here you go. Theater 9 is on your right when you walk in. Enjoy the show."

Jake nodded amiably. "Thanks." And then he pulled a very disturbed me into the lobby with him.

I reached up with my free hand and placed it on his forehead. Yep, still burning to the touch. Jake looked at me strangely. "Hmm, you feel normal."

He swatted my hand away and walked us over to the snack stand.

"Jake?"

He eyed the food and I could see his mouth watering already. Typical werewolf.

"You do realize you picked the movie about a racehorse, don't you?"

He nodded and continued to watch the pretzels revolving around inside the container on the counter as we waited on the line.

"Unbelievable. You are willing to go watch the horse movie but I suggest Harry Potter and it's vetoed before I even finish saying it."

"Yeah, 'cause it's girly."

I gaped at him. "And the movie you chose isn't?"

He smirked. "It totally is."

I stared at him in disbelief and he laughed, pulling me into a hug. "Trust me, Bells. This will be a good one." When my expression didn't change, he sighed and rolled his eyes. "If it's really that big a deal, I'll ask Emb to download Hairy Potty for you and put it onto a DVD."

I smacked him in the chest at the same time the older couple in front of us turned around. Jake turned towards me and pointed his finger in warning. "And that's illegal which is why we are going to come back and pay the 26 bucks to see it."

I smirked myself. "Really? You promise?"

He grimaced. "Yeah. Promise."

I kissed his cheek happily.

The older couple smiled and turned around. Jake bent down to whisper in my ear. "Bells, I'll get you the DVD and we'll watch it this weekend if you lay off of me about it tonight, deal?"

I laid my head on his chest. "Deal." He kissed the top of my head.

The line moved again and now the couple in front of us were being served.

"Why did you pick Secretariat?" I whispered.

"Because you wanted to see Harry Potter," he whispered back.

I lifted my head to look at him in confusion. He grinned and leaned down. "I wasn't going to take you to a movie you wanted to see." I glared at him and he chuckled before placing his lips at my ear. "I don't want your attention on the screen."

He drew back and wriggled his eyebrows playfully. I gasped and slapped his chest, getting his meaning. I buried my red face into his chest as he chuckled again, kissing my hair. Of course, I should have known. This was Jake, after all. He loved to find new places to make out with me in.

Jake glanced up at the board as the other couple were paying. "Want anything?"

"No, I'm okay. I'm still full from dinner. Thanks, though. Actually, I'm going to run to the bathroom quick."

Jake groaned. "Again? Bells, you just did before we left the restaurant."

I could feel my cheeks flush. "Well, I have to go again. What do you care?"

He heard the sharp edge in my voice and held his hands up. "You're right. I'm sorry. Go ahead. I'll wait for you right over there." He nodded his head towards the group of seats right near the bathroom's entrance.

I smiled at him. "Okay." I lifted up on my toes and kissed him before walking away.

Once I was finished, I quickly washed my hands and headed out. And I bumped right into someone coming out from the men's room.

"Sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going."

The blonde man turned around and it was none other than Mike Newton. "Bella?"

I studied him. "Mike?"

He laughed and gave me a hug. "Yeah! How have you been?"

I was slightly uncomfortable and meekly hugged him back but before he could deepen it, I pulled back. "I'm doing good. How about you?"

He shrugged, smiling. "Can't complain." And he really couldn't. I hadn't seen him in little over a month, not since my doomed wedding to Edward, but he looked good. His hair was cut, he looked like he was putting on a little muscle, filling out, not so lanky as he once was, and he seemed...decently attractive. Weird. "How about you? I haven't seen you since- I haven't seen you in a while."

I smiled, not paying attention to the fact that he was trying to be tactful about the whole Edward situation, and thought back on my last month. "Really good."

"Yeah, you know my mom told me you were back working at the store."

I bit my lip and dug my hands into my back pockets. "Oh?"

He smiled wide.

I nodded. "Yeah. It was really nice of her to give me my old job back."

He chuckled. "Well, she's always liked you."

I couldn't help but blush. "So, who are you here with?"

"A couple of buddies of mine wanted to see Due Date. They heard it was really funny and we were looking to avoid papers so here we are." We both laughed. I was immediately grateful for Jake's wicked way of thinking and for choosing another film. "How about you?"

"Oh, I'm actually here with Jacob Black. You remember him, right?"

I saw a little bit of the light go out in his face. Yep, he was still the same old Mike. "Barely. That's cool, you hanging out with him. Isn't he like a couple of years younger than us? I mean, he's still in high school, right?"

I didn't like the way this conversation was going. I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes slightly. "He's a senior."

Mike shrugged amiably. "Right. You know, Bella, you should come hang out with me on campus. They have parties all the time and stuff. Tyler's there and Lauren, you'd have a great time."

I wanted to roll my eyes but bit my lip instead. Right, like I would have fun with Lauren there or even him. I could see his gaze roving over my body out of the corner of my eye when he thought I wasn't looking. While his physical appearance might have changed, he certainly hadn't. "Thanks, but I work every night until close and Saturday. Sunday's really the only day I get with Jake."

He looked surprised. "Oh, so you and he...?"

I smiled and nodded. He ran a hand through his short hair. "Oh, that's cool. I mean, kind of quick but wow, yeah, I mean, I guess if it wasn't Cullen, it was going to be him, right?"

My jaw dropped. Did he really just say that? To me? I could feel the burning in my face and before I could respond, Jake was at my side.

Mike looked just as shocked as I at his sudden appearance. "Hey."

Jake, who usually got a kick out of torturing Mike and watching him squirm, much to my chagrin, did not crack a smile or even acknowledge his greeting. Instead, a dark expression had settled on his features. Very dark and...angry.

"What's taking you so long?"

It took me a minute to figure out that he was talking to me. "Um, nothing. I just ran into Mike here and we were catching up. Jake, you remember Mike Newton, don't you?"

"Yeah. Pleasure."

I stared at his face, horrified. He looked enraged and I could see his outline starting to become hazy as his body shook. What on earth? Was he about to...phase?

He glared at Mike and Mike glared right back surprisingly. Jake's shaking became worse and I knew I had to do something to calm him down immediately.

I took one of the sodas out of his hand and then took it in my own, squeezing his fingers. "Jake," I whispered.

He didn't look at me, didn't respond. I had to get him out of there. I turned back to Mike and gave him a strained smile. "Mike, it was good seeing you. Have fun at the movie and I'm sure I'll see you around at some point."

Jake's grip tightened at my words and I nearly yelped in pain. I bit my lip and winced instead.

Mike's eyes darted back and forth between Jake and I but eventually he gave in. "Yeah, I'll see you around. Good to see you again."

I nearly winced again just at the suggestive meaning he had provided. And sure enough, Jake's grip tightened further and I brought the straw of the soda I was carrying to my lips just to have something to bite on.

I couldn't wait anymore. Jake was shaking so much now Mike and everyone else could see it plain as day.

"Hey, is he okay?"

"Yep. He's fine." I turned and led Jake away. He didn't want to follow so it was tougher than it should have been but eventually he did. When we were far enough away, I looked back and saw the shaking had gone down some, though still there. His eyes were still fixed on the spot where Mike, presumably, had disappeared into Theater 4.

"Jake?"

He still didn't look at me. I was worried now. Why had he been so jealous? I was with him.

"Jacob?"

Only then did he turn back towards me.

I tried to smile. "You still want to see the movie?" I figured once we were inside the theater, we could talk and I could calm him down. Or kiss him until he forgot all about Mike. Either one.

He glanced down at the food items in the crook of his arm and then at me and then back towards where Mike had gone. I felt his grip tighten even more on my hand and this time I cried out against my will.

His head snapped back towards me and the few people around us stopped to stare. Jake's eyes fell to our joined hands and then traveled back up to my eyes that were tearing, the pain was so intense. He let go and I slowly retracted my hand, trying to hide it behind the soda so the people watching us couldn't see.

I heard a sound next to me and turned to see Jake dumping all of the food in the trash except a package of Twizzlers. He handed those to me and then he put his hand on the small of my back, urging me gently towards the front entrance, glaring at the busybodies as we passed.

Once we were outside, he led me off to the side to where we would have a little privacy and then lightly pressed me up against the wall. He started to kiss me but then his face screwed up in disgust and he pulled away, shaking worse than before. "I can't. I can't."

I couldn't understand what was happening. "What?"

He shook his head, not even looking at me. I saw him taking deep breaths, trying to calm down, but it wasn't working. "I can't. I have to talk to Sam. I know you didn't want me to but I have to. Right now. This can't wait." He dug into his pocket and handed me the keys, then his wallet. "You have to drive the car back. I'm going to run."

My eyes widened. What was going on? "Jake, wait. What? Why? Why are you leaving me here? What happened in there? Did I miss something?"

He still didn't look my way. He continued to mutter, almost talking to himself as if I wasn't there. "I'll phase and get one of the guys to come get you if you want. I can't. I can't. I can't do it." He placed his bunched fists to his temple, almost as if he was willing the wolf to stay in control. Now, I was scared for him.

I laid a soothing hand on his cheek. "Shh. It's okay, Jake. It's okay."

He let out a whine and went to turn into my hand, nuzzling it, when he started trembling and jumped back. "I have to go," he said through gritted teeth, unwilling to look at me.

I didn't know why but I felt my eyes tearing up again. I knew it was stupid and wouldn't help the situation but I was upset at this turn of events. We had a nice dinner and were going to see a movie, our first official date ever, and now it was all for naught. I didn't understand any of it. Jake was obviously not in a position to explain.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what I did but I'm sorry." He watched painfully as the tears released themselves down my cheeks. He extended his finger to catch them but then thought better of it and pulled it away, making more tears drop.

"Bells, I...your hand. Is it broken?"

I flexed it and winced slightly but it was fine. "No," I sniffled.

"Bells, look at me."

I did, wondering what it was that I had done so wrong that he was now fighting with himself for control.

"Stay very still and do not say a word. Understand?"

I nodded.

He carefully took a step forward and reached out for my hand. I was going to offer it to him, knowing he would want to examine it, but remembered his instructions and thought better of it. He gingerly lifted it and slowly turned it so he could bring the inside of my wrist to his lips, pulling the sleeve of my hoodie back. He kissed the skin reverently and then inhaled along the line of my arm before stopping and then dropping it like he'd been burned. By the time I registered what had happened, he was already twenty feet away from me, his body line blurring.

"I'm not in control. And I can't be around you. Not like this. I won't hurt you. You need to drive home. I'll phase and run with you, inside the trees near the road."

I surged a step forward and he took a step backwards. It hurt to see. "Jake, I know you won't hurt me."

"No, you don't."

I got angry then. I understood he needed to calm down but he was not giving me anything to work with and I was tired of trying to piece it all together myself. "Yes, I do, Jacob. Stop this! Talk to me! Don't just throw your keys at me and tell me to drive home by myself for two hours while you just coast next to me without telling me what's going on. Not happening!"

I could see him shake violently at my words. I was pushing him and I needed to stop. His eyes flashed angrily and he snarled at me. "Don't you get it? I smell him all over you! And with your scent right now, as thick as it is, it's driving me crazy! Every instinct I have is screaming at me to go hunt him down and rip him to shreds! And I'm trying not to do that!"

I covered my mouth fearfully. Why would Mike's scent set him off? He had smelled worse scents on me before and it had made him want to phase sometimes but he had learned to control it. If he could handle the vampire stench, why would Mike's be the one to bring him to the brink of losing control?

The answer was clear. It was me. My scent.

I wiped my cheeks and nodded, knowing there was nothing I could do but listen to him and give him the time he needed. I turned and started to head towards the area he had parked the car in.

"Bella,"

I stopped. I felt his fingertips graze my hair. "I'm sorry." I turned around but he was already gone.

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Jake had kept his word and every few miles or so I would see a flash of reddish brown on the side of the road by the trees, just letting me know he was there.

By the time I got to Forks, I was pretty angry. By the time I pulled into my driveway, I was furious. I tossed the keys to the floor like always and got out of the car, slamming the door, standing there, waiting.

Nothing.

I stormed into the house and stomped up the stairs, ignoring Charlie's questioning of why I was home so early from his recliner in the living room. I went straight into the bathroom and slammed the door.

Within seconds, I was undressed and stepping inside the warm shower. I turned the faucet to hot, loving the feel of the heat burn away the chill that had begun to set into my skin. I grabbed my shampoo and went to work.

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I wrapped my towel around me after squeezing the excess water out of my hair and stepped out of the shower. I heard a knock on the door and quickly glanced at the knob to make sure I had locked it. Thankfully, I had.

"Bells?"

"Yeah, Dad?"

"You okay?"

I sighed quietly. "Um, yeah, I'm okay. Sorry about before, I was just...mad."

"You and Jake have a fight?"

I grabbed my lotion and bit my lip. "Dad, nothing personal but I don't want to talk about it right now. I'm sorry, it's just...I'm tired and I think I'm going to go to bed."

Silence followed and I started to wonder if he was even there when I heard him speak. "Sure thing, kiddo. Get some rest. I'll see you in the morning."

"Thanks, Dad. You, too."

"Yep."

I waited a minute before opening the door and peeking out into the hallway. The coast was clear so I headed to my room. I walked in and closed the door. I turned around and nearly screamed.

Jake was sitting on my bed, staring at me. My window was open right behind him. I knew I should have locked that thing before showering.

I held my hand to my chest, trying to slow my frantic heart before turning towards my dresser and starting to pull out pajamas.

"Bells."

I ignored him. I was still furious with him. The heat from the shower had relaxed me but it didn't make me forget why I had been so tensed up in the first place.

Truthfully, I had no idea why I was mad at him. He hadn't done anything wrong, although it had been awfully weird and frightening all at the same time. I knew he had done it to protect me but for some reason it also angered me. And I had no idea why.

"Bella." His voice was softer this time, full of pleading. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't ignore that voice. I turned to find him still on my bed.

"You should get out of here before Charlie sees you and decides to use you for target practice."

He didn't respond, only held out his hand.

"Oh, you can stand being around me now?" Maybe that was it. Maybe it bothered me that I was the one that had pushed his control. Maybe because it was all out of my control, as well. "Why, because I took a shower?"

He looked hurt but he motioned for me to come over towards his hand.

I sighed and tossed my clothes on the dresser before slowly making my way over to him. I went to put my hand in his when he shook his head. He inclined his head towards my other one. I frowned but switched hands so my right one was holding the towel and placed my left hand in his.

He gently traced his finger along my skin, prodding, inspecting. I then realized that was the hand that he had unwittingly unleashed his death grip on. He was checking it for injuries. When he was done examining it, he brought my hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly, whispering "I'm sorry."

As angry as I had been at him, as much as I still wanted to be, I could feel it slowly slipping away, like always whenever he touched me like this. Here I was, standing in nothing but a towel before him and his focus was my hand.

I carefully crawled into his lap and threw my arms around his neck, not caring about the towel in the least anymore, and buried my face in his neck. I just needed to feel him. He let out a deep breath and embraced me tightly. "I'm sorry, Bells. I don't know what happened. I'm sorry."

I trailed my finger lazily along his collarbone. "It's okay. I just wish that I had been smarter about the whole thing."

He pulled back and stared at me in disbelief. "This wasn't you. Isn't you. Not...intentionally. It's me. Something set me off when his scent mixed in with yours and started to mask it in a way. Not covering it completely, because yours overpowered it but...mixing with it."

I stared up at him sadly. "But, Jake, you know I would never..."

"I do know that." He stroked my cheek before kissing my forehead. "God, do I know that." He closed his eyes and inhaled near my wet hair. I felt him relax underneath me almost immediately and I vowed to shower three, four times a day, if it would help him. I didn't like to see him upset like this, because of me, never mind at all.

We stayed like that for a few minutes, him just breathing me in, me feeling his chest expand and then deflate repeatedly. I was almost afraid to ask this next question but I needed to know. "What did Sam have to say?"

I felt him start to tense again and I regretted asking. I knew it wouldn't be something I wanted to hear.

"He's not sure what to make of it. This hasn't happened with Emily or Kim or...Rachel. And definitely not Claire. So, he has no idea but he thinks it might be an Alpha thing. Maybe something to do with the imprint. He doesn't really know. He said he's going to talk to the Elders and go over the legends, see if there's anything we missed. We might just be evolving as a Pack, you know with Leah phasing and me imprinting on you instead of a girl from the rez." I stiffened and he soothingly rubbed my back until I relaxed again. "That threw his whole genetics theory out the window." He chuckled and I smiled. Even though we were both happy to be together, both grateful to have one another, imprinting was not something that we especially liked. We had seen what damage it caused to others around the imprinted, especially if there was another heart involved. We had seen how little choice it gave to those it affected, imprinter or imprinted. Even now, although I would always love Edward, I found him becoming more and more a distant memory and him having a fond place in my heart, but nothing deeper. And that had been someone I had been willing to give up my soul for (although I still didn't believe him on that one argument we always had). Now, Jacob encompassed my heart. For both of us, to each other, we were a sure thing. More so than when I had made the decision to leave the Cullen household that day and flee in Jacob's arms. More so than when he had claimed me as his that first night. Imprinting was a force, a powerful force.

Jacob was a master at finding loopholes in any situation, he had proven that with Sam back in the day. But we both knew had he imprinted on someone else, it would have been a near impossible situation to try to cheat. Imprinting was a very strong tide, difficult to resist. I was never one to believe in magic but then again, I was never one to believe in monsters, either. And look how that turned out.

So, anything that flew in the face of imprinting, we were pleased to hear. We might have sounded hypocritical to some (as Sam had pointed out a few weeks ago) but we knew what was right. The imprinting only solidified for us what we already knew. We were meant to be and we were right, whole, complete together.

I felt Jake tense further and sigh. "He thinks it might be a good idea if...I stayed away for awhile."

In a flash, I was up on my feet, not even realizing the towel had fallen to the floor. I glared down at him. "Not an option."

Jake picked the towel up and wrapped me in it before grasping my upper arms gently, rubbing the skin with his thumbs comfortingly. "Bells, listen-"

"No, Jacob, you listen. I understand Sam gives you orders and you have to follow them but I am not allowing this. I'm not just your imprint, I'm your girlfriend. I have a relationship, with you. Sam does not call the shots in my relationship, I do!"

Jake glanced towards the door as did I. I had gotten a little loud but I was adamant. No way was Sam doing this to us again. Not now.

I went to say something when Jake held a finger up. When it was clear, he turned to me and cupped my chin softly. "We both do."

"Jacob, I'm not doing this again. Okay? I can't. It was hard enough the first time. I know I'm being ridiculous and irrational and...a tad overbearing, but I can't help it. I don't understand it but I cannot be without you right now."

I hadn't even realized I was crying until Jake was wiping my cheeks. He bent down and kissed me. "It's okay. Shh, it'll be okay. Look at me, honey."

I wiped my eyes for the fourth time in a matter of seconds and brought them up to meet his. He smiled my smile and ran his thumb over my cheek. "I'm not going anywhere."

"But you just said-"

"That's what he thinks is best but that's not what's going to happen. He had a point, you might be safer since I could barely control myself tonight. But...I can't be away from you, either."

I stared up at him sadly. "Because of the imprint?"

He stared back at me. "Because of you." I lowered my eyes to his chest and closed them. I felt him kiss my forehead and then pull me into his arms. "We'll figure this out, honey. In the meantime," I opened my eyes and looked up at him. "Just don't hang out with that Newton kid, okay?" I could see that humorous glint back in his eyes. Normally, I would have made some witty reply or rolled my eyes but I didn't feel much like doing either. Instead, I pulled him over to the bed, got in, keeping the towel around me and indicated for him to follow. He watched me doubtfully, turning to glance at the door.

"Lock it if you need to, Jake. But...I need you tonight. Until you have to leave."

He glanced back at me and nodded before silently striding to the door and hitting the lock. He came back over and climbed in beside me. I immediately curled up against his broad chest, not caring about the towel anymore, and he wrapped me in his arms. I buried my head in his neck and hugged him close.

As we lay there quietly, neither of us making a sound, I thought back to what he had said about Sam, how much it bothered me. The words were out before I knew I was saying them. "Don't ever leave me," I whispered before closing my eyes.

I felt warm lips brush my hairline. "I won't ever leave you. I love you, Bells."

"I love you, too, Jake," I mumbled before sleep overtook me.

.

.

.

.

The next morning I woke to find myself completely covered by my comforter and Jake gone. I felt his side of the bed and it was cold. I could feel tears working their way into the corners of my eyes. I shook my head, mentally berating myself for being so ridiculous, and turned onto my side. Apparently, my logic was failing because I started to cry. What was wrong with me?

A second later, my door opened and Jake came bounding through, whistling. "Hey beautiful, you're up. I made you some-" He saw me crying and rushed to my side, placing the tray he had brought in with him on the nightstand next to the bed. "Honey, what's wrong? Look at me. What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

I wiped my eyes and sniffled, trying to put on a brave face for him. "It's nothing."

He gave me a look of disbelief. "You're not crying over nothing. What's wrong? Talk to me."

With the way he was watching me, with such concern, I couldn't hold it in anymore and the dam broke. Literally. "I thought you left," I sobbed.

He sighed and pulled me into his lap. I noticed I had a pair of my sleep shorts on, Jake obviously having dressed me while I was asleep. No top, though. Typical Jake.

"I'm sorry, I know I'm being stupid, I'm sorry."

He ignored the blubbering mess I was and kissed my forehead, squeezing me in reassurance. "No, you're not. Come here." He rubbed my back slowly as I let it all out against his neck, rocking me gently.

He waited until my sobs were nothing more than tired attempts for breath, my tears were nothing more than this weird wet spot connecting my skin to his. "Feel better?"

I took in a ragged breath. "N-No."

"Yeah, you do. And you know what you need, Bells?"

I pulled away to gaze up at him, sniffling. "What?"

He grinned. "Some of the breakfast I made for you. It's a Black Special." I couldn't help but let out a small laugh, he looked so eager for me to try it.

I wiped my cheeks and offered up a tiny smile of my own. "Okay."

He grinned wider. "Attagirl." He turned towards the tray and picked it up, holding it between us. Surprisingly, it looked actually appetizing and...edible.

He must have seen the shock in my expression because his grin turned into a cocky smirk. "Yes, Bells, I can cook, believe it or not. Billy needs help in the kitchen sometimes." I bit my lip and smiled again. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead before picking up the fork and cutting the eggs up into bite size pieces.

I watched him in amusement. "Jake, I think I can handle a couple of eggs. It's not like I'm going to choke on them or something."

He shrugged, the smirk still on his face, and continued what he was doing. "Yeah, you probably would, knowing you. But that's not why I'm doing it."

I glared at him as he maneuvered a piece onto the fork and held it up teasingly in front of me with a sparkle in his eyes. "Open wide."

I crossed my arms. "Jacob, I'm perfectly capable of feeding myself."

He cocked his head at me adorably. "Humor me."

I didn't know what he was up to or what the point of it was but I couldn't say no to that face. But I didn't say yes, either. I parted my lips slightly and he gently inserted the fork, depositing the food into my mouth. I chewed and he watched me in satisfaction. I swallowed and he arched his brows expectantly. "Well?"

I nodded. "It's good."

"Yeah?"

I nearly melted at his expression. He was containing his excitement and seemed happy that he had pleased me, almost like a little child. I smiled warmly. "Yeah."

He grinned happily and picked up another piece, holding it out for me. I accepted it and began to chew when he dropped the fork to the plate, making it clank loudly, clasped me by the back of the neck and pulled me towards him. He kissed me and my yells were muffled when I felt his tongue inside my mouth. I tried to push him back but to no avail. His tongue did a sweep against mine and then he released me, smiling.

He was chewing something. "Yeah, you're right, it is good. Huh." I noticed the egg I had been savoring before I was attacked was now gone.

My face heated up and I was stuttering in my shock. "Jake, what-I can't-I-you-do you know how gross that is?"

He shrugged indifferently. "You said it was good. I wanted to see how good." He swallowed and then licked his lips. "And mixed in with you, it was real good." I saw his eyes darken and then that look appear as he watched me.

I blushed again, but this time it was a blush of a different kind. I didn't know what to say to that.

"Do you know when you blush," He leaned forward and brushed my hair over my right shoulder, baring my skin to his intent gaze. "That it travels down your neck to your chest?" His eyes followed the same route as he said the words and when he reached the last part, he started breathing heavily.

Before I could respond, before I knew what had happened, the tray had been moved back to my nightstand and I was flat on my back with Jake on top of me, kissing underneath my ear.

"You are so beautiful." I smiled and closed my eyes, offering my neck freely to him. Whenever he said it, I felt beautiful. I never had before, especially not with Edward, no matter how many times he had said it, but with Jake I always did. I knew he would never look at someone else the way he looked at me. I knew it before the imprint ever became a part of our lives.

I bit my lip when I felt his teeth scrape my skin gently before soothing it with his tongue. I wrapped my body around him, urging him on in his ministrations until a thought suddenly hit me. I opened my eyes and sure enough the door was open. Usually, I would have jumped ten feet in the air but Jake had a hold on me and not just literally.

"Mmm, Jake, what about Charlie?"

"Gone. Went to work already." That knowledge had never thrilled me more than it did right now.

I started to place kisses to his shoulder, moving upward. "You patrolled last night and came back to me?"

He drew back, cupping my cheek with his right hand, staring at me seriously. "I always come back to you, honey. Always." He said it so earnestly I surged forward and kissed him deeply, pulling him back down to me.

Breakfast could wait. I needed to satisfy my hunger for something else first.

.

.

.

.

I walked Jake to the door, holding his left hand in both of mine. He turned and I smiled contentedly at him. He smiled himself before taking me into his arms, into one of his infamous bear hugs. "What time do you have to be at work again?"

"T-Twelve. Jake, I can't-breathe."

He released me and ran his hands down my arms to my own. "Sorry."

I shrugged and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss. "That's okay."

He put his forehead up against mine. "I'll try to stop by and see you."

"Jake, don't worry about me. I'll be okay. Concentrate on school. You're already running late." I kissed his nose affectionately.

"Then, I'll stop by after." He watched me sadly. "You sure you'll be okay?"

I gave him the best smile I could to reflect the happiness and calm I felt inside. Because of him. "I will. I promise, I'll be better today. I won't be sad because you're not there. I'll be strong and I won't let whatever this is get the best of me."

He smiled again and rubbed his nose along mine. "That's my girl." He kissed me again, making me heady, and then kissed my forehead before reluctantly turning back towards the door.

"I'll be there right after school." His smile turned into a smirk. "Maybe we can make out in the stockroom like last time."

My blush reappeared in full force and he laughed, winking at me conspiratorially. We had certainly moved past the making out stage in that stock room and had nearly been caught. I had been mortified when Mrs. Newton had come into the store earlier than expected and had hurried to the back, barely giving me time to make myself presentable or smooth down my hair. Jake had found it amusing. Like always.

I glowered at him. "Have a good day, Jacob."

He laughed again and opened the door to leave. I smiled when he turned his head. I loved that boy.

He froze, his back stiffening, and making my smile drop. Oh no, what was wrong?

He swung around to face me and I could see something unreadable in his eyes. It was making me uncomfortable. I did not envy that look on his young face.

I rushed right over and grabbed his arm. "Jacob, what's wrong?" I tried to peek around him. Was there a vampire in my yard? Mike Newton? What?

He gripped my upper arms and stared down at me.

"Jake, what-"

"Shh!"

I shut my mouth instantly. While his eyes were focused on mine, I could tell he was not really looking at me. He seemed to be...listening for something. Although, I had no idea what. Sometimes I wished I had his heightened senses. And right now was one of those times.

He must have heard what he was searching for because I felt him tense against me further. He released me and got down to his knees, placing his hands on my hips, and pulled me close, resting his ear below my bellybutton.

I was confused to say the least. Thinking maybe he needed reassurance, I laid my arms around him and held him closer to me.

He stayed like that for a minute and each second, I felt him tense more and more. And the more I felt him unwilling to relax in my embrace, the more I tried to comfort him. I threaded my fingers into his hair and stroked, hoping it would work. It didn't.

He eventually rose to his feet, not meeting my eyes. I could see all the color drained from his face. I started to tremble slightly. He was really scaring me. Seeing that fear on my Jacob's face made me want to take him in my arms and never let go, protecting him from whatever was hurting him at the moment.

He finally lifted his eyes to mine and I nearly gasped. There was pain in those dark depths. I didn't understand it.

"Bells," he croaked out.

My eyes started to tear up at the broken sound of his voice. What had changed so drastically within seconds? We were happy, nothing could bring us down and then Jake was in pain, looking devastated and broken. What had happened that could make him do a complete 180 in such a short amount of time? What unseen force was causing my Jacob pain like this?

"I'm going to call Sue. She needs to...see you."

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "Why, Jake?"

He laid his burning palm against my cheek. "She needs to...make sure..."

My eyes widened with understanding. "Jacob, if this is about upstairs...I'm not hurt. I'm okay. You controlled yourself. We're fine." I pulled his t-shirt that I was wearing up to right underneath my ribs, taking his hand and placing it there. "See?" I cupped his cheek soothingly. "No broken bones. No bruising. No pain." His eyes dropped to his hand on my skin. "I'm okay," I whispered.

He glanced up at me, back to his hand and then down to my stomach where his head had been at earlier. He removed his hand, pulling the shirt down slowly and then kissed my forehead. "Get dressed. I'm taking you to see Sue."

"But Jake, I told you, I'm-"

He sighed. "Bells, just do it please. For me."

I watched him, uncertain how to proceed or what to think. I had just told him I was fine. He should know. He had been the picture of perfect control before, something he got better with each and every time. That first night had been the only one to leave me with any physical reminders. So, what was he going on about now? Better yet, why couldn't he just talk to me?

I crossed my arms and stared him down. "Not until you tell me what's going on."

Annoyance with me was plain as day in the expression he wore now. "Bella, can you please just do what I'm asking you to? With how things have been going lately, I don't want to upset you if I don't have to. I'd rather Sue take a look at you and confirm it before I tell you."

I didn't know what I was angrier at: him currently playing the overprotective role obsessively as much as someone else had or that he had just insinuated I had been trouble to him these last few weeks. I glared and scoffed, stomping up the stairs. "I love how when I was with Edward, all I kept hearing was how he was so controlling, so overprotective, never being honest with me, never letting me think for myself or make my own decisions, always keeping things from me and how you were so much better. And yet here you are, not telling me what I so obviously need to know since it concerns me. And why? Because you think it might upset me? Or is it really because you think I'll be a crying mess again and you'll have to deal with it, again? I must be the worst imprint in history. God, you must hate having to deal with me. I'm such a burden, such an inconvenience for you. I bet you wish you never imprinted on me. Your life would be so much better if you imprinted on Leah or some other girl from the reservation. Why me? I'm the vampire girl, remember? I bet you hate that, don't you? I don't even-"

He whirled me around once I reached my room and glared down at me. I cringed. I hadn't seen him this angry. Not since...Edward. "Don't ever say that."

I knew now was not the time to push him. I knew it as I watched him, his jaw clenched tightly as he talked. But, I was already too far gone in my own anger with him. "What? Vampire girl?"

"No. That I wish I had never imprinted on you."

"Why?" I spat back. "It's true, isn't it? Wouldn't your life be so much better if you didn't have to deal with me? With clumsy, overemotional, weak and fragile Bella?"

His eyes grew darker. I was pushing him and I needed to stop. "My life would not be much better without you. You are my life. It's nothing without you."

Still, I could not keep my tongue in check. It was as if it had a mind of its own.

"Oh, please. We both know it's the imprint making you say that."

He stepped closer until our noses were nearly touching, us glaring at each other. "Bella, the imprint has never made me say anything I didn't mean. It does not control me. Nothing does. Not the imprint, not Sam, and certainly not you. I make my own decisions. My control is my own. I am the Alpha and I submit to no one."

His voice changed slightly, reaching a deeper level if possible when he said that. His eyes were what finally made me back off. They were dark but there was a strange light behind them. It took me a moment to understand this was not my Jacob I was talking to but the wolf inside him. Somehow he had surfaced without the necessary physical transformation. I had never seen this before and truthfully, it scared me. Some small part of Jacob had always been present, even when I had seen him in wolf form, and here he was not. I was frightened at what my petulance had awakened.

I swallowed quietly, though I'm sure he heard it, and gave in. Although, my glare had not softened one bit. "Fine." I took a deep breath and stuck out my chin. I was full of fear and I was sure he could tell with his senses but something instinctively told me not to show it. "I would prefer it if Sue came here instead."

He studied me, his eyes darting back and forth between my expression and my eyes. "Done. Get dressed." He left the room, going back downstairs, and my knees wobbled, collapsing me to the floor. I prayed he hadn't heard or would ignore it if he had. I didn't want to see that again. Not when he-it was so mad at me. I had never felt unsafe with Jacob. Ever. But just then, I had never been more terrified of his wolf side.

Tears started to fall and I covered my face with my hands. I didn't understand what was happening. I didn't understand the change in Jacob in response to my differing emotions as of late. I didn't understand why my scent was so thick and it bothered him so much. I didn't understand why I was acting the way I was. I didn't understand my sudden obsessive need for Jacob to be near. I thought maybe it was an adjustment to the imprint for us at first but after speaking with Emily, she and Sam had never experienced anything like it, which left me feeling embarrassed and...abnormal. Something I had felt for most of my life. I just didn't understand anything.

I didn't have too long to mull over it, though. I soon felt a warm hand on my shoulder. "Bells."

I dropped my hands and slowly lifted my head to see him squatting down beside me. He was in pain still, worse now if it was possible. But he was there. My Jacob.

His eyes tightened and he wiped away the tears with his thumb. He sighed sadly. "I'm sorry. I don't know how that...happened. I just got mad, so mad that you would think that, and before I knew it...I wasn't me." He stroked my cheek gently with the backs of his fingers. "I'm sorry."

I sniffled and nodded. "I am, too. I shouldn't have said those things." I pulled my legs to my chest and wrapped my arms around my knees, laying my head down against them. "I'm just so worried," I cried, feeling more tears escape. "I don't know what's going on. I don't know what happened last night or even in the past week. I don't understand any of it." I sniffled again.

I felt him pick me up and then sit down on the bed with me in his lap. I heard him sigh again. "I think I know what's going on, Bells."

My head snapped up and I stared at him in shock. "You do?"

He stroked my hair tenderly between his fingertips, nodding. "When I was downstairs...I heard it. I hear it now."

My eyes widened. "Hear what?"

He moved his hand down and placed it against my stomach before staring at me meaningfully. "Another heartbeat."

I inhaled sharply. He watched me, willing me to understand. "That's not possible."

He didn't say anything, just pulled me to him so he could press his forehead against the side of my head to reassure me.

"Jake, we've..." My brain was whirling so fast I had a hard time keeping up. "We've always..."

"Not the first time," he whispered.

My blood ran cold. Oh my God.

"Breathe, honey."

I let out a ragged breath and struggled to pull in more air, shaking my head. Jake's hands gripped my face and he made me look at him. "Bella. Listen to me. Breathe." I couldn't listen. Now I understood what I had seen in his eyes downstairs. Pure, unadulterated fear. I wasn't pregnant. There was no way. I was too young. My God. Jake...and Charlie-oh God, Charlie was going to kill Jake and then me. Oh my God.

"Bella!"

My chest felt like it was collapsing into me. I couldn't breathe. Before I knew it, my eyes rolled back and the last thing I saw was black.

First written/posted: 11/30/10

Re-edited: 12/2/19