Epiphany

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A/N-thank you very much for reading and reviewing the last chapter.

Chapter Nineteen-Peaceful Interlude

Bella sat quietly in her room and reflected on everything that Charlie had told her. She couldn't believe that her nemesis Victoria was dead. After so many months of living in anxiety ridden fear, it was hard to comprehend it was all over. It was even harder to fathom that it was her own father's intervention that had played such a huge part in Victoria's capture. Bella realised she had wasted so much time consumed with anxious thoughts, that it was akin to driving around the block over and over, faster and faster. It was all pointless. All she needed to do was stop. Calm her thoughts enough so she could think clearly. She owed it to herself to take control of the wheel.

It was late evening when Jacob and his father arrived at the house. As Bella ran outside to greet them, the air was damp and cool, smelling faintly of a car's exhaust fumes. A light rain was falling as the sun dipped lower in the sky until the trees that lined the road stood as black statues silhouetted against the darkening sky, their shadows slowly melting away into the blackness of night.

In the rain Jacob's hair became one with his face, wetly draped over the bone structure that often drove Bella mad with envy. His expression was serious. She wondered if he knew how crazy that made her, how it made her want to feel every inch of his skin. In the past she had allowed her inner worries and fears to stop her processing what she really felt for Jacob. After her recent epiphany she now felt able to express those feelings, to show him what he meant to her.

With Charlie and Billy looking on, Bella reached for Jacob's hand and pulled him toward her. They stood toe to toe, gazing deep into each other's eyes. No words were necessary. Jacob knew her well enough to understand what she was trying to say with just her eyes alone. Bella was the one who initiated the kiss. She stood on her tiptoes, one hand reaching behind his neck to pull his head closer to hers. Everything and everyone immediately melted away when their lips connected. For the kiss made them feel like they had been transported somewhere heavenly and perhaps if it weren't for the cold Forks rain, they might believe they actually had.

When the kiss ended, Jacob's smile was one of happiness growing. Bella could see how it came from deep inside to light his eyes and spread into every part of him. It was beautiful and so was he. Jacob kissed the rain droplets from her lips. He swept her hair aside and kissed Bella just over the collarbone, making her breath hitch slightly.

The sound of Charlie clearing his throat made them pull apart. "Well now you've finished saying hello to Jake maybe we can head on inside." He huffed.

"I ordered pizza." Charlie said as he passed Billy a beer from the fridge and took one for himself.

"Good idea, chief." Billy answered as he gave Charlie a meaningful look. "Maybe we can get the plates and let these two catch up."

Charlie rolled his eyes as he grabbed the handles of Billy's wheelchair and pushed him toward the kitchen.

Jacob chuckled as he ran his fingers through Bella's wet hair. "You're drenched."

"You're all wet, too."

"But I'm not cold and you are." Jacob murmured as his mouth hovered close to hers. Now she had voluntarily kissed him, he was desperate for more.

"You could always warm me up." Bella teased lightly.

"Is that an invitation?"

Bella hung her fingers on the waistband of his jeans, dragging him closer. Jacob buried his face in the curve of her shoulder, his hands flexing around her back. He let out a reduced groan of, "I love you," into her hair. "This is the happiest that I actually remember being in my life."

Bella felt tears well in her eyes. She really didn't deserve his love. She knew he was far too good for her, but she vowed to spend a lifetime trying to prove otherwise. "I love you, too." She admitted for the first time.

The way Jacob's lips lifted upward. The way his dimples crinkled. The way his teeth were so perfectly aligned as he smiled. The warm glow his happiness gave her. His smile was a ray of sunshine. He was reacting as if she had given him the most precious gift. "Say it again." He whispered, his warm fingers caressing her cheek.

"I love you."

"Again?"

"I love you, Jacob Ephraim Black." Bella's lips twitched as she tried to stifle her laughter. He was just too adorable for words.

Bella sat next to Jacob on the sofa. He began to untangle her hair and braid it while Charlie eyed them watchfully. Billy was highly amused by his friend's overreaction and made several subtle digs about Charlie's youthful exploits that sent the police chief's skin blazing. He was saved by the doorbell. It was the pizza-the smell filled the room, making everyone feel ravenous as he carried it into the room. Bella was torn between the pizza and leaning against Jacob's warm body.

"Your share is getting cold, Bells." Charlie said sarcastically. "You should eat it now if you can manage to peel yourself away from Jacob for five minutes." He was struggling to get used to this touchy-feely Bella. He thanked god for small mercies that she hadn't been like that with Edward Cullen.

Bella felt like some tenuous string tied her to Jacob. She wondered if it had always been there, the imprint humming contentedly in the background, connecting them together like two pieces of the same puzzle. They fed each other slices of pizza, laughing quietly and kissing sloppily when the marinara sauce dribbled down their chin.

"Maybe you should tone it down a bit, kids." Billy advised when he noticed Charlie becoming more and more uncomfortable.

"Sorry." Jacob apologised, not looking sorry at all. He was buzzing with happiness. It had been a stressful and exhausting day, but with Bella returning his affections he was brimming with energy. "Bells, do you want to go for a walk?" He suggested as a way to escape the olds for a while.

"But its dark outside." Charlie blustered.

"It's all good, Charlie. I can see in the dark." Jacob laughed.

"Of course, you can." Charlie muttered irritably.

They didn't walk far before kissing again. Bella felt Jacob's warm breath on the sensitive skin of her neck, then the tender brush of his lips. Burning as they made contact with her neck. His fingers ran through her hair, his kisses becoming harder and more urgent. Jacob's other hand slid around Bella's waist, and pulled her close to his pine scented body. His kisses were now on her shoulders and in her hair.

"Jake." Bella moaned softly.

"Mmmm…" Jacob mumbled distractedly.

"I want to see your wolf."

Jacob pulled back abruptly, his dark brown eyes wide with surprise. "Why?"

"Because I want to thank him. He did save my life today." Bella smiled shyly. "And I want to thank the others, too. I mean they'll be able to hear and see me through your eyes. Well, the ones who are phased will."

"I guess. But you know you don't have to, right? They already know."

"I want to." Bella said earnestly. "Please, Jake."

"K.'" Jacob said, shrugging.

Bella smiled in relief. If it had been Edward, she would have had a huge battle to allow her to do anything. Jacob didn't put up a fight at all. He just let do it. It made her love him even more.

The moonlight was a diffuse ocean above them, lessening the inky blackness of the night, but not so bright as to dull the stars that speckled and glittered in the heavens above. Bella could feel her skin tingling with excitement. It had been a long time since she had seen Jacob in his wolf form. She watched in quiet anticipation as Jacob walked away from her into a thick grove of trees so he could phase.

Minutes later he was back. A small gasp left Bella's parted lips as she stared at the magnificent creature standing in front of her. He was unbelievably huge. His fur was reddish brown and longer than she remembered. Bella was definitely sure that Jacob's wolf was bigger than Sam's now. His stance was casual, somehow exuding nonchalance.

Bella continued to stare up at him in awe. "Jake?" She could feel the wonder and fascination on her face.

The wolf's muzzle fell open, pulling back over his teeth. It would have been a frightening expression, except that his tongue lolled out the side in a wolfy grin.

"Idiot." Bella giggled.

The wolf's grin widened over his sharp teeth. He moved closer and then crouched down on his front legs and dropped his head so that his face was no higher than hers. Bella tentatively reached her hand out, her fingers trembling slightly, and touched the red brown fur on the side of his face. The wolf's back eyes closed, and he leaned his huge head into her hand. A thrumming resonated in his throat, which matched the thrumming of her heart.

"I want to thank you." Bella said loudly. The wolf opened his eyes again and he looked at her keenly. She wasn't just addressing Jacob, but all of the pack. "I can never express how grateful I am to all of you. You risked your lives to save mine and I can never hope to repay any of you."

Tears glazed her eyes as she lowered her face into the wolf's fur. It was both soft and rough, comforting and warm against her skin. She ran her fingers through it, learning the texture, stroking his neck where the colour deepened. Suddenly, without warning, Jacob licked her face from chin to hairline.

"Ew! Gross, Jake!" Bella complained, jumping back and smacking at him, just as she would have if he were in his human form. "They told you to do that, didn't they?"

Jacob dodged out of the way and huffed out an affirmative laugh. It came out like a coughing bark through his teeth.

"Was I getting too emotional for them?" Bella smiled through her tears. She wiped her face on the sleeve of her shirt, unable to keep from laughing with him.

Jacob folded himself down on the ground, inviting her to snuggle up with him. Bella happily obliged. He put his head down on his paws and let out a rumbling sigh of contentment.

A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.