I hope you are all enjoying the story. As usual, I own nothing. All twilight characters belong to SM - Except for the true Quiluetes, who could use your donations to save their school, the ONLY school in the world that teaches their native language. I really appreciate everyone who has been reading this story and I hope you all continue to review and send me your thoughts :) MORE TO COME VERY SOON!

PS. LEMON ALERT.

(JPOV)

Back at the Cullen house, Bella scrubbed her face in the bathroom as Jacob sat in the living room bullshitting with Emmett. Edward, of course, was already hiding in his part of the house, brooding no doubt. His cold touch had matched his personality well before Bella had come along, according to his family.
Then again, look at all the terrible shit he's done. He'd stolen the humanity of no less than four women (that they knew of) and had left them all. Perhaps alone is what he's destined to be. Maybe it's what he deserves, Jacob surmised. A stereo turned on in Edward's corner of the house. Jacob snickered to himself.
I told you that you wouldn't wanna hear what I think, Jacob thought. He glanced up, surprised to see Jasper watching Bella. An Empath, Jasper could apparently feel other people's emotions, sentiments, and intentions. He smiled at her kindly, boldly reaching across Jacob to squeeze her hand.
"Whatever you're thinking," he said softly, "You're right. You have every right to feel what you're feeling. I'm sorry, Bella. Some of this is my fault."
"No!" Bella cut him off firmly. "You are not to blame for shit, Jasper. All of this mess started with him," she said, pointing toward Edward's general direction. "It started the second he created Victoria."
"No, Bella," Jasper said. "The Victoria mess is his, I'll admit, but we both know he left you because of me."
Jacob tensed, sitting up a little straighter on the overstuffed sofa. "What is that about," he asked suspiciously. Edward's door swung open and he slumped down the stairs at human speed for a change. Leaning against the railing, he crossed his arms defensively.
"I suppose if we're going to have a confessional going on down here, I might as well be present to explain myself," Edward said smugly. "Jacob? This morning you made a joke about Bella getting a papercut. I'll admit, I've always found her clumsiness and fragility somewhat charming, but a papercut almost cost her life." There wasn't a face in the room outside of Jacob's that wasn't painted with guilt. Bella wrapped her fingers through his and squeezed, attempting to calm the trembling she could feel from him as he listened eagerly.
"Bella was opening her birthday gifts," Edward continued, "And she literally got a papercut. In a room full of vampires, Jacob. I was so frantic that in my attempt to protect her from Jasper, I accidentally threw her across the room." Jacob couldn't suppress the growl that rumbled through his chest as he visualized his Bella being launched in the air.
"Exactly, bro," Emmett said to Jacob. "That's how we all felt. It was a fuh-" Emmett paused, glancing at Esme sheepishly. "It was a mess," he finished politely.
"By the time everything was under control, Carlisle was giving her stitches in his office," Edward said. Jacob shook his head, his jaw set with silent rage.
"We still feel that way about it, Jacob," Jasper said softly. "Towards ourselves. All of us. Every single person in that room had put her in danger in a split second. The truth is, that it was my lack of control that set everyone off. My reaction to her blood. After everything went down, I couldn't even look at Bella. Tonight is the first time I've seen her since."
"But, that it is also my fault," Edward said. "I was the one who insisted we all leave immediately, who insisted there be a clean break with no resolution. To me, the experience had been eye-opening. For her to be safe, for her to have any chance at a long human life, Bella needed to be as far away from us as possible. Especially from myself. I never dreamed that there would be a reason to come back and disrupt her life, ever again. Or that my sins would haunt her this way."
"Edward, would you like to know what your problem is?" Bella asked boldly. Jacob couldn't help but smirk. He'd heard this tone from her often enough lately to know she was about to go off.
"Please, love, enlighten me," Edward sneered. Rosalie glared at him defensively, but his attitude didn't phase Bella in the least.
She knew this face well, his hateful facade. The same one he'd most likely used on her when they'd first met and she asked too many questions. The same one that had probably never failed to engage her, ready her for a fight.
Edward shot Jacob a brief, spiteful glance. Mockingly calling Bella 'love' wasn't helping and her face flushed with heat.
"Aside from the fact that you're narcissistic as hell? You're controlling. You attempt to make decisions for people that were never yours to make." Jacob fought to keep from smiling.
This was the young woman he'd always loved. The one who stood up for herself and spoke her piece without running away. He'd seen sparks of her over the last few days, but what he could see inside of her now was a flame in comparison to the mere ember that she had been reduced to for months.
"If you're talking about your life -" Edward yelled.
"That's exactly what I'm talking about," Bella yelled back, "And don't you dare yell at me. Throughout our entire relationship, you were stuck somewhere between trying to control me, protect me, manipulate me to your advantage, and trying to run from me. You didn't just rip my heart out when you left, either. You took our whole family away from me." She couldn't help but notice as both Edward and a remarkably silent Jacob flinched at her use of the word 'our'. "You convinced me that this was my family, too. You took Esme away from me, knowing she was the closest to a mother that I had. You let your fears destroy all of it because you couldn't control the future," Bella accused him. Edward hung his head silently. Jacob didn't have any words for the scene in front of him. He'd begged her for months to talk to him about all of the shit that had been eating her alive.
At least she was finally letting it out, he thought. He glanced at an amused Jasper, who nodded once in what Jacob assumed was agreement.
"I am not trying to cause you guilt or pain, Edward," Bella continued. "But, what you did? It nearly killed me. It was worse than any pain James had put me through. I honestly don't know if I would have survived it without Jacob." Jacob again bit back a smile and squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"His patience and optimism kept me from completely falling apart after months of isolating myself. Every single scar you've left me with, he's tried to mend. Everything I'd lost confidence in myself over, he's tried to rebuild. I'd like to forgive you and move forward, I really would… But, I'm not your love anymore. I don't think I was ever supposed to be. You were my first love and I will always care about you. I love this family like you're all my own and I'd like to remain a part of it somehow. However, my future will be with Jacob. And those are my choices, not ones that anyone is making for me. And so help me, Edward, i swear to God if you ever try to take this family away from me again, I'll never forgive you."
The entire family stared at her in a mixture of surprise and pride, especially Rose. Jacob was very surprised at the affection he was beginning to feel toward Blondie. No matter what she was or how she wanted herself to be seen, Jacob could see the loving person she was deep down. In truth, he could see the similarities between himself and Rose as well as Emmett could.
Which is just weird as fuck.
"I meant it when I said that I respect your relationship, Bella," Edward said.
"I hope so because if any of this is going to work, we all need to trust each other. No more lies - with any of us. Not for me," Bella said firmly.
"I'd like to earn your friendship, Bella. Truly," Edward said sadly. "Despite everything, I never wanted to make life difficult for you. Your safety and happiness were always a priority and regardless of the outcome, they remain so."
Bella relaxed back against Jacob, who rubbed her shoulder soothingly. She turned to Jasper, giving him an ineffective shove. "No more of all of that," she said and blushed.
"Of what," Jacob asked, still taking in the awkward scene.
"I just gave her a little confidence boost," Jasper chuckled.
"Seriously, you should work for the president," Bella laughed. "You could give them the courage to say whatever the hell they wanted." Even Edward chuckled.
"Be careful what you wish for," Jasper said and winked. "If immortality is ever commonplace, I'm a shoo-in. Maybe in the next century."
Eventually, the conversation returned to stories and insults jokingly being paid around the room. Edward remained in the room with them, silent but smirking as he listened to the many different thoughts. Eventually, Alice dashed upstairs and returned with a shiny black cell phone and charging adapter. She handed it to Bella, grinning.
"All of our numbers are already programmed in along with Jacob and Charlie's home numbers," Alice explained. Bella gaped down at the phone in surprise. "It's so you can reach any of us when you need to," Alice said. "It's yours to keep and you don't have to pay for anything. Just keep it charged and handy. I already sent Charlie a text to his work cell so he has the number." Bella stood to hug her friend, thanking her for her thoughtfulness. Jacob had started to get restless after hours surrounded by vampires, and the two made their exit.
Bella checked her phone and was surprised to have received a text from Charlie. A fatal car wreck on the outskirts of town had called him out and he expected to be gone for the night. She chuckled as a second message came in, showing it to Jacob.
"Either stay at Billy's or Jake can stay at the house. I don't want you home alone as long as that Cullen kid is in town. No more rides from him, either!" Bella showed Jacob the message and he smiled gleefully.
"I think he senses a lot more than he lets on, Bells," Jacob said.
"I've thought that very same thing quite a lot lately," Bella admitted. "I'm surprised he knows how to text," she laughed.
"So what was he talking about earlier tonight?" Jacob asked. "What rules do you know that I don't?" He pulled out onto the highway, heading toward Charlie's. He wasn't heading home when they had the opportunity to be alone for a few hours.
Bella blushed. "So, Charlie tried to have 'the talk' with me last week," she said.
"Oh, no way," Jacob laughed. "Waited a little long for that didn't he?"
"Jacob, it's not funny," she said but laughed. "He basically laid some ground rules."
"Shouldn't I be aware of these rules?" Jacob asked.
"Ern… Well, he said n-no sex in the house when he's home because he'd hate to have to shoot you," she stammered. Jacob laughed loudly, turning red in the face.
"Wow, your Dad likes me more than even I thought," Jacob said.
"Yeah, well…" Bella said, chuckling.
"What is it? What did he say?" Jacob asked cautiously.
"He told me not to sleep with you if I don't love you," Bella said. "He told me that I know how it feels to be heartbroken and not to do that to you."
Jacob was stunned for a moment before he cackled loudly. "I'm gonna have to get him an award, " he joked. "Charlie Swan: Unwitting Wingman Of The Year."

(BPOV)

Upon arriving at Charlie's, Paul and Seth both phased back and approached the house. Bella welcomed them both in readily, where they sat at the table with Jacob, discussing what they'd watched and learned that evening. Bella washed her hands and made plates of sandwiches and chips for the boys. She sat them on the table and leaned down to kiss Jacob on the temple.
"Thank you, Bells. You didn't have to do that," Jacob said.
"I know I didn't," she said. "I'm going to go shower off the vamp smell," she said and headed for the stairs.
"Thank God," Paul laughed. "Jake needs one, too."
"I definitely do," Jacob agreed, laughing.
"Well, then hurry up," she said boldly and bit back her laughter as Jacob blushed red in front of Paul and an open-mouthed Seth.
"Just wait," Jacob teased as his brothers chuckled.
"Promises, promises," Bella called out before shutting the bathroom door.
The hot water was relaxing, easing her tension. Too soon, she was finished and still able to hear Paul and Seth downstairs. Wrapped in her towel, she tiptoed to her bedroom. Bella snagged a long button-up shirt from her closet, one of the items chosen for Jacob among the donations. She pulled on a pair of boy-cut shorts, well hidden by the long hem of the shirt. She flipped on her stereo and laid down, waiting for Jacob to eventually come to bed.
The next thing Bella knew, she woke to the sound of Jacob sucking in a sharp breath. Bella was on her stomach, the soft curves of her ass and hips prominent under Jacob's shirt. She opened her eyes to the sight of a still wet Jacob with a towel around his waist gawking at her sprawled form. Bella rolled to her back, smirking up at him.
"Bella, honey," he teased, tossing his dirty clothing into her hamper with hers, "I was enjoying that view." She gave him a wide grin.
"Jacob Ephriam, were you staring at my ass?" Bella asked him huskily and bit her bottom lip. He nearly whimpered as he crawled onto the bed. Bella reached up and slowly began to unbutton the shirt. Jacob hovered over her legs on all fours, watching eagerly as she made her way down the long row of buttons. She slowly peeled the sides of the shirt open, fully exposing her soft, perky breasts.
Jacob emitted a faint growl, his body vibrating over her while he stared hungrily. He leaned down to place soft kisses against her snowy white belly. He left a trail of heat as he worked his way up her body, looking up frequently to stare into her chocolate brown eyes shining lustily from under her half-closed lids. He began placing light nips across her skin with his teeth as she writhed underneath of him. Her hands flew into his hair as he reached her mouth, claiming it hungrily.
"I want you so much," Bella said into his mouth. Jacob pulled off the towel that had been wrapped around his hips, leaving him fully naked over her. Bella dropped her hands to her hips as she tried to slide the boy shorts down her legs, baring her sex for him.
Jacob grabbed the material and slung it away from her legs and onto the floor. He wrapped his arms around her and rolled, pulling her on top of him. Bella spread her legs readily, straddling his waist. The heat of his growing erection pressed against her core, sliding against her already wet flesh. Their kisses became frantic. Jacob reached between them, stroking himself before helping Bella guide herself onto him. She whimpered as he filled her slowly.
Hesitant at first, Bella tested her range of motion, attempting to find her rhythm. Jacob moaned, taking in the view with wide eyes as she leaned back, placing her hands on his knees for support. Her cries began to increase in length and volume as she lost herself in him, arching her back. Jacob gripped her headboard and growled as she ceased her movements to change positions. Pulling her legs forward, she was now crouching over Jacob. He sat up abruptly, crushing his mouth to hers, She ground herself against him slowly, letting his full length pull nearly out of her completely before lowering herself again. Jacob's cries entwined with hers as she rocked herself against him. Her thigh muscles burned with her exertion.
"Touch me, Jacob," she begged, continuing her steady rhythm. He slid his rough hands up her ribs and to her breasts. He cupped them both, running his thumbs across her hard nipples.
"You feel so fucking good, Bells," Jacob said loudly before reaching down between them to stroke her clit.
"Yes, Jacob," she called out. "You feel so," she moaned again, "fucking good inside of me." She was panting heavily, whimpers replaced with loud passionate cries and the smack of wet, pounding flesh.
"Oh my god, Bella," he yelled a bit louder this time, vibrating as another growl erupted from his chest, and Bella cried out from the sensation.
"I want this, Bells," he said desperately. "I want to," he grunted as she swiveled her hips, "feel this… every day." The pleasure Jacob was displaying, the carnal need in his voice sent her over the edge. Bella came hard around his cock, crying out just moments before he released himself inside of her. Jacob held her against his chest, panting, placing kisses along her neck and shoulder while still throbbing inside of her. Or, maybe I'm the one throbbing around him, she thought as the aftermath of her orgasm slowly continued to pulse through her. She wasn't sure anymore where Jacob ended and she began. The intensity of the connection left her trembling and sobbing. She clutched onto him tightly, riding out the waves of sensations she was awash in as he whispered words of love and undying devotion.
The two laid in silence for a while, happily lost in one another. Eventually, Bella stood and made her way back to the bathroom to clean up. She and Jacob both dressed in silence before crawling back into her bed contentedly.
"I love you," Jacob said, kissing her temple lovingly as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. "I love you more than anything."
"I love you so much," Bella whispered back. "I didn't know I could love you so much."
"Because you're meant for me, Bella. This is what we've always been meant to be for each other." Jacob held her tightly as she fully relaxed against his body heat.
"Jacob," she said hesitantly, "Don't let me go, okay?" She shivered against him.
"Never, honey," he promised. "I'll hold you as long as you want me to."
"Always," she mumbled sleepily and closed her eyes.
That night, she slept soundly. No nightmares, no screaming or reaching out as Jacob held her through the night.

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