Moonlight

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you very much to everyone who kindly reviewed the last chapter.

Chapter Thirty-Four-Phone Call

Harry Clearwater's funeral was, above all, a celebration of his life and accomplishments. There wasn't a single pair of dry eyes among the mourners by the time it was over. Saying goodbye was sweet sorrow for those closest to Harry, there were the memories of the good times, but intertwined with those was the bittersweet realisation that those happy moments were gone forever.

The one who was affected the most was Leah Clearwater. Bella watched with distressed eyes as the eldest Clearwater sibling lost control and screamed into the void, as if the sheer ferocity of her grief would bring her father back. Her brother tried to hold her back, to calm her, even as his own tears fell thick and fast, but in her hysteria Leah was too strong, too wild.

Unconsciously, Bella found herself leaving her father's side and winding her way toward Leah through the crowd of mourners. Sue Clearwater was begging her daughter to calm down, but Leah was beyond consoling. Her puffy eyes were raw with sorrow, a deep keening bubbling in the base of her throat. Bella noticed Sam's face in the distance, his features were twisted in anguish, he had moved a few feet in Leah's direction, but Emily's hand on his arm stopped him from going further.

After paying his respects earlier, Jacob and the rest of the pack had been forced to leave, to carry on patrolling, leaving only their Alpha behind. Bella wished he were there, he would know what to do, she sure as hell didn't. But something in Leah's raw pain was calling to her. She just couldn't stand back and do nothing.

When Bella reached Leah, the other mourners were finally beginning to disperse, respectfully giving the grieving Clearwaters some space. Seth was still trying his best to soothe his sister's sorrow, but his comforting words fell on deaf ears.

"Leah?" Bella said tentatively when she finally reached them.

Leah whirled around at the sound of her name being spoken. She stared at Bella, her expression dissolving into the kind of despair that can take one's mind prisoner and never give it back.

"Leah, its okay." Bella's voice was softer than velvet as she approached the stricken girl cautiously, her arms outstretched.

Leah's grief continued to surge with each expelled breath as she continued to stare at Bella helplessly. Then Bella's arms surrounded her. Leah sank to her knees as more tears began to spill from her eyes. "Help me." She whispered hoarsely.

"I will." Bella promised. "Come with me."

And without further complaint Leah did.

Jacob's Rabbit idled by the curb with Jared behind the wheel and Embry in the passenger seat. As soon as he had heard about Bella's intervention with Leah at the tail end of Harry's funeral, he had come straight back to check in on her.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asked her gently. "I heard what happened with Leah."

"I'm better now that you're here." Bella tried to smile but it was forced. The memory of Leah's grief-stricken cry at Harry's graveside still lingered. She had stayed with her for hours, just like she had promised, only leaving when the distraught girl finally fell into a restless doze. Leah was in the care of her family now.

Jacob hugged her to him. There was the hug of gentle arms that still gives the space to breathe; then there was the hug of strong arms that tells everything that you are - body, brain and soul - that they are with you, that they understand your pain.

Bella was grateful that Jacob had always understood her. She sank against him gratefully, comforted just by his mere presence. "Do you think you can stay for a bit?"

Jacob glanced over his shoulder at his friends in the car. He gave a subtle shake of his head. Embry and Jared nodded in unison, Jared immediately switching off the engine and settling back in his seat to wait, as did Embry.

As Jacob stepped into the hall after Bella, his nose wrinkled slightly as if he was smelling something unpleasant. He saw the mess of blankets in the living room. "Slumber party?" He asked. "Where's your friend?"

"Alice is somewhere around." Bella waved her hand vaguely. "I have to admit she was very helpful with Charlie this morning."

"Uh huh." Jacob murmured. He frowned slightly.

"What is it?"

"Has she said anything…about the others coming back now?" Jacob questioned; his tone ambivalent.

"No. And I asked her not to tell them anything." Bella answered quickly.

"Do you trust her to keep her word?"

"I hope I can." Bella sighed, shrugging hopelessly.

"Let's hope she'll leave soon." Jacob hedged. His arms wound around her, and she leaned against his chest.

Bella knew she was going to miss him terribly when he walked out the door again to go back on patrol. Everything was such a mess. "I miss you."

"I miss you, too." Jacob tightened his arms around her. After a while he freed one arm so he could cup his big brown hand under her chin. "You're so amazingly strong, do you know that? What you did for Leah today…what you continue to do for others….and me." He looked at her with pride.

They stared at each other for a long moment. Jacob's hand smouldered against her skin. Bella knew her face was full of wistful sadness-she didn't want to have to say goodbye to him, even if it was only for a short time. It just wasn't fair that he had to be out there, risking his life, on this day of all days.

Eventually Jacob released her, lifting his other hand to brush his fingertips along her cheek, trailing them down to her jaw. She could feel his fingers trembling with restraint. He pressed his palm against her cheek, so that her face was cupped between his burning hands.

"Bella." He whispered. "Kwop kilawtley."

Keeping his gaze fixated on her, Jacob began to bend his face toward her, only stopping when the shrill ring of the telephone made them both jump. Jacob scowled in irritation as he took his hand from under her chin and reached over Bella to grab the receiver, but he still held her face securely with the hand resting against her cheek. His dark eyes held hers, while her lips parted slightly as she waited impatiently for the kiss she knew was coming.

"Swan residence." Jacob said, his husky voice low and intense.

Bella watched in confusion as Jacob's expression altered in an instant as soon as the person on the other end answered. He straightened up, and his hand dropped from her face.

"He's not here." Jacob said, his tone had turned menacing.

There was some very short reply, a request for more information it seemed, because Jacob's expression darkened further. "Charlie Swan's whereabouts are none of your damn business." He slammed the phone down, cursing. "Filthy bloodsucker!"

"Who did you just hang up on?" Bella demanded; she knew by Jacob's infuriated reaction that the 'filthy bloodsucker' he was referring to wasn't Alice.

"Carlisle Cullen." Jacob said coldly.

It took a few seconds longer than it should have for Bella to absorb that bit of information. She accidentally bit the skin of her inner cheek as she tried to process what this meant and why Carlisle was asking to speak to Charlie and not to her. If Alice had betrayed her trust, he would have wanted to speak directly to her, surely? It made no sense that he would ask for Charlie. Unless…Bella's eyes opened wide as she stared up at Jacob.

"I don't think that was Carlisle." She whispered urgently.

"What?" Jacob looked distracted as he glanced quickly over his shoulder, as if someone had called his name from another room. His eyes narrowed and his body stiffened, then he started trembling. "Fuck!"

Alice suddenly appeared. Her eyes were dazed and far away, her face drawn and whiter than bone. Her slim body was trembling even more than Jacob's. Alarmed, Bella grabbed her by the shoulders, trying to get her to focus.

"Alice, what's wrong? Carlisle supposedly just called here looking for Charlie. But I don't think it really was him."

Alice's gaze came back into focus, her eyes wide with pain. "Edward."

Jacob's reaction was instantaneous. He grabbed Bella, pulling her away from Alice and trapping her against his body. "That was him on the phone?" He demanded.

"Yes." Bella's was surprised at how steady her voice sounded. She was surprised she wasn't freaking out right now as Alice held them all in suspense. "Alice has seen something, Jacob. We need to find out what it is."

Jacob emitted a furious stream of profanities. Bella glared at him testily, and he gritted his teeth, his eyes apologetic. She touched his face briefly in understanding before returning her attention to Alice.

"Alice, you need to tell us what happened."

Alice had pulled a small silver phone from her bag. Her fingers dialled the numbers so fast they were a blur. It only took a few seconds before some answered her call. "Rose, I need to talk to Carlisle now." Her voice whipped through the words. "Fine, as soon as he's back. Look, have you heard anything from Edward?" Alice paused, listening with an expression that grew more appalled with every passing second. "Why would you tell Jasper that, Rose? I trusted you!" Her jaw tightened in anger. "Do you have any idea of the trouble you've caused?"

Bella exchanged a tense glance with Jacob as they waited impatiently for Alice to finish her call to Rosalie and explain what the hell was going on.

"Don't give me those lame excuses, Rosalie." Alice continued acidly. "I know you enjoyed every second when you deliberately stirred the pot. You knew exactly what Jas' reaction would be." She paused as she listened to Rosalie's defensive response, her voice turning hard and her lips pulling back from her teeth. "It's a bit late for that, Rose. Save your remorse for someone who believes it." She snapped as she ended the call.

Bella didn't wait for the little psychic to gather her thoughts before she was in Alice's face demanding answers. Jacob was right beside her, his face a mask of impatience. "Tell us what's going on right now, Alice."

Alice's eyes were tortured as she looked at Bella guiltily. "I just needed someone to confide in. Rosalie was being unusually sympathetic. I had no idea she would do this….it was a last-minute decision on her part, she actually thought she was helping me."

"Alice!" Bella warned through gritted teeth. "What did Rosalie do?"

"She went to see Jas and told him everything-about you moving on with Jacob, the wolves, Victoria, how miserable I was about him not supporting me and how I intended to hang around here a bit longer…I'm so sorry." Alice moaned and sank to her knees. "Jas felt betrayed when he found out about all the secrets, I've been keeping from him. Rosalie berated him for being so complacent about my feelings, you know how ferocious she can be, and she wound Jasper up so much that he…."

"He what?" Bella whispered.

"Jasper tracked Edward down and relayed everything to him, demanding that he sort out the mess he left behind so that we could be reunited." Alice's face was pinched, her eyes tight with anxiety. "I'm so sorry, Bella. I never intended for any of this to happen…but as soon as Edward learned the truth, he immediately made the decision to come back. He's on his way right now…."

"How dare he!" Bella screamed.

Jacob caught hold of her, pinning her against his body protectively. His dark eyes were on fire as he glared intimidatingly at Alice. "Your kind cause nothing but trouble wherever you go. Call him right now and demand that he stays away if he knows what's good for him."

"I can't." Alice shook her head in despair. "As soon as his decision was made, I saw him dump his phone in a trash can in Rio."

"What the hell is he doing in Rio?" Bella's jaw was wired with frustration.

"Only he can tell you that." Alice whispered.

A shudder rippled through Jacob as he threw a look of disgust in Alice's direction. His hands moved to Bella's shoulders and she looked up at him with worried eyes. "Get your stuff together, Bella, honey. As of now you're moving on to the res with me."

"What about Charlie?" Bella questioned uncertainly. "He'll never go for it."

"One thing at a time, Bells." Jacob assured her. "Go on and pack."

Bella quickly nodded and raced up the stairs, her knees weak with gratitude that Jacob was taking control. She tore through her room, she stuffed a few t-shirts, sweatpants and jeans into an old backpack, and then threw her toothbrush in on top. When she was done, she hurled herself back down the stairs. "I'm ready." She said breathlessly.

"That's great, Bella, honey." Jacob turned to give her a brief smile. "You go on out to the car and stay with Jared and Embry. I just need a quick word with Alice."

"K.'" Bella didn't even stop to question him, she stood on her tiptoes in order to give him a quick peck on the cheek before heading outside.

A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.