Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight and you all know it!

Author's Note: To all of my readers…I am so sorry that I haven't updated in like a month. I have had serious writer's block with this story but I'm going to try to get chapters out to you every two weeks. As always, I'd love to know what you think. The more reviews I get, the more likely I'll push myself to keep writing. Thanks for everyone who is hanging in there!

Family Tree Chapter 12

BPOV

I paced.

Something about it was calming. It helped me to lessen the irritation. The day had been anything but normal. Two new vampires had come to town and turned my world upside down.

I didn't trust Dahlia. She reminded me a lot of Rosalie, but there was something darker, and twisted about her. Almost as though she was used to having things go her way. She was too damn pretty and her eyes were so cold. She was the first vampire I'd ever met that seemed dead. It was more than a little disturbing. What was more disturbing, was that the Cullens, including Edward, were getting to know them right now. I had a curfew to keep up and Edward had refused to help me sneak out. As always he had kissed me with a simple "Be safe." I stood on my porch and watched his silver car fly around the corner. I was upset.

When would I be able to truly be a part of the family? They didn't want me there and I knew why. I was a liability, accident prone and generally a magnet for bad luck. They wanted everything to go well, hence, me pacing in my bedroom alone all night long. What gave Edward the right to exclude me? Julian had expressed interest that I be present, as did Alice. She had reassured him that all would be fine. But for reasons unknown to me, he didn't believe her.

Finally I threw myself on the bed and kicked my legs in annoyance. The jeans I was wearing were cutting into my hips. I grunted and lifted my butt off the bed, tugging the jeans down my legs. I also pulled off the blue sweater I was wearing and let it fall gracelessly to the floor. Ah. So much better.

I tossed and turned, trying to sleep. It just wasn't happening.

God this is annoying.

I decided to concentrate on good things. I thought about the sun. Gentle sunlight filtering through my hair, soaking into my skin, warming me to the core. I thought about palm trees swaying under a gentle ocean breeze. I pictured myself walking down a sandy and deserted beach with Edward, his hand tucked into mine. We let the water lap at our feet and I couldn't take my eyes off him. He was sparkling and beautiful and I felt my stomach do a flip as I feasted on his muscular body. He turned toward me and scooped me up, cradling me against his chest. He leaned down and placed his lips on mine. I was like a rag doll in his arms and nothing existed save the pressure between our bodies as our lips danced.

Gently he knelt into the warm sand and placed me down beneath him. He looked deeply into my eyes, a look of utter love and devotion on his features. I drank him in and let my hands run up and down his arms, braced on either side of me. He lowered his head slowly and began to place erotic kisses along my jaw and then lower, down my neck. Sweet God…it felt so good. One of his hands lifted and made soft circles on my abdomen and I hitched my breath as fire crawled its way up my belly. He rubbed in rhythmic circles and I closed my eyes as his ministrations moved slowly upward until he was kneading my breasts…

With a cry I felt my body shudder and opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling, breathing hard. I looked around quickly and sighed in relief that I was alone. I pulled my hand from between my legs and stood up, stretching leisurely, much more relaxed. It had been a long while since I'd done something like that. It was not surprising since Edward was usually with me at night and I had very little privacy any other time of day. Not that I was some kind of sexual deviant, mind you.

I smiled sardonically and left my room. I tripped lightly down the stairs and into the kitchen. I'd made a batch of brownies a few days ago and knew there was one left. I opened the refrigerator and pulled the glass tray out. I picked up the last one and placed it on a paper towel. I filled a glass with water from the sink and headed back up to my room, munching on my treat.

I nearly choked when I saw Edward lying on my bed. He turned toward me, a playful smile on his lips.

"I missed you." He voiced.

I chewed quickly and swallowed. "I missed you too. How'd it go?" I was determined not to let my anger or frustration out. Now was not the time.

"It went better than I expected. We aired out a lot of things. We do have a problem though."

"What?"

"The pack. They aren't going to like new visitors."

I nodded in agreement. They would be furious.

"What are you going to do about that?" I asked nervously.

"Well…we were hoping you could talk to them, as an envoy."

This was new. Huh.

"You actually want me to talk to the pack for you…as an envoy." My tone was incredulous.

"I do not want you anywhere near those dogs. However, there was a vote and I was, unfortunately, out voted." He scowled.

I was captivated by that scowl. I hadn't seen anything like it on his features ever before. He seemed so human.

"What?" He looked at me quizzically.

"Nothing. You're just amusing."

"Glad you think so." A light smile tugged at his lips.

"Other than that," I began, "how was everything? Are they going to continue to go to school with us?"

"Well, Julian said that he would like to but Dahlia doesn't want to. He will follow whatever directive she gives."

"Anything else?"

"Well, I warned Julian that he'd better keep his hands off of you, if he still wishes to keep his limbs, that is."

"You didn't!" I squealed, embarrassed.

"It's best that he knows not to interfere, when it comes to you."

"I don't think having a friendly conversation counts as interfering Edward."

He gave me an aged look. "There are some things you will never understand Bella. But I will protect you from that."

"From what?" My voice rose an octave.

"From unpleasant situations that may arise as a result of you insisting on being around vampires."

I rolled my eyes. "Give me a break."

He tilted his head. "A break? What kind of break?"

"No. It's an expression." I sighed, impatiently. "I'm not just a possession. I'm not an object. I can make my own decisions, you know."

"I'm well aware of all three of those facts but one thing you are not taking into account is that your safety is my first priority. I love you Bella."

"It's not fair to pull the love card in this conversation." Inside I was melting.

"Love is not fair."

I groaned and then took another bite of my brownie. I chewed thoughtfully and then swallowed. "What was Julian's reaction?"

Edward's eyes narrowed. "He was not pleased."

I thought as much. "I'm pretty sure he only wants to be friends, you know. He was excited about being friends with a human."

"He can find some other human. You're taken."

"I can't argue with that, can I?" I set the remainder of the brownie on my desk and took the three feet that separated us. I leaned in to kiss him but the expression on his face stopped me. "What?"

"You have a crumb situation."

"Oh. Well, too bad." I leaned in and pressed my lips to his, smearing chocolate on his face as I did so. A deep rumbling sound tumbled from him and I pulled back with a satisfied look on my face. "Chocolate looks good on you."

His expression made it clear that he was only putting up with me because he loved me. His sigh of resignation meant that I had won…this round at least.

"You should be getting to bed now Bella." He chastised.

"I know. I will, in a minute. I just want to check my e-mail first."

"Bella." His tone was a warning but I ignored it and flopped down in my computer chair.

Before I could even turn the thing on, Edward had picked me up and deposited me in my bed. I opened my mouth in surprise and then he began tickling me. I laughed and nearly shrieked but with a warning look in his eyes I quieted down. He stood up and moved quick and stealthily as a cat toward my window. He looked outside and waited. I held my breath. After a minute he returned to me.

"What is it?" I asked fearfully.

"Nothing. You go to sleep now. I'm right here."

I didn't like it when he placated me without filling me in. Something was up.

"Trust me, all right?" He was watching my face and was obviously reading my body language.

I sighed in resignation and crawled beneath the covers obediently. Edward held me close and before I knew it, I was asleep.

EPOV

That dog didn't know when to give up. I waited for Bella to fall into a deeper sleep before I crept away from her and jumped out of the window. I landed in a crouch and looked around me, sniffing the air. He was at the edge of the trees. I walked forward slowly, the smell was acrid.

Jacob looked at me with narrowed eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded.

"The same as you."

"Bella doesn't need protection from the likes of you. I can handle it." I tried to keep my temper under control but the sight of him was infuriating.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but the last time that your kind visited, Bella was nearly killed. "

"We have the situation under control." I spat.

"Like hell you do." He growled.

"They're like us, vegetarians." I stressed.

"A bloodsucker is a bloodsucker. That doesn't matter to us. The same rules apply. They bite anyone, and we won't hesitate to take them out. If you get in the way…we won't show mercy."

"They will be on their best behavior and nothing is going to happen. In the meantime, I am perfectly capable of taking care of her. She doesn't need you around!"

"Is that so? This says different." Jacob pulled a folded piece of paper out of his torn shorts and handed it over.

I read it quickly and felt dismayed. She'd sent the letter to him. I was shocked.

"Unlike you, I won't make her choose between us, even though she feels like she has to." Jacob interjected.

"Admirable sentiments werewolf. I haven't forced her to choose either. She's done that of her own volition and she's chosen me. So I won't tell you again…back off. I won't let anything happen to her."

"You know bloodsucker, I don't think I will. I have just as much right to be here as you do. Just because you are the one occupying her bed right now doesn't mean that it won't change in the future."

I laughed coldly. "She wouldn't bed a dog like you if her life depended on it."

"Is that so?"

Suddenly, I was engulfed in images.

Bella rested her head back against Jake's chest. He ran his hands through her hair.

"You're beautiful Bella."

"So are you Jake."

"Bella?"

"Yes?"

"What would you do if I told you that I loved you?"

"I'd say that I love you too."

"Do you ever think about the future? What we'll be like ten years from now?"

She was quiet. "I don't know. I feel like there are two futures waiting for me…"

"Is that right? Am I in either one of them?"

"Of course you are. What kind of question is that?" She laughed nervously.

"Do you think…someday…that we'll be together?"

She froze and a pregnant silence filled the space around them. "It depends." Her voice was constricted.

"On what?"

"I think you know."

"Right. Your bloodsucker. If he never comes back…"

She squirmed uncomfortably and whispered in a pain filled voice. "Jake…if he never comes back, I think…maybe that we could try."

Jakes heart beat faster at her admission. "That's all I want Bella…just a chance."

She turned around and faced Jake so that she was sitting in his lap. She rested her head at the juncture between his neck and shoulder. "You smell so good."

He wrapped his arms around her. "So do you."

I took three steps backward and stared at Jake's mocking face. I growled fiercely. He narrowed his eyes and his body tensed.

"It's a good thing I'm back then, isn't it?" I watched as his face fell. "I should let you know, I'm not going anywhere."

"You left her once. I would never do that to her." He swore.

"I will not make the same mistake again." I vowed.

He smiled wolfishly. "I love her."

"I love her more."

We stared at one another for several minutes. Finally I'd had enough. If I didn't get him out of my sights, I was going to kill him.

"Have fun standing out here in the cold. Bella's bed is calling to me." I couldn't resist.

He reached for me but I easily dodged out of the way.

"You keep your hands off of her bloodsucker." He warned.

I smiled slyly and suggestively. I heard his heart beat faster as he became angry.

I turned and ran toward the tree and was back inside Bella's room before a second had passed. I stood protectively in front of the bed, listening to see if he would follow. I heard no noise. After several tense minutes of waiting I knew that I had not angered him sufficiently to make him attack. I took a breath and decided that I'd sit by the window for the duration of the night, just to be sure.

I felt a war of emotions inside of me. His memory had really thrown me. I hadn't known that she would have been willing to be with him if I'd stayed away. It was disconcerting. If he was just a normal human boy and I'd known that Bella felt that way…could I have let it happen? Would I be strong enough to give her a normal life?

I truly didn't know the answer to that.

Being apart from her had nearly killed me and when I thought I'd lost her forever, I wanted to die. An eternity was worthless without her.

I glanced at the bed where my angel slept. She was so peaceful in sleep, so beautiful. I contented myself with watching over her and was thankful that I had the privilege of protecting her. I had the honor of loving her and having her love in return.

Who was I kidding? I could never let her go.