A/N: First, really quickly, I wanted to say thank you to Tpswasshri27. I check my traffic graphs usually once a day, but your review of every chapter is what has me haphazardly writing in the parking lot of my job on my lunch break. I am currently reading "Forever? Forever." And I am thoroughly enjoying it. Also there was another scene with Charlie and Jacob that was supposed to go on the end of this chapter, but for whatever reason it wouldn't save, so it will go on the beginning of five. That's all, and moving on.

Jacob stared, amused, while Bella ate her pizza slices. She had been more hungry than she had realized because she had eaten half the pizza before she even paid attention. Jacob was so glad to see her eating that he didn't dare comment on how he would need to order another for himself. Though he was thinking it with a chuckle.

"So what exactly did you mean 'don't leave me again.'?" Jacob asked. He had fully intended on spending the days with her and going home after she was asleep.

"I mean you have to stay," Bella spoke through a bite of pizza.

"Like, indefinitely?"

She nodded with a small smile.

"Charlie isn't going to let me just move in, Bells. Also, I have all my stuff at home, and the pack..." Jacob had been shunning his duties for the last two days, and Sam had given him a pass due to Bella's condition. At this rate, that was not going to last too much longer.

Bella sighed. "The pack..." She trailed off.

"Yeah, the red-head is still out there, you know."

"Actually..." Bella wouldn't say more than a few words. But this had suddenly become important to his duties as a protector.

"Actually? Bella you have to tell me what is going on, right now."

Bella sighed again, this time deeper than before. "Fine." She put down the crust of her last piece of pizza and took a long swig of her warm soda.

"Victoria only wanted me dead because... because he killed her mate. She was only after me to hurt him." She peered at Jacob as if trying to search for something. She looked as if she hoped that this information would be enough.

"And?" Jacob pushed. Not only did he want to keep her talking, he wasn't entirely sure of where this was going.

Another deep sigh. "And," she started loudly. "He's... gone." She started sobbing. Jacob pulled her into an embrace and sighed.

"I know, Bells. I'm so sorry."

"Are you really?" She sniffed.

"Well..." Jacob started to tell her the truth and Bella gaped at him as if the one word was a horrendous thing to say. This changed his way of thinking. "Yes, Bella. I'm sorry... I'm sorry that this happened to you. I'm sorry that you have to live with this pain and I couldn't even imagine if--" Jacob cut himself off because he didn't want to imagine something happening to Bella. "I just want to make you feel better. I want to make it all go away."

"You can't." The statement was so blunt that it make Jacob flinch.

"I'm sorry?" He half-laughed. "I see that you're mostly clean, and have just eaten a meal, no thanks to you."

"I only did that for you." She half-smiled.

Jacob could tell that she was trying to diffuse the situation and he had only just gotten her back. He was determined not to let the wolfy temper ruin it right now. "I know." He was speaking softer now. "But I think that counts."

"Sure, but it isn't going away, Jacob, he was everything to me, and he's just... gone... and... it's all my fault!" She started sobbing again. This time she fell into Jacob's chest and convulsed much like the day before.

So the truth outs. Jacob knew that she was blaming herself, but he hadn't thought it was the root of all of it. He figured the death of Edward would have been the root. But it's the guilt. This is still a step in the right direction. Maybe she's soaking my shirt again in mucus and tears, but she talked. She told me about Victoria. She told me that it was her fault. Which it absolutely isn't. She's up, she's clean, she's fed. Step three is just helping her move on. And that one is the doozy. Jacob was lost in his thoughts and didn't notice that her sobs had stopped again.

"Will you stay?" She mumbled and her face was still buried in his chest. If he had normal hearing, he might not have heard her.

"Always." Jacob felt the word in his chest like a rock settling in to the bottom of his chest cavity. No heavier word had ever left his lips.