A/N: This is mid-Eclipse through the end of Breaking Dawn from Edward's perspective. Thanks for reading!

These characters are not mine and all belong to Stephenie Meyer.


I put a lot of sweat and tears into this one. I was so determined to get it right, I started writing it from Jacob's POV just as an exercise... and then it turned into a whole other story called "Our Little House, Jacob's POV in New Moon, Eclipse, & Breaking Dawn," - Look it up if you're interested :) Enjoy!

Stolen Kiss (Eclipse)

I held Bella's hand as I drove her to the line. We'd been enjoying a peaceful silence, but I suddenly ached to hear more of her voice, knowing I would soon be without it.

"So how do you feel you did on your exams?" I asked.

"History was easy, but I don't know about the calculus. It seemed like it was making sense, so that probably means I failed."

I laughed. She was ridiculous. While she'd certainly fallen behind this semester no thanks to me and had had plenty of distractions no 18-year-old ever should, she was bright.

"I'm sure you did fine. Or," I said, not about to miss my chance to tease her, "if you're really worried, I could bribe Mr. Varner to give you A."

Her cheeks flushed beautifully just as I had anticipated.

"Er, thanks, but no thanks," she said quickly.

I think she wondered if I was even joking. I laughed at her wary expression, but stopped abruptly, hearing some mental commotion.

It could only be Jacob Black. The volume of his thoughts at baseline was loud. At the moment it was deafening.

...no, that's stupid. The garage! - his mind flickered through images of him and Bella in some type of shed - in most of them she looked somewhat sickly, but also a little happy - I'll tell her in the garage where we fell in love. Oh shit. No, that's where I told her I'd rather she was dead.

Our tree. Yes, our tree. That's perfect. More images flickered. A natural driftwood bench on a beach. Embracing Bella. Holding her hand. Arguing with her. And then a slight shift to the pebbled shore where he remembered beating the water from her lungs. As long as she doesn't think about that time she nearly drowned...

Wait, no. We'll take out the bikes. I'll warm her up in the garage, get out some sodas like old times. And then I'll take her down to the beach. As he thought this, we rounded the last bend before the line. He noticed us.

Hey bloodsucker, yeah, that's right I'm going to tell her I love her and that she should choose me. I'm not quitting. I'm running out of time, he thought, panic leaking into his confident declaration.

There were few people in the world who had to live with the knowledge that I could read their every thought and they all handled it differently when difficult thoughts arose. Rosalie hurled insults to busy her mind from revealing those thoughts. Alice did the same, only replacing insults with translation tasks. Emmett pretended I couldn't hear his thoughts. Carlisle apologized. And so on...

Only Jacob Black became more honest. His thoughts weaponized.

I parked the car and sighed.

I'm fighting for her. Up until the moment you suck the life out of her.

"What's wrong?" Bella asked, her hand on the door.

And then I'll kill you. His thoughts were graphic.

"Nothing," I lied. I glared at him. We held eye contact.

She loves me, too. Maybe she doesn't realize, but I know it. And I bet you know it, too.

"You're not listening to Jacob, are you?" She accused.

So, I'm going to tell her. I'm going to tell her. It seemed he was more psyching himself up then communicating with me at the moment.

"It's not easy to ignore someone when he's shouting."

Yeah. You're the victim here, he thought sarcastically, easily hearing my pointed remark with his enhanced senses.

"Oh," Bella replied. "What's he shouting?"

Give me my chance, bloodsucker. Let her think for herself. You said you owed me, didn't you? Then don't fucking tell her.

"I'm absolutely certain he'll mention it himself," I said in a wry tone. He didn't need to persuade me. I wasn't about to do his dirty work for him.

I didn't look at Bella to see what her reaction to this information was. Jacob Black and I had still not broken eye contact.

He honked twice then, impatient for her to leave the car, still not trusting me to keep his plan secret.

"That's impolite," I scolded him. I couldn't fathom why Charlie, or any father for that matter, would ever want his daughter paired with this rude, tactless beast.

"That's Jacob," Bella sighed, as if this behavior was part of his charm. She hurried out then, her back to me now as she walked along the shoulder.

"Watch yourself, dog," I snarled.

You're scared she'll choose me, he accused smugly.

Slowly, with perfect calm, I said, "She had seven months to choose you. And, at the end of it, she left you crying on her front porch to go find me."

He winced, particularly hurt by his incorrect assumption that Bella had told me that. In reality, I had filched it from Alice's memories.

It was a low blow. And honestly, I wasn't nearly so confident. I was borrowing my brothers' confidence and their lines. Besides that, Alice's memory was painful for me, too. Just for a different reason. It was an image that always lingered and haunted me.

Bella was across the line now.

Jacob Black's pain had given way to anger. You want a trip down memory lane? A bleeding Bella looking over Jacob and telling him, you're sort of beautiful. The two standing in Bella's dark room, her hands on his bare chest. The same scene shifted, Bella's words, What if we ran away? Just you and me. Bella, hair wet on an old couch - maybe when she'd nearly drowned? - begging, just stay with me. Her cheek against his naked chest in the truck, her heart accelerating at his laughter. The last one I knew, their faces just inches apart eyes locked intensely in Charlie's kitchen.

The memories appeared carefully assembled and edited together into a single unit. They came to him effortlessly as if he visited them again and again like a worn paperback. Despite his hostility towards me, the tenor of the stream was happy and warm, with a strong undercurrent of unfulfilled desire. His most intimate memories of her and the seeds of his fantasies, I realized.

Objectively, I could see that these memories were only a series of almosts. My memories with her eclipsed his pathetic collection a thousand times over. I almost pitied him.

But when it came to Bella and Jacob Black, objectivity was lost. His images lingered, stabbing and ripping. What if we ran away? Just you and me. What had that been about? What if they had run away, and when I finally came back to Forks to beg her to take me back, as I inevitably would have, she was gone? And I wouldn't have been able to find her because Alice couldn't see past him. The thought made me furious.

Bella waved. I heard her sigh when I didn't wave back.

You're life's about to get harder, bloodsucker. Maybe, he was concealing something.

I had a horrible feeling in my gut as they drove off. It was made worse when I realized Bella had forgotten the cell phone.


Panic. Anger. Pain. What if we ran away? Just you and me, I remembered again and again and again. I pushed 120 mph as I sped down the winding highway towards my house. What if she ran away with him today?

My cell phone buzzed.

"Hello," I snapped, not bothering to check the ID. It couldn't be Bella, so it didn't really matter who it was.

"I see you getting pulled over by Charlie," Alice chided.

I sighed and dropped my speed down to 70. It wasn't impossible that, in the state I was in, I would miss the warning of Charlie's muted thoughts.

"It would really make his day, though, if you're feeling generous," Alice teased. "He'll charge you with reckless driving and take you in. He'll put the mugshot on the fridge."

I hung up without answering. It was rude, but she would forgive me.

A couple miles down the road I detected Charlie's semi-veiled thoughts and dropped down to 40. We ended up stopped at the same red light, headed in opposite directions. I fixed my face with a polite smile and gave a small wave. He scowled, but nodded in acknowledgement. He was imagining cuffing me.

Once clear, I was speeding again.

Alice had warned everyone about my mood and I was met with tense thoughts as I entered the house.

Has something happened, Edward? Carlisle asked.

Are we finally taking out that punk? Emmett thought eagerly, picturing the dog.

I had not anticipated needing to stop and explain anything so Alice had not seen the reason behind my mood, I realized.

"It's nothing," I muttered. "Let's go, I want to get back as soon as possible."

Carlisle and Esme were ready to go. Rosalie was as well, though she contemplated fabricating an excuse to slow our departure.

"That's not childish," I snapped at her.

She stormed past me out the back door.

You'll tell me later what happened? Alice asked.

I nodded. As soon as I did, she focused, seeing my future explanation.

I didn't wait around to see what she thought of it. I was already launching myself across the river, Esme and Carlisle just behind.

I landed and set off in a sprint, desperately hoping the speed would numb me.

Edward, I heard Esme's tentative thoughts. Run with me, won't you? I know you're in a hurry, but I get so little time with you now. And I'm so worried...

Reluctantly, I slowed down. I couldn't stand to hurt Esme. And it would be beyond optimistic to think Bella would be calling anytime soon. I wondered if she would call from his house or if Jacob Black would take advantage of the situation and drive her home himself. Maybe after their impending conversation she would prefer he take her home...

Esme caught me then. She glanced at my face with loving concern. My poor son. Maybe I can help?

Rosalie and Carlisle were far ahead now, out of earshot.

I sighed. "Jacob Black is planning to profess his love to Bella today."

I was shocked when she laughed. I looked a her with pained eyes.

"No, don't misunderstand me, sweetheart. It's just that it's such a lost cause." She can't resist you anymore than she can resist gravity.

But I shook my head. "She considered him, I think. Before I came back." The words were excruciating.

"She told you that?" Esme asked skeptically.

"No. Just things I've heard. Memories."

Memories presented through a biased lens, she thought confidently.

When I didn't respond, she sighed. "Love is complicated, isn't it? And even more so when human hearts are involved, it seems."

I nodded.

We ran quietly for a long stretch. She continued to muse quietly to herself about love.

Her thoughts wrapped affectionately around the words that were her and Carlisle's wedding vows, aptly from the Bible given Carlisle's religious upbringing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I smirked.

"What?" She asked, her face lighting up at the humor in my face. She wanted in on the joke.

"I was just thinking... Paul the Apostle must have never been in love, himself. His words are painfully ignorant and naïve."

She ruffled my hair with playful reproach and laughed. It sounded off, but I laughed, too.


We'd returned all too soon. That had been my intention of course, so I wouldn't miss her call, but now the afternoon stretched eternally in front of me.

I sat on our bed, toying with the black satin covered box which contained my mother's ring.

Alice entered without knocking and sat beside me.

"She's going to love it," Alice said, noticing the box.

"You haven't seen that," I stated.

"Not yet. But it's just her taste," Alice assured me.

She was thinking over Jacob Black's declaration.

I frowned. Had he told Bella already? Was he still working up to it? What would she think? What would she say? What would she do?

Alice was watching the panic spread across my face.

"Unless she's directly with that dog, I only ever see her with you and becoming one of us." I see no vanishing paths for her.

"But once she knows, understands his feelings explicitly, maybe she'll choose a different path."

Alice looked at me patronizingly. She already knows.

"I don't know that."

You've seen my memories from before we left for Italy. He was head over heals in love with her. When she left, she broke his heart. It was a choice and she understood what she was doing.

Yes, I'd obsessed over those memories countless times, trying to consider them from every angle and decipher every detail.

I hadn't been reunited with Bella and Alice more than 5 minutes in Italy when Alice first revealed Bella was being protected by her "werewolf best friend" - it was plain Alice had experienced her own jealousy over this term - and I saw Jacob Black's face. He was almost unrecognizable, no longer a child, but a man.

She'd revealed no more about him than that as we walked down the shadowed alleyway, her mind focused on sharing other pertinent details of what had transpired, and more importantly, how we would escape.

But her scant update was enough. I vowed in that moment that, were we to survive and were Bella to take me back - a privilege I would literally beg for - I would ask for her hand in marriage.

Before I truly understood what an existence without Bella looked like, before I even consciously knew I loved her, I had imagined her all in white. It was the first day we ever spoke, the first day I felt her skin on mine. The image had caused me pain. I couldn't make sense of it at the time. But as I fell further and further, the pain was less inexplicable. It festered and grew into agony and rage because I believed I could never be the man at the end of the aisle. Sometimes Newton was a stand in for the man, but other times the man was faceless.

Once, for only a second, that man had been Jacob Black. I'd briefly considered it as they awkwardly danced at our prom. There was something warm and effortless about them. His mind had been so pure and open, a pleasant space. A mind almost worthy, especially in comparison to her other peers. But the thought had passed and the man became faceless again.

Through the long months of our separation, the image of her in white with the faceless man never left me. I had no reason to ever consider Jacob Black in that role again. He wasn't a part of her world before I left. Not once between prom and my departure had she spoken of or seen him.

But the moment I realized what he'd become, a best friend, I knew he was a threat. How easy had their relationship been when they were little more than acquaintances. To imagine their same chemistry, but more advanced as best friends...

Having her back in my arms and resurrected from death, or so it felt, it was intolerable that any man should wait at the end of the aisle for her other than myself. It was as if securing her hand was a matter of survival. In that moment, it seemed simple. Point A to Point B.

Though I remained steadfast in that goal, I quickly realized it would be more difficult to achieve than I had anticipated. There were several complications. The strength of their attachment, which I had, even with my previous insight, severely underestimated. Jacob Black's willingness to fight. Bella's disgust with marriage. And worst of all, Carlisle's promise to change her, which meant a future with me was a certain end to her humanity.

Even knowing this, I didn't waver for a moment in my pursuit of her hand.

Until now.

If I loved her, and wanted what was best for her, I had to at least consider that he might be better for her.

He was strong enough to protect her. There was no safer place in the world for her than La Push. He could be human for her. He could give her things physically that I could not. He could love her passionately, give her children, grow old with her.

But there was more than the physical aspect. The strength of their connection and the nature of it... it was unsettling. He knew her better than I did. He was rougher and more spontaneous with her, willing to push her outside of her comfort zone and challenge her which allowed him to evoke aspects of her character I could not or would not. She, on the other hand, seemed to be able to read his every thought, often responding as if she had. Observing them together like this made me feel like I was burning at the stake.

His mind was no longer pure as it had once been. He was rude and obnoxious. I hated him and I wanted him dead. Despite all that...

"You can't..." I started, turning towards Alice who been analyzing my face through my inner turmoil, "there's no way you can see..." I hesitated. The question was painful.

Spit it out, Edward.

"There's no way you can see if she'd be better off... with him?" I asked

"You know I can't, but I don't need to see. I already know and you should, too."

"She could stay human," I said, ignoring her, "stay in her parents' lives, have children, a career... I feel like I'm dragging her into the underworld."

You're exhausting. "Nothing I ever say seems to convince you."

And then something occurred to her.

Say for a moment, she thought excitedly, though it's utter nonsense, that she chose him. He could leave her, you know. If he imprinted, he wouldn't have a choice. Her eyes were bright.

I nodded slowly.

"With you, her happiness is certain, despite your unending pessimism. But with him..." Would you really allow an opening for that future? One which holds so much pain for her? You ignore all of my other arguments. But surely you have to see this is a cause worth fighting for.

I could see that.

"There it is," she said, noting a slight improvement in my expression. She patted my face roughly and bounded out of the room.


I made my way downstairs at some point. I was still miserable despite Alice's comfort. Every second Bella was out of my sight I worried about her safety. Every second I envied his time with her. And the later it got, the more I worried that he'd been successful.

Emmett was watching baseball. I sat on the sofa beside him and glared at the TV.

You should challenge him to a duel, Emmett thought casually. Word had gotten around about Jacob Black's intentions.

I rolled my eyes.

I would. If it was Rose.

I ignored him.

You're no fun.

I couldn't deal with Emmett. I jumped in my car and sped to the end of the drive. The clouds were thick making it seem as if the sun had already set.

I sat there staring at the phone, willing it to buzz.

And then it did. Charlie's number lit up the screen.

I almost broke the phone as I snapped it open. "Bella?" I sounded desperate, but I didn't care. I was already pulling the car onto the main highway.

"Yes," she grumbled. "Will you come and get me, please?"

She wanted to see me. She wanted to leave with me. That was good. And she didn't seem to be in a great mood. I was feeling optimistic about that, too.

"I'm on my way," I assured her. "What's wrong?"

"I want Carlisle to look at my hand. I think it's broken."

That dumb dog. So much for being her protector.

"What happened?" I demanded. I imagined some ordeal on the motorcycle. I had been trying to choose my battles more wisely lately, but I didn't know if I could stand the thought of her riding that death trap if it meant broken bones. It was her hand this time. What if next time it was her skull?

"I punched Jacob," she said proudly.

Nothing could have prepared me for that. I was smiling, elated. This was more than a best case scenario after the plans he had boasted about this morning.

"Good," I said, my own voice sounding proud. And then I felt a little guilty. "Though I'm sorry you're hurt."

She laughed once. "I wish I'd hurt him," she sighed in frustration. "I didn't do any damage at all."

He'd made a serious misstep. That much was clear. I took great joy at his fumble.

"I can fix that," I offered, trying to make her laugh.

"I was hoping you would say that," she said darkly.

Oh.

My muscles tensed and my good humor evaporated. She'd surprised me again. Was this her reaction to his declaration?

Something didn't add up. There was some missing piece.

"That doesn't sound like you," I said wary. "what did he do?" I held my breath.

"He kissed me," she growled.

I slammed the gas pedal to the floor. I could not find words to say to her. No, aside from the small part of my mind controlling the vehicle, I was fully consumed in calculating how I could kill him so that he endured the maximum amount of pain over the longest period of time. It was as if I had earned my two medical degrees for just this moment. There could be no mistakes, no easy outs for him.

I hoped I would encounter him on the way to her house. It would get messy if he was already back across the line. But no, knowing him he'd still be there, waiting for me.

"Is the dog still there?" I finally asked.

"Yes."

"I'm around the corner." The phone crumpled as I snapped it closed.

I raced down her street at 80 and saw his prized car parked in front of her house. I was prepared to plow into it's rear bumper, but something about seeing Charlie's police cruiser in the driveway reminded me I was still a Cullen, someone with responsibilities and obligations. I broke hard, leaving less than an inch between the Volkswagen and the Volvo.

I was at the front door in a second and I could hear him. He was amped up on adrenaline, feeling victorious and itching for a fight. I sensed no remorse.

So you heard the happy news? he taunted. Oh, you didn't? Well, you see, I kissed your girlfriend. And, I have to say, it really made my day. He was rejoicing to himself, savoring the feel and taste of her lips.

I focused on the ever present image of Bella in my mind as I fought back my urge to slaughter him. Not tonight.

He was thinking about how she was his first kiss. Great, something we had in common.

Charlie was radiating anxiety and something else, maybe guilt. I was pleasantly surprised he seemed to think I would win in a fight with Jacob Black.

"How's your hand?" I heard Charlie ask.

Jacob watched Bella lift the ice pack to reveal it. "It's swelling," she snapped.

It was swelling. I took a deep breath. Not tonight, I thought.

"Maybe you should pick on people your own size," Charlie joked nervously. It was very fortunate there was a wall between us to shield him from my murderous glare.

"Maybe," Bella retorted sarcastically.

She finally opened the door and I was grateful for the burn of her scent, even if it was partially masked by the dog's stench which seemed to be all over her. The fire in my throat grounded me somewhat, reminding me of the level of self-control I had had to exert in order to not kill her that first day in biology. Not killing Jacob Black tonight would require even more.

"Let me see," I murmured as I walked into the small hallway.

She held out her hand and I gently examined it.

"I think you're right about the break. I'm proud of you. You must have put some force behind this." She was truly amazing. He'd kissed her and she'd punched him. It didn't matter that he could offer her more physically. She didn't want him.

"As much as I have." She sighed sadly. "Not enough, apparently."

Jacob Black was hanging on to our every word. I doubted Charlie could hear me, though it seemed he was trying to.

I kissed her hand softly. "I'll take care of it," I promised.

Calm, I told myself. "Jacob," I called. My voice was impressively even, especially considering the homicidal thoughts I was trying hard to suppress, so I was a little surprised when all three of their hearts accelerated at the sound of my voice.

Jacob Black leapt jubilantly from his place on the couch full of anticipation. Let's do this.

"Now, now," Charlie cautioned as he heaved himself off the sofa, but Jacob Black was already in the claustrophobic hallway. I glared into his cocky, self-impressed eyes as he thought through his own violent images.

Charlie squeezed into the crowded hallway beside him.

"I don't want any fighting, do you understand?" Charlie looked only at me, but I kept my eyes on Jacob Black. "I can go put my badge on if that makes my request more official."

Jacob Black smirked as he saw an opportunity to provoke me in front of Charlie.

She kissed me back, you know.

"That won't be necessary," I told Charlie in a restrained tone, still not looking at him.

Jacob Black didn't seem to be lying, but his words didn't make sense, not given Bella's reaction. And then he slipped, triggering a memory with his own taunting words. Bella in the car "...that was not kissing back, that was trying to get you the hell off of me, you idiot."

My eyes narrowed.

She did. She's just in denial. I doubted very much that that was true. When Bella lied, it was obvious. I didn't see that in his memory. I knew he could spot her lies as easily as I could, so I was a little baffled at his insistence.

"Why don't you arrest me, Dad? I'm the one throwing punches," Bella said.

Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to press charges, Jake?"

Jake grinned. "No. I'll take the trade any day."

The floodgate opened and I grimaced at the detailed mental image he'd constructed of their kiss.

He remembered his lust for Bella in that moment, longing for her lips.

He saw the longing in her eyes...
But it wasn't longing, I realized. It was something between startled and horrified. But he honestly didn't seem to realize that.

He remembered the feel as he met her lips. He'd been surprised at how soft hers were and marveled at the feel of their lips molding together.
But he'd practically dive bombed her. And poor Bella - how uncomfortable she must have been as he'd held her face and neck so awkwardly.

He remembered how she'd passionately touched his chest and then his face...
Her trying to get him the hell off of her, I edited again, borrowing her words.

He remembered her lips parting for his tongue...
I almost lost control at that one. My eyes narrowed as I imagined ripping his tongue right out of his cocky face.

And then he remembered giving her three quick pecks.
I knew that expression, too. She'd given a similar one to Tyler Crowley.

I was imagining torturing him again.

"Dad, don't you have a baseball bat somewhere in your room?" Bella asked. "I want to borrow it for a minute." So her thoughts were in harmony with mine.

I broke off my staring contest with Jacob Black to look at her. I was in awe. Jacob was unphased by her defensiveness, seeing it as a cover for, as he falsely believed, her returning his kiss.

Charlie gave her a stern look. "Enough, Bella."

"Let's go have Carlisle look at your hand before you wind up in a jail cell," I said. I put my arm around her and pulled her toward the door. Jacob Black didn't like me touching her. His stolen kiss had amplified his sense of claim over her. I didn't like that.

"Fine," Bella grumbled. leaning into me. She seemed almost as disappointed as Jacob Black that their would be no fight tonight.

Despite my disgust and rage, I was feeling somewhat buoyed by the combination of Bella's violent anger and Jacob Black's complete romantic ineptitude. How differently Bella had responded to our first kiss. And I'd had no more experience than he did...

As we walked out to my car I realized something. Since our first encounter in the woods after I'd returned, he'd been Jacob Black, a perfectly poised karmic weapon. My natural enemy, both human and monster, whose sole purpose was stealing Bella.

But for a moment tonight, I'd seen just a boy named Jacob. The one Bella worried about all the time. The one that asked for a dance at her prom and griped about his father's superstitions. The one that was following behind us now, after reassuring an anxious Charlie, not ready to accept there wouldn't be a fight.

It wasn't that I no longer saw him as a threat. It was just that I could see his vulnerabilities better now. His inexperience, his youth. I better understood how I might leverage my strengths against him.

I helped Bella into the car before I turned to face him on the sidewalk. I was mindful of Charlie watching through the drapes in the font room.

Jacob feigned a casual stance, but I knew he was on edge. He was testing me.

I was feeling cocky following my epiphany and I was eager to put Jacob, the boy, the wretched kisser in his place. He'd crossed a line today.

First and foremost, he'd violated her. The fact that he had not intended to do so did not absolve him of his evil, it merely spared him separation from a certain male appendage. Second, he'd failed to protect her and seemed to take virtually no responsibility for her condition.

And last, I was no longer the only man that had ever kissed Bella Swan. This knowledge awakened a part of me that was animal, possessive, and far from pure. A part of me that reasoned justice for his sin could only be achieved through his death. Unfortunately, tonight, I'd have to settle for something less than justice.

I would not be so forgiving next time and it was imperative he understood that.

My voice was carefully in control and smooth when I spoke. "I'm not going to kill you now, because it would upset Bella." Coward, he thought, though the hair raised on his neck.

"Hmph," Bella grumbled through the open car window. I was really taken with this side of her.

I smiled at her. "It would bother you in the morning," I said brushing her cheek. Jacob cringed at the sight of my fingers on her face.

I turned back to him. "But if you ever bring her back damaged again - "

It was her own fault, he argued.

" - and I don't care whose fault it is; I don't care if she merely trips, or if a meteor falls out of the sky and hits her in the head - if you return her to me in less than the perfect condition that I left her in you will be running with three legs. Do you understand that, mongrel?"

He rolled his eyes. Like the perfect condition you left her in last September?

I fought to maintain my smooth expression.

She only started looking human again because of me. Plus, she's got you so whipped there's no way you touch me.

"Who's going back," Bella muttered. My heart warmed at her words, though I was careful not to react, anticipating her easy forgiveness. Jacob anticipated the same.

"And," I continued, "if you ever kiss her again, I will break your jaw for her." Though my voice was gentle, I knew the threat had impact as a trail of heat moved down his spine, threatening his control.

"What if she wants me to?" Jacob drawled, arrogant. She knows what she's missing now. She's gonna want more, the dog said, remembering his tongue in his in her mouth. Could my kind feel nauseated? Is that what that feeling was in my stomach.

"Hah!" Bella snorted in disgust.

"If that's what she wants, then I won't object," I shrugged. I really didn't see her subjecting herself to that again. "You might want to wait for her to say it, rather than trust your interpretation of body language - but it's your face."

Challenge accepted.

Jacob was picturing it then, a vivid fantasy back at the scene of today's crime. Bella pleading for him to kiss her. Jacob complying, kissing her deeply.

"You wish," Bella grumbled.

But Jacob hardly heard her. With record speed, the fantasy's setting morphed into a dark bedroom. It's characters now horizontal.

"Yes, he does," I murmured in disgust.

Jacob blushed. "Well, if you're done rummaging through my head, why don't you go take care of her hand?"

Spurred by his embarrassment, his thoughts took a darker turn. He was truly angry now, his triumph and amusement at my displeasure fading allowing him to re-center on his true objective. Saving his best friend, the woman he loved, from death... or worse.

I won't stop fighting. Not until her heart stops, he vowed. I was created to destroy evil things like you and that's what I'm going to do. I will make her see. She will understand her choice. You go ahead and take her now, but when she's all quiet tonight and you can't get inside her head, know that she's thinking of me and her options.

I realized I had momentarily lost perspective myself. I could see him as Jacob Black again, no longer the foolish inept boy who just wanted a fight, but a grave threat. Someone who, on this front, had the purest of intentions. Intentions that were stark against my selfish determination to keep her forever.

This was a fight between good vs. evil and I was on the wrong side.

Understanding that made no difference now, though. I had lived without her and knew the pain of her death. I would cling to evil, embrace it, if that meant avoiding the agony of eternal separation from her.

I weighed my next words carefully. Slowly I said, "One more thing. I'll be fighting for her, too. You should know that. I'm not taking anything for granted and I'll be fighting twice as hard as you will."

"Good," he growled. "It's no fun beating someone who forfeits." He felt confident in this moment. He was on a similar wavelength to me, having no doubt that his cause was just and good. As the hero of his story, he would be successful.

He imagined her there in La Push with him, happy. In his vision, they were in a little house he thought of as theirs. Billy and Charlie were there visiting, watching sports. Bella was cooking something on the stove, a an intricately braided bracelet on her wrist. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her cheek.

The vision was not garish and explicit like his usual fantasies. Her expressions and mannerisms were accurate. It all felt a little too real, too plausible.

It triggered my survival instinct and I felt my control slipping.

Jacob was too young and too naïve to understand that good does not always triumph over evil.

"She is mine," I asserted, my voice rough and dark. "I didn't say I would fight fair."

The sudden shift took him by surprise. He wondered how it was possible that this vision was what broke my composure when kissing her, fantasizing about sleeping with her, and mentally dismembering my body hadn't.

Maybe I can use that, he thought strategically.

"Neither did I," he promised.

"Best of luck."

Jacob nodded. "Yes, may the best man win."

He'd left an easy opening. "That sounds about right... pup." He grimaced and I saw my words had hit home. As my opponent, he prized his humanity as one of his greatest strengths and resented that it was somewhat incomplete.

Jacob wondered what Bella thought of me dipping to his level to spar with him and saw an opportunity to earn points. He leaned around me to smile at her. "I hope your hand feels better soon," he said. "I'm really sorry your hurt." While he did genuinely worry she was in pain, he took zero responsibility for it.

Bella didn't give him the time of day. She turned away from him and never looked at him again.

I felt Charlie's relief as I climbed into the car. I couldn't be sure but it seemed like he had finally decided to act like a father. He was picturing a serious talk with Jacob.

Jacob noticed, with irritation, how closely I'd parked to his car. Passive aggressively, I reversed just enough to clear the Volkswagen's bumper by half an inch as I pulled away from the curb. "Asshole," he muttered.

"How do you feel?" I asked Bella.

"Irritated."

I laughed. "I meant your hand."

She shrugged. "I've had worse.

"True," I said feeling like a hypocrite. I wondered if Jacob had heard the exchange and agreed, but he was distracted.

His eyes were watching my car disappear down the street. Though fainter than my own, I understood the sudden pain and vulnerability he felt in her absence. It was as if I had stolen a piece of himself. He thought I'd won tonight.

"Why are you taking me here?" He remembered her asking.

"I thought you said you were going home?"

"Ugh. I guess you can't take me to Edward's house, can you?"

"Jake?" Charlie's voice broke through his troubled thoughts. "Why don't you come inside for a sec? I'd like to talk to you." He sounded like a father speaking to his son.


Bella was quiet as Carlisle fit the brace to her hand on the dining room table. I sat in the chair beside her, worried she was trying to put on a brave face in spite of the pain.

"Are you hurting? I can get you some Tylenol."

"No, I'm fine," she said. She was staring at me, but almost without seeing.

Really, Edward, it's a very small break, Carlisle assured me.

"It just seems like taking the Tylenol proactively might be a good idea..."

They both ignored me.

I heard Alice and Jasper approaching from the back of the house. Alice danced into the room, taking the seat directly across from Bella. Jasper stood behind her.

"We came as soon as I saw. You punched a werewolf?" She asked curiously. She'd seen Bella tell Emmett.

Bella shrugged, not looking away from me.

"Her hand's hurting, Alice. This isn't the best time," I said with reproach.

Esme drifted downstairs, worried about Bella.

The pain doesn't seem to be too bad actually, Jasper assured me. She's a bit anxious though.

I stopped myself from turning to glare at him, so he didn't know that my sudden anger was directed at him. Of course, she was anxious. Rosalie had just told her about the bet he had with Emmett over how many times she'd slip up as a newborn.

But a more painful thought occurred to me. Something that might explain her distant silence. You go ahead and take her now, but when she's all quiet tonight and you can't get inside her head, know that she's thinking of me and her options.

Alice's voice cut through the memory. "Well..." she said, undeterred, "why did you punch the werewolf?" She was frustrated she couldn't just see the reason. Had she just asked alone later, I would have told her.

"Alice," I hissed.

Suddenly Emmett was in the room too, an eager grin on his face.

Bella looked away from my face and seemed surprised to see my whole family, aside from Rose, staring at her.

"Um," She blushed a deep scarlet. "He kissed me," she muttered.

Five sets of shocked golden eyes turned to me, though I didn't look away from Bella's face. I found their thoughts both annoying and amusing. They wondered how I sat there so calmly and if I would go looking for him... or if I already had.

Where did you hide the body? Emmett asked. He wasn't sure if he was joking or serious.

I'm sorry to even wonder, but I assume the treaty is still...? I gave Carlisle a small nod.

Jasper was impressed. He'd felt my jealousy at her words, but not as strongly as he would have predicted. And he hadn't noted any destroyed cars or household items.

Alice and Esme saw the upside. Here was clear evidence of Bella's disinterest in Jacob Black.

Rosalie, overhearing from the garage, was disinterested.

"That's it. End of story," I snapped, responding to all of their musings at once.

"Okay, Bella," Carlisle said quickly, trying to break the tension, "Your hand's all set."

"Thanks, Carlisle," she said. She took my hand with her good one.

"Let's get you home before Charlie worries."


I waited on Bella's bed while she showered, feeling weary from the extreme highs and lows of the day. I was anxious to have her safe in my arms again. When she finally crawled into bed, she seemed to feel the same. I was relieved the dog's odor was finally off of her.

I ached to kiss her but didn't, worried she might feel a little traumatized after Jacob's forced affection.

She held my face between her hands and looked into my eyes for a long time. She looked determined about something and a little apprehensive.

"What?" I asked, smiling slightly. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," she whispered, but she blushed slightly.

"Tell me," I insisted softly. "Please."

She sighed. "I'm just thinking about how much I love you."

"And?"

"And that's all," she said, smiling now.

"You're mean," I teased.

My words seemed to make her sad, but I didn't understand why.

"Don't be sad," I pleaded. "I'm only teasing, Bella."

"I'm not sad," she lied.

"Then why - " She leaned in abruptly and kissed my nose.

"Shh," she said firmly.

Then she kissed my cheeks, my forehead, my eyelids, my chin, my neck, my exposed ear.

I smiled, enjoying the sweetness of the moment.

She paused and looked into my eyes. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," I whispered, suddenly apprehensive.

"Will you please kiss me?" She asked, exasperated.

I was smiling again.

Gently, I pushed down her left shoulder so she was on her back, her head resting on the pillow. I leaned over her and her heart pounded in anticipation. With exaggerated slowness, her heart beating faster all the time, I finally brought my lips to hers.


A/N: I'm going to try to update After Midnight Sun about once a week. It's my 2020 therapy. I have about 5 more chapters I plan to do covering the rest of Eclipse. There's definitely earlier Eclipse stuff and a couple New Moon chapters I'd like to do eventually, but I'm itching to tackle Isle Esme.

It was a lot of heavy lifting with this one, but I enjoyed writing it. I really wanted to do Jacob's thoughts and motivations justice. And honestly, the more sympathetic Jacob is, the more angst we get to subject Edward to. Check out my other story "Our Little House, Jacob's POV in New Moon, Eclipse, & Breaking Dawn," if you want to see Jacob's side of this chapter.