A/N: Hey everyone, the long anticipated update is finally here! And it brings with it our B/J reunion! Just got rid of about 20 extra family members that spent a week in our house so I'm trying to unwind by going on a writing spree. Hope everyone enjoys, thanks for reading!

Chapter 6

Jacob took a seat at the bar, rubbing his hand over his face as he signaled the bartender with the other. How in the world had his nice little vacation become such a mess? All he wanted was to relax a little bit and have some fun with his brothers, pretend to be normal just for a couple of days. He was pulled out of his pity party by the sound of a semi-familiar voice.

"What'll it be?"

He cursed faintly under his breath as he raised his gaze to find Leah standing in front of him. She still looked much like she had three years ago, her long hair hanging straight down her back to her waist, the same tanned skin and dark eyes that showed her Quileute heritage, the same lean athletic build that she earned from playing sports growing up. The only thing different were her eyes, they were missing the happy gleam that he remembered being there when she was with Sam.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer."

Her biting tone cut through his musing and he blinked to find her glaring at him with her arms crossed over her chest. "You want to stare at something, the girls are that way."

She pointed over his shoulder and started to turn away and Jacob cursed himself again as he cleared his throat. "Sorry, lost in thought. I didn't mean to offend you."

She raised an eyebrow and leaned one hip against the counter as she stared at him with a slight frown. "Do I know you? You look kind of familiar."

He shook his head quickly and turned his gaze back to the bar, hoping that she wouldn't recognize him. "Nope, not from around here, just passing through with some buddies. Can I get a beer please?"

She nodded and turned to fix his drink, leaving him to breathe a soft sigh of relief as he rubbed his hand over his eyes again. This weekend was beginning to give him a migraine, quite an accomplishment for a shifter, and he was seriously considering banning any vacations ever again. A thump on the bar in front of him signaled his drink was ready and he picked it up and drained it quickly, wishing he could get a buzz just for a short while, cursing their stupid metabolism.

He signaled again and turned to check that the guys were all still at the table and grimaced when he saw Rachel was on stage. He quickly averted his eyes, he certainly didn't want to see any more of his sister than he already had and focused on the center of the stage where a small platform with a black leather sofa stood. He could tell the girls onstage were just the opening and he wondered idly what the number would consist of as he sipped the beer Leah had set in front of him. The costumes the girls wore were white feathers, their moves both graceful and seductive, and he was reminded of the swans he once saw at a park his mother had taken him to when he was a boy.

The lights onstage dimmed suddenly as a spotlight focused on the sofa and from the sidelines another dancer stepped out, wrapped in a black fur blanket that trailed behind her as she slowly moved through the twirling dancers until she reached the sofa, her back to the audience. He watched as she swayed to the slower tempo and dropped the blanket to the ground, revealing a long white dress that was covered with feathers, white gloves covered her arms up to the elbows and her dark brown hair fell in gentle curls down her back.

He was surprised when a voice suddenly rose out from the stage and began vocalizing to the slow music, his ears perking to attention as a sudden wave of familiarity swept over him. He knew that voice, he couldn't for the life of him remember where, but he was sure he had heard it before. A fuzzy memory popped into his head of a small pale girl with brown hair and eyes, playing on the beach and singing under her breath as she built a sandcastle, unaware of her five year old audience as he had crouched behind a large driftwood log to watch her.

"It can't be…" He was positive he was imagining things, even as the denial crossed his mind the dancer slowly turned to face the audience and he found himself staring into the chocolate brown eyes of Bella Swan.

Jacob stared in shock as he watched Bella continue to sway to the music and sing, her voice carrying crystal clear to his ears over the noise of the club. His pulse thundered in his ears as he watched her sing some love song, his eyes glued to her every move. He hadn't seen Bella since they were children, she had stopped visiting her father every summer when her mother had moved to Florida and the trip had become too expensive. Charlie had gone to see her several times, and last Jacob heard their relationship was good even if they didn't see each other much. He wracked his brain as he tried to remember if Charlie had ever said anything about her singing professionally or working at a club, but he doubted Bella would have told her father about her current place of employment. The chief was nothing if not conservative.

"Jacob, you okay?" Seth's voice jerked him out of his thoughts and he saw his Pack brother giving him a concerned look. Looking up he was just in time to see Bella walk off stage to loud applause and his wolf immediately whined and began pacing nervously. Jacob stood up and started for the backstage door without answering, the pull to find Bella almost overwhelming. Before he could reach it Bella suddenly appeared, dressed in skinny jeans and a flowy white blouse, her hair and makeup still from the stage number. She had a leather jacket and messenger bag in her hands as she called her goodbyes, turning just in time to run straight into his chest.

"Oof!" Her arms flailed as she fell backwards and Jacob caught her by the arms just before she hit the floor. He pulled her up as she sputtered an apology, her face and chest blushing profusely. "I am so so sorry, I totally wasn't watching where I was going, I'm a total klutz!"

She finally straightened up to look at him and he watched in amusement as she slowly tipped her head up to meet his gaze, her eyes and mouth making matching little 'o's of surprise as she sized him up. "Oh my…"

He couldn't help but smirk at her barely audible gasp and he watched as she blushed darker and tore her gaze from his as she fiddled with her purse strap. "Hi, I'm Jacob."

His voice was noticeably deeper, and he saw her shiver as goosebumps ran up her arms, making his wolf growl low in pleasure. "Bella…uh, again I'm sorry about that. Um, can I buy you a drink, to make it up to you?"

He shook his head, a small smile crossing his face as he watched her frown slightly, and offered his hand as he tipped his head towards the bar. "My father taught me to never let a lady buy me a drink without buying her one first. Please, it'll be my pleasure."

He wasn't able to keep his voice from practically growling on the last word and he heard her breath catch as her eyes widened slightly before darkening as she licked her lips and placed her hand in his. "Alright then…Jake."

He almost couldn't help the groan that hearing her say his name caused, his jeans tightening as his mind imagined her saying it in a very different circumstance. His wolf growled impatiently as it paced, and he had to forcibly push him aside as he led Bella back to the bar, his mind spinning over the intense feelings that were compounded by the wolf over their long lost playmate.

He was sure she didn't recognize him; he had purposely withheld his last name, afraid that she wouldn't remember him, and he wondered if he should tell her. Obviously she lived here, and he had to return to La Push, something that angered his wolf immensely, and he wondered if he could convince her to return with them. He chided the wolf, she didn't even know who they were, and they were supposed to convince her to return to her childhood home? His wolf chuffed in annoyance, it thought more on instinct than logic, but they both knew Jacob was right. He had to work to gain her trust, explore this odd and intense connection that they shared, and hope that she would remember him.

As they approached the bar he guided her to a stool, glancing over to see the Pack still gathered around their table, and knew that he'd have to rejoin them soon to sort out the other messes that the evening had dropped in his lap. Bella's touch drew him out of his troubled thoughts and he turned back to her to see her gesture to a couple of stools, hopping up on hers with an easy practice. Smiling he joined her, waving down the bartender as he turned to face Bella. "I enjoyed your number by the way, you have an incredible voice."

She blushed slightly, waving her hand as she spun on her stool to face him, propping her elbow on the bar. "Thanks, but I'm not as great as you think. That's the only number I do here, unless one of the girls is sick and they need someone to fill in for them. I haven't seen you around before, are you new here or just passing through?"

He turned to give the bartender their order, surprised when Bella ordered a beer like him, and then faced her again, slightly nervous as he ran a hand through his hair. "I don't live here, my brothers and I decided to take a long weekend to get away for awhile. We actually aren't too far away from Seattle though."

Bella tilted her head at him as she picked up the beer that the bartender dropped off, tipping it back for a few swallows before smacking her lips slightly and setting it down on the counter. "Really? Where are you from?"

He swallowed nervously, taking a moment to wet his parched mouth with his own beer, before sucking in a deep breath and murmuring, "La Push, near Forks."

Bella stared at him for a minute, her brow furrowing suddenly as she slowly looked him up and down and locked eyes with him as recognition dawned on her face. "Jake…Jacob…Jacob Black?"

He jerked his head in a nod, giving her a nervous half smile and she stared at him for another minute before snatching her beer and dumping it over his head. Jacob could only sit in astonishment as she leapt off her stool and shoved the bottle at him before stalking away toward the exit, leaving him to stare after her in bewilderment. "What the hell?!"

A/N: So not exactly the warm and fuzzy reunion Jake was hoping for. What did you all think? Review and let me know, I'm already working on the next chapter and a chapter for my other story, The Natural Path. Thanks for reading!