Author's Note: I wanted to go ahead and post a short update for you all this weekend! I've been hard at work on a new story that is demanding most of my attention. I can't wait to share it with you all soon. I am going to see this one through to its conclusion as well though so I'll keep updating until I'm happy with it. Enjoy!
I was really excited to meet Jacob's girlfriend, more so than I thought possible. I was confident that I would love her already as happy as he was. Plus, there was the added benefit of him no longer making advances on me and treating Edward like crap.
They agreed to meet us on neutral territory at Charlie's house. We didn't want to make her nervous with a full dinner where she would be forced to make conversation the whole time, so Charlie picked up some pizzas for us.
They knocked on the door a few minutes after he got home. It was lightly raining outside, as it usually was in Forks. Jacob had a huge smile on his face and his girlfriend nervously smiled as well. She was a bit shorter than him, a little muscular and had long, black hair.
"Bella, this is Cheyenne. She prefers Chy. Chy, this is Bella. And Edward, and Charlie." he gestured around the room.
"Hi Chy! Come on in."
"I see you found my gift." Jacob said, looking at my wrist.
"I did. I love it, thank you."
"And you added to it." he added, noticing the heart charm.
"Edward did."
"They look nice together." he said with a grin.
"They do." I agreed.
"Who's winning?" Chy asked Charlie, taking a seat near his recliner, and looking at the TV.
"No one yet. Just started."
"Perfect. As excited as I am to meet you all, I was a little bummed about missing the game."
"Oh, you like baseball? It's mostly just pre-season goofing around right now."
"That's practically all she talks about." Jacob said with a laugh.
"Really, now? A chick that's into sports. She's a good catch." Charlie said. She blushed, and Jacob sat down beside her.
Edward and I brought the pizza, plates, and sodas in from the kitchen and sat opposite them in some chairs from the kitchen.
"You all didn't have to buy us dinner." Jacob said.
"Well, I wanted a do over from last time." I answered.
"Oh, right. I'm sorry about that. It was kind of awkward."
"Kind of?" Charlie asked. "That was the most uncomfortable I've ever been in my own home."
"Yeah. My apologies Charlie. And I didn't judge you fairly Edward, I'm sorry. I had no idea." Jacob said, finding it important to apologize in front of Charlie too to let them know that everything was alright between us now.
"S'alright." Charlie answered, paying more attention to the game now that it was really getting started.
"Thanks, Jacob." Edward said.
Chy started shouting instructions at the TV and Charlie was quick to agree with her. Jacob chuckled at them and made himself and Chy a plate. I sat a plate in front of my dad too and made one to pretend to share with Edward.
There was no need for conversation, as much as the humans, excluding me, were enjoying the game. I smiled and rested my head on Edward's shoulder, content. Chy was perfect for Jacob. He'd subtly smile every time she squeezed his hand or got particularly rowdy at the game. I was happy for him.
When most of them seemed particularly distracted, I snuck over to stand beside Jacob. "Hey, I want to ask you something alone. Would that be alright?"
"Sure." he stood up, kissing her on the head. "I'll be right back." he whispered. She smiled at him and continued yelling at the TV with Charlie. Edward looked at me questioningly but stayed where he was.
I led Jacob onto the back porch where no one but Edward would hear.
"Spill it, Swan. I can see you're nervous."
"Well, first, I'm really happy for you. Chy is lovely and she seems perfect for you."
"She is. Go on."
"Well, it's just that now that you understand how Edward and I feel about each other. I know this is a lot to ask but I don't want either of us to ever have to live without the other and-"
"You're asking my permission to let him bite you?" Jacob asked, seeing right through all of my nervous fumbling as I played idly with the hem of my shirt.
"Not now, but in the future perhaps, yes. I just wanted to see how you all might feel about it and how it would affect their treaty or if we could maybe negotiate it ahead of time."
"No need. You intend to drink only from animals too?"
"Of course."
"And you won't break Charlie's heart when you leave?" he asked.
"No, I will still be able to call and write him and stuff."
"You're sure this is what you want?" he asked, studying my face.
"Absolutely positive. There has never been a question since I got to know him."
"Well, did you know that I actually have authority over Sam in pack matters? I've generally refused it and fought against it because I don't want that responsibility, but we do have a mutual understanding that I can exercise that power the rare times when I see fit to do so."
"No, I didn't know that."
"Think this through. Don't do it too suddenly. Make sure Charlie is taken care of and won't worry about you. Make the Cullens promise me that they will never allow you to harm a human and that they won't allow any harm to come to you, and I'll agree to it right now."
"We promise." Edward said, stepping outside to join us.
"Eavesdropper." I said.
"I don't have to eavesdrop to hear." he replied.
Jacob laughed. "I still don't like you becoming a bloodsucker. It's creepy if I think about it. But if I were in your place, I'd want to be with her too no matter what. I'm not going to stand in the way of that and I'll see that my packmates don't either."
I hugged Jacob tightly and thanked him. "That's more like it." he said with a chuckle. "Come on, I'm sure we're missed inside."
"Thanks, Jacob." Edward said, shaking his hand. "I will take care of her."
"Yeah, you'd better or I'll hunt you to the ends of this Earth. She's still my best friend."
"I'll never forget that. Or this." Edward amended, opening the door for us to go back inside.
"Everything OK?" Chy asked as we all sat down.
"It's great. Just a question about some affairs of the tribe." he said, and she smiled.
"I thought we might all go for a walk when the game is over and get to know each other better." she said.
"We would like that." I answered for myself and Edward.
"This old man isn't going anywhere but you kids have fun. Don't go in the woods. Been some more bear sightings."
"We won't." Jacob laughed, knowing that the bears weren't really bears at all, but Quileutes. "But I can take a bear any day."
"If you want to go wrestle a bear on your own, fine, but don't take the girls with you." Charlie teased.
"Alright." Jacob said. "But what if I wanted to show off in front of the girls?"
"Bring the bear out of the woods with you, then we'll talk."
"I'll do my best." Jacob said with a laugh.
"What do you like to do for fun, Bella?" Chy asked as we walked down the street, the two of us side by side with the guys talking a few steps behind us.
"Mostly spending time with Edward and his family. I've always loved reading and watching old movies. Listening to music. Cooking. That type of thing. You obviously like sports…" I said, smiling at her.
"Yeah." she smiled back. "Well, when you grow up with four brothers you learn to like that sort of thing quickly."
"Four brothers? Wow. That's a lot of energy in one household."
"You aren't kidding."
"What else do you like?" I asked, wanting to get to know her better.
"I really like foreign films, I'm good with most types of music. I knit and weave a little. Oh, and I press and collect flowers. Jacob found me in the woods looking for some different ones that I might not have yet."
"You aren't afraid of the bears?" I asked.
"You and I both know those aren't bear sightings." she laughed. "I may not be Quileute, but my family has a mixed Native American ancestry. Each tribe has their own legends, many of which are actually based in truth. I wasn't surprised when Jacob showed me what he was."
"Not even a little bit? I mean, your boyfriend just turned into a massive wolf in front of you and that wasn't a shock?"
"Nope. I grew up being told that sort of thing was real. I never really had reason to doubt it. I think it's really cool actually. The protectors."
"Me too." I agreed.
"You, however, are a rather interesting case. You weren't at all put off when you learned that Edward is a vampire?"
"How did you know?" I asked, not expecting Jacob to have told her since she was human.
"The legends. Jacob confirmed it but I already knew. I'd heard tales about his family from my parents. I was always taught that golden eyed vampires are no harm to anyone but that they are incredibly rare."
"They are. To be honest, no. When I found out, he had already saved my life twice. I was already completely fascinated with him. There was no going back no matter what he told me. He was almost my every thought. I realized almost immediately after that it was love, not just fascination." I swore I could feel Edward smiling behind me, although he was deep in conversation with Jacob about the structure of the wolf pack.
"That's really sweet. Jacob has told me a lot about you, you know."
"We spent a lot of time together in the past few months."
"So, he said. He also said that he had feelings you didn't return and he's glad you didn't now."
I laughed nervously. "Yeah, I love Jacob and I always have, but as a friend. He's a great guy and you two are perfect for each other. He just couldn't replace Edward. No one can."
"Believe me, I understand that now. I never knew that imprinting could work both ways."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I don't shapeshift, but I certainly feel our imprint connection just as strongly as Jacob does. I hate to be anywhere without him for too long. It feels like he's an extension of myself."
"That makes perfect sense."
"Your connection with Edward is similar then?"
"Very." I agreed. "We feel anxious or nervous when we aren't together for more than an hour or two. We always have."
"I know we've just met, but that makes me happy for you as well. It's a beautiful feeling."
"It is."
We all turned and walked home, wishing each other goodnight. I felt certain that I would be seeing a lot more of Chy and it made me happy. We got along really well. Edward said goodnight to me and Charlie and took his car home, jumping through my window just minutes later. My dad was fast asleep in his recliner.
"I told you so." I said the second Edward leapt through my window.
"You did. You're getting to be as bad as Alice about that." he answered with a grin.
"You mean as good as Alice. We don't have anything to worry about now. We have their promise that turning me won't break the treaty."
"I'm interested to see what you're like when you're turned."
"What do you mean?"
"I think you are going to develop some kind of persuasion power. You must already have it somewhat now. That was incredibly easy. He didn't even question his answer one bit. He has the authority to grant it too."
"What if it isn't a power and I just knew he would understand?"
"Perhaps. But you're way too good at getting your way."
"Not always." I said, biting my lip a bit and looking at him.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I don't always get my way with you."
He paused, looking at my face and then cracked up laughing, carefully trying to make himself quiet down so we wouldn't wake Charlie. "Soon enough, little human. So impatient for immortal damnation."
"You know you don't believe that anymore."
"Perhaps not. At least not as strongly as I used to. How could anyone as pure and good as you be damned?"
"Trust me, my thoughts aren't pure." I said with a smirk. "Not when you're involved."
"Perhaps not, but you are. What I wouldn't give to get inside that head of yours." he said with a smile. The slight darkening of his eyes didn't slip past me though. He liked it when I admitted how I felt about him.
"I'll tell you exactly what I'm thinking if you want." I teased, knowing he wouldn't go for it.
"Perhaps you shouldn't right now, but I'm going to make you make good on that promise once you're changed."
"Or what?"
"You'll see." he said, laughing. "Bed time for the human. Come on." he walked over to the bed and held the covers up for me. I gladly crawled in and snuggled up to him once he joined me, content to snuggle as I fell asleep.
