Jacob

I didn't know what to expect when I returned home. Was Billy going to be mad because I just ran off, or was he going to be happy because in the past month I had grown up so much? Not just physically, but mentally. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I wanted to see Billy first. I wanted to make things right with him, before I faced my greatest triumph. I opened my eyes and opened the door, to my surprise the whole wolf pack sat around the living room but not alone.

In the corner of the room was Jared, Jasper, Charlie and Alice playing cards. Billy, Carlise, Esme and Rosalie were playing a board game at the table. Emily, Emmett, Quill, and Embry were squashed on the sofa watching some horror movie. It was like I had walked right into something from the Twilight Zone.

All eyes turned to me. I had no idea that everyone would be here. Sam, Edward and Leah went over to Emily's. They wanted to give me some time with Billy and Bella before they came over. I guess they had no idea that everyone was here waiting on us either.

"Jacob,…" Billy rolled over to me. "Son,…" His arms flew up for me.

I leaned down and hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry, dad. I never meant to hurt you."

"I know. I know, son. I'm just so glad that you're home."

Charlie placed his hand on my shoulder. "Welcome home." I'd never seen Charlie smile so big before. I knew then that he didn't have to worry about Bella anymore and for that he was happy.

Alice, cheerfully happy, Alice walked over to me. She hesitated a moment as I stood up, hovering over her. "I'm glad your back, Jacob. I know we got off to a rocky start, but I would like to think we are all family now. I mean to us Bella has always been family. So that makes you family too." She hugged me quickly.

I guess the smell was a little too much for her to handle.

"It's all in the past." I said.

"Where's Edward?" Carlise asked.

I wasn't for sure how much they knew. I didn't know if he had told them about Leah imprinting on him. "They're at Emily's. They wanted to give me some time to get adjusted."

Esme stood up. "Well this calls for a celebration. Alice, call and order pizza for our new family."

The entire wolf pack hooted and hollered at that thought. I searched the room over one more time. Although I knew she wasn't there. I could still feel the emptiness inside my heart. Where would she have gone if she knew I was coming back? Why wasn't she here sitting next to Billy and Charlie playing silly games with our crazy new family?

Rosalie stood up and walked over to me as Alice called the pizza place. "Hey."

"Hi."

"Look, I always take care of my family. It's what we do. I don't like the fact that I'll have to get used to the whole wet dog smell, but I guess it's pretty nice having you all,…" she glanced around the room, "as a part of our family."

"Yeah. One big happy family." I grinned.

"She's at the first beach." Rosalie said softly, handing me a single red rose, nodding for me to take it.

"Thanks."

She smiled.

"I'll be back, dad."

"Okay, son."

I ran out the door and down to the beach. My heart racing with every step that brought me closer to her. I dodged fallen trees and fallen branches until I saw her standing next to the ocean. The gentle breeze tossing her long hair back and forth. Her hands buried inside of her hoodie. She was breath taking.

"Bella,…" I whispered.

She turned to me. My necklace I bought her hanging around her neck. Her face emotionless. She didn't run to me like the girls usually did in the movies. She stood staring at me as if she thought I was a figment of her imagination. "Jake?"

I closed the gap between us. "I am so, sorry that I hurt you, Bella."

She shook her head. "It's okay. I understand why you did what you did."

I licked my lips. "I needed you to have a choice."

"I know." She swallowed. "And I love you for that."

I pulled her in for a hug. She wrapped her arms around my waist. "I have always loved you, Bella Swan."

"You have always had my heart, Jacob Black. I was just scared. I didn't want to see what I already knew. To hell with imprinting, Jake. You have always been the one for me. I had the choice and it didn't mean as much to me as you."

I pulled back keeping her at arm's length, pushing the wild strand of hair that linger in her face behind her ear. Our lips slowly moving closer together. I felt her breath upon my skin. When our lips finally met, I found heaven on earth. I saw stars, and streets of gold. I pulled my hands up to cradle her face, our lips moving in sync, our hearts beating as one. This was the way it was suppose to be. I let the rose that Rosalie gave me, the rose that I still held in my hand against her cheek fall slowly to the ground. It washed out in the tidal wave as our kiss grew with intense and hunger.

Bella

I had never felt so complete in my life, as I did in this very moment. His warm skin pressed against mine, my hands wrapped in the hair at the back of his neck. I didn't want to let go. I was afraid that this was a dream and I would wake up to find myself kissing my pillow. The sun was setting, our love was growing with each precious moment. i felt like the sun was inside my body and I was about to burst open.

When we got back to Billy's everyone had left. It was just Billy, Sam, Emily, Edward and Leah. Jacob and I entered hand in hand. I don't think that I have ever smiled as big as I was smiling now, before in my life.

"Hey, Bella." Sam said grinning. "I told you I would bring him back to you."

"Thanks. I owe you one."

Edward didn't even glance up at me. Leah sat in his lap, they were lost in each others eyes. It was then that I realized why Edward had disappeared. I felt joy for him. I was glad that he had someone to share his life with. And Leah deserved more than any of us to be happy and Edward would do that job. He would be perfect at filling that void that Sam had left behind.

"There is some pizza left in the kitchen." Billy said nodding towards the table. "Your dad said you could stay tonight if Jake sleeps on the couch. I told him I wouldn't have it any other way." He grinned.

"Thanks, Billy." I said.

The door flew open behind us. It was Alice and Jasper. Her face was creased with worry lines, something I didn't think was possible on her. "Edward,…" She screamed.

Edward cautiously helped Leah off from his lap as if he thought she would break. He stood up and hurried to his sister's side. "What is it?"

"It's the Volturi. I saw them. They're coming, Edward. I saw Carlise, Esme, Emmett, Rosalie all of us burning in our home." She paused. "All but you." She couldn't see Edward any more. "I don't know if you were there or not."

Leah crossed the room in three quick glides. She grabbed Edwards arm. "No, this can't be happening. Why would they kill you?"

"Because of me." I felt my knees tremble, Jacobs hand squeeze mine tighter. "Their coming to make sure that you changed me."

"What?" Jacob asked. i felt his body begin to tremble.

"It's a long story, Jake." I looked up into his eyes. "I'll explain later."

The room grew with fear. How were we going to survive this? Why was it that whenever I found happiness it all came crashing down on me? Was I condemned to a life of misery for being the only human in a world of fairytale's.