The sun shone down on First Beach, hotter and more brilliantly than she had ever seen. She was grateful for the half-day that the last Thursday of the school year afforded her, because she might not see another day quite like this until further into the summer. The entire pack had decided to take to the beach as well; Emily and Rachel were perched on the driftwood, chatting and making plans for the summer, interrupted every now and again by Emily trying to reign little Leah in for some more sunscreen. Quil and Embry had decided to swim, and were tossing Claire back and forth between them in the chest-high water. As per usual, Paul, Jared, and Sam had busied themselves with a case of beer under two massive umbrellas. The peace was disturbed only by the shrieks and giggles of the kids, and the occasional explosion of laughter coming from the seniors of the pack.
She strolled along the water, marveling at the clear blue sky that had graced them with its presence. She wasn't done for the summer; there would still be a lot of work to get through before school started again in the fall, and even more planning before that, but one quiet day such as this was a welcome break from it all. Time seemed to have stood still on this beach; it was almost exactly the same as when she first saw it, milking Jacob for stories about vampires and werewolves. Now she could at least let the legends be legends.
Without warning, Jacob suddenly appeared beside her, grabbing her by the waist.
"Goddamnit, Jake!" she screamed. "How long are you going to keep doing that?"
"Until it stops being funny," he grinned, pulling her close against his chest for a kiss. "Have you thought anymore about the trip?"
"Other than 'There should be one'?"
He let out a heavy sigh. "Come on, Bells. It's yours too, you know. If you aren't careful, Emily is just going to plan everything on her own. It's all she's talked about for months."
"I'm tempted to let her. I have to get the fall curriculum nailed down before we leave, and you know this isn't really my expertise anyways." She pulled out of his embrace and lead him by the hand further down the beach.
"Look who you're talking to. I've been on a plane exactly once in my life, and that was just to meet your mother."
"Who loves you, by the way, and not just because you helped her move the furniture up the stairs."
"That sounds like a pretty low bar to clear. I could be a monster for all she knows," he chuckled, resting his arm around her shoulders.
It was the late afternoon, and the temperature was climbing rapidly. She stopped to rest on a boulder that was still under the shadow of the cliff where they could observe the rest of the pack. She couldn't think of a more beautiful place to live. She'd lived in several other places, but Forks was her home.
"I'm guessing she's bringing Phil with her?"
"Yeah, the season doesn't start up again for a while so he's free as a bird."
Phil was always such a pleasant man, and perhaps the only one on the planet who was capable of keeping Renee tethered to the earth. She was eternally grateful that she would never have to worry about her mother.
"Actually, I heard a pretty scandalous rumor about Charlie going around."
"Oh, really? Do tell."
"Well I heard that your dad is bringing a date." She would probably never get used to the way news travels in the pack, but much like a game of telephone, it was very hit-or-miss.
"I can actually confirm this one. He's taking Sue Clearwater."
"Damn, really?" he raised his eyebrows. "I can't believe it. Quil and Embry were way off."
"Just keep it on the down-low for right now, ok? You know how Charlie is. It took me years to convince him to try dating again and the last thing I need is for your brothers to spook him."
"I promise. But I do reserve the right to give him shit for it when they get serious."
"I'm sure Billy's already on it," she chuckled.
It took him fifteen years to finally move on after Renee, and he seemed really happy. It was a refreshing change, especially since he'd been alone in the house for so long after Bella moved out. It was high time that he had a little fun.
She leaned her head against his shoulder, taking in the sound of the waves lapping at the shoreline and watching Sam try in vain to keep Leah from getting into trouble. She had just turned four, but she was still determined to put rocks in her mouth. He was just as devoted to her as he was to Emily, and it sometimes bordered on being sickening to watch. The real transformation had been Paul, which they owed almost entirely to Rachel. They were the most loving and hostile pair she'd ever met, but Rachel's fiery nature seemed to be exactly what was needed to keep Paul in check. They really were meant to be together, even if that meant Jacob would have to see him more than he normally did.
"So how is it that you can be here? You didn't close up early, did you?"
"Nah," he said. "Things were slow and I asked Seth to watch the shop for a few hours. Why, you trying to get rid of me?"
"Not yet," she teased. "If I wanted to do that, I could just start talking about flowers and china patterns."
He gave her a look of mock horror. "If you were literally any other girl on the planet, I might believe that. Thank god you aren't."
He guided her chin towards him with his finger for a soft, chaste kiss. After all this time, he was still her Jacob, the same goofy, passionate, hot-headed, gentle boy she fell in love with. She got to wake up in his arms every day, and there was no greater pleasure in the world. Well, maybe one other.
"I actually do have another reason for coming, though," he began. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Yes, I would date John Cryer if he would have me."
"Something with an answer that wouldn't completely horrify me."
"Shoot."
He exhaled, staring out into the waves to collect his thoughts.
"Do you want to invite him?"
"John Cryer?
"Beeells," he groaned.
It took her a minute to fully comprehend what he meant.
"To the wedding?"
"Yes." His face was completely neutral. He had come a long way since they were in high school, but this was completely out of left field.
"Would you really be ok with that?"
They hadn't even talked about him in years, except for the occasional email from Alice. Most of the family was in England attending Oxford. Carlisle and Esme were touring Scotland for their 100th anniversary. Where Edward had gone was anyone's guess, but he would check in with Carlisle every year or so.
"If you really wanted to, yes. I knew you'd still never ask me if you did."
Did she? It had been six years since they'd seen each other, six years without another vampire-related incident. Sam and Paul had even stopped phasing after they got married, with their younger brothers only popping occasionally to sweep their territory. If he came back again, there was a chance that it would sow discord on the reservation, something everyone hoped they could put behind them. Then again, the pack was still grateful to him for that night, so it was possible that they would be willing to do him a small favor such as this.
"It would be a nice gesture, but you know he would definitely come if we did."
He chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.
"I guess you got me. In all seriousness though, if it's something you want then you should do it. I know the pack wouldn't love it, but I'd still support your decision. I still feel like I owe him the option at least."
But most of all, this was what she loved about Jake; they were equals in everything. He was completely transparent with her, and she always knew that he would love and support her, no matter what she chose. He was her protector, her partner in crime, and the person she trusted the most.
She looked out at the scene in front of her: Quil wrapping Claire in a towel, Paul planting a kiss on Rachel's temple, Jared chasing Leah up and down the beach. Peace had returned to her pack as if it had never left. Sam was home with Emily every night, and Paul would be there for the birth of their first child. No more boys would go through the hell that the brothers had.
"No, I think it's better this way."
"You're sure, Bells?"
"Yes. Everyone I need is right here."
He brushed her hair from her face and leaned in to crush his lips against hers.
"I love you, Bells, and I always will."
She was the luckiest woman in the entire world.
A/N: Thanks for reading. This was my very first fic, and I'm so happy that even a few people liked it. I've started working on another Jacob/Bella AU fic, so stay tuned. I'll hopefully have a chapter out by March.