Need You Now

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!

Part Five

Bella hastily followed Jacob's deep imprints in the snow. It was difficult because some of the drifts were quite deep. When she caught up with him she was breathless. He had his back to her, his face set toward the rising sun. The irony wasn't lost on Bella. He was her sun and she had hurt him, again. She hadn't lied to him about Edward's proposal, it was simply her budding excitement about the imprint had driven everything else from her head. But still she had omitted to tell him, and a lie by omission was still a lie.

"I'm sorry, Jake."

"I'm done. I'm so done." Jacob refused to look at her as he put more distance between them.

"Jake, stop." Bella cried as she stumbled after him. She cursed her clumsiness as she slipped in the snow. "Dammit, Jacob Black, get your ass back here and kiss me."

Jacob stopped walking and finally turned to look at her. He was hesitant, disbelieving.

"Did you hear what I said?" Bella demanded desperately as she steadied her nerves.

"I heard you."

"And?"

Jacob strode forward determinedly. With his long strides he was in front of her within seconds. He cradled her face in between his hands and raised her head toward him. He leaned down so their noses were touching. Bella felt relief flood through her. He didn't look angry or upset. In fact he was smiling so wide she was almost blinded by it. She blinked at him confusion, feeling bewildered by this sudden turnaround in his mood. Bella trembled when his lips grazed across her cheek until they brushed the shell of her ear.

"Maybe acting is my calling. By the look on your face my ruse worked." He whispered huskily.

"You were pretending to be upset." Bella breathed. She had been so scared that she had upset him but all the time he was putting on an act to fool Edward into thinking nothing had changed. Edward must not be allowed to know about the imprint until after the battle. "Jake, he can read your mind."

"All he can see in my mind is me ripping his head off and now this." Jacob crushed his lips against Bella's, making her gasp. Her arms immediately slipped around his neck in an effort to draw him closer. She had begged him to kiss her and he had followed through. Edward must be watching from afar.

Jacob took full advantage of the moment as he lay claim to Bella. The bloodsucker would think this was his last desperate attempt to change Bella's mind, but Jacob didn't care. After the battle was won there would no more pretending. He wrapped his arms around her possessively and continued to kiss her hungrily.

All Bella saw and felt was heat as she melted against Jacob. He was kissing her long and slow, drawing out the moment as long as possible. She became lost in him, clinging to him as something began to unfurl behind her closed lids. For one brief never ending second, as if she were looking through the filter of Jacob's thoughts, she saw a path open up before her. She could see Renee and Charlie mixed into a strange collage with Billy and Sam and La Push. She could see years passing, and meaning something as they passed. She could see the enormous red brown wolf that she loved, always standing as protector if she needed him. For the tiniest fragment of a second she saw the bobbing heads of two small, black haired children, running away from her into the familiar forest. When they disappeared, they took the rest of the vision with them. Bella mourned their loss as tears began to spill from under her closed lids. They trickled down her cheeks and Jacob felt them splatter on his hot skin.

"Bells?" Jacob pulled back and gazed at her in confusion. He used his thumb to wipe away her tears. "Don't cry. Everything is gonna be fine."

"Don't go. Stay with me." Bella clung to him desperately as she pleaded. An inexplicable fear had caught hold of her. It was like the vision was an omen showing her all she stood to lose.

"Hush, honey." Jacob murmured against her lips. "This was always the plan." He couldn't stop the rush of pleasure shooting through him that she was so desperate for him to stay with her. This was confirmation that things had definitely shifted between them. He leaned down and gave her another soft kiss. He did this three more times before he reluctantly stepped back. His dark eyes glowed with happiness as he gazed at her tenderly. "I'll be back. I promise."

Bella could feel the cold infecting her as soon as he let go. She watched in trepidation as he put his hand over his heart in their secret signal. She did the same, her tears overflowing as she watched him leave in agonised silence.

With slow steps Bella made her way back to Edward. Her arms were folded across her body as she tried to hold herself together. Something felt disconnected inside, something she couldn't verbally explain. She was an emotional wreck, swimming on a tide of flotsam, one pull in the wrong direction would cleave her in two.

Edward was waiting for her right where she had left him. "And I thought I fought dirty." He said bitterly as he approached her and put his hands on her face just like Jacob had done. Bella flinched at his touch and kept her gaze averted from his. She had no words to defend the indefensible.

"He makes me look like the patron saint of ethics." Edward continued sullenly. "I'm not mad at you, love. Jacob's more cunning then I gave him credit for..."

Bella couldn't stand it anymore. "Edward, just shut up." She exploded. He was so shocked at her outburst that he dropped his hands from her face. Bella took advantage and stepped away from him, heading toward Seth, who was watching them curiously a few yards away.

Victoria was dead. The battle was won. At a cost. Everyone was weary. It was a hollow victory. They had won by the skin of their teeth. None had welcomed the deaths of the innocent victims of the red head's twisted revenge. Jacob stood apart from his pack, staring into the distance. He was waiting anxiously for Bella's return. The air was alive with the sweet smoke rising from the bonfire which was like a crematorium to all the vanquished newborns. He swallowed thickly, wondering if he would ever be able to find peace within himself with what he had been forced to do that day. His only salvation was seeing Bella again. He was desperate to gaze upon her beautiful face again, to see himself reflected in her soulful brown eyes. He wasn't a monster when he was with her. He was simply Jacob.

Then she was there. He saw her walking between Edward and Seth. Her head was bowed, her long silky hair hiding her face. Edward's arm was about her waist as if keeping her upright, but there was a distance between them. Jacob wanted to rip his arm away from Bella. He saw the other Cullens beginning to move toward the small group. He did the same, his long strides swiftly closing the gap. Bella finally raised her head as if sensing he was near and she pulled away from Edward, her tired legs stumbling in her effort to reach him.

Jacob started to run. Bella, with a renewed energy, copied him. The Cullens paused in surprise. Edward stayed frozen in place, his golden brown eyes registering his shock. In the aftermath of Victoria's attack there had been no time to talk about what had gone on before it. All their attention had been spent on getting off the mountain.

There were only a few feet separating them now. Jacob's arms were already open, ready to scoop Bella up into them. Breathlessly she called his name, stumbling again in her efforts to reach him.

The howl tore through the air like a tornado. The tortured cry rent the air, shattering the fragile peace. Bella skidded to a halt and she saw Jacob do the same. Then everything descended into chaos. One of the wolves was under attack. At first Bella didn't know who it was until the slim grey wolf hove into view. It was Leah. Behind her Seth cried in response when he saw his sister being attacked by one of the biggest newborns anyone had ever seen. He was bigger than Emmet, his burly arms wrapped around the she wolf in a death grip. He was crushing her organs, Leah was bleeding inside out.

All the wolves transformed at once, with the Cullens running to intervene. But it was Jacob who was the first to come to the she wolf's aid. He leapt on the newborn and a furious scuffle ensued. Bella screamed his name as she took off at a run toward him. She heard Edward calling her, but all she could see was Jacob battling for his life. She couldn't lose him now. She wouldn't. Just like on the mountain when she had cut her arm open so her sweet blood would distract Victoria and Riley long enough for Seth and Edward to kill them, Bella used the same tactic now to give Jacob an advantage. It had worked for the third wife when she had done the same for her mate, Taha Aki. Ripping off her fresh bandage Bella's wound began to bleed, the blood pooling down her pale skin like a crimson river, acting like a siren to the crazed newborn vampire.

The story of the third wife was at the forefront of Bella's mind as she stood her ground defiantly, determined to help her imprinted mate, just like Taha Aki's courageous wife had done. But in her haste to prove herself worthy she had forgotten things for the third wife hadn't ended well.

Jacob awoke again in a drug fuelled haze. He coughed, his throat like sand piper, dry and rough. A straw was placed on his lips.

"Drink." Billy urged him. He was holding a glass of water.

Jacob sucked on the straw as he gazed at his father blearily. The precious liquid trickled down his throat, easing the burn. "Bella?" He asked hoarsely.

Cool fingers caressed his forehead. He couldn't see her, but he could feel her. "I'm right here." Her voice was like a whisper on the wind. "Sleep now."

Comforted, Jacob's heavy eyes slid closed as he drifted into a peaceful slumber.

A/N-thanks for reading! Some of the words in italics (except for the end paragraphs) are from 'Eclipse.'