Need You Now

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews and for following this story!

Part Twelve

"How did it go?" Bella asked as soon as Jacob walked back into the house alone. Sam had gone home to Emily. Even though in reality he hadn't been gone that long, to her it felt like forever. She worried that things would kick off between Edward and Jacob and they would start fighting. Her hands were already running up and down his upper body, feeling for any signs of injury. Bella didn't care that Billy and Charlie were in the same room, watching.

Jacob caught her wandering hands and brought them to his lips. Her touch was sending the blood rushing to a certain part of his anatomy, and that was the last thing he needed with their fathers looking on. "Don't worry I kept my cool, Bells. Unlike the bloodsucker."

"Why? What did Edward do?" Bella clung to his hands and gazed into his eyes anxiously.

"The usual." Jacob didn't want to talk about Cullen anymore. He would rather focus on her instead. There were only a few hours of night left and he wanted to spend it with her in his arms, even if all they did was sleep. "Don't worry about him. Everything has been set in motion. The Cullens agreed to the new plan of action."

"I bet you gave them no choice." Charlie interjected sardonically.

Jacob grinned. "You could say that." He caught Bella's hand in his again, intending to lead her to his room. He noticed Charlie frown and Bella's skin burn. But he didn't care. The police chief could protest all he wanted. Bella was spending the night with him.

"Hey, chief." Billy brought Charlie's attention back to him. "I'll make up the couch for you."

"I can do it." Charlie grouched as he shot Jacob a disapproving glare.

As soon as the bedroom door closed, a pair of strong, warm arms scooped Bella up, making her squeal. "Jacob, what are you doing?" He laughed quietly and spun her around in a circle, which was not easy to do in such a small room.

"You love it." He teased.

"I'm thrilled, but our dad's are in the house. What if they hear anything?" Bella asked the questions, but she didn't really care. All that mattered was that they were together.

Jacob carried her to the bed and sat down with her in his lap. "You better be quiet then." He whispered loudly.

"Jake." Bella hit him lightly on the chest. A sunny smile spread across his face as his lips found hers. She could barely breathe as he kissed her passionately, trying at the same time to stifle the moan that was building in the back of her throat. This keeping quiet thing was going to be really difficult.

Jacob pulled away. "I love you so much." He murmured between kisses. His skin was so warm and Bella wanted nothing more than to touch him, skin to skin. She leaned forward, kissing her way up his chest. He shivered in response.

"Bella." He whispered hoarsely, lifting her shirt. He tugged it over her head and tossed it carelessly onto the floor. Bella's eyes closed as she concentrated on his hands against her body, his lips on the top of her breasts as she struggled to control her ragged breathing. He unclasped her bra, and it disappeared in the same direction as her shirt. He kissed her breasts, his tongue teasing each nipple in turn.

Bella felt his desire, his need, with each shift of their bodies. Taking a long, shuddering breath, there was sudden mad scramble to remove the rest of their clothes. Bella felt him, hard and ready, pressed against her belly. It made her want him even more. He kissed her hungrily, sending a rush of mad desire right to her core. Her arms wrapped around his neck, trying to pull him impossibly closer-

Then.

Jacob stopped for a moment, letting out a deep, shuddering breath, and groaned. "Oh, no."

"What's wrong?" Bella asked.

"The condoms are in my car." He leaned his head back and cursed under his breath.

"Well go get them." Bella whined.

"I can't."

"Climb through the window." Bella urged him desperately.

"Bells, I loaned my car to Embry." Jacob confessed.

"Nooo!" Bella cried as she slumped against his hot body in defeat. "Why the hell did you do that?"

"I was doing him a favour. He's dating this girl and he needed a ride." Jacob looked at her apologetically. "I'm sorry."

Bella's response was a very unladylike growl. "Freakin' Embry. He gets the car and the condoms-"

Jacob stopped her rant with a heated kiss. Bella melted against him, her anger burning out as quickly as it had started. He kissed her until she was dizzy. "I'm sorry, honey." He said against her pouty lips. "You know there are other ways to keep ourselves entertained."

"Like what?" Bella asked innocently.

Jacob's chest rumbled with laughter as he flipped Bella onto her back and began to kiss his way between the valley of her breasts, then down to her stomach. Bella's eyes grew wide as she realised where he was going.

The sun rose, signalling the start of a new dawn. Its soft rays hit the snow, which carpeted the ground in glistening white, sending it sparkling like a thousand tiny diamonds. The blizzard was over. It left in its wake a hazy sky, full of azure blue, with only the occasional clouds breaking it apart. Bella was the first to wake, encased in Jacob's arms. She took a moment, breathing deeply as she tried to calm her racing heart. It was here, the day that she had been dreading.

"Bells." Jacob said huskily. The sound of her rapid heartbeat had stirred him. He raised his head and gazed into her worried brown eyes. "It's gonna be okay."

"Jake, I-"

"Hush." Jacob leaned down to kiss her, letting his lips linger on hers for a moment. "Today is the beginning of the rest of our lives. Nothing will stop me from coming back to you. Understand?"

Bella nodded as she reached for another kiss. She envied him his confidence, wishing that she could share it. She just wanted it all to be over, hating the fact that she would be holed up on the res waiting for his return. However, he didn't need to hear her fears. She wanted him fully focused on the upcoming battle.

He was gone.

Bella touched her lips, left swollen from Jacob's ardent kisses as he said his goodbyes. She had difficulty in letting him go, clinging to him like an infant does it's mother, feeling bereft and lost when he gently disentangled her tight hold on him so he could leave.

"It's the worst feeling in the world, isn't it." Emily Young came up beside Bella and put a comforting arm around her waist. "I feel the same every time Sam leaves me."

Bella turned her head to regard Emily. She was struck by the other's gentle beauty. Even the three, vivid red scars on the right side of her face didn't retract from her beauty. Her glossy black hair was styled so that it covered her ruined cheek. And when she caught Bella looking, she smiled wryly in understanding. "I don't feel them anymore."

"I didn't mean-" Bella hesitated, before shrugging helplessly.

Emily slipped her arm through Bella's and pulled her away from her post at the window. Outside, Billy and Charlie was staring rigidly toward the forest after the departing figures of the pack. It was now just a waiting game for all of them.

"We need a distraction." Emily said in her melodic voice.

"Like baking?" Bella questioned, knowing how much Sam's imprint enjoyed her role as the pack's unofficial den mother.

Emily laughed as she led Bella to the old couch and settled her beside Jared's imprint, Kim. Bella noticed that Kim was holding a deck of cards. She didn't know Kim that well. They had never hung out together like she had with Emily. Kim was quite a plain girl with a wide face, mostly cheekbones, with eyes too small to balance them out. But when she smiled, which she was doing now, it lit up her whole face, making anyone lucky enough to be graced with that smile, obliged to return it.

"I like to cook for sure, Bella." Emily said, bringing Bella's attention back to her. "But I also have other interests. Some that Sam doesn't approve of."

"Or Jared." Kim added, giggling.

"Like what?" Bella asked curiously.

"Gambling." Emily took the cards from Kim and shuffled them like a pro. Then she began to deal them out. "Ever played poker?"

Bella watched Emily count her winnings. She had cleaned both Kim and her out. Not that Bella was bothered. The games had the desired effect. Hours had passed, and while the three girls gambled against each other in a silent battle of wills, Billy and Charlie had remained outside, talking in low voices, and drinking beer. Throughout the day either Bella or Emily took some food or drink out to the two men. None of them discussed what was going on with the pack. If they voiced their fears aloud, one of them would crack, and all of the girls were determined to be strong for their men, even if the only way to show that strength was to patiently wait and keep their fears at bay.

As the afternoon drew to a close and the skies turned grey once again Bella watched Emily pack the cards away. The tension was beginning to make itself known. "Now it's time to cook." She said to the two girls.

Bella led the way into the kitchen with the other girls following her lead. They emptied the Black's cupboards, making do with what they could find, and they started to cook. Emily and Bella clashed in a good way as they argued over the best way to cook the lasagne. Kim acted as mediator, calming both girls frazzled nerves as she suggested a compromise.

A fragile peace settled on the three girls as they set about their tasks with meticulous attention. None of them wanted to admit that it had been too long. They had expected their men back before night fell, and as the sun began to sink below the horizon, setting the heavens ablaze, their nerves became shredded, but still they focused on what they could do rather than what they couldn't. When the pack came home (and they would come) they would be hungry and the girls were determined to have a feast waiting for them.

Bella was standing in front of the stove, stirring the sauce in slow circles, when she felt a heavy weight settle on her shoulders. A sudden tightness in her throat made it difficult to breathe, and her hand shook violently. Emily noticed and quickly took the pan off the stove and turned off the burners. Putting her hands on Bella's shoulders she gazed at her in concern.

"What is it?"

"Something's wrong." Bella couldn't explain it.

Then the front door opened and Charlie came in. His hair was damp, small tendrils clung to his forehead. His brown eyes sought his daughters. "They're back." He said thickly. "Bells, steady yourself. Jake-"

Bella didn't wait to hear anymore. She pushed Emily out of her way and flew past her father, clumsily managing to avoid his attempts to stop her. Charlie sighed heavily as he rubbed a hand over his face and hastened outside after her. Billy was still on the front porch, his face contorted with anguish. Charlie put a steadying hand on his friend's shoulder. In the distance he saw Seth Clearwater grappling with his daughter as she kicked and punched at him wildly in her efforts to get to Jacob. But the young shifter determinedly stood his ground as the rest of his brothers transported a badly injured Jacob on their broad shoulders, carrying him with grim faces toward the house.

A/N-thanks for reading!