A/N: Another chapter update :-) Loved all of your reviews! Thank you! Please continue to tell me what you think of this new chapter! Will Bella be enough to bring Jacob back to himself?

CHAPTER FORTY

(BPOV)

The suns rays lit up my room, casting light on Jacobs beautiful bare russet skin as he lay still next to me. His eyes were closed and his face so peaceful while he slept. It reminded me of a time not so long ago when his worries were far less and his cares not so burdensome. I gingerly touched his cheek, pondering back to a time when fixing up rusty old bikes in his garage were the highlight of our days spent together. When his world wasn't so harsh and when his smile was radiant with joy and youth, instead of guarded the way it had been. My eyes roamed over his handsome face, wandering down to the taut muscles of his back as the sun began to touch his skin there.

We had been wrapped up in each other for hours... caressing ... holding... making love until my body trembled all over. I was afraid he would leave me once dawn crept in, but he didn't. He has stayed with me all night, falling fast asleep in my arms with his head resting on my chest. I had told him I loved him... over and over and in his dark eyes... I could see that he knew he was where he belonged. I could sense he was still scared, still confused and uncertain of himself... of where he belonged but whenever I touched him, the tension would ease from his body and he would draw me close. Even in this state, Jacob knew he belonged with me.

He had remained silent all night and I ached to hear his voice again... longed to hear him call me "honey".

When our eyes became too heavy to keep open any longer, Jacob had held me tight, his warmth wrapping around me like a heavy blanket and welcoming sleep. I could feel the desperation in his kiss and in his touch. Like he were trying to anchor himself to me for fear he would slip away if he didn't.

He was still my Jacob- Even now.

"I'm here... and I love you... always." I whispered to him in the silence of the morning.

His arm was wrapped around my waist and I was careful not to disturb him as I rose to my feet, got dressed and headed for the kitchen, my mind set on making him a good meal for breakfast. He hadn't eaten in hours and I wanted him to have the familiar comforts of a home cooked meal again.

I dug the eggs and milk out of the fridge, along with the orange juice and bacon. I quickly heated the stove and made a fresh pot of coffee, knowing Charlie would be home before noon and he would be needing a cup or two after his long shift.

The bacon sizzled loudly in the frying pan as I got busy whisking the scrambled eggs and pouring two cups of coffee. I was about to place the plates on the table when I heard the floor creak from behind me. I stilled my movements, setting the plates down and turning to see Jacob standing in the kitchen entryway. His eyes scanning everything around him rapidly before they settled on mine. He appeared so unsettled... so uncomfortable in his own skin now. I offered him a kind smile, trying to ease some of the tension from him. He swallowed thickly, glancing at the food behind me.

"I made breakfast for you." I explained, pulling out a chair at the kitchen table and offering him a pair of his old cut offs he had left behind here weeks ago. "Please... sit and eat with me?"

He made no move to do so. His eyes fixed on mine and his hands flexing at his sides in nervous fashion.

"You were... gone-." He whispered, glancing at the shorts I held out to him.

Fear was clear in his tone as he spoke to me and it made me hurt for him. Everything was strange and new to him now. All that surrounded him was unfamiliar.

"I wanted to make you something hot to enjoy this morning. I'm sure you haven't had anything to eat in hours. With everything that happened-"

"Okay." He suddenly replied to me, taking the shorts and slipping them on like he always had. His expression blank as he sat down at the kitchen table.

I served us both and handed him his plate and fork. His eyes widening at the amount of food I had made for him.

"You always have had a bigger appetite...-" I explained, sitting across from him with a small smile.

He nodded to me in response and took a bite of his eggs. He watched me pour his orange juice and his gaze became distant suddenly. As if he were a million miles away from me.

I took a sip of my orange juice, nearly dropping the glass when I heard him speak again in a broken whisper.

"My mother used to love orange juice."

I coughed, trying to stop from choking at his words.

"You remember her?" I asked, peering into his eyes with hope now.

He nodded slowly, his expression appearing lost again. "She was beautiful."

I swallowed hard, reaching for his hand and relieved when he didn't flinch away from my touch.

"Yes she was, Jacob. She was very beautiful and she loved you - Very much."

"They took her from me-" He sighed, stabbing his fork into another bite of eggs.

"...who - Who took her from-?"

"The cold ones." He replied, moving his hand away from mine.

I stared at him in disbelief, my mouth opened but my words failing me suddenly. How did he remember this? How was this possible?

He finished his plate in a hurry and pushed it away without a word, his gaze focused on the wooden table.

I pushed my own plate away, feeling my appetite vanish from me now.

Without warning, Jacob moved his chair back and stood, retreating slowly over to my side of the table, his hands reaching for mine when he crouched down in front of me. "Do I have to leave?"

I shook my head in immediate response, feeling the sea of torment threaten to come crashing down around me if he walked away now.

"No... Please don't-"

I was silenced by the feel of his warm fingers lacing through mine. "I want to be here. With you."

"You can stay with me as long as you want to, Jacob." I replied, seeing his dark gaze change into something warm... something so familiar. "I want you with me."

"-I know you. I know I do. I can feel it when I touch you - When I kiss you."

I held my breath, hearing the promise behind his warm voice. I released his hands and moved myself forward, carefully cradling his face.

"You do know me. Better than anyone else ever could, Jacob. I know things are really confusing for you right now, but I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

He slowly pressed his lips to mine, his movements cautious and guarded again. His warm hands slid up my thighs and a shiver ran down my spine from the contact. I was unable to silence the breathy moan that escaped me when his lips explored mine further.

He suddenly stilled, his mouth hovering so close to mine and his breath ghosting over my lips when he whispered to me.

"I loved you - Didn't I...?"

I nodded, feeling the tears sting my eyes from his statement.

"-I still do." He breathed, barely grazing his lips against mine.

I couldn't speak or think as his hands roamed up my sides and into my hair.

"Nothing around me is familiar- or feels right - but you- you do. Your voice... your strawberry scent... your eyes... the way your skin feels next to mine... it's all familiar to me."

A tear rolled down my cheek as his words hung in the air around me.

He knew me - Even now.

He could feel where he belonged. Knew it in his soul and this feeling had led him to me last night.

My Jacob was still in there.