Are You Happy Now?

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Chapter Four

"Are you hungry, Bella?" Emily asked.

Bella glanced at Jacob. She had no idea of the time. It was way too early for breakfast. But surprisingly she found she could eat something. "Actually, yes."

"Me, too." Jacob piped up.

"That's a given." Emily gave him an indulgent smile. The ruined half of her face didn't move, but Bella pretended not to notice. She focused her gaze on the muffin Emily offered her. "Go ahead, Bella. Help yourself."

"Thanks." Bella took one from the plate and started nibbling the edges. It was delicious, and it felt good in her tender stomach.

Jacob took four for himself and stuffed a whole one in his mouth, much to Bella's disgust and Emily's amusement. "What?" He said with his mouth full when he saw the dour expression on Bella's face. Nothing could kill his good mood right now. A great weight had been lifted off his shoulders now that Bella knew.

"Save some for your brothers." Emily scolded him. "And remember your manners."

Emily was like a mother hen as she fussed around Jacob. Bella leaned against the counter and watched as she bustled around the kitchen. The older girl was in her element. The kitchen was a friendly place, bright with white wooden cupboards and pale wooden floorboards. On the little round table, a cracked blue and white China pitcher was overflowing with wildflowers. It was obvious to Bella that Jacob had been here plenty of times, he seemed totally at ease, and not seemingly bothered by Emily coddling him like a child.

"I was about to make some coffee. Would you like some, Bella?" Emily offered. She was mixing a humungous batch of eggs, several dozen, in a big yellow bowl.

"You're busy, Emily." Bella could multi task herself, but Emily seemed unable to keep still.

"Oh, I'm perfectly fine." Emily laughed.

She had the sleeves of her lavender shirt pushed up to her elbows, and Bella could see that the scars extended all the way down her arm to the back of her right hand.

"Are you okay, Bella?" Jacob's concerned voice startled Bella out of her introspection.

"How did Emily get the scars?" Bella whispered when Emily walked to the far side of the kitchen to make the coffee.

Jacob suddenly looked uncomfortable. "That's a story for another time, Bells." He whispered back.

Bella thought his reaction odd. She got the feeling he would rather keep avoiding the subject than address it. But they could hardly talk while Emily was nearby. Just then the front door opened, and Sam stepped through.

"Emily, I'm home." He called out, and so much love saturated his voice that it made Bella's heart melt. She watched him cross the room in one stride and take Emily's face in his hands. He leaned down and kissed the dark scars on her right cheek before he kissed her lips.

"He really adores her." Bella said in a low voice to Jacob. This was the kind of love that you saw in a romantic movie, it was so real that it just reminded her how shallow her own relationship with Edward had been. She could never imagine Sam walking away from Emily without a backward glance like Edward had done to her. It was quite painful seeing them together, and she had to turn away, trying to ignore the utter peace of their moment, and the wretchedness she felt at the memory of all she thought she had but ultimately lost.

"Bells, what's wrong?" Jacob noticed the play of emotions crossing her face. Disappointment flooded through him as he realised, she was probably thinking about the bloodsucker after witnessing Sam and Emily's loving display.

"I'm fine, Jake." Bella lied as she folded her arms tightly across her chest.

"No, you're not." Jacob sighed. He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her into his side in comfort.

"I'm sorry." Bella felt the familiar tears welling in her eyes. Would she ever be completely free of the pain? She felt she had turned a corner tonight, but here she was again, on the verge of weeping over a faithless vampire. And once again Jacob was comforting her, even though it must pain him. He was so endlessly patient. She was cruel to hurt him like this, knowing how he felt about her. She just couldn't help it.

"Right, we should talk." Sam said in a loud voice. Emily was back at the stove, scraping the egg mixture around a big skillet. He motioned for Jacob and Bella to sit at the table.

Jacob's face got serious. He pulled out a chair for Bella to sit in, before taking the one next to her. "If you want me to apologise for letting Bella in on our secret, you'll be waiting for a long time, Sam."

Sam kept his expression neutral and didn't react to Jacob's bold statement like Bella expected him to. "You know the reasons, Jacob. You took a big risk; the outcome could have been catastrophic." Pain crossed his face briefly as his glance drifted to Emily, who had stiffened at the stove.

"I would never – "Jacob stopped speaking when he felt Bella's curious gaze fall on him.

"None of us would never think of hurting those we love, but it happens despite our best intentions." Sam looked at Bella. "You should weigh the risks very seriously. Things can get dangerous here, can quickly get out of control."

"I don't understand." Bella was totally confused. "Why is it dangerous?"

"Have you not told her anything, Jacob?" Sam demanded grimly.

"I haven't had a chance to explain anything." Jacob answered defensively. "You all turned up before I had a chance."

Sam's expression turned even more grave. His gaze drifted toward Emily again and the same look of pain lit up his dark eyes for a moment. It was pain mixed with guilt. "Then perhaps you should."

Bella glanced over at Emily. The older girl met her eyes, and Bella could suddenly see the symmetry underlying her deformity. Her face was still beautiful, and alive with a pain that matched Sam's. It suddenly occurred to Bella exactly who had been responsible for Emily's injuries. Nausea welled in her throat, and she quicky averted her gaze.

"You should take Bella home, Jacob." Sam said tiredly. "And have that talk."

"Yes." Jacob mumbled. He stood up abruptly and reached for Bella's hand. "Come on, Bells. Let's go."

You could cut the atmosphere with a knife. Jacob's earlier happiness seemed to have dissipated with the knowledge of what he was going to have to tell her. Bella felt anxious. She didn't think she wanted this conversation. She thanked Emily for her hospitality before leaving with Jacob.

Jacob was subdued on the way back to Forks. He hardly spoke a word. Bella didn't speak either. She slumped in her seat, picturing Emily's ruined face in her mind. That had to be the risk that Sam kept referring to. He had done this to his own fiancée. Their love was obvious, so how and why had it happened? How had Emily managed to forgive him? How did Sam live with the guilt?

By dawn's early light they reached the Swan house, the sun opening as a flower on the horizon, rising to send petals of gold to warm the forest - leaf, branch and root. Jacob parked in the driveway and killed the engine. He made no move to get out of the truck, just slumped in the seat, his eyes desolate.

Bella made no move to get out of the truck, either. She plucked at a stray thread on her rain jacket, waiting for him to speak first, but it seemed it was going to have to be down to her. "It was Sam who hurt Emily. He gave her those scars."

Jacob swallowed thickly. "They were inflicted by Sam when he temporarily lost control of his anger and accidentally phased right next to her."

Bella paled considerably. "Poor Sam. Poor Emily."

"It was awful for them both. Sam still carries a lot of guilt. But they worked their way through it. They love each other." Jacob explained.

"That's the reason he was so insistent that you stay away from me."

"Yes." Jacob hung his head. "You must think we're monsters."

"I understand now why you were so reluctant to show me. I'm sorry I pushed you into it, Jake. I was being selfish." Bella felt her own guilt beginning to bite. "I was just thinking of myself."

"You weren't selfish, Bella. You didn't know. I was desperate to tell you but Sam ordered me not to. And I was scared of the changes happening to me. I felt like a monster… I still feel like that. Even now I'm not sure you should be around me…but I'm too selfish to stay away." Jacob replied glumly.

"No, Jake, no. It's fine that you're a wolf." Bella promised him, and she meant every word. She really didn't care that he turned into a big wolf-he was still Jacob. She had seen that for herself. She hadn't been afraid when she had seen him in his wolf form, in fact the exact opposite. "I know you would never hurt me."

"You really, honestly don't mind that I morph into a giant dog?" Jacob asked, hope rising in his voice again.

"No."

Jacob reached across and pulled Bella into a vice tight bear hug in his relief.

"Can't-breathe-Jake."

Jacob immediately let go, but grabbed both of her hands instead. "I'm sorry, Bells. I'm just so relieved. "

Bella pulled her hands out of his and threw her arms around him instead. It reminded her of the first day with the motorcycles-he was bigger, though, and she felt more like a child now.

Jacob stroked her hair, his lips grazing her brow. His lips left a trail of heat across her skin. It felt like he was branding her as his own. As this thought entered Bella's head, over Jacob's shoulder, she saw the front door open and Charlie appeared on the front step. He looked furious when he spotted them cuddled up in the truck together.

"Oh no."

"What?" Jacob pulled back a little to look at her face. "Bells?"

"Charlie." Bella whispered.

"Shit!" Jacob cursed. "Here comes trouble."

A/N-thanks for reading!