Reborn
Chapter Eleven:

Author Note: You'll probably either love or hate me for the direction I've taken the long awaited discussion.

PS. Sorry about the delay in posting: due to a LOT of drama within my personal life.

Bella wrapped her arms around herself as she sat in the middle of Jacob's bed, looking as lost as a little girl in the clothes' that drowned her tiny form.

The sad picture she formed had Jacob's hardened and cold heart slowly thawing as he looked upon the girl who had the power to completely shatter his heart and was completely unaware of that fact.

'' I don't know where to start'' Bella whispered, her words breaking the tension their silence had raised as she picked at a loose thread at the bottom of her borrowed jumper. Jacob locked eyes with Bella, smelling her tears before they slowly began to fall and wincing at the sudden pain that flared across and cut his heart deeply in a sharp and frenzied slash.

Seeing the pain that flashed across Jacob's face following her words, Bella unwrapped her arms from around herself and covered her face with her hands as she began to sob. She couldn't help but feel like a fatal touch of poison, seemingly gifted with the power to destroy everything good around her with a simple touch or glance.

''Shhh, honey'' Jacob whispered, moving quickly to Bella's side as he wrapped his arms around his sobbing imprint and rested his head on top of hers.

In all the years that he'd known her and certainly before all this supernatural bullshit, she'd never cried like this. She'd always been the rock, an unmoving and unwavering source of comfort to everyone who loved her deeply.

That was one of the reasons why he couldn't hate her or stay angry at her for the clusterfuck of a mess that they were in. She'd been the emotional and physical support for quite a few people, himself included over the years which forced her to mature years before her peers.

He could completely understand the appeal of the Cullens. To be the one receiving the love and attention instead of giving it would be enough of a hold over someone who had received that from at least one parent.

He loved Charlie, he really did but Bella had needed her father all those years ago. Charlie had thought he was doing the right thing letting Bella go with her mother and although he started trying to be a part of her life, it had simply been too late because Bella had raised her own means of defence in order to protect herself.

''I'm sorry'' Bella whispered, her tears falling faster as she repeatedly muttered the one phrase he didn't want to her.

''Look at me, Bells'' Jacob commanded, noting Bella's flinch at his 'Alpha' voice and hating the mess she currently was. Bella lifted her gaze from her lap and turned to meet his eyes.

Broken brown eyes met and clashed against smouldering black eyes that were an open book for the first time in a while.

'' I'm worried about you, honey. I know you better then you know yourself. What's got you so scared? I'm pretty sure it's not the pack you're running scared of; you've never been scared of them before'' Jacob pleaded, fighting the wolf who was demanding retribution and the head of whoever had terrified his imprint.

Bella nodded, wiping her tears away with an edge of the jumper as she took deep breaths and visibly calmed herself. Bella opened her mouth to open but the sudden piercing and incessant ringing of the house phone had Jacob glaring at his bedroom door.

''JAKE! Get the god-damn phone, will you?'' Rachel screamed, her voice sounding from the kitchen as he rolled his eyes and stood up. He loved his sister but she had to be one of the laziest people he knew, choosing to shout him instead of answering the phone that resided in the kitchen. You know the room she currently occupying herself.

Jacob opened his door and strolled down the hallway, picking up the phone as it rang off. He slammed the phone down as the answer phone picked up and began to automatically play the newest message:

Yo, J. It's Quil. I figured you and Bell were talking which is totally cool and shit. I mean, good for you guys right?
Is there any chance you'll be finished sometime soon? I think Paul's going to get his head taken off his shoulders soon by Leah which I'm totally game for but well, he's practically your brother-in-law, right? I think Ray would probably like you to stop this before it starts.
So yeah, laters dude.

The end of Quil's message was accompanied by a loud crash and the distinct voice of Leah cursing someone out. He couldn't help but chuckle at the holy hell Leah was no doubt causing.

He'd never had a problem with the she-wolf unlike the others. He could accept that while Leah had her own limitations on what she could and couldn't do, she was the fastest within the whole pack and had a great memory of all their previously tracked routes.

''Maybe I should go'' Bella quietly said from the side. Jacob turned in her direction and shook his head as he shouted'' Ray-be, be a doll and call Sam's cell. Tell him I'll be over in 10 minutes.''

Getting no response, Jacob rolled her eyes before racing footsteps had his sister running into the corridor quicker than he'd ever seen her move before. '' NO FRIGGIN WAY! I am not calling Sam-fucking- Uley with your little message. I will happily call Jared or one of your friends but I would rather stick pins in my eyes then talk to Sam. Out of respect for your sister, you should know what not to ask. JUST NO'' Rachel shouted before leaving as quickly as she arrived.

'' She doesn't like Sam?'' Bella questioned, raising an eyebrow as Jacob sighed and ran his hands over his face before responding.

'' Understatement of the fucking century, Bells. Short version: Lee and Ray-be have been friends as long as you and I have known each other. Ray-be refuses to speak to Sam or Emily out of respect to Leah but on her bitchiest days, she won't even look at them,'' Jacob explained.

''Must make things awkward'' Bella commented as Jacob muttered under his breath and followed her back into his room.

Bella took her previous seat and began slightly shaking as she took a deep breath and started'' I made a mistake with all this supernatural bullshit, you know? I don't want to lose my dad or you or anyone else who means so much to me. I'm scared that I don't have a choice anymore; that someone will try and take away my choice in this whole thing.''

Jacob opened his mouth to interrupt but Bella held up her hand and shook her head, running her hands through her hair agitated as she continued'' Part of me wishes that I'd never come to Forks and I'd never met the Cullens but that would mean regretting all the good things that are entwined with the bad. It would mean regretting you, the pack, getting to know my Dad. I'm finished with the Cullens for good and it's my choice to walk away. They're not worth losing you, the pack or the only parent I have who is actually making an effect.''

He couldn't help it, ya know? He looked, to quote Quil, 'like someone had stuck a 1000-watt bulb up his arse to light him up like a christmas time''

''Are you okay through?'' Jacob questioned, trying to contain his joy and excitement but it was pointless as a wide grin slid across Bella's face and she nodded her head.

'' I know I've hurt you with every choice I've made but I'd like to make amends. Please?'' Bella asked, locking eyes with Jacob as she tried desperately to communicate non-verbally just how much she needed to make amends for all the harm she'd done. No words could ever explain just how much she needed and longed to be able to make amends to those she'd wronged.

She knew that she wasn't the only one to blame but she felt like a large percentage of the responsibility and hurt was her doing. Her Dad, Ephraim and even Jacob couldn't change her mind once it was focused on something.

''Sure, whatever. I could see how hard the choices you'd previous made weighed on you, Bells and I never made things easier on you'' Jacob admitted, moving closer to her as Bella shook her head.

''Jake, I chose your mortal enemy over you. How can you forgive me for doing something like that and breaking your heart? I hate myself, I hate who I was around the Cullens and how I acted'' Bella shouted, clutching at her hair as self-hatred ran through her veins.

Jacob detangled her hands from her hair as he snapped'' Look at me. Properly look at me. This hatred and anger at yourself has to stop. You may have hurt me but you never saw how much it hurt seeing you being manipulated and knowing there was nothing I could do to help. If I hadn't see what that bloodsucker did to you then I would have thought you were bi-polar, Bells. That fucked up gaze he used to constantly give you is compulsion. Our legends are surprisingly well versed on that particular bloodsucker trick. The reason he walked all over you is because he compelled your compliance. How do you feel about him knowing that?''

Bella was silent, her mind connecting the words of Jacob and Ephraim together as it began to draw together one conclusion.

Jacob kept his gaze steady on Bella, watching an array of emotions flit across her face as she processed his words: hurt and betrayal flashed briefly before anger and disgust replaced them.

''I hate him'' Bella whispered, locking eyes with Jacob as fury blazed behind her eyes, bringing the cold brown to a blazing chocolate alongside colour to her cheeks.

'' Why me?'' Bella questioned.

Her questions reverberated around the small room; their job of making the occupants angrier was carried out with a cold efficiency as they continued to silently echoed.

'' He'll pay, Bells. I promise it. No matter what it takes, he'll pay'' Jacob vowed, his gaze as strong and unwavering as the fire and truth behind his words.