Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

The tiny sports car in the driveway threw him off. Charlie must have finally hit his midlife crisis and bought that sports car he'd always wanted. He made his way up the walkway, hearing nothing but the birds talking back and forth as they flew from tree to tree. He opened the front door, taking in the place that he had called his second home since childhood. Nothing about it had changed.

He was standing at the bottom of the stairs when he caught a smell that he would never forget. A mix of apples and vanilla filtered down the stairs making him take them two at a time. Bella's door was ajar and the smell of her shampoo and lotion almost brought him to tears. The room was dark as he silently pushed the door open. Once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could make out her shape in the bed. He should have waited a while longer. It was way too early, so he would be forced to reign in his needs for a little while longer.

He sat in the rocker gently, wanting to make as little noise as possible. His hands rested on his legs, watching Bella as she slept. He couldn't believe that she was still human. Why hadn't anyone told him? If he had known, ready or not, he would have come home months ago. Being so close to her and not able to hold her, or see her face was the worst kind of torture that he had ever been through.

The sun cast an orange glow across the room an hour and half later and he had never been more glad that she slept with the curtains open. He was also glad that she was facing him while she slept. He stood from the chair, holding it so that it didn't move with the loss of his weight. He moved to sit underneath the window that was next to her bed.

Impatient, he pushed himself from off the floor quietly and put a hand on her arm half an hour later. She flinched, but didn't pull away from him. The electricity that was coursing through him was something that he would never forget, and he hoped that the feeling lasted forever. She sighed deeply as he traced the fingers of his free hand down the side of her face. Her eyebrows knitted together as he smiled down at her.

"Come on, wake up," he said soothingly.

Bella's eyes fluttered open, her eyes focusing on Jacob's face. She had to be dreaming. Jacob stood over her, with a look in his eye that she had seen him give her so many times. The look that let her know that she was the only person who was important to him. She'd had dreams of him giving her that look. How had she never caught on to the meaning behind it while she was with Edward?

He was not prepared for what happened when her eyes finally focused on his. His breath was knocked out of him and he had to hold himself back from standing over her. His breathing returned to normal after a few minutes to be replaced by the most intense feeling of wonder and want that he had ever felt. He had willed this moment to happen for over a year and now that it had everything that they had been through had happened for a reason. They weren't supposed to be together until now.

He continued to stare down at her, giving her that intense, pleading, loving look. His touch seemed so real. He sat on the bed, his hand still on her arm. His features changed to one of concern as he took her in. She showed no emotion whatsoever. This was the most bizarre dream that she had ever had. Why couldn't she wake up? She clenched her eyes shut, counting to ten before opening her eyes. Jacob sat over her with an amused smile pulling at his lips.

"You think you're dreaming, don't you?" he chuckled.

"I have to be," she reasoned.

"Why? Did you think that I wouldn't come back?" he asked soothingly.

"Not until June," she stated.

"Who told you that?" he asked his face weary.

"Sam did, almost a week ago."

"Everything always comes back to him. No one from the pack had the nerve to tell me that you weren't with Edward," he said, his voice holding a hint of aggravation.

"Sam banned them from talking about me," she pointed out.

"That's why Quil couldn't have contact with me. He was still talking to you after Edward left," he acknowledged.

"You're the reason that Quil lied to me," Bella said as the reason for Quil's strange behavior dawned on her.

Jacob's coming home was the reason for Quil's for backing out of their plans that weekend.

"Sam," Jacob said through clenched teeth.

"Have you imprinted on me? I can feel that something has changed," she said with hopefulness.

"Yes," he said with a tender smile.

She laughed excitedly as she sat up. She threw her arms around his shoulders, holding onto him tightly.

"I love you," she whispered.

"And that tops off this perfect situation. Who told you that there was still chance that I could imprint on you?" he murmured.

"Rachel."

"She's the one who told me to confront you. She hinted that there was a possibility that you weren't with Edward," he said with wonder.

"I'm just now starting to get to know her," Bella stated.

"I can tell you now, she's a handful, but I love her anyway because she's my sister and she means well," he said with a lopsided smile.

She laughed breathlessly before sighing deeply. She had wanted to tell him that she loved him every time he had said it to her but she had stopped herself because she felt that it was wrong to tell him that she loved him while she loved someone else. Now that all of that stress was behind her she would always be honest with him. He deserved someone that would treat him right, and never betray him. That was the kind of person she was going to be. She had made the mistake of hurting him once and in the process pushed him away, she wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.

Jacob took hold of her hands before lying down on the bed, pulling her with him. With their hands in between them Bella placed her forehead to his. There was so much more that she wanted to say. She wanted to tell him everything that had happened while he was gone, but she didn't want to break the silence that had fallen between them. They had the rest of their lives to talk; right now she was going to bask in the excitement of finally starting a relationship with him.

He stared at her with warm, caring eyes and a small, content smile tugging at his lips. She pulled one of her hands from his to brush her hair out of her eyes before linking hands with him again. Her head tilted on its own accord and before she could stop herself, she pressed her lips to his. All of the feelings from the last time they had kissed were still there, and this time she wasn't going to fight them.

The kiss was soft and gentle, not something she had come to expect from Jacob. She let herself get swept into the moment as he let go of her hands and his fingers threaded into her hair. She pressed a hand to his chest, feeling his heartbeat underneath her fingers. It was strong and steady, its beat almost mimicking hers.

He could have continued kissing her forever; he let out a strangled growl when she pulled away. Her chest was heaving and her face was flushed from lack of oxygen. Even through all of that she had a satisfied smile spread across her face. For it being her first time initiating things, it had been as perfect as he had always imagined it would be. He wrapped his arms around her waist, crushing her to him before resting his chin on her shoulder. He wanted to take in everything about her so that if God forbid they were separated again he would be able to remember her.

XXXX

Rebecca was in with the doctor when Jacob showed up at the hospital after spending the whole day with Bella. Rachel gave him an admonishing look as he sat across from her.

"I was able to schedule you an appointment for tomorrow," she said pointedly.

"Thanks," he said giving her a sheepish smile.

"Do you want to tell me why I had to reschedule your appointment?" she prodded.

"I took what you said yesterday morning to heart. I had to work up the nerve to go over there," he explained.

"You went to see Bella?" she asked her eyes wide with surprise.

"Yeah," he said rubbing the back of his neck as he looked at the floor.

"Well?" she asked, giving him an expectant look.

His smile widened to a grin as he looked at his sister from under his lashes.

"Did you imprint on her?" she asked quietly.

"Thank you for telling her by the way. You don't know how many times I almost told her myself," he said shaking his head, remembering the way things used to be.

"I'm just glad that the two of you know where you stand. I'm happy for you," she said with a smile.

"I'm ecstatic; my life is finally starting to go the way I want it to," he said as a door down the hall opened and his sister and Ina stepped out.

"Where have you been? We still have to pay for the appointment you missed," Rebecca said giving him an icy glare.

"I had someone that I had to see, and I lost track of time," he apologized.

"This person had better have been important," she said credulously.

"They were," Jacob said reassuringly.

"He went to see Bella," Rachel said quickly.

"Thanks Rach," he said giving her a pointed look.

"She isn't married, is she?" Ina asked.

"Her ex-fiancée called off the wedding the day they were supposed to get married," Rachel answered.

"Are the two of you together?" Rebecca asked.

"Yes."

"Good. Let her know that if she hurts you I will hunt her down and skewer her and roast her like a pig," she warned.

"Living in Hawaii has made you scary," Rachel said giving her a worried look.

"I mean it. If she hurts you, I will make her regret it," Rebecca said pointing an accusing finger at Jacob.

"When will you find out if you're a match for Dad?" Jacob asked, hoping to change the subject.

"The doctor is checking the results now," Ina said.

"Where is Bella now?" Rachel asked.

"At work, I'm going back over there once she gets off because Charlie is working the graveyard shift tonight," he explained.

"How did he take finding out that you were back and that you and Bella were together?" Rebecca asked.

"We haven't told him yet. He's been hunting all day and he was still gone when I left," he said sheepishly.

Silence fell over the siblings after Ina announced that she was going to go and get them all something to drink. He was glad that his sisters supported his decision to go and see Bella and were happy for him. What he wanted more than anything was to talk to his dad. Billy had yet to wake up from the coma that had prompted Jacob to come home.

XXXX

Bella sat next to Jacob, holding his hand while the nurse drew blood from his hip. He had never liked needles, joining the pack hadn't changed that. He flinched as he watched the needle sink into his hip for the fourth time.

"If it bothers you that much then you shouldn't watch," Bella said, running her fingers through his hair.

"How did you manage to get that tattoo and not have it bother you?" The nurse asked.

"People had to hold me down. I'm holding it in so that she doesn't think I'm a wuss," he said gesturing to Bella.

Bella gave him a teasing smile as she shook her head. She found it amusing that he could joke even when he was nervous. His eyes fixed on the necklace dangling from her neck and then he flicked his eyes to hers in question. She smiled tenderly with a shake of her head, she would explain later. The nurse finished and Jacob pulled up his boxers.

"Nice butt by the way," Bella said teasingly.

"I was hoping you would notice," he said giving her a lopsided grin.

"I just hope you didn't give her a free shot of your junk," she teased once more.

"I was careful," he said nonchalantly.

"So Rebecca is a match?" she asked hopefully.

"Yeah; the doctor said my dad would need both kidneys replaced though, so a lot is riding on me being a match," he said nervously.

Bella ran a hand through his hair gently, hoping to reassure him. She had never had to deal with this kind of thing so she didn't know what to say to make him feel better. He closed his eyes with a sigh before grabbing hold of her hand. She squeezed it tightly, as he pulled his jeans up one handed.

Outside, Rebecca was reading a magazine. She looked up giving them a sarcastic, bored look.

"How big of a baby was he?" she asked.

"He did okay," Bella praised.

"I can't believe he was able to hide it from you for this long," she said as she stood from her chair.

"Can we not talk about my dislike of needles?" Jacob asked with a sigh.

"They used to freak him out to the point that he would cry," she teased.

"He's moved up from that. I did have to hold his hand though," Bella said with a light laugh.

"I don't know about the two of you, but I am hungry. How about we go down to the cafe and get something?" he asked changing the subject.

"You're always hungry," They said at the same time.

Jacob sighed again as they walked towards the elevators. He knew that Rebecca would like Bella, what he hadn't planned on was that they would gang up on him. They had joined forces without his realizing it. He was going to have to be careful from now on.

XXXX

Jacob was sleeping when the phone rang in the kitchen. He woke up by the third ring, stumbling towards the kitchen. Where were his sisters? He rubbed sleep from his eyes as he reached for the phone.

"Hello?" he asked groggily.

"This is Chantel from United Arms Hospital; may I speak to Rebecca Suno, please?" she asked politely.

"She isn't here right now, I'm her brother. Is there something wrong with our dad?" he asked.

"You're Jacob Black?" she asked cautiously.

"Yes," he confirmed.

"I cannot divulge any information to you since you are under the age of eighteen. But I can assure you, my reason for calling has nothing to do with your father," she said politely.

He slammed the phone onto the receiver in frustration before picking it up again. He angrily punched in Rebecca's cell number wishing that his dad would break down and by a cordless phone. Her phone rang three times before going to voice mail.

"I was just calling to let you know that the hospital called. They wouldn't tell me anything other than it didn't have anything to do with Dad. Call me as soon as you call them back," he said, his voice tense.

He moved to the refrigerator after getting off the phone. He had been waiting to hear back about his test results and Rebecca knew that. Why would she take off without letting him know that she was leaving? That wasn't like her.

The front door opened and Rachel came in followed by Paul. Jacob crossed the room quickly to meet them in the foyer.

"Where's the fire Jake?" Rachel asked.

"Where's Bec?"

"She's probably still registering you for school. Why?" she asked cautiously.

"The hospital called for her. I think they have my test results ready," he mumbled.

"How about I call and check?" she asked before she passed him to grab the phone.

She talked quietly to the person on the other end before hanging up the phone.

"Well?" he asked her expectantly.

"You're not a match. Rebecca needs to call and set up an appointment so that she and dad can have surgery," she said with a shake of her head.

Jacob exhaled the breath he was holding before sitting at the table.

"It's okay, he can survive with one kidney until another one is found. Isn't it better this way? If you were a match someone was bound to know something was up when the anestesia didn't work on you or that you healed from surgery in a matter of hours," she stated.

"You're right," he agreed with a solemn nod.

"You need to talk to Charlie."

"Why?" he asked confused.

"Not only is Dad going to need to be close to the hospital for the next few months, Rebecca is going to have to stay for a few weeks to recooperate. I am working two jobs so that I can save up money so I cannot do it. Plus, the house is too small for two invalids plus you," she pointed out.

"You don't know that Rebecca is going to stay," he argued.

"She can't fly home Jake, not after having major surgery."

"I wanted to break it to Charlie easy. Things with Bella and I are still new and I don't want to push her into something that she isn't ready for," he said as his face fell, crushed.

"I understand that. Maybe you should let him know that you're home first and then ease him into the idea of you and Bella," she offered.

"Did you know that Bella has a necklace?" he asked gesturing to the gem studded key dangling from a chain on Rachel's neck.

Rachel put a hand to her neck, fingering the charm. She shook her head with a perplexed expression. Something didn't add up.

"I mean it about Charlie though, he needs to know what going on and you need to ask him if dad and Bec can stay there, you'll be there by default."

Jacob nodded, knowing that Rachel was right. Charlie needed to know because he didn't want to break Charlie's trust. Charlie thought of Jacob as his own son and he didn't want things to be weird. He wanted to talk to Charlie on his own, without Bella so that he could do the right thing and make his intentions for Bella known. He was going to have to work fast since pretty soon he, his dad and Rebecca could be more than likely staying with him.