Disclaimer: I do not own anything having to do with the Twilight series. It's all Stephanie Meyer's.

WARNING: It's rated M for a reason people! Smut ahead.

A/N: Once again, I thoroughly appreciate all the reviews! I'm very glad you're enjoying the storyline.

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"I'm going to her, and you're not stopping me," Edward said, malice dripping from his voice.

"I wouldn't think of it," Aro replied smoothly and even stepped aside and swept his arm out to welcome Edward into the beach house. Edward rushed past in a blur and was upstairs and at Bella's bedside in seconds flat. Jacob was still in wolf form, but Edward could see from his eyes that all was not well.

She won't wake up.

Edward sat on the bed and leaned over Bella. "Bella," he whispered, "you've got to wake up love. Please. For me . . . for Jacob." He softly kissed her on her forehead, resting his head against hers.

Jacob whined again.

"She's only resting," came a voice from the doorway. Aro. Edward glared at him. "What the fuck have you done to her?"

The rest of the Cullens and Jane stood behind him. He stepped over the broken door and into the room. Jane glided behind him and stood beside him. She had her arms wrapped inside her silk robes. Unlike Aro, she had kept her usual dress for the journey.

"A nice little sleep so she'll forget," Aro said lazily.

"Forget? Forget what?" Edward shouted. And then it dawned on him. To forget him. THEM. The Cullens. Their life together. NO! As much as he didn't want her to be like them, there was no way he could live without her. Without her love. He suddenly began shaking her, shouting in her face, "BELLA! BELLA! YOU'VE GOT TO WAKE UP! PLEASE! WAKE UP!!!"

Jacob gave a growl, but he was facing the two ancient vampires.

"Aro! No! Bella would never tell our secret!" Carlisle shouted, stepping inside the room.

"Maybe," the ancient vampire replied, "but I can't take that chance. Humans are so unreliable. They make promises they can't keep."

Jacob took a step towards Aro and Jane, growling low in his throat. He heard a voice in his head then and knew it was the dwarfy vampire addressing him. If she forgets Edward, she will be all yours. You will no longer have to compete for her affections, her love. She will be yours alone. Jacob faltered. Wasn't that what he wanted all along? Her love? For him alone? He had it, but he had to share it. With the bloodsucker. But then another voice came to him. Sam. Jacob, she'll always love the vamp. No matter what. Even if she forgets him, they'll find each other again. You know this. Jacob shook his head of the thoughts, and he knew what he must do. He lunged at Jane, knocking her to the ground. The Cullens grabbed Aro and held him tightly. Jacob glared down at Jane, their minds battling.

Let her go, you fucking leech!

And you will accept defeat? Accept that she will never love you like she does Edward?

YES. LET HER GO!

What a stupid beast you are. No wonder we are the superior beings.

Jacob growled but refrained from snapping her face off. Jane smiled for the first time. Then Jacob heard Edward gasp and cry, "Bella? Bella?"

There was a groan from the bed, and it wasn't Edward's. Jacob removed himself from the vampire and went to stand by the bed. Bella was stirring, and her eyelids fluttered open. She grasped her head and moaned. "I have such a headache," she whispered. Edward laughed and grabbed her to him, trying not to squeeze the life out of her. "Edward? Where am I? What's happened?" she asked, her voice muffled by his shoulder. He was shuddering against her, and she could've sworn he was crying, but that was ridiculous because vampires couldn't cry. She managed to crane her head and caught sight of Jacob in wolf form. "Jacob!"

Jacob barked and jumped up to lick her in the face. "UGH! I wish you'd brush your teeth!"

She struggled to release herself from Edward's vise grip, not fully understanding what was going on. And then she saw their audience. But what made her gasp was Aro . . . and Jane. She knew whatever had transpired could not be good if these two were standing here. Then she saw Jacob's pack pushing their way into the room, and suddenly it was suffocating.

"I-I don't understand," she stammered. Edward held her face in his hands, and she looked in his amber eyes that seemed to be glistening. "Oh God Bella," he whispered, "I thought I'd lost you. I couldn't have bared it." Then he was kissing her with such urgency, she thought she would pass out. Jacob gave a snort, and Edward remembered they had an audience.

"Yo, bro. You really need to do this stuff in private," Emmett said, breaking the silence and tension. There were chuckles from the other Cullens (except Rosalie who looked as if she wanted to be sick), and Bella turned red clear down to her toes.

"I can see," Aro began thoughtfully, "that this human is special. So I will grant you this. We will leave you to your own devices. But the moment I hear of anything out of line, of SECRETS being told, THINGS happening that shouldn't be happening, we will be back; and we won't be so forgiving of promises not kept. Do we have an understanding?" He had been speaking while watching Edward and Bella embrace, but with the last question, he turned to Carlisle.

"Absolutely," Carlisle said. If he'd had a heart, it would've been beating right out of his chest. There were collective sighs throughout the group. They had been holding their breath throughout the whole scene. Aro turned to Jane and said, "My dear. I think it's time we took our leave. Caius will be wondering where we are."

"Caius doesn't know you're here?" Carlisle asked. Aro turned to look at him, and laughed, "Good gracious no! Caius is the most unforgiving of our lot. I knew it would do more harm than good to ask him to come." Aro smiled down at Jane and looked as if he wanted to pat her on her head. "Come Jane, darling. Bid everyone adieu." Jane turned and nodded at everyone. The Cullens could only nod back, as they were pretty much speechless. As Aro and Jane walked towards the door, he came to stop before Alice and touched her cheek. "What a shame, my dear," he said, "such potential. Such potential." And with that last parting phrase, they were gone.

Alice slumped against Jasper who had been standing behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her neck. She felt him shake against her. She squeezed his arms.

The wolves moved to surround Jacob. You must come with us, Jacob, Sam said. Jacob nodded, and turned to Edward, I have to go. Tell Bella I will see her later. He laid his head on Bella's knee, and she stroked his coarse fur. Then he was bounding out of the room and out of the house along with his pack.

Bella looked at Edward, still not knowing everything that had transpired. Suddenly she gasped, "Victoria!"

"Dead," Edward confirmed. Bella slumped forward, her head resting on his shoulder. "Why am I here? Did Victoria bring me here?"

"I'll explain it all once I get you home. Charlie's going to have my head," Edward said. Then in one fell swoop, she was cradled in his arms as he carried her from the room. His family followed them downstairs and out to the waiting Hummer.

It was over. For now. Victoria was no longer a threat. But they still had the Volturi to worry about. As long as Bella kept their secret, they were safe. And that's all that mattered. That and having Bella with him.

Edward let Emmett drive them back to Forks. He wanted to stay as close to Bella as possible. He strapped her in the backseat but sat as close as possible to her without pulling her across his lap. Emmett looked at them in the rearview mirror, a huge grin plastered across his face. "Would you please watch the road?" Rosalie growled. That brought Emmett out of his reverie, "Sorry, babe," but he winked at Edward.

They took the main road back to Forks from La Push. There was no reason to go thundering through the forest again. Emmett kept to his usual speed, 110MPH. "I can see again," Alice announced, and they knew they had passed over the boundary. If a boundary still existed. Edward hoped Jacob was successful in explaining things to Sam and the pack. All he wanted to do was get Bella back home safe and sound.

"Emmett, can you drop Bella and me off at her house?" he asked his brother. Emmett smiled and said, "Sure."

It wasn't long before they were coming to a halt in front of the white two-story house that was the Swan residence. Charlie's cruiser was parked out front. Nothing seemed amiss. No APB's had been issued. Edward looked at his watch; it read seven o'clock. He opened the back door and hopped out. He helped Bella out of the harness, and she slid out of the Hummer. Before she could properly thank the Cullens, Emmett was speeding off. Edward and Bella stood on the sidewalk.

"I'll meet you in your room," Edward said, and then he had disappeared into the woods behind Bella's house. She was still confused about the events of the day. Everyone had remained silent on the ride back from La Push. As if they were scared to say anything, thinking Aro and Jane would suddenly appear and cast voodoo magic on them. And she really didn't blame them. She remembered last year and Italy. How terrified she was that they wouldn't get out alive. And the screams of the tourists. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and walked up the steps and inside the house.

"Bells?" her dad called from the living room.

"Yeah, it's me," she replied, going to make an appearance. She wasn't quite sure what she looked like. Hopefully not like she'd been kidnapped and held all day by vampires. Charlie turned around in his recliner to look at her, "You hungry? I already ate. Didn't know when you were going to be home."

"Sorry about that. Alice got all these new clothes . . . and well, you know how she is," Bella said, lying through her teeth. Ever since she became involved with the Cullens lying became easier. Charlie smiled though. He liked Alice. She had him wrapped around her little finger.

"What about Edward? What was he up to?" Charlie asked, surprising her. He never showed much interest in Edward unless it had to do with curfews.

"Uh. Actually he and Jacob hung out," that wasn't exactly a lie.

"Jacob? Well, now that's interesting," Charlie mused. His attention was soon drawn back to the game on the TV, and that's what Bella loved about her dad. He didn't really pry. She had a sudden urge to go over and give him a kiss on his cheek, and when she did, he gave her a startled look. "What was that for?" he asked.

"Nothing. Just love you, Dad," she said. He smiled, "Love you, too, Bells."

"I'm going to take a shower and read some before bed. It's been a long day – [and night, she thought to herself]"

"See you in the morning, Bells."

Bella took the stairs two at time. When she went in her room, Edward was lying on her bed, and at her entry, he was on his feet, grabbing her. He buried his face in her hair and inhaled deeply. "Bella, Bella," he said, brushing his lips at her throat. She sighed. "What happened Edward? You have to tell me. I can't remember . . ."

And so he told her. Everything. How she came so close to losing all her memories of him and the Cullens. How Jacob had killed Victoria, and how he had stopped Jane from erasing her memories. Edward owed everything to Jacob. Jacob had her saved her – once again.

"I don't deserve you," Edward whispered, after the story was finished.

"Hush," Bella said, putting her fingers to his lips. "I love you. Nothing will ever change that. Everyone worked as a team. Don't you see that?"

Maybe he did see that and didn't want to accept it. That Jacob wasn't all bad. Just then they heard a creak and whirled around to see Jacob jumping lightly into the room via the window. He gave a grin and said, "If he can do it, so can I."

Edward was somewhat perturbed that they had been interrupted. "Jacob," he addressed the dark-skinned teen who was dressed in jeans and a black tank. Obviously, he had no plans of phasing tonight. Jacob nodded at Edward and went straight to sit at Bella's other side on the bed. He crushed Bella in a bear hug, and she gasped, "Jacob!" He released her and mumbled an apology. He really did forget his own strength sometimes.

"I'm so glad you're OK Bells," he said, caressing her cheek with his hand. She blushed. His warm touch sent those familiar tingles through her body.

"How are things with Sam?" Edward asked, remembering how they blatantly broke the treaty with Jacob's tribe. Jacob nodded and replied, "Everything's cool. I explained everything, and the elders agreed that you all had to do what you had to do. You were the lesser of the two evils, so to speak." He grinned slyly at this last comment, and Edward rolled his eyes.

"Well, I'm glad everything is settled, and we can go back to some sense of normalcy," Edward said.

Jacob looked at Edward with a more serious expression and silently said, Edward, I need to talk to Bella alone. I'm going to give you what you want, but . . . I need her . . . one last time . . . please.

Edward tried to maintain his shock at Jacob's announcement. Was the wolf giving up this easily? Surely not. But the look on Jacob's face could not be denied. Edward nodded slightly and then addressed Bella, "Love, I've got something I need to do for Carlisle. Jacob will stay and keep you company until I get back."

Bella looked at Edward suspiciously, but didn't question him. She knew something had been exchanged between him and Jacob. She didn't argue. "OK. You'll be back?"

Edward smiled. "Of course." He leaned over and kissed her. Then he was gone.

"OK, what's going on?" she asked Jacob, her arms folded across her breasts. He looked at them. He was going to miss those breasts. Miss touching them. He moved closer to her and leaned in so that he could feel her minty breath on his face. He closed his eyes and touched his cheek to hers. She gave a small gasp. "Do you love me Bella?" he asked in a low voice.

"You know I do," she responded, giving a little start as his long fingers worked their way up her throat.

"As much as Edward?" he asked then, and she hesitated. He knew the truth. He had always known. She would never love him as much as Edward. "Jacob, I—" she started, but he shushed her. Brushing his lips against hers. "It's all right, Bella. I'm not mad. I love you, I'll always love you, but I can't share you with another man. Knowing you love him more than me. It hurts too much."

"Oh, Jacob."

"It's OK. Really. I'm not asking you to make a choice. I know what your choice is, and I'm OK. Just give me one more night. That's all I'm asking. A piece of you to carry with me . . . Is that all right?" His mouth was moving across hers as he spoke. She groaned. How could she deny him that when she was the one who put him in this position? She had been the selfish one, thinking she could have her cake AND ice cream. Only in dreams and fantasies did things such as she wished for really existed. It had existed for 24 hours. She would remember their time together forever. But she realized now that Edward was her heart. He possessed her fully. She would always love Jacob, but not like Edward. Never like Edward. And she truly hoped Jake would find someone who would love him as he deserved to be loved. She knew then what the exchange between Edward and Jacob had been earlier, and she loved Edward that much more. For giving Jacob this time alone with her.

They were sitting on her bed, facing each other, and she reached up and cradled his face in her hands, her thumbs caressing his high cheek bones. They gazed into each others eyes, and she could see his love for her shining in the depths of his onyx orbs. She pulled his mouth to hers, and they kissed hungrily. His tongue probed her mouth and found her velvet tongue. Dancing together, he groaned, putting an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. He lay back on the bed, so that she lay on his chest. They continued exploring each other's mouths. His lips were so soft and warm and the tingles worked their way all through her body. She suddenly sat up, straddling his hips, and deftly pulled off her t-shirt. He reached around and unclasped her white bra and let it fall from her shoulders. His brown hands came up and cupped in each a creamy white breast. He smiled as her nipples hardened at his touch, and she leaned down and kissed him softly.

"Bella . . ." he whispered. "I want you."

"Then take me. I'm yours," she breathed, running her tongue across his bottom lip and trailing kisses down his neck. She rose up and with a warning said, "We have to be quiet though. My dad's downstairs."

He nodded. He maneuvered enough to take his black tank off, and he tossed it to the floor. He reached out and unbuttoned her jeans. She smiled slightly and moved off him and the bed so that she might remove the jeans. She took her underwear with them, and Jacob growled low in his throat and gazed at her through hooded eyes. "Ssshhhh," she admonished him, grinning.

It was his turn to remove his jeans, and he did in one fell swoop. One minute they were there, the next they were in the floor alongside his tank. "Jacob Black. You're not wearing underwear!" Bella whispered.

"The better to phase," Jacob whispered back, the corner of his mouth lifting.

"You sound like the big bad wolf."

"Maybe I am the big bad wolf," he countered. "Never," she said, moving to lie on top of his hard body. His dick pressed against her stomach, which quivered at the thought of him inside her. He kissed her jaw and then her neck, moving south to her succulent breasts. He took one nipple and then the other in his mouth, teasing each with the swirling of his tongue. She gasped, and her heartbeat quickened.

Suddenly, she was on the bottom, and he was hovering above her, his long hair brushing against her shoulders. His eyes were smoldering, and she lay with her arms above her head. His hot gaze raked over her naked torso and he hoarsely said, "You're beautiful."

She only smiled and blushed, never understanding what he and Edward saw in her. If anyone was beautiful it was them. She closed her eyes and sighed as she felt Jacob move against her, and his hardness pressing against her slick opening. She held her breath, anticipating. He was so different from Edward. So hot. She would miss the warmth. But it was time to stop being selfish.

"I'm going to fuck you now," Jacob murmured, and before she could think, he thrust inside her velvet warmth. Bella arched her back and gasped with pleasure. She met each of his thrusts with such urgency, she thought she would explode. She bit her lip to keep from crying out, and she knew he was doing the same. She wrapped her legs around his waist and clung to him. She had her eyes closed, and when she opened them, she looked at Jacob and saw he was watching every expression that passed across her face. He pushed harder into her, and she whispered, "Faster, Jake. Fuck me. Fuck me hard."

"Oh, my God, Bella," he moaned, thrusting harder. Bella grasped the pillows above her and thrashed her head back and forth. The waves of ecstasy were upon her, and she was getting so close. Jacob kept pounding into her, never faltering his rhythm. He sat back then, his legs folded under him, her legs still wrapped around his waist. His strong hands clasped her tiny waist, and he used that as leverage to go even faster. With one hand, he reached down and stroked her clit. It was soaking wet, and he groaned. He was going to cum any minute. Just then he felt her walls contract around his dick, and her silent orgasm was enough for him. He shot his load deep inside her, his whole body shuddering with the spasms of his own orgasm. Oh, God. Could he really leave her? He had to. It was the only way. She would never be completely his. Never.

Jacob collapsed on top of Bella, his heart pounding, and his lungs fighting for air. He kissed her neck and then rolled off of her, lying beside her. He looked over at her, and she was staring at him. She smiled and touched his lips. He kissed her finger tips, and without another word, he rose from the bed, gathered his clothes, and was gone the same way he arrived. Bella put an arm over her eyes. It was all insane. Completely. How do you fall in love with two people, but know you can only love one with the whole passion of your being?

Bella decided it wasn't worth dwelling on any longer. She needed a shower. She got up, retrieved her terry robe from the hook on the back of her closet and went to the bathroom. Maybe taking a hot shower would clear her head and take all this craziness from her. Maybe the last 24 hours had been all a dream. But when she looked in the bathroom mirror as she waited for the water to heat up, she stared at the now fading bruises and knew it had been anything but a dream. She sighed and dropped the robe at her feet and entered the hot shower.

--Yes, there's a Chapter 8 coming up! Didn't think I'd leave you hanging in such a cruel way, did you?--