Chapter 5: Later that night…
The doorbell rings as Val and me get ready for the pizza I really did order this time. I jump up and take a peek through the little peep-hole. *Uh, oh…* "Hey, Val, it's not the pizza…" I open the door, taking a deep breath. "Hey, Jake… Hi, Seth… Leah. It's nice to see you all…so soon."

Jake is tense as he says, "Bella… Why is my fiancé's scent all over the porch… and this room…when she hasn't been here in over 2 months?" His stare switches to look beyond me… at Valerie. He is shocked.

She watches him cautiously. "Hi, Jacob… Hey, guys…" She doesn't move her eyes from his as she asks, "So, did you all come to help Bella too?" She takes a deep breath and confronts her hubby-to-be. "When you set up that meeting with the tribal elders, I decided to beat you to the punch. You were going to leave me in LaPush… I wasn't having that. I love you, Jake, but you're too protective of us." Her voice and expression softens. "Now, I know Bella's important to you… but you're not her husband anymore. You don't have the right to keep her from finding happiness if she can. You have a new role in her life, and it's very different from what it was for the past several years. She needs you to be supportive of her feelings and not try to control her. You have already lost your marriage…you need to understand that you will also lose her friendship and presence in your life if you continue to be so heavy-handed." She moves across the room to stand face to face with him. She is not only directly confronting her imprinted mate, but also the Alpha wolf of the LaPush pack. She touches his face tenderly. "I love you Jacob, but I'm here to help Bella get her man to let her back into his life… or existence. He won't accept her forgiveness. He has stayed away from her for almost 2 days now. If you want to help, then have a seat and we'll order more pizzas. Otherwise, go find your own…"

I watch her persuade Jake to try thinking reasonably. *This young woman has astonishing courage. I may have confidence that Jake would not willingly harm me but even I would not get that close to him while saying things that I know will upset him.* My mouth falls open as Jake looks from Val to me and back.

He leans against the doorframe and seems to have made up his mind. He has confusion and distress written all over his face as he turns to me and says with tears in his eyes, "She's right, isn't she, Bells… Why didn't I see it before...I have been too controlling… I've been acting like your father instead of your friend or even your brother. I have no hold on you anymore…You are… not 'my Bella' anymore. The day I imprinted I lost the rights you gave me as your husband to have a say in your life and decisions. I don't want to add your friendship to the list of 'things I've lost'. Nobody in the world knows me the way you do. So, no matter how much it pains me to say this… I'll try to help you get your bloodsucker back."

My own tears start to fall again. I throw my arms around him. "Oh, Jake… You have NO idea how happy I am just to hear you say that! Val, call for more pizza. I'll inform Alice of the wolf invasion." She takes out her cell phone. I run for my bedroom phone.

I dial and hear, "Emmett, gimme my phone! It might be Bella! What if she needs me? You know my visions aren't working!"

Emmett's voice comes on the line. "Bella, that you?"

"Yeah, Em, it's me… Give me to Alice please?" I say rolling my eyes.

"Wow, even without her visions she's psychic! Hey, guys… It IS Bella!" I hear him say.

"Bella, are you OK? Why is Alice not letting me hear her thoughts? Why are the guys not allowed at your place? What's going on? Please tell me?" The velvet voice sounds panicked.

I know he's worried, of course, but he shouldn't be that worried unless he plans on saying those 11 words I was talking about in my journal… "Edward… How nice to hear your voice. I'm ok… not great but I don't need any emotional support from Jazz right now… So, I was wondering… how long do you intend to keep torturing us…? No answer…? In that case, I need to speak with Alice if you don't mind."

He sounds indignant. "I do mind… Why is Alice hiding her thoughts from me? I know that you know…"

"It might have something to do with what I have to tell her… So, if you would please hand her the phone…?" I ask politely.

I hear him growl… "Fine."

"Finally, they let me talk to my BFF! Ok, what's the scoop?" She asks.

I answer, "There's been a new development… I know he'll be upset, Alice, but you can let Edward hear your thoughts now. Remember my phone call home, yesterday morning? Well, let it play in your head for Edward…"

Her voice is worried. "He looks shocked… Go on…"

I continue, "Now, tell him about Valerie…"

Jake's voice comes from my doorway. "Bells… Pizzas are here…"

I wait, holding up one finger to answer him… "Alice?"

"Sorry, hun, no change…" Alice says quietly.

I nod to Jake and sigh. "Now for the new development…" I tap out a Drumroll on the receiver. "Jacob is here, (with two pack members) and he's 'seen the light' (so to speak)… courtesy of his imprint! He realizes his behavior was unacceptable before, and instead of pulling me by the hair, 'caveman style' all the way back to Forks, he says he'll help me do what I need to do to be happy… I don't want the wolves to be uncomfortable, so my house really is a vampire free zone…girls and guys alike. We'll meet somewhere public if we want to see each other… a nearby park or business that's usually not too crowded. Ok?"

"Oh, Bella, I'm so glad your friend isn't a barbarian anymore! I guess they're staying with you?" I laugh at her answer.

Grinning, I say, "Yeah, my dad let them borrow his camper, so 2 of my guests will be just outside. Val and Jake will be on my sofa-bed… The pizzas just got here… so I gotta go… Oh, and you can tell your brother that I really did order pizza this time…Don't ask..."

"Edw- no!"

"Alice? What happened?" I yell.

His voice calmly floats across the line. "You're just going to let him stay there? What about what he said to you? You forgive people WAY too easily, Bella. I think you should make them go to a hotel. Listen, the family wants to see you… make sure you're ok…meet us somewhere?"

"Tonight? Edward… it's late…and your family seems to trust my judgment about my safety… Why do you insist on continuing to treat me like a child? I'm 27, and I've been on my own for over a year with nobody to take care of me, but myself."

His breath hitches. "Bella… I… Please, for my own sanity… I need to see that you are safe."

I sigh, "Where?"

"The karaoke bar in town…?" He replies.

"Karaoke bar? Will you sing, Edward?" If he's going to sing, I'll sneak out of the house if I have to.

"Perhaps… If you're there…" His words are softer than a feather.

"Well, Jake won't like it if I go alone… and he won't let Valerie out of his sight… all of us will have to be there… Will you be ok with that, Edward?" I ask him.

"I'll have to be… won't I?" Click.

*What the heck did THAT mean? Why does he want to confuse me?* I close my eyes and try to center myself, but fail miserably. I grab my disc-man and start to run for the CD in the other room. I'm taken by surprise as Jacob stands at my door…CD in his hand… His features show how sad he is for me and the situation. He holds out the disc for me to place it in the open player. Val hands me a plate as I slip the headphones on and push play. Jake informs the others of our upcoming outing.