More fun with the Quileute characters. I won't say too much more, I'm more interested in what YOU have to say. Thanks to my beta, Kate Pedroso.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to the wonderful Stephenie Meyer and the Twilight series. Stephenie, I hope I did Jacob justice.

After I had my so called epiphany in my bedroom I had gone to visit Sam. I met him outside of his house, where he was painting an intricate bench he had made for Emily.

"Hey man, its good to see you," he said, a big smile covering his face. He was covered in little drops of light yellow paint. "Should have come over sooner, I would have put you to work."

"Well if you've got something else you need done, I don't mind the distraction."

"I don't, but you could ask Emily if she needs any help with her to-do list." He said this with a smirk and I was instantly confused. I could tell he didn't mean little household chores. "Come on inside."

He and Emily had planned to marry at the end of August and were still putting together the finishing touches. She was sitting at the table, sorting through the vast mountain that covered its surface. Papers, torn magazine pages, and artificial flowers were everywhere. Emily looked a bit frazzled; her hair was pulled back, but there were pieces falling into her face. Her normally spotless little kitchen was a mess. She hadn't even noticed I'd entered until Sam cleared his throat.

She looked up in surprise. "Jake! Oh it is so good to see you!" She came over and gave me as big a hug as her little body would allow. "Are you hungry? Can I make you something? I just made some cookies this morning. I could whip up something else." She continued on, speaking a mile a minute.

How could you not smile at that? "I'll definitely take some of your cookies, Emily."

"Do you want some milk, some lemonade, water?" she asked as she flit about the kitchen. This wasn't the Emily I was used to. I mean, she has always been a 'busy' person, but this was like the Emily on speed. I frowned and looked at Sam for an answer. He just sighed.

He went over to her, grabbed her hands and wrapped them around him. He pulled her in close and trapped her head against his chest making 'shushing' noises. "Take a deep breath," he told her. She instantly calmed. "Everything will be fine."

"Is there something I can do?" I asked, still confused as to what was going on.

"No, she's just a bit overwhelmed with all the wedding plans."

Emily looked up at him, then over at me. She smiled sheepishly, only one side really turning up. The scar on the right side prevented it from being a full smile. "I'm sorry Jake; it's just been so hectic around here." Sam released her and she went to sit back at the table. He stood behind her, massaging her shoulders. I would have felt uncomfortable under normal circumstances, but I knew this had nothing to do with romance and everything to do with soothing her. "I've been so stressed with the vampire skirmish and then you getting hurt and leaving. You'd think wedding plans would be easy after everything that has happened, but this..." She swept her arms out in front of her indicating all the wedding items. "This is just crazy."

I felt guilty; I had no idea she had taken all of this so hard. I should have known better. These men and Emily were family. "I'm sorry, Emily."

She looked up; it was her turn to be confused. "For what?"

"For making you worry."

"Oh Jake, I'm so sorry for even bringing that up. Please, ignore me. I think I'm going insane." She crossed her arms on the table and laid her head down on them. She groaned.

I laughed. I couldn't help myself. It seemed so strange that all this worry was over wedding plans. "All the things to make you think you're going insane, and you pick the sanest thing of all, your wedding. Emily, you're surrounded by werewolves every day!" Sam joined in the laughter and, although I couldn't see her face, I could see her shoulders start to shake.

My expression turned innocent. "Could I still have those cookies?" With that she looked up and 'our' Emily was back, a big smile lighting her face up.

She got up and came over to my chair to hug me again. "We really missed you. Don't ever do that again," she said as she lightly smacked me over the head.

"Yes, ma'am," I said with a little salute. "Seriously, is there anything I can help you guys with? I've got the rest of the summer ahead of me with nothing planned."

Emily poured some milk and brought about a dozen warm cookies over before sitting down again. Sam pulled up a chair next to her. "We've decided to keep things fairly small; just you and your dad, your brothers, our families, and a few friends. There is no need to make it a big production. Though even for a small wedding, there is a lot involved. I don't know if there is anything specific that you can help with right now. Sam, do you have anything you need would like him to do?" Once again she smiled.

"Jake, there was something I was going to ask for your help on."

"Anything, just name it."

"I was wondering…," Sam started, and then paused. He looked to Emily and smiled before looking back at me. "I was wondering if you'd be my best man."

I sat there, stunned, a piece of half chewed cookie sitting in my cheek. I didn't know how to reply. Once upon a time I had loathed Sam; thought of him as a trouble-maker before I even knew him. He had turned out to be one of the most respectable men I had ever met. I finished chewing and swallowed to keep from choking. "Oh wow…are you sure?" I was sure that was a stupid response, but I didn't know what else to say. He had taken me completely by surprise.

Sam shook with laughter while Emily just chuckled. "Of course I'm sure. Jake, I couldn't imagine anyone else up there beside me, supporting us. I'd be proud and honored if you would."

"No, Sam, I would be honored." And I was.

"Yay!" Emily sat there clapping her hands in excitement. "You know this means you'll have to rent a suit, right?" I groaned. I hadn't thought about that part. "Hey, no backing out now. You've already accepted."

I looked at Sam. "Do they even make suits in our size?"

He shrugged his shoulders and frowned. "I don't know. Do they?" he asked Emily.

Now it was her turn to shake with laughter. "Yes they do, and you'll both look wonderful. I've already scheduled your fitting." She looked over at me. "I knew you'd say yes."

After that they told me all about the other plans they had made. They were going to have the ceremony on the cliff top around sunset and then a small dinner outside at the house. They were planning on taking a belated honeymoon, deciding to wait until after the Cullen's left town. "Just as a precaution," Sam said. I nodded my understanding, wanting to avoid talk of the Cullen's or Bella as much as possible. I'd been having too good a day to be dragged back down.

I tried to lighten the mood back up again. "Can I bring a date?" I joked.

Emily looked at me, surprised. "Is there someone you want to bring? Please, by all means, you're welcome to bring a date. In fact, if you don't already have one I know this woman who would be perfect for you. She is a little bit older, but…" Oh no, I was just kidding. Sam put a hand on Emily's shoulder and she stopped, looking at him with a confused expression. Then she looked back at me and blushed a scarlet red. "I'm sorry, Jake. Sometimes I get carried away."

I smiled at her reassuringly. "Don't worry about it, Emily." There was an awkward silence now and I really didn't know what to say. I just sat there munching on cookies until Emily spoke again.

"Jake, there was something else I wanted to ask you. I was wondering if you would mind…" She looked at Sam, unsure of what she was about to say. So she rushed through them quickly, stumbling over her words here and there. "I was wondering if you'd mind if we invited Bella. I'm sorry, I know this is hard…and stupid and….but I really got to know her when she was here. But if it would be too hard for you I would understand."

I sat there for a moment, thinking about what she was saying. Could I stand up with Sam, listening to vows exchanged in love and commitment and ignore her presence? I guess I'll have to. I've put Emily through enough, if this is what she wants for her wedding then I'm not going to ruin it. I shrugged, "she is your guest to invite, Emily. If you want her there then you should invite her." I said this as calmly as I could and then went back to silently eating the cookies. Another awkward silence surrounded us.

Sam broke it by standing and changed the subject. "If you don't have anything else to do today, Jake, I could use your help changing the oil in Emily's car. I really need to finish that bench. Are you up to it?"

"Of course." I could use the distraction and it had been more than three weeks since I had gotten my hands dirty. I shoved another cookie in my mouth and gave Emily a mumbled thanks as I chewed. I walked out the kitchen door, leaving it ajar for Sam, who was right behind me. He stopped just inside the door as I made my way to the garage.

I couldn't avoid hearing Emily and Sam talking in low voices. "I can't keep my foot out of my mouth today," Emily said in a sad voice. "I really wish things hadn't turned out like this. He was so happy with…" She trailed off and sighed. "I'm just glad he is back."

I am too, I admitted to myself. This was my home, my family. This is where I belong. I smiled to myself and got to work.

Please review!