Breaking Dawn

AN: Here's a chapter. Thanks for the reviews, keep reviewing if you want an update. Have a great Christmas!

-----------------------------------

Chapter 9

"Bells, what are you doing home Hon? Aren't you staying with Edward? You guys are married," he grimaced slightly at the word, and so did I. I still wasn't used to the label.

Charlie pulled me into an awkward hug. I was surprised; Charlie was never one for spontaneous affection. Charlie was probably just glad I was home, back where he could keep an eye on me, where he could make sure I didn't do anything bad.

"Yeah, but I decided to come home and spend the next couple of weeks with you dad!" I lied. I didn't want to tell Charlie about my moving out plans just yet. I just wanted one normal week with him, without having to worry about anything. Charlie raised his eyebrow suspiciously.

"Besides, I find it very hard to believe that you can fend for yourself without me giving you some cooking lessons, which start tomorrow I might add."

"Bella I'm not a baby. I can fend for myself," he said snappily. I smirked and glanced into the kitchen to find a burnt pizza in the bin.

"You call that fending for yourself? Burning a pizza, when all you had to do was heat it up?" I laughed. Charlie scowled, but I knew he wouldn't bring it up again.

Charlie went and sat down on the couch and resumed watching the TV, pulling a half empty pizza box onto his stomach and grabbing another slice, shoveling into his mouth.

I rolled my eyes, men.

It was nice to be home. I could almost pretend that I hadn't gotten married, that everything was normal. That I would be going to school the next morning, Edward waiting for me in his car in the driveway. Going to Gym with Mike, gossiping about boys with Jess and Angela, and discussing up coming sports results with Alice. But then I would feel the cold metal on my finger weighing it down, it felt like a 100 pounds, and then I would snap back to reality.

I climbed the stairs and walked into my room. It looked the same. I stared at reflection in the mirror. I was still looked the same. But I felt so different. Married. I sighed. I was now Bella Cullen.

I pulled on some old sweat pants and a grubby white t-shirt, and then brushed my teeth and hair. I collapsed into bed; I hadn't realized how tired I was. I felt emotionally drained; the past two weeks had been rush, rush, rush, trying to get the wedding plans finished by the date.

I thought back to the wedding, Charlie, Renee and Phil in the front row, Renee crying into Phil's shoulder, a slight tear in Charlie's eyes. Phil grinning at me while taking photos. The Cullen's sat next to them, looking as beautiful as always. Rosalie and the sincere, beautiful smile she had given me before the wedding, Alice and Esme's proud face's, Emmett's beaming grin.

Angela and Ben sitting a few rows back. Angela clutching Ben's arm, fighting back tears, looking gorgeous in a flowing sky blue dress. Billy, Jacob, and the rest of my werewolf friends were all being loud and noisy in the back row. All of them looking tidy for once, hair slicked back and wearing tuxes.

And Jade. Looking amazing in a simple move skirt and white shirt, Jacob clutching her hand, arms around her waist. A pang of jealousy shot through me.

I had thought, previously to the wedding, that it would be one of those events that I would try as hard as I could to block from my mind, but I found myself realizing that it had been an amazing day and I did not regret one moment of it.

It had been an event where the people that I loved and cared for surrounded me, a day where I had, though I hated to admit it, been extremely happy.

I let myself become lost in my thoughts; it had been a long time since I had been able to have some time to myself. It was nice to be able to think in a quite atmosphere.

There was a knock on my window, and I heard some one shout loudly in pain, my quite moment ruined, my thoughts interrupted. I opened the window in annoyance as Jacob climbed through. The whole room shook as he jumped through and landed on my floor.

As usual, he was only wearing jeans. He gave me a big grin and pulled me into one of his huge bear hugs, knocking the breath out of me with his strength and the surprise he had given me.

"Are you insane? Are you trying to wake Charlie up? Are you trying to get me into trouble?" I hissed, once I had regained my breath.

"I didn't expect you to be here, I just wanted to check, I felt like seeing you. What are you doing home? I thought you would be staying at the bloodsucker's," Jacob laughed. I glared at him.

"Don't call him that, I thought we were over all that nonsense of name calling. I came home because I wanted to spend some time with Charlie…." I lied, I knew he didn't believe me, but I didn't feel like explaining everything to him, not now anyway.

"So, where's Jade?" I asked, eager to change the subject.

"At her house, she hasn't seen her family in a while, and we've been spending a lot of time together, I think she wanted a bit of a break," he laughed. I couldn't help but be annoyed by what he had said, though I was quick to hide it. Not quick enough, Jacob laughed loudly at my annoyance.

I shushed him, but went red.

"Your jealous aren't you?" Jacob said gleefully.

"I am not!"

"Ha! You are! I knew it!"

I hit his arm and turned my back on him.

"Come on Bells, I don't blame you. I mean, I am irresistible," he laughed.

I snickered.

"Come on, let's take a walk."

"Jake, it's 11:00. Isn't it a bit late?"

"I'm not taking no for an answer, I'll drag you out if I had to."

I knew I was powerless against him, so I sighed and nodded. I grabbed an old pair of sneakers and my flannelette; Jacob smirked at what I was wearing. I gave him a rude gesture then climbed on his back. I held onto his neck tight as he climbed out my window, jumping swiftly down from the roof and onto the grass.

Even though Jake was irritating me, I was excited about our secret night walk. I hadn't spoken properly to him in a long time, and I had missed him. I felt more like a kid with Jake; it made me feel less old.

We walked down the driveway and onto the street. I shivered, it was cold. Jacob rubbed my arms, instantly sending a wave of heat through me. He interrupted the silence.

"So, you're a Cullen now."

"Good observation," I kept my voice light, not wanting to turn our conversation into an argument, Jake chuckled.

"The wedding was great. You looked very beautiful," he said. I blushed, embarrassed by his kind words.

"Thanks Jake."

We walked in silence for a few minutes. It was dark and the forest looked eerily scary, thought I felt no fear next to Jake. It was nice to be with him, just to enjoy each other's company. The silence wasn't awkward; it was never awkward between Jake and I.

"So where do you plan on going to college? he asked. I hesitated, I'm not sure if I wanted to talk about this now, and I didn't want to upset or anger him.

"Um… well actually now that you bring it up, I'm actually going to the University of Alaska," I said, careful not to mention anything I didn't want to.

"Oh, when do you plan on leaving?"

"Err… within in the next couple of weeks."

Jacob froze and his hands shook, but he managed to calm himself down.

"Bella, I don't want you to go, because I know that university is not the only reason your leaving…and I want you to reconsider. I know I have Jade, I'm not asking for you to stay with me… I just need you to stay… human. Please? Isn't there any other way?" he pleaded.

"Jake, there is no other way. I want to be seen as an equal. I will grow old, wrinkly and gray, while Edward will stay beautiful, forever young. I can't take that. I want it to be equal between us."

"I know Bella. It's just… I'm going really miss you."

"Jake, I'm still going to be me. And I'll always come and see you and we'll stay in touch, I love you and I still want to be your friend."

"I know Bella, but I'm not sure if I can take being with you when you're like that."

"I know it's going to be hard Jake, but I really want to make an effort for you.

I really want to stay friends; we've been through too much just to throw that away. Will you make an effort for me?"

Jacob hesitated slightly and thought about it for a few minutes, the silence was agony. But he finally sighed and smiled.

"Of course Bella. I made a promise to you, remember?"

"That's you were my slave for life?"

"No," he laughed, "That I would stay with you forever. And no matter how hard that may be, I'm going to keep my promise."

I smiled, satisfied. I hesitated, debating on my next action, but finally I reached over and grabbed his hand in mind, intertwining my fingers with his. He looked up in surprise, but smiled and we turned around to walk me home.

The rest of the walk was silent, but it was nice, his warm skin against mine, sending the heat all through me. It was great to see him again, to feel his unusually warm touch.

It felt like home.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

AN: Another Chapter, gone. I can't believe I have continued this far. Thanks for the reviews. Sorry if there are a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes, I didn't check it so thoroughly today. Also, sorry again for the boring chapter, believe me, the exciting parts are coming. Thanks again, and, Merry Christmas.