Again, this is a work of fanfiction and I make not one red cent. Or green, yellow, or any other color. All recognizable elements and characters belong to S. Meyer.

Welcome back, and thanks for returning! FYI- Sublimation did well in the Jacob Black n Pack awards, getting second place in the 'Best Jacob and Billy Moment' and second place in the 'All Eyes on This One-WIP' categories. Very Exciting! If you need other good wolf fics, check out the finalists and winners. There are some wonderful gems in there.

My beloved, talented, and all-around awesome beta Diamondheart won first place for her wonderful Seth story The Color of Rain. Do yourself a favor and go check it out on her profile, she's (obviously) in my favorite authors list.

Thanks so much for reading. And thanks to my wonderful pre-readers, Bragi151, WovesCanEatMe, and Little Furry Cannibals. I heart you all so much.

Please enjoy Chapter 17

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Bella POV

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Cold…I was so cold.

The chills on my arm where cold hands gripped it spread up and into my neck, caging my heart and squeezing until it felt like it would burst. I searched for a sign of the hands' owner but I was blind, whipping my head this way and that, flailing desperately in the darkness surrounding me.

The blackness had no texture and was fathomless in its depth.

There was nothing.

I was nothing. The Nothing was growing, consuming and digesting me, leaving…nothing. My will to resist was draining away when I felt a breath of warmth against my back. It grew more intense and tangible, curling around me like a pair of strong arms and though I could not see the source, I eased into it, turning the emptiness away. The cold hand on my arm remained, merely lying on me without bending my bones in its hold anymore.

My dreams had taken on this unease lately. There were fewer specific images, no screaming horrors in the night, but a general sense of peril that was almost always followed by warmth.

The sunrise was still some time off, but light had begun to creep into the sky between the clouds. Patches of dark gray jigsawed against black and opened up here and there to be jostled around and rearranged elsewhere. Oddly, that usually meant a bright day was coming for Forks.

Mechanically, I got ready for school, trying to ignore the awareness of uncontrollable events swirling around me. There was a threat out there, beyond the tree line, and Jake was out there with it. My Jake. And the Cullens.

The Cullens were coming tomorrow. Jake had met them, knew them and what they were- which meant he knew what Edward was.

For a second I felt my stomach clench at the idea that Jake would be repulsed by me because I had loved a vampire. But he would have known about this many days ago, and he hadn't made any effort to distance himself. Distance was hardly the word for what happened Monday.

Maybe we are each other's natural path, just interrupted by... the supernatural, I mused as I brushed out my hair.

On Monday Jake told me a little about the treaty and the obligations of the wolves to the people who lived on the peninsula. I'd thought it was just sort of noble until last night, when Jake slipped and told me about the danger.

My hairbrush stopped mid-stroke and I swallowed hard. The pack and the Cullens would fight together.

I heard the coffee pot being replaced so I pulled my hair back and headed downstairs. I wiped my thoughts clean and focused on the here and now, entering the kitchen with as bright a smile as I could muster.

"Morning, kid. Coffee?" My dad was settling back into filling out a travel compensation form. Two laid crumpled alongside him with scratch marks on them.

"Thanks," The hot coffee would chase away the cold that was still crawling over my skin. I started some bacon and eggs and picked up one of the forms he'd cast away with a half-smile. Only Forks would still use carbon copies, and I told him so.

My dad laughed and accepted the plate I handed him in between turning bacon strips. "Bells, I have the grocery list you left last night. Is this all you need?"

With my mouth full of coffee, I nodded and swallowed, before saying, "Yep, that should do it. Anything you want to add?"

"Looks good, but it was on the table this morning. You must have stayed up pretty late, since it wasn't here when I went to bed. Everything okay? Are you feeling alright?" Charlie's voice was level but touched with concern.

The spoon I was stirring the eggs with froze for a beat. I relived the shock of last night and the daze I fell into after finding out about the danger Jake and the others were in. I had stayed up late, jotting down the list with shaky hands in an effort to distract myself.

"Yeah, dad. I'm fine. I just stayed up late to catch up with school." I served him his breakfast and he watched me closely.

"Alright then," He drained his coffee cup and dug in as I poured a refill. He paused. "Don't be nervous about me leaving. Billy is looking forward to having you and Steve knows how to find you if anything comes up. You always know how to get a hold of me, too."

I drank a little coffee, my appetite suddenly stalling. If he thought I was worried about him being away, it was partly true. He chuckled, keeping my thoughts from becoming too dark.

"Besides, Billy tells me Jake is pulling out a few stops to keep you entertained." He looked up from his plate. "Just make sure you take care of school and work first. And…you know…be smart. Not that you're dumb…"

I laughed. "I know, Dad." I swallowed a few more bites and set my plate in the sink. "So, what time will you all get here tonight? You aren't working late, are you?"

He glanced up from the newspaper he'd unfolded. "Don't think so. The forensics guys have to look at the tires and the parking space, and then load the car up. Apart from that, once I get these forms in, everything should be ready, so we should be here around six tonight."

We headed out the door together, commenting that little patches of light were still winking through the clouds. I didn't hold out much hope for a sunny day, though.

…

"So, what are some symptoms of immune system activation, like an allergic response, infection, local invasion, or autoimmune disorder?" Mr. Banner and his marker stood at the ready by the white board.

"What do you mean by 'local invasion', sir?" A voice behind me piped up.

Mr. Banner capped his marker. "It could be a lot of things. Nasty splinters, puncture wounds, bites, shrapnel, or parasites are all common causes." He spread his arms a bit and pivoted to look at us all. "What happens when you get a really bad splinter and you don't get it out fast?"

"It gets red and sore."

"It gets hot."

"You can get an infection?"

He nodded at all of these until the last. "Getting an infection is another ball of wax. It's another path, but the initial insult is the actual break in skin by a foreign body. Even a scratch causes immune system activation, but it's never completely predictable. It can also depend on what causes the injury and where it occurs.

"Alright, what we've described so far is all acute inflammation, which is caused by a fast response to an injury that makes local capillaries leak and allow white cells to attack that splinter or whatever it is you've managed to jam into yourself."

Tyler started to laugh and Mr. Banner gave him a very dark glare before continuing. "There are levels of response; an acute one is simply a possibility. There are many wee beasties that have figured out how to look enough like us on their cell surface so dendrites and white blood cells get confused as to how to respond to them. The result can be as innocuous as adding a new bug to your intestinal flora, or as severe as Guillane-Barr syndrome."

Our heads all bent down to take notes and the lecture bounced between his leads and the question and answer times. We discussed lupus and the aches, pains, and fatigue, along with the wide spectrum of symptoms seen in immune responses.

When the bell rang I leaned back and stretched, flipping through my pages of handwritten notes.

"Okay folks." Mr. Banner looked down and checked his notes. "Tomorrow is Thursday so we'll be covering allergies and immunomodulators. Have a nice day."

…

Lunch wasn't much different from the day before, and I spent part of the time running through my checklist for the weekend. I still needed to finish more laundry, though I figured if I really needed something I could always stop by the house with Jake.

The rest of the day flickered by and before I knew it I was on my way home. There were a few bags of groceries on the table and counters, but thankfully dad had thought to put the cold things away. I checked my list of things to get ready for the weekend and dug out a duffel bag to start my packing routine.

…

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Billy POV

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It was about eleven in the morning when Sue came by and started a fresh pot of coffee. She brought the last of the leftovers from Monday's funeral for our little lunch meeting and served me a small of cinnamon roll only after I showed her my morning meter reading.

"How are the kids, Sue?"

She slid into the chair where Harry always sat for our meetings. "Okay, I suppose. Seth still gets the shakes when someone thinks about Isabella too much when they're phased, but he is doing better. Leah says he just feels like he always needs to be guarding something or someone."

I dug the gooey center of the cinnamon roll out first and dunked the very edge in my coffee. "Since she's the one really threatened right now, maybe she's just the focus of all his energy? He's probably gotten an eyeful from the wolves who took down the one in the woods, and he's so young...probably having a rough time with control."

Sue hardened her eyes at me. "Things aren't hard just because of his age."

The drip of coffee clung to the edge of the bread. "They all feel it, Sue. Never forget that what one thinks and feels, they all think and feel." I bit and chewed the sweet bread under Sue's indulgent watch. If she hadn't liked what the meter showed I would only have my coffee.

We sat in the contemplative quiet that had begun to be the mark of keeping company with Sue until Old Quil rapped on the door as he walked in.

"Damn kid- didn't even think to bring an umbrella for me." He grumbled and brushed water from his sleeves before coming to the table. Sue set a cup of coffee and a slice of some cake in front of him.

Sue frowned. "Who dropped you off? I thought all the kids went to school again today."

"My nephew, Joe. Fool." He pushed a wet braid to his shoulder.

I chuckled at him. "Joe is forty-six. I hardly think that's a kid."

I got a good natured sneer from the elder. "It is from where I sit." He sipped his coffee and let out a deep exhale. "So Billy, how has Jake adjusted? I understand all the new wolves had to leave school early yesterday." He gave Sue an apologetic glance. "All the wolves that could go, of course."

"Of course." Sue gave us the perfunctory widow's smile. It did not suit her at all.

"Jake did well, but I knew his pride would make him stay too long. I had sort of planned to pull him out of school anyway, and then the letter came." At my mention of the letter they both sat back in their chairs, nodding. I slid a handwritten copy of the letter I had jotted down the day before. They already knew what was there, but it would refresh our memories.

Old Quil reviewed the text. "So, how did he handle this news? Who did he talk to?"

"First me, but he called Sam immediately. He came over soon after." The old man merely gestured for me to continue as Sue re-read the letter. "Jake didn't say much about how the meeting with Sam went. Just got cleaned up and left for the evening. Dinner in town with the Swans." They both smirked. We had discussed Isabella and her…status, and had resolved remain impartial. Our concern was the protection of the tribe, not the personal lives of the pack we counseled.

"Tell me Billy, what did his silence mean to you?" Old Quil prodded.

I looked out the window at the rain and thought about it. Jake was hardly the very quiet type, unless something was troubling him. I knew my son, better than he thought, and nothing bothered him more than a breach of honesty. The week of separation from Isabella, not even lying to her but merely avoiding her and omitting the truth, had eaten him up inside.

"He and Sam disagreed about how to proceed. I'm pretty sure it had to do with the pack, not how they approach the Cullens, or he would have told me."

"So," Sue began, "we have conflict in the pack?" The old man and I nodded. "And because they are Alphas…?"

"The power struggle has begun." Old Quil concluded. "We have to monitor them closely as well as the reactions of the rest of the pack. Did Paul ever…reconcile, with Jake?"

"Yes. Jake and Paul are actually doing better than I expected. I wouldn't go so far as to say they are best friends," Sue laughed at the idea and Old Quil gave a snicker, "but I think they have come to an understanding."

"From what Young Quil has told me, he, Embry and Jake are as thick as thieves once again. Those loyalties will carry over." Sue coughed to enter the conversation. "I have to say, Seth has gravitated to Jake even more than he did before. None of the older wolves really bothered with him this weekend and, after…you know…well, Jake was the only one who stayed with him and helped."

Old Quil was thoughtful and leaned toward Sue cautiously. "And Leah?"

Sue's eyes watered. "I know none of them mean to, but she gets pushed out. She probably doesn't help by being difficult, but Jake …helped, somehow. He must have said something, because, I swear, I fully expected to find a note on her pillow saying she was gone a few days ago." She daubed an eye and I felt my own eyes sting. "I think Leah would follow Jake. No questions asked."

"Well, that just leaves Jared. He's sort of our wild card isn't he?"

I nodded at Old Quil. "If Paul followed Jake, I think Jared would too, except…" My thoughts were conflicted.

"He's imprinted. Like Sam." Sue finished for me. "It might complicate loyalties, since they have that in common."

"Thank you. Yes, imprinting could be an issue for us, unlike previous packs. Normally the true Alpha was the first to phase, but for whatever reason—his age, in part, but there are doubtless other factors— Jake held out on us, so we have the issues at hand." I pushed my now empty plate aside and reached for a sandwich. "Well, in any case, we cannot interfere; they will have to work this out for themselves. Before Jake phased, Sam assured us that he would train and prepare him for taking leadership. We have to trust that his intent remains the same, regardless of his behavior of late."

Old Quil refilled his cup and offered Sue a warm-up. "I said this before, and I maintain that Sam has done well. He is just finding that there was more to do than just plot out patrol lines. We should take care not to abuse him for doing a job he was never meant to do."

Sue raised her mug for the pour, as if proposing a toast. "Nor for things beyond his control." Old Quil filled her cup and they shared a pained smile, knowing they had found their common ground.

We ate sandwiches and chatted of recent events on the peninsula. The crime wave had nudged closer. The body of a hiker, reported missing several days ago, had been found and classified as an animal attack. Once again, the victim was a little nearer to our corner of the world, but just far enough to be on the outer edges of the wolf's patrols.

"But does that mean they know about the wolves, or that they have staked out a territory and are trying to not attract too much attention?" Sue asked as she began to clear paper plates into the trash. Neither of us had an answer.

Moments later, the door swung open, letting in a gust of rain-chilled air. Jake walked in and spotted the three of us at the table. He halted and rearranged his face from irritation and anxiety to a blank mask. He looked...older and almost hard.

"Have a seat, Jake. We'd like to talk with you." I used the 'we' to let Jake know this was business and he sat down gingerly in the remaining chair, setting his wet backpack down to drip on the kitchen linoleum.

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't make it all the way today. The walls…" He shuddered, and his contrite voice sounded more like the Jake I had always known. I was raw with hurt for him.

Old Quil spoke before I could. "It's fine, son. Just take it easy; you're not in trouble. We just need to talk with you a little. Got a few minutes for us?"

Jake took some deep breaths, calming down and finally grinning when Sue handed him a plate stacked high with fat roast beef sandwiches. "Of course, sir." It might be almost a cliché, but the fastest way to help these kids was to feed them.

…

When we finished talking to Jake, Sue and Old Quil bundled back up and we got ready to head over to speak with Sam. Normally we would have talked to the Alpha and Beta together, but the strain in the pack order had convinced us to do it separately. Besides, it was always nice to visit Emily. If we were lucky she may have just pulled something from the oven.

"We'll warm up the car for you, Billy. Come on out when you're ready." They huddled under Sue's umbrella to the car, then the screen door slapped closed before Jake closed the house door. He looked spent.

"You alright, son?"

He joined me back in the kitchen and picked up his bag, shuffling around with some papers. "I'm okay, just a tough day. Quil and Embry had to leave in second period, and I'm not sure if Seth or Leah even made it through first." He pulled out a few pages and straightened them on the table, the damp edges wrinkling despite his efforts to flatten them.

"I stopped at the principal's office. I need your signature. Please."

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Bella POV

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Jake came by right on time Wednesday night- which is to say, right as I pulled cookies out of the oven. He wasn't even in the door and his nose was twitching.

"So, did you smell these from home, or did you notice them in the driveway?" I opened my arms for his hug and wasn't disappointed. I needed a good dose of his sunshine after the night and day I'd had.

"Hey, baby. Is that what you think of me? That I'm in it for the cookies?" He snuggled me close, but I could feel him eyeing the cooling sheets over my head.

"Aren't you?" I poked him in the side, jamming my finger.

"Of course not." He slid out of my hold and grabbed a warm cookie, still gooey with melted chocolate. "Got milk?"

I hugged him from behind. "Thief. I'll tell the Chief on you."

"Fine. We'll both end up in jail because you stole my heart," Jake shook his head with mock regret.

I gave a little groan, "God, we're disgusting, aren't we?" I muttered, resting my forehead on his back. His skin warmed my face and I could feel my rattled nerves ease, though the underlying tension remained.

"A little. But," he gave a half smile and took another cookie, "after today I needed that. And this," He turned around and leaned his weight on the counter, legs angled out so I could stand between them nearly eye-to-eye with him. After a hasty swipe at his mouth to remove a few crumbs, he leaned down to give me a brief, but thorough, kiss. Then another, more leisurely, one.

"You're trying to distract me," I accused, breathlessly. "What happened? Did you find …more?" I couldn't stop the quiver in my voice.

"No, still clear since Saturday, but school was bad, and I talked with the Elders." He sighed. "They wanted to talk to me about the next…meeting."

I froze. "You mean, about the treaty?" He just nodded. "When?" I managed to whisper out.

"Tomorrow night." He said softly, and then he gently wrapped his arms around me. "He asked about you…Dr. Cullen. At the last meeting. He wanted to know how you were."

At the mention of Carlisle I felt weak. I didn't want to cry, and I wasn't angry. It was like my bones just lost their strength for a second and Jake held me up for that moment before I could bear my weight again.

"What did you say?"

"I said you were better. Then I kinda mouthed off, but it went well." There was a twinkle in Jake's eyes.

"I bet." The image of him smarting off to a three hundred year old vampire was pretty hilarious- insane, but hilarious. "What is the meeting about? Can you tell me?"

The twinkle left his eyes and he grew serious. "We're updating the treaty to cover changes in both parties. They, um, have a new signee, and I'm replacing my dad for our side. Then we have to discuss the current…threats to our territories." I wished I could laugh, just to make it less real, but the deep furrow in his forehead said it was no joke.

"This isn't a dream, is it?" I breathed as I leaned my head against his chest. "We aren't going to wake up and be making mud pies in the sun tomorrow?"

He was quiet and stroked his hand down my back, then tilted my face back with the other and kissed me. "No, it's not a dream." He kissed my cheek, my jaw, and when I tilted my head back he glided his lips over my neck. "Not a dream. Way better than mud pies."

I smiled at his lazy grin, but saw that the clock had flipped to five-o-clock, and I drew back. "I need to start dinner." Once I started fussing around the kitchen I could feel my chest tighten, my mind wandering over plans I had made with the family that Jake was now aware of, plans that would have taken me very far from where I was now.

I pulled out pots and pans, and began to get out the groceries my dad had brought and, as I began to mindlessly chop and slice, I imagined decades of school, learning, travel, and being surrounded by a tight-knit family that always had an answer, sometimes even before you knew the question.

I looked back and saw the frown on Jake's face.

"Are you okay?"

I dropped my eyes down to see my hands at work, and remembered that if that future was still mine, I would never do such a mundane but useful thing again. I really did like my life, aches and all, as long as Jake was in it.

"Bella?" I heard him moving around behind me.

I stopped and set my things on the counter, an errant potato rolling out of a bag. "Jake, it wasn't all that long ago that I had some very different expectations about my future. My life cracked, and what was left you took and helped put back together." I turned around and faced him, his huge frame standing up straight. "I know we aren't normal, and we never will be, and I'm not sure I would even know how to try anymore."

I walked to him and took his hand, lacing my fingers with his. "I'm scared you'll get hurt. I'm scared for the rest of the pack, and I'm even worried that something will happen to the Cullens, despite how they treated me. I'd do anything to make it easier, to make it go away."

Jake just leaned his head down and kissed my forehead. "I love you, Bells." There wasn't much else he could say.

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John and Andy were glad to see Jake again, remarking that being sick seemed to agree with him, as he was bigger when they last saw him. Drew told him how glad he was that he was better, and that my dad had clearly been worried about him, but the look on his face was one of curiosity and measurement.

"I don't know what they feed them in La Push, but I need to get some for my sons! Not one over six foot yet!" Andy teased.

"Salmon. Lots and lots of salmon." Jake replied with a grimace.

Dinner was friendly and Dad actually seemed like he was looking forward to his trip. He kept looking at me as if to ask if it was all right with me, and by the third time I simply rolled my eyes at him. I had done laundry and he had everything he needed for the trip, he just had to pack the bags. My bags were halfway packed and I had plans to meet Jake in the parking lot of Forks High after school. I laughed as he and Charlie discussed it like it was a security operation, but the other cops nodded their approval,like it was their idea, too.

After I served dessert and Jake and I laid our books out on the table, Drew came into the kitchen to take the coffee pot back to the living room. John, Andy and my dad were in there discussing the car, the trip, and their plans for the weekend. They were murmuring and I craned my neck to sneak a glance and saw my dad rubbing his side again.

Drew smiled at Jake, the same odd look on his face making Jake shift in his seat a little. He made the rounds with the coffee and came back in, setting the pot back.

"You know Bella, your dad's a really great guy. Good cop."

"Thanks. He's a pretty good dad, too." Drew stood there like he had more to say. "Is something on your mind?"

"He says his deputy is worried about his wife. None of her family is around here. I just…never mind, Bella. Hey, dessert is really great, thanks." He gave Jake a wink. "Good on you, man."

Jake gave him an awkward wave as he walked back into the living room. He turned to me and nudged my arm to make me look up from my homework.

"What the hell was all that about?" He wondered.

I shrugged. "Lot of stress, maybe? Dad says he's been caught in the middle in his department over all this."

"No, not that. He looked at me kind of funny." Jake shook it off and went back to distracting me from my work. "Hey, I got your room ready today. Hope you like the bell pull."

…

I tried not to cry as my dad slung his bags into the cruiser Thursday morning. Part of me was proud that he was visiting friends, having a normal life like a normal man. He and Renee had me when they were barely out of high school, so my dad was on the young side for having a nearly adult daughter; it wasn't fair that he acted like he was sixty, and he certainly looked older than he was. I probably hadn't helped that.

"Bells, just remember what I said, keep your cellphone charged all the time, and don't be afraid to use it. I upped your plan so you've got unlimited use now. You've got the numbers for Andy and John, and Steve is programmed in your phone, too, if you can't reach me."

I handed him his briefcase and he set it in the front seat next to the brown accordion filer. "I'll try not to call Steve, I bet he wants to keep his line open for his wife!"

"If you need him, you call. They can handle tying up the phone for three minutes." Charlie surveyed the contents of the car one last time and went to do a walk through of the house and came back out with an envelope.

"Bells, give this to Billy tonight when you get to La Push. It's all my contact information, numbers in Seattle, and some paperwork for him." He looked grim.

"I thought he had all your numbers, and what paperwork?" I asked, suddenly curious.

"Uh, it's the SPD numbers, too." He stated, ignoring my question. "Now, don't forget to wait for Jake after school. I doubt he'll run late, but just in case, wait. Then you'll swing by here for your bags and then head out." He walked over to my truck and opened the door. "I'm going to follow you into town, then head to the station to meet John and Andy. We'll leave in a few hours. If you think of anything-"

"I know, Dad. I'll call you." I rolled my eyes teasingly, almost knocking loose my tears. He gave me a defeated smile and hugged me.

"I don't think I could have left you here a month ago. I would have worried too much." He let go of me and patted my back. I tossed my bag into my truck and climbed in after it.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Just have a nice trip, and say hi to John and Andy for me." He closed the door with a bang, and then tapped on the window. I rolled it down.

"I love you, Bells. Be safe."

"I love you, too." The rain started up and he hustled over to his car and we pulled out onto the road. As I turned into the school's parking lot we waved to each other. His cruiser slowed way down as he passed by. I watched as the car's outline blurred, and then disappeared in the misting rain.

…

"Okay, folks. Tomorrow is the review for the immune system and a quick introduction to our next topic, metabolism." Mr. Banner wrapped up the discussion and I flipped through my notes, marking the entries.

"Oh my God, Bella. How many pages of notes did you take?" Angela eyed my crammed writing.

"Um…like ten pages?" I stretched to loosen my cramped upper body but my sore arm and shoulder gave me a little jolt. I coughed to cover it up and loaded my things into my bag, careful not to crush the envelope my dad had given me.

Mike puffed out a deep breath. "Wow. You planning on being an immunologist?"

I rolled my eyes. "No. I just thought it was interesting." I pulled out an apple and we headed to the cafeteria. We settled into our usual chairs and soon the chatter began.

"You guys have weekend plans yet?" Lauren glanced around the table at everyone but me.

Mike spoke first. "Not really, I'm working most shifts this weekend. My Mom gave most the work to old employees over the break and I'm playing catch-up now!" Everyone laughed. Mrs. Newton might be a momma bear, but she gave her son no breaks when it came to his job.

"My folks don't really want me going out right now," Jessica began. "They're getting nervous about the crime thing." She shivered and Mike handed her his sweatshirt. "Does your dad know anything about that stuff, Bella?" Her voice was muffled as she pulled it over her head.

"Some. He's in charge of taking that car back up to Seattle." I leaned toward Jessica. "At least your folks haven't had you under house arrest. He's been afraid to let me go anywhere alone."

"Wait, he's going to Seattle right? What are you doing while he's away?" Mike asked between bites, his arms folded against the damp now that he'd relinquished his sweatshirt.

"I'm staying at La Push with Jake and his dad." Mike's eyes popped wide and he looked down. Jessica's eyebrows only rose slightly. "My dad made arrangements a couple days ago. He didn't want me staying alone over the weekend."

"Oh, that makes sense." Jessica said. Lauren and Tyler gave the "yeah, right" look again and I just shrugged. They could think what they wanted to think.

…

The text message from John came during fifth period. I had to laugh because I realized my dad didn't know how to use his phone very well, but I sent a quick one back under the disapproving watch of my teacher, even though I'd told her I might get an important message from him before class started.

Once the last bells rang, I lifted my bag up and headed for the doors as soon I could. Jessica waved goodbye and I walked out into the mist that had hung in the air all day. I scanned the parking lot and smiled.

Jake was leaning up against my truck watching the doors and spotted me right away. The chatter around me got quiet as he strode up to me and took my bag, bent over and kissed my cheek.

"Hey Bells. Ready to go?" A small knot of my classmates had stopped walking to their cars in favor of watching us. It must have been a spectacle because they had only ever seen me with Edward and his rarified style. Jacob could not have been more different.

"Yep. Can we put the bags in your car? I don't want them to get wet in the back of my truck."

"Sure, good idea." He took my heavy book bag and slung it on his shoulder like it weighed nothing.

Our audience had thickened and we could have sold tickets for rubbernecking. My face went hot but Jake just flashed a winning grin at them all and held my hand. He kissed my cheek as he helped me into the truck and I couldn't help but notice that the group was still watching.

As Jake started to lean back to close the door, I grabbed him and pulled him in for a real kiss. He let out a little 'oomph!' of surprise and I felt his lips soften against mine, parting only the tiniest amount before he pulled back to whisper to me.

"That was a much better hello! For a minute there, I was afraid you were…ashamed of me, Bells." He smiled and kissed me lightly, but his eyes were mildly questioning.

"Oh, Jake, no! I just…don't like them watching like we're some side show. I can be with who I want and now they know it."

Jake chuckled and leaned in, his voice rumbling by my ear. "I think, baby, you made that point very clear. Look."

I turned and the crowd was opening gaping at us-at me. As soon as my eyes scanned theirs they all suddenly had to check their watches and hunt in pockets for keys. I fought my normal inclination to hide and waved at Lauren and Tyler with a brilliant smile as I fired up the engine. Jake followed me out of the parking lot and we headed to my house to grab my duffel bags.

Jake walked around the house before he let me get out of the truck, then opened the door for me to hop out.

I was going to crack a joke about there being an 'all clear' sign, but Jake was fairly intense and watched the tree line around the house, waiting for me to bring out my bags. He loaded them swiftly into his trunk and helped me back into the truck with the one bag I carried with me. Before I knew it, we were halfway to La Push when I realized that he had been completely serious when he told my dad that he would take care of me.

Billy greeted us at the door, bright with the same smile Jake wore.

"Come on in, Bella!" He wheeled back to let us in, shutting the door behind Jake. "Everything go okay?" The question was not directed at me.

"All good." Jake responded, taking my jacket and my bags down the hallway. As soon as Jake was down the hall, I reached into the bag I carried in and pulled out a sealed freezer bag of cookies. Billy gave me a conspiratorial smile and took the bag. He opened it very carefully and glanced down the hall where Jake was shuffling around, reached in and drew out a cookie. I giggled, realizing his game.

It suddenly got quiet down the hall then-

"Hey! I smell cookies!" Jake came barreling down the hall at me and I started laughing. "You said they were gone yesterday!" He trapped me against the wall and tickled me, my breath coming in desperate spurts in between my tortured pleas.

Billy chuckled at us and gleefully ate a second cookie. Jake let go of me and headed over to Billy. "Alright, I've been cheated out of sweets. Hand them over." Billy gave the bag up without a fight and Jake offered it to me before taking any. I took one, and went to the fridge to find some milk.

The shelves were nearly empty.

"Um, Jake?" I rubbed my chin in worry and pondered dinner.

"Yeah? Whatcha looking for…oh." He came up behind me and bent over so we were both peering into the empty space. "Why don't you write up a list and I can make a quick grocery run." He said softly.

"Only if you let me give you some money for it; Charlie gave me cash before he left. Deal?"

He considered, but probably knew he had to agree. "Deal."

Jake left as soon as I made the list, but only when Billy promised to leave at least a dozen cookies. When I heard the Rabbit drive away I grabbed my bag and showed Billy what I was still hiding. I pulled out the envelope for Billy, too.

"Oh, does that mean I can have more, then?" He asked as he poked the second bagful of my chocolate chip specials. I left the bag on the counter and sat, dunking my cookie in my glass of milk, watching a few crumbs break off and float. "Sure, sure." I teased, and handed Billy the envelope along with another cookie while I let mine get soggy. He grimaced a little as he took it, but winked at me as bit the cookie and tucked the envelope into a kitchen drawer.

He swirled his remaining milk and swallowed it down, setting the glass down with a little 'thunk'. "You know Jake has an appointment tonight, right?" His keen gaze settled on me.

He had mentioned it the day before. I swallowed hard. "Yes. The treaty, right?"

"Right. And he told you who is involved? And why?"

My fingers tapped and the movement caused an achy shiver from my scarred hand to my neck. Billy's eyes narrowed but he waited for me to respond. "Yes. Jake told me." I sounded a little gravelly, but I refused to show how much I was affected by it- the arm or the meeting.

Billy assessed me, leaning back. "Then you realize-"

I bent my head low, waiting for something, berating or some kind of embarrassing talk. Maybe a reminder of how noble it all was or to be very careful with Jake because he had so many responsibilities now. I braced myself.

"-realize he'll be home very late, and I'd prefer you didn't have to cook your first night in my home. You're a guest, not a hired maid. You remember what kind of pizza we ordered last time?" Billy was looking at me with a perfectly open and earnest face, phone in hand. "We can ask for an early delivery time and surprise Jake when he gets back?"

The rush of gratitude shot through me and I stood and wrapped my arms around Billy. He sat up and hugged me back. My face was hot and I realized I was crying silently. Billy's arms were strong, like any father's, and he held me until I was ready to let go of him. When I did, I saw that his eyes were red, too.

…

While Jake was gone, Billy and I found some understanding and common ground. He seemed torn about how much to involve himself with Jake's burdens and I recognized his struggle as the same one that my dad had gone through. I guess every parent does, but being single fathers, I suppose they had it worse than most.

I went to the room where Jake had set my bags and hung a few things up in the crammed closet. There was barely room for my few hangers, most of the space was occupied by a large organizer with clear drawers full of tiny tools and bits of wood, wire, leather cord and other things. On its top were three rolls made of leather. I peeked inside one and saw delicate tools settled side by side, held in place by loops.

I smiled and wondered which set of tools Jake had used to make the carved wolf.

Jake returned and we unloaded the groceries. He wasn't teasing and laughing like when he left and he kept watching out the windows as if he was evaluating the sky. The pizza arrived and, as I watched Jake pay for it, Billy leaned and said "He's waiting for sundown. The meetings happen just after." I flicked my gaze from Billy and back to Jake, unable to shake the feeling that time was starting to change its cadence.

We ate, chatting about nothing relevant though the gorilla in the room was at the table with us. Jake sat very close to me, occasionally nudging me with an elbow or squeezing my knee under the table and whispering that everything was okay, it was just another meeting. He knew all along what was bothering me.

There was a knock at the door just as the gray light became tinged with blue. Jake stood when Sam walked in and they each drank a glass of water. Sam raided what was left of the pizza while Jake hugged Billy, then kneeled next to me.

"I'll be back before you know it. You'll hardly even know I was gone."

I frowned. "I wish it wasn't you. I wish you didn't have to go." Sam made a choking noise and glared at me a little. Jake rumbled a low growl back. Billy said nothing, but watched with raised eyebrows.

"It has to be me. Go to bed early and I promise I'll wake you and let you know I'm back."

"Promise?"

He took my hand and put it over his chest. "Cross my heart."

I kissed him.

Sam cleared his throat and Jake stood. His face went from being soft and apologetic to hardened and grim. He and Sam met by the door and pulled off their t shirts, leaving them in just their tattered shorts. Sam inclined his head to the table. "Billy, Bella." He headed out the door and into the twilight.

Jake looked back at us, his hand on the doorknob. He took a deep breath and smiled...my smile.

"I love you."

He slipped out the door and closed it before Billy and I repeated the words back to him in unison. I slumped in my chair, sad that I hadn't gotten to see his face light up the way it did whenever he heard those words from me.

Billy chuckled very softly and leaned over to pat my arm. "Don't worry, honey. He's got great hearing. I'm sure he heard you."

You've been very patient with me... you will be rewarded. Transition chapters annoy me to no end, but things have to get done, and I said I had to gather the plot bunnies back together after chapter 15. They are harnessed and ready to go (Yes, I harness my plot bunnies. Doesn't everyone?)

Thank you so much for reading... things will move quite a bit quicker now that we got this out of the way!

sfiddy