Bella, jittery and anxious, sat up at three in the morning, playing chess with her husband.

"Check and mate." Edward's golden eyes shone with mirth as he watched Bella try to figure out what had just happened. But behind his teasing grin, Edward was worried about Bella. Usually she was out like a light by one at the latest. Not only was she up much later than usual, but she also appeared to be shaky and anxious. He knew better than to push the matter, but it was times like this that he would give anything to know what she was thinking about, as it was clearly not the game of chess at hand.

"Wait, Edward, how did you do that?" Bella had a helpless look on her face. Frustrated that she couldn't win at anything involving Edward, she gave up on the chess game entirely. This did not go unnoticed by Edward.

"Bella, what is it?" She sighed, not knowing whether or not to tell him anything. How could she? Her husband was the mortal enemy of the one person she needed so desperately to see. The one person who might just be able to help her with a decision she'd been grappling with for over 2 years. The one person who just happened to be at her father's house. How could she verbalize this to Edward?

"I just can't sleep, is all," she lied. Edward sighed, detecting the lie immediately. He might not be able to read her mind, but he at least could read her body. Bella was never one to hesitate before speaking, and Edward knew this well. Her lack of a filter and her determination to say whatever was on her mind had gotten her into trouble on more than one occasion. So as she hesitated now, Edward was certain that something was going on, and he didn't like it. He shot a sideways glance at Bella, who was fiddling with her bracelet, like she always did when she was thinking about Jac…that dog. Okay, so she's thinking about him again. Edward honestly hadn't expected Bella to pine over him for this long. He understood that he had been her best friend, and that she loved him. He understood that choosing him was the hardest thing Bella had ever had to do. He also had his own doubts that she had not made the right decision. He had been clear with her from the beginning that he was not good for her, and he had been adamantly against her becoming a vampire (at least she'd gained SOME sense and stopped pushing for him to change her!). But Bella hadn't seen the dog…Jacob…for years. He just assumed that time would have healed her by now. And what could have possibly happened to make her act so jumpy and apprehensive? After a moment or so of pondering, he decided that it would be best to drop the issue for the time being, and work on calming Bella down.

"My love, perhaps you should get some sleep? Come, my Isabella, let my lay here with you, and you can sleep" Edward reached his pale hand out to Bella, leading her to the bed. She shivered. Why were his hands (and the rest of him) always so cold? Usually she could bear it, but in the winter…well, he had taking to staying a fair distance away from her on these winter nights. She was tired of sleeping alone, and tired of always being so cold. She knew it was hard on Edward, not being able to be near her because of something he couldn't control. It frustrated him, being rendered incapable of keeping her warm. She knew this perfectly well, but she couldn't help it. She needed warmth. She shrugged away from his grasp.

"Edward, I'll be okay. I just can't sleep right now. I'll be fine. Just sit up with me for a while longer." Bella was practically twitching now, and Edward knew for sure that something was wrong. He just wished she would tell him what it was.

"Well, would you like me to make you some coffee? Or hot cocoa?" Edward added hopefully. The Cullens had become accustomed to having food around the house ever since Bella had moved in without being changed. Her survival needs were slightly different than the rest of the Cullens, and they were all too happy to cook for her at any time of the day. She usually preferred to cook for herself- it calmed her and was one thing that she could handle without nearly killing herself in the process- but cooking was a new and different activity for the Cullens, and they always enjoyed learning and testing new recipes on their one family member who could savor the tastes. Edward had become quite the connoisseur of hot drinks, and he liked to experiment with nutmeg, cinnamon, and other various spices which added a beautiful kick to the drink, according to Bella and sometimes Charlie, when he came over.

"Well, alright, I'll have some cocoa" Bella gave in, secretly excited to have a moment to herself (and a delicious hot liquid). Edward jumped up, glad to have something useful to do, and glided toward the kitchen.

Bella let her body relax as she sank lower into the cushions of Edward's rather ornate couch. Jacob is back Jacob is back Jacob my Jacob I have to see him Jacob is back oh help oh Jacob oh no Edward what will he say Jacob is back Try as she might, Bella could do nothing to silence her chaotic thoughts. She knew she had to see him, and she knew she couldn't keep this from Edward.

"Edward?" Bella's voice timidly rang out, causing Edward to freeze in the middle of adding cinnamon to Bella's cocoa. So she had decided to tell him what was bothering her. Wonderful.

"Yes, love?" Edward popped his head through the doorway, which was followed by the rest of him. He was holding a cup of hot liquid that smelled like heaven. Bella's breath caught in her chest. Why was he always so alluring? Fighting to break her eye contact with him, and grappling with how exactly she was going to tell Edward about her situation, Bella's voice came out in the weakest of whispers.

"He's back. Jacob." Edward's whole body stiffened. The mug of hot cocoa that Bella had been looking forward to sipping shattered, sending fragments of porcelain and hot liquid flying. Bella's eyes brimmed over with tears. Edward took notice of this immediately calmed himself down.

"Bella…Bella I'm sorry. I had no reason to lose control." He softly stroked her cheek with the back of his icy hand. "I know how much he means to you, and I cannot forbid you from seeing him." It pained him to say it. It pained him even knowing that the dog had come back. It pained him that Bella was even thinking about the dog. But he would be the bigger person. He knew how to play the game. Time to dazzle. He wrapped his arms around Bella, watching her cry. He rocked her, kissed her, held her until she fell asleep in his cold arms. He carried her to the bed and covered her with warm blankets. After watching her for a few moments, he decided to go for a run- he had to clear his mind.

As Edward went through the main living area of the Cullen house, Carlisle and Esme were there, having light conversation, and Rosalie was flipping through a magazine. Looking at him curiously, Edward only hissed, "The dog's back" before flying out of the house, leaving a rather worried and confused Esme, a concerned Carlisle, and Rosalie, her eyes shining with hope.

Bella tossed and turned for hours, dreading, fearing, and needing the morning to come. She knew tomorrow could possibly be deciding more than just the fate of a friendship. Tomorrow could be choosing between life and death. She slept poorly, haunted by twisted dreams of Jacob and Edward. Jacob calling for her, stretching out his beautiful warm hand, only to be abrubtly entombed in a cage of ice. Edward's magnificent smile, mocking him as he fought his way through it, fighting only for Bella. As Jacob finally managed to melt his way through the ice, Edward grew fangs, and he became the vampire of her nightmares; black cape, red eyes, sharp fangs-glistening with red blood. Wait, it wasn't just any blood, it was Jacob's blood. Jacob, lying on the floor in agony, in a pool of blood, weakly attempting to get up, but failing miserably. Edward hovered over the broken body of Jacob black, laughing maliciously before licking his lips.

Bella woke up screaming at nine in the morning, covered in sweat and tears. Edward was nowhere to be seen.