Disclaimer: Again, I don't own Twilight

Disclaimer: Again, I don't own Twilight.

A/N: I'm sorry this chapter might not be particularly interesting. But I promise it'll get better!

Alteration

"A half truth is a whole lie."

- Yiddish Proverb

Should I tell her about the bloodsucker? The one who had caused this atrocity for her? I decided against it. It might have been wrong, selfish, and maybe even immoral, but I wanted to reshape her life; reshape it into something that she could rely on. I would make her happier than the bloodsucker ever could. I might not be normal, but I was at least still human.

So when she asked who he was, I replied, "It's no one you should worry about, Bells." A crease appeared on her forehead, signaling that she didn't believe me. So I continued, "It's better that you don't know, anyway. He caused a lot of grief and he's never coming back to hurt anyone." Her facial expression softened, but she was still unsure. I would have to try harder to make her believe me but first, I had to get her home to Charlie.

Charlie took it better than we both thought he would. He told her that everything would be explained tomorrow and that she need not worry about anything but her own health.

Upstairs in Bella's room, she seemed restless.

"I'm really not tired anymore, Jacob. I want to know what's going on! I want to- oh dammit!" Her ranting caused her to lose concentration on where she was walking so she tripped over a sock on the floor and fell backwards onto her bed. I'm not even sure how that happened but being as clumsy as she was, any klutzy situation was possible. I tried to control it but I couldn't help it. I busted out laughing because of how clumsy she was; how clumsy my Bella was. I had to admit, that sounded really good; like music to my werewolf ears.

She pouted. "It's not funny! I don't remember being this clumsy."

My laughter subdued before I could say to her, "That's 'cause you don't remember much but I promise tomorrow, after you've gotten your rest, I'll tell you everything."

"But I'm not tired." She complained. She looked like a little kid but still, she was adorable. Tomorrow, she would be mine at last. Cullen would cease to exist in her memory and I would be the one to keep her safe in my arms. At that thought, I smiled involuntarily. "Why are you smiling?" She asked in a softer tone.

"Because I'm here with you, Bells." It was the truth. She grinned too. "Now please, get some rest."

She sighed. "Fine."

After she got herself in a comfortable position, I kissed her gently on the forehead. "'Night, Bella."

Panic flashed in her eyes. "You're not leaving are you?" She looked so vulnerable and afraid of the unfamiliar.

"Just temporarily. But I won't be far."

"Don't leave." Her eyes pleaded me to stay. Relief washed over her when I came over to her. She scooted over to give me room. Holding her in my arms felt so right.

"Jacob, can I talk to you?" Charlie whispered to me when he entered Bella's room quietly. Bella had already fallen asleep and was breathing deeply against my chest. I nodded and extricated myself gently from her body.

We went downstairs so that she wouldn't wake. "What did you want to talk about?"

"About.. what you're going to tell her." He waited before saying, "I want what's best for her and I don't want her to remember him." He growled. "I don't want her to remember the man who reduced her to a shell of a person."

"My thoughts exactly." I stated. "I was thinking about telling her that I was her.. boyfriend. I mean I would tell her about everything else, but I would alter some of it so that he would never exist in her memory."

Charlie's eyes brightened at that idea. "I think that's brilliant. You could give her the life he never could." I nodded curtly. She deserved the best love someone could possibly give her. "Well, you better get back to her before she realizes you left."

"No fatherly talk?"

He chuckled. "You're a good kid. I don't think it's necessary."

I grinned before going back to her. She was curled up in a ball, mumbling something to herself. I wondered what she could have been dreaming about.

"Ridiculous.. male model.. unusual." She flipped her body to the other side. I frowned. It sounded like she was talking about the bloodsucker. So maybe he still did exist in her subconscious.

Not after tomorrow. Tomorrow, it would be like he never existed at all.