Hello my fellow fanfiction-ers! And Team Jacob-ers! This isn't my favorite chapter, it's fairly boring, but the next chapter will be when Bella goes back to school, so that should be fairly interesting. Also, would you like another Jacob chapter? I need to know! AANNDD- please go read my other story, if you haven't already! And, lastly, please give me some ideas about things you would like to see in this story.

Chapter 13- Realization

BPOV

A surprise birthday party to celebrate my arrival from the hospital? That was a new one. The crowd waited for me to speak, but my mouth was dropped.

"I…you…me…a party?" I stuttered out the words, a smile falling onto my wounded face. But I knew it would fade. I wanted my Jacob. I was about to ask where he was when cold arms wrapped around my waist and lifted me into the air.

"Bella, I've missed tormenting you!" Emmett's deep voice rumbled through me and I laughed into the comforting atmosphere. It felt semi normal.

"I've missed you too, Emmett." He set me down and his arms instantly went to Rosalie, his companion for life.

"Bella," She gestured towards me and nodded, as if greeting me. I nodded back and looked back into the great crowd full of friends. My face erupted in an ear-to-ear grin, and I ran to hug Emily, who was looking quite happy that she could see me.

"You look well, Bella." She said quietly to me as she hugged me, and I laughed.

"Right, because bandages are so in right now." I tried to make a joke, but realized my mistake there.

"I didn't mean-"

"It's fine. I'm fine. Don't worry about it." She held onto her stomach, and he face told me she had broken the news to Sam.

"How did he take it?"

"He's actually pretty excited. I told him yesterday, once I was sure. But he's kind of scared, too." She smiled and looked at her man, who was talking with Charlie.

"I can understand that." She turned, ending to conversation, and I did the same. I searched with my eyes for someone else to speak with, and say Embry walking towards me with determination on his face. When he reached me, I waited for him to say something, but he slipped a piece of paper in my hand and stalked off.

Confused, I brought it to my face and unfolded to worn paper. Making sure no one was looking over my shoulder, I started to read.

Bella-

Meet me outside.

-Jake

Without saying a word, I went to the back door and slipped out, hoping no one noticed for a few minutes. My breathing hitched as I realized he wasn't standing out there. Was this a joke? The rain was still pouring, and I was getting soaked waiting on someone who wasn't there.

"Jacob Black, if you're out here, I'm waiting." I called out into the silence. The rain was falling on the leaves of every tree, and the droplets were ice on my skin, though it was May.

Drip, drip, drip.

The rain fell on the gutter next to house, making a slight tang every time it hit. I looked up, letting the rain soak the white covering that wrapped my face. My eyes shut, and I exhaled loudly, walking away from the house. I went to the middle of the backyard and stood, letting the sheets of rain pound my body, going all the way through my shorts and shirt.

"Jacob…" I whispered, listening. Nothing. Not a single voice to reply to my pleas. Just the aching sound of the trees swaying in the wind, the rain mixing with it; like a song, it filled my ears, my head.

"Bella?" A sweet, soft voice came from behind me. I didn't turn.

"Edward," I held my hands out in front of me, allowing my palms to soak.

"Are you cold?" He was in front of me in a flash, and though my eyes were closed, I could see his face in my mind.

"Yes, a little, but I can't go in."

"Jacob's out here. He's watching you." I opened my eyes quickly, staring into gold ones.

"Why won't he come talk to me?" I knew Edward was reading Jacob's mind, letting me know what he was thinking.

"He's afraid."

"Where is he?" I dropped my hands, and then put them to my wounded face. Edward didn't answer, but went around me. I heard the door shut and knew I was alone again.

But I wasn't alone.

"Bells," I could feel his heat, but I couldn't feel him. "Come here."

"Jake, I don't know where you are." I looked around, aware of the sopping gauze and tape on my face.

"Look up."

I did as I was told, and saw Jacob sitting above me in the trees, his eyes directed towards the sky.

"Can I come up there with you?" He looked at me, scanning my entire frame, searching for an answer. He sighed and jumped from the branch, despite the height. He held his hand out, and I took it gratefully. Jacob motioned for me to get on his back, and I wrapped my legs around his midsection, my arms locked around his neck. I rested my head on his warm back, the icy rain quickly turning into a tepid bath.

"Bells- open your eyes." I opened them again, to find myself sitting on a branch one higher than his, and he was looking up at me. I felt the right side of my mouth twitch upward, making a slight smile. He reached up and ran his hand down the good side of my face, stroking my cheek. I leaned into his palm and he stood on the branch, coming closer to me. I tilted my body forward and kissed his forehead, for my lips were still sore. He tried to kiss me, but I put my finger to his lips and gently pushed him away.

"Jacob, I was cuts on my lips. You can't kiss me." I played with the rough bark on the tree trunk, holding on to the branch I was sitting on.

"How am I going to survive without kissing you?" He ran a hand through his hair that now barely trickled over the edge of his ears, making it stick out before shaking it back into place.

"I don't know, Jacob. But we need to talk." I pushed my loose pieces of hair out of my face.

"I'm just confused and scared; for you. I'm afraid of hurting you, and I can't accept the fact that I-,"

"You left me."

"Yes, but only in the hospit-,"

"You left me. Alone. When I needed you the most. When I needed comfort over how ugly I am going to be, and that I am going to have to deal with the stares at school, and the questions, and when I just wanted a hand to hold, you left me." I spit the last few words on accident, and regretted saying them. But he hurt me.

"I know, Bella. I know I left, I know I'm a jerk. And Bella, you will never be ugly to me. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met. And I love you. The only reason I didn't stay at the hospital is so I could cool off and get myself together." I didn't reply, but let the silence tell him he needed to continue. "You have no idea. I love you so damn much, Bella. I love you so much it hurts to think that I did this to you. And I can't… I can't…" He stuttered, and his eyes watered. I reached down and took his face in both my hands.

"Oh, Jake! I love you too! Please don't cry! I'll do anything, if it will stop this guilt from making you not the same! You're acting like Edward would, and I don't like it!" I took his face in both of my hands and kissed his square on the lips, though the pain was blinding my mind. I moved my lips with his, knowing the cuts were screaming for me to stop. He must have sensed my pain, because he pulled away and smiled deeply, showing a row of teeth.

I didn't expect a smile. I expected shock, sadness, maybe even some anger. But he smiled. He smirked. Then he looked down. And I saw why.

Edward was standing underneath the tree, looking quite furious.

"Edward!" I cried, struggling to move off of the branch without realizing what I was doing. My vision swayed, and I fell forward, the ground coming closer fast. But before I could scream or even try to land on something besides my face, I was in Edward's arms, and he was holding me like I was a baby.

"Oh my God!" I gasped, trying to figure out what I had done to fall out of the tree. Then there were many feelings all over my body. Half of me was warm, half cold. I turned and looked at Jake, who was giving my ex vampire boyfriend a death stare.

"Give. Her. To. Me." He said through his teeth, trying to take me into his own arms. The rain continued to pour, and Edward laughed.

"You might want to watch your temper, Jacob. Although, I won't scar as easily as Isabella." He used my full name, and the look in his eyes told me he was reading Jacob's mind. I turned back to Jake. His face was hard, stern. Yet he looked miserable. He took his glare away from Edward and put it on me.

"Bella, would you like to go inside so we can get you changed into something dry and warm?" Emphasis on the warm part, he gripped my hand and my back lightly.

I nodded and attempted to get out of Edward's grasp. He stumbled back when I ran into Jacob's embrace, smashing my face into his bare chest. He was so very warm, and it humbled me.

"I'll be leaving now," Edward said to the ground, and then looked me in the eyes. "Bella, be careful. You've seen what can happen." I gasped and he ran into the trees, leaving no clue of his presence behind.

"Please take me inside." I clutched Jacob's shirt for dear life, my fingers thrashing to hold on tighter. He scooped my legs up and carried me the same way Edward had been; only his arms were more relaxed and comfortable.

"Where's Edward?" Alice questioned as Jake came in the back door, slamming it with his foot.

"He went into the woods," Jacob proceeded towards the steps. "Maybe he was hungry." I smiled a little at his smart comment, and closed my eyes. I could feel the eyes of the party on Jake and me, but I just wanted to be dry and with the guy I loved. He may get emotional, but I love him so much. Always will.

"Jake…?" I mumbled as he laid me down on my bed and walked over to my dresser.

"Yes?" He replied, opening my drawer and taking out some sweat pants and a t-shirt.

"Are you going to play Barbie with me?" I said under my breath, and he laughed. He tossed the clothes on my bed and reached to take the hem of my shirt in his hands.

"What are you-,"

"Shhh," Jacob whispered, and lifted my shirt, exposing my pale stomach. I smiled and watched him as he raised it up past my bra, eyeing me as he went along. I lifted my arms, waiting for him to take it off, but he put his mouth to my abdomen and kissed me lightly, trailing up to my chest. He kissed the valley there, and moved up my neck, and finally onto my cheek before stopping and pulling my shirt off all the way. I lay there, shirtless, and he stands back to look at me.

"What?" I laughed and covered my chest with my arms.

"Don't. You're beautiful." He took my arms and put them at my sides, his eyes sifting from my own to my exposed skin. He reached out and put his hot hand on me, and I shivered from the sudden change in temperature. Jacob then moved his hand to my jean shorts and unbuttoned them, showing the top of my simple black panties.

"Jake, there's a party I have to get back to…" I pleaded as he ogled at me.

"Sure, alright." He said as he peeled my shorts off and slipped the pants on, followed by the shirt. I smiled when he was done and pulled me up by my hands. I leaned into him and wrapped my arms around him, barely reaching all the way around.

"I love you." I whispered, and waited on his reply.

"I love you too, always." I closed my eyes and smiled, but they shot open when Jacob's body tensed around me. I peered out the slightly open window to hear a broken, dry sob from the woods. I could hear the heartbreak, and instantly felt my own heart call out to whoever was feeling pain.

Then I heard the smack of an icy, stone fist crash into a tree trunk, sending it down, and the mercy faded and returned with the feeling of fury and annoyance.

He should have realized.

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