This chapter is dedicated to Oracle Vas. She will let me ramble about my problems when writing this fic until 3am. She will spend hours trying to help me comb through knots in my plot. She's awesome, and without her the story would not be as good. Love you, Ducky!

I woke the next morning because Silas started shaking me. The very moment my eyes were half-open he demanded, "Guess what?"

I rubbed the sleepy haze away from my eyes and played along. "You ate some sugar cubes for breakfast?"

It would explain why he woke me up at eight in the morning, when he had stayed up until one.

Silas shook his head, and announced excitedly, "Uncle Edward is here! He said he'd play Dominos with me and Embry later."

I sat up; surprised to find both Edward and Paul were in the room with us. Paul was sitting at the foot of the bed on the floor, looking tense and displaying an outwardly hostile shell. Edward sat on top of the dresser in the corner, looking annoyingly relaxed. He was staring unblinkingly at Paul. The un-natural state of calm seemed to make Paul more wound up then usual, which was probably Edward's intention.

"Paul," I brought attention onto myself, "What are you doing in here?"

Had he been in here all night? I talk in my sleep, so I would certainty hope not!

Without looking at me Paul answered, "Guarding you."

I rolled my eyes, but otherwise ignored the topic. I was, however, slightly curious to where Embry was. He was my bodyguard, wasn't he?

Edward pointed out, "She doesn't need guarding. She's safer with me then any of you."

Paul- if it was even possible- seemed to bristle even more. He demanded angrily, "What makes you think she's not safe with us? We don't survive by drink-"

Edward threw Jacob's alarm clock at Paul and it broke as it cracked into his shoulder. A growl bubbled out of Paul's throat, but Edward ignored it. His eyes flashed and he hissed, "Not with Silas here."

Paul sprang to his feet angrily. Before I saw him move, Edward was standing not five whole inches away from Paul. A low, sinister snarl emitted from the vampire. Silas's eyes widened and he pressed himself against me.

Paul tensed up in surprise. He sounded uncharacteristically small when he pointed out, "T-that's not two feet away."

Edward's straining fists made it clear he was fighting back his temper. I felt a shiver run across my body when he snarled quietly, "I think it's time for you to leave, Paul, so Bella can get dressed."

Paul never was one to stand down from a challenge, but it was pretty clear Edward had intimidated him. He hastily backed towards the door and grumbled, "I'll go start breakfast." He eyed Edward warily before closing the door and ambling to the kitchen.

I asked hesitantly, not sure I really wanted to know, "What was that about?"

Edward shrugged, his eyes just a little too innocent. "Nothing important."

I didn't believe him at all, but I didn't bother asking questions. If he wasn't going to tell me- he wasn't going to tell me. He hovered outside of the door as I changed my clothes and got Silas dressed.

Silas struggled into his shirt, then asked me, "Mama, why is Uncle Edward back? I thought you said he had to leave with daddy."

I halted what I was doing. My entire body, and mind, just froze. He just called Jasper...

I glanced over my shoulder, meeting his wide and curious eyes. I insisted, "Jacob is your daddy, Silas."

He shuffled his foot and started playing with the hem of his shirt. Lowering his eyes he asked sadly, "What if I don't want him to be, mama? What if... I miss my real daddy? Is he back, too?"

I led Silas over to the bed and sat down with him. I asked, shocked, "I thought you liked Jacob, baby? What made you change your mind?"

He shrugged a little, and his eyes started watering. "You asked if I wanted a new daddy. You never said I could have my old one back."

Well that was great! Really, it was wonderful that Silas missed Jasper just like I did. My heart had fully broken away from Jacob- in the romantic sense at any rate. If Silas wanted Jasper back in our lives as well, everything was just that much easier.

It was going to hurt to convince Jacob this was for the best, but I knew he would try his hardest to understand. I knew he would try to accept this decision. Being a werewolf, he knows a thing or two about just knowing what the heart needs. Mine needs Jasper, and apparently so does Silas's.

I hugged my son and promised him, "You can have whoever you want, Silas. Just tell me what you want." I would get Silas the moon if he needed it. If something told him it was Jacob that should be in his life, then I would find a way to make that work. But, if he really did want Jasper, then he could have him.

Silas looked up at me, looking worried. "Could we still come see Jake, mama? We can't just leave him like daddy left us. It'll hurt him- just like it hurt us."

I felt tears prickling at my eyes. My poor little guy. No child his age, barely into his fifth year of life, should be able to conjure logic like that. His entire world should be about laughter, and Skittles, and smiling. But, instead, he was worrying about things that shouldn't even cross his mind for at least another five years.

Silas suddenly looked alarmed. "Mama, why are you sad?"

I smiled at him, and for once it was a real smile. "Don't worry, Silas. Daddy is never going to hurt us again, okay? He is back, and he's here forever."

He shook his head, "Embry says there's no such thing as 'forever'."

"Embry is wrong." I insisted. Silas smiled and nodded acceptingly. I set him back onto the floor and smiled back. "Let's go see what Paul is making for breakfast."

Embry and Quil returned to the house shortly before noon. Quil was a lot bigger then last time. He was about Carlisle's height now, and only a little less in bulk then Emmett.

We were all in the living room when they arrived. Edward was sitting right beside me, and Silas was in his lap listening to the stories he had to tell about the airplanes he picked out in Russia. Silas found it just spectacular that Edward once wanted to be a flyboy.

Paul was pacing the room irritably until the door opened. He glued himself to Embry's side the moment the two boys entered the house. A brief exchange was whispered, and several dark looks were exchanged between the three wolves and Edward. After a moment, the brief exchange ended.

Silas demanded Edward's attention, and he got it. Paul went upstairs, and Quil sat on the couch on the opposite side of the room. He smiled at me, and I smiled back.

Embry sat beside me. I asked, "Where's Jacob?"

The pack's new beta frowned at me. "Something really unexpected happened last night. Something totally unexpected, actually."

"What?" I asked warily. Jacob wasn't hurt was he?

He seemed to read my mind. "He's fine. He'll be here really soon. With… the other pack members."

I felt my body shock with surprise. The other pack members? What other pack members? He had only said Quil…

Embry explained, "Leah and Seth Clearwater turned last night as well."

Silas beamed. "Seth's a wolf, too? Cool!"

Edward asked Silas, "Who is Seth?"

Silas glanced at his uncle and smiled. Just as Silas began a memory-transfer, the door swung open. Able to concentrate on more then one thing, Edward's eyes snapped up to meet Jacob's as he entered the house with the Clearwater kids.

Leah looked a lot different from last time I saw her. She was taller, and had very toned muscles. Unlike usual, she didn't look unhappy. Her infamous half-frown and sad eyes were gone. She was practically beaming.

Seth was quite tall, an inch or two more then Paul even. He did look considerably stronger, as a boy his age didn't have much muscle to him to start with, but he was definitely the smallest in the back.

Jacob glanced at me, but his smile looked a little forced. He asked, "Can I talk to you, Bella?"

He nodded towards the less crowded kitchen. I went over to his side and agreed, "Sure."

Edward frowned when Silas bounced over to Seth's side. He glanced at me in worry, looking torn between staying with Silas, or coming with me.

There was no way I would let Silas be alone with three new werewolves. As I headed towards the kitchen I ordered Edward, "Stay in here."

I wandered into the kitchen, and Jacob joined me a moment later. He gently pulled me over to the back door, making us as far away from the pack as possible without going upstairs. Jacob's eyes were brimming with anxiety and confusion.

I sensed that today it was my turn to help him. I wrapped my arms around him and set my head on his chest, looking up. I asked softly, "Jake, what's the matter?"

He asked me, "Bella, where are we at now that the leech is back?" The house fell almost completely silent. Embry hastily distracted the pack by asking who wanted to watch a movie.

I felt my heart starting to thump again. I knew this talk was coming, but I wish it didn't have to happen. I wish that Jacob could just understand that he wasn't right for me. But how could he? He can't read minds- I had to tell him that. I had to make him understand that I didn't need a lover.

What I did need from him was a mystery to even myself.

Jacob didn't like my hesitation. He suddenly looked very tender and he whispered reassuringly, "You can tell me, Bella. I want to know what you want from me." His eyes flashed with worry and he half-whined, "I need to know if you still want me at all."

I took a second- or more- to collect the thoughts that swam in my head all night. I had decided exactly what I wanted him to hear. "Jacob, I will always want you in my life. I had thought that you were the one for me, but I was wrong. You don't know how sorry I am that I gave us such a false hope. Jasper is the one I need to be with."

I paused, hoping he wasn't too upset. He just nodded for me to go on.

I sighed a little. "A part of me will never stop loving you, Jacob, but not in the way you're hoping for."

Jacob asked me, "But you'll never not want me around, right? I'm still your Jacob?"

I was surprised to see him look so terrified as he waited for an answer. Why was he so afraid? Did he really think I could just cast him aside? He had done so much for me, more then I could ever properly thank him for. I'd never take that for granted and pretend we were not closer then any friends ever could be.

I promised whole-hearted, "You'll always be my Jacob."

Relief washed over him. His body relaxed and he smiled a little bit. His eyes, too, looked less troubled. I asked curiously, "What makes you ask? I thought you of all people already knew that."

Jacob shifted uncomfortably and sighed. "Bells, I need to tell you something. Something… strange happened last night."

I recalled how fidgety Embry seemed talking about the topic of 'last night', and honestly was not surprised. I asked, "What is it?"

He grimaced. "Leah imprinted on me."

Today I recommend the story Midnight's Horizon written by The Lamb Loves The Lion. It's a Jasper/Alice fic. It's sort of an AU twist of the actual book Twilight. It rocks.