The wolf in front of her howled, waking her up from her dreams. Again, the sea and forest. But it was just a wolf this time. A lone one.

SLAM

Grace's heart pounded. He was awake. She glanced at the clock. Eleven PM. It was Saturday, and he had been out drinking meaning he would come home wanting sex.

Her door shook. Grace watched the padlock shake as he shook the door.

"GRACE!"

She put her head on her knees, watching the door and waiting. She refused every time he asked. When he tried to force her she had punched him. He left her alone, but kept pressing the issue. When he found out she had a padlock on her door, he was furious.

"Grace? Sweetie. Come on!" The door shook again. "All of my friend's girlfriends give it up! I could go to the bar and get some, but I don't want them sweetie. I want you."

She shook her head, refusing to answer. In one of his drunken episodes, before she got the lock on her door, he told her what he wanted. And in no way was she ever going to do that.

It was her decision, and everything was wrong with him. He had been pushing to date her for months when her parents died. Then, he tells her aunt that the packing will take a while and she promises to be fine. They agreed to this?

She no longer agreed to it.

Joy was her family. And from the letters, her dreams sounded like La Push.

"FINE! But listen to me closely GRACE. IF YOU EVEN THINK OF LEAVING ME, I WILL KILL THEM! Your AUNT, your COUSIN, and even that old guy! I WILL KILL THEM ALL IF YOU LEAVE ME!"

Her heart stopped. She couldn't stay, but couldn't let them be hurt.

Oh God, what was she going to do?

Jake ran towards the bakery. It was raining, as per usual in Forks, but Jake was focusing on the smells coming from the shop.

That and his imprint was inside.

He shook his head. Ever since Bella left three days ago, and the imprint, Jake had almost constant battling in his head.

Bella or Grace?

Grace or Bella?

Bella?

Grace?

B-Grace?

Jake ducked under the overhang on the front of the shop. He pulled the shirt from his shorts pocket and pulled it on. "I'm now grateful for hiding those shoes in the woods" he muttered to himself. He stalled, his heart racing. Rejecting the imprint had crossed his mind, the first day and a half. Talking to his dad last night made Jake realize that it was possibly a good decision. Bella had ignored him, running after the leech. She didn't even give it a second thought.

He shook his head, opening the front door of the shop, and taking a deep breath. Underlying the scent of bread, fruit and chocolate was Grace's honey-salt scent. It was like those chocolate and salt caramels. Bitter, sweet, salty. Mysterious, and simple at the same time.

Much like his imprint he thought, moving to the counter.

Jake smiled, and hit the bell on the desk.

"Just a minute!" Grace's voice yelled from the back. Mischief filled Jacob's eyes. He rang the bell again.

"I'm coming!" He heart her heart begin to beat faster, making Jake start tapping the bell.

Non-stop.

Grace bolted through the back door, but stopped seeing Jake there. He smiled like the devil, and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"That is very rude."

Suddenly Jake felt sad, and he opened his mouth to apologize, but Grace pushed forward.

"What if that had been a customer Jake? I would have lost credibility and be seen as unreliable! I was trying to finish the cookies before moving onto the cinnamon rolls, and you just ring the bell.."

"Sorry Grace. I just wanted to see if you needed help." The words flew out of his mouth before he could stop them.

Help?

Him, Jacob Ephraim Black help a professional baker when he burned water?

Grace's mouth hung open, almost like a cartoon. Jake felt his heart pounding, he had always wanted to learn. Bella only baked to keep him fed, and he offered help, but she laughed it off. If Grace's desire for his help with just cleaning was on the table, she would want help baking too?

"Um. Well." Grace looked down at her hands. She never had anyone offer to help her bake before. And from what Quil said about Jake, he was terrible in the kitchen.

But you have to start somewhere.

"If you don't want me to, that's fine. I was just going to ask you over for dinner tonight." Grace's head shot up, her eyes widening at Jake.

Dinner? Like a date?

"My dad will be there of course, but you keep giving up the cookies and brownies I wanted to do something in return."

Grace stood there for a minute, thinking over what he had said. Slowly she nodded, figuring he would get take-out from the diner in forks, or fix a frozen meal.

"I would be honored to join you and your dad for dinner. And I would be happy for your help, at least until you have to go to school."

Jake blushed, school started in about twenty minutes, but he could claim a day off.

"Actually, school is not in session today, so I'm offering my help until noon."

She crossed her arms. "Then why isn't Kim here?"

Shit. He forgot about Kim.

"She wanted to study and hang out with her boyfriend." Yep Jared, Tossing you under the bus.

Grace sighed. "Alright. Maybe I should hire more people." That perked Jake up.

"Well, there is Emily Young, she knows her way around an oven, I'm sure she would love to be an extra set of hands back there."

She moved back to the doors, "Well, if you don't mind spending your day with me, until Kim gets here at least."

Jake grinned, walking around the counter moving towards his imprint. "I can't imagine being anywhere else."

Jake turned around waving at Grace as he left the store. He had managed to call Jared and explain his excuse of the day, much to Jared's amusement. Then he mentioned Kim and he got mad. Regardless, Jared had told his imprint the lie, and why so she came in all bubbly and happy at 3pm.

"Don't worry about dessert Jake!" Grace called out at him, as she slid the cookies into the case. He shook his head, pushing open the door.

"I wouldn't dream of it! See you at 7:30!"

Jake began to run to the trees, quickly phasing once he was covered.

Sam?

Jake, you skipped school again! It's getting harder to make up excuses for you.

Sam! I know just could you send Emily to my house please? I'm in a dilemma.

Jake quickly went through his day in his mind, making Paul start laughing at the image of him frosting cupcakes in yellow frosting.

Getting in touch with your feminine side there Black?

Jake growled. Shut up Paul. He sent him an image of the elderly Mrs. Falls buying cupcakes for her book club. Paul became silent. Mrs. Falls had checked in on him every single day as a kid, even now as an adult he helped her around the house.

Okay Jake. I'll send Emily to your house. And Jake? Try not to burn anything.

Emily half smiled as Jake pulled the chicken out of the oven. "On the upside the chicken didn't burn."

Billy opened the window, and Jake grimaced. "Yeah. So much for not burning anything."

She laughed, packing up her cookbook, and hugged Jake briefly. "It's alright. You only burned a few of the potatoes. There was no chance of burning the salad, but I will say, you should be lucky you heal fast. I've never seen anyone cut their fingers that many times with a tomato."

Jake rolled his eyes, sighing. "Thanks again Emily."

He heard her chuckle as she walked to the door. "I'll swing by the bakery to see Grace about possibly helping her out."

Billy wheeled himself over to the table. "It looks good Jake." It did too. A tablecloth that he hadn't seen in years. A vase with some wildflowers in it, and three place settings. "Thank you for remembering me."

"Really dad, it just came out of my mouth and voila, I invited Grace to dinner." Jake started carving the chicken. Emily had shown him the picture of what pieces should be left over, and as he tried to detach the leg from the body, Jake realized this was a lot harder then it looked.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Coming!" Billy wheeled himself over to the door. This was his first meeting with Grace in a normal setting. Visiting her at Joy's hadn't been a pleasure, it had been a nightmare for the young woman despite his reassurances. The worst was that he was unable to visit her since, and had only seen her at the bakery about a month ago. But, that was then, and now she was possbily his future daughter.

Smiling, he turned the knob, opening the heavy door.

"Grace. You have no idea how wonderful it is to see you." She smiled, holding a pale blue box in her hands.

"Chief Black," Billy shook his head.

"Please Grace, call me Billy. You're not here for a formal occasion."

Her smile widened, and a light blush came to her cheeks. He nodded, wheeling himself backwards, allowing her into their home.

"Jake, Grace is here!"

Jake came from the kitchen, and smiled at the woman, who smiled back. Billy could feel the energy in the air. Oh yeah, this was going to be good.

"Perhaps if you surrender the delicious treats in your hands Grace, Jake could have help cutting the chicken."

Grace's mouth opened. "You cooked?"

Jake smiled, blushing a little. "Yeah. First time from scratch."

"Chicken?"

He shrugged. "Everyone likes chicken." Jake's eyes widened. "Unless you don't. I'm sorry I should have asked."

"No Jake, it's perfectly fine. I like chicken." Grace placed the box in Billy's lap, and walked to Jake. "But it can be tricky to carve. Do you want help?"

Billy watched his son take a deep breath, before nodding, and waving his imprint into the kitchen. The chief smiled, and looked at the box in his lap. Lifting the lid, the light scent of almond tickled his nose.

"A gift from the angels." Billy murmured, smiling at the angel food cake in the box.

Grace put her napkin down on the plate. "Jake that was delicious."

He shrugged. "It was good."

She reached over and put her hand on top of his, squeezing it. "I'm not lying Jake. For a first meal from scratch, it was really good."

Billy beamed. The meal had been good. The few burned potatoes hadn't mattered. Besides helping Jake carve the chicken, Grace had shown him how to make a gravy from the drippings in the pan. His son was smitten, and eager to learn. Grace had offered to come over for dinner to show him more skills, until he got comfortable enough in the kitchen.

"Believe me Jake, not everyone is comfortable in the kitchen. It just takes practice." Grace said as Jake poured gravy into a coffee mug. She rescued the chicken from the warm oven and they all sat down to a hot meal, talking about the tribe, memories or comfortable silence as they ate.

"Dad?"

Billy looked up at Jake, who was holding his pill box. He grimaced, reaching for his water glass.

Grace half smiled, and went over to the coffee pot. "How about some coffee with the cake? We can have it in the living room."

"Sure, let me clear the dishes." Jake started to clear the empty plates when a howl sounded out. Jake froze, looking up at Billy.

"Oh, that sounded close." Grace whispered, looking out the window. Jake sensed her distress, and quickly walked over to her.

He hugged her from the side, and whispered to her. "It's just one of the wolves. I have to check to make sure it didn't get caught in a trap or anything." Jake looked down at her, hating lying to Grace. "Will you be alright here with dad?"

Even though her heart was pounding, Grace nodded. "Of course. Go make sure the wolf or wolves are ok." Her eyes twinkled with mischief, "But we might eat the cake while you're gone."

Jake laughed. "I'll be quick."

Grace turned the coffee pot on, hearing the back door slam shut. She took a deep breath, and turned almost running into Billy.

"Whoa Grace!" Billy looked at her, watching as she took the plates and set them in the sink. "Are you alright?"

She wanted to nod, so badly but she couldn't. "Billy, did the restraining order come through?"

Billy's breath caught. Oh no.

"Yes it did. A week after your arrival." He wheeled himself to her side, and took her hand. "Did something happen?"

"He called the shop."

Billy squeezed her hand. He knew he couldn't tell Jake, but that eventually she would tell him. Billy could only hope that the truth would be told on both sides sooner rather then later.

"Well, if he comes near you, it's a violation and the Forks Police will handle it." He squeezed her hand. "I wouldn't worry too much though dear. You're one of the tribe now. You're safe here."

Jake phased in the trees, running towards Paul's howl, then he stopped.

They're back.

Jake saw Paul's sight of the Cullen's car as it pulled up in front of the Swan's house, where Paul had been watching. Edward Cullen stepped out holding Bella as Charlie confronted him. After leaving Paul retreated to sound the alarm and watched as the leech went back into Bella's room via the tree.

She brought them back! Paul snarled, his hatred emitting from every word. Jake was stunned. Sure, he knew that Bella would go back to the leech, but he had hoped after seeing the pack, knowing how they had begun to phase she wouldn't have led them back here.

Selfish little leech lover.

Jake growled. She's still human.

Till they turn her. Embry chimed in. All of the wolves growled at the thought.

Enough, Sam's voice weighed over them. We have enough to worry about without them being back.

A flash of the red-head went through their minds. All the wolves growled.

Back to patrol. Leah and Seth will be added this week. Sam's command went out. As the wolves phased back, Jake sensed Sam's thoughts.

If you want to stay and watch over Bella, I'll call Billy for you Jake.

Grace's smiling face flashed through his mind, and Jake whimpered at the thought of leaving her alone with the leeches being back. Anger flooded his thought for a moment before they cleared.

No.

Jake's chest felt lighter and he almost felt Sam's relief.

Bella made her choice.

Jake turned around, and started running back home.