** So I thought about making this a whole new story, but then I decided since it's been a year since "Sunrise,...", most people would be lost. So I'm just adding. Sorry if it's confusing.

**Disclaimer: I'm not Stephenie Meyer, but I like borrowing her characters.

PART II: REAWAKENING

Chapter 1: Compromises.

"Just give him a call, Bells. Please, for me."

I sighed. When was he going to give up?

"Charlie, you don't know what you're asking."

But, sensing the weakening of my defenses, he picked up the phone and held it out to me. "I know that he and that boy --" He sighed. "That he and Edward don't get along. But I also know that you and I both owe Jake a lot for what he did for you last winter."

I shifted my weight uncomfortably. What Charlie said was true; I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't been for Jake. "I know, Dad, but I can't just ignore --"

"Bells, you've punished him long enough! It's been, what, 2 months since you talked to him? And he's still calling here every day to see if you'll forgive him. At least hear the guy out."

I bit my lip and looked with deliberation at the phone in Charlie's hands.

"Do it for me, Bells," he said again.

I gave up. "I'll call him, okay? But I can't promise that he and I will ever be friends again. You don't know what he did."

"Whatever it was, I'm sure he had your best interests at heart."

My best interests? I snorted, "Not likely." He had only picked a fight with my vampire boyfriend so he could start a war that would force the love of my life away from me. What was a little deviousness, a little violence, really? But I took the phone from Charlie.

It barely rang once. "Bells?" Jake's husky voice greeted me hastily.

"Jacob."

He ignored my indifferent tone. "Thank you for calling me back. I know you're still mad, but are you really going to let the bloodsucker ruin the best friendship you ever had?"

"Edward's the best friend I've ever had."

"Sure, sure, until he sucks the life out of you. At least I'm the kind of friend that won't hurt you."

"Funny, I distinctly remember you knocking me to the ground." Or werewolf-you, whatever.

I could almost hear Jacob's wince over the phone. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to; you know that. And I didn't even fight the bloodsucker when he started attacking me. Don't I get points for that?"

No. "Is there anything else, Jake?"

"What do I have to do, Bells? Do you want me to be friends with him?"

I thought of Edward's face every time Jake's name came up. Not likely. "No. But it means something that you'd offer."

He paused for a moment. "Can I see you?"

I sighed. I did miss Jacob -- missed his smile, his warm hands, his sense of humor. I thought back to what Charlie had said, and he was right: I did owe Jake. "Sure, sure," I said, and smiled. How quickly old habits returned. "I'll plan on coming to see you some time this week. But I have to talk to Edward first."

Jake paused again, probably thinking better on his impulsive response. "Okay. See you, Bells." He sounded happy, and I couldn't help smiling.

"See you." I put the phone back in its cradle and focused on the sounds of ESPN coming from the next room. I knew that since Charlie wasn't yelling anything at the TV, he had probably been listening. I walked into the living room.

Charlie did his best to appear innocent. "Oh, hey, Bells, how'd it go?"

I laughed at him, despite myself. "Stop pretending, Dad. I know you were listening."

Charlie blushed lightly and tried to look sheepish. "I can't help it if I want to make sure my little girl is happy." He paused. "And I'm proud of you for being so mature."

I shook my head in mock disappointment, but decided to seize the opportunity. "So I take it to mean I'm not so very grounded that I can't go to La Push this week?"

Charlie's eyes had already wandered back to the TV. "What? No, you're not."

"Am I only not-grounded when it comes to going to see Jake, or does that freedom extend to seeing Edward, too?" At the sound of Edward's name, Charlie's eyes snapped back to me.

"No, you're still grounded."

"Then I can't see Jake."

"That's different."

"Why? You can't lift my punishment in favor of your preference for me."

"I can do what I want; I'm your father."

"But you said you didn't want to tell me who to date."

Charlie only grumbled, which I knew was a concession.

I smiled. "So… Can I go see Edward?"

Charlie sighed, "Whatever."

I was halfway out the door when I heard him yell, "You'd better use that talent of yours and become a lawyer or something!"

I chuckled as I half-ran to my truck. I had much more interesting plans for my future.

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When I pulled up to the Cullen house, I turned off my car. I had to find a happy medium between my elation that I was allowed to see Edward more often and my anxiety about telling him that I wanted to reconcile with Jake. Would he be happy enough about being free from only seeing me at Charlie's house to be resigned about me visiting La Push? I somehow doubted it.

My car door opened then. "Bella, what are you doing here?" Edward's eyes locked on my hands, still clenched to the steering wheel. "Is everything alright? Did you have a fight with Charlie?"

Looking at the concern in his eyes, I was suddenly assaulted by the intensity of my feelings for him. My anxiety broke. "No, Edward, I'm not grounded anymore! I wanted to sneak inside and surprise you."

He laughed. "You absurd little thing. You can't sneak up on vampires." He lifted me out of the car and spun me around once before setting me on the ground. "No worries, though; you never cease to surprise me." He shut my car door and took my hand. "What made Charlie lift the sentence? I thought we had a month left. Not that I'll regret having a change of scenery."

I bit my lip lightly, deliberating. Not yet. "It's a long story. I'll tell you inside."

"Hmm," he said, clearly noting my hesitation, but he didn't inquire further. He opened the front door and ushered me in, where I was greeted with a staggering hug from Alice.

"Er…Alice," I gasped, "Human, with the breathing. Important."

She jumped back. "Oh, sorry." The smile on her face compromised her credibility, though. "I'm so happy Charlie reconsidered! Edward was getting unbearable."

I looked at Edward, who rolled his eyes but otherwise declined to defend himself. Alice grinned cheekily at him and took my hands. "Come see my wedding plans for you! I have a book; you can tell me what you like best."

I groaned. The instant that I had agreed to marry Edward, Alice had been insisting on elaborate decorations and gifts and wardrobe choices. ("And the food!" She had raved. "I'll get to pick a caterer this time, with humans there! What do you think of crab cakes?") It had been one tedious detail after another, and my isolation from the outside world had barely served as an escape from her questions. Now I was defenseless.

Well, not totally defenseless. "Excuse me, Alice, but I would appreciate it if you would allow me some time with Bella right now, as I'm sure she had other ideas about how best to celebrate her liberation." Edward wrapped his arms around me as my face reddened.

"Ugh," Alice rolled her eyes. "Fine. But I get her later." She winked at me before dancing out of the room.

"Don't worry," Edward said, "I think I can keep her in check at least until you're ready to officially announce our engagement. After that, though, it's out of my hands." He chuckled at my grimace, then leaned down to press his lips to mine. I responded eagerly, wrapping my fingers in his hair and parting my lips. I wasn't surprised when he pulled away. Such was our dance.

"So tell me," he said, taking my hand to lead me up the massive staircase, "What changed Charlie's mind?"

I hesitated. Might as well get it over with. "Well, he basically agreed that I could come see you when… Well, when I said that I would visit… Not just you."

Edward lead me into his room and cleared off his sofa quickly, which had been strewn with pieces of paper covered with his elegant script. "What are you writing?" I asked, distracted.

He smiled. "Later. Come sit with me."

I obliged and sat in his lap, nestling my head against his shoulder. "I've missed you," I said against his neck.

He wrapped his arms around me. "So whom does Charlie want you to see? I assume he's not suddenly insisting you volunteer to visit the elderly?"

"No, then I could just visit you. Two birds, one stone…"

Edward made a face. "Very funny."

"It was funny."

He laughed, then turned serious. "Are you going to answer the question? I'm beginning to think you've sold your soul for a mere month's freedom."

I couldn't hope my answer would convince him otherwise. I steeled myself. "I told him I'd try to make things up with Jake."

I watched Edward's face, waiting for his outraged protest. But aside from the briefest narrowing of his eyes, I saw none. I gulped, taking advantage of his reticence. "I do think he's sorry, Edward; I really do. He was just trying to protect me, but he knows he did it the wrong way. He even offered to be friends with you."

That broke Edward's silence. "No, thanks."

I didn't respond, but waited for him to argue.

To my surprise, he hugged me. "Do what you think is best, Bella. I know you've missed your friend."

I stared at him in shock. No fight? No words about the volatile nature of werewolves, about the untrustworthiness of Jacob? No concern for my safety?

If he had been capable of running a fever, I'd have felt his forehead.

He chuckled lightly at my expression. "I'm sorry, have I disappointed you? I could throw a tantrum, if you like."

"No, no," I answered quickly, "I just… Well. Are you saying you forgive Jake for what he did last spring?"

"Not a bit."

"Then…?"

"Love, I'm only interested in what makes you happy. And all I know is that every time his name has come up over the past two months, you've become sullen." He pursed his lips. "Besides, I have reason to believe that he's… seen the error of his ways, so to speak."

I stared at him, utterly surprised. I had barely been aware of missing Jake, as incensed as I was with his past actions, and Edward had known more about my feelings than I did myself. "So you don't mind if I visit him in La Push this week?"

He furrowed his brow. "Absolutely not! He can come into town to see you, so that I can be there."

"But I told him that I would go --"

"Nonsense, Bella. He hit you once; who's to say he won't lose control and do it again? Werewolves are vol --"

"Yeah, yeah," I said. It was too much to hope he'd let it go without any argument. Still, it was better than I had expected. I smiled. "You can save me the diatribe. I'd love to have you there, but you have to play nice."

"I'm always nice."

"Nice to me."

"Yes, despite my best efforts," he said seriously, then smiled at me. "Now, no more Jacob Black talk tonight, if you please, or I'll invite Alice in here with her wedding binder."

I widened my eyes in horror as he leaned in to kiss me.