It was too gruesome to dwell on, so I didn't, and I noticed that my hand had once again wrapped around my middle.

The alpha girl's jaw set, and I realized that this was as close as she could come to tears. Quil had already snagged her knife out of the dirt in front of her, so she stood, helpless, before the pack. It seemed for a minute that she might try to fight with her fists; the young wolf had gamboled off to hide behind his friends, playfully nipping at their hands. Instead, Jacob's look-alike came forward. "You can join us anyway," he said. He looked out at her from under his hair, glanced at Jacob, who nodded, and continued. "We could always use fighters of any kind."

The girl seemed for a minute like she might reject the offer, but then acquiesced and pulled the children behind her forward in the same tottering line they'd exited the woods in. She stood before Jacob for a moment, as if giving him another opportunity to object, and then turned to follow the oldest boy back to the gaggle of children. We watched them be awkward briefly, before the youngest ones wandered close to the little wolf, and then the rest slowly closed in on the alpha girl, the murmured questions and answers of the children barely reaching the adults.

"Wow," said Leah. "That is really not what I was expecting." We all stared at the little group, some of the children suddenly breaking in to a chase; the girl tried, but faltered and then sassed them with words. She was too tired to keep running.

"They really put the children in children of the moon—" Quil was booed but laughed at his own joke anyway, and dodged thrown handfuls of wet grass until Embry punched his shoulder. More chasing. Cracks about who was wearing pants, who wasn't. It seemed the evening was finally winding down.

"Let's get some rest," Jacob said quietly, and then turned and spoke to Sam and Edward privately before moving back towards Leah. "You and I need to talk," he said, and even I felt the raw power of the alpha in his voice. He hadn't used the alpha command; Jacob was alpha. That must be what the little girl felt, I thought, listening as he continued. Leah had the grace to look bashful as he told her he'd be at her house tomorrow, broken ribs or no. She started to try and stand, then cried out; Sam and Emily caught and lifted her from either side. She was too weak to protest.

"We'll get her home," Sam said to Jacob. He and Emily's hands found each other behind Leah's back, and she chuckled low until Emily slapped her shoulder again.

"I'm not sure if my life is getting worse, or better," she muttered, then laughed loudly, brightly, with Sam and Emily grinning back, and had her answer immediately.

The three limped out of the clearing, Embry leading the rest of the warriors after them and pulling the young wolves away from their new playmates, who left with Edward. I wanted to ask, but then realized: Esme. Children. Tiny stars illuminated the wide expanse of grass, and Edward nodded at the pair of us before he stepped in to the shadows of the trees. The group of children lingered together before breaking apart. I took a deep breath; a momentary peace fell on our world.

"Things are going to be okay, aren't they?" I pushed myself against Jacob's warm body, wrapped myself beneath his arm, smelled his delicious skin. He watched the woods where our friends—our family, really—had disappeared, but didn't answer for a long time.

"Things are changing," he said to me, and then picked me up as if I weighed nothing, walking away from the clearing. He'd known I was tired even though I hadn't realized it yet. The pine trees rustled above us in greeting.

"Things are always changing," I whispered. I thought about my father's house, and felt a strange hesitation instead of the relief I was expecting. Part of me didn't want to go back to Charlie's; part of me wanted to curl around Jacob and sleep right there beneath the trees, in the wild woods where half of him belonged. How long could we live like this—sneaking around like teen-agers? I almost asked him, but his next question stopped that line of thought.

"This won't change, will it Bella?" He looked down at me; I couldn't see his expression in the dark, but I knew the tone. I knew what his heart was asking me, thumping against my own rib cage.

"Never," I said without hesitation, and he bent to kiss me. In my heart, I knew it was true; now we had to make the world—the Volturi—agree.

"Isabella," Charlie began, "do not ever leave this house with all the damn doors open, the back yard torn to hell, and no phone call or note ever again. Ever. Again." My father was standing on the back porch, staring at Jacob and I. He put me down on my feet and I rushed over to my dad, hugging him in spite of his angry expression. When I pulled back, I realized that wouldn't be enough to appease him.

It looked like two bulldozers had gone to battle in the backyard. Jacob kicked sheepishly at one pile while I gaped at the furrows, then turned back to Charlie, who now appeared—fortunately--disgruntled and not furious or worried. I grimaced at Jake, who shrugged, and then returned to face my dad.

"Sam and Leah got in a fight," I muttered. "They were in the house but then they ran out in to the backyard—"

"The last time I saw Leah she wasn't a two ton monster truck, and the last time I saw Sam Uley there was no way in hell he would hurt that girl, or anybody." My father's mouth was set in a firm, angry line.

"It's not like that, Dad," I started to say, then lost track of myself. To my surprise, Jacob stepped forward. I was infinitely grateful Quil had made Jacob take his extra pair of shorts.

"I broke it up, Charlie, no one got hurt." The white lie slid smoothly from between his perfect teeth, and he ignored my face; I, of course, was thinking of Leah's crushed ribs and Sam's fractured arm. "I am sorry about your yard, though. I'll get the guys to come over tomorrow and we'll take care of it—well, we can't regrow your grass or anything." His crumpled brow transmitted concern, and apology, but I wondered if Charlie would notice that Jacob was talking about the pack the way Sam used to. "We'll do the best we can to have it looking nice again."

"You better," Charlie replied, looking fierce. He'd noticed. His eyes came back to me and he softened a bit; it seemed the real outcome depended on tomorrow. Without another word, he left us and went back inside.

"I'll see you upstairs," I whispered, turning to follow him, but Jacob held me back. "What is it, Jake?" I tried to read his expression, but couldn't in the dark. His long arms pulled me towards him as he stood on the ground, my feet on the top stair; we were face to face, and before I could stop myself I sank in to his heat, running my hands over his bare skin. My mouth found his and I felt his hands pull me away, just slightly, but I kept reaching.

"Bells, I really need—"

"We can't!" I choked out, catching his hair between my fingers, my lips grazing his jawline and wandering north again just to find him grinning at me. His smile was so bright I could see it even in the shadow of the porch.

"To run," he said, low, and pulled me close again. "I really need to go for a run." The heat of his breath rushed out across my chest as he chuckled, and I smiled back and kissed his forehead.

"Okay," I said, and sighed. "I'll be upstairs."

"I love you," he whispered, backing slowly away, shedding his clothes as I watched.

"I love you," I whispered back, and then began the slow climb inside when he'd reached the trees.