Chapter 38:

Bella POV:

I couldn't believe we actually made it to the airport where the private jet was waiting, and pilot was in the cockpit, ready to go. Carlisle had called him from the car and told him to be ready when we arrived. Edward pulled the SUV up to the plane and screeched the car to a stop and we all poured out and made our way quickly into the plane. Soon, we were flying down the runway and lifting into the air. Finally, I allowed myself to breathe.

Carlisle had examined Jacob and Leah and decided they were actually quite well, just really hungry. Alice was trying to find some food for them in the plane's galley. She came out with a plate of sandwiches for each of them, and little bags of pretzels, along with a couple of bottles of water. "Sorry, this is all I could find," she said with a small smile.

It didn't matter. Jacob inhaled everything, except one sandwich that he made me eat – "for the baby." I rolled my eyes and ate the sandwich to satisfy him, but had to admit to myself, I was kind of hungry.

As I ate, I looked over at Leah. She was sitting with Evan and eating, but she was taking her time and being more lady-like than Jake. I smiled at them. I was happy for Leah. I didn't know much about Evan, but at least maybe now Leah could move on from Sam. I hoped that Evan could erase all of that pain from Leah's heart. Jake told Evan that he didn't tell Leah about him working for Aro. He was leaving that up to Evan, who said he would talk to Leah on the plane ride home. I was watching closely for the fireworks to begin.

I shifted my gaze to Jake. He was staring at Edward who was sitting across the aisle from us, talking with Carlisle.

"Jake?" I touched him on the arm.

He turned his head to look at me, "What?" he answered. He looked so tired.

"What are you thinking? You keep staring at Edward." I said.

He smiled. "How weird it is that our 'mortal enemies' as my dad calls them, are the ones that came to our rescue? Leah and I owe them our lives. I can't get over it. I mean, I hate that guy, Bella! He tried to take you away from me forever . . . and now, I owe him my life."

I smiled at him. "Yeah, it's hell that you actually have to tell him 'Thank You.' "

"I know. What a bitch," he muttered as I shook my head at him and laughed softly.

Just then I heard Leah say loudly, "What the hell are you talking about? You worked for HIM?" The show is starting!

Evan said hurriedly, "Leah, please! Just listen to the whole story, OK?"

Things got a little quieter, and I couldn't hear all of what was being said. I was straining to hear when I saw Leah reach out and slap him across the face! Poor Evan! First me, then Leah. She got up and walked to the back of the plane.

I looked over at Jacob and said, "Be right back." He gave me that "Bella don't get involved look," but of course, I ignored it. I walked back to where Leah was standing.

"Leah? Can I talk to you for a second?" I asked quietly.

She turned and looked at me. "What?" She quickly wiped the tears from her face.

"When Seth brought Evan back to Sam's, Jake had sent word that I should listen to Evan's story, and that he trusted him. You know that Jake wouldn't trust him if he thought he was still a threat. Evan told him about you imprinting on him, and how he didn't plan to, but he fell completely in love with you. He tried to save you from them, but he couldn't and it was killing him."

She nodded. "I know. I just can't believe I was so gullible. I feel like a fucking idiot! Why would I imprint on someone who is spying on me? And for . . . HIM! Do you know what he wanted to do to me, Bella?" I shook my head. "He was going to plant his freaky vampire baby inside me. He wanted me to mother his . . . God, I can't believe how lucky I am that you all came when you did." She started to cry again.

I reached out and pulled her into a hug. "Oh God, Leah. I didn't realize Aro was thinking of himself . . . well, I guess knowing his arrogance, I should have thought of that. Does Evan know?"

She pulled back and shook her head. She wiped her hand across her face and said, "I couldn't tell him. Only you and Jake know. Please don't tell anyone else."

"I won't," I told her. "You know, when I was leaving to find Alice to go to Italy, Evan ran to me and begged me to take him along. He said he knew it was his fault you were taken there, and he wanted to help find you. That's when I popped him in the chin."

Her eyes grew big and she said, "You hit him?"

I laughed. "Yeah. Same hand I broke when I hit Jake. It hurt like hell!"

She laughed with me. "Oh Bella! I wish I could have seen that."

"Seth told me it was a 'nice fucking shot.' "

We stood there laughing for a moment. Then I saw her look behind me. I turned to see Evan standing there. There was a red mark on his face where Leah had slapped him. "What is this? A meeting of the 'I hit Evan in the face club?' " he asked with a weak smile.

We looked at each other and laughed again. I turned to him and said, "Yeah, you better watch out. I got my eye on you."

He smiled. "I got it. I'll be good, I promise," he said.

"Leah? You OK if I go sit down?" I asked.

She looked over at Evan and said, "Yeah, I'm good." I turned to leave and she said, "Bella?" I turned around. "Thanks. For everything." I smiled and turned to walk back to Jake.

I crawled over Jake and took my seat. He looked at me and said, "Well, Miss Nosy? Did you fix everything?"

"Yes I did, thank you very much," I answered saucily.

He put his arm around me and pulled me to him. "Good, cause I'm not letting go of you again, so don't even try it."

I put my head on his chest, snuggled into his body and fell asleep listening to his heartbeat.

We landed hours later at a little airstrip outside Port Angeles. Carlisle had called Esme and she and Rosalie were waiting there with two cars to take us all home. As everyone stood to go, Jacob and Leah personally thanked each one of the Cullens, which I know was not easy for them. Jake shook Jasper's hand and then stood in front of Emmett, who disregarded his outstretched hand and pulled him into one of his big hugs.

Jake looked at Alice rather sheepishly and said, "I'm sorry for the way I have always treated you. I owe you my life. And I have to say that I really admire the way you marched into that room and told that doctor you were taking us. Even I believed you until you looked down at me and stuck out your tongue."

I looked over at her and laughed. I could see her doing that.

"It's OK, Jacob. I haven't always treated you very well either. But I can't promise that I won't call you a mutt anymore," she said with a smile.

He smiled and shrugged. "That's OK, leech."

He stood in front of Carlisle and all of a sudden he couldn't speak. I knew how much he respected Carlisle now, and he was having trouble controlling his emotions. Finally, he cleared his throat and said, "I owe you so much, Carlisle. You have been there for both Bella and I . . ."

"It's alright, Jacob. I consider you and Bella part of my family. All of the pack as my good, good friends. I will always be there to help," he said with a smile.

Jacob extended his hand and Carlisle shook it. "Thank you. Thank you so much. As Alpha of the pack, I want you to know that I officially offer to you any help that we can give at any time."

"Thank you, Jacob. That means a lot." Carlisle smiled, patted him on the shoulder then turned and left the plane.

Emmett jumped the last few steps and ran over and picked Rosalie up in a big hug. Carlisle walked over to Esme and held her. Alice and Jasper walked off of the plane and hand-in-hand walked to one of the cars. Evan held Leah's hand with his good hand and they walked toward Alice and Jasper. It was just the three of us left on the plane: Jake, Edward and me.

My heart ached for Edward. Everyone was paired off. I hoped that someday soon, he would find someone, too.

Jacob cleared his throat and said, "Um, Edward. Can we talk for a minute?"

Edward smiled and said, "Of course."

"Thank you for protecting Bella when I couldn't be with her . . . and for coming to help . . ." He had to stop and clear his throat again. "Look, I guess I'm still a little in shock at what all has taken place over the last few days. I mean, I have spent a lot of time hating you . . . really hating you and I am amazed that you would step in and come to my rescue. I guess I would like to think that if the situation were reversed, I would be man enough to help you. Thank you." He finished and held out his hand.

Edward smiled and shook it. "Jacob, we have been through a lot. I know it's too much to ask that we be friends. But I like the idea that we can agree to not be enemies. Let's stick to that for now." Jake nodded.

Edward looked at me. "Bella, you were amazing. The way you walked into that chamber and took on Aro. I was so proud of you. And that look you gave Jane, well it was priceless. It was hard for me to keep a straight face. Please let me be the one to tell Jacob the story."

"You did what?" Jacob said slowly as he turned to look at me.

"I'm in a hurry to get home. Come on, let's go!" I pulled Jake by the arm down the stairs of the plane.

"No, I think I need to hear this story, Edward," he said over his shoulder. "How about you tell me on the ride home?"

"Can we go back to you hating each other?" I asked them.

They actually laughed as we all climbed into the back seat of Carlisle's car, me in between them. Carlisle took off and Edward started the story. "Jacob, you would have been so proud of her. She walked right in there and gave Jane this really smug look . . ." then he proceeded to tell Jacob the whole story as I sat in between them, silently begging Carlisle to drive faster.

Jacob POV:

"God, I'm beat," I told Bella as we climbed into the truck at the Cullens where Bella had left it. We were taking Leah and Evan home with us, so Bella was sitting beside me, Evan beside her, and Leah was sitting on Evan's lap. A little tight, but none of us minded.

"Me, too. I think I could sleep for a week," Bella said.

Bella had called Sam when we landed to tell him all was well, and that we were on our way home. He let her know that the pack was at his house waiting for us. I really wanted to get home and curl up with Bella in my big bed, but I thought we could do this one thing for them. Everyone was so upset that we had to be rescued by someone else – not them. Rescued by the bloodsuckers . . . I still couldn't get over it.

I pulled up to Sam and Emily's and honked the horn and in an instant, there was a rush of people running out the front door. Seth ran straight to Leah and picked her up into a hug, then he handed her off to Sue who held her and they both cried.

I didn't get far . . . Embry picked me up and squeezed me so tight I couldn't breathe. "It's OK, bro . . . I missed you, too."

He let go and said, "God, Jake, don't ever do that to me again? Hear me? I couldn't stand being stuck here, not able to do a fucking thing to save you. It killed me."

"I know. It was horrible there not being able to phase and get myself or Leah out. I felt so weak, and I hated every fucking minute. It is really good to be back home," I told him. He smiled and hugged me again.

Finally I pushed him away, called him 'fucking chick,' and everything was good again.

Quil was next, then Rachel, who cried all over me. She told me that she called Dad and he was expecting me to come and see him as soon as I could.

I looked over to see Sam fold Leah into his arms. Emily was looking on, but there was no jealousy there. She knew Sam was hers, but she also knew he was hurting. Leah pulled back and said, "It's OK, Sam. I'm OK, but I need to talk to you." She looked at Emily and said, "Both of you. About me and Evan." They nodded and all four of them walked into the house together.

Seth still had tears wet on his face when he walked up to me. I reached out and pulled him in for a "bro hug." He pulled back and said, "I am so glad you are back, Jake."

"Yeah? You missed me?" I tousled his hear and shoved him . . . our stupid way of showing affection.

"I'm sorry I couldn't make Bella stay here. Embry and I tried . . . he even told her you would kill him if anything happened to her."

I laughed and looked over at her and said, "Well, thanks for trying. But I know Bella . . . I knew that she wasn't going to stay put, no matter what."

"So about this Evan dude. Is he for real? Can we trust him with Leah?" Seth asked.

"Yeah, I think so. He risked his life to rescue us, Seth. He didn't hold back. He and Leah talked on the plane, and at one point she slapped him in the face. So, she's aware of what's going on, and I guess we'll leave it up to them to work things out."

He looked at Bella and asked with a grin, "So, how's your hand?"

She laughed and said, "It's good. We've even started a club . . . Evan called it the 'I hit Evan in the Face Club!' Wanna join?"

"You KNOW I do!" Seth laughed.

"OK, what the hell are you two talking about?" I asked impatiently.

Seth told me all about Bella hitting Evan on the chin. I laughed and said, "Hey I've been on the other end of that fist. She packs a punch . . . for a wimpy little girl."

"Don't piss me off, mister," she said to me holding her fist up.

We all laughed then moved into the house to sit and talk. Everyone wanted to hear the story. Leah and I did our best, but we sugar-coated it some. I didn't want them to know how close we had come to never coming home. I also didn't want them to know about Aro wanting Leah to carry his baby. I hadn't even told Bella that, but I found out later that Leah had.

Of course Sue and Emily had to feed us. I have to admit I was still starving. I filled my plate several times.

Finally I said, "Look guys, I have got to get some sleep. I am taking my wife home and we do not wish to be disturbed for a couple of days, got it?"

"Whoooooo!" we heard from everyone. Embry said, "I am NOT patrolling with you any more, bro. I can't take that many cold showers."

Everyone laughed as Bella turned red. It was good to be home.

Bella POV:

I opened my eyes and looked over. I had to keep checking to make sure Jake was still there. He was exhausted . . . he had been sleeping for 12 hours already. I had slept off and on, but I was so afraid I would wake up, and he would be gone.

It was after 10 in the morning when he finally opened his eyes and looked at me. He smiled. "Have you been laying there watching me sleep?" he said softly.

"Off and on, yeah. I wanted to make sure you were really here," I answered.

He rolled over and hovered over me. "I'm right here, Bella and I am never leaving you again." Then he slowly brought his face down to mine and kissed me. I felt that familiar jolt of electricity go through me when our lips touched. I opened my mouth and let his tongue play with mine. It had been so long since we had been together. I deepened the kiss to let him know what I was thinking. He moved his lips over mine, slowly playing with me. It was working – I could feel that warmth creep through my body. I wrapped my arms around his neck and wound my hands into his hair. His lips left mine and he put them on my neck and kissed a trail from my ear down my throat. He nipped at my shoulder with his teeth. Oh how I love that. He rolled to the side so his hands could travel my body. I was wearing one of his t-shirts, and he slowly pulled it up and over my head. "Bella," he whispered. He took a moment to look at me, lying there with nothing covering me. Then he bent his head to my baby bump, and kissed it. He looked back up at me and smiled. I put my hands up to his face and brought it back to mine to kiss him. I hated to be away from his lips for too long. His kisses were like a drug – once he started, I had to have more.

We kissed and touched for a long time, enjoying the pleasure we could bring to each other. Finally, he moved on top of me and looked into my eyes as he slowly entered me. He moved and I joined him in our familiar rhythm. He brought his lips down on mine and kissed me until we both found the release we were looking for. We lay there trying to catch our breath, and Jake whispered in my ear, "I love you, Bella. Forever."