In the kitchen, Sue and Charlie were snickering over the turkey.

"No!" Bella heard Sue hiss. "How can you possibly do that?"

"Trust me, it works," he mumbled, and then she heard Sue's startled, "wow, it does!"

"Like an old married couple," Jacob hissed, near her ear. "Told'ya!"

"Sorry," she whispered back, "is that wolf talk for 'I-told-you-so'?"

Jacob chuckled, but raised his eyebrows towards the kitchen. "Weird huh?"

Bella smiled. It was sweet, is what it was.

Sue and Charlie.

She guessed she should have seen it coming. They'd spent more time than usual together over the summer, Charlie helping out where he could.

Seth and Leah were engrossed in some sort of competitive game that involved checkers, and a pack of cards. She hadn't puzzled out the rules yet, but it involved slaps and what sounded like a lot of swearing.

"Up for a walk?" Jacob asked. "I think we have some time before dinner."

Bella hesitated. She desperately wanted out of the house, but didn't want to offend anyone. It'd felt...crowded, since she got home. Today had felt especially so, and she'd been cooped up for most of the day, helping with getting things ready.

"Um, sure," she said, flicking her eyes at his face when he half-turned, wondering if he wanted to do more than go for a walk.

The cold air hit her like a shock, but Jacob walked out unperturbed into the frost November night. He was, she could tell, sniffing quietly, moving his head casually around, scenting for anything dangerous.

Bella kept walking, but carefully, suddenly nervous. "Something wrong?" she asked quietly.

"No," Jacob said, but caught a look at her face. "Sorry—just habit. There're a few...odours that are expected. Just want to make sure I don't miss anything that isn't."

Of course, she thought. She wondered if the Cullens had spoken to the pack at all, warned them about the others who had been by. Or, vice versa.

"Have there been any...unexpected odours?" she asked, borrowing his phrasing.

He snorted out a laugh. "Wouldn't that be fun," he said, a little bitterly. "No," he answered her. "On your end?" he asked. "Or do they not tell you?" This was most definitely bitter.

"There were," she said, not liking this side of Jacob, "but they don't know who."

"Fricking leeches," Jacob muttered.

Bella tensed, hearing it.

Jacob frowned, looking at her. "That bothers you," he said, "still."

She nodded. "They're...my friends, Jake," she said softly.

He didn't say anything, but let his eyebrows rise up, and then fall. He didn't want a fight. She was going back to school tomorrow, and he wasn't going to ruin their night together. They'd seen each other the day before, but it all felt so fleeting, so short.

He put his arm around her, hoping it was cold enough that this could just pass as friendliness.

She pulled away though, leaving a clear inch between them.

They hadn't had much time alone, and he hadn't asked if she was seeing anyone, but now he wondered.

Over the months, they'd e-mailed back and forth, she with newsy bits, and he with more jokes than anything. Nothing substantial, and nothing that ever mentioned the deep undercurrents that swirled beneath their public lives.

She was biting her lip.

Crap.

He'd upset her.

"Sorry," he said, "it's just...cold," he offered lamely.

Bella looked up at him from under half-lidded eyes. She knew better, but didn't call him on it. Instead, she said, "I'm...seeing someone."

There weren't words for the feelings that Jacob felt.

"Someone," he managed to repeat.

Oh no, he groaned internally, not—

"Someone I met at school," she said softly. "I haven't told Charlie yet. It's…" she searched for words. "Fairly new."

Jacob supposed he should say something. Polite. "Oh," he managed. What he really wanted to confirm, though, was that it was someone normal.

"He's, um…"

"American," Bella said, smirking a bit to herself, knowing exactly what he was wondering. "Human too."

Jacob closed his eyes in relief.

Then he wished it would be easier to simply be happy for her.

"Good for you," he made himself say.

A very vigorous, and new jealousy squiggled in his stomach, lashing about.

"Thanks, Jake," she said softly. She knew what that cost him.

They walked on a bit, their breath clouding in front of them. "How's your ex handling that?" he asked. He could only imagine.

Bella's shrug was less certain, as was her voice. "Haven't seen him much," she murmured.

"Really?" His surprise was genuine. He thought the Cullen creature wanted to keep her close with the pretense of friendship. He didn't doubt for a minute that he would give up on her. He knew, because he felt exactly the same way.

"He's...had trouble just being...friends," she said.

Jerk, Jacob thought, conveniently ignoring his own conflicted feelings. Then he wondered what that 'trouble' might have entailed.

"He bothering you?" he asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"No," Bella said, shaking her head, "he wouldn't ever do that. It's just...complicated."

Oh, like that then, Jacob thought. His eyes stayed narrowed, as he thought about all of this.

They were far enough away from Charlie's that he was aware it was time to start walking back. He didn't like it, beginning to bring this private time with her to a close.

"We should turn around," he said, "unless you want to miss dinner?"

She nodded, reluctant too to go back to the more constrained conversation inside. Everyone but Charlie was in the know.

She wondered, seeing the way things were going with Sue, about how that might change, if ever. How much might he know one day?

She shook her head against this. It didn't matter. She would have to say her goodbyes likely long before that eventuality.

She knew she had until the end of next Summer, if Alice's last look was still accurate. She'd reminded Bella, the last time they'd seen each other, that there were no guarantees there either. People changed their minds. All the time. Even ancient vampires, like the Volturi. They could come tomorrow, and she would not be forewarned.

She would just be dead.

No, she told herself, don't. That road leads to asking Alice to look, and that just leads to all sorts of trouble, and right back into a skewed relationship.

There were still so many things she wanted to do, to know, to experience, all while she was human.

As they walked, her cheeks flamed in the dark between the well spaced street lamps, remembering her last night with Jun.

Or, morning, rather.

She'd woken, Jun beside her, and turned, facing him, admiring the way the diffuse light illuminated the curves of his chest, and the smooth imperfections of his skin. How novel, to wake beside someone who still slept, who didn't know she was awake. She didn't have long to enjoy the moment though, because he stirred, reaching out his arm to find her, pulling her to him.

His body's response left no room for ambiguity. She understood his desire, and the kiss at her neck, and his adventurous hands were vibrant with energy.

"Make love to me," he said, hands on her hips, bringing them to his.

She wanted to. Physically, it was so nearly instinctual.

But her brain, and her heart had other, very distinct ideas: and they were all loud "no's".

She pushed him back with a clear "no."

Jun took in a quick, and deep breath, and just as quickly, said "OK," pulling back. "Feel free to let me know if you change your mind." He grinned widely. He could see she was torn. He would wait.

She was worth waiting for.

Jacob's throat clearing interrupted this reverie. She'd gone silent for a bit.

"Has it...changed your mind?" Jacob asked, pulling her back to the present. "Finding someone...normal?"

She kept walking, but slowed her steps, looking at him with a small, and sad smile. Her words matched the tempo kept by her feet. "There's no...changing my mind, Jake. I can't."

It was Jacob's turn to slow his pace. But for very different reasons.

He fell back a step, breathing not as regular as it should be. A shake in his fists that spoke of feelings barely contained.

"There is always a choice," he said, through teeth almost clenched.

Bella didn't want to fight. Not tonight.

"If you say so, Jake." she offered quietly.

Jacob closed his eyes and swallowed. She was patronizing him. Fricking patronizing him.

He let it go. She wasn't going to be open to it now. He needed to try again another time.

Would there be another time? His worry asked him.

"When?" he asked.

They were facing each other, a block away from her house. "Next summer," she said softly.

"When?" he asked again.

"There isn't a date, yet," she replied, looking down, scuffing the toe of her boot through the grass.

His breath huffed out through his nose. The puff of vapour reminded her of an angry dragon.

Not in a funny way.

They were both feeling the weight of this sadness.

This loss.

"We should go in," Bella finally mumbled.

"Yeah," Jacob said, "you do that. I just need a few minutes." He was turning, walking towards the forest.

"Jake?" Bella called after him.

"Not now," he said. He kept walking.

When she opened the front door, the heat wrapped around her, smelling of turkey and cinnamon, and orange.

"Turkeys!" Charlie was saying goodnaturedly, shaking his head at Seth and Leah, "the lotta ya."

Seth's eyes flicked up, hearing her come in. He slid over towards her, asking where Jacob was with his eyes.

"He just needs a few minutes," she mumbled.

Seth nodded, returning to the kitchen.

Those minutes turned into a solid twenty. Then thirty.

They were about to eat without him, when he returned, a plastic bag of something in one hand.

"Whipping cream," he said, by way of explanation. "Thought the convenience store might have some."

"Thanks," Sue said, smoothing over this oddness.

Billy's eyes travelled between Bella and Jacob, and back again. His lips remained closed. Tightly.

Charlie avoided all of this, his empty stomach motivation enough to ignore the apparent awkwardness.

When the meal was done, and the last dishes away, Sue and Charlie made a prolonged goodbye at the door. Seth rolled his eyes behind his mother's back, blushing when Bella's look caught him at it. This made her smile, and not blush.

It was nice, watching someone else flush with discomfort she knew well.

Charlie didn't bother fussing over the last few things that needed doing. He figured there was time enough tomorrow. "Put your feet up," he said to Bella, when she went to tidy. "Come on," he said, waving her towards the couch.

They sank into its familiar, and springless depths.

"You and Jake OK?" He asked.

Her eyes darted to his face when he pretended to look away.

His cheeks were relaxed, eyes open enough, lacking the shrewdness she expected to find there.

"Yeah," she said, "I think so."

"Mmm," Charlie grunted. "He'd light the house on fire if the torch he was carrying for you was any bigger."

Bella's lips twisted, trying not to grin. She nodded. "We're OK, dad."

It wasn't anything approaching truth, but it would have to be. An honest explanation wasn't exactly available.

He grunted again, and the conversation lapsed, this time into the easier quiet of their togetherness.

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight. No copyright infringement intended.