An extra-long chapter for the long wait! Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer. Don't own twilight.
"Mum?" Bella called.
"In here Sweetie! You're father's in his office with Alice, it seems-OH!"
Esme turned around, dishtowel in her hands, surprised to see a young man standing behind her daughter.
"Uhm, Mum, this is Jacob. Jacob, this is Esme, my mother."
Jacob used the hand that wasn't holding Bella's and stuck it out to Esme.
"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am."
Esme waited a heartbeat. And then came over and threw her arms around Jacob. Jacob hugged her back carefully, one armed, because one hand was still in Bella's.
Esme pulled back. "It is so nice to finally meet you. You're the cause of my daughter's smiles. And her father and I have been begging her for weeks to bring you by. But you know how stubborn she is, I'm sure."
Jacob laughed. "Yes ma'am. That I do know."
Carlisle's voice came down the hallway, arguing with Alice about something.
Alice stopped talking and squealed when she saw Jacob. She threw herself at him and Jacob released Bella's hand to catch the little bundle of girl.
"Jacob! All my friends want to meet you! They say you're the prettiest boy ever, but don't worry, I told them that you're with Sissy. Cara said that she wants you after Bella's done though."
Jacob laughed and Bella scowled. He put Alice down and grabbed Bella's hand, giving it a squeeze. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind." He told Alice.
"Will you three stay for dinner?" Esme spoke up.
Bella hesitated. "You don't have to do that mom. We have stuff at the cottage."
"Well we have stuff here too. And you're staying so the point is moot."
Bella smiled. "Yes Mum."
They stayed for dinner, where Carlisle and Esme behaved surprisingly well, Bella thought. Carlisle asked Jacob few questions, and none of them were ones where Bella wanted to scream in embarrassment. Esme wanted to know about family and hobbies, whereas Carlisle wanted to know about his schooling, and a job.
Carlisle was impressed that Jacob stood to inherit his family's garage. Working on cars was in the bloodline, Jacob told Carlisle. He and all of his friends worked there whenever they had the chance.
Bella knew he meant the pack.
Carlisle was also impressed with the fact that even though Jacob had a job lined out for him, he was still going to college to get a general degree.
They stayed for desert, and then retired to the living room to sit by the fireplace while Alice and Carlisle worked on the crossword from the newspaper. Jacob talked to Carlisle and Bella got the chance she had wanted to spend some time with her mother.
Esme was overflowing with joy. Her daughter was smiling, smiling more than she ever had. And if it was because of the handsome young man sitting on the loveseat then as far as she was concerned, he was accepted into the family.
She could tell her husband liked him. Carlisle was not hard to please, but when it came to his girls he was very protective. But Jacob had proven himself. He had shaken his hand in a strong grip, and he answered every question that Carlisle threw at him. Which was not many, but what there were, they were important.
Carlisle knew that Bella was a grown woman, that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She made her own decisions. But he was still, for all intents and purposes, her father, and he was going to meet any boy that came into her life. Especially since that meant that he was in Alice's life also.
But Carlisle could not say that he didn't approve of Jacob. He had a job. He was smart. He was going to college. He had a good family. Carlisle knew his father, and his late mother.
But still, Carlisle worried. His daughter was blind, and because of that people felt they could take advantage of her for it.
However, he did not think that Jacob was likely to be one of those people. He was genuinely kind, a decent human being. And those were hard to find, especially in a male. Carlisle would know.
He trusted Jacob. But was still going to keep an eye out. Better safe than sorry.
Bella wanted to laugh. They were so picture perfect.
Carlisle and Alice were doing the crossword in the newspaper. Esme was reading a magazine, and reading aloud articles every so often to Bella. Jacob was sitting on the loveseat with his legs crossed at the knees, and she was resting under his arm, turned sideways so that she could talk to Esme, her head on Jacob's chest where he was absently stroking her hair.
Bella thought that someone could probably take a snapshot right now, and put it in one of those horrid family magazines that you see at Dr. offices, but that no one ever picks up to read. Of course, Bella wasn't sure because she couldn't see the picture in reality, but the one in her mind was nice enough.
After Carlisle and Alice had finished the crossword and Esme has switched magazines, Alice announced that she was tired and Jacob said that he thought it was probably time he head home. He had school in the morning after all.
The three said goodbye to Carlisle and Esme, where Carlisle shook Jacob's hand and Esme hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"You're always welcome here Jacob. Thank you." She told him before they left. Jacob had responded the only way he knew how. He had hugged Esme tight and lifted her feet off the ground, causing her to squeal and laugh like a teenager.
Jacob had easily won Esme's heart.
When they got back to the cottage Jacob did leave. "Got to take the car home Babe. Don't want your parents to get suspicious. I'll be back, don't worry."
Bella had begrudgingly agreed and let him leave with a kiss.
Alice showered after Jacob left, and Bella did a load of laundry that included the sole pair of Jacob's pants that were at her house. She had one of his tee shirts in the bedroom; she planned on sleeping in that tonight.
After Alice got out of the shower and in to her PJ's she asked Bella if she would braid her hair so that it would curl in the morning and Bella agreed. They were sitting on Alice's bed, Alice between Bella's legs while she worked on her hair.
"Bella?" Alice asked.
"Hmm?"
"I like Jacob."
Bella paused. "Well that's good, because I like him too. But didn't we already have this discussion?"
"Yeah, but there's some stuff I wanted to ask you."
"Go ahead then," Bella responded, suddenly weary.
"Why is Jacob so tall?"
Bella thought. "Emmett is as tall as Jacob is."
"I know, but it's not just that Jacob is tall, it's that he feels tall. Like he's tall because he's like a prince or something, not like Emmett does. "
Bella had stopped completely. "Alice, there's something we need to talk about, you and me. But it's something important, and it's not going to happen tonight. And when we do have this talk, you have to be a big girl for a while and understand the severity of our discussion."
"Okay. When will we talk?"
"Soon. Not tonight. But soon."
"Okay. Can I ask another question?"
"You can ask as many as you like."
Bella resumed her braiding, Alice's hair working though her fingers relaxing.
Alice's voice was small. "Are you going to move away and leave me?"
"Alice! How could you think such a thing?"
"Well, Jacob lives on the Reservation with the other Indian people, and you and Jacob have been spending a lot of time together, and Esme told me that once adults get older they like to have their own space, and I don't want to invade yours or Jacobs, but I promise not to take up much room, and I won't be any trouble, and I really really don't want you to leave me." Alice spoke in a rush, her words melting together and her emotions showing her fear of being abandoned.
Bella turned her sister to face her. She spoke calmly.
"Alice, you and me, we're together. Forever. There is nothing on this planet, even Jacob, that could make me leave you. Anywhere I go, your gonna go with me. And anywhere you go, ill be there fro you as well. You need to understand that. Do you?"
Alice nodded, her face between Bella's palms.
"Secondly, you're right. Jacob and I have been seeing each other a lot, and he has been spending a lot of time here. However, his life is on the Reservation, and our's is here. So Jacob and I are just going to have to figure out a way to make that work out. Jacob might be spending a lot of time here, even some nights. Is that okay with you?"
Alice nodded. "I like it when Jacob stays here. It doesn't bother me."
Bella sighed. "Well, I'm glad for that. Maybe sometime though, we could go visit Jacob's house? We can't always ask him to come to our house, because sometime he may want us to visit him. Do you think you could survive that?"
"Do Jacob's people look like he does?"
Bella thought. "Well, his friends look fairly similar to him I would guess."
Alice smiled. "Then I am very okay with that."
Bella laughed. Her little sister was going to have a heart attack when she saw all the other huge wolf boys.
Bella finished up braiding her hair. "Is that all the questions you have?"
"For tonight." Alice agreed.
"Okay then, let's get you tucked in."
Alice got between the blankets and Bella tucked them in around her.
"If you have any more questions Alice, fro me or Jacob, you don't need to hesitate to ask. I'm sure he will answer your questions the same as I will, with the truth. I promise not to ie to you sweetie. Never have, never will."
"Never have, never will." Alice agreed.
Bella turned on the nightlight and closed the door quietly behind her.
She paused outside of her door, to breathe. And think about how she was going to answer all of her sisters questions without hurting her.
Bella went to her bedroom and stripped her clothes from the day, throwing them in the hamper. She took off her bra and changed her panties, thinking that if anything was going to happen with Jacob then she needed to go shopping for something cuter than what she had.
She found Jacob's shirt in the chair where he had thrown it yesterday and she slipped it on over her bare breasts.
Climbing into bed, she shivered at the cold blankets, realizing how spoiled she had become by always having Jacob's warmth around her. She curled into a ball, pulling the blankets up to her chin, and closed her unseeing eyes. She put her nose inside of the shirt and fell asleep with Jacob's smell surrounding her, all her senses soothed by the smell of him.
It was midnight whenever Bella opened her eyes, seeing a shadow of light that she thought might be the moon through her window. Then a shadow blocked the light, moving. The bed sank down and someone sighed as they crawled through the blankets to her.
"Jacob?" Her voice was gravely.
"Yeah. It's okay baby, go back to sleep. I'm here."
He proved his existence by stretching out his arms to grip her shoulders, forcing her to uncurl in order to get closer to him. He tried to turn her to her back so that he could curl up behind her but Bella resisted.
"No, don't. I'm seeing shadows. Let me wait until it passes."
Jacob froze. "You're seeing?"
"Shadows. Just shadows. The moon must be bright tonight."
"Yeah, it is." Jacob confirmed. They say in silence for a few moments before Bella moved, tracing her hands over Jacob's arms and his bare chest, tracing his biceps with her fingertips.
"I can see the outline of you. You're pretty in the light, Jacob."
He laughed quietly. "Coming from my blind girlfriend, considering its pitch black, I'll take that as a compliment."
Bella smiled. "Good. You should."
Soon though, the shadows passed, and Bella could see only the black dots that she was accustomed to.
She closed her eyes, always saddened at the loss of even a brief light.
"Is it over?" Jacob asked softly.
Bella nodded. But she smiled. "It's okay. Let's not worry about the small stuff. Will you hold me? It was so cold going to sleep without you."
Jacob moved in instantly. "You don't even have to ask. I'll hold you always, anywhere, anytime. Don't hesitate."
Bella rolled over so her back was facing him. Jacob moved in behind her as she moved closer to him. His body molded to hers, a second skin. A warm, soft, loving second skin.
Bella felt Jacob's nose against her shoulder, inhaling, and she giggled.
"Hey, that tickles." She accused.
"You're wearing my shirt." Jacob accused her back.
"It smells like you. And I needed it to go to sleep."
Jacob growled his approval.
"But, ya know, I much rather prefer the real thing."
Jacob stiffened and before he drew his hips back Bella felt something hard hit the back of her thigh.
"The real thing is right here. Forever." Jacob promised her.
"Good. Now move your hips back to where they were. You're taking away skin contact that I want."
Jacob hesitated, clearly not understanding.
"You said that you need the skin contact, that it's vital to you surviving. And that I need the contact too. And by moving away your taking away the contact. So move them back Jacob. I'm not afraid of a perfectly normal reaction for a male."
Jacob grumbled something about him being not just a male but moved his lower body back to where it was before in a quick movement, pointedly squishing his erection into the bed so that it didn't get any ideas being so close to Bella's rear.
Bella relaxed into his hold and Jacob tightened his arms around her several times. She was warm. She was happy. And she could feel Jacob's head behind hers on the pillow, his breath in her neck. She could feel him, smell him, hear him, all but taste him. Which she vowed she would be able to do soon. He filled her up, and Bella fell asleep again, this time in the arms of the real thing.
The week fell into their normal pattern. With only a few changes. Bella woke up in the morning, fought Jacob's arms to free her, and took a shower. She got Alice up and going and fixed breakfast, only now for three. Alice would be sitting at the table eating by the time that Jacob came in, fresh from a shower. He kissed Bella every morning in front of Alice before he would eat his breakfast. Then they would walk to the Rabbit which had always magically appeared by morning. Bella asked him about how his car was always gone at night but there when they awoke in the morning.
"Embry or Quill run it by during morning patrols. That way your parents don't get the idea I'm staying the night."
Bella had already had the discussion with Alice that Jacob spending the night was a secret, and not to be shared with Esme and Carlisle.
Jacob took Alice to school and then dropped Bella off at work, always going in to make sure no new scents were around. Then he would leave for school during the morning and do work at the Reservation in the afternoons, back at the bookstore in time to pick Bella up and go home. They picked Alice up from the main house together often enough that Esme eventually stole a moment alone to ask Bella how serious thigs were getting between her and her hansome young man.
"Mum…..Things are…good. And I don't want to jinx mysef!"
"Bella I'm your mother, I just want to know how serious your relationship is. Do you love him as much as he loves you?"
Bella had jerked back. "Mum, he dosnt love me!"
Esme laughed. "Oh, Bella. You can't see the way he looks at you sweetheart, and that breaks my heart. But you turst me, that boy is head over heels in love with you."
Bella blushed and smiled.
"So?" Esme prompted.
"So what?"
"Do you love him as much as he does you?"
"Oh. Well, yeah. I think I do."
Esme beamed. "Oh Baby, I'm so happy for you! He's such a nice young man. And very, very easy on the eyes."
Bella blushed while Esme rattled on about how beautiful their children would be.
Jacob held her every night while she slept, and Bella did not wake up screaming from a nightmare in weeks. Until the storm.
It was a Thursday night, and storms in October were rare. Especially in Washington. But they did happen.
Esme had called earlier in the evening to ask if Bella wanted to stay at the main house tonight, but Bella had declined. She told her mother that she and Alice would be okay, that she had to face her fears and get over it. Not to worry.
Bella didn't want to go to bed that night. She felt the storm coming, felt it in her bones. Alice went to bed after telling her sister that if she needed her, then she knew where to find her. Alice was always attuned to her sisters panic attacks when the storms came. She knew why they happened.
Jacob was dealing with some pack business, and Embry was sitting on her porch watching the clouds come in. Bella took him out a cup of tea and sat next to him on the steps. Embry noticed that Bella was tense, shaking slightly.
"Hey, you okay?"
Bella smiled sheepishly. "Don't like storms."
Embry frowned and put an arm around her, pulling her into his side. Bella sighed, thankful for the comfort, and rested her head on his shoulder.
When the winds came up heavy and blew the shawl she was wearing around Bella tensed again and shrunk further into Embry. He tightened his arm around her and Bella couldn't bring herself to look up at him.
"Jacob will be here soon." He assured her.
Bella sighed and pulled back slightly. "Thanks Embry."
"Hey, no problem."
"Embry?"
"Hmm?"
Bella's voice was small. "Will you stay until Jacob gets here?"
Embry looked over at her to see her face turned up toward the sky, the wind blowing her hair softly. But she was so tense she was rattling slightly, shaking. She reeked of fear.
Embry moved. He leaned his back against the railing and gripped Bella's arms. He picked her up like she weighed nothing and sat her down next to him, but closer to the house, so that his body was on the outside, against the storm. He tucked her under his arm and Bella put her face into his chest.
"I'm right here Bella. Not going anywhere."
Bella relaxed immediately, her body loosening under his hold. As they waited for Jacob to get home, the storm contunied to blow in, getting worse. Bella was getting scared again, Embry could sense it and smell it.
He comforted her the only way he knew how. He held her a little tighter, and hummed a melody he remembered from childhood.
Bella slowly began to relax again, Embry's melody giving her smething else to think about besides the weather.
Embry had never held a girl this long before, except in sexual situations. But holding Bella, his pack mother, was nothing anywhere like that. He wanted to comfort her until his Brother got there to take over for him. He just wanted Bella to not be scared. And humming was seeming to work. While Embry hummed he also tried to use the slight link all the Brothers had even in human form, his mind focused on telling Jacob that he needed to come home.
Bella wasn;t accustomed to being held. But she found that she liked it. Even in the arms of Embry she was okay. Normally she didn't like to be touched by strangers, but Embry didn't feel like a stranger. He felt like family. Which I guess he was, she thought.
Embry holding her was nothing like when Jacob held her. Jacob was a burn in her chest, he made her heart skip and made her feel like the most important girl in the world. He made her hot, made her burn. Made her feel loved like only a Mate can.
But with Embry, she still felt loved, just differently. Embry wasn't her Mate, but she still cared for him. And she was glad that he was here. She didn't like to be alone on these nights.
She still wished it was Jacob.
Jacob didn't stop at the edge of the woods as he rushed to the cottage. He was still in wolf form when he saw her.
She was outside on the porch, curled up against Embry's side and he was rocking her gently and humming. She smelled of fear, but not of Embry.
Jacob told himself not to freak out about Embry being the one holding her and not himself, but the possessive wolf in him was still angry. He tampered it down when he saw Bella's face.
She looked like she wanted to cry. She was curled into Embry's body like he was a lifeline.
Jacob trotted across the grass still phased and Bella's head snapped up with a nudge from Embry.
"Jacob?" She asked, and Jacob had to remind himself that his mate could not see him.
He walked up the steps and put his head into her lap. Bella took a deep breath but then let it out when she ran her fingers through his fur.
"Jacob." She sighed, burying her face in his fur.
Embry released her but Bella stayed curled against Jacob. Embry made his way down the steps and paused at the bottom at Jacob's soft bark.
Jacob lifted his head out of Bella's lap and jumped the steps to the bottom. He shuddered and was back to human form in moments.
"Jacob?" Bella's voice was frightened.
"Just a second Bella. I'm right here."
He took Embry few steps away and his hand gripped his brother's neck.
"Look Jacob, i know you're probably pissed-"
"Forget about that. You comforted her. And I would rather it be you than anybody else. Now. Tel me what it is that's got her so freaked."
"Not just freaked Jake. She's scared shitless. Like to the bone rattled. It's serious my man."
"What is it that has my Mate so frightened?" Jacob's voice was hard.
"The weather. Or the storm. I can feel it coming in, not gonna be a pretty one. And she can sense it too. She can sense it too well Jake. Anyway, it's not something we can fight. Otherwise I would have already tried. But holding her seems to help. Just thought you'd like to know."
Jacob pinched his nose between his fingers.
"Did she mention any reason why the storm is scaring her so much?"
"Nope, not a word."
Jacob sighed. "Thanks Embry. I really appreciate you being here. Both for her sake and mine."
"Hey, any time Brother. I'm always around. And anytime you need someone to look after her, all you gotta do is ask."
Jacob clapsed his brother on eth shoulder, a gesture of respect from alpha to wolf. "I know Em. I know. Now get your butt home before the rain hits. No one wants to smell wet dog."
Embry barked out a laugh and called a goodbye to Bella on his way across the yard. Jacob walked back to the porch and crouched down in front of his Mate.
"Bella?"
She rocked toward him and Jacob took her hands in his. They were like ice.
"You want to go inside?"
Bella nodded.
Jacob stood up and bent down to pick her up. It was then re realized he was still naked.
"Is Alice asleep?"
Bella nodded again and Jacob breathed a sigh of relief.
He bent and scooped Bella into his arms. She put her arms around his neck and buried her face in his bare shoulder.
Jacob locked the screen door to keep it from blowing in the heavy wind and then dead bolted the front door, with Bella still in his arms. He carried her past the living room and straight into what he had come to think of as their bedroom.
Jacob sat her down on the bed and went to the dresser to pull out a pair of sweats that he had left here for occasions such as these.
When he went back to the bed Bella was in the same position that he had left her in. She had on yoga pants and a fleece sweater, a white knitted shawl wrapped tightly around her. Jacob knew shw would rather sleep in a tee shirt, but hesitated to change her.
"Bella? You gonna respond or am I going to have to get you ready for bed myself?"
"I don't want to go to sleep." She whispered, her mouth barely moving at all.
Jacob frowned. "I'm here baby. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
"I don't want to go to sleep." Bella repeated in the same hollow tone.
Jacob was worried. "We don't have to go to sleep yet. We can stay up and talk or read or whatever for a while. But why don't we get you into some more comfortable to go to sleep in, whenever we do decide it's time for bed."
Bella took a moment but she eventually nodded, but didn't move.
Jacob moved for her. He pulled the shawl off her and Bella responded. She helped him get her shirt over her head and took off her pants for him. Jacob grabbed the shirt of his she had worn the night before and slipped it over her head. When Bella reached under her shirt and pulled off her bra Jacob turned his eyes away even though he couldn't see anything.
Once she was dressed Jacob lifted her and pulled down the covers.
He plopped himself down on the bed and pulled her with him.
"Since you're not ready to go to sleep yet what do you want to do?"
Bella seemed to consider his question and Jacob rejoiced that she was responding to him.
"Talk. About anything. I just want to listen to you talk. Please?"
Jacob smiled hesitantly. "Well, that I can do."
They lay in bed for a few hours wide awake while Jacob talked quietly. He told her stories from his childhood. He talked about his mother and his older sisters. He talked about Embry and Quill when they were little kids and how crazy they had all been.
Bella listened, not saying anything the whole time. But she did laugh a little bit when Jacob told her stories from when he was a very very young boy. And that gave Jacob hope, so he told the most of them to get a reaction out of her.
Until the first clap of thunder when Bella let out a little squeal of fright and turned her face into Jacob's chest almost quicker than even his eyes could follow.
Jacob grabbed ahold of her immediately, stopping in the middle of his tale.
"It's okay, I'm right here. Right here Bella."
"I don't like storms." She murmured against his skin.
"That's okay. I hated them when I was little."
"But I'm not little anymore. I should be better than this, I shouldn't let them bother me. But they do." She spoke filed with self-hatred and Jacob was angry.
"Bella!" Jacob spoke sharply. "Do not speak like that! There's nothing to be ashamed of! Storms can be scary. But I'm here now. And nothing is going to happen. I promise."
Bella was quiet for a while.
"Can we lay down now? I think I might be ready to try and sleep."
Jacob sighed in relief. "Of course baby. Come here, let me hold you."
Jacob pulled the blankets up over them and Bella kept her face buried in Jacob's chest. His arms wound around her back and he waited a long while until he heard her breathing deepen slightly before Jacob let himself relax into sleep. The storm was not as loud inside the house, but the rain had started to pelt the windows. Bella stirred at the sound and Jacob hushed her quickly and held her tighter. Bella resumed her slumber.
Untill about 2 in the morning. When she woke up screaming and thrashing; screaming to get off her, that it wasn't her fault, for help. In her dreams, no help came.
In reality, Jacob was scared shitless. Bella wouldn't stop screaming and she was flailing around wildly. She was screaming for help and Jacob was frozen. He didn't know what to do. He tried to grab her to still her but that only angered her and made her screams worse.
The door opened and Alice rushed in, her fairy pajamas glowing in the light from the hallway. She barely spared Jacob a glance as she climbed up on the bed and grabbed her sister's hand. She began to sing a song in a language Jacob didn't recognize.
She was not so much singing as she was shouting to be heard over Bella's screams. She rubbed circles in her sister's palm and slowly Bella's screaming dimmed. She stopped moving around and moved toward Alice, clutching her hand where it held hers. Alice lifted her sister's face into her lap and the hand that was not rubbing circles in her hand began to stroke through Bella's hair. It took a while but Bella was asleep and breathing peacefully eventually.
Jacob was still frozen, staring at Alice.
She looked up at him but didn't stare. Instead she kept her focus on Bella and her singing.
After a few more moments she stopped singing but continued the stroking motions.
"It's the storms. They scare her." Alice defended of her sister's breakout.
"Alice, that was a major panic attach. Does that happen often?"
"Only when it storms. And someone doesn't know how to prevent it. But don't worry. I can teach you. Esme taught me. It's not hard, you just have to break through the nightmare."
Jacob was quiet for a moment. "What's the nightmare of Alice?"
She sighed, in a way that was much too mature for a ten year old. "The night she became blind. The bad day. It stormed that night, hard storms. And now every time it so much as rains she relives that day. The worse the storm the worse the nightmare."
"Alice what happened to her? To you?"
"That's not my story to share. I was a baby. I don't remember much of anything."
Jacob didn't know what to say.
He cleared his throat. "Alice why don't you stay in here with her for the rest of the night. I can go sleep on the couch. I think she needs you more than she needs me at the moment." But as soon as he got up Bella stirred.
"No. Stay. See, she's going to become upset if you leave. This bed is big enough. We'll all sleep here. Maybe if Bella has both of us she won't have any more nightmares." She said hopefully.
Jacob nearly choked. "You mean that happens more than once a night?"
Alice nodded to the window. "It's still raining, and lightening's in the distance. Storm's not over yet. And as long as the storms still alive, so are her nightmares."
"Jesus." Jacob breathed.
"Not even close." Alice laughed.
They stopped the chatter after that.
Bella wrapped her arms around her little sister subconsciously in her sleep and Alice went to sleep easily. Jacob however was wide awake. He had his hand resting on Bella's waist and had his head propped on his other elbow.
He kept fidgeting with the blankets over his mate and her sister. He wanted them to be warm enough.
He wanted to be able to take care of his Mate. Not to force her little sister to do it.
He couldn't help feeling a stab of anger that Bella hadn't felt the need to tell him about her problem with storms, or the cause of them.
But now was not the time to hassle her about keeping secrets. Now was the time to watch over Bella and Alice while they slept. Keep them safe.
Which, unlike save Bella from her nightmares, was something he could do.
Bella didn't want to open her eyes. She was warm. And she could still hear the rain pounding against the house.
There was an odd sensation, like being placed in front of a space heater and then behind a pillow.
Bella opened her eyes out of habit. She had her arms wrapped around someone. Alice. She was holding Alice. And someone was behind her, their arms wrapped around her. Jacob. He was behind her.
They were still in Bella's bed, they had to be. Alice's bed would not hold the three.
She carefully released Alice and rolled over to face Jacob. He didn't sound like his breathing was deep in sleep and she moved her hand up to his face. His eyes were open.
"You're awake." Bella spoke.
"So are you."
Bella cleared her throat and shivered involuntarily. Jacob's voice did not sound as warm as usual and that frightened her. Had she done something while asleep?
Jacob saw her shiver and scooted closer so that she could absorb more of his body's natural heat.
"Jacob?" She asked hesitantly.
"Yeah."
She cleared her throat again and decided against her original question. "What time is it?"
Jacob looked over his shoulder.
"Seven."
"Oh. Uhm, okay."
Jacob didn't offer to move and Bella didn't want to push him.
But it was late and she knew that Alice had to go to school and she had to go to work.
"Jacob do you mind if I get up to go shower?"
"Yes. I do mind."
His voice was defiantly not normal.
"Well, I need to get up. Alice has to get ready for school and I have to go to work."
Jacob moved, fast. He was standing by the bed in moments. And he gripped her arm and pulled her with him.
Bella moved willingly, nervous. She knew he would never hurt her but old fears simmered up all the same.
Jacob pulled her to the kitchen and stopped. He took her hand and put it on eh intercom button to the main house.
"Tell your father that you got the day off work. Alice needs a ride to school."
Bella protested. "Jacob I don't have the day off! And I can take Alice to school if you don't want to-"
"No. Call your father. Tell him. Now."
Bell didn't know what else to do. She pushed the button and recited the message. Carlisle happily agreed to take Alice and told her to send Alice up whenever she was ready.
Bella took her finger off the button.
"Okay, now do you mind-"
"Go wake Alice up. Get her ready for school."
"Jacob!"
"Bella, not now. Just do it." His voice was hard.
Bella walked away from him. She woke Alice up.
"Alice?"
She was sitting on Alice's bed while her sister got ready for school.
"Yessum?"
"Did something happen last night? Is that why you were sleeping with me?"
Alice hesitated.
"Sissy, I don't mean to intrude. But you need to tell Jacob about the accident. He deserves to know. "
"Alice what happened last night?"
"It stormed Bell. You know what happens when it storms."
Bella rubbed her palms roughly over her eyes. "I don't remember anything."
"Well that's good. It's okay Bella. You just gave Jacob a scare. But he needs to know about the bad times, especially if you like him as much as I think you do."
Bella turned her face toward her sister. "Alice you're so old for your age."
Alice giggled. "Just like you!"
Bella smiled sadly. "Yeah, I guess that's just in our blood. Okay!" She decided to lighten the subject.
"Carlisle is taking you to school. Let's get you a pop tart and send you up to the main house."
Alice kissed Bella on the cheek and closed the door behind her in the passage to the main house. Bella sighed and turned around, sensing Jacob in the living area.
She leaned against the doorway in the kitchen, facing him. She thought.
"Jacob?"
No response.
"Jacob you've got to say something."
No response.
Bella sighed and turned around to the kitchen. She put on a pot of water for coffee and listened to the pot gurgle, the sound relaxing. She poured herself a cup once it was done and added her crème.
She took a sip. And that was all she got.
Warm arms wrapped around her from behind and Bella let out a gasp in surprise.
Jacob came up behind her close. Every inch of him came to cover every inch of her.
Bella set her mug down on the counter so that she could wrap her hands around his wrists that were wrapping around her.
Bella wasn't expecting it but she realized something quickly. The lower part of Jacob's body was pushing into hers and there was something hard and heavy against her back.
Bella gasped as her body immediately responded, her nipples tightening and her a rush going straight to the secret part of her.
Jacob inhaled deeply and growled softly as if he could smell her arousal. Which, she thought maybe he could.
Bella tried to turn to face him but Jacob held her still. He pushed his hands up her stomach and pushed her shirt with it. He ran is hands across the skin of her stomach and Bella opened her mouth in wordless pleasure at the warmth of his hands.
Jacob's nose moved to her neck and he kissed her shoulders gently.
Bella rocked back against him and Jacob purred the sound of the animal.
She did it again, moving her back and lower body into his so that his erection was rubbed through their clothes. Jacob threw his head back and then snapped out of it. He gripped her round the waist and spun her to face him, her bottom against the counter. Before Bella got the chance to kiss him he was bending down to scoop her up into his arms. Bella gasped but wrapped her arms around his neck and went willingly. She thought they were going down the hall and her thoughts were confirmed when Jacob threw her down and she landed with a bounce on the bed.
Jacob didn't follow her as she had expected. Instead he lay down softly next to her and pulled her neck down to his. He kissed her with passion and Bella returned it immediately. When Bella tried to run her hands over his chest Jacob pulled back. He went up on one elbow and ran his hands down her shoulders and arms.
Jacob was being way too gentle in Bella's opinion.
She was burning on the inside and he was calm cool and collected.
Bella groaned and braced herself to roll on top of Jacob. She wanted to make Jacob burn as much as she was.
Jacob caught her muscles tensing fro movement before she could make her move though.
Bella groaned. "Jacob" she panted.
"Yeah?"
"More Jacob. More."
Jacob gave her what she wanted.
He moved up on his knees and lifted one knee so he was straddling her hips. Jacob lowered his body to rest lightly on hers.
While he focused his attention on her lips Bella let her hands roam his chest. She loved the ridges and hard muscle.
Jacob moved his lips to her neck and then her collarbone. Bella gasped at the feel of his tongue over her jugular and shivered at the contact.
Jacob took this as a prompt and moved closer.
Bella was really getting into it when Jacob abruptly pulled away.
"Bella what happened when you were a child?"
It was like ice water had been spilled over her body.
Bella had frozen completely.
Jacob pulled away and used his arms to support his body above her.
"I need to know Bella. No more secrets."
"W-wha-what made you ask that?"
Had Jacob not been a wolf with superior hearing he would not have heard her she spoke so quiet.
Jacob moved so that he was on his side next to, leaving up on one elbow. He hooked his leg over both of hers so that she was surrounded by him.
He used his free hand to tuck some stray hair behind her ear.
"2 am. You were moving around, trying to get away from someone. You were screaming 'Help'."
Bella buried her face in her hands.
"I'm sorry-"
"No. I don't want any apology bullshit. I want answers. Ones I should have had before now."
"Jacob…" She said hesitantly.
"No Bella. You will tell me. And you'll do it now. You weren't born blind, were you." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
Bella nodded her head. And made an impossible decision.
Bella had no choice. She told.
She kept her hands over her face in shame; sure that Jacob would walk away and never return after he heard her story.
She cried. She couldn't help it. Not the soul wracking sobs that she used to, but tears streaked her cheeks all the same.
Her voice however remained as steady as it ever had. She shut off her mind and did her best not to relive any of the horrid memories.
Jacob didn't move at all during her story. If anything he became more still.
Bella hesitated about telling him some of the physical parts, worrying that being her Mate he might over react, but Jacob would sense her hesitation and remind her,
"All of it Bella."
And she would go on.
She went straight threw the bad night without stopping until she was talking about how Esme and Carlisle had taken in her and Alice and how they were now their family. How Eric, their son, said he had known all along that Bella and Alice would eventually end up with Esme and Carlisle.
Bella ended her sad story on what she considered the best part, her life with Carlisle and Esme and Alice, and now Jacob too.
When she had no more words to say she fell silent. Jacob didn't say anything either and that worried Bella. Was he going to run? She knew that hearing of her childhood had to be hard, but he was strong, he wouldn't think less of her would he?
Jacob pulled her hands from her face. He wiped the tears from her cheeks softly.
"Why did you try to hide this from me?"
Bella sniffled. "Because I was scared you would think less of me. It's not exactly an easy story to tell, Jacob."
Jacob put his face down in to her neck.
"Nothing, ever, could make me think less of you Bella. I love you. You're my mate. You are my everything. You had an absolutely unimaginably horrible childhood and it changed your life. But that made you into the wonderful person you are today. And I love that person. But that doesn't mean that I wish with every fiber of my being I could change what happened to you."
Bella sighed and closed her eyes. The darkness was no change.
"I just wish that I could be better for you, not scarred and damaged. No Alpha deserves someone so damaged."
Jacob moved quicker than she could follow. One moment he was beside her and the next he was rolled on top of her again.
"There are many words I would use to describe you. Damaged isn't even close.
And then he kissed her. Which Bella decided was exactly what she needed.
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