Jacob tried to scrub the grease off the barbeque, after it had been given its greatest task in decades. Cooking for five hungry boys, who each ate enough for three, was no easy feat, and the small hot plate was hardly enough to accommodate their needs. Jacob had insisted on them eating at his place though, and they had all enjoyed the burgers. Molly had tagged along, attached to Jack at the hip, and they'd had quite the family affair.

Now that there were no more secrets between them, Jacob stopped thinking of the pack as a burden. He hadn't realised that he did view them that way until they proved him wrong.

They were all siting around outside, cups in varying degrees of fullness clasped in their hands and conversation flowing easily. There was laughter and storytelling, and the wolves treated each other with an easy and steady camaraderie. They were brothers, now, in every important sense of the word.

Jacob was keeping up with the conversation, still trying to clean the cooking instrument, only adding to it when his own actions threatened to be blown massively out of proportion. Pond tended to exaggerate horribly, as long as his audience was still laughing.

He wished that Edward could be with them. They didn't spend all of their time together, wouldn't want to, but Edward was unable to enter the reservation at all in accordance with an agreement made long, long ago.

Still, spending quality time with his boys was a good way to spend an afternoon in his books. Jacob couldn't help but be grateful for these people who had wandered into his life and decided to stay there.

Jacob was focused on a particularly persistent spot of black something or other, when Harley approached him. Jacob could never help but be a little worried whenever this happened. While he had quite a few intellectuals on his side, it was Harley who saw the most, and he always had a very serious manner when he had bad or troubling news. The boy seemed to take most of the responsibility of the group, putting what he saw around him to good use, but also staying engaged when the others would phase out.

That serious air was with him now, and he seemed to approach cautiously. Jacob knew better than to expect a light hearted conversation topic. What was that about there always being something else to worry about?

"Hey Harley. What's up?"

"Jake. I knew that you said that it would be best if it remained quiet, but I should probably tell you that the council knows about you and Edward."

Jacob felt his heart skip a beat. After only a second of panic, he managed to remind himself that this was nothing to worry about. It had been silly to think that he could keep it from them in the first place.

"How?"

"Jack told Molly about it, she's very happy for you, but the way," Harley digressed. "But he didn't tell her about the secrecy thing. Somehow, from there, Sam's grandfather found out."

"Okay. That's fine." Jacob sighed, giving up on the greasy hotplate as his mobile began ringing.

"You're really okay with this? You're not angry with Jack or Molly?"

"Of course not. I probably should have told Sam myself."

Harley looked relieved. Jacob was proud to see that he'd been worried about his family too. He fished his buzzing phone out of his pocket with some difficulty. The greater party heard the phone and stopped their talking to see what was going on.

"You have a phone, Jake? This is the first I've heard of it. I don't think I have your number." Pond spoke up, managing to sound offended.

"We don't really need each other's numbers, Pond. Besides, my phone is for friends only." Jacob shot back, to laughter from the others.

"So just Edward then. Tell me, is that Eddie now?" Pond fake mocked.

Jacob didn't answer the younger man, just peered at the caller ID and, shooting Pond a warning look, answered it.

"Hey Edward."

He ignored the jokes at his expense going on behind him, listening instead to the voice filtering through the phone. His worry grew as Edward told him some of what had happened and requested his immediate presence.

Hitting the little red button, Jacob moved towards the back door to the house, grabbing his keys from just inside and shrugging on a jacket.

Throwing a parting word to the group, ignoring their confused and disapproving farewells, he got in his car and sped away.

(...)

Edward was waiting in the open door way, arms crossed tightly across his chest. Jacob ran up and followed him inside. They sat down on opposite sides of the room, Jacob waiting impatiently for more information. What Edward had said on the phone had been nowhere near enough, and Jacob still barely understood what had happened.

"What did he say?"

Edward paused before he answered. He seemed to be unwilling to speak, or unsure of where to start.

"He was only here for a few minutes."

Jacob waited with baited breath for more. He had known that the council wouldn't look kindly towards their relationship, but he didn't understand what had been so important that it warranted a personal visit from the older Sam to the Cullen household.

"He wants me to leave. He asked me to leave before…"

"Before what, Edward?"

"Before I do any more damage."

There was something in Edward's voice that told Jacob there was more to all of this.

"Tell me everything. What he said, and what he was thinking."

Without further hesitation, Edward told him.

(...)

Edward was getting used to being completely alone in his house. Even the ghosts didn't stick around anymore. It was nice, quiet and calming, so strange after so long being haunted.

He was sitting at the piano in the living room, the keys still untouched but lines paper before him, brimming with the new notes and phrases that he didn't want to let escape.

The doorbell rang. Edward had been expecting it, he'd heard the car pulling up the drive way and the footsteps on the path. He knew it wasn't Jacob. In fact, he had a pretty good idea of who it was. And if the thoughts coming his way were any indication, he knew why he was here.

But the bell had been rung, and he supposed it would be remiss of him not to remain on speaking terms with the leader of the Quileutes. So he did the only polite thing, he answered the door.

Jacob had been right, Sam was old. Though time had done well for the man.

"Hello Sam. It has been a while."

Sam grunted and shot forward a quick greeting. Edward led him into the house.

"I've never really been one for chit chat, so if you don't mind, just say what you came here to say."

"You know why I'm here then."

Edward nodded, smile showing just a little too much teeth. He was having a hard time keeping the smile on his face while listening to the thoughts flitting through his visitor's mind.

"We don't want you here Edward. It's time you went back to your own people."

"Who doesn't want me here, Sam? As far as I know, the boys are fine with it, and I'm pretty sure Jacob doesn't want me to leave."

"I don't know what you've done to him. But it has to stop. You're…its wrong. Surely you can see that. You and he, you can't be together. You have to leave, before you make things worse. For everyone."

Edward could feel his stomach turning over, felt like purging his mind of the words and thoughts of this man. Sam wouldn't stop talking.

"This is unnatural, it's wrong. We don't need the pack to be exposed to such-"

"Get out." Edward spat out. He didn't need to hear anymore. Sam looked taken aback, as if he had forgotten that Edward was even there. Edward flitted back to the door, holding it open. He stood defiantly straight, not caring that Sam flinched at his sudden reappearance. Sam moved slowly towards the door and out into the open air, casting what he probably thought was a warning glance at Edward. As if he would be threatened by such a close-minded man.

Edward's first thought had been to warn Jacob. If Sam was going to go there next, Jacob needed to know what he was about to be facing. Edward was in his room upstairs in seconds, throwing random objects aside until he found his mobile.

Only after the call had been made did he begin to calm down. He was angry, about what Sam had said, but more about what Sam had been thinking. It had been completely unexpected until it happened, nothing he had learned or experienced from Jacob could have prepared him.

(...)

Jacob was up and pacing the room. Edward had barely told him anything yet, but he couldn't help freaking out. Sam had no right to come here and accuse Edward of anything, or to try and evict him from his own home.

"I'm sorry Edward. This is my fault. I'm-"

"Don't make me repeat what you said to me yesterday. Because I remember it word for word."

Jacob spared a smile, but didn't stop walking back and forth.

"That's not all of it."

Jacob paused his steps for a second, but then kept walking.

"Of course it's not. Well?"

"He was talking about the whole vampire werewolf thing. Which, you have to admit, is pretty unconventional. But that's not all he was thinking."

Jacob stopped moving. He didn't want to ask Edward what he meant, but the man continued anyway.

"It wasn't about the whole mythological bit. Not completely. It's not even about our history. It's about you and me. Edward and Jacob. And it's about us both being male."

Jacob narrowed both of his eyes. Edward still didn't stop speaking.

"He thinks that I…enchanted you into this or something. You're under my spell."

Jacob felt anger shattering across his body. This was so utterly nonsensical. That Sam would think even half of these things, after everything that they'd been through. After Jacob had actually listened to him and his advice. It was beyond belief.

Jacob swallowed down his anger, deciding resolutely on his course of action.

"I have to go and talk to him. This was not acceptable. I don't care what he thinks."

Jacob was already moving towards the door, picking up the jacket that he had cast aside on entering. Edward caught his arm to stop him by the door.

"He thought something else. I think he knew that I was listening."

Jacob waited, impatient. Whatever it was, it wasn't going to change his mind or destination.

"Sam is going to find some way to take matters into his own hands. He'll find a way to get rid of me."

(...)

Jacob didn't go into town very often. There wasn't much reason to, when he had everything that he needed and he was used to living in solitude. Now, though, he was seeking someone out, and his search took him into the heart of the La Push reservation. The day was dying down, it was late afternoon and the roads weren't very busy.

Soon after he had stopped shifting, Sam had moved himself and Emily into town. He made sure that he was accessible when he took over for Jacob's father as their Council Elder. He was accessible to Jacob now.

Jacob pulled the Rabbit up the driveway and got out of the car. It was a nice house, stout and well built, constructed out of red brick and white awnings. Jacob could hear two people inside the house. Emily must be home. Jacob didn't want to intrude on her contentment, but he had to talk to Sam.

He reached the door and knocked.

Emily opened the door. She looked shocked to see Jacob standing on her doorstep, but her face broke into a huge smile. She pulled Jacob in for a hug.

Jacob tried to remember the last time he had seen Emily. Then he tried to reconcile that image with the little old lady he saw before him now. He almost wouldn't have recognised her, if it hadn't been for the scars. They still lined her face, barely visibly with age. She, like her husband, had aged well. Her grip on Jacob was strong, stronger than he had expected.

When she released him, he smiled warmly at her. He had missed her affection. Though now she felt like his grandmother.

"Jacob. It has been too long. Please, come inside. Sam's in the television room."

Jacob went into the house, moving in the direction Emily indicated. The house was comfortably decorated, clean but well lived in. Jacob found Sam where Emily had told him to look. The old man looked up when Jacob entered the room, turning back to the television. Jacob felt the sting that accompanied the lack of a greeting even more sharply in contrast with the one he had just experienced from Sam's wife. He waited for Sam to say something, not trusting himself to start. Sam waited a minute or so, as if making completely sure that Jacob wasn't just going to leave, and then directed the remote towards the small television and switching it off. The screen blinked into darkness as the set made a strange crackling sound.

Sam watched the remaining outlines slowly fade off the dark background, until there was no trace left. Then he turned to Jacob, picking up a paper from the coffee table next to him and opening it on his lap. He didn't meet Jacob's eyes.

"Jake. I didn't expect you. I was going to pay you a visit tomorrow. Emily's been asking me to bring her round. But I heard that the boys were around at your place, and I thought I should leave you be."

The man's tone was light and conversational. Jacob gritted his teeth, unable to answer. Slowly, he nodded.

"Ah well. I hope you all had a good afternoon then."

"We did."

Anger bubbled under his skin. The room was too hot, to close, and he was too old to lose control of himself. Sam smiled at him. Jacob didn't know whether Sam knew why he was there or not, but it was difficult to believe that the man wasn't picking up on the anger radiating off his skin.

"Clam down, son. Don't do anything irrational."

"I am trying very hard not to Sam."

"Jacob, what are you doing here?"

"Well, you paid my boyfriend a visit, I thought I should return the favour."

Sam flinched at the word. Boyfriend. An unnecessary confirmation of everything Edward had said. He finally looked up again, folding the paper and putting it back on the cluttered table. He sighed, removing the wiry glasses that had been perching on his nose, tucking them away.

"Jacob, please don't speak like that in my house."

Jacob stared at him, questioning the right he had to demand such a luxury after how he'd spent at least part of the day. Sam looked back at him and sighed again. Jacob felt his anger rising even more, but attempted to keep himself in check.

"Fine. But I would ask you to never, ever, speak to Edward again."

Sam shrugged, a movement Jacob took for affirmation. He didn't want Edward to be exposed to the thoughts he'd had to hear today.

Jacob had grown up knowing Sam. He'd gotten to know him even more as part of his pack. Sam had been a bit tough, but he had always been doing what was best for the group, best form the community they had been protecting. Jacob had never thought his capable of this. Then again, while he hadn't been looking, Sam had grown old. Maybe other things changed too.

"Well, I guess it doesn't matter. You're here now, and we need to talk." Jacob nodded. After his request, Sam could have absolutely no doubt as to why he had come.

"Did you know that vampire venom is lethal to werewolves? According to legend, a single drop is enough to kill. They are our natural enemy. Nature made us to stop them."

"I know the old stories Sam. I've sat by your side and heard them a thousand times. But he's not our enemy. You know that. The pact…The truce-"

"He's a vampire, Jacob. Don't you see what you are doing?"

Their voices were rising in anger, but Emily knew better than to come and check on them. Jacob was standing by the doorway, hardly having moved into the room, steps hampered by shock.

"Exactly. He's a vampire. I know exactly what he is, and I know that's not the real issue here. You know, I always believed that you actually knew what you were doing. I thought you were a good leader, when it counted. But now I wonder how much of it was based on your personal bias. Do you know that our legends not only accept, but celebrate the existence of two-spirit werewolves?"

"Jake," Sam continued, his voice amiable and warm. Almost like a father, Jacob thought, before Sam went on. "I know what it's been like for you. You've been so alone, for so long. I can understand why you would be susceptible to…the advances of another…person. But it's not right."

"You don't understand, Sam. I am not 'susceptible' to anything, and Edward didn't make any 'advances' towards me. That's not what's going on here."

"It has to be. You're right I don't understand. Because I know you Jacob. I've been in your head, and you've been in mine. This is not you. You're not…" Sam strangled the word in his throat, apparently unwilling to say it.

"Not what? Not gay?" Jacob laughed, the sound harsh and humourless. "Edward was wrong."

Jacob began pacing, unable to stand still any longer. Everything that he was feeling was threatening to come flowing out of his pores, be he knew that he couldn't let it go, not here.

"You know he told me," Jacob resumed, barely taking any notice of Sam. "When I first…when he first told me that he knew, he told me that you guys would probably already know. Because of the whole mind thing, or something else, I don't know. But I guess I managed to keep it hidden pretty well." Jacob's hands gesticulated wildly, punctuating the anger behind his words.

"You've been tricked, Jacob, lead on. You don't really feel what you think you feel. You can't. Look, we want him gone. He's not a good influence for the boys, and while you're with him, neither are you."

"Not a good influence? You don't even know them. You obviously haven't been paying attention again, or you might know a little something about the pack."

Sam had risen from his seat, rage flashing behind his eyes. Clearly he didn't believe a word of what Jacob was saying. He stepped forward, trying to intimidate Jacob, like he had as alpha. But Jacob Black was not born to whimper at the feet of an inferior man. Never had been. Standing tall, Jacob listened to Sam's parting words with undisguised but controlled fury.

"If you don't get rid of him, we will. We will find a way to stop this. We'll find a way to bring you back, Jake. Whatever it takes."

Sam stared for a few seconds into Jacob's non-responsive eyes, then he turned his back and settled back into the room. The stupid action, turning his back on an angry wolf, did nothing but bait Jacob's anger.

But he wanted no more to do with Sam, not while he continued to believe the ignorant crap he was spouting. Jacob turned tail and walked out of the house as calmly as he could.