A/N: I'm combining the next two chapters because they're short ones.

All characters belong to S. Meyer. Major plot belongs to J. Austen. I'm just bringing it all to modern-day Forks.

A&A Chapters 13 AND 14.

"Sweetheart," Charlie addressed Renee at breakfast the next morning, "I really hope that you're planning on making a nice meal for dinner tonight, because we're expecting a guest."

Renee smirked. "What do you mean a guest? You didn't tell me you'd invited anyone over! I wasn't expecting anyone today, except maybe Leah Clearwater, and whatever I feel inclined to make for dinner should be good enough for her. It's not as if she gets anything better at home."

"The guest I'm referring to is a man."

Renee's eyes sparkled. "A man? Why it must be Jasper Whitlock, I'm sure of it! Oh I'll be so glad to have Jasper over here for dinner. But dang it, all we have in the freezer is a bag of chicken wings and some left over pot luck from last week. Lauren, Jessica, grab your bags. We need to make an emergency trip to the market!"

"It's not Jasper," said Charlie with a roll of his eyes. "It's someone we haven't seen since he was a young kid."

This statement interested everyone at the breakfast table, and Charlie smiled mischievously at the group of curious women in front of him. After he'd had his fun he explained,

"About a month ago, I received an email, and about two weeks ago, I finally responded to it, since I considered it a matter of some importance and requiring a quick response. You see, it was from Billy Black's son, Jacob Black who, should I die before I can finish repaying the debt we owe him, can kick all of your butt's outta here and take this house."

"Aw crap Charlie!" cried Renee. "Please don't talk about that dirty dog. You know I can't stand hearing about him or that whole situation. I think it's the biggest damn injustice that they'd have the right to kick us out of our own house if we can't repay the debt to them. If I were you, I would've tried to do something about that already."

Bella and Alice tried to explain to Renee the nature of a debt, pointing out as delicately as possible that maybe if Renee controlled her spending a bit, Charlie wouldn't have had to borrow money from his friend Billy Black to keep up with their bills. And when Billy and Charlie had a fall out a few years ago, Billy had insisted that the considerably sized loan be repaid as quickly as possible, making it necessary for Charlie to take out a second mortgage on the house, and putting a huge strain on him, since Renee refused to work. But Renee refused to understand and continued insisting that first Billy and then Jacob were heartless bastards and should've just forgotten about the debt.

"It certainly is a very unfair situation," Charlie agreed sarcastically. "And certainly, there's nothing that can clear Jacob of inheriting his father's role as our creditor now that Billy's gone. But if you'll let me read his email to you, it may soften you up a bit."

"I'm sure as hell that it won't. And I think it's very nervy of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical, if I may add. I hate such two-faced people. Why couldn't he just stop speaking to you altogether, the way his father did?"

"Why indeed?" Charlie humored Renee. "But he did seem to be thinking about his father when he wrote this email, as you'll hear."

He then read the email to them.

Seattle, Washington

June 2010

I've always regretted the disagreement between you and my late father, and since his passing, I've been eager to fix it. But for a long time I was held back from contacting you by my own doubts, feeling as if making up with you would be a betrayal to his memory, you who he loved to hate. But my mind is made up now, and since receiving my degree in Political Science, I've been lucky enough to secure a position as Assistant to the Senior Senator from Seattle, Ms. Jane De Volturi, whose influence and assistance has helped me secure a small name for myself in the political circles of Seattle, and who I plan to serve with great respect while at the same time being ready to do all I can for the people of this country. As a Senator's Assistant, I feel it my duty to promote fairness and peace to all citizens of this country, and as such I'm pretty confident that the actions I'm taking by contacting you are commendable, and that the circumstances of my being able to call on a debt owed to me by your family at any time will be overlooked and not lead you to reject the olive branch I'm offering. I'm extremely ashamed that I could be the cause of any worries on the part of the females in your family, and would like to take this opportunity to apologize for it as well as to assure you that I plan to do everything possible to make it up to you – but more on that later.

If you have no objection in letting me stay in your house, I'd like to stop in Forks for a visit the first week in July, and would like to stay for one week. My absence shouldn't be too much of a hardship for Ms. De Volturi, since I've already found someone to cover for me during the week I'll be gone.

I wish you and your family the very best and remain respectfully yours,

Jacob Black

"We can expect Jake at four o'clock this afternoon," Charlie informed the stunned women, folding up the letter. "He seems to have grown into a polite young man, and should be a fun new friend for you girls. Especially if Senator De Volturi gives him time to visit again in the future. And it's pretty thoughtful of him to think of the women in this family, and if he's under the impression that he needs to make some sort of amends to them, I sure as hell won't stop him."

"I've got no idea what for or how he wants to make amends, but I guess it's the thought that counts," said Alice.

Bella was humored by Jacob's obvious deference to Senator de Volturi, as well as his desire to help all the citizens of the United States. That was in sharp contrast to the Jake she remembered from her early teen years, the one who used to charge non-Quileutes to swim at First Beach in La Push.

"There's something odd about Jake's email," Bella said. "I can't quite put my finger on it. His email was a tad bit on the pretentious side, don't you think? And why is he apologizing for accepting payments for a debt that was legally owed to his father? Are we supposed to believe that he'd cancel the debt if he could? Do you think he's in his right mind?"

Charlie chuckled. "No, Bells hon, I don't. In fact I have high hopes of finding him to be totally the opposite. There is a mixture of servitude and self-importance in his letter which promises to be very entertaining to witness. I'm really looking forward to having him over."

To Jessica and Lauren, neither the email nor its' sender were in any way interesting. It was highly improbable that he'd show up in the black and yellows of a McDonald's employee, and it had been some weeks since they'd had any interest in a man in any other color. As for their aunt, Jake's email had done away with much of her ill-will against him, and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure that shocked both her husband and the girls in the family.

Jacob arrived punctually at four p.m., and was received hospitably by the Swan family. Charlie himself said little, but the girls were all ready to talk, and Jake seemed neither in need of encouragement nor the silent type himself. He was a tall, muscular and good-looking young man of twenty-four, with a laid-back attitude and relaxed, informal manners. He hadn't been seated long before he turned to Renee and said,

"Mrs. Swan-"

"Please, call me Renee,"

Jacob chuckled easily. "Renee, you certainly have a group of beautiful young women in this house. I've heard plenty of rumors while visiting La Push about their beauty, but in this case, the rumors have definitely fallen short of the truth. I'm sure they'll all be married off before you know it."

His highly chauvinistic comment didn't sit well with all the girls, namely the two eldest ones, but Renee had never been one to turn down a compliment.

"That's such a sweet thing to say, and I sure hope you're right or else they'll be in some serious financial trouble if something ever happens to Charlie, what with that huge debt we owe," she said shamelessly.

Bella and Alice both groaned and covered their faces.

"Oh, I suppose you're referring to the debt owed to me."

"Yes, yes I am," Renee agreed readily. "It's such a hardship to me and my girls to owe so much money, not that I'm blaming you for any of it, it's not as if you had anything to do with the deal your dad and my husband struck up."

"I'm very aware of how hard this must be for you and your girls, Renee, and there's plenty I could say on the subject, but for now I'll hold my tongue. I don't want to get ahead of myself or appear too forward. But please rest assured that I plan to make things easier for everyone. Perhaps in a couple of days, when we've gotten to know each other better-"

Jacob was interrupted by the beeping of the oven, signaling that the roast was ready, and Alice and Bella looked up and gave each other a secret smile. Yeah, this was going to interesting.

During dinner, the girls of the family weren't the only objects of admiration. The hall, the dining room, the furniture were all examined and praised by Jacob. His approval of all the family's material goods would've touched Renee's heart if it wasn't for her suspicion that he was looking at it all as his future property if and when Charlie failed to make good on payments to his debt.

After finishing of every last bite of his roast, Jacob picked up his paper napkin and wiped his mouth off, a big satisfied smile on his face.

"That was absolutely delicious," he exclaimed. He turned to Renee. "I must say Renee, you are an excellent cook. Charlie is a lucky man."

"Well, I'll agree with you that Charlie is indeed a lucky man," Renee said with a tight smile, "but I did not prepare that roast. I assure you I have better things to do with my time than slave away in a kitchen!" she snorted. "No, that was my daughter Bella that prepared tonight's dinner. I keep telling her if she spent half the time she does in the kitchen doing more constructive things like getting to know the boys in the neighborhood or getting herself invited to parties maybe she'd have a boyfriend right now."

"Mom!"

"Well it's true," Renee insisted.

Jacob chuckled, turning his full attention to Bella. "Personally, I've always agreed with the old saying, 'the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.'" He belched and gave Bella a peculiar smile, his white teeth radiant against his russet skin, and suddenly Bella had the strangest feeling that perhaps the true purpose of Jacob's visit was somehow more than just re-establishing good will with her family.

During dinner, Charlie was his usual quiet self. But while the girls cleared the dishes, he thought it time to start a conversation with his guest, and therefore settled on a subject he was sure would please Jake greatly.

"Jake, you've been very fortunate to land a job as Senator De Volturi's assistant. From what you've told us, she appears to be very considerate of you."

Charlie couldn't have chosen a better subject.

"I've never in my life witnessed such behavior in a person of such high rank," Jake proclaimed solemnly. "To be so easily approachable despite her natural-born superiority! You know she holds an old English title don't you, inherited from her parents? Lady Jane De Volturi. But she refuses to use it in public. Says it makes her look less like the rest of us."

Charlie held in a chuckle.

"Can you believe she's already had me over twice to her mansion in Madison Park?"

"She's had you twice there, has she?" Charlie asked with a straight face.

"Yes!"

Bella almost choked and gave her father a reprimanding glare.

"Now I know she's thought to be extremely proud and conceited by most of the country, but I've personally never heard a mean word from her. Sure she's always full of unsolicited advice, and she sometimes tends to finish my sentences for me, but she's also got some pretty good ideas. Like suggesting that maybe I'd be taken more seriously in our political circles if I were to find a girl to be in a monogamous relationship with. I told her I'd give it some serious thought." He looked away thoughtfully.

"She sounds wonderful," agreed Renee, breaking the ensuing silence. "I wish more high-ranking women in this society were as kind as she. Does she live near you Jake?"

"Well right now, I've got a small home in Madrona, which is just on the other side of Madison Park, where Senator De Volturi lives. But my dream is to own a home in that neighborhood someday."

"Aah," Renee gushed. "I believe I remember hearing she's a widow. Does she have any children?"

"An adopted daughter, Heidi. Unfortunately, Senator De Volturi was never able to have children of her own. I think that's why she's taken me under her wing so eagerly. She sees me almost as the son she may have once had, I think." – Charlie mumbled something unintelligible – "But Heidi is set to inherit a huge estate someday, as well as the Senator's title. Although she does have a couple of nephews that may-"

"What sort of girl is Heidi?" Renee interrupted, completely entranced by the story of wealth and titles.

"She's a sweet sort of girl," Jake confirmed quickly. "Senator De Volturi says that in point of true beauty, Heidi's greatly surpasses that of any regular young girl, due of course to her superior upbringing. But unfortunately, she's always been on the sickly side, which makes it necessary to dig just a little bit deeper to see that true beauty. But it's there, take my word for it," he added right away, clearing his throat.

"Oh I'm sure it is, I'm sure it is," Renee agreed.

Charlie watched this exchange with more than a little amusement. His expectations for the evening had been largely fulfilled; Jake was as clueless as Charlie had expected him to be, although he was also happy to note, not completely hopeless. The kid had been really close to the Swan family once, and Charlie honestly wished him the best. Nevertheless, occasional glances in his favorite daughter's direction let him know that she was just as entertained as he was by the visit.

By dessert time however, Charlie had had enough, and once the conversation turned to politics, Jessica yawned loudly before interrupting with:

"Aunt ReyRey, did you know that Uncle Phil is actually thinking of firing Tyler Crowley from McDonald's because he says he's got enough summer hands right now! Can you believe that? Well, Tyler already told me that if he does get fired, he's already got a job at Burger King lined up. I think I'll go into Port Angeles tomorrow to find out what's going on."

"Jessica, Jake was in the middle of saying something!" Alice reprimanded her younger cousin, although honestly she herself had tuned out what exactly that had been.

"That's fine Alice," Jake assured her. "Politics can be a very boring subject for girls." Bella rolled her eyes at Jake's continuing chauvinism. It was going to be a long week.

Reviews please and thank you. And just wanted to let all Team Jacob/Mr. Collins fans out there know, Jake won't be as ridiculous as Mr. Collins originally was. I just couldn't in good conscience do that to him.

We'll get a little peak of Edward next chapter. I know we're missing him.