~Sorry, it's been a little while, but Humans continues.

Copyright disclaimer: Twilight and all recognizable characters are sole property of Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 5: Unspoken Bonds

"Oh my gosh...it finally hit me. We've been so consumed with everything else, but I just realized."

"What honey?"

"A baby...Jake I can have your babies."

"Um, hold on...honey, we don't, uh..." he was feeling uneasy about going down that road so soon.

"What? It's true. You even said everything seems to be working fine. Also, I think it's one of the reasons he gave us another chance: you were meant to have an heir. I'm sure of it. The tribe needs this."

"Really, the tribe? I mean, yes...it appears you are a healthy, human woman, but we still don't know...I just don't want you to get your hopes up and be disappointed."

She was already looking disappointed that he didn't share her enthusiasm. The truth was what she'd said caused a stirring from within. He could feel the wolf's approval.

"Answer me, Jacob?" apparently she'd been talking when was zoning out. "Well don't you want children now that we can probably have them?"

"I see what you're doing, no matter how I answer, you're going to get all emotional. If I say of course I do, you're going to say 'see I knew it, you did feel like I was keeping you from that.' Then if I say no, you're going to be even more upset because I know how bad you want kids."

"Wow, I sound like a real head case. Is that how you see me?"

"No, honey not at all...I don't know what I'm trying to say. This is a delicate subject. I need you to understand that before, we both knew kids weren't possible. You wouldn't entertain the adoption option and I accepted that."

"Of course not, that wasn't fair to any child that needed a family. I told you that."

"I didn't feel like we were missing something to our relationship. What I meant to say, is you were enough, but of course, things could be different now. I would love for you to have my babies. God...what's wrong with me? I've upset and confused you." He wiped stray tears off her cheeks.

"So, it's a yes, right. We're going to try? Maybe it just happened. We've never used anything, obviously."

"Maybe we should...I wasn't thinking earlier. I just wanted you...needed you."

"Why? You just said 'yes.'"

"Honey, I have no idea what Edward has planned. I think worrying about your safety 24/7 is about all I can shoulder right now. If you were pregnant, the wolf would eat me alive night and day. It's bad enough already. He wants to mark you, he's going crazy."

She reached up to his mark, "Like this?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"Okay, sorry...I can't do what I use to do there."

"I'm sure there are other things you can do. It feels good just for you to touch it."

She sat up and pulled her hair over, "Here...do it, why didn't you already?"

Jacob chuckled...brought her hair back over her shoulder, "It doesn't exactly work that way. Don't worry sweetheart, it'll happen soon enough."

She had one more thing on her mind, "And as far as Edward goes, no...absolutely not, he doesn't dictate our lives. Have you forgotten how we were at his mercy about getting married? There's no way I'm postponing our family because what he may or may not have planned. You're going to protect me no matter what."

That was the truth. She was growing more excited by the second. He knew that was her wish all those times with the shooting stars. Bella didn't need to have children to feel complete or more like a woman, she genuinely just wanted to share that experience with him; love and nourish their children. Motherhood had been her happiest times after the transformation. He realized that now. Plenty of people, even the two of them had called her selfish through the years, but he knew the real Bella thrived on giving back. When she appeared selfish, he knew it was only her allowing her fears to manifest. She practically raised her own mother. She took care of Charlie. Hell, she even thought she was caring for Edward...humanizing him some. He saw her nurturing ways with the pack and the things she put in cyberspace with the blog. She was a nurturer. He truly did want to see her growing life, to have their love produce a child. Something about the way she brought up Edward not controlling their life rang true. He and the pack would protect her no matter what and he fully expected to deal with Cullen in a timely manner. They would see, not stress about, but not try and prevent it either. She agreed that would work for her.

Bella seemed to have a quick recovery time from their first endeavor with full on human bonding. He might have a little more edge than a regular man, but she was more durable than she thought. Her leg made up and down movements on his leg.

"Soooo, I was thinking," she said eyeing him under rapidly blinking lashes.

"Yeah about what? We just covered some heavy duty topics."

"I was thinking we use to...you know, go back to back lots of times."

"That we did."

She climbed over him. "Good...let's see how much power I still have over you."

She slipped herself on him and proved she still had plenty of skills in the bedroom. Yes, she still had power over him. He was at her mercy, the only person on earth that could control the alpha.

The pair eventually made it out of the bedroom that afternoon. It was close to dinner time, they'd pretty much slept and enjoyed other activities through lunch.

"I'm so starved," she said before him for once. "We're going to have a feast tonight."

She took some chicken cutlets out and did a quick marinade while she started a pot of water. She decided to make some fettuccine Alfredo and grilled chicken. Jacob said he needed to run the perimeter to make sure no one had been snooping around the property. He quickly made the patrol and caught the scent of a few pack members who had come around just to double check things. He communicated with those phased in and told them all thanks for looking out for them. Soon enough, he returned to find a lot of the dinner complete.

Bella had some thoughts on Edward, "He knew I would smell him, that's why he didn't do it himself, compounded by the fact, deep down he's a coward and afraid of you. I bet that's why he's yet to come anywhere near here. It would arouse suspicion, he doesn't know I'm different. How could he? That would be impossible."

"Yeah, I think you're right, but if he hired a couple of thugs, maybe he hired more. I need to be sure and aware at all times."

"I had plenty of regrets when I was a vampire, now my only regret is I can't be the one to take him down."

"It's my goal that you're never anywhere near him again."

Bella suggested getting in touch with Carlisle, maybe at his job. "Or Rose's secret phone?"

"I don't think that's wise just yet. You know how far fetched the whole story is, a vamp equips men with bullets to kill a wolf? I need some real proof and all I got is that blood-stained business card."

"It might be enough, I know how highly Carlisle thinks of you."

"Yeah, but more than his own son...I doubt it and like you mentioned once, they're all so proud of him these days."

"He's good a fooling those around him, me included, but never you Jake."

"Maybe even me, a few times before he sent me that wedding invitation. That's when I knew, he was a calculating son of bitch but there was nothing I could do to convince you. I'd tried everything."

She circled his waist with her arms and apologized again, even though he'd told her never to say "sorry" again.

"Bells..." he reminded her by shaking his head.

"I know I said the "S" word," she twisted her fingers in front of her lips. "That was the last time I swear. The word is out of my vocabulary."

"You cannot talk to any of the others. You might not realize it, but your voice is different. There's a slight difference in the intonation. Human ears won't pick it up, but supernatural senses will."

"Okay, eventually they'll be concerned. It isn't like me to avoid Rose or Alice all together."

"Hopefully, we don't need too long. I doubt he's conducting his dirty dealings at home. Maybe he has an office if he's running a publishing company. I need to try and figure things like that out."

Bella said she was done talking or thinking about him. She got her little speech rehearsed in her head enough so that she felt comfortable calling Charlie.

Jacob told her he'd cook the chicken on the indoor grill for her, the rest was done. She went into their office and made the call.

She was brief, Charlie wasn't much of a phone talker. "I invited them here. I didn't tell him everything, only that we have some big news. It seems like the kinda thing that should happen in person."

"I agree. When?"

"I told them a time when you should be finished with the meeting. It'll be like one of our dinner parties. Is that alright?"

"Yeah, sure...Sue will be my first council member to brief. I haven't even had a chance to tell my own father. Getting rid of well...you know...took a long time."

"Oh, well then I'll call back and have Sue and Dad bring him."

"I think that's best. They should all hear at once."

They sat down at their table for dinner. Bella set the table like they were having company. She even got out a bottle of wine. He cautioned her since she'd obviously never consumed alcohol before.

"I had a sip of my Dad's beer before and Mom let me taste her wine once."

"Yeah, sips; so one glass for you. I need you lucid for when we go back to bed tonight."

She clicked her glass with his, "To us."

"Yes, Us...sweetheart. Jake n Bells."

They clicked one more time before they both took a sip. Bella giggled straight off the bat. "That's yummy."

"Half a glass, and that's it."

"My Mom...I just thought, I can see my mom. Who knows? Maybe she hates me and has no desire to see me after all these years."

"I doubt that."

"I hurt her terribly, but I want to invite her and Phil. They'd love this place."

"Okay, let's figure out some things first, then I think that'd be great."

They consumed dinner in between easy conversation. It wasn't all about the craziness going on around them. Jenny was expecting again, they already had a young son. Embry and Samantha had postponed a family because she was in college and wanted her degree first. Bella was still getting better acquainted with the new guys. The meeting would be their first encounter with her human which would make it easier for them. They were still a little skittish of her before.

"So a few of the guys had been around," he let her know.

"Oh, that's good. They care so much about you."

"And you."

"We're both lucky."

Jacob started cleaning up after them. Bella said she wanted to soak in a tub, but he watched as she stopped in front of Ness's picture. She looked at the pictures often, but he could tell something was different about the way she was studying the photograph. He wasn't sure if it was because they'd been talking about having their own children.

He left the plates in the hot water to go to her. He put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

"I saw her."

"What?" he wasn't sure what she meant.

"I don't know why I didn't tell you yet, but when Taha Aki left; she was there."

"Like, literally?"

"No, it was more of a feeling. I smelled and felt her mostly, but right at the end there was one tiny glimpse and she's perfect: beautiful, happy, enlightened. I thought it meant I was about to go with her and that you were there too. But then she whispered, 'Stay.' That was it just, 'Stay.' Did you see her? Can you remember?"

"No, honey I didn't but I'm so glad you had that experience. I told you I don't remember but when I was sleeping; I thought I saw something. I was waiting in a space, no idea where or what it was. I was in limbo because I wasn't with you."

They were silent as they thought back to that hour in time where so much changed for them. He told her to start her soak while he finished up the kitchen. He was glad she'd designed the bathroom, both their shower and tub would accommodate them easily. She had her eyes closed, her hair was on top of her head. He stared down at the body beneath the clear water. Silly Bells, thinking he wouldn't like her body as much as before. He still could hardly take his eyes off her. He cleared his throat and she opened her eyes

"Front or back?"

"Back."

She shifted forward and he slipped in the water behind her as soon as he discarded his clothing.

Jacob admired her smooth back, her neck was fully exposed to him since her hair was up. His eyes caught a light dusting of freckles on her shoulders that hadn't been there when she was immortal. There were several subtle difference that he was discovering. His hands massaged over her shoulders. She leaned into him. He eyed the spot his wolf desired to mark, he kissed her there.

"Is that where?"

"I think so, is that alright?"

"Yes...anything you need, but..." her voice cracked a tiny bit. Oh no, she was starting to cry again. He wasn't sure why.

Jacob pulled at her shoulders so she could turn around and look at him. "Honey, don't cry. Are you scared? We can wait." He didn't want to wait, but would if she needed more time.

"No, that's not it...it's dumb. I just thought something, but its too late. I screwed it up a long time ago. I knew it wouldn't work."

"What are you talking about? I'm confused."

"My shield...I can still control it. I've been letting it down every second you look at me and I just thought maybe...I don't know. I guess it can't work after everything else."

"You're crying about imprinting, is that it?"

"Yes, I understand...we don't need it. You already said we share our hearts."

Jacob got her to turn completely around. "Bells, I didn't imprint on you..."

She interrupted, "I know...because you can't. I understand."

"No, let me finish. I didn't imprint when you became human because I already did...a long time ago. We're already imprinted."

~Thanks for reading.

I never answered this question when it was asked by several people in Animals, but it happened and Jake will give you and Bella a full explanation in the the next installment.