~A/N So, my tentative plan is to hit one fic at a time really hard. It worked out well with my all human story, Butterfly Wishes. Right now, it's a toss up between Won't Go and this one. I'm updating both this week and then I'll make my decision. I did it, I updated all my fics this week!
Copyright disclaimer: Twilight and all recognizable characters are sole property of Stephenie Meyer.
Chapter 9: Snips, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
He followed the sounds of her clicking fingers. She was busy at work on her computer. "You're up early."
"I'm always up early," she quipped.
"Yeah, well I figured after last night, you might be a little more tired. Just say the word and I'll up my game."
"Down boy...you can't up it anymore, it's maxed out. I'm just ready to work again. I also updated the blog for the first time since the rebirth."
He was proud of her. She was worried she'd lose her edge if she was reduced to one of those mere humans she chronicled but he read her stuff and it was just as good. "Plus I've got a grocery list a mile long. I went through all the guys' favorite recipes and tried to come up with something for everyone. You ready to get going?"
He said he needed coffee first, so he headed to the kitchen. She made him something to eat, it was covered on the stove. He poured them both a mug and returned to the office.
"Sorry, I forgot to tell you. I'm only drinking herbal tea."
"Why? I thought you liked the way I made the coffee."
"I do, but this seems like a more sound choice."
"Bells...is there something I should know?"
"That I'm being as healthy as humanly possible..." she giggled. "I like the sound of that, don't you?"
"Yes, but I thought we agreed to have a relaxed approach. This isn't going to be one of those times that you obsess about something, is it?"
"I never obsess." He picked up the grocery list from in front of her. "Hmm...produce, dairy, canned goods, meats. Shall I continue? This is like a damn novel."
"Yes, please do. I forgot how well you read."
"Not a single item is out of its category. This so-called grocery list you made could be published, it's so precise, so yes, I know how you obsess. Follow me to the pantry or our closet to further prove my point."
She insisted it was about getting in and out in the fastest possible way. It wasn't some anal compulsion.
Once he had possession of the list, it was time to break the news. "Anyway, it's too soon for you to be out. Embry's coming over. He's going to the store with me. Shane and Paul will be here with you."
"Absolutely not. This is too big of an undertaking. I need to go."
Jacob wasn't budging. He wasn't taking her to the market no matter what she said. He told her there was no way they'd screw it up the way she had it categorized.
"I have to cook for a pack of wolves, three meals and snacks everyday. I need real food that I can make entire meals with. If I send you two alone, who knows what you'll come back with. I know you. You'll be back with chips, frozen chicken and beer."
"I won't vary from the list, I swear."
"I want to go."
"I know you do, but the answer's no."
She did the pouty face he knew all too well, but in the end she relented. She knew why he was being so protective. She voiced her concern about his safety as well. He knew he wasn't invincible but he'd already gotten so much stronger in such a short amount of time. Once he took over the pack, the energy flooded him. It was almost as if each wolf gave him a piece of themselves. He'd sensed some of that power seeping in long before he broke off alone but he always denied it. Not anymore...he did whatever it took to be the most powerful leader the pack had ever dealt with.
"I promise, I'll get it all done. How could I go wrong with this masterpiece? Besides, Embry does all the shopping, since Samantha takes night classes. He knows his way around. I was a bachelor for years, I somehow managed to survive without you?"
"Really, you were surviving without me?"
"Well, I didn't go hungry, let's not think about the rest."
Bella stepped out on the deck and brought a cold drink to Shane. He said Paul was running around. Bella was still working on getting to know the youngest three. She asked him what was up and how his family was making general small talk.
Every once in awhile a text came through.
Wth is kale?
She'd type a response.
Almond milk, how do you make milk out of a nut?
Dairy section, it's on the list. Don't screw up or I'm sending you back. Love you.
"I'm good, Linx is kinda messed up."
She knew from Jake, those two were best friends.
"Oh no, why?"
"A girl."
Bella thought...teenage drama, but asked what the story was.
"He really likes this girl from school but she's dicking...oh, sorry...she's pulling his chain, if you know what I mean. She acts like she likes him but she just told this other guy she'd go out with him. Linx is moping around. I say who needs her, we can get girls...one of the perks." He puffed out his chest.
"Don't you go breaking a bunch of hearts."
"I won't."
"And be safe at all times."
"I know...Quil gave us the talk and Jake gave another when he took over." He admitted Jake's safe sex lesson was a little more serious than Quil's had been.
Bella felt real sympathy for Linx. She told Shane to tell him to come speak to her. Her perspective about leading two guys on was a little unique. Maybe the poor girl was confused and didn't know what she wanted. She was grateful to be over and done with those years. She might still look like a teenager but she certainly didn't feel like one anymore...thank God.
"I really don't know the whole story, but maybe it'll work out the way he wants eventually. If Jacob had just moved on..." she knew he should have, obviously, "we wouldn't be here right now. I can't imagine not being in this life with him now."
Paul approached the house about that time. He told the pup to get lost, it was his turn to run.
"Got any food for me?"
"Yes, since you asked so nicely...come on." She brought him in to give him the last of their lunchmeat and bread. She pulled out some salad with fruit and nuts and joined him for lunch. "You want some?"
"No thanks...that looks a little too green."
Bella wanted to know how the kids were doing. He said Rachel was ready to work part-time again, so they were going to go to a little preschool, "Mom's day out or something."
"That's cute. They'll make new friends." Bella and Paul were an unlikely pair. She'd grown accustom to his rudeness over the years. He was almost too nice in her opinion since she was a human. He jumped up to do the dishes for her, even her salad plate. She tried to help.
"I got it. Don't you trust me?"
"Yeah, I trust you."
"I've been a real dick for a long time...before, after, during. I'm sorry."
"Jeez, Paul, you don't have to apologize. I wasn't exactly normal. I kinda liked trading barbs. You kept me on my toes."
She noticed a scrape on his back. "What's that?"
"Occupational hazard."
"You hurt yourself randomly as a wolf? I don't think so, what are you leaving out?"
"Jake doesn't like to be second guessed."
"Oh my gosh, he attacked you...jeez. He's so ramped up lately."
"Yeah, well...I have to get use to him being in charge. Kinda looks like your mark, huh? Don't get me wrong. I'm not his little bi..."
"Shut it, right there. Don't you dare say that. I'm not either. I'm his mate...his partner. We're equals, Jacob tells me that all the time."
Paul leaned in closer and sniffed her a little too close to Jacob's mark. "I use to hate the way you smelled. It didn't seem right...you shouldn't have been one of them. Now, your scent calms me, only second to Rachel. All of them agree, there a bunch a pussies, afraid to admit it because Jake's so possessive."
"I'm glad if it helps. Was Rachel really mad about what happened to you?"
"Yeah, she whined and carried on 'my baby brother's more animal than man' but he did me a favor because I got some excellent tlc out of it."
"Always making it about sex, you wolves..."
"Yep, imprint sex...it's the best. Am I right?" he winked and threw an arm over her shoulder.
The door opened up at the perfect time. "Plan on keeping that arm, Lahote. Your hand's a little too close." Jacob eyed her chest.
"Knock it off, Paul and I are making peace once and for all. Stop being such a jealous caveman. I take it you got everything. You were gone long enough. Why are you empty handed?"
"Go...help the others unload everything. I have a surprise for Bells." He came closer and hugged her.
"Damn, I missed you. I don't like being away from you at all." Jacob wiped his hands all over her neck and arms. "Gotta get his smell off you." He attacked her exposed skin with tons of wet kisses.
"Stop it..." she laughed. "You're tickling me. Where's this surprise?"
"Might I say first, that you owe me...big time for that excursion and for what you're about to see."
"Okay, I'm forever in your debt."
"No, I mean it. You owe me. I'm already making a mental list of ways you can repay me with sexual favors."
"Can I see the surprise or not?"
Paul and Shane brought in armfuls of bags at once. She thought she should get to the cold stuff, but Jacob said he'd carried the cooler, that could wait. He brought her to the door and advised her to cover her eyes. He put his arm around her and guided her outside.
"Ready. Open em."
She blinked and looked towards the direction he had her pointed. There was Embry kneeling in the grass with the cutest little puppy she'd ever seen.
"A dog!" She screeched in his ears. "You got me the dog." Bella ran to meet their new family member.
"I love it, boy or girl?"
Embry explained, "Girl, the male didn't submit to Jake. He growled but this lil cutie...she's already obedient."
"Oh my gosh, she's part of the pack already. She knows you're the alpha."
"Not hardly, honey. She's a domesticated dog, not exactly pack material."
"Oh hush up, let her in. I bet she could learn a lot from all of you. I love her, Jacob. Thank you, thank you...you're right, I owe you big time."
Paul made a wildcat noise.
The puppy yipped.
"Names, we have to think of the perfect name." The puppy was fluffy and soft...white with dark shades of gray accents and the most crystal blue eyes. Bella felt like she could almost see right through them.
Paul said to give her a tough name, something badass. "How about Medusa?"
"Ew, no...I want something that describes her."
The others tossed around a few ideas, Bella wasn't sold on any of them yet. She planned to do her research later.
"Supplies? She'll need food and bowls...a collar."
"Already done. I've got everything, remember how I was gone for hours?"
"So you knew all along you were going to get my dog?"
"Yeah, you wouldn't shut up about it and you know I can't say no to you. She has to be good though. I mean it, no making messes, tearing up shit or not listening. I can't have the distraction."
"Oh, she will be. I'll work with her all the time. She'll be the best. I promise."
Bella had such fun with the puppy the rest of the day. It was obvious she totally respected Jacob but he said they really need her to finalize the name.
"I'm naming her Tikaani."
"What? Why?"
"I looked it up, it's Inuit for wolf, makes sense right...and it's beautiful."
"Bells, we're far from Eskimos and this dog is even further from being a wolf. Quit trying to put her in my pack."
She called Tikaani and the dog ran to her feet She stuck her tongue out at Jacob. "See...she already loves it."
"I've been calling her girl, dog and pup all day and she responds to that as well. I doubt she knows your weird Eskimo name the first time you say it, but if that's what you want...go ahead, she's your dog."
"Ours, she ours, Jake. You can shorten it, if you want."
"To what?"
"I don't know, Tiki's cute."
"I thought this was a fierce she-wolf and now you want her to be cute."
"Can't she be both?"
He pulled her into his lap and picked up the dog to join them. Bella kissed her husband and Tiki joined in, lapping at both their faces.
"I'm so happy right now."
"Me too, babe. You smiling and laughing always makes me happy."
"Thanks for the dog."
"You knew I'd cave."
"Yep, I sure did, but you were super sexy pretending like you wouldn't."
Jacob advised her to get the dog in her set-up so they could go to bed. "And I mean it, she's not sleeping on our bed. I can't perform with an audience."
She wasn't pushing her luck. Bella got Tiki settled in a crate with soft warm bedding after letting her out for the last time that night. She patted her dog and told her goodnight.
"Don't worry, I'll cuddle you on the bed soon enough. He's being silly, that man can perform anywhere."
The dog yipped. Jacob hit the lights. "I heard that."
She climbed over him, "Of course, you did. Now lie back and let me thank you properly for taking care of me and keeping me happy. You said I owe you and payback starts now." She scooted down his body and made him a very happy husband for the next hour or more.
Jacob would start to feel the pull the closer he got home each evening. He would struggle to leave her and when he got closer, he would step on the gas and risk breaking all the speeding laws. He checked in often. The past few weeks working, leaving her with various members a the pack hadn't been easy. He approached the house and found Linx and Quil chatting. "You boys look a little worse for wear. Don't fucking tell me there was trouble and no one called me ."
"Shit man, where do I begin?"
Jacob didn't want to hear the rest, he needed to check on Bella, he knew she was inside. He could hear her heartbeat, not to mention when his beat inside his chest, he had confirmation she was fine.
"What's wrong?" he asked once more.
"It's not bloodsuckers bro, it's just her."
"What about her?"
"She's nuts." Linx chimed in and the pup was surely asking for it. Jacob grabbed him by the hair.
"What the hell did you say, kid? You've known Bells better for a good month and you think you can talk shit about her."
Linx backtracked, "Sorry Jake. No, I didn't meant it. Normally, Bella's the best, but today is an off day."
"Translation Quil, what's this kid talking about?"
Quil went on to say Bella had kicked them out, said she didn't want to see them the rest of the day. She tossed food outside in a paper bag. She was tired of boys hovering around her twenty-four seven, sniffing her, listening for her, never giving her any privacy. "It's hormones, man. Trust me, Jenny goes through shit like this. I stay in the woods when she's like that. Give her space, that's what she wants."
Jacob thought hormones. Damn, he and Bella never worried about that shit before. He told them to fall back and patrol around the lake while he got to the bottom of it. As soon as he entered the house, the scent hit him. He was pretty sure what was up with her. She was in the kitchen but he couldn't see her. "Bells, where are you?"
He followed crunching and came around the bar to find her hunched over on the hard floor. He had thousands of dollars invested in fine furniture and she was eating something on the kitchen floor. "Honey, what are doing? Why are you crying? Did the guys bother you or something?"
She kept her head down, but growled like he often did when he was pissed. "What did they say? So help me, I'm going to hurt Quil."
"He didn't say anything, just you weren't having a good day. Look at me, baby. Tell what's wrong."
"I can't, I'm ugly. I don't want you to see me."
"Are you crazy? I think about seeing you all day when I'm gone. I stare at your picture on my desk. I miss you like crazy constantly. You could never be ugly, don't hide from me."
"I broke out."
"Huh?"
"My forehead...I have pimples like an awkward teenager. It's awful."
He chuckled, "Is that all? Gosh, no one has perfect skin. Let me see, I'm sure it's barely noticeable."
She slowly lifted her head and he spotted one tiny red blemish above her right eyebrow. It was hardly a breakout. She had smeared makeup and watery eyes. She also had salt on her lips and chocolate smeared on her fingers.
"Honey, what the hell are you eating?"
"Chips and melted chocolate."
He frowned, "What happened to your whole foods organic diet?"
She dipped another potato chip in her bowl of melted chocolate and babbled with her mouth open. "Jeez, Jake I can splurge every once in a while. I don't always crave kale and quinoa."
He still wasn't sure what those foods were yet. "Of course, I've just never seen you eat shit like this, at least not together."
"Are you worried I'll get fat?"
"No, not at all. Where's this coming from?"
"Sorry, I'm not perfect anymore." He didn't feel like mentioning it, since she was already in a terrible mood. It wasn't like she was really perfect as a vamp either.
"So you got your period, huh? Is that why you're melting down?"
"Oh my god, I was right...you all can smell it, probably a mile away, I feel so disgusting." She jumped up, tossed her snacks on the counter and ran to the bathroom.
"Bella come on. I'm your husband. We can talk about it. It's good right? Everything's working, like Leah said should happen."
She eventually came out of the bathroom and grabbed hold of him. She cried on his dress shirt.
"I thought I'd be pregnant already and now this. Ugh, I'm miserable. My stomach's bloated, and I'm irritable. I forgot what cramps felt like. That shit hurts."
"I'm sorry honey. There's so much you have to learn all over again. It can't be easy, but I'm here. I love you."
"I'm an idiot."
"No, you're not." Bella pulled up her sweat pants. She had razor burn, and several nicks on her legs.
"I still don't know how to shave properly. I hope you aren't attached to the bare down there look because I'm not touching that area until I improve."
He assured her bare, natural whatever she wanted was fine by him. "I love you, no matter what. You're always my sexy girl."
"HA!" she exaggerated. "Look at what I'm wearing, look at this acne. You call this sexy? I'm disgusting. I'm tempted to chop all my tangled hair off too."
He gave up. It was no use, he wasn't getting through to her. He changed in the bathroom, started a hot bath for her. He also stepped out on the deck, called Quil over and handed him fifty bucks. He told him what he wanted and said he could grab them a pizza as well.
Quil patted his back. "Bella's all woman for sure now, huh, bro?"
"Yeah, she sure is."
"I'm happy for you, I can't say that enough."
Jacob was happy too, but he told Quil he'd probably spend the evening in the woods with them once he and Bella ate.
She was better after her soak and after a few slices of greasy pizza. He held her on the couch and rubbed her stomach. She said it felt better than a heating pad.
"Sorry, I freaked out earlier."
"It's okay. I'm used to your freak outs."
Tiki jumped in her lap and they both stroked her soft fur. She was a good pup. Bella loved her so much. She mothered her like she was their real kid. He was pretty confident that an actual baby was in their near future. He smiled when he kissed the top of her head. They were both ready whenever it happened.
~Thanks for reading.