~Did not plan on this update tonight, but as someone pointed out, the last chapter got lots of reviews, the most so far. I truly appreciate that.

Chapter 19: Progress

The next few days were better between them. Jacob babysat Atticus Sunday afternoon for her. He stayed in the apartment which made her feel much more at ease than him taking him in the house with Kaleigh. It turned out she gone all day with her mother and sister. Alice insisted on buying Bella expensive clothes and far too many, but for once it felt nice to dress up again. Jacob took care of Atticus again for her interview Tuesday at the health district which didn't seem like it was going to be a good fit for her, mainly because the hours were too demanding. She never mentioned Collin's proposal because he wasn't sure what evening he'd be free.

Collin called her Thursday and asked if he could pick her up for dinner. She knew he wouldn't mind if Atticus joined them, but she was trying to be professional even though he was a friend. Jacob was home by 5:30. He hadn't been to see Atticus yet, but Bella got everything together and went to the house. It would be the first time she knocked on that door. The whole time she was saying please be Jake, not Kaleigh.

He opened the door. His hair was wet, he must have just gotten out of the shower. Jake was so sexy after a shower, but she tried not to look or breathe.

"What's up? I was just about to come over."

"Yeah, about that, can you watch him? I have another interview."

"Now?" He sounded shocked.

"Yeah, it's a combo dinner/interview."

"Sure, okay. What kinda job is this, Bells?"

"Can I tell you later, if I get the position? I don't want to jinx it. I have a really good feeling about this one."

He looked like he wanted to say something, but he promised to try and behave so he asked when Atticus needed a bottle and details like that. She'd taught him all about the art of thawing breastmilk and let him practice giving a bottle to his son a few times before. Atticus wasn't always keen on the artificial nipples so he had to work with him, but when he got hungry enough, he'd take it.

Bella took off for the apartment to finish getting ready. She yelled back, "Wish me luck."

"Good luck, Bells."

Collin insisted on picking her up, so she wouldn't have to drive around at night. She texted Alice the details. She knew she'd always report back to Jacob, but Bella told her to say as little as possible. Jacob needed to learn to trust her. Bella marched up the driveway as soon as Collin said he was almost there. She really didn't want to be seen by Jacob. She looked back over her shoulder once and swore she saw movement in a window. He was probably spying. He had no idea if Collin hired her, she'd be getting the best of both worlds. If he phased again, she'd always be with a wolf and he also told her most days, Atticus could come with her. She was hoping for the best.

He gave her the job, but was worried he couldn't offer much pay until the civil suit was settled. She told him his offer was much better than zero dollars, so they shook on it at dinner. She could bring Atticus, but the first week would be hectic, so he wondered if she could find a part-time sitter that Jake would approve of. She said she would figure something out. Bella was going to help him get some of the books in order. She wasn't a math whiz, but she knew a thing or two about basic accounting skills.

Collin was most interested in her building his clients' profiles. He was all about meeting all the needs of each individual. That's why he had the medical side to the clinic but also the social, spiritual and counseling parts. That's where Bella was going to be an asset. The biggest part of their clientele were Native Americans and hippie types, Collin joked. He said he was starting to get more people that had terminal illnesses which he had really developed a passion for. He wanted them feeling like they were still in control of their lives to an extent while finding remedies that helped them also feel better physically. He never claimed to be something that they weren't, like miracle workers, but even some of those in the gravest of health showed improvements with the all natural methods.

Jacob met her out front with Atticus as soon as they turned in. He shook his head at them when Collin dropped her off. "Call me later, bro."

"Sure thing, Jake."

He walked them inside, "Why didn't you just tell me it was Collin?"

Bella put Atticus in the swing. He almost looked too drowsy for a bath. They could skip it. She imagined his father wore him out playing. "I didn't know it was that important." She lied.

"You knew damn well it was. I worried half the night what man wanted to take you to dinner on your first interview. It sounded shady."

"Are you ever going to quit?"

"Admit it, I was better this time."

"Yeah, maybe, were you worried I was about to become an exotic dancer?" She laughed at her teasing and the faces he made. He did the whole growling thing and said that would never happened. Bella made a tiny circle with her fingers, "You're an itty bitty bit better. I'm so excited about this job. You have no idea how great it sounds for me."

"I'm happy for you. Collin will be fair and he'll protect you."

"He doesn't seem like he's about to phase though."

"About that, when we all get to the reservation next weekend, I think I know exactly how to put a rush on that." They had first hoped to go the following day, but Jacob was completely mixed up about Kaleigh's weekend with her girlfriends. This weekend was showers and family stuff, which she insisted he must attend. The next weekend was girls' getaway. Bella was pretty sure they fought about the trip. She heard Jacob downstairs in the garage more than once recently. Sometimes, he went off on the motorcycle, other times she swore she could almost fell it when he was running out back as his wolf even though she never saw.

Bella wondered if she should be worried about this trip. She was pretty sure she should be. She was pretty certain of one other thing. It was time to come all the way clean with Jacob. "Could you stay a minute? There's something I need to show you."

Bella went inside the bedroom to get the item she'd been needing to give him, but kept postponing. She had it in her hand, but decided to shove it in her front pocket first. "You have to make me a promise."

"Okay. I promise."

"Wait, you don't know what I'm asking yet." Bella took a deep breath and faced him head on, "Promise you won't freak out. I have something to give you that's upsetting, but swear you won't freak out or forget it."

"Goddamn Bells, just the fact you're saying that already makes me feel like freaking out. Hand it over."

"No, I changed my mind. I'll give it to you tomorrow."

He shook his head and chuckled. It wasn't a funny laugh, it was a scary movie villain sort of laugh. He knew she already had the item on her. Bella didn't really have anywhere to run. She thought she could run to the bedroom, shut the door and hide it and then he'd have to give up and wait for tomorrow. She decided she was way too tired to deal with one of his explosions.

She would never be faster than him. Why the hell did she bring it up? She should've never run to the bedroom of all places. He grabbed her before she got inside the room. Jacob was yelling the whole time to give it up. For once, it wasn't his angry voice. He was messing with her. She couldn't stop going into a fit of hysterics. He never played fair and he knew all her tickle spots. Jacob let go with one hand and she twisted out of his grip briefly, but after a few circular spins around the room, they tumbled to the bed.

He was brazen enough to feel for the hidden item in her pocket. His hand directly over her hip did more than light her tickle bone on fire.

Bella screamed, "Jacob stop!" She tried to pull his hand out of her pants, but he ended up grabbing both her hands and pinning them over her head. He held the rest of her firmly to the mattress with his heavy leg. She tried to slow the out of control situation down, but they'd already gone too far. Jacob half way on top of her on the bed, she could scarcely speak English any longer. Bella needed to find her words and fast.

The look in his eyes, the way his body felt pressed into her, made her fear she was in imminent danger... danger of making a fool of herself. "Stop it, Jake. I'll give it to you."

His eyes got bigger and he stuttered, "Wh... what?"

"I mean, do you still want what I have?" Dammit, that still didn't sound right. She could feel every breath he took against her chest.

"Bells... "

"Take it, please. Get off. I can't breathe. I need to check on Atticus."

He rolled a little and gave her a reprieve, but she really wished it was appropriate to say more instead of stop, maybe with all their clothes off. Jacob released her hands, she dug into her pocket and placed the memory stick in between his fingers.

They quickly got themselves off the bed. "What is this?"

"It's a flash drive."

"Yeah, I can tell, but what's on it? Birth pics or newborn pics of Ace? If so, you're right, some of those might freak me out."

"No, but I totally owe you some pictures. I'm working on that. Um, actually, you're not going to like this one bit."

Bella walked out into the open space to see Atticus had fallen asleep in his swing. Jacob said he'd just had a diaper change, so he could put him in his crib for her. She let him do that. She used to think she was the only one that could get him to stay asleep during a transfer, but Jacob had learned so much in a short amount of time. He bent over and kissed him. "Sleep well, buddy."

They went back in the living room. She had to finally admit the whole truth. "I saved all my chats with Aro. I think you should read them. Some are pointless drivel, others creep me the hell out and I dream about them. They start from when I still lived with the Cullens all the way up to a few days ago."

"A few days ago!" She could tell he was trying to be calm but it wasn't working.

"I know what you said, but I know Aro. He was trying to get in touch ever since I left LA. The spies must have gotten word out before you destroyed them. He knows, Jake. He knows what you are and he knows you're Atticus's father."

"Dammit. Do you how much I want to go over there and exterminate that ancient tick?"

"I know, but that's not going to work. Alice insists we have time. He wants to toy with me a little while longer."

Jacob growled.

Bella reached down for his hand. He pulled her all the way in for a full body hug. "I guess I can't stop being trouble. I'm so sorry, Jake. I know you need your brothers, but I'm so worried about all of you."

"It's going to be fine, Bells. Thanks, for giving this to me. I'll start taking a look as soon as possible. I haven't made this easy on you."

Nothing about any of this was easy, but when Bella was this close to Jacob, she believed him that they would be fine. A part of her even dared to dream, one day they'd be absolutely perfect.

The week was great, so much better than her first two weeks back in Washington. She loved Collin's clinic. Bella had a hard time leaving Atticus for five hours each day. Unexpectedly, Kaleigh came to the rescue. She had a client that ran a daycare. It was a little unique, because they were open long hours and weekends. It wasn't the typical kind that required payment by the week whether you brought your child or not. It was strictly pay as you go. Jacob was a bit concerned it was crowded when they visited but they were still meeting the state guidelines and it was really close to his job, which eased his mind a bit. She honestly didn't think she'd need to leave him more than five or six times. Of course, when he was older and mobile, she might need a more permanent sitter. They'd cross that bridge eventually. No one was going crazy or exhibiting huge tantrums or tempers, including Kaleigh.

Bella was enjoying a little attention from Mackenzie from time to time. It was very casual, just texting, but he'd asked her to dinner some time to celebrate her new job and she was seriously considering accepting his offer.

She needed to finish packing. Collin gave her all of Friday off. They were leaving late afternoon. Atticus had been up at five so they both fell back to sleep until eight. Bella thought it was good to sleep in. She was taking her time, sipping a cup of coffee when Jacob walked in. He'd gotten so much better about respecting her space, but she expected some slip ups.

"Hey, wait a minute. I thought you had to work until after lunch."

"There's been a change of plans. How quick can you and Ace be ready to go?"

"What's wrong?"

"Seth. It's starting. I want to try and get him to the reservation."

"Oh, well go. Atticus and I will leave soon then."

Jacob didn't like that idea. He wanted her to follow him. She needed more time. She had an emergency bag, but she'd rather pack normal to visit her father for three days. He made a compromise. He would go to the clinic, but he wanted her there as soon as possible, so he could assess Seth and they'd finalize plans after that. Collin was trying to keep him comfortable. Seth showed up in the wee hours with a raging fever and body aches.

He told her to stay outside, but she didn't listen. Bella left the baby in his carrier in Collin's office. She went to the back where they were taking care of Seth.

Jake yelled at her. She was expecting that. "It's not safe, where's Ace?"

She told him he was fine. The car ride over put him to sleep. Seth looked miserable. Bella felt the need to comfort him. Jacob held his arm up and tried to keep her back.

"It's fine, Jake. He needs a woman's touch. Seth, honey. It's okay. Jacob's going to take care of you. You've been through this before... as a kid. You're way stronger now and you know what to expect. Thank you so much. I know you're doing this for me and for Atticus." She kept talking and Seth opened his eyes to look at her. His terrible shivers almost completely subsided. She added Jacob really wanted to get him home. She told him how everyone was waiting for him, all the people that loved him. "Can you wait? Can you do that, Seth? Hold on, just a little bit longer. You have to trust Jake. He knows what's best."

Seth actually smiled at her. He told them he wanted to sit up. It looked like they were going to get their wish and he'd make the car ride after all. Bella noticed three pairs of eyes staring at her.

"What?"

Collin spoke up. "Holy shit. Did you all see that?"

Jacob interrupted him, "Yes, we're right here."

"But she just... I mean, Bella is... " Jacob shook his head side to side for some reason, so Collin finished. "You rule. That's all I was going to say."

"Collin, drive Bella's car. You're fine, correct."

"I'm good." Jacob didn't look convinced. "I swear it, I'm good. If I feel strange, I'll pull over or maybe let her order me not to."

"Collin."

He shut up. Bella was a bit confused. She had never ordered anyone in her life, but Seth stood up with a little assistance from Jake. Collin insisted they both chug down some herbal concoction before getting on the road. Jacob and Seth took the lead in his car and Collin drove the Jetta while she sat next to Atticus in the back.

After they got out of the city, Collin asked if she could talk to him. She saw beads of perspiration on his forehead in the rearview mirror.

"Are you okay? I think you're starting to run a fever."

"Yeah, I'm fine, but talk about anything. Tell me about California. I actually did a Napa tour with he who shall not be named. Dammit. I shouldn't have thought of that. Please, just talk. Happy things, funny stuff would be best."

Bella told him more about Barry and Monica. He already thought they sounded like fun. She was worried she bored him to death with the facts she knew about coffee beans, but he kept telling her to keep going. Once she mentioned Aro and he stopped her.

"Nope, probably best you don't talk about him."

"Oh, right, sorry." Bella called to check on Jacob and Seth. She whispered Collin didn't look so hot. Jacob told him over the speaker that he might need to pull over. They were more than two thirds of the way with plenty of forest as cover.

She wondered if it would be similar for all the others after they arrived. They'd spend some time with her, Jacob would order them to phase again and then a week or two later, they would be consumed with flu-like symptoms. Bella saw the sign they were twenty five miles away from La Push when Jacob pulled off the road. She saw Seth bolt from the car and Jacob hot on his heels. She caught just a glimpse of their wolves through the thick brush. It had been so long since she saw him like that. She was still in awe of his majestic beauty.

Collin swore he was still able to drive, so he let Bella take over driving her car and he got into Jake's. She was so relieved when they drove up at Sue's. Suddenly, her relief was replaced with trepidation. What if everyone else wasn't so friendly like Collin and Seth? Bella had a distinct memory of Paul Lahote not being so nice and Sam used to appear to be put out with her frequently. Maybe Jacob hadn't thought this through. Collin opened her door.

"You coming?"

"I don't know, maybe I should drive to Dad's."

"Bella, come on. They all know the story. The guys are expecting you. In fact, they really need to see you." He held out his hand. She grabbed it and was shocked to feel his heated skin. "I know. I don't have much longer."

Sue greeted her first. She gave her a welcoming hug and said Charlie was on his way as soon as work was over. Bella was surprised that Jacob was ready to tell her father the truth. Sue explained what she knew about that. "He believes, so much is going to be happening in a short period of time, it'll be really difficult to hide it from Charlie. He's already been suspicious for years. Jacob said you had to agree. I can do it if you want."

Bella felt satisfied that he was actually letting her make an important decision. She told Sue it was her job, but she wouldn't mind her being nearby for moral support. She said Billy would be there soon, Rachel and Paul were bringing him over.

Atticus needed a change and a feeding. Sue told her to take her time and showed her to the guest room. Sue was going to check on Collin. Bella could tell she wanted to feel useful. She couldn't do anything for Seth now, he was in Jake's hands. Bella thought about all the guys, sure to phase one by one. Jacob was about to truly be overwhelmed, but she made a promise to herself, to just be there for him... whatever he needed her to be.

~Thanks for reading.

These La Push chapters have got me crazy. Bear with me, please. I don't see myself making daily updates all week. Also, Bella is a bit dense after being kept in the dark so long. I'm sure you all see what's happening.