~A/N Many apologies for taking so long. Thanks to teamjacob0729 for keeping tabs on how many days it's been. LOL!

Jacobzlover came through with another song rec, Zayn's "Pillowtalk" fits well with these two.

Chapter 48: Pillow Talk

Bella buried her face into Jake's neck to stifle her noises. Why couldn't she be quieter? He thought it was funny she was so vocal. He pumped the final remnants of his release into her as she was slowly coming down from the peak of ecstasy he'd brought her to.

"You do that on purpose," she fussed.

Jacob was still buried deep inside her. "What, fuck you senseless? Yeah, that's the goal, honey."

She rubbed her foot up the back of his good leg. She was seriously worried about bothering the other one after what they learned earlier. In fact, she originally tried to suppress his advances after Ace went to sleep. Bella was concerned they were going to do more damage. Jacob finally convinced her if all the phasing, walking around and what they'd done the night before didn't do so, then they were completely safe for a round of rowdy sex.

"Not too rowdy."

"Whatever you say, Bells." They quickly got carried away after that. Now she was trying to think straight again.

"No, I mean you purposely make me loud. Embry and Leah will hear but I certainly don't want my dad exposed to such things."

Charlie's snoring. He didn't hear and serves Emb and Leah right. I've been dealing with their liaisons for weeks. Don't be embarrassed. You're hot. You won't have to hold back much longer either. We should know something about my offer by the end of this week. I can get the cabin ready in a few weeks. I promise by the end of the month, we'll have our own place."

That was the best news they'd had in a long time. Bella wanted to go on the tour of the property but wasn't sure when she could now that they had this pressing urgency to get Jacob's leg healed. He finally rolled off of her.

"Love you, honey. Goodnight."

"Not so fast, mister. I'm not through with you just yet."

Jake growled. "Oh baby, okay. I figured you were exhausted." He tried to pull her hand down lower so she could get him revved back up as he put it.

Bella fake punched him in the gut instead. "Not that. You know what I want. I want to have a discussion."

"No, please, not that, anything but that, Bells. It's been a long fucking day."

"Too bad. Were talking. I want to figure this out tonight or I'm not going to rest."

"Dammit. I'm a man, I don't want to talk after mind blowing sex. It's just wrong."

"Shut up and be serious. When are you going to have the surgery?"

It turned out the x-ray spotted something. The reason Carlisle believed he wasn't healing properly was because a foreign object was trapped in Jacob's femur. The problem was he had absolutely no idea what it was or how it got there. There was only one way to help Jacob in his medical opinion and that was an exploratory surgery and an attempt to remove that object. It would be a tricky procedure with a shifter like Jake and it wasn't like Carlisle could request another doctor to assist like he really wished he could do. Of course, Jake was being stubborn and apprehensive.

He wanted the object out but there was one huge disagreement. He wanted Carlisle to numb him up and take it out, but Carlisle said general anesthesia was the only way he'd attempt an operation like that. He couldn't afford even the slightest movement from Jake.

"I know this is Dr. Fang and in theory we trust him, but no damn way I'm I going under the knife unconscious at the mercy of a bloodsucker. My wolf will explode out on the operating table. I won't have any control. Not going to happen, Bells. So if that's what you wanted to discuss, that's my final answer. Case closed."

"You are a stubborn ass. I called Carlisle. He told me everything. It's the only way. What's the alternative, Jake? You're going to leave that thing inside you forever? I thought you said distractions wouldn't be tolerated. I know for a fact, you can't stand thinking you're not 100%."

"I didn't tell him he couldn't take it out. Of course, I want him to get rid of the damn thing. I'm just not letting him put me to sleep."

Bella was done arguing with him, it was late and she was putting an end to the debate once and for all. Jacob had no qualms about making ultimatums, it was time she make one of her on.

"The surgery is tomorrow night. Now it's case closed. I'm not accepting any other answer."

He wanted to know what the hell she meant by tomorrow. There was still lots to discuss with the pack. He had to weigh the risks. Bella had gone over his head. She made the arrangements. Embry would assume responsibility for the pack while Jacob was in surgery and during his recovering period.

"Oh, like I'm the President and he's my VP? Dammit, woman. It doesn't work that way."

"Yes it does, you're making it more complicated than you have to."

"The unknown is more complicated than you think." Bella understood that he was scared and that he hated admitting that. "What if something gets even more fucked up in there?"

"It won't. I have faith and you should too."

"The anesthesia is not a good idea."

"That's why Paul's scrubbing in as an observer. He's the most distrustful of the Cullens, so he is the one I'm trusting as your patient advocate. Plus, he claims to have an iron stomach and assured me he won't get sick at the sight of your insides. Rose is assisting and Sue will be on stand by. Carlisle has the facility reserved. He has a unique arrangement with the owner of a surgery center in Port Angeles."

"You mean he paid someone off?" She rolled her eyes at the excuses.

Jacob, especially, wasn't keen on Rose being involved, but Bella knew she'd been the only other Cullen to take an interest in medicine. She hadn't actually completed medical school but she easily could. She studied it in her spare time which was frequent as a vampire.

"Quit worrying about Rose. I heard how she came to your rescue. You should be thanking her, not avoiding her."

"She had her filthy claws wrapped all the way around my leg, inside my flesh and I'm certain she took a gander at what a real man looks like as well. She fucking weirds me out even more now."

Bella had inspected the scar closely earlier. It wrapped around the upper part of his thigh and trailed all the way down to the back of his knee.

She teased Jacob about his modesty with Rosalie. "Rose said she only thought your body odor was disgusting, your blood repulsed her ten times more. That's why she was so quick to react. She wanted to stop the pungent odor from invading her senses. You disgust her. She added, no offense."

"Plenty taken. What a sassy bitch. I can't stand her."

He still wasn't convinced and wanted to think about it a little while longer.

"No, you're doing this."

"Is that so? You're pretty presumptive to make plans about my health without consulting me."

Bella knew if the situation was reversed, he'd do the same and she told him that. "Either we're equals or we're not, Jake. There's no in between. I'm ready to pledge my whole life to you: mind, body and soul. You have to trust me as much as I trust you or we won't work."

"Honey, there's no possible way we don't work anymore and of course, we're partners."

"Good, because I can't be with you like I promised if you don't mean that. I'll stay close to raise our son and help with our pack, but I won't move in with you. I can't live that sort of life again. I won't feel like I'm second best."

"You're not any such thing." He held her tighter. "You know what we just did, how we are. You can't seriously suggest you'd give that up? You're bluffing."

Bella replied with a weak, "No, I'm not. I mean it."

He reassured her again that she was his partner in everything. "Fine, I'll do it. I'm not sure about the rush or the anesthesia, but I'm willing to take a chance to prove how much I respect your opinions. I have to get better and there's no way I'm giving up sex ever again. That's literally hitting below the belt, Bells."

She was so relieved. Maybe, she'd done a little manipulating, but Bella felt that strongly about the surgery. She had an overwhelming sense of dread as soon as Carlisle spoke to her. He told Jacob there was always the possibility it was a piece of debris from the struggle, but he was leaning towards something far more deliberate. If that was the case, Jacob's very life could be a stake.

She was quiet again. Every single one of her emotions had been triggered to the max over the past 24 hours.

"Hey, before you fall asleep, make me a promise since I made you one."

"Sure, partner. What is it?"

"Marry me, Bells."

"But, the divorce... "

"Is about to go through." He told her he was ready to give into all of Kaleigh's ridiculous financial demands. He was supposed to have the sign-on bonus any day and he was working on a proposal for Ashley to be partners since she didn't know what the hell she was doing without him.

"We won't be millionaires, but we'll be comfortable."

"It's not fair if you end up paying her a bunch of money. Her family's loaded."

He didn't care about fairness any longer. The only thing that bugged him was getting his share out of the house because that's where he'd invested his time and money.

"So, ignore the fact that Kay exists for now. Tell me you'll marry me. I'll give you the wedding you always wanted the day after this divorce is final."

Neither Bella or Jacob had any input on their weddings the first go around. Bella had already pictured something sweet and intimate with their immediate family and friends. She'd been looking at engagement rings in secret, as far back as when the first notes arrived in the mornings. She bookmarked a page with the one she wanted, but he didn't know about that just yet. Years were spent with little hope of a future and it felt so good to dream again.

"Come on, I want to know that's what's to come in our future when I let Dr. Fang start sawing on me tomorrow."

Bella swung her leg over him and spread her body over his. He kissed her breath away. "Yes, I'm yours and I'll marry you."

He said he might be out of commission a few days after the surgery. She knew what he was hinting at. She was in complete agreement for one more round of lovemaking. The night deserved to be commemorated. He said her orders wouldn't work on him, but she thought he was wrong. She worked that man like putty in her hands.

Quil draped his arm over Bella's shoulder. "Get some rest, the doctor said it might take some time."

She didn't know how she could sleep. Atticus was with her parents. They left soon after he went to bed for the night. Most of the pack was around the surgery center except for those on patrol. Bella could use a distraction from her worries, so she decided to ask Quil how he was doing.

"How are you, Quil? The real answer, please. Like you said, it might be half the night."

"I don't know. It's not easy. Change sucks, especially now."

Bella told him she and Jacob had an idea and they'd already discussed it with the others. "We think, you, Claire and Zane need to sit down with Emily, Sam and Leah. They all agreed. Jacob and I will also be there."

"What's that supposed to do?"

"It's supposed to give the three of you insight into two different imprinting situations. We've always said, yours and Claire's was different but when you think about it, they all are uniquely different. Besides, I know from talking with Emily and Kim, Claire learned about imprinting as much as she was capable of understanding as a child."

"Yes, we told her she needed a big brother, a special protector and the spirits appointed me for the job."

"Right and that was true at the time, and it might forever be that way, but it's time to be completely honest and tell her that it might also evolve. She's very mature and she needs to hear it from you. Zane needs to know these facts as well. They're very young and not deep into this relationship. It might be best for all those involved if they agree to friendship only."

"I can't tell her that."

"No, maybe not, but I can. I bet Emily and Leah would back me up."

Quil said he'd think about it. He was still very conflicted. He told Bella he always expected to have this worry about Claire and boys when she was sixteen not when she was barely fourteen which was fast approaching.

Bella asked him tough questions.

"Okay, so it happened early. What had you planned on doing?"

"I don't know for sure. I guess act all protective big brother and say, you better treat her with respect. Never hurt her or I'll hurt you."

"That's a normal response. You could still say that to Zane if they plan to continue a relationship."

"Yeah, I guess I could, but... "

"But, what?"

"That's not what I want to say anymore. It's only the start."

"Oh, well, then what do you really want to say?"

"I respect you too much to repeat it, but Jake knows and that's why he keeps the punk and I separated."

Quil started out comforting Bella, but she pulled him over, put a cushion in her lap and let him rest his head there. She combed his curls with her fingers. He said his mom used to do that to help him fall asleep when he used to be scared of storms.

Poor Quil, Bella was happy to take care of him. He might be a big, bad wolf no longer afraid of thunder and lightning, but there were other types of storms. Alone, she knew they all had many fears to overcome, but together, they were so much stronger.

Paul and Rose came out together. Everyone in the waiting room jumped up.

"How's Jake?"

"A pain in the ass, but he survived." Rose said he kept trying to wake up, so Carlisle had to consistently administer more anesthesia.

Paul worried they were going to permanently put him to sleep.

"He was going to be his own demise, it wasn't Carlisle's fault."

"I want to see him."

"In a little while. Carlisle gave him more sedation. He needs to be very still for the next couple of hours."

Bella knew if she was next to him, his wolf would listen to her and settle down so she wasn't taking no for an answer.

Sam was the first to ask, "What was it? Did he get it out and is Jake healing?"

Rose held up a glass cylinder and shook the contents.

"We got it and it's a good thing. I'm taking it home to Emmett and Jasper. They're going to dissect it, but it seems to be a piece of technology, definitely man-made, not debris and it was lodged deep in the bone. What made it worse, as soon as Carlisle opened the incision, the room reeked of venom."

Paul shivered at the memory, "I almost lost my shit. How'd they do that to him? I have no idea how's he stayed upright with that in his body this whole time. Jake's the fucking man. They were trying to slowly poison or kill him."

"Or worse," Rose added.

Bella didn't know what could be worse until Rose expressed her theory. "I think this is a tracking device and if I'm right, we're all doomed. No telling what sort of data Aro obtained if I'm right."

That sounded extremely sci-fyish and Bella had her doubts. The Cullens could figure it out, but all she could think about was getting to Jake. Rose tried to stop her again. Bella was prepared to take on a vampire to get to her mate. He needed her. She felt it. Lucky for Rose, Carlisle stepped out the double doors and told her to hurry back.

"My presence isn't helping, so we're going to all step out." He told her not to let him get up. He suspected she was the only one that could keep him calm.

Bella was going to sit down in the chair next to the bed but she decided to climb in with him on his good side. She squeezed on the gurney. Jacob looked vulnerable, asleep with monitors hooked to him. He was making noises and shifting restlessly until her voice and touch soothed him.

"Rest, baby. I'm here next to you and I'm not going anywhere." She meant right at the moment, but she also meant forever, no matter what life continued to throw at them.

~Thanks for reading.

If you haven't seen my new story, please go to The Learning Curve as soon as possible for a unique twist on my favorite pairing.

Also, I have made myself a promise to update Perfect Relations this week or I'm tossing my laptop in the sea and never writing again. Someone, please hold me accountable.