THANK YOU ALL FOR READING MY STORY! ITS BEEN GREAT CHECKING MY EMAIL AND SEEING SO MANY OF YOU ADDING THIS TO YOUR FAVORITES! I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. WRITE A REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE TWILIGHT SAGA OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. THE TWILIGHT SAGA BELONGS TO STEPHENIE MEYERS AND AM SIMPLY BORROWING HER CHARACTERS AND WRITING THIS STORY FOR FUN. I HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT SEEK FINANCIAL GAIN FOR THE WRITING OF THIS STORY.

CHAPTER 3: CONFESSIONS

"What did you see Alice?"

"I can't see past unmade choices," she said distractedly. Her eyes lost focus again, another piece of the future sliding into view.

"I have to go."

"What? Why?" I asked frantic.

"I'm not leaving town, just relocating," her tone placating. "Bella, Edward and I had the worst fight we'd ever had over leaving you. He wanted to keep you safe and it was my Jasper that hurt you so I gave in." Her voice was strained as if she were holding back tears even though I knew she couldn't cry. "We left to try and keep you safe but with Victoria hunting you the point is moot. What kind of friend would I be if I knowingly left you in danger?"

"I don't blame you for any of this. There was always the risk that something could happen. I'm only human," I shrugged.

"Bella you're so forgiving. It's one of your most endearing qualities." She took a deep breath and composed herself. "There is a lot that needs to be sorted out but I want you to know that I will not make the same mistake twice. No matter what happens, no matter who you choose," she looked at me pointedly "I choose you. You're my friend and I won't abandon you again."

I nodded, too choked up to reply with words.

"You've forgiven so much. How can I not do the same even if it galls me to no end that you're cavorting with a flea bitten mutt," she said mockingly.

I swatted at her arm.

"You should check yourself for ticks," Alice smirked lifting a lock of my hair. I giggled relieved that we were ok and that she was going to stick around for a while.

I hugged her. "Ah I've missed you so much"

"I missed you too," she said simply hugging me back.

Alice left after she was sure I would be safe. We made plans for shopping the next day. I left a message with Billy for Jacob to let him know about my plans and that I would head over to La Push when I was done. Me with Alice meant that he could sleep in after a long day of pulling a double shift on patrols, so it worked out.

I spent the rest of the day catching up on all the house work I had neglected since I was spending most of my time in La Push. I finished the laundry, cleaned the bathroom and did some light grocery shopping.

Charlie came home just as I was finishing the steak and potatoes I had cooked for dinner. He was somber and introspective so I tried to give him his space. I emailed my mom, read a bit then went to bed pretty early. I breathed in the scent of my newly laundered sheets and wished they smelled of Jacob.

Shopping with Alice the next day was exhausting but fun. It was everything I needed, just a day hanging out with my friend buying obscenely expensive clothing. It was late afternoon by the time I made it to La Push.

I pulled up in front of Jacob's house and he was opening my door before I'd pulled the keys out of the ignition. "Hey beautiful," Jacob beamed as he drew from the car and kissed me.

"Hey yourself." I stood up on my toes and kissed him back returning his smile.

He wrapped his arms around my waist. "So what would you like to do? Bike, hike or do you want to just hang out here. "

"Is Billy home?"

"He's at a meeting with the Elders. Everyone is gathering later to hear one the stories of our people told in honor of Harry's passing. I'm all yours for the rest of the day though. I don't have to be on patrol till tomorrow morning."

"When do you think he'll back?"

"Not for a couple of hours."

"Let's hang out here then." I wriggled in his arms suggestively.

"Do you want to hang out?" he laughed. "Or do you want to hang out?" He kissed me deeply then looked at me half lidded eyes full of yearning.

We spent the rest of the afternoon cloistered in Jacob's small room. I don't know how many times he made love to me but eventually the need for sustenance drove us from our little bubble. I sat on the edge of the bed halfheartedly pulling on items of clothing. Jacob lay propped on his elbow and played with a tendril of my hair.

"You know you have to marry me now right? Seeing as how you've compromised my virtue." He chuckled.

"Compromised your virtue?" I quirked an eyebrow amused.

"Yea. You seduced me and robbed me of my innocence." He chuckled. "You've got to make an honest man out me or my reputation will be ruined."

"Jacob Black, I do believe it was you who seduced me," I said innocently as I shrugged on my shirt. "And that sounds like something I should say."

"You seem to have a short term memory Miss Swan. If I remember correctly, just yesterday I was innocently declaring my love for you when you threw yourself at me and demanded that I make love to you."

I giggled. "I guess I did kind of do that, huh?"

"I don't mind at all. Throw yourself at me anytime you like. I'm all yours."

He laced his fingers through mine and kissed the inside of my wrist. "And you're all mine," he whispered against my skin.

My heart skipped a beat. The intensity of Jacob's regard was wearing on me. He was so sure. Sure of his feelings for me and sure of my feelings for him that I was beginning to doubt my own mind. For months I had repeated the mantra over and over, Jacob and I are just friends. Jacob and I are just friends. But here I was half clad in his bed doing things that I would never dream of doing with any of my other "friends." I wanted so desperately for things to just be simple. For me to be whole. To simply be a girl who loved a boy. No vampires, no werewolves, no massive black whole at the center of my chest.

I felt so guilty. Jacob's love was all sunshine and open booked while I was so dark side of the moon and broken twigs. I knew I was using Jacob. He made me feel better. He made me feel wanted and loved, and I hated myself because all I wanted was to be loved and wanted by someone else. I needed to be honest. I needed to tell him.

"Jacob I love you. I do." The look on his face when I said those words nearly broke my heart anew. It was like dawn breaking, like watching a man take a deep breath after having been under water for a long time. He was so beautiful and for an instant all I could think was how happy it made me feel that I'd put that look on his face. It was so infectious that I almost did not continue on with my statement, but I did. "But I'm not all yours. I still miss him." My voice faltered as I choked on tears. The raw edges of my truth cut through me, ripping another hole in my Swiss cheese heart. I pulled my knees up to my chest, wrapped my arms around my legs and buried my tear stained face in my knees. "I still wish…" I choked on a sob. "I'm so sorry."

Jacob sat up and pulled me into his lap. "It's ok Bella. Its ok" He whispered in to my hair.

"It doesn't matter. I swear on everything I own that it doesn't matter. I hate what he's has done to you." He gently wiped away the tears on my face. "You're so much a part of me and your pain hurts me like it's my own. I'd do anything to take it away. I wish to God that you had loved me first. I've loved you for so long but you kept insisting that we were friends. That you didn't feel that way about me. But I knew I always knew" He pulled back and looked deep into my eyes. "I know you still feel for him and I'm telling you now, it doesn't matter so long as you love me. Whatever part of your heart beats for me no matter how small, I don't care. So long as you love me Bella. And you do, don't you? You love me." He looked so afraid and vulnerable his eyes begging for reassurance but terrified that I would recant my confession.

"I do." I assented, voice barely audible.

"Say it again," he whispered.

"I love you Jacob Black," I said because it was true.

"Yeah you do." He crushed me to his chest and sighed with relief.

Eventually we made it out of Jacob's room and into the kitchen. We had just finished eating when Billy called to tell Jacob that everyone was gathering. I was grabbing my stuff so I could head home when Jacob offered for me to come along.

"It's not an official council meeting or anything. No one would mind you being there regardless. You're not an outsider. You're a part of what's going on."

"Are you sure. I mean I don't want to intrude?" I wasn't convinced that my being there would be a good idea.

"Sure I'm sure. You cared for Harry too. He was one of you dad's good friends. " He smiled my Jacob smile and I gave in.

Jacob led me through the woods till we reached a large clearing where a huge bon fire burned brightly at its center. The ground ran in a gradual incline toward the tree line on the other side of the clearing where a small log building was situated. Lights were lit inside but the blinds were drawn so I couldn't see who was inside. All the wolf pack were there mingling with a hand full of other people I didn't know. I assumed they were friends and family of Harry, all there to honor his memory. All the younger people were clustered together near the fire eating s'mores and joking with one another. Jacob guided us toward a space where his friends were situated. We walked side by side his arm around my shoulder, my arm around his waist. I caught Embry nudging Quill and nodding in our direction and it made me feel self-conscience. I tried to casually disentangle myself from Jacob but he just pulled me closer into his side. He sat then pulled me onto his lap and kissed me.

"Niiiiiice!" Quill taunted.

"Hey Jake. We went by your place earlier today to see if you wanted to fish but you seemed really preoccupied," Embry added. Jared, Embry and Quill burst into laughter and I turned beet red.

"Shut up Embry. Or I'll preoccupy my fist with your face," Jacob threatened, his body quivering.

I rubbed his back and whispered into his ear, "It's ok Jake. Its fine." I did not want him leaping out of his skin especially with me sitting on his lap.

"It's about time. You've only been mooning over her for a year," Quill chimed in. The three amigos burst into another fit of laughter.

"She was worth waiting for," Jacob whispered against my lips, seemingly distracted by my touch.

"Oh God kill me now. You're so cheesy." Embry slapped a hand to his forehead, his face screwed into a mask of mock horror.

"You gotta be suave Jake. Leave'em wanting more," Quill piped up.

"And you know all about that with all the girlfriends you've had," Jacob shot back.

"Burn," Jared and Embry crooned in unison.

Quill threw a handful of potato chips at them which dissolved into a wrestling match of sorts. Eventually they left off trying to slam each other to the ground and reclaimed their seats by the fire. I ate a few s'mores and Jacob inhaled two packs of hotdogs even though we had literally just finished eating.

The sun began to set and everyone started to fill in around the bonfire. As if on cue, the door to the log cabin opened just as the last person found a seat. Billy exited the building being pushed by Old Quill. They were followed out by a grizzled and dark haired man I later found out was Harry's brother Joseph, Sue Cleawater and a woman I can only describe as ancient. She was small framed with a slightly hunched back and she walked with a cane. She wore a deep red dress that was emblazoned with symbols I had seen etched on totems around the reservation. Her iron grey hair was wound into a braid that hung down to her thighs. Her skin hung loosely on her bones and her jowls sagged. But her eyes, her eyes were clear and piercing. Her gaze fell on me and I felt as if she looked right through me.

"Maiara is here?" Quill murmurred a look of reverence on his face. I looked around at all gathered and saw the same look in everyone's eyes.

"Who is Maiara?" I whispered to Jacob.

"The Eldest Elder," he said as if that explained everything.

AH! THIS IS NOT WHERE I INTENDED TO END THIS CHAPTER BUT THE STORY SIMPLY EVOLVED AS I WROTE IT. I CUT THIS CHAPTER IN HALF BECAUSE THERE WAS TOO MUCH STORY TO TELL FOR ONE CHAPTER. I AM NEARLY DONE WITH CHAPTER 4 AND WILL BE POSTING IT SOON. MORE AWESOMENESS AND MAJOR SURPRISES ARE RIGHT AROUND THE BEND! THANKS FOR READING!