Disclaimer: Obviously, I didn't write the 'Twilight' series and I have no rights to any of the characters. But, I did read and enjoy the books, and this is my way of continuing to enjoy them. I hope that nobody takes offence.

Charlie was pleased to see that it was Alice who'd brought me home and not Edward. He nodded approvingly when we told him that Edward was grounded and without wheels for a while. He said that he hoped Edward would learn to take a bit more responsibility, which I almost laughed out loud at. All of Edward's family were trying to make him take a bit less responsibility, but Charlie didn't know exactly what had happened, and he only saw the seventeen year old side of Edward.

Alice didn't stay for long. She assured Charlie that my memory was back and that Carlisle thought I would be alright. Then she excused herself, saying that Jasper was cooking tonight and she'd better be home on time. I made pasta for myself and Charlie.

He needed to get a bit off his chest about Edward. He was furious with him for dragging my into his problems. Part of me wanted to defend Edward to the hilt, but the story that Charlie had been told didn't really leave much room for Edward's defence.

Basically it sounded as though Edward, upset about our break up, had sulked for ages, then took himself off to some ridiculously dangerous place and waited for Alice and me to follow him. Put like that, I didn't know what to say in support of him!

Besides, Charlie looked older since I'd got back from Italy, he seemed careworn now. And I was grateful that he did care so much about me. I hadn't exactly been an easy person to live with. Since I moved in with him, Charlie had put up with my drama and my breakdown, several pretty rocky hospital trips and two sudden disappearing acts. Though I hadn't meant to do so, I had epitomised the difficult teenage daughter.

A big part of me wanted to be on Charlie's side for once. I didn't want to argue with him, or to worry him anymore. So I found myself saying "I'm not going to jump back into a serious relationship, Dad, I'm taking things more slowly this time."

His relieved grin was so deep I thought it might give him new wrinkles. "I'm pleased to hear you sounding so mature, Bells."

"Thanks, Dad. Look, I know that I was too tied up in Edward before and that's one of the reasons why I took it so hard when he left. I don't want to be broken hearted next time he ends it. I want to just have fun now and not get so committed."

I don't know what gave me the greatest surprise: hearing me say those words or realising that I meant them. I really didn't want to be broken-hearted when Edward left me again.

"I think that's a good idea, to be honest. Perhaps you could try spending a bit more time with other friends and a bit less with Edward. You know, him being grounded might turn out to be a blessing in disguise."

I smiled, "I'm not saying that I don't want to date Edward. I'm just saying that I don't want to base my whole life on him."

"And I'm not saying that I'm pleased to hear you're dating him again. But, I am pleased to hear that you've got a healthier attitude to it this time around. I hope it works out well, Bells, I really do."

I think that we both embarrassed ourselves with quite that much heart-to-heart. Charlie, picked up the remote and we sat in companionable silence watching an old Bond movie.

I liked that about Charlie and me: we could sit silently together, without needing to talk about everything. The Cullens all knew every detail of each others' lives, and they talked about every single thing. That was ok. Sometimes that was kind of fun. But Charlie and I didn't have to do that. I liked the ease of my relationship with Charlie. When the film finished, I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"Just because you're my Dad."

"Night, Bells."

"Night."

The window was closed in my bedroom. I walked over to open it, but when I got there I stopped. There was no need to open it tonight. He wasn't going to be coming over. It was a cool night and it might well rain. So I left the window closed.

I looked at my closed window and wondered why this had seemed like a good idea. That afternoon it had seemed like such a simple thing: sneaking around behind Charlie's back was a bad idea, so I insisted that we stopped. Everyone agreed that was the right thing and the best thing to do. In the clear light of day it was an obvious choice. But now, now that I was standing alone in my room, looking at the closed window and anticipating a lonely night by myself, it didn't seem like such a great idea after all.

The night stretching ahead seemed very long. The hours it would take me to settle into sleep seemed like a mountain to climb. I wondered how it would feel to wake from a nightmare and know that Edward wasn't here to comfort me because I told him that it was silly.

When I had been with Edward, cosy and safe in his house, talking with him and all of his family, I couldn't imagine how I would feel now. Here I was alone in my room, dreading the night and the dreams that it would bring with it and wondering why on earth I'd banished my own personal dreamcatcher from my bed. I sat on the bed and wondered if he would come by if I called him.

I didn't hear the phone ringing, but I heard Charlie call up the stairs, "Bells, it's for you."

I raced down the stairs wondering who it could be. Had Alice seen me debating with myself as to whether I should open the window? Was she calling to warn me that I'd catch pneumonia?

Charlie handed it over and whispered, "obviously grounding doesn't come with phone restrictions at the Cullen house," I laughed. Edward wouldn't think that was funny at all.

"Hello, Edward."

"Bella! I miss you already. When will you come over tomorrow?"

"I don't know yet. I think in the morning but . . ." I couldn't say 'but Alice predicted something else', not while Charlie was stood right there, "Alice might have better plans," I said instead.

Edward hissed, "why would it matter what Alice said? If you decide to see me in the morning, then you can change what she sees. Alice sees the future, she doesn't control it."

"Just don't spend all your time pacing up and down waiting for me. I'll let you know when I'm on my way."

There was a pause before he replied in a too bright voice "I'll find something to do. I called to tell you how much I love you. I wanted that to be the last thing you heard before you went to sleep. I wanted to wish you sweet dreams."

"I love you too. What are you going to be doing?"

"Just missing you. Probably remembering how happy you looked when you were dancing this afternoon. You're always beautiful, of course, but you're transcendent when you're happy."

"You're very sweet on the phone."

He laughed at me. "I'll have to phone you more often," he said. Then he sighed, "but you sound tired. You should go to sleep, pretty Bella."

"Alright, good night, Edward."

"Good night, my Bella, I love you."

I hung up the phone and ran upstairs again. I didn't want to talk to Charlie again tonight, I wanted Edward to get his wish, I wanted the last thing I heard before I went to sleep to be his voice telling me that he loved me.

. . .

"Bells," Charlie was calling up the stairs again, I had only just got dressed and was still trying to tame my hair, "there's a phone call for you."

Was Edward going to call me every night and every morning until his curfew was lifted? That would drive Charlie mad. I wondered how many days of twice-daily phone calls it would take for Charlie to crack and complain to Carlisle. Maybe Alice should see if she could tell. Charlie wasn't annoyed yet, anyway. When I took the phone off him he was grinning, did that mean that Edward had said something right?

"Hello, Edward."

"Yuck! Bells, don't call me that. I mean, sure, it's been a while since we spoke and you might have forgotten who I am by now. But, really, couldn't you have guessed something less offensive?" Jake was teasing, thank goodness, I wondered how offended he really was at being called Edward.

"Sorry, Mike, I didn't recognise your voice."

He laughed, "isn't Mike that idiot who threw up at the cinema? You're right, I'll take that over the name of that leech of yours."

"Be nice, Jake, his name's Edward."

"Sure, sure. Is he back, then? Does he call you often?"

"He called last night, I think that they're all back for good" I didn't like how awkward this conversation was getting. Why did I have to say something so stupid at the very beginning of the phone call? Why couldn't I have had at least a couple of minutes chat with Jacob before ruining it?

"Well, that's one of my questions answered, then. I suppose that you threw yourself at him. Why did he even need to call you, isn't he suckered to your side day and night?"

He deliberately said 'suckered' in order to bring back the leech image. I felt cross right away. It's amazing how Jacob can bring me from cheerful to furious in less than ten seconds. "What do you want, Jacob Black?"

"That sounds about right. How dare I ring up my best friend and hope to catch up with her? I had been hoping that you might want to hang out with me, but I realise that was stupid. I won't disturb you any longer, Miss Swan."

As he'd hoped, I felt instantly guilty. "I'm sorry. I would like to see you, Jake. When were you thinking of?"

"This morning? Unless you have other things to do, other creatures of the night to see."

"This morning sounds great. Shall I come over and see you there?"

"Really?" Jacob's voice lit up instantly, "wow, Bells, that would be great! I was afraid that you wouldn't want to see me anymore, or that he wouldn't let you. Shall I see you soon?"

"Sure, sure. Let me get some breakfast and then I'll head over. Bye, Jake."

"Bye, Bells."

I poured myself a bowl of cereal and leaned against the kitchen counter to eat it. Then I went back upstairs and brushed my hair. I pulled it back into a quick pony tail and grabbed my purse and my keys. I was just about ready to leave the house, when there was a knock at the door.

It was a delivery guy with a big bunch of purple hyacinths and azaleas, and a little purple box tied with a silver ribbon. I went back into the house to put the flowers in water. There was no card, which didn't seem like Edward, so I opened the box, expecting to find something there.

Inside the box was a mobile phone, with a note attached. "I want to be able to tell you that I love you every minute of every day. Edward"

Instantly the phone rang. I sighed, but I answered it, "hello?" I was determined not to repeat this morning's mistake.

"You didn't know that it was me?"

Trust Edward to notice a tiny yet significant detail. "Um, I don't know. I just said hello. You don't need me to say 'Edward' every time I greet you, you already know who you are."

"You're going to see the dog this morning," he said.

"His name is Jake, and yes, I am going to see him this morning. But I'll see you this afternoon."

"Promise?"

"Doesn't Alice know? She must have told you that I was going to see Jake."

The anger in his voice was barely veiled now. "Once your future disappears, that's it. She can't see beyond the blank."

"Oh. Well, yes, I'll be over to see you this afternoon. I have to tell you off for sending me expensive flowers."

"If I sent you more flowers, would you come sooner?"

"No. I won't be home for more flowers. I'm going out right now."

"To see," there was a short hesitation, as if he had to steel himself to say it, "Jacob Black. Do you know how dangerous that is? Alice can't see you, you might get hurt."

"I like dangerous things. You can hardly complain about that aspect of my personality. Goodbye, Edward Cullen."

I don't know how annoyed I sounded, but Edward snapped back at me "we'll talk about this later." Then he paused for a breath, and finished in a more normal voice, with just a little bit of tiredness in the background, "I love you, Bella."

I tried to sound sincere when I told him that I loved him back. But really I was wondering how we could be so angry with each other already. We'd only just found each other again. We'd each thought that the other had died, how come we weren't blissful merely to be able to talk again? Why didn't we get a little bit of sheer bliss and joy in one another's presence before the relationship became spiky and complicated again? And what on earth did Edward have against Jake?

I got in the car and drove off to see Jake. I wasn't looking forward to seeing Edward. He'd said that 'we' would talk about me seeing Jake, but I knew what that meant. That meant that he would yell at me and I would have no choice but to give in. All that talking yesterday about how he shouldn't try to control me was pointless, it hadn't moved us any further forward at all. He still thought that he knew better and he was going to give me a lecture when I saw him next.

When I reached Jake's house, he came running out to meet me. He must have heard my truck coming down the road. Sometimes being surrounded by beings with super-hearing can make me feel a bit like a clumsy baby elephant. Even though Jacob is almost twice my size, he still looked graceful as he ran up to meet me. He tugged open my door and pulled me into a huge bear hug before I'd even undone my seatbelt.

"Wow, Jake, can't breathe!"

He eased up a little, undid my belt and lifted me out of the truck, "it's good to see you, Bells."

"What do you want to do now that I'm here?"

"Ah," he looked down at his feet and hmmed a bit, "sorry, Bells, but Sam was hoping that you'd meet up with him for a bit. He wants to talk about the vamps coming back."

"Oh, ok. I was hoping to hang out with just you." In something like an out-of-body experience, I found myself wondering why I wasn't annoyed with Jake for bringing me here so that I could talk to Sam. But, I wasn't annoyed.

Jake grinned hugely, he'd probably been expecting my anger too. "Sam won't take long, then you and I can have loads of time. When do you have to get home?"

"Some time this afternoon," I said, not correcting him. It would be easier for Jake to hear that I was leaving him to go home than it was for him to hear that I was leaving him to see Edward. I knew that Jake had been hoping to replace Edward, well in terms of a relationship with me, anyway. It wasn't going to be easy for him to watch Edward resume his normal place in my heart. I wished that Jake had someone that he loved like I loved Edward, then he would understand. I had no choice. But, Jake didn't love anyone like that, and so he thought that the feelings he had for me were it. He was going to have a surprise when he really did fall in love!

"Alright, let's deal with Sam first, and then we can relax."

He led me back into his house, and I saw Sam, waiting for us in the little front room.

"Um, hi Sam" it was pretty embarrassing to see Sam again, now that I was back with Edward. It didn't help that Sam was glaring at me. Of course, he had a good reason to hate the Cullens. They were sort of responsible for turning him into a wolf, breaking up his engagement and scarring his new fiancée's face. Now that I was Edward's girlfriend again, I was firmly back on the opposing team. I wished that Jake could have just asked me the questions himself and relayed the information back to Sam.

"Isabella," Sam said coldly, "I wanted to ask you a few questions. I hope that you will be able to be honest with me, for the sake of the innocent people of Forks and La Push."

I nodded, too scared to try and speak. This was Sam the Alpha and he was even more scary than Major Jasper Whitlock.

"Are the Cullen coven back for good?"

At least that one was easy, "yes, at least until Alice and Edward graduate."

"Do they know about the other one, the red head?"

"Yes." He was looking at me expectantly, so I felt that I ought to elaborate, "Edward had been trying to track her."

Sam looked confused, "is that what he told you?" Sam's anger melted and his face was filled with pity. "He hasn't been anywhere near La Push in months, not since that day he left you in the woods. We patrol out for miles and we've not come across his scent." Ugh, he pitied me and my blindness.

Now I was regretting giving him the extra information. It didn't make any sense, Sam thought that Edward had been lying to me. The only way to clear that up, was to admit Edward's lack of talent. Edward would not like Sam to know that. But, I couldn't stand the look on Sam's face, as though he thought that I was some silly, naïve girl, being taken for a ride, as though he thought that Edward lied to me! "He's not very good at tracking. He was in South America."

Jacob and Sam suddenly laughed. I felt a bit guilty for revealing Edward's weakness to them, but it was better than the alternative, wasn't it? Now that it was too late, I wondered if Edward would agree. Maybe he would have rather leave Sam thinking that he lied to me, than knowing that he had failed.

"He's awful at tracking, then," said Jacob, "do you know if the others are any better?"

I shook my head. "But, I don't think that you should be too pleased. They could certainly track you. Your scent is really strong to them. They don't like it much."

"Their scent is strong to us, too, it's part of being natural enemies," Sam explained, "what do they plan on doing about the red head?"

"I don't know. We were talking about something else. They were guarding me last night."

Sam glanced at Jacob and he nodded. He must have stopped by. I wondered why he hadn't given me any sign to show he was there. Exactly how many mythical creatures hung around in my backyard at night, anyway? It was starting to get a bit weird.

"Will you ask them for us?" Sam said to me.

"Sure, sure. I can call them now if you like. Edward will be home." I pulled my new mobile out of my pocket and dialled the number. I wondered, briefly, if it had any credit on it, then remembered that it was a gift from Edward, it would be on a contract.

Edward picked up on the first ring, "Bella?" he said, "are you alright? Has that dog hurt you?"

Jacob growled, but Sam put a hand on his arm to calm him.

"Don't be silly Edward. Jake," I emphasised his name to remind Edward that he was supposed to use it, "is right here and we're both fine. Sam's here as well and he wanted to discuss Victoria with you. He wants to know what you're planning on doing about her."

"Tell him that we've got it under control. He doesn't need to worry about her. She's our problem."

"Arrogant child," Sam snorted, "may I speak with him, Bella?"

I passed over the phone. Now I could hear only one half of the conversation, which was irritating, because Jake could obviously hear Edward perfectly well.

"I don't want to speak to you, boy. I want to speak to an adult member of your coven" was Sam's first remark. I winced, I didn't need to hear Edward to guess how he would react to that. Jacob laughed.

"Tell him that you want to speak to Jasper," I told Sam, hoping that would smooth things over.

"Jasper?" Sam asked me, I think that it was hard for him to think of the Cullens as having names.

"He's the second oldest. You can't speak to Carlisle right now because he'll be at work. But, Jasper was a Major in the army, you'll get on well with him."

Edward said something else and Sam snorted, "I'll tell Bella that you said that," he said, then he turned to me, "your vampire is annoyed that you're telling us personal details about his coven."

"Really?" Jake nodded to confirm that was the gist of what Edward had said. "We'll talk about that later," I said, knowing that Edward could hear me.

"Jasper?" Sam said again, this time into the phone, Edward must have passed it over, "what exactly is your plan for dealing with the red head?" He nodded a couple of times, but then he shook his head sharply and Jake growled. "That's not good enough," Sam said, "we want her hunted and now that you're back, we can't cross the boundary lines." He listened again, "yes, I would be open to a discussion, but I'm not making any promises." This time he nodded and smiled, "alright, the boundary line at midnight. How many will you bring?" There was a longer pause, as I guess the Cullens had a heated debate about who would be meeting up with the Pack. "Just bring any four of your coven and I'll bring four of my pack." Sam said, frustrated with the arguing, "yes, four including me. Until midnight, then." He passed me the phone, "I'm going to head off now. Your vampire wants to sign off with you," he told me.

He tossed me the phone and I, true to form, missed it.

Jake scooped it up before it hit the ground. As I took it from his hand, I heard a voice on the other end, "Bella?"

"Alice? Sam said it was Edward."

"No he didn't, he said it was 'your vampire'. I think that covers all of us. He should be more precise. I'm glad you're safe, Bella. I hate to have to ask this, but when do you plan on getting here? Edward's pacing a rut into the floor."

I looked at my watch, it was just past eleven. "It's still morning, Alice, I said that I'd be over some time this afternoon."

"Could you specify a time, Bella? He's irritating everyone."

"Fine, I'll be there at three."

I could hear Edward in the background, sighing that three o'clock was almost four hours away, but Alice said brightly, "thank you so much, Bella. I'll see you soon. Have fun with Sam and Jacob!"

"Bye, Alice." I hung up the phone and turned to Jake, "see," I told him, "Alice can call you by your proper names."

"Which one is Alice?"

"She's the one you met at Charlie's house, before I went to get Edward back from Italy."

"Oh, she's tiny and a bit over-active. I'll remember that. The tiny one is called Alice. You never did tell me what happened in Italy."

"It's a long story, can I have a drink or something while I tell you?"

"Sure, sure, there's coke in the garage." I followed Jake in, we sat down in his garage and drank coke. I told him all about Italy and he fiddled about with his car. He hated Jane as much as Edward did, though he muttered 'serves him right' when I told him about what she'd done to Edward. He spoke quietly, so I guessed that he didn't really intend me to hear him, and I didn't complain. Edward's own family were furious with him, so it was hardly surprising that Jacob was a bit cross.

"So, how many vampires are there?" Jacob asked, "it sounds like there are hundreds."

"I don't know. I'll ask Edward, if you like."

"Sure, sure. Look, Bells, can we try and just be us for a bit, and not spend all our time talking about vampires and werewolves?"

"I don't know, Jake. I don't think that there's anything else going on in my life at the moment. What about you, seen any good movies lately?"

"I haven't seen any movies since that awful one you dragged me to."

I laughed, it really had been a terrible movie. "Next time, you can pick."

"D'you mean that?" He grinned at me, "would you go out with me again?"

"No, not go out with you as in a date. You know that I don't like you that way, and Edward's back now, and I'm trying to make things work with him. But, I would love to go to the movies with you as friends."

"How about tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow's Monday, Jake. I'll be back at school. How about Friday?"

"Alright, Friday it is. But I get to pick the movie."

"Deal. Hey, why did you forget that school starts up again tomorrow? You're still going, aren't you?"

He grimaced "it just doesn't seem all that important anymore. I get tired and I get bored. I don't have much time or inclination for homework anymore. Most of my time I spend with the Pack and I'd rather spend my little free time sleeping, or having fun."

I didn't like the sound of that. Jake wasn't stupid, he shouldn't be dropping out and doing nothing at all. This whole werewolf thing was really messing things up for him. I could see what it had done to Sam: tying him to the reservation and making it impossible for him to make a life of his own. I couldn't stand seeing that happen to Jake. "We studied together last term. We could start doing that again if you like."

"That would be good, but wouldn't your vampire complain?"

"My vampire, Jake? Which one would that be?"

"You know," he grinned at me, "Alice's little brother."

I laughed at him, "alright," I said, "you can call him that. But, to answer your question, no he won't complain. He can't spend much time with me himself at the moment. Um . . . he'll be furious if he finds out that you know this, especially since I already told you about his lack of tracking skill, but he's grounded at the moment and he can't come round and see me."

Jacob laughed so much that he fell over, "I can't wait to see him tonight," he said, "he's the curly haired one, isn't he? Well, I guess I'll recognise him tonight, since he'll be the one holding his mummy's hand."

"Jake! Stop it! He's sort of seventeen and he's sort of 104. No part of him is a toddler. And, I don't want you to wind him up at the moment. He's got a bit of a temper and I'd hate for you to get hurt."

Whoops. I shouldn't have said that.

"Don't you think that you ought to be more worried about him getting hurt?" Jake scoffed at me, really angry and scornful now, not just kidding around, "isn't he the one you really care about?"

"Of course I care about him. I never made a secret of that. And I never led you on. I never said that we could ever be more than friends. If my friendship isn't enough for you, perhaps we should just stop trying."

Jake didn't even look at me, he stared at his feet and began tearing apart the can that his coke had been in. "We may as well give up now as later." He was dropping bits of coke can on the floor, torn into little squares, like bits of confetti.

"Fine, well it's nearly half two anyway, I'm going to get going. I'll see you around, Jacob."

"Sure, sure," he didn't offer to walk me to my truck, he just stood there in the garage, glaring at the metal confetti lying in the dust around his feet. Right then, he looked like the child that he was. All this nonsense with ages was getting confusing. Edward looked my age, was old enough to be my grandfather, and spent half of yesterday pouting like a toddler. Jacob was younger than me, looked older, and was currently sulking like a twelve-year old. Why couldn't anyone I knew just act their age? Why couldn't anyone I knew just pick an age and stick to it?

I wasn't angry anymore by the time I got back to my truck. But I thought that maybe Jacob was right. Maybe it was too hard for us to be friends anymore. I sighed, but I set off to drive back to the Cullens. Maybe the whole natural enemies thing was too strong for me. Maybe I couldn't straddle both sides. Maybe I had to choose one.

Arriving at the Cullens was odd. When I'd visited before, I'd usually arrived in the company of Edward or Alice. On the rare occasions that I'd transported myself, Edward had been waiting on the porch to greet me. This time I drove up the empty drive and walked up the the front door completely alone. It felt silly, knocking on the door, they must already know that I was here. I wondered if I had arrived too early. I'd told Alice that I would be here at three and it wasn't quite quarter to. Maybe they were out hunting. Maybe they weren't ready for me yet, but were busy doing some weird vampire thing.

I stood on the doorstep, wondering if I would be interrupting anything if I knocked. It hadn't been like this at Jake's. He'd come running up before I'd even got out of the car. Suddenly I felt tired and emotionally exhausted. Rushing from an argument with Jake to what I was sure was going to be an argument with Edward, suddenly seemed like a bad idea. How did I manage to complicate all of my relationships? Wasn't there anyone that I could just relax with? Maybe I would be better off on my own, reading a book.