Lost and Found

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!

Part Sixty Eight-The Cullen Mansion

Jacob and Bella followed Esme Cullen up the long winding staircase. In Bella's mind it seemed to go on forever. She held tightly onto Jacob's hand as she gazed around at the fairy tale mansion. It was like something out of movie. And right now she felt like she was starring in one, albeit as one of the more minor characters. When she had gotten her first good view of the Cullen's palatial residence after driving down the long winding driveway, her breath had been taken away by its sheer beauty. She had never seen anything like it. Bella had tried to imagine what the house would look like but the reality far exceeded her expectations. It was a large, graceful house, rectangular and well proportioned. It was painted a faded white. The southern wall was made entirely of glass, which provided an amazing view of the Calawah river. The house was three stories tall with a deep porch which wrapped around the front of the house.

Esme walked gracefully in front of Jacob and Bella. Her movements were so fluid that Bella felt like the older woman was floating on air. Esme reminded her of the old fashioned film stars of the thirties and forties. She could be right up there on the silver screen with the most beautiful of them with her flowing blonde tresses and skin as white as snow. There were no imperfections on her or any of them. Their skin was flawless. They had already settled Sarah in on the ground floor. The other female Cullen, who called herself Rosalie, and whose looks were even more impressive than Esme's, had volunteered to do the first watch. Carlisle had already left for Seattle. Edward was sitting at the grand piano which was a like a centrepiece in the spacious front room. Right now he was playing a soft melody, his eyes closed as if he was somewhere far away in his own mind.

When they reached the second floor Esme turned off down a wide corridor. Like the downstairs the walls were painted in a pastel blue. Bella edged closer to Jacob as she stared around in awe at everything that they passed. She peeked in each room and was stunned at the ornate and expensive furniture adorning each one. She really was in a fairy tale wonderland. She glanced at Jacob to see if he was as awed by their surroundings as she was, but like always he seemed confident and at ease. Wherever he was Jacob seemed to fit right in. Bella envied him this ability.

"This is your room." Esme said smoothly as she stopped walking and gestured to the last room in the hall. "Everything you could possibly need is already in there. This room has an en-suite. Towels are in the cupboard on the left and all the other essentials. If there is anything you really need we will be happy to provide it for you."

"Thank you. You have done more than enough already." Bella gushed.

Jacob smiled as he looked at her fondly. "Yes, you have been very kind."

Esme's smile was blinding. "You are very welcome. I will leave you now to settle in." She reached out and touched Bella's cheek briefly before leaving Jacob and Bella to explore their new room.

"WOW! JACOB! WOW!" Bella couldn't contain herself once Esme was gone. She ran into the room, climbed onto the ornate four poster bed and began to jump up and down like an excitable little kid. "LOOK AT THIS! IT'S A FOUR POSTER BED, JAKE. A FOUR POSTER…."

Jacob laughed at her antics. "Yeah, big enough for a werewolf and his girl to sleep in with room to spare." He suddenly began to stalk her. Bella smiled slyly as she watched him lope toward her. When he reached the bed and began to climb on, she ducked down and grabbed one of the duck feathered pillows and began to hit him over the head with it.

"Hey!" Jacob sneezed as the pillow burst open and the feathers began to float around the room.

Bella giggled in delight as she grabbed another pillow and tried to attack him again, but he was too quick for her. He grabbed her legs and yanked her toward him, making her trip. She landed on her back on the soft mattress, her hands still gripping the bulging pillow. Bella fell into a fit of hysterics as Jacob joined her on the bed. Little downy feathers stuck to his silky hair and he sneezed a few more times, making Bella dissolve into laughter all over again. "So much for the big bad wolf." She gasped.

Jacob made a fake growl as he began to tickle her mercilessly, his long skilful fingers found all her weak spots and she thrashed around as she tried to escape him. She was panting for breath when he finally yielded to her begs for mercy. He rolled on his back and lay beside her, putting his hands under the back of his head as he stared up at the white canopy covering the top of the bed. "It's like being in another world." He finally admitted. "These vamps certainly know how to splash the cash."

Bella's laughter faded as she turned on her side and propped her head up with her hand in order to see him better. He appeared thoughtful and a little sad. "Maybe so, but I wouldn't trade your beautiful redwood house for all the mansions in the world. Just think how long it would take to clean this place." Bella pretended to shudder, making Jacob laugh.

"I suppose it only takes a moment when you can move as fast as a vamp." Jacob mused as he tried to hold onto the lightened mood. He was still worried about his mother, but partly relieved that the responsibility of her care didn't rest solely on his shoulders anymore. Rebecca and Jared, who had also come with them to the Cullen's, had been shown to another room similar to theirs.

"You can move fast." Bella said with a sly smile as she suddenly straddled him. She rested her hands on his bare chest and gently caressed the smooth skin with her fingers. God, she loved the feel of his body reacting to her touch. She saw his eyes become hooded as he rested his hands on her upper thighs and began to massage them. "You know this is kinda like a honeymoon suite." Bella said meaningfully as she stared down at him.

"I was thinking the same thing." Jacob replied thickly. He couldn't hide his desire from Bella. She could feel his hardness pressed firmly between her legs. Her nails dug into his chest as pleasant tingles made her core begin to ache with need. All the stolen moments that she and Jacob had managed so far only added to their intense frustration.

"Do you think anyone can hear us right up here?" Bella questioned nervously as she glanced toward the half open door. A normal human wouldn't, but with the vamps she wasn't too sure. Then there was Jared and Rebecca, but they were on the first floor.

Jacob tensed up as he tried to listen to the other occupants of the house. The mansion was very well built with sound proofed rooms. He couldn't hear the emo vamp playing the piano or anything else, and he prided himself on his good hearing. "I don't think so." He conceded. A smirk lit up his handsome face as his fingers wandered further up Bella's thighs. "Why are you worried about making too much noise?"

Bella hit him lightly on the chest as his skillful fingers unbuttoned her jeans and his hand slipped inside her panties. A small moan escaped her parted lips as he got to work, driving her crazy as only he could.

Esme had ordered lots of take out. She didn't know what her guests would prefer. She fussed over the food, trying to set it out on her expensive bone china plates, so it looked more appetising. Did humans really eat these pizza things? She grimaced at the smell. She poured some red wine into four tall glasses and pronounced herself satisfied. Because Jacob and Jared looked much older than their years she had forgotten that they were officially too young to drink alcohol, not that it would affect them anyway. Esme heard the young people enter the kitchen and beamed at them.

"Come, come. I hope you like pizza. There are chicken wings too, and fries. If you prefer I can…."

"Esme, it's perfect." Bella assured her quickly. "You shouldn't have gone to all this trouble."

Esme's smile turned embarrassed. "I would have preferred to cook. But I confess I cannot stomach the smell of cooked meat."

"Eww…" Rebecca said before she realised. She put a hand over her mouth while Jared just rolled his eyes. He couldn't wait to get to the food, and neither could Jacob by the way he was salivating.

"This is great. You shouldn't have gone to all this trouble." Jacob quickly took a seat and began to help himself to some of the chicken wings. He was feeling very hungry after his little romantic interlude with Bella earlier. He was planning on taking advantage of the four poster bed later when they retired for the night.

Bella shook her head at him as she took an empty seat next to him. Esme sat down at the head of the table and watched in fascination at the way the two wolf boys gobbled down the food. Bella and Rebecca took their time, they were used to seeing Jacob and Jared eat as if it was their last ever meal, but to Esme it was a sight to behold. When Leah had stayed with them she had cooked her own meals. Edward would often sit with her and make polite conversation while she ate, but on the whole Leah liked to eat her meals in private as she was embarrassed to be the only one eating.

"Do you like your rooms?" Esme asked, ever the consummate hostess.

"My god, that room you put us in is awesome." Rebecca's eyes lit up as she thought about the spa that she and Jared were going to be enjoying later. "It must have cost a fortune to do this place up. It's like a posh hotel."

"Becks." Jacob cautioned his sister. Rebecca's mouth could run away from her at the best of times.

Esme let out a tinkling laugh, actually pleased with the rough praise. "I am glad you like it. And you, Bella?" She arched her perfectly manicured brows.

"Your home is beautiful." Bella couldn't think of another word to describe it. The Cullen's mansion was beautiful, but it was a cold beauty. It was nice to stay in for a treat, but she knew she could never live in such an environment long term.

"Thank you." Esme beamed happily. She was enjoying the company of these young people. She was worried that being around the tempting smell of human blood would be difficult for her but the wolves overwhelming smell put paid to that problem. It masked everything.

Jacob paused in his eating as he asked after his mother. "How is she?"

Esme's expression softened. "Carlisle made sure she was comfortable before he left. Rosalie is looking after her very well. She has helped Carlisle on a number of occasions and is familiar with the medications he has prescribed. When you have finished eating I'll take you to her."

Jacob swallowed thickly as he felt Bella's hand curl around his comfortingly. He had been feeling guilty for enjoying himself earlier. For a brief time as he and Bella fooled around it felt good to relinquish his anxieties for a while, but they were never far away. "Thank you."

"It's no trouble, honestly." Esme assured him earnestly.

Jacob relaxed a little as he resumed eating. For now at least his mother was in the best place possible. There was not much more he could do but wait.

A/N-thanks for reading!