Moonlight in Forks

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Meeting

The noise of the party coming from downstairs was overwhelming. All around Bella, her friends and neighbors and petty enemies ate and laughed and swayed to the music, totally oblivious to the horror, danger and maybe even death coming their way. All because of her.

Despite this, Bella managed to maintain a sense of calm, anchored by the guy standing tall next to her, Jacob, he gave her a self confidence that had always been missing when she was with Edward. She had faced many trials and won thus far. She could take on the rest.

"Right, so they're coming for me?"

"Yes." Alice replied pensively.

"How many?"

"It keeps changing."

"Right." Bella exchanged a long look with Jacob. No words needed to be said, they knew what each other was thinking without having to articulate it. It was like they enjoyed their own form of telepathy.

A fierce half smile spread across Jacob's face. "Okay, honey, it looks like we'll be putting your idea to the test."

Bella's responding smile was just as fierce. "Yes."

"What is going on?" Edward demanded, feeling left out of the loop.

He had been trying to divulge what was going on in the wolf boy's head, but just kept getting the pesky patrol schedules on repeat. The others were just the same, though Quil sometimes slipped up and imagined things Edward would rather not think about.

It was hard for Edward to contain his jealousy. His rival shared a connection with Bella he had never been privileged to. He hated the way Black seemed to know what Bella was thinking and feeling, while he always had to take a desperate guess, which was usually wrong.

And it irked him that Bella didn't seem to be freaking out like he expected. She was totally calm and composed. He had been ready to offer comfort, to take control and soothe her troubled nerves. But she showed no signs of distress whatsoever. He was so used to her dependency, that he was finding it hard to cope with the fact that she appeared to no longer need him in the same way as she had before he had left her.

"We'll have to coordinate." Jacob said, completely ignoring Edward.

Jasper bridled. "We don't need your help, dog."

"Jas, please." Alice stroked his arm. "This could be how we win." She looked in Jacob's direction. "Everything just disappeared, of course, but all things considered, I'll take it."

"It won't be easy for us. Still, this is our job more than yours." Jacob answered.

"I wouldn't go that far, but we need the help. We aren't going to be picky."

"Wait, wait, wait." Edward interrupted them. He had caught up by reading Alice's mind instead. The last thing he wanted was to form an alliance with the werewolves, just so Jacob Black could get to play the hero. "This will not work!"

Bella glanced at Edward impatiently. "What you want doesn't matter." She retorted. "The others think it is a good idea-even Jasper." She turned her head in Jasper's direction, watching as he reluctantly nodded his confirmation. If Alice was on board, he could work with it. "See." Bella affirmed.

"You didn't honestly think you were going to keep us out of this?" Jacob asked sarcastically, glaring at Edward.

"You are staying out of this!" Edward snarled, his fists clenching at his sides.

"Your psychic doesn't think so."

"Alice-tell them no." Edward insisted. "We don't need their interference. They'll get us all killed."

Jacob, Quil and Embry all laughed out loud.

"Edward." Alice made her tone as soothing and placating as possible. She was used to dealing with her adopted sibling when he got overwrought. "Separately, we all could get killed. Together – "

"It'll be no problem." Jacob finished for her.

"How many?" Quil asked eagerly.

"It changes." Alice mused. "Twenty-one today, but their numbers are going down."

"Why?" Embry spoke for the first time, sounding curious.

"Long story." Alice gave him a small smile, before suddenly looking around the room. "And this isn't the place for it."

"Later tonight?" Jacob suggested, reaching for Bella's hand. She had remained silent during the rest of the negotiations.

"Yes." Jasper was the one to answer him. "I was already planning a strategic meeting. If you are going to fight with us, you'll need some instruction."

Jacob kept his cool, but Quil and Embry wore disgruntled expressions at the prospect.

"This will be odd." Jasper murmured. "I never considered working together."

"No doubt about that." Jacob squeezed Bella's hand and smiled down at her with something akin to pride. "And it was all Bella's idea to collaborate."

"Bella's idea?" Edward questioned.

"Yes, that's the only reason we came here tonight." Bella explained. "What? You didn't think I actually wanted this party, did you?"

Jacob was in a hurry now. "We've got to get back to Sam. What time?"

"What's too late for you?"

Jacob snorted impatiently. "What time?" He repeated.

"Three o'clock."

"Where?"

"About ten miles due north of the Hoh Forest ranger station. Come at it from the west and you'll be able to follow our scent in."

"We'll be there." Jacob agreed curtly. Still holding tightly to Bella's hand, he turned to leave.

Suddenly Edward was in his way, blocking the exit. "Bella should stay here where its safe." He demanded.

"Safe?" Jacob sneered. "Bella has never been safe around you. Now get out of my way."

"No." Edward's tone had turned menacing.

"Edward!" Jasper intervened, his voice low and soft. Suddenly everyone in the room relaxed as he used his special gift to adjust their pulse and endorphins to calm them all down, and alleviate the tension in the room. "Let them go."

Frustrated, but unable to do anything about it, Edward was forced to watch in silent misery as his rival took Bella with him, away, and out into the night.

"That had to be the longest party in the history of the world." Bella complained on the way back to La Push.

Jacob didn't seem to disagree. "It's over now. You enjoyed the dancing, though?"

"I enjoyed the dancing." Bella conceded with a tired smile. She stifled a yawn, hoping Jacob wouldn't notice.

"You're tired."

"I'm not." Bella denied, opening her eyes wider to appear more awake. She didn't want to give him an excuse not to take her with him tonight. Then she remembered this was Jacob, not Edward. "I suppose I can use a little nap before we leave."

"Me, too." Jacob didn't bother to stifle his yawn. He felt completely relaxed. Once he got Bella safely to the res, he would go and see Sam. He had sent Embry and Quil on ahead of him, but he wanted to be there himself, just to smooth things over in case Sam had any concerns.

Bella tiptoed in the front door of Jacob's house. Charlie was asleep in the living room, having stayed the night to keep an eye on Billy, while she and Jacob attended the party. He was draped on the too small sofa, and snoring so loudly she could have ripped a chainsaw to life and it wouldn't have awakened him.

She shook his shoulder vigorously.

"Dad! I'm back."

Charlie grumbled; his eyes still closed.

"I'm off to bed. Are you sure you're comfortable sleeping like that?"

"I'm fine." Charlie mumbled, turning on his side. "G'night."

A minute later he was snoring again.

Bella gave up, there was no moving him. Jacob had offered the use of his bedroom to the police chief, but if Charlie refused to move off the sofa, then Bella would sleep there instead.

Exhausted to the bone, when Bella reached Jacob's room, she pulled off her clothes and reached for one of his oversized t-shirts that still smelt like him. She snuggled down into his bed. She felt warm. So safe. She slipped quietly into darkness.

When Bella awoke, she found Jacob lying beside her, his head resting close to hers. He looked so peaceful; with the dark fringe of his eyelashes settled softly on his cheeks. His breath was hot against her face. His arms were wrapped around her protectively, instinctively, even as he slept. She watched him for a while, wishing that she didn't have to wake him, but it was nearly time.

Suddenly the alarm from his clock radio went off, and he awoke abruptly. Immediately alert, he scanned the room quickly. He breathed through his nose, smelling for danger, Bella assumed. As she sat up in the bed, he sat next to her and placed his arm across her shoulders.

"Good nap?"

Bella nodded. "I didn't hear you come in. How did it go with Sam?"

"About as well as I expected." Jacob shrugged. "He's willing to give it a try."

"That's good."

"Yeah." Jacob flexed his arms, yawning widely.

"You must still be tired." Bella whispered, her face against the bare skin of his shoulder.

"Same as you." Jacob looked at her critically. "Don't bite my head off… but are you sure you don't want to stay and sleep?"

Bella gave him a sour look.

"Thought not." Jacob said, laughing quietly.

Jacob drove him and Bella as far as he could in the Rabbit, then when he could go no further, he parked the Volkswagen on the side of the road, hidden behind a canopy of trees. He then carried Bella with him the rest of the way to their destination.

He raced through the black, quiet forest with Bella in his arms, carrying her easily as if she weighed no more than a feather. She could feel his elation, the excitement and anticipation building inside. She was glad to be there, in his arms, sharing this moment with him.

When they got to the big open field, the Cullens were already there. There was no sign of the wolves just yet. The first thing they heard was Emmet's booming laughter echoing through the wide space. Jacob set Bella down and they walked hand in hand toward the waiting coven.

It took Bella a minute, because it was so dark with the moon hidden behind the clouds, but she realized that they were in the baseball clearing. It was the same place where, more than a year ago, that first lighthearted evening with the Cullens had been interrupted by James and his coven. It felt intimidating being there again, it made the scar on Bella's wrist itch, she was annoyed that none of the coven had warned her that this was the place where the meeting was being held, just so she could prepare herself.

"You okay, honey?" Jacob asked in concern. Always attuned to her changing moods, he could tell that something was bothering her.

"This is the same place where we first crossed paths with James and Victoria." Bella whispered to him.

Jacob frowned heavily, clearly as annoyed as she was. "And they chose to hold the trials here? Thoughtless idiots." He muttered under his breath. "Do you want to go back?"

"No." Bella shook her head. "It was a long time ago. I can handle it."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure."

"If you change your mind, just say the word." Jacob offered.

"Thanks, Jake." Bella squeezed his fingers in gratitude.

It was now or never.

Taking a deep breath, Bella and Jacob walked over to join the Cullens.

A/N-thanks for reading!