Moonlight in Forks

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Paul Lahote

"I want to pay my way, Charlie." Jacob insisted as he held out the folded dollar bills toward the police chief.

"I don't want your money, son." Charlie said as he pushed Jacob's hand away. "What I would like is for you to make peace with your old man."

Jacob didn't know what to say to that. Until Billy manned up and dealt with Rachel and Paul, that was simply not going to happen. He hadn't gone into great detail about the reasons why he had left home. He didn't want to bad mouth his family. He had just hinted that it was getting a little crowded and he needed some space.

"Come on, kid." Charlie encouraged him when Jacob failed to answer. "I understand that you're finding it difficult now your sister has moved back home. It's just been you and Billy for the longest time, but your family, and though it may seem a little crowded with her boyfriend coming and going, it will get better in time." He glanced around his own living room, which was getting very cluttered with both Jacob and Renee's things taking up space. "I mean it's getting pretty cramped in here. You can't tell me that you're comfortable sleeping on that old sofa."

Now that Jacob had taken occupancy of the sofa, Renee had decamped to Bella's room, sleeping on an old air mattress on the floor. It was assumed that she would head back to Florida once Bella had recovered, but Renee showed no signs of moving on. Charlie was loath to broach the subject with his ex-wife, he could see how much his daughter was enjoying having her mother around, and he didn't want to ruin that bonding experience. But he was beginning to feel a little hemmed in surrounded by so many warm bodies.

"I'm sorry, Charlie." Jacob apologized. He could sense how difficult it was for the older man. Billy was his best friend, which meant he felt caught in the middle. "I can always crash at Embry's place if it makes it easier."

"No, I'm not having that." Charlie admonished him. "You can stay as long as you want. Just promise me to at least think of trying to make things right with Billy. He misses you, son. He needs you."

"I know." Jacob sighed. He missed his father just as much. He hated that they were at odds with one another, but he had to make a stand. It wasn't right that Billy was allowing Rachel to walk all over him, just because he was afraid that she would up and leave again. Rachel knew this and was taking advantage of her father's good nature to get her own way. Jacob also believed she was enjoying flouting being imprinted on by one of the wolves. It gave her an important status that she never had before.

Of course, he couldn't explain any of this to Charlie. It made him feel guilty again about lying to the police chief, even if it was a lie of omission.

Jacob heard a light tread on the stairs. It was Bella. She was mumbling under her breath. He couldn't quite make out the words, but she didn't sound happy. He walked out into the hallway to meet her.

"Are you alright, honey?"

Bella stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. "Ignore my morning breath." She complained when she pulled back. "Mom is hogging the bathroom again. I bet she leaves no hot water." She grimaced, trembling as she prepared herself for another lukewarm shower.

"It looks like we're both having family troubles." Jacob sighed.

Bella looked at him with sympathy. Her petty complaints didn't even compare to what he was going through. "Let me speak to Rachel." She offered, not for the first time.

Jacob shuddered internally at the thought of Bella and his sister in the same room. He didn't want Rachel upsetting Bella with her sharp tongue. "If I thought it would do any good, I'd say go for it." He replied with a wry smile. "Unfortunately, Rachel won't listen. She's stubborn that way. Don't worry. I'll handle it."

"Okay, Jake." Bella reached up to kiss him again. She was desperate to make things better for him, but after her last disastrous attempt to interfere, she decided to take his advice and keep out of it.

"I suppose I better head into work." Jacob murmured against her soft lips.

He was reluctant to leave, wishing he could stay with Bella, and spend the day with her, doing something relaxing. Instead, he was going to have to deal with the tense atmosphere at work while he tried to keep his composure as he dealt with both Paul and his father. There was no way of avoiding them-with Billy working in the little office and Lahote as part of the construction crew.

Jacob's biggest regret was letting Sam persuade him to employ Lahote in the first place. He had only agreed out of loyalty to his former pack and his sister. Now it had all blown up in his face. He couldn't steer clear of the guy if he wanted to, even though he was technically working for Sam's half of the business.

"I'll bring you lunch." Bella promised as Jacob got ready to leave.

"Thanks, honey." Jacob smiled his first genuine smile of the day. Just the thought of seeing her beautiful face eased his tension, giving him something to look forward to amidst all the turmoil. "I'll see you later."

"Bye." Bella exchanged one last kiss with him before he left.

Jacob's attempt to keep his temper under control around Paul didn't last long. Lahote was determined to deliberately wind him up, secretly still harboring resentment toward Jacob for splitting from the main pack and taking others with him. Sam might have forgiven him, but he hadn't.

Paul brayed like a mule when Jacob warned him to back off and let him get on with his work. There was no reason for him to be hanging around the garage making a nuisance of himself. Jacob saw Billy peering out anxiously through the Perspex glass of his little office in the corner. It just made Jacob angrier, seeing his father witnessing Paul's bad behavior, but still not calling him out on it.

Was he the tribal chief, or wasn't he?

Jacob thought about breaking Paul's nose again, but decided the fool wasn't worth the effort. Anyway, it wasn't really Lahote he was upset with, it was Billy.

He tried ignoring Paul by tuning out his caustic comments and concentrating on the other sounds around him. He listened to the wind in the trees, hoping it would have a calming effect.

Paul didn't like being ignored. He upped the ante, raising his voice, still determined to get a rise out of Jacob in any way he could.

Jacob continued to blank him, leaning over the hood as he fine tuned the engine of his latest restoration project. His sensitive ears moved past the trees, the road, to the sounds of the cars coming around the last bend where you could finally see the beach-the vista of islands and the rocks and big blue ocean stretching to the horizon.

He thought about Bella, and how they could have the lunch she brought with her on the beach. They could sit there in the peace and the quiet, admiring the magnificent view.

Paul's brow crinkled, his frustration rising at the serene expression on Jacob's face. He had expected the guy to lose his cool by now. But, instead, he looked lost in thought, his mind clearly somewhere far more pleasant than the cluttered garage.

Jacob was listening in to the tide raking across the beach rocks now. He pictured himself and Bella sitting there, breathing in the fresh, briny air coming off the ocean. He imagined Bella's long, silky hair fluttering in the cool breeze, her chocolate brown eyes glowing with love as she looked at him.

Paul felt like shoving Jacob hard to get his attention, but he could feel Billy Black's eyes boring into him from the little corner office, so he dared not push his luck too far. Rachel wouldn't thank him for it. There had to be another way.

Jacob was listening so hard, and was so lost in his own head, that the sudden burst of Paul's loud donkey laugh made him jump.

"Why are you still here?" He demanded. "Get out of my garage!"

"You can't just order me out. You're not my Alpha." Paul sneered. "I work here. I'm just waiting for your old man to finish the invoices before I head out to the next job."

Jacob's hand curled into a fist as he bit down his own bitter retort. He was determined not to give Lahote the satisfaction of seeing him lose it. Instead, he stormed out of the garage, nearly wrenching one of the doors off its hinges as he stepped outside. He had to get away from Paul. It would be too tempting to hit him again. Rachel would be pissed if she saw blood on his shirt, and she would immediately blame him without waiting for proof. Not that he cared.

Jacob paced down to the shore, his fists in his pockets. Nobody looked at him twice when he went through the dirt lot by First Beach. He walked along the shoreline, trying to curb his annoyance at Lahote's pathetic attempts to rile him. He knew he was going to have to talk to Sam about it. Technically Paul worked for Uley's side of the business, and he was still Paul's Alpha, it was up to him to reign Paul in.

Jacob knew he had done the right thing by walking away. It was best not to respond to Paul's taunts, not to react, breathe, and take himself out of the tense situation. Provoking him was what Paul wanted, what he lived for. Jacob would not give him the satisfaction. He could already feel himself calming down.

As Jacob strolled further down the beach, he caught sight of Quil. He was sitting on the south end of the crescent, in the usual spot where he would take Claire to play. However, for once, he was alone.

"Hey, Quil." Jacob called out.

Quil turned at the sound of Jacob's voice. He lifted his hand in greeting, a small smile on his face which didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hey, Jake."

"What are you doing out here by yourself?" Jacob asked as he settled down next to him. "Where's Claire?"

Quil frowned, his face troubled. "She's staying at the Makah res with Emily and her mother."

"Oh, so Emily isn't back yet?" Jacob failed to hide his surprise at this bit of information. It was usually difficult for an imprinted couple to be away from each other for any length of time. Emily had been gone for a few weeks now.

Quil shook his head, his face troubled. "I offered to go up and visit, you know. I'm worried Claire-Bear is missing me. But when I called, Linda said Claire was perfectly fine and now wasn't a good time."

Jacob gazed at his friend in concern. Quil appeared unusually despondent. Something was going on here he didn't understand. Something was not right. Why would Linda suddenly block Quil from spending time with her daughter when she was all for the imprint at the beginning?

It felt like the imprints had started fracturing ever since the pack had split down the middle. He wondered how Jared and Kim were faring. He hadn't really spoken to the former since working out a patrol schedule that worked for both packs.

"I'm sorry, Quil. I'm sure she'll be back soon." Jacob was at a loss on how to comfort Quil. He had always found the connection between his friend and the little girl bewildering. Quil's imprint with Claire had turned him into a glorified babysitter. It made uncomfortable viewing seeing him so tied down to the whims of a toddler.

"Maybe." Quil stared bleakly at the rolling waves lapping at the shore.

"Quil, you ever think about dating?" Jacob asked tentatively. "I mean now you have more free time…."

"Dating?" Quil turned his head and stared at him blankly. "What do you mean?"

"You know. A real girl. I mean, just for now, right?"

Quil seemed confused.

Jacob felt like he'd gone too far. "I'm sorry, Quil. I shouldn't have said anything."

"No, we're cool." Quil said. "It kind of took me by surprise. I haven't allowed myself to really think about it."

"Perhaps you should." Jacob suggested carefully. Quil remained still, his brow puckering, making Jacob sigh. "You won't do that, though, will you?"

"I can't see it." Quil admitted in a low voice. "I can't imagine. I just don't…see anyone that way. I don't notice girls anymore, you know. I don't see their faces."

This thought made Jacob feel sad for his best friend. Quil's life had essentially come to a standstill. He put his hand on Quil's shoulder in quiet solidarity. "We may run with different packs now, but you know I'm here for you, bro."

Quil nodded, his expression grateful. "About that?" He began hesitantly.

"Yeah?" Jacob looked at his friend expectantly.

"I think I'm ready to leave Sam's pack and join yours, if you'll have me."

Jacob's face broke out into one of his sunny grins. This good news banished Paul's pathetic antics to the back of his mind. "Welcome to the Black pack, dude." He said, holding out his hand for Quil to shake.

A/N-thanks for reading!