Moonlight in Forks

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Man to Man

The next day Bella was paid a visit by Alice. She had been expecting it. Of all his adopted siblings, Edward was closest to her. He liked her as a sister because she adapted to him quite well. She also helped him with his sadness over not having a mate. Edward always said to Bella that he was fondest of Alice because she helped him get over things and was really a lot of fun to be around. He could empathize and understand the heavy burdens she carried of constantly having visions of the future.

They sometimes shared secretive, one-way conversations to keep others out, much to the frustration of the other Cullens and Bella herself. They had even developed their own 'secret' sign language, making it almost unnoticeable when they were conversing together.

Alice seemed to be in an unusually bad mood. Bella chalked it up to her unhappiness about the news that she had broken up with Edward, and her frustration with feeling normal, because now the Cullens and the wolves were working together, it impacted on her ability to predict accurately what was coming.

"I think" – Alice hesitated, looking perplexed as she used the uncertain word- "that you're are going to change your again mind, Bella. This separation is not permanent. I can't see when exactly, because you've been spending so much time around the dog, but you and Edward will be reunited."

"I told you not to call Jacob that!" Bella warned her. "And I will not be changing my mind. My decision is final."

"I have seen no evidence that your future has changed." Alice's voice was unfriendly, a first for her where Bella was concerned.

Bella tried to read her face, but she turned away. "Just because Edward and I are no longer together, doesn't stop us being friends, Alice. And you can't see if my future has changed, you can't see me at all anymore, because of Jacob. That's it, isn't it?"

"I don't understand, Bella. What changed?" Alice asked in a sad voice, drooping, she shifted over, and curled up against her side. She sounded so miserable that Bella wrapped her arms around her shoulders in comfort.

"I changed." Bella explained softly. "I grew up. I matured. I saw a life beyond Edward Cullen."

"But you were so certain, so steadfast in your love for him." Alice said in the same sad tone. "And what is to become of us? I love you like my own sister. I was looking forward to you becoming a permanent member of our family."

"Our friendship won't change, Alice. Not unless you let it." Bella was getting a little impatient now. The little psychic was making it all about her feelings, she didn't seem to want to consider Bella's at all. "To me, Alice, you are my sister." She said, giving one last attempt at reassurance.

"Words!" Alice scowled. "Just empty words!"

"They are not empty words!" Bella fumed. "I mean what I say. And if you can't see that, then maybe our friendship has been more one-sided than I ever imagined."

Alice's whole conduct changed at once. She stared at Bella with pleading eyes, her long black eyebrows slanting up in the middle and pulling together, her lips trembling at the corners. It was a heart-breaking expression.

"Please, please, please." She whispered. "Please, Bella, please-don't abandon our family. Don't abandon Edward. He loves you so much. I fear for his state of mind. I have never seen him so low. Whatever was wrong can be fixed if you try."

Bella pulled away from Alice and stood up. It was clear now that Edward had sent his sister to plead his case for him. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at Alice. "That is unfair. I understand your loyalty to your brother, I really do. But you also claim to be my friend, that you love me like a sister. Surely, if that were true, you would have my best interests at heart as well as his. Or has our whole friendship been a sham from the beginning, Alice?

Alice's eyes glowed with contrition. "It most definitely hasn't. I am so sorry, Bella. I feel so torn, so lost. It makes me nervous not being able to see your future. No matter how hard I try, its all hazy, like looking into a thick mist. And as for Edward, I am so worried about what he might do, right now he's counting on me to change your mind, so he has hope. Once he finds out that hope is gone…" She fell silent, her angelic face a picture of misery.

"It was selfish of Edward to put you in this position, Alice." Bella sympathized as she sat back down next to the distraught psychic. "I cannot be solely responsible for Edward's happiness and neither can you. I think you need to involve the others now. You can't deal with him alone. He can be unpredictable. We can't let what happened in Italy happen again."

"Yes. Of course, you're right. I'll go straight to Carlisle when I get back." Alice gazed at Bella forlornly. "I'm sorry again, Bella. Please say you forgive me?"

"I forgive you." Bella promised as she put her arms back around Alice and hugged her.

Jacob waited for Bella to come back to La Push. Outside the lightning and the sun upon the cloud tops was the only brightness that day. The wind ran as if it has been restrained for time out of mind and it was determined to outrun any chaser. The sound of it was a strange song, as if howling yearned for a melody, and he watched the trees join in the unfolding scene, as if the change, though abrupt and startling, was as welcome as a surprise knock on the door.

Time dragged by slowly. Jacob was alone in the house. Billy was over at the Clearwater's again, keeping Sue company. Above the noise of the howling wind, he heard a car pull up. Jacob knew it wasn't Bella. He would have heard her truck coming from a mile away, even above the wild weather. He loped over to the window and looked out, astonished to see Charlie climbing out of the cruiser. He quickly ran to the door and opened it.

"Hey, Charlie."

"Hi, Jake." Charlie greeted him gruffly.

Jacob stepped back, giving Charlie room to come inside. The police chief appeared awkward, he kept clearing his throat, not sitting down when Jacob offered him a seat, but taking up a standing position by the old couch.

"Billy's not here." Jacob said to kickstart the conversation. "He's over at Sue's."

"Ah, yes, I know that." Charlie mumbled. He cleared his throat again. "It's you I've come to see, actually."

"Okay." Jacob was completely mystified and wondered why Bella's father was acting so uncomfortable.

"We need to talk." Charlie began, then paused.

"About?"

"You and Bella." Charlie sighed, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "Seeing you together…I've noticed…things."

"Things?"

Charlie glared at him. "You know very well what I mean, boy. I am not an idiot. There is something going on between you and Bella."

Jacob wasn't sure yet if Bella had the chance to tell her father that she had broken up with Cullen. He didn't think so, but he didn't want to lie to the older man. He respected Charlie too much to conceal the truth from him. "There is something going on. We're together." He admitted.

"And Cullen?" Charlie asked sharply.

"Is old news." Jacob revealed. "Bella broke up with him officially yesterday. But it was over long before that. She was just finding the right time to tell you."

"I knew it!" Charlie almost smiled in his relief. "I saw it coming. I just didn't want to push Bella for details." His lightened expression soon faded again as he eyed Jacob critically. "So…you and Bella are now a proper couple?"

"Yes."

Charlie cleared his throat again. "So…what does that mean exactly? How serious are you two?"

"Its early days yet." Jacob confessed. "But I am serious about Bella, Charlie. I've never hidden how I felt about her."

"I know." Charlie sighed again. He was finding this whole conversation an ordeal. "And I know you'll treat her right. Its just that I worry."

"I'll look after her, Charlie. And when I said I was serious about her. I meant it. One day I hope to marry her." Jacob let that comment sink in for a moment.

Charlie's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't been expecting that. "You're both far too young." He said frantically.

Jacob kept his voice low and steady. "I said I hope to marry her in the future, Charlie. Not right now. Whether Bella sees that in her future is up to her. I am only telling you about my dreams."

"You're barely seventeen!" Charlie was still completely astounded by the whole thing. His eyebrows had risen nearly to his hairline. "Bella will be going to college at some point. You've yet to graduate. Long distance relationships can be hard. I just…. worry." He shrugged helplessly. "I'm not very good at this man to man talk thing."

"Its okay, Charlie. I get it."

Jacob was as calm as could be. He knew the police chief well; he knew how his mind worked. He knew that Charlie was happy that he and Bella had gotten together, he was just worried about how it would all work out. Bella's relationship with Cullen had tested his resolve, and now she was jumping straight into another one. Even though Charlie loved Jacob like a son, he was a father first, and he was right to air his concerns. In fact, Jacob respected him for it.

"We're both going into this relationship with our eyes wide open, Charlie." Jacob promised. "You really have nothing to worry about."

"Jacob, I'm her father. I'll worry about Bella until the day I die. And that includes you too." Charlie said earnestly. "You'll understand someday. I just don't want that day to come too soon."

The panicky edge to Bella's voice made Jacob smile. He had just told her about his man to man talk with Charlie.

"And then what happened?" She demanded.

"He left."

"Left? Just like that?" Bella exclaimed.

"Uh huh." Jacob's smile widened. "He just walked right out the door."

Bella exhaled slowly, trying to make sense of it all. "I suppose it could have been worse. But what prompted the talk do you think? We've been discreet."

Jacob laughed. "There is nothing discreet about the way I look at you, Bells. Anybody would be able to tell a mile off. Well, most people. It just took Charlie a little while to see the signs-or rather admit it to himself."

Bella's resulting blush was pink perfection. "Oh, my, that is a whole other conversation."

Jacob's smile turned into a teasing grin. "He was planning on having the sex talk later." He joked.

Bella's mouth fell open with a little popping sound. She snapped it shut at once, slapping him on the arm in annoyance when he burst into rumbles of laughter. "Ha, ha! Very funny, Jacob Black."

"I had you, didn't I?" Jacob grinned. "Just for a minute there, you actually believed it!"

Bella poked her tongue out at him in retaliation. Jacob thought she was just too cute and adorable. He pulled her toward him, kissing her so long and so passionately, that he left her breathless.

A/N-some lighthearted fluff to finish off the chapter.

Thank you all for reading this update.

Now, after reviewing some of the feedback on the latest chapters, I've noticed that a few readers have pointed out that my stories have become stale and predictable and that I am always recycling the same plot lines etc.

So, I am asking all those still following this one-is it worth me continuing? Do you all feel that way? Or is it just a few? Please let me know in the comments section below.

Thank you! :)