Back to the Start
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
Old Quil
After Billy returned from his council meeting, Jacob and Bella decided to escape to the garage so Jacob could work on his car some more. The VW Rabbit was almost ready for her first test drive. Still riding high from their love declaration, Jacob and Bella found it difficult to settle into their usual routine. They couldn't stop reaching out to touch each other, sharing secret smiles, and loving looks.
As usual Bella sat in the front seat of the Rabbit, while she watched Jacob work. She found his skill with his hands fascinating. They looked too big for the delicate tasks they performed with such ease and precision. Bella envied him his grace, before he phased, his height and big feet had made him nearly as dangerous as she was. Since turning wolf, however, he was as agile as the most skilled athlete, nimble-footed and supple as an acrobat. In fact, he was so light on his feet, he made no sound at all when he moved. She marveled at the byplay of his muscles under his smooth russet skin as he worked.
He was so handsome, Bella thought dreamily, from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expressions of his voice. He was handsome from his generous opinions to the touch of his hand upon her own. She loved the way his voice quickened when he sparkled with a new idea, or was so enjoying one of hers that he lost himself and quite forgot what he was doing in the moment. He was both cute and adorable, but so strong and fierce, a very attractive combination.
The day passed far too quickly. It got dark outside the mouth of the garage before they expected it, and then they heard Billy calling for them.
Bella jumped up to help Jacob put his tools away, hesitating because she wasn't sure what she should touch.
"Just leave it, honey." Jacob said. "I'll finish working on her later tonight. Then tomorrow I'll take you for a ride."
"Wow." Bella breathed as she gazed in awe at the skilled restoration work Jacob had done on the car. It looked almost brand new, the red paintwork shining pristinely, even under the dim lights in the garage. "So tomorrow will be her maiden voyage?"
Jacob smiled at the way she expressed it. She was too cute for her own good. "Sure, sure." He laughed. "And you'll have the honor of being her first passenger."
Bella fluttered her eyelashes and pouted her lips, like an ingenue straight out of one of the old black and white movies. "Oh, my, how wonderful." She simpered.
Jacob laughed louder, his exuberance making him bold. He caught her up in his arms, smiling down at her as the inevitable pink blush warmed her cheeks. His hands slid to her waist, slipping under the hem of her shirt so he could touch her skin. He heard Bella give a faint gasp as his fingers caressed her lower back.
In retaliation, Bella's hands pressed against his toned stomach and travelled up his torso and around his neck, as she leaned against him. She was so tiny his hands could almost encircle her waist. Her breathing became heavy and the flush crept over her face. Not wanting to wait anymore, driven wild by the intoxicating scent emanating from her soft skin, Jacob captured her lips against his own, his hands massaging her lower back, eliciting a low moan from her, which made him pull her possessively closer.
"Jacob! Bella!" Billy called out again impatiently.
Jacob groaned as Bella pulled away from him sharply at the sound of Billy's voice. He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers, trying to quieten his breathing to a normal level.
"My old man has bad timing." He muttered in annoyance.
Bella pulled herself out of his arms entirely as she attempted to fix her hair, using the Rabbit's wingmirror to see her reflection. Thankfully the flush in her cheeks was beginning to die down. Even though Jacob was disappointed at the interruption, she was grateful for it. Things had escalated so quickly between them - who knew how far things might have gone otherwise?
This was all brand new to Bella. It was so easy to get lost in Jacob. In that split second before his touch, every nerve in her body and brain was electrified. The anticipation of being together in a way that was more than words, in a way that was so completely tangible.
It would have been so easy to cross that line - a line that she was sure that they were not yet ready to cross. They needed to slow things down, to not let their obvious passion for each other overtake their senses, just like it had done just now.
As she was older than him, Bella decided she needed to be the sensible one, and put the brakes on their flourishing relationship. They hadn't even been on their first date yet.
Jacob, as always so in tune with her thoughts, sensed her ambivalence. "Was that too much?" He asked cautiously.
Bella smiled at him. "Yes and no." She admitted, glancing up at him coyly from under her thick lashes. "Don't get me wrong…I enjoyed that…. I really, really enjoyed that. I just think that…. that…" She fumbled for the right words, pink kissing her cheeks again.
"You want to slow things down a bit." Jacob finished for her.
"Yes." Bella breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that they seemed to be on the same page.
Jacob smiled down at her, his gaze warm and loving. "I'm happy to go at your pace, Bella, honey." He took her hands in his. "How about this?" He said. "Why don't we combine the Rabbit's maiden voyage with our first date?"
Bella's eyes lit up at this suggestion. "I love that idea."
"Then that's what we'll do." Jacob pressed a soft kiss on her forehead. "We'll drive into Port Angeles and catch a movie or something."
"Jacob! Bella!" Billy called out again.
Jacob sighed. "I suppose we better go and see what the old man wants."
"Yes." Bella said in defeat.
Neither of them wanted to leave the safe cocoon of the garage. Jacob let go of Bella's hands and put his arm around her shoulders instead, tucking her into his side. He flipped off the light and they walked outside to meet Billy.
Jacob sat before the oldest tribal member, trying to stifle an impatient sigh, while he waited for Old Quil to speak. He was there at his father's request only. Jacob had not wanted to go, reluctant to be parted from Bella, just to endure another lecture about his responsibilities from the elders.
For a long time, there was no sound, other than the ancient man's soft breathing. Old Quil seemed to be taking his sweet time to even begin the conversation, leaving Jacob floundering, wondering again what the hell he was doing there. Whenever he opened his mouth to ask a question, the old man would raise his hand, motioning him to be silent.
At one point Jacob thought the elder had fallen asleep, only to find Old Quil's rheumy eyes fixed on his face, examining him intently.
"Well, Jacob, I should thank you for taking time out of your day to come and see me." Old Quil began. "I know you probably feel you have more important things to do then waste your time talking to an old loon like me." He chuckled under his breath as Jacob quickly refuted this statement.
"That's not true."
"Of course, it is." Old Quil's eyes twinkled. "I was young once, too, you know."
"Yes." Jacob agreed faintly.
Old Quil's expression turned serious. "How much do you trust your Elders?"
Jacob blinked in surprise at this odd question. "I trust my elders." He said slowly, wondering again where this conversation was going.
"And how much do you love your tribe?"
"Enough to serve it. To put it above my other needs and desires." Jacob gave the stock answer.
Old Quil gazed at him shrewdly. "Do you love and respect your father, and your family?"
"That goes without saying." Jacob sighed.
"And yet, Jacob." Old Quil intoned theatrically. "I feel there is someone that you would put above all these things. Above your family, your tribe, your duty. One person, above all others, who truly rules your heart."
An image of Bella came to mind – Jacob found his lips pulling up into a smile – until he caught the sly smirk blossoming on the old man's face, as if he could see clearly what Jacob was thinking.
"Excuse me, Elder, I don't know what you mean." He said in exasperation.
This was not the lecture he had been expecting. In fact, he had no idea what Old Quil was trying to achieve with this conversation. He glanced toward the front door, imagining himself walking through it, out into the fresh air. It was gloomy inside the Ateara's house. The old man had shut all the curtains, blocking out the light, supposedly to add to the mysterious effect he was trying to create.
Old Quil's heavily lined face broke out into a wide smile. He chuckled again, aware of Jacob's impatient thoughts. "Forgive me, Jacob." He said cheerfully. "I know I get carried away sometimes."
"Okay." Jacob said slowly. "Is that it? Can I go now?"
"You young people. Always so impatient." The ancient elder complained good-naturedly. With a pained grunt, he rose from his chair, reaching for his walking stick as he did so. Jacob was quick to steady him with an outstretched hand. Old Quil mumbled his thanks as he shuffled toward an old wooden box which lay on the table in the front room. He opened it up, pulling out a small leather medicine pouch.
Jacob frowned in confusion. "Is that for me?" He asked.
Old Quil gave him a sour look. "No, its for me." He shuffled slowly back to his chair, wincing at his aching joints as he lowered himself back into it. He opened the drawstring of the leather bag with his gnarled fingers and inhaled deeply. "I love the smell of fresh tobacco." He declared. "You don't mind if I smoke do you?" He asked as he pulled out a pipe from one of the inner pockets of his jacket.
"No."
"Good, good." Old Quil mumbled. "If Joy were here, she would not be happy."
Soon the room was filled with dark, swirling smoke. Old Quil puffed in satisfaction, his eyes half closed. Once he was settled, he cast his gaze back to Jacob. "So, my boy, where was I?"
"You were talking about family, tribe and duty." Jacob reminded him.
"Oh, yes, I was." Old Quil took another puff from his pipe, blowing out a few smoke rings like Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings movie. "Well, Jacob, let me tell you about imprinting." He said with a broad smile.
A/N-thanks for reading!