He looked around. The café wasn't full this time of day. Only a few tables were currently occupied, and he easily spotted the other man. He sat on a table at the other end of the café. He had what looked like a cup of coffee in front of him, but it seemed untouched.

He raised his head when he heard the footsteps.

The hearing of a werewolf, he thought.

They both nodded then Edward took a chair and sat down. Neither of them said a word. Instead, they checked each other out. Edward was, of course, unchanged due to his vampiric nature but Jacob looked different. Edward had heard that, once they stopped phasing, werewolves aged as everyone else, and Jacob obviously had done that. He wore his black hair longer, tied in a ponytail. He still was very muscular, but Edward could see the first wrinkles around his eyes. As well as the dark circles that seemed to be permanently fixed under his eyes. He looked bone-tired, and Edward asked himself if he was sick.

The waitress appeared and Edward ordered a cup of coffee for himself knowing that he would never drink it.

The waitress left and they were once more alone.

After a while, Jacob sighed and lowered his gaze. „You're asking yourself why I wanted to meet you", he began. Edward simply nodded. It wasn't an understatement to say that he had been taken completely by surprise when Alice had called him a few days ago and told him about Jacob wanting to meet him.

He hadn't seen Bella or Jacob in ages. The last time it had been at their wedding, almost eighteen years ago.

Another sigh. „I don't know if Alice told you, but we have a daughter."

Edward raised an eyebrow. He remembered Alice briefly telling him about Bella's pregnancy but he hadn't really listened. „Congratulations." He smiled.

The other man weakly nodded. „Thank you. Her name's Sara. She's seventeen. And she is the reason I called you here today."

Now he had Edwards full attention. Why would his daughter be the reason Jacob called him? Him, his eternal rival, the reason he had once almost lost Bella.

Jacob starred in his cup of cold coffee. Edward saw that his hands were shaking, and his lips were pressed tight.

„A few years ago, Sara got sick. She started having migraines and felt dizzy for no reason at all. We went to the hospital with her." The former werewolf had to shut his eyes for a moment, the memory obviously a painful one.

„Cancer", he almost whispered. „A tumour in the brain. Luckily, it hadn't spread, and the doctors were able to take it out without damaging her brain. She had chemo for several months after that, to minimalize the chance for a return."

He started to guess where the other man was heading.

„That was seven years ago. She had Regular check-ups, but they were all negative. Until they weren't…" His voice faltered, and tears started forming in the corner of his eyes.

He must be really devastated to allow himself to cry in front of me…

Edward handed him a napkin and Jacob dapped at his eyes. When he continued his voice was heavy with unshed tears. „We immediately started chemo, but the cancer spread. It's everywhere, the brain, her lung, her stomach… Sara continued having chemo, but it was more for us than for herself. She just finished her third round. The scans… They don't look good. Bella still has hope and forbids everyone to talk about it, but I know that this time, she won't make it. And I know that Sara knows it, too."

Edward felt an uneasy feeling rising inside him. He knew where this was headed and he didn't like it. Nonetheless, he continued to hear the other man out.

„She's so brave and so strong but she's losing her will to fight. She wants it to end but she is still so young. What's more, Bella is pregnant again." He smiled weakly. „We tried for so long and now it happened at the most inopportune of times… I don't know what losing Sara would do to Bella and the baby and I'm not willing to find out. That's the reason I called."

The uneasy feeling rose again. Edward gulped down the knot that had formed in his throat. „And what do you want me to do?" They both knew the answer to that, but he still needed to hear it out of Jacob's own mouth.

Jacob sighed a third time. He raised his head and when his gaze met Edwards, a fierce resolution was in them. „I want you to turn her."

„No" It was an automatic reaction, like the one he had given Bella all those years ago when she had begged him to turn her. „I won't turn her."

Jacob narrowed his eyes. „And why not? Bella told me that Carlisle turned you all because you were dying. Sara is dying, too. You are her only chance." He couldn't keep the pleading tone out of his voice.

„When Carlisle turned me I didn't know what would happen to me. Afterwards, I mean. But now I do and I'm not doing this to another person. I won't condemn her to a life of unchanging solitude. A life in which she has to kill to survive. She'd have to watch everyone she loves die. I'm very sorry for what happened to you, but I can't do this", Edward answered and crossed his arms in front of his chest. His golden eyes were fixed on the former wolf and there was the same Resolution in them.

Jacob sighed and shook his head. „And what about Bella? I know that even after all these years you still love her. Would you really do this to her? Force her to watch her child die, knowing that you could have spared her the pain? Are you really that selfish?"

That was a low blow and Jacob knew it. As expected, Edwards answer came out angrier than he had intended. „Don't you dare calling me selfish. All I've ever done was for her. I let her go, let her live a life with you even if it destroyed me. I watched out of the shadows as she moved on, got older, knowing that one day I'd lose her forever. When she asked me to turn her, I refused but I so wanted to. But I didn't. I let her go so she could have a real life with you."

„Would you talk to her?"

Edward was taken aback by this calm question. Confused, he asked: „Talk to who? Bella?"

But Jacob shook his head. „No, Bella doesn't even know that I contacted you. I mean Sara. You said that you didn't have a choice. You were dying and didn't know what was going to happen. So, talk to Sara. Tell her everything and let her decide. She knows about you", he added after seeing Edwards questioning look. „Well, she knows about vampires and werwolves. She is a descendant of the wolves after all, even if she doesn't have the gene. Bella never told you about your history but she knows that there was a clan back in Forks when Bella was still a teenager." Jacob leaned forward, resting his elbows on the small table. „So, talk to her. That's all I'm asking for. Please, Edward. For Bella. I won't ask you to turn her again but please, just talk to her, only once."

This and the begging tone of his voice did it. The vampire sighed. „Alright, but only once. And don't expect me to change my mind."

Jacob leaned back and nodded. „Fair enough."

He asked the passing waitress for the bill and, after paying for the coffees, stood up. „I have to go. I told Bella I'd have to make a quick errand but she'll expect me back soon." He handed Edward a piece of paper. „That's our address. I'll take Bella shopping for the baby tomorrow afternoon, that should give you two a few hours to talk. I'll text Sara when we are on our way back."

They didn't shake hands, but Jacob briefly laid his hand on Edward's arm. „Thank you." Then he left, leaving a very confused Edward behind.

What have I gotten myself into?

He shook his head and left, thoughts racing in his mind.