Sorry it's been so long. Here's the next installment. Twilight belongs to SM and I'm trying to get back into writing after a serious lull /:

Chapter 7

Jacob

Charlie Swan was not known for his bubbly personality, but as we finished up the home tour, he practically bounced with each step. Bells was going home to Charlie's in the morning. Tim made a home visit last week and made suggestions that would improve the probability of Bella's continued progress while keeping her safe. I sent Paul and Embry over to add grab bars to the walls and the bathroom. They added non-stick tread for the stairs in the front and a ramp at the back door. The guys did all the heavy lifting, setting up her new space, so her new bedroom was a transformed showplace. The room addition was functional but also aesthetically pleasing. Sue and Leah took Renee shopping to buy Bella new clothes, personal items, and updated linens, since she'd been absent from the house for so long.

Charlie looked around her new downstairs bedroom again. "You don't think it's too much, do you, Jake? Bells was never fancy or too particular."

My eyes lifted to the ceiling at the whimsical gold chandelier covered in fake crystal flowers. Charlie agreed before I commented. "I know. Her mother insisted on that fancy light fixture, claims it has healing energy. I wanted to install a sturdy ceiling fan. Then Leah and Sue ganged up on me and agreed with Bella's mother. I don't want my daughter to think we're overcompensating or treating her differently now."

Shaking my head, I tried to calm Bella's nervous dad down. "Naw, she won't. So what if she didn't have stuff like this before. I sent a few pictures to my sisters, and they agreed any woman would love such a room. Bec complained when she got married, she had to make room for weird sports memorabilia and Sci-fy posters. Muted tones and neutrals are her current décor to keep both her and Sol happy."

Leah confessed Charlie was going to use Bella's tired-ass purple comforter from her high school days until she took over the room makeover. She was the main driving force behind all the decorating tasks. Sam better watch out. I was convinced Leah was ready to start planning a nursery before they made it down the aisle. That was their business, but Leah was tired of phasing. She started taking design courses online, and I think she had an eye for this stuff. I would have never picked all these luxurious belongings out, but the women did a great job. The vibe was so peaceful, far better than the somewhat sterile rehab setting.

At first, we all thought Bella might do better with a hospital bed for a few more weeks, but Charlie splurged on an adjustable mattress. Tim and I agreed she was strong enough to make regular furniture work just fine. As soon as the facility discharged her, she would continue home therapy. Eight weeks ago, Bella woke up. She should not be so advanced in her healing. Three separate neurologists had examined her and couldn't determine how she made this recovery after such a long comatose state. Over the years, no one could figure out how she survived her injuries. Then there were questions about why she never woke up despite the tests miraculously showing no permanent brain damage.

Old Quil and I had some recent conversations. I finally confessed to my father my intense need to be close to Bella and how it seemed I essentially awakened her. Dad didn't think I was exaggerating. He brought me straight to Old Quil for counseling. They both determined a quest inside the archives was warranted. No concrete reasons were discovered yet, but they believed something special connected our spirits. The old guys got carried away with some far-fetched ideas, but I wasn't in a place to argue. I transformed into a massive beast a few times a day, so all explanations were plausible at this point.

The pack and I brainstormed our own theories in our latest meeting before Bella came home. "Those bloodsuckers wanted Bella for some reason, Jake, and your wolf knows how fucked up that is. He just wants to protect her. You're like family to Charlie, and Bella is his only kid. You've always been loyal and protective of your friends and family, even before the wolf." Embry voiced his theory.

Quil agreed, "Yeah, man. Don't let Grandad trap you in all the mysticism. He goes overboard. I mean, I don't doubt some strange shit went on back in the day, but our spirit wolves and the occasional bloodsucker are probably all that exist in our little corner of the world. If there was more out there, then we would have encountered it by now."

Of course, I could always count on Paul to say inappropriate shit at the wrong time. He took a bite of his giant apple, slurped the juice off his fingers, and told the pack what he thought was going on. "You all are being too analytical, just like the elders. Bella's hot and Jake's deprived himself for too long. The wolf knows what our alpha needs. He's been living like a damn monk since he was, I don't seventeen, eighteen? When was it you quit going to pick up chicks with us?"

Nine pairs of eyes stared disbelieving at me. Leah broke the trance first. Shaking her head at Paul, she grabbed Sam by the arm. "Come on, babe. The serious meeting is adjourned since Lahote is starting to give his sexual depravity advice." Facing me, she shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes. "Call me if Bella needs anything else for the room when you get her settled tomorrow."

Nodding, I told Leah and Sam goodbye before adding my official dismissal. "Leah's right. The meeting is adjourned. Everyone has their new patrol schedules. I'll check in tomorrow after I leave Charlie's." Paul, Embry, Quil, and Seth stayed. Angela was on a church retreat with her family, so I figured that's the only reason Seth didn't leave when his sister did.

"Is that true, Jake? You haven't been with a woman since you were my age?" Seth asked.

Paul answered for me. "Hell yes, it's true. I don't lie and the rest of you don't pay attention if you didn't realize that. Plus, Black didn't ever get around much compared to the rest of us. Your body count is probably more than his, kid. Alpha, my ass. You're an enigma, man. Phasing probably enhanced our natural testosterone tenfold, and you've wasted the best years of your life with your nose in a book."

I growled, "Are you done?"

"I guess, but you know I'm right. You need to get laid, and that's all these enhanced feelings mean. Those tingles are in your dick, not your heart. I doubt the coma queen is going to be up for all that so soon. You might need to practice with some other willing hottie for a while." Lahote chuckled. "Up for it, get it. Ha, that's a multi-use pun."

My next moment of conscious thought proved I'd experienced an out-of-body experience. I had no memory of lunging at my insubordinate pack mate, grabbing him by the throat, and pinning him to the nearest tree. Quil, Seth, and Embry worked together to get me to release my chokehold on Lahote before I snuffed out his miserable life. He'd been a pain in my ass for years, but I ignored his mouth most of the time. But hearing his insinuations about Bella sent me into a rage. My overwhelming feeling of protectiveness for her had nothing to do with sexual urges.

"Jake!" they yelled. "Let go. He's turning purple. My eyes burned, and a tremor ran through me and Paul simultaneously. We were both about to phase and blood would spill if we did. A lot of it, my wolf agreed. Bella was hours from being discharged from the rehab hospital, and I needed to be available for her and Charlie. I couldn't be distracted from what was most important to me.

My hand released the smartass, and he collapsed on the ground gagging and coughing until he recovered from his slight oxygen deprivation. I pointed at each one but held my finger close to Paul's face when I gave the order. "Don't ever disrespect Bella again or you'll regret it."

Embry helped Paul to his feet. He dusted himself off and apologized, "Jesus! Sorry if I sounded offensive. I think you misunderstood. We're all team Bella. I was just trying to give you advice about chilling out. You're wound up too tight, and it's not good for any of us. You know we absorb all those crazy emotions you've been experiencing."

Part of me accepted Paul made sense a few times. I'd deprived myself of any kind of meaningful connection for years. The wolf stayed pissed at me in the beginning, but he'd been content as soon as we got closer to Bells. My moods had been a mixed bag since she woke up and the pack was forced to endure each one. The Cullens consumed my thoughts. I couldn't figure out what their motives were concerning Bella. Worries that they were coming back were legitimate. Plenty of times, I'd panicked that Bella wasn't doing well. Other times, I was overly ecstatic that she was doing so fantastic she didn't need me at all.

Quil patted my shoulder. "Hey, man. It'll be okay. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if Grandad and Billy are right about you and Bella. She's going to heal, and we're not going to let the bloodsucking demon family come near her. Then you two will get together and we'll have an alpha queen. None of us were expecting such a thing, but I guess fate knew we needed her. It sucks she had to go through hell enduring an accident and a coma, but it seems like that incident might have saved her. Who knows what that creepy mind-reader was about to do with Bella?"

If I didn't cut Quil off now, he'd continue his philosophical ramblings for a half an hour. "Got it, Quil. There are all sorts of possibilities, but all we can do is manage what we know for certain. Bella was in the area for a hot minute as a child, so I doubt some supernatural destiny planned our lives while we made mud pies on the beach, but I'm open minded. Anything is possible. Unless there's anything important to go over, you guys can head out. I'm going home to get some rest."

He held up his hand, so I knew Quil had something else to say. "One more thing, Chief. Don't fight this. Be yourself around Bella. From what we've seen through your mind, it's obvious she's into you too, but she doesn't understand that stuff yet. Her body healing takes up too much energy." Before I could argue with my annoying friend, he took that hand he waved around when he talked and touched my cheek. "Jake… my sun… in another life."

Paul and Emb burst into raucous laughter. That slip in my thoughts was my greatest regret. I didn't realize anyone was close when I replayed that moment a few weeks ago. They were never going to let me live it down. Now Quil was lucky I didn't put him in a chokehold as well.

Seth interceded. "Come on, guys. Jake's stressed. Stop teasing him. I thought that was a sweet moment. It proves Bella trusts him, which is important. She's got to be so confused and overwhelmed."

The other three asshats took off toward the tree line and phased before I dished out any new punishments.

Seth stayed. "I understand your decisions about not fucking around once you started feeling a duty to Bella. It wasn't the lifestyle for me, either. Sure, we had some fun. I can't lie about the thrills when I transformed into a chiseled giant overnight. Most chicks thought I was at least twenty-five. No one carded us at the bars. We had our pick of the hottest women at all the clubs. However, the fun faded fast, and I was lonely a lot of the time. When I met Angela at the coffee shop, my focus shifted. She recognized me because Mom had done some mutual volunteer work with Ang's father. She constantly told me I was too young for her, even paraded her dopey, barista boyfriend in front of me a few times. That butthead didn't last, as you know." Seth twisted an invisible lock over his lips, and I nodded knowingly.

He continued, "But I kept showing up to prove my intentions were pure. I just wanted to get to know her. Friends first, until neither of us could doubt what was happening between us. I mean, you know my story, but I wanted to remind you that sometimes obstacles exist, but if something is meant to be, it'll eventually happen."

I thanked Seth for his heartfelt sentiments before we went our separate ways. The kid had a calm manner, and he helped balance the pack. He didn't need to remind me that Angela's ex left his job at the coffee shop because he had the life scared out of him by a raging beast on two legs. One evening at closing time, Seth spied the moron grab Angela a bit too rough around the arm when they argued about some closing duties. I'm not sure if Seth ever told her the full story. She'd been confused about why he ghosted her after working there for a year and a six-month relationship. Angela started to confide in Seth after that and stopped viewing him as an annoying teenage boy.

The various opinions the guys expressed this evening all had value. I wish things could run smoothly like they assumed. My fears about the Cullens weren't so easily explained, and neither were my feelings about Bella. The bloodsuckers were my sworn enemies, but she'd come out of that coma with Edward on her mind. Renee called them dreams. Charlie avoided the topic. Bella never talked about the Cullens with me, and we got along well and had easy conversations. We discussed all kinds of topics. It seemed she purposely avoided telling me anything about those memories of Edward. What bothers me the most is that I think she still misses him, and it's driving me insane that I can't figure out why.

~Thanks for reading.

I'll try to update more frequently. The next chapter is written, so you know what to do.