My spring break is now two weeks instead of one. So I actually have time to write. Thanks for waiting and dealing with my sporadic updates. I appreciate yall.

All mistakes are my own and my disclaimer is still the same.

Charlie liked to think that he was relatively easy going. He only grounded Bella when he deemed it necessary. Like when she ran away to France for whatever reason and nearly gave him a heart attack at the very tender age of forty-two. He let her off the hook so that she could stop spending so much time with Edward who she forgave in two seconds flat and more time with her other friends.

He honestly thought she had more backbone than that.

Charlie didn't like the fact that he had to remind Bella that other people existed besides Edward. Angela was a very sweet girl and her boyfriend Ben was a nice kid as well. Very respectful. Newton's son's been crushing on Bella for a while now. And well, Jake. Jake was a whole different story. He had been her rock.

Bella's rock when Edward took the rug from under her.

Charlie's been civil. Letting them spend time together. Even letting that boy in his house even after he broke her heart. Edward hadn't been there for the nightmares and screaming. Not eating or socializing. Bella would go to school, come home and go straight to bed. She wasn't laughing or smiling, cracking sly jabs at his terrible cooking. She was a damn ghost of a person. He didn't recognize his own daughter.

Charlie was in over his head. Renee was little help. Bella didn't want to leave Forks anyway, so that idea was shot. He didn't know what to do.

Until Jacob.

When she started hanging out with Jake, it's like it gave her a new purpose. She became less of a ghost and more of a person. Somehow Bella thought Edward took everything from her and Jacob was there to remind her that there was more to life than a goddamn boyfriend. He made her smile and laugh. She'd spend hours over at the reservation and Charlie wouldn't have a problem with it at the slightest. Jacob wasn't subtle with his feelings and Charlie did not doubt in his mind that if Edward Cullen stayed gone. They would've been dating.

However,

It's absolutely OK that they aren't. Jacob has Harry now. Jacob was in love. Like actually in love and happy. Smiling, grinning and just positively glowing. His happiness was infectious. He deserved it.

After Harry and Jacob left for Emily's place Charlie couldn't help but attempt to pick Sue's and Billy's brains for a little information. He just wanted to be included in the loop. It was just the basic stuff. Like where was he from? When did he move to Forks? How old is he? Typical police sheriff things.

Apparently, Harry moved here a couple of weeks ago and they instantly hit it off. That's all they were willing to share and were both pretty tight-lipped.

Charlie mentally noted that this was exactly around the same time that Bella started ignoring Jacob's calls and then eventually Jacob stopped calling. Charlie would bring up Jacob and Bella would instantly shut down at the very mention of his name and this whole time Charlie had no idea why. He was just hoping that they would just figure out their problems like they always did.

Now Charlie understood that it wasn't as simple as that.

It could be. It should be. Bella was making it complicated. He knew his daughter, apparently not that much if she was homophobic but Charlie knew his daughter. She could take a pebble, toss it into the ocean and create a damn tsunami. Or she could take that pebble and keep it. There was no in-between with her.

Charlie wasn't angry that Bella couldn't put aside her ignorant views for her best friend. He was disappointed. Harry was a curveball for him too, but he never cared about who a person loved. Renee either. Which led Charlie to question if Bella was jealous. Did she feel a certain way because Jacob was no longer pursuing her?

He just didn't know.

Charlie sat in his car for about ten minutes before finally deciding to go into the house. This was going to be a very serious conversation, so he had to think everything through. He tossed his coat on the lazy boy and toed off his boots before trudging up the stairs.

He waited a couple of seconds before knocking on his daughter's door. The very softly spoken "yeah dad?" allowed him to enter. Charlie didn't like just bursting through doors, even if this was his house.

Bella looked a bit frazzled and her window was wide open. She really should close that; she'd get sick in a heartbeat. "Hey, Bella."

She sat up as Billy approached her bed. "Hey, dad. How were Billy and Sue?"

Charlie sat at the edge and unsure what to do with his hands he placed them in his lap and linked them together. "They were good Bella."

"You okay, Dad?" He's not surprised that Bella already picked up that something was wrong. It wasn't in his nightly routine to come to her and talk in her bedroom. She's always been unusually perceptive. She was like him in that way.

Charlie replied, his voice going all gruff. "I'm fine."

She nodded and gave him a look, a look that said 'I don't believe you.

Because Charlie just spent ten whole minutes mentally recreating how this conversation was going to go. He shouldn't beat around the bush. So, he wiped a hand over his face and looked into her eyes and said, "I saw Jacob."

Bella's expression went all sad. "Dad, I don't want to talk about him."

"Well, I'm not giving you a choice, Isabella." She recoiled at the sudden use of her full first name. Charlie only pulled that out when he meant business.

Her stump only lasted a second, she frowned and said, "What goes on with me and Jake isn't any of your business, Charlie."

That's true. That's so very true. Bella was a legal adult. It was a nice move, throwing his first name back at him. Bella only really did that when she was upset with him or warning him.

"That's right." Charlie agreed. "But as your father sometimes I think it's necessary and right now. This is very necessary."

"Whatever you think this is about, it's not––."

"I'm disappointed in you," Charlie said flat out.

Bella blinked back at him, confused.

"I am shocked at the fact that you would throw away your friendship with Jacob just because he's dating someone else."

Bella's mouth dropped open in shock. "Dad what are you ––,"

"Even after all Jacob has done for you, you would subject him to this. Now I understand Jacob dating a boy is a shock to everyone but there is nothing you could do about it, Bella. He's happy and that's all that should matter to you."

"Dad—."

"Have you met his boyfriend before throwing up all these judgments? Have you met Harry? Because today I did, and Bella let me tell you. I have never seen Jacob smile like that at anyone before."

"Dad I don't––."

Bella sputtered to cut him off yet again, but Charlie was on a roll and he wasn't gonna stop until he got it all out. Laid everything out on the table. "I don't get it. You told me that there was no competition for Edward. That's fine. Now all of a sudden, now that Jake's got a boyfriend and he's happy. You've got a problem with it?"

Charlie shook his head, not able to look her in the eye anymore. He didn't care if she felt offended and blathered to Renee. She loved using that threat to dangle over his head. "Or do you have a problem with him dating a boy? Being homophobic is a nasty trait to have."

Charlie looked at her then, for dramatic effect and his eyes went wide at the sight. He swore all of the blood in his daughter's body flooded to her face. Tears. Actual - tears of rage-filled her eyes. Her teeth mashed together with an audible grinding sound.

Suddenly Charlie didn't feel very bold. "Bella?"

She promptly exploded.

"What the hell Charlie!"

"What! What'd I say?"

Bella snapped. "What didn't you say?"

"Now wait just a minute," Charlie said, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm the only one that should be angry right now."

"No Dad," Bella growled. "The only reason Jake and I weren't talking was that I thought he didn't wanna be friends with me anymore. I told him that Edward and I were pretty serious, and he said some hurtful stuff. It's not because he's dating someone. I didn't even know."

Charlie sat there horrified for about ten seconds before muttering, "Oh."

Well shit.

"Oh," Bella repeated her tone in disbelief. "What the hell?" She threw the sheet off of herself and got to her feet.

Charlie tugged her arm gently, trying to make her sit. "Whoa! Where are you going?"

"I'm going over to Billy's place." Bella spat as if that part was obvious, tugging her arm free. "Now."

Oh boy. "You don't need to do that."

"You come into my room and start defending Jacob's honor as if I offended it. Meanwhile, I had no idea what was going on for the past month." Bella shrieked, throwing her hands in the air. Some little part of Charlie recognized that she was throwing a fit just like him, the rational part was greatly overshadowed by the irrational part. It was odd. "I had forgiven him weeks ago, but I wasn't gonna go over there if he didn't want me there! So, I need to talk to him."

Charlie was quick to try and placate her. "Take it easy, Bella."

"No, I will not take it easy!"

"Bella—,"

"No."

"Isabella."

"Charlie."

Charlie grabbed her arm gently and pulled her back down to the bed to sit next to him. "I've made a mistake by assuming you knew about Jacob's relationship," he admitted sheepishly.

"Clearly," Bella growled, tethering in hysterics. She was up on her feet again, her hands balled up into fists, her whole frame shaking. "Oh and no I'm not a homophobe, Charlie. Jesus."

Charlie winced. This is what he gets for not knowing all the facts about the situation. "Bella," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Just sit down please."

Calm. He had to try being calm. Yelling didn't work on her.

Bella was already tugging on her shoes and shrugging on her jacket. "Where is he?"

"Huh?" Charlie grunted, playing dumb.

"Where's Jacob? At Billy's? At Emily's? At Embry's?" Charlie stubbornly didn't answer for good reason. It'd probably ruin everyone's night to have Bella storming over there guns blazing over this.

He just outed his best friend's son. Jesus Christ. "I don't know."

"You're a terrible liar, Charlie." Bella grounded out through clenched teeth. "You wanted me to go visit Jacob so badly last week. Now you've got your chance. This is what you wanted."

"Not like this."

"Well, beggars can't be choosers."

"Bella you can't go over there right now." Charlie took a deep breath and shrugged to level his voice into something reasonable. "I'm not allowing it."

Bella turned defensive immediately, an instinctive reaction to his authoritative card pull. "I'm not a child, Dad and I'm not grounded, remember? Or do I need to remind you that I'm a legal adult, Charlie?"

Ah. The adult card. Typical. That's what she used to go to Florida to visit Renee, Edward in tow.

Charlie shot her a glare. "Yes, you may be an adult but you're acting really childish right now."

Bella's face went bright red and she paused her hurried movements.

Yeah, that's it. Reel it in. Charlie thought.

"I made a mistake while gauging this situation. Do you think going over there to yell at him is gonna solve anything? You think yelling at him for not telling you about his relationship is going to make anything better?"

Bella flinched at the threat implicit in his question

"It's clear that you two need to talk," Charlie said, stating the obvious. "But not when you're like this."

Bella stood there silently slowly mulling over Charlie's words. Thirty seconds passed before she chucked off her jacket and kicked off her shoes violently. "Fine," she said flatly. "I'm going to bed."

Relief flooded through Charlie's veins because it gave him the chance to warn Jacob about what he just had done. He hoped Jake was in such a good mood that he'll forgive him for what he's done. His phone was in his jacket pocket. He was already trying to formulate a plan. First, he'd call Billy and hope that his best friend would take pity on him and tell Jacob what happened.

Charlie wasn't a coward but it's not every day that you out your best friend's son to your daughter. He was just trying to help.

"Good night Bella."

Although this wasn't a very good night, not anymore.

Charlie quickly exited Bella's room and closed the door behind him. He went downstairs and fished through his jacket pocket for his phone and sighed heavily.

He needed a goddamn drink.

…

"Uno!" Embry shouted, throwing one of his two cards down roughly into the messily stacked pile.

Paul's chest puffed up and the veins from his neck popped out to say hello. He sneered down at the small blue card with white lettering. "You can't put a draw four on top of a draw two!"

"Yes, you can."

"No, you can't!"

"Yes, you can!"

"Actually, you can't," Seth said from his spot next to Harry on the couch. Because honestly where else would he be. "It's against the original rules."

"Thank you, Seth."

"No problem."

"We're playing our way, not the boring way. Now pick up six cards!"

Harry watched in amusement, not sure what was going on. He hasn't played yet. The game seemed simple enough. However, he didn't plan on joining in anytime soon, things were getting quite heated. But not in a good way.

"How about we just start up a new game," Racheal suggested, hanging over Paul's shoulder.

"No. Fuck that," Embry yelled, waving his one card around for everyone to see. It was a wild card. It had to be special, Harry guessed. "I wanna finish this game. We'd be done with it if Paul would just stop bitching and pick up his six cards."

Paul wasn't budging though. He wasn't going to give Embry the satisfaction. "Why can't we just follow the rules?" he shouted, throwing his arms in the air. "Games have rules."

"We always play like this," Embry shouted back. "I'm not gonna follow the rules now because it suits you."

"Fuck you!" the angry boy yelled. His arms began to quiver and Racheal, who was cozied up next to him, in a flash was now next to Jared.

The whole room seemed to take a whole full step back.

Harry sank back into the couch and Seth angled his long and lanky body to shield him from the right. Jacob was on his left, leaning halfway on top of him but he's been like that since they sat down on the couch together.

Harry felt smothered in the best way possible.

They both seemed ready for anything that might happen. Harry wasn't worried though, Paul was known to be hot-headed, but he could bring it in when he needed to. Or at least Harry hoped.

A shudder rippled through him, along his shoulders, and down his spine. Racheal made a move to go back over to him, but Sam gave her a look and she halted.

"Paul! Relax!" Sam commanded.

"Please! I just bought this coffee table." Emily chimed in softly. "Also, I'd like to keep these couches for just a couple more years. So, no phasing!"

Harry would be able to fix it if anything happened. He'd be sure to let her know that later on tonight.

Quil finally joined them after his brief hiatus upstairs. He was putting Claire to sleep. "Also, can everyone stop yelling. I just got Claire down for the night."

"Oh, don't worry about that Quil," Emily reassured him. "She'll sleep through anything. She didn't have a nap earlier, so she'll sleep soundly tonight."

Paul shook his head back and forth, not in defiance, but as though he were trying to concentrate.

"Jeez, Paul," Jared muttered. "It's just a game."

Paul twisted his head toward Jared, his lips curling back in irritation. Then he shifted his glare in Embry's direction.

"Fuck this!" Paul stood up abruptly and threw his cards down violently. "I'm not playing anymore."

"Paul," Racheal called out, but he was already out the front door. "Sam, can I?" She jerked her head towards the door and Sam nodded.

She followed him and a silence settled over everyone.

Jake and Seth eased up to give him some space. Harry thought the silence was going on for just a tad bit too long until Sam broke it.

"Embry your banned from playing Uno for tonight," he said, leaving no room for argument but that didn't mean Embry wasn't going to try.

"What!" Embry exclaimed in outrage. "That's not fair!"

"I think it is," Quil said, shrugging. "You never know when to quit, dude."

"Shut up!"

"No, you shut up."

"Both of you shut up!" Sam ordered and it was like a bark. Loud and sharp. They fell quite instantly. Sam went to snatch up the one half of the deck and Emily gathered the rest. "We're playing a new game and you can watch it."

"This is bullshit," Embry protested. "At least ban Paul too."

"No."

"What?!" Embry cried.

Paul and Rachel strolled back into the living room that seemed very small with the pack taking up most of the space.

As they walked by Paul cuffed the back of Embry's head, playfully. He grinned and Harry couldn't help but notice that he had a beautiful smile.

Nursing the back of his head. Embry grinned back. Right as rain. Temporary Uno feud, all forgotten.

"Chef Harry, are you playing in this one?" Emily asked him, getting ready to deal out the cards. "I promise that all games aren't that intense."

"Yeah I guess," Harry said, shrugging. If that was intense then he wondered what a game of wizard chess would be considered.

Jacob smoothed a hand through his hair and tucked a piece behind his ear. "I'll help you. Teamwork makes the dream work."
…

Harry was the second one to get Uno out, so he wasn't subjected to watching friendships starting to crumble and alliances starting to form. Which was apparently a part of Uno. He escaped to the kitchen when he could, just needing to be away for a moment.

Being an imprint was intense. Granted he wasn't doing any heavy lifting but being social for long periods was still potentially problematic for him.

Harry wasn't used to being in such a tight-knit unit. He tended to try and distance himself in his younger years. He didn't get a sense of family and being wanted until he met Ron and got introduced to his family.

Over the weeks he had gotten to know everyone in ways that he could've ever imagined. They bonded over unique things, and it was strange that Harry never felt drained. It was easy just simply being and interacting. His introverted self was actually enjoying it.

He and Emily would trade recipes, talk shit on occasion, gossip like nobody's business. It felt nice to ease her burden of cooking for the pack. Splitting responsibilities worked the best.

Well, Jacob was Jacob. Still clinging to him but yet learning to distance himself when he needed to. He was learning fairly quickly and considering that this was his first relationship Harry thought he was doing great. Especially since they were in something so serious so soon. Jacob has been nothing but patient and kind and lovely. A true blessing Harry thought he didn't deserve.

Quil, Jared, and Embry were shaping up to be the three annoying little brothers he always wished he had. Always bickering. Always trying to make him laugh. Cracking jokes every second and placing a bet on anything they could.

Seth was….

How could Harry put this?

Seth was precious.

Seth was the sweetest member thus far. He was also the most interested in Harry's magic. While the other pack members knew about his magic and they all took it rather well, they didn't care.

Jared kept asking Harry to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Even though Harry insisted that he wasn't that type of wizard. Being not normal was the norm around here and Harry liked that. He wasn't a freak. He was just Harry.

Seth was genuinely interested in what he could do. So, most of the magic that Harry has done has been in front of Seth or Jacob.

It was cute when just the little things got Seth all excited. Like when Harry used accio to retrieve a book. Or when he refilled a glass of water with his wand. Or when he apparated. Seth lost his mind when he first saw it. Jacob too. Perhaps Harry should have warned them instead of just popping away. If he were to do it now, they wouldn't think anything of it.

Then there was Leah. Who was here but not really here. She was always so quiet, mostly keeping to herself and Harry knew why. Jacob insisted that she was a menace as a wolf, thinking things they'd rather not know, tormenting Sam any chance she got.

Frown lines seemed to be permanently etched into her face. She reminded him of himself in some very odd self-reflective way.

Harry knew what it was like to have the roof come caving in. To feel like the world was just out to get him. He knew what it was like to feel ostracized by his friends and peers. He knew what it was like to be angry. So, Harry wanted to get to know her in any way he could.

She had this air about her. Like a person that was forced to grow up too fast. A maturity that no one else in the pack had, except maybe Sam.

She was different.

"Hey, Leah," Harry called out. She was standing by the fridge, leaning against the counter just nursing her glass of water and staring out into the distance.

Leah turned and looked at him with her big brown almond eyes and feather duster lashes. "Hey, Harry." She greeted, voice soft, like a whisper.

"You okay?"

"Always am," Leah said shrugging.

Harry strolled up next to her and lent against the same countertop. "Get this," he said. "You. Me. Dinner. At seven tomorrow night?"

Leah blinked and sipped her water slowly. "Dinner?"

"Yup."

"With you?"

"Yup."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

Leah went quiet.

Harry didn't say anything either.

"Is this a pity dinner?" Leah asked sharply after a beat. "Because I don't want that."

"Pity?" Harry repeated incredulously. "Is that what you think this is."

"Isn't it?" Leah shrugged and the heat seeped into her eyes. "I know Jake told you everything that happened between me and Sam. Or maybe he told you that I'm the reason my dad's dead. Maybe you're just doing this because you feel sorry for me."

"I don't have any reason to feel sorry for you," Harry claimed, and it was true. "I'm the last person on earth who would."

"Oh, please." Leah snorted nastily and Harry took full offense. Full offense.

"Look, Leah," Harry said sharply. "I've had a shitty life. My parents were murdered, and my relatives hated me. Every year at school something or someone was trying to kill me. I had to adapt to situations that I didn't like. Now, this isn't a pissing contest, but I'm going to tell you what my ex-girlfriend once told me."

Harry paused for a dramatic effect. "Pull your head out your arse."

Leah balked as if Harry had the nerve and the audacity and let me tell you something. Harry did.

"I don't pity you. I admire your strength in your situation, and I think you're a beautiful woman and I would love to take you out to dinner. I would like to be your friend. Now if you don't want company and a free meal on Sunday all you have to do is say no thanks. But don't try to make assumptions about me and my intentions."

Leah stared down at him, eyes gloriously intense and Harry stared back boldly.

Her lips twitched. "So, at 7 o'clock?"

Harry held back his hurrah of triumph and instead did it mentally. "Make it five so we can go to the cinema beforehand."

He smiled at her then and she tentatively smiled back, and Harry swooned. She was so damn pretty. She should smile more often.

He nodded once. "It's a date."

"What's a date?"

Harry sighed but not out of annoyance. He knew his presence would be missed eventually.

Jake bounced over into Harry's personal space, throwing an arm around him and pulling him close. "Leah and I are going out to dinner tomorrow."

"Without me?"

"Yes, love."

"I'll miss you." Jacob pouted and smashed his cheek into the top of Harry's head, getting a face full of hair.

Leah rolled her eyes and Harry laughed and said, "I'll miss you too, but you're not invited."

"While I'm gone, you could get your homework done." Harry proposed and Jacob pulled back with a groan and made a face. One that Harry could agree with, he never liked homework either.

"Billy only lets you sleep over if you're being responsible." Harry made a gesture indicating the two of them as a single entity. "We promised him. Plus, you had a plan to head over to Bella's."

"Haven't heard that name in a while," Leah noted, her tone snide. Jacob seemed unruffled at the supposed jab and paid her no mind.

"That's not gonna take long," Jacob said eagerly. "Twenty minutes tops."

"I'll probably be gone from two though."

"I thought it was just dinner."

"We might catch a film but now I might throw in a manicure and pedicure while we're out." Harry winked at Leah and waggled his fingers in her direction. "My cuticles are atrocious."

Leah looked down at her feet which were exposed in worn-out flip flops. "I could go for one."

Jacob heaved a sad sigh. "Seems like you have a long day planned." Harry stood up on his tippy toes to kiss him and Jacob hunched over to meet him halfway happily. Just like that, he was beaming when he pulled away.

"Yes, but you've got things to do. You'll hardly know I'm gone."

"Yeah right," Leah scoffed. "He thinks about you every second. It's revolting."

"I do." Jacob grinned completely unashamed. "I can't help it."

Harry couldn't imagine it, being in someone's head like that. Privacy didn't exist. He could see why Jake hated being in a pack at first.

"Yo Jake you got a call!" Seth suddenly called out from the living room.

"Who is it?"

"Billy."

"Toss it." The next thing Harry knew, Jacob had a cell phone flying at his face. Jacob's hand flicked up faster than Harry thought he was capable, and he snagged the phone just before it hit his face.

"Hey Dad," Jacob answered. "What's up."

There was silence. Then a fury of words on the other end.

Harry bit his lip, straining to hear what Billy was saying.

"Why'd he say anything, to begin with?" Jacob questioned in a low voice. "Now that's another thing—,"

Billy interrupted him then, and Harry could hear the buzz of his voice from the receiver. Whatever he was saying, he was more intense than before. Harry tried unsuccessfully to make out the words.

"But Dad— He's changing her. The treaty says—." Jacob began, but Billy cut him off again. Neither of them sounded angry, at least.

"I know it's her choice. There's nothing I can do about it. I planned on going over there tomorrow. What exactly did he say?"

Billy's voice was quieter now. Harry tried to read Jacob's expression. He looked towards Leah who was listening in with her super hearing. He didn't look angry, peeved maybe. But not angry.

Then all of a sudden Jacob laughed and Harry was very confused. The conversation was not going how he thought it was.

"I'm not mad at him," Jacob replied after his laugher subsided. "He didn't know. So, I can't fault him. I just wanted to tell her differently."

Then Billy said something that caused a surprised expression to flicker across Jacob's face.

"I wasn't planning on bringing him," Jacob said, answering the unexpected question. "He and Leah have plans. Plus, I didn't want him anywhere near one of them."

Oh no, they were talking about him.

Billy's voice rose in pitch, and it sounded like he was trying to be persuasive.

"Uh," Jacob grunted. "I don't know about that Dad."

The pause was shorter this time.

"Yeah. I'll be fine. It's just Bella." Jacob ended the call and stuffed the phone in his pocket.

"What was that all about?"

Irritation crossed his expression. "Charlie told Bella about our relationship."

"Why would he do that?" Harry asked slowly. He had only just met the man today and it wasn't any of his business.

"He thought Bella wasn't talking to me because of you. Well–– since you're a guy. He was defending me, but it wasn't about that at all."

Next to them, Leah barked out a laugh and Harry gaped at her. "You're laughing too?"

"Yes, and you should too." Leah gasped in between chortles. "This is funny."

"It is?" Perhaps Harry missed the joke or the punch line.

Jacob smiled and shrugged. "It's a little funny. I mean he was only trying to help."

"It's hilarious." Leah laughed harder. She even set down her glass of water to clutch her stomach.

"I'll tell you more at home." Jacob kissed his forehead and took his hand so he could drag him back to the game. "Let's just enjoy the rest of the night."

…

The next day they spent the entire morning in their underwear. Perfect Sunday activities. Jacob told Harry everything that his father said and suggested. Jacob was a little worried and Harry was tempted to break off his plans with Leah just to stay with him. He was tempted but he wouldn't do that. He was excited to bond with the only female wolf in the pack. Jacob was a big boy and could handle this on his own. Everything was going to be fine; Harry was sure of it.

"I think you should call before you go," Harry suggested, and Jacob shrugged and then hunched over in one of the kitchen stools prompting Harry to slide over to him.

Big warm hands settled over his waist and Jacob nosed against his neck and up to his chin. "I just wanna get this over with now."

Jacob pulled Harry flush against his opened legs. "I still think you should call unless you don't mind having Edward there."

"I don't mind." Jacob denied and Harry raised an eyebrow unconvinced.

"Okay, maybe I mind a little."

"A little?" Harry pressed. He knew about Jacob's particular animosity towards Edward and him being there wouldn't make anything better.

"Maybe a lot," Jacob grunted. "What's the point though. She probably won't pick up like the last twenty times I've called."

"But Charlie told Billy who then told you she was ready to talk to you last night," Harry felt a little silly recounting that. "She has to pick up now. She's not ignoring you anymore, we know that."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Didn't Billy say it would be a good idea to take me with you. Kill two birds with one stone."

"That wasn't gonna happen even if you didn't have plans with Leah. If you're gonna meet her, it should be on our turf."

"Jake. I'm probably going to meet Edward eventually. He's her boyfriend. You can't fight the inevitable."

Jacob didn't answer him. He was too busy curving a hand over Harry's jaw and angling his face up into a kiss. Harry didn't let it get too heated. As much as he wanted to straddle Jacob and clamber all over him –– he couldn't. Not here, not now. They both had things to do and people to see.

But Harry did kiss him deep for a long moment. Savoring every second. Jacob was a pretty good kisser. He gave as good as he got, opened up for Harry and took when Harry gave him space too.

Harry was glad he didn't have to pull back, didn't think he could've if he'd tried, despite how much he knew he needed too. Jacob did it for him, a hint of teeth dragging over his lip as he pulled away.

It ripped a groan right out of him. Jacob's dark eyes were fever bright when he sat back up straight, his grin sly.

"I have to take a shower," Harry announced, and his voice was low and gravelly, and he knew what his eyes looked like. Probably dark, all pupils. He licked his lips and swallowed, tasting the pineapple and mangoes from their brunch, tasting Jacob.

"Yeah I guess I should let you go do that," Jacob said, and Harry imagined it was supposed to be teasing, but instead it was kind of breathless–– like Jacob was ready to drop all his priorities and step into that shower with him.

Harry kissed him again because he could, and Jacob melted only slightly. The grip on his waist went slack and Harry used that moment to step out from in between his legs.

"No," Jacob whined, jutting out his bottom lip.

Harry took a few cleansing steps back until he reached the archway that led out into the living room. "No."

Jacob's exaggerated frown increased as Harry took more and more steps back. He was refusing to fall for those puppy dog eyes and shook his head. "Call Bella," he demanded and made a hasty escape through the living room and up the stairs.

Away from temptation.

When Jacob heard the shower running, he got his phone from his pocket. Part of him didn't want her to answer. But it was like Harry said. If she was his best friend, she'll forgive him for his slip up easily.

Jacob glanced at the clock. It was 12:45. Not too late for calls and not too early. He scrolled down his small call log and clicked Bella's name. It rang and rang and rang. And rang some more until she picked up on the fifth ring.

"Hello?" Bella's soft voice flooded his ear and he smiled despite himself.

He did miss her.

"Hey, Bella."

"Hey, Jake."

There was an awkward silence and Jacob cleared his throat and said, "We have to talk."

"Yeah, we do." She agreed lightly.

"First off, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about what I said all those weeks ago," Jacob confessed. "You're my best friend and I didn't think you'd be doing it so soon."

"I know Jake," Bella mumbled. "You're all forgiven for that."

Oh, thank god.

That was easy.

"What I said was really stupid and I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"Uh––I preferred if we talked about the other stuff in person. Can I come over?"

She paused a second too long. "Um––."

"Look," Jacob said, trying so very hard to keep the bitterness out of his voice. "I know he's not exactly thrilled with me, but I want to talk to you in person."

"That's not the problem. There's . . . well, there's this other problem that's slightly more worrisome than a teenage werewolf." She said jokingly but it wasn't fooling him.

"What's wrong?" Jacob demanded.

The only thing that could be heard was her breathing. "Bella?"

She sighed and it caused a swoosh of static over the connection. "Do you mind speaking to Edward?" Bella asked apprehensively. "He wants to talk to you."

Jacob paused for a while.

"Okay," Jacob finally agreed. "This should be interesting."

"Hello, Jacob," Edward said, perfectly polite and it set his teeth on edge for some reason. But the leech was being polite. He was going to try his best to do the same. Even though he despised him.

"Uh––hi."

"Someone was here - not a scent I know," Edward explained. "Has your pack come across anything new?"

Jacob wasn't surprised that this was happening, that this was going down. With Bella, it was always something. If it wasn't one vampire coming after her it was another. Even with double patrols, they haven't had a run-in with anything. "No. The redheaded leech hasn't even tried coming back either."

"Ah." Edward hummed smoothly. "Here's the crux, Jacob. I won't be letting Bella out of my sight till I get this taken care of. It's nothing personal––."

Jacob rolled his eyes even though Edward couldn't see him. "Look, the safest place when she's not with you is over at the reservation."

"You might be right––," Edward began, but Jacob was cutting him off again.

"If it's for her protection we could coordinate patrols. Maybe renegotiate the treaty temporarily."

"That's an interesting suggestion. We're quite willing to renegotiate. If Sam is amenable."

"I'll talk to him. If it's for her and Charlie's protection, he'll most likely be willing."

"Thank you."

"Whatever," Jacob said flippantly. "Are you going alone to track the scent?"

"I'd planned to go alone," Edward said, answering the question. "And leave her with the others."

"You could leave her with us. I promised I would never hurt her. Either way, she will be the safest across treaty lines. Charlie too."

"I'll try to consider that objectively," Edward promised. "As objectively as I'm capable of."

"I should get a whiff for myself. Know what to look for when I'm on patrol."

"That's not a half-bad idea. When?"

"Right now. Ten minutes."

"Ten minutes?"

"Is that a problem?"

"No, that's fine. I'd like a chance to follow the trail personally, anyway."

"It'll be better for both of us if you stepped outside when I came over though."

"Certainly."

Their conversation was over and then there was yet another long pause. "What was that all about?" Bella asked, her voice annoyed. Knowing Bella, she probably felt excluded.

"A truce, I think. Your leech will fill you in. I'll see you in twenty." Jacob hung up quickly and bounded up the stairs to tell Harry a little about what just went down.

Jacob considered Harry not only his mate but an unofficial part of the pack and anything that Sam didn't restrict him from telling anyone was most likely being told to Harry. However, he was second in command. He had authority too.

Jacob stuck his head through the open bathroom door watching the outline of Harry's lithe body through the milky shower curtain. "Hey babe, I'm heading over in a minute."

"She gave you the green light?"

"Yeah and so did her leech. Turns out there was an intruder in Bella's house that he didn't recognize." The shower curtain yanked open halfway and Harry stuck his head out of the shower. There was shampoo threatening to trickle down into his eyes, but he didn't seem to care. Getting his eyes on his mate seemed more important.

"You gonna check it out?"

"Yeah, then talk to Bella for a little."

Harry squinted at him for a long time and even though his bright green eyes were squinted, Jacob could feel his mate's intensity. "Be safe. Please," he ordered, and Jacob grinned. "I know you're a primed vampire killing machine, but I still worry."

Jacob laughed. "I'll be fine, babe."

"I know." Harry ducked back in to massage the shampoo out his hair. When he did that it gave Jacob a truly spectacular view of Harry's drenched ass, shining in the water running in rivulets down his tattooed back. All Jacob really wanted to do was to push Harry against those steamy tiles and get his tongue on his neck. "Make sure you take the house key. I'll be gone soon."

"Yeah–– yeah," Jacob said, distracted.

Harry wiped the water from his eyes and peered at him. "Jake?"

"Yeah," Jacob answered breathlessly.

"You should get going, love."

"Right! Right. Bye." Jacob closed the door once he took a step back. He grabbed his black cord and shorts that he left on Harry's bed and secured it to his ankle. He went downstairs and snagged the spear house key on the coffee table and hooked it to the cord too.

Jacob stepped out of his boxers and left them folded on one of the couches. Then made his exit out of Harry's back door.

…

It was weird. Seeing her again after all this time. It kind of felt like a lifetime had passed. He felt like a completely different person and when he looked at her.

He kind of couldn't believe that he ever had a crush on her. That was putting it lightly. He couldn't believe that he was once in love with her. He tried to imagine directing any of his love and affection towards anyone other than Harry. His wolf didn't like it.

Imprinting was strange.

The elders had said that it was rare but that slowly turned out to be a load of horse shit since more than half the pack imprinted.

So, he didn't waste any time. He asked her where the scent was most likely the strongest and she told him her bedroom. Which freaked him out for an obvious reason. Some random leech was just moseying around her bedroom.

Jacob got the scent which–– fucking reeked. After that, he started helping wash the dishes just to ease the tension. She probably had loads of questions which he would normally be happy to answer. He could talk about Harry for hours. Prattle on about how amazing he was and all the things he could do.

But he could do that with his brothers but for some reason talking to Bella about Harry seemed like an invasion of privacy. There was a lot he couldn't tell her, so he hoped her questions weren't prying.

Jacob started with. "I didn't sic Charlie on you. He did that on his own."

Bella sighed. "I figured that much."

"I didn't think he'd run and tell you."

"Charlie always wants to defend the people he cares about." Bella shook her head and cringed. "He called me a homophobe."

"Well shit. Are you?"

"No!"

Jacob bumped her with his hip lightly. "Well, then we've got nothing to worry about."

"Cool."

"Cool."

"So," Bella said, dragging out the word. She handed him a plate to dry. "Boyfriend?"

Jacob took the plate and dried it thoroughly. "Imprint, actually."

"What?!"

"Yeah," Jacob said, shrugging. "I imprinted like a month ago."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Jacob snorted. "You weren't answering my phone calls."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"I forgave you a while ago, but Edward wouldn't let me come to the reservation but to be fair I didn't want to come if you didn't want me there."

Did Bella not see how crazy possessive that was, or did she not mind it? He tried telling Harry that he needed a bodyguard while over the borderline and he laughed in his face. "I was a little preoccupied at the moment anyway. I was having a late teenage crisis. Imprinting on a guy freaked me out."

"So, you like guys?"

"No."

"But you imprinted on a guy," Bella said pointing out the obvious.

"Yeah," Jacob grinned. "But I'm pretty sure his dick is the only one I'll want in my lifetime."

"Jake!" She smacked his arm, splashing him with dishwater. Her cheeks were flaming red. "Don't be crude."

"It's true." Jacob laughed. He couldn't wait for the day where he lost his virginity to his imprint. It would be epic. "Harry and only Harry."

"What's it like?"

"What do you mean?"

"You were so sure that you weren't going to imprint and now that you have, what does it feel like? From your own experience now. Not from Sam or Paul. Or whoever."

"It feels like I'm finally existing." Jacob wasn't really prepared to bare his heart and soul but yet here he was. "It feels like every day that I wake up. It's a blessing to know I have someone to live for and to love with everything that I've got."

"Jake—."

"It feels like my soul extended itself and latched on to another being who was made for me and I was made for them." Jacob continued avidly. "It feels like paradise every time I'm with him. I wake up with a smile on my face knowing that someone so perfect is for me and only me. It feels like a dream because I don't have to change myself for him because he takes me as I am, and I take him as he is."

The end was a little jibe at her decision to become one of them but if Bella heard it, she chose to ignore it.

Bella's jaw dropped open in awe. "Wow. That was beautiful."

Jacob smiled all shy. Since it was one thing thinking all this stuff and it was another thing hearing himself say it out loud. His brothers and Leah knew what he felt, they were in his head. Bella wasn't. "Did that answer your question?"

Bella could only nod. She fished around the soapy sink water for the utensils at the bottom. "What's he like? Your Harry?"

The light of life. The fire in his loins. This overall was a pretty loaded question with one simple answer.

"He's perfect. He's everything I didn't know I needed." Jacob responded immediately. "But I suppose I'm biased."

"I think being biased is allowed in your case." Bella smiled and pulled the plug in the sink. They watched the dirty sink water swirl down the drain. She cleaned her hands with a towel. "I'm happy for you."

The sincerity was there. She actually was happy for him.

Jacob grinned widely, his teeth bright against his russet skin. "Thanks, Bella," he said, and then he grabbed her hand and wrenched her into one of his bone-crushing hugs.

Before she had time to react, he dropped his arms and stepped away. Her hair positively reeked, like her leech went headfirst into her hair.

"Ugh," he groaned, his nose wrinkling. "Your hair stinks worse than your room."

"Sorry," Bella muttered.

"One of the many hazards of socializing with vampires," Jacob said, shrugging. "It makes you smell bad. A minor hazard, comparatively."

Bella glared at him. "I only smell bad to you, Jake."

The motion outside her house caught Jacob's attention and he took it as his cue to leave. "I'll see you around, Bells."

"You're leaving?"

"He's waiting for me to go. I can hear him outside."

"Oh," Bella muttered sadly. "Wait! Do I get to meet him?" she asked tentatively. "Your boyfriend?"

"Duh," he rolled his eyes because you would think that would be pretty obvious. "We're having a bonfire party tomorrow night. Harry will be there."

"Yeah, Jake, I don't know about that. See, it's a little tense right now."

Jacob found her faith in them a little insulting. The wolves were good at what they were born to do. "C'mon, you think somebody's gonna get past the entire pack?"

"Jake—."

Jacob's big dark eyes were full of unashamed pleading. Hoping they'll work on her and not fail him like when he tries to use them on Harry.

Bella caved. "I'll ask."

Jacob made a noise in the back of his throat. "Is he your warden, now, too? You know, I saw this story on the news last week about controlling, abusive teenage relationships and -"

"Okay!" Bella cut him off and then shoved his arm. "Time for the werewolf to get out!"

Jacob grinned. "Bye, Bells. Be sure you ask permission."

Jacob ducked out the back door before Bella could find something to throw at him. He felt sort of stupid for making a bigger deal out of this whole situation then it needed to be. He stilled hated her bloodsucker, but he couldn't hate her. He should have known holding grudges wasn't her strong suit. He was glad he took Harry's advice.

Jacob headed towards the woods to strip down and attach his shorts to his cord. He'd go back to Harry's place, take a shower, attempt to do his homework and wait for the love of his life to return home.

Alas, now we are in business. The plot is rolling. Things have happened. Will Edward make an appearance in the next chapter? Who knows. Will there be smut with Harry & Jake? Most likely. Let me know what you think.