Dusk Before Dawn

By Lady Callista

Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight series, much to my disappointment. Any quotations used from the book are purely for reference, after all it's difficult to retell the story from another perspective without putting in the parts that are already in the book, and no copywrite infringement is intended.

Chapter 4: Emotions

Emmett and Jasper stopped me before I reached the dance floor.

Do I smell Jacob?

Thought I heard Jacob's voice…

I nodded, and spoke too quickly for the humans around us to understand, "They're by the huge cedar tree. I'm keeping an ear on them in case he looses it. Stay close please."

They both nodded, carefully moving a few steps closer to the cedar tree as they engaged in small talk.

"Sorry I'm late, honey," Jacob was saying as I passed out of ear-shot, although I kept my mind on his every word.

Rosalie and Alice met me next, again before I reached the dance floor.

Did he really make it?

I nodded to Alice even as I extended my hand towards Rose, "May I have this dance?"

Rosalie smiled as she took my hand, "I thought you'd never get to me." She added in a fast undertone, "Is Alice's party about to be ruined?"

"The party hasn't become a blank, so I'd say no," Alice trilled, like Rosalie speaking out of human hearing range.

"Jasper and Emmett are standing by," I replied, speaking as quickly as they were. "But I don't want to draw attention to him. He's been missing for so long…"

Alice nodded, and the sudden blankness on her face told me that she was watching for problems.

Rosalie smiled and let me lead her onto the dance floor, where we began to dance.

I know that. And I didn't come here tonight to make you feel guilty.

Jacob's voice was still calm, and he was under control. So far so good.

I still don't know how you can stand to have that dog near her.

"He's her best friend," I told Rose quietly. "He makes her happy."

"I'd kill Emmett if he loved anyone but me," She whispered passionately.

"I love Bella enough to want her happy. I trust her." My voice showed none of my pain, for although it did hurt to know how much Bella loved Jacob, I knew she loved me more.

Rosalie and I danced the remainder of the song in silence, mostly because I was concentrating on Bella and Jacob so hard. Not that that kept us from moving skillfully around the floor.

Alice had been clever at choosing the reception music. Some of it was from the human adult's time, and some was current, but all the songs she'd chosen were ones with beats that you could ballroom dance to.

So as our school friends club-danced, and the adults stood on the sidelines, Rose and I flew across the floor doing some west-coast swing.

I hate having to dance like a human.

"But you still enjoy showing off how good you dance," I murmured in reply as I led her off the dance floor once the song ended.

She laughed at the truth of my statement.

I have heard lots of people asking where all of us took dance lessons. Just no one has asked any of us.

Now it was my turn to laugh, even as I focused my mind on Jacob to see what was happening now that the song was over.

Song's over. Do you think I get another one? Or is that asking too much?

You can have as many dances as you want.

I sighed at Bella's reply, then sighed louder as the next song started up. It was Alice's favorite song - at least this week.

I put my hand out for hers before she'd even reached me, and she giggled as she took my hand and we began a quickstep. Esme and Carlisle stepped onto the floor near us and started quickstepping as well. Soon most of the other dancers had stopped moving and circled us in awe.

We generally avoided being the center of attention like this, but it was better than someone wandering too close to the trees and seeing Jacob. And it would stop people from wondering where Bella was, because of course she wouldn't be dancing when we danced like this.

We switched partners halfway through the song, and all four of us chuckled as we heard Renee asking Rosalie where all of us had learned to dance.

We all listened for Rose's reply, knowing whatever she came up with would be our truth for as long as we lived in Forks.

"Well, there's not much to do in Alaska, and Mom used to teach ballroom dance," Rose replied.

"That's so wonderful," Renee gushed. "So few young people these days know how to dance properly."

We all chuckled again. While it was true that Alaska could get boring, and it was equally true that Esme had taught ballroom dancing, although I think that last time she'd done that had been in the 1970's, it was mostly that we all had unlimited time to practice, nearly perfect memories, and thought dancing was fun.

Although as Rosalie had mentioned to me earlier, it was more fun when we didn't have to dance human slow.

The song ended to a round of applause, which we graciously accepted even as we cleared the floor, feigning breathlessness.

Alice and I slid into chairs at the edge of the dance floor nearest the woods, and I checked in on Jacob again.

When?

I don't know for sure. A week or two, maybe.

"She's telling him that she'll be one of us in a few weeks. He's taking it better than expected," I mumbled to Alice with a smile. Jacob was resigned to it, although he still hadn't figured out how he'd feel about her afterwards. Then I remembered something I'd heard earlier. "Oh, and she says you're an unstoppable force of nature."

She giggled, raising a soda to her lips for a pretend sip. "Wait till she sees the cottage."

"Wait till she sees her closet," I corrected.

What do you mean? Have a real honeymoon? While you're still human? Are you kidding? That's a sick joke, Bella.

"Oh no." I mumbled.

She's got to be joking, there's no way she'd survive it. I'll kill him myself, what in the world is he thinking? How can he claim to love her and agree to this? He'll kill her. Bella will be gone. No, I have to kill him before he can…

Jacob was losing it. I started to rise, fully intending to expose us all by moving at my true speed over to my wife, when Alice clamped down on my forearm. Her eyes were blank, and her vision flew through my head. At first it was of me rushing over to Bella, and too many of the humans noticing. But as soon as she grabbed my arm, stopping that action, the vision shifted and the entire party went blank.

"Human speed." Her eyes locked on mine. "You have about 1 min." The vision changed even as she spoke and released me, showing me calmly walking towards my brothers and the party continuing on as normal.

I stood, and was about to move towards the woods when Charlie touched my arm

Ow, Jake, let go!

Mentally cursing at the delay, I turned to face him, "Yes?"

"Have you seen Bella?"

"I believe she mentioned the ladies room." I lied without thought, every instinct in me screaming for me to get to Bella. But I didn't want Charlie getting suspicious and following me.

Have to make her see reason, this is the most insane thing she's ever come up with, you'd think having almost died she'd value her life more, can't imagine her with him like that, can't think…

Alice saved the day. "I'm sure she'll be back in a few minutes, Charlie. You shill haven't kept your promise to dance with me."

"I thought you were joking."

I mumbled an excuse and walked at human speed towards my brothers, who were closer to the woods than I'd left them. I knew instantly why they'd moved. The bad thing with having senses as attuned as ours was that they could, well, overload. They'd moved exactly far enough from the music to hear Jacob and Bella's voices.

Emmett was already tensed like he was ready to spring, but Jasper had a restraining hand on his arm.

"Edward is coming, let him deal with it," Jasper was saying as I came up to them. "We don't want this to be a fight if we can help it."

"If that dog doesn't let go of her I swear I'll…"

"Bella, have you lost your mind? You can't be that stupid! Tell me you're joking!" Jacob's voice was shaking, but held more rage than I'd ever heard from him.

I walked swiftly past Jasper and Emmett. "Only help if I ask. Let Seth through," I added as I felt the shapeshifter coming up behind me. Like me, he was mentally cursing at having to go at human speed.

I mustered every ounce of control I possessed. I would not kill Jacob. I would not kill Jacob. I would not…

"Jake - stop!" Bella was frightened.

Almost positive I was far enough away from the house that no one would see me, and in that instant not caring if I wasn't, I launched myself at them.

"Take your hands off her," My voice was barely recognizable, cold and distant. Distant because it was taking all my control to keep my hands from his throat, and cold because I couldn't recall an instant in my life when I'd been angrier.

I heard two growls from the woods, but didn't take my eyes from Jacob. The wolves weren't upset with me.

"Jake, bro, back away," Seth came up behind me, his voice that calm, low voice you reserve for crazy people. "You're loosing it."

I can't do this, I can't imagine them together like that, I don't want to think of them together, I knew they would be eventually, but not like this, not human, I'll kill him, I have to stop this…

I stared at Jacob, calculating how to get Bella away from him without hurting her. Calculating how quickly I could get her away the instant his thoughts passed the point of no return.

"You'll hurt her," Seth whispered, almost at Jacob's side. "Let her go."

"Now!" I added, my voice coming out in a low snarl. I could feel my instincts taking over.

Jacob let go of Bella's arms, and before she could even blink I grabbed her and pulled her away from him, setting myself firmly between them.

Seth, as well as the two wolves who had come out of the woods, were trying to get Jacob to move away. I noted them as I kept my eyes firmly on Jacob.

"I'll kill you." He met the full force of my eyes with hatred so raw it was almost painful to see. "I'll kill you myself, I'll do it now."

As if I hadn't heard him threatening that in his head multiple times. He was still shuddering, and I was worried about what would happen to Seth if Jacob shifted with the younger boy so close.

"Seth, get out of the way!" I hissed at him, my eyes still locked on Jacob. His thoughts were still running in the same loop.

But Seth held firm, and Sam, still in wolf form, butted up against Jacob. The two of them pushed and pulled him into the woods.

Quil, also in wolf form, remained a moment longer, staring at Bella and myself.

"I'm sorry," Bella whispered to the wolf.

"It's all right now, Bella," I replied gently.

I really wish we'd never met any of you.

I glared at the wolf, and nodded my agreement of his sentiment as he vanished into the woods.

We'll take care of Jacob. He won't bother you again.

"All right." I whispered into the night after him, then turned to Bella, "Let's get back."

I spent several minutes convincing Bella that this wasn't her fault, that no one had noticed, and that she still looked perfect, then escorted her back to the dance floor, where we started dancing again as if nothing had happened.

Yet I couldn't get Jacob's thoughts out of my head. Especially since I'd thought pretty much the same things when Bella first told me she wanted a real honeymoon. I'd had time to get used to the idea, and I still didn't like it. I just couldn't say no to her.

How could I blame Jacob for his reaction? It was highly likely that I would kill Bella. La petite morte. The little death. That was what the French called an orgasm. I was just hoping they were wrong.

THE END

AN: This was reedited slightly Dec 4, 2010, and is now a complete story that ends this way. I hated leaving the story unfinished, as I'd originally planned to go through the honeymoon, but I no longer have the time or ambition to write this and felt bad leaving it how it was. So now after well over a year of not thinking of this at all, I'm just marking it complete. There may be a sequel in the distant future, but as of now nothing is planned.