DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS STORY; CHARACTERS OR OTHERWISE -THIS IS A RE-IMAGINATION OF AN EXISTING WORLD - EVERYTHING BELONGS TO A MRS. STEPHENIE MEYER

"Hey…"

"Did you see them?…"

"When ?…"

"How close?…"

"We're just pulling up to Charlie's..."

"They're already here..."

No! Don't tell Sam, you and Embry stay close and stay human. It could be nothing" I didn't need to hear Quil's voice on the other line to understand what was going on. Edward was back, and he was flirting with the La Push boundary.

"Bella, I hope you did some good thinking today because it's game time. "

"What is he doing back?"

"I think we've got bigger fish to fry Bella. "

"Oh god, oh god, oh god. "

"Maybe try something a little more articulate," Jake said as he pulled up to the curb in front of my house. "Should take a few more trips around the block?"

"Jake! I'm serious what am I going to say?"

Luckily Charlie's cruiser was nowhere to be seen. A good sign he was at the station already.

"I don't know… something tells me this is going to hurt. In one way or another"

"Let's not go there." I retorted as I opened the door and jumped out of the cab.

"Easy for you to say," Jake mumbled under his breath, pulling the keys out of the ignition and jumping out of the cab in one fluid motion.

As soon as my feet hit the pavement, Edward was at my side, standing protectively in front of me.

"Get in my car, Bella" Edward spoke in a deliberate tone as he turned his attention towards Jacob.

"How many times do I have to warn you to stay away from her" Edward spat at Jacob, his controlled tone giving way to rancor.

"Yeah, I remember you saying it. I don't remember agreeing to it." Jake spat back.

"Jake!" I rolled my eyes at him - hoping he would pick up on the 'not helping' signal I was wordlessly sending him.

"How long was I gone? Five minutes before you showed up here?"

"Edward!" My frustration mounting as the conversation continued over me as if I wasn't right there.

"Bella, get in the car…it's not safe" I continued to ignore his suggestion.

"I sure hope you're not referring to me, because I am feeling calm as ever" Jacob countered. "you're the one all worked up - not to mention you've got Muscles over there waiting for his orders" Jake motioned toward a still figure standing on the front doorstep. Emmet's statue-like stance suddenly jolted forward "Edward, We're not going to let this kid talk to us like that are we?"

"Hold off Emmet" Edward's voice returning to its firm, yet controlled tone.

"Listen, Jake. You're not getting it. I've asked you to stay away, you've manipulated Bella into feeling so guilty about hurting you. She's afraid to ask you to leave her alone. She's made her choice Jacob, leave her be. Stop making this harder than it needs to be"

Jacob scoffed - not exacting the reaction I was expecting, nor the one I'd prefer. "How about, instead of jumping to conclusions, and deciding how we all feel about this situation Why don't you ask Bella how it is I came to be in Forks today - or is that even necessary at this point?" Jacob didn't smile or gloat; he just looked at me and mouthed "Sorry. "

Edward's face fell and all severity was lost as he turned to look at me. I could read Jacob's thoughts across Edwards's face. The beach, the garage, the fire. He would know it all, in a fraction of a second.

The tears stinging my eyes started streaming down my face "Edward I didn't mean for it to happen like this"

"Bella, is it true? Did you mean the things you said to him?"

"I don't know? What you want me to say… I said those things. But I don't know. It's all happening so fast. "

"I know you said them, Bella, but did you mean what you said?"

Jacob looked as if he was bracing himself. As if he was preparing for his worst nightmare to materialize. Everyone was on edge, Edward watching me, Jacob watching Edward, Emmet watching Jacob. It felt like a powder keg of emotion. All it was missing was a spark.

"Hey, Edward. The kid called in his back up. They're in the backyard, " Emmet called out.

"Leave them alone, they're not going to do anything' Jacob sighed

Emmet made his way towards backyard anyway "Excuse me if I don't exactly take you on your word, Pup. "

He left the three of us in the driveway.

"Jake can you give Edward and me a minute."

It looked almost as if Jake winced before he ran his hand through his hair "Yeah, of course. Take all the time you need. "

If things hadn't been so damn dramatic, I might have laughed at how cavalier Jake was acting. Like he knew Edward rolling up like this gave Jake the advantage, and an opportunity to be the cool and understanding one - and he was going to run with it.

Edward turned to look at me "I don't understand… you agreed to marry me. Is it that? Is it too much? I did that for you, Bella. I thought it's what you wanted. To be a part of us. We can wait Bella. I'll wait for you. "

"I know… I know. I don't even want to know what you must think of me right now." Tears were streaming down my face. Words were getting caught in my throat.

"You've been so good to me, and your family too - no one did anything wrong. I swear. I don't know what's happened. I think I'm just starting to….." A crash interrupted my confession.

"Stay here!" Edward yelled. Disappearing into my backyard.

I immediately disobeyed the order.

"Jake, I like you, but I don't like this guy's tone and I don't know how much I'm willing to put up with." I heard Embry's voice as I rounded the corner he was gesturing towards Emmet. My lawn furniture overturned in front of Emmet.

Edward was beside Emmet, hand on his shoulder. Emmet was communicating to Edward silently and Edward was whispering something back.

Jake saw me and quickly closed the gap between me and the scenario unfolding in front of me.

"I think he overdid it on vampire steroids or something." Embry continued

"Shut up Embry" Quil placed a cautious hand in the space between the men "They aren't worth the fight"

Emmet broke free of Edwards grasp and lunged towards Quil and Embry.

In and instant Embry burst forth in an explosion of fur. Emmet and Embry hurled towards each other their contact becoming inevitable. Upon collision, Embry's wolf gave way to Emmets firmly planted structure and Emmet tossed him aside. Embry's wolf form was hurling toward me -teeth-gnashing, before I could comprehend the situation Jake was running towards me, full speed throwing his fully human self between me and Embry throwing me out of Embry's collision course. Before I could hit the ground, Edward broke my fall and Embry landed square on top of Jacob. The two forms sliding across the yard and into the fence. In the confusion, Embry had managed change back and his human form rolled off Jake. I scrambled to get up, but Edward was holding me.

"Bella no, it's not safe" I stared at the scene before me. Embry kneeling over Jake. Jake lying on the ground among shattered pieces of fence - limp and unmoving.

"JAKE!" I screamed squirming to get near him. "Let go, LET GO EDWARD!"

"Brother… let her go" Emmet moaned. Picking himself up off the ground.

Quil had run to Embry's side searching Jake's body for a response. "He's cut bad, and unconscious" Embry was sobbing into Jake's side. "Come on, man, come on… you're okay, you're gonna be okay"

"Emmett, go get Carlisle," Edward ordered.

Emmett stared back in disbelief. "Are you…?"

"Get Carlisle!" Edward repeated much slower, firmer, and more deliberate. Finally releasing his grasp.

I threw myself at Jacob. My hands searching his body for the source of the blood. "Embry get Sam!" I sobbed. "Quil go get some towels from the kitchen. "

"Edward, stop Emmett. Don't bring them here; it will only make things worse. "

"Bella, he's a doctor he can help him. "

"Edward, I need you to go. Stop Emmet. I can't have you here right now. "

"Bella. "

"Edward!" I begged through my sobs. "Please, just go"