[BamaFan121s]

Jacob seemed taken aback slightly by the sudden fierceness of my words. He stared at me, opening his mouth to speak, but deciding against it and closing it again. He repeated this action three times before his shoulders finally relaxed in defeat. “I know.” He sighed. “But I still don’t like it and I don’t trust them…not in my nature.” He thumped his own chest proudly with his fist.


“You don’t have to trust them. I would, however, appreciate it if you would trust me.”


He sighed, “Sure, sure.” I could tell that he was still not accepting of the idea, but he seemed resigned to not push the issue any further…at least not right now. I suspected that the subject would come up again though.


I was focusing so much on Jacob’s reaction that I was oblivious to the mostly silent conversation going on behind me. As I turned, I noticed Alice slightly inclining her head in the direction of Jacob and Renesmee. Edward merely nodded, and followed the gesture with a simple, low, “Thanks.”


Alice smiled, nodded and then breezed off into the living room.

I was intent on asking Edward for an explanation when something that Jacob said pulled my attention back to him, erasing all thoughts of the exchange between the Cullen siblings. “Charlie, by the way, says that if you don’t call him, he’s going to drive up here and arrest you.”


“Charlie?” Jacob had my full attention. “You’ve spoken with Charlie?”



“Of course, I have!” Jacob chuckled. “Saw him just this morning before I headed up here. Came down to the house early today for an early day of fishing with Dad. Spends a lot of his time down on the res lately."



“I haven’t had the chance to call him since we’ve been back.” I suddenly felt like I was neglecting my role as a daughter.


“I told him that — that you guys had been really busy since you got back and all.”


“We could go and see him today, if you’d like,” Edward offered. He put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head.


“Could we? That would be great!” I had not had much time to spend with him in the past few months. Various obstacles always seemed to get in the way…getting married, giving a daughter, attending college, having a murderous coven of Italian vampires showing up at your door…



“He’ll be down on the res most of the day,” Jacob offered. “Mariners game and all this afternoon. It’s become kind of a tradition.”


“Oh…some other time then.” My voice thick with disappointment at this news. Charlie being on Quiluete lands presented a problem. The Cullens were not exactly welcome in La Push. And I was a Cullen now, in ways that extended past just sharing their last name. Only on one occasion had Carlisle and Edward been allowed onto the reservation, and that was when it had been the only option of ensuring Jacob’s health.




“What’s the matter, Bella?” Jacob asked, a look of confusion on his face. “The whole gang’s been dying to see you again. Don’t you want to come visit?” As he asked, a noticed a trace of sadness touch his rough, deep voice.


“Of course I do! But…” I trailed off, exchanging a confused look with Edward. Somehow ‘but I don’t want to be ripped to pieces by a pack of angry werewolves’ was not the best way to approach the subject. I wasn’t sure exactly which boundaries of the treaty once made between the pack and the Cullens were still being enforced.


“I think what Bella means….” Edward began, “…are we welcomed in La Push, Jacob?”


“Of course, you are.” Jacob shrugged as he said this, as if it were common knowledge.


“We were not aware of this new development,” Edward said, still uncertain, “When did this change come about?”


“I dunno….sometime while you were gone I guess. Me, Sam and Doc met, worked it all out. The res is still off limits for others like you and for hunting and stuff though. Emmett and Blondie have been down several times.”