“Jacob, I don’t want you to risk getting caught,” I said.

“My last thoughts conversation went like this: God Leah, it was an accident. If you have a problem with it, rejoin the pack. No sense moping. I understand that. I’m going now.” He laughed, “You’d think we were having a phone conversation, the way I can hang up now.”

“Jacob,” I began, “Is Leah okay?”

“She’s fine,” Said Jacob, “All talk of revenge, but when people tell her to do something about it, she’s too upset to do anything.”

“I feel so sorry for her.”

“I feel more sorry for the parents,” Said Jacob, “But that’s not to say the whole Clearwater family isn’t sad. But they’re all the same. All talk. No show.”

“That’s pretty blunt,” Said Edward quietly.

“Well, I’m just sick of the whole thing,” Said Jacob, “I don’t want to see any more deaths. This whole war thing is idiotic.”

“But Jacob,” I began, “You declared it.”

“I was angry when I said that! It was Sam that passed it.”

Sam. The one who hid behind it all, sending out Quil and Embry to do his dirty work. “Speaking of Sam,” I said, “Where is he in all this?”

“Oh, he thinks he’s the great and terrible Oz,” Said Jacob, “We hardly ever see him anymore. Humbug.”

Edward shook his head, agreeing. I was glad they were both at least trying to get along, for everyone’s sake. Now that I was married to Edward, what could Jacob do? I could see he had let go, and grown up.

“Jacob,” I began, “What would happen if you were caught?”

He looked reluctant to tell me, “I would be killed.” I swallowed, but said nothing.

“Yeah.”

“Jacob,” I choked out, “Please forget about us. Don’t risk your life-”

“It’s too late Bella. Just speaking to you civilly is enough to warrant my hanging. I’m not going to get caught. If I was going to, it would have happened a long time ago.”

There wasn’t any point arguing. Jacob wouldn’t leave. I wasn’t going to waste my time. I hugged him, then he ran off into the forest, probably to phase.

I turned to Edward and kissed him. Scooping me up into his arms, he carried me to the faint couch and landed me on the smooth velvet. He kissed me, and played my lullaby.

The rest of the day consisted of this. To me it was Heaven on Earth. I didn’t want it to ever end.

“Edward,” I began slowly, “I love you.”

He kissed me for a long while, “Do you still need a response?” He asked, smiling. I laughed and brought his lips to mine, feeling the electric surge through my body.