Stranger Love

7

After much deliberation, Jacob finally agreed to leave Eleanor with his father and Charlie. He had one thing he wanted to do first.

"Come with me," Jacob said. He held a hand out to Eleanor. "I want to talk before I leave."

"Okay..." Eleanor said wearily. She followed him outside and they stopped a short distance from the backyard. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Jacob said. He smiled. "I just have something I want you to give you."

Eleanor furrowed her brow and watched Jacob pull something from his pocket. She gasped when he opened his fist to show her.

"Don't freak out!" Jacob cautioned. He pulled in a breath. "Billy talked to Rachel and Rebecca. Since there's two of them and only one ring, they agreed to let me have it. It was my mother's. I know she would have wanted me to give it to someone special, and I can't think of anyone more special than you. I'm not proposing, El. I'm just promising that I'll always come back to you. I'm not leaving until you say the word."

Eleanor nodded, unable to speak as she fought to hold back her tears. They spilled onto her cheeks anyway. "Okay."

"Keep it safe for me?" Jacob asked. He smiled at her and slid it onto her finger when she nodded.

"It's perfect," Eleanor whispered through her tears. "Thank you, Jake. So much."

Jacob held Eleanor tight for a moment before taking her back inside. He and Billy shared a knowing look before He promised to be back as soon as possible. Jacob kissed Eleanor's forehead and lips before leaving. Then he made his way back to Bella's new family.

"It broke another rib," Edward murmured, his eyes on a sleeping Bella. She was curled up on the couch, close to Seth.

Jacob raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised Blondie let him get that close."

"She feels a connection with him," Edward answered Jacob's thoughts. "It's different with Seth than it was with you. I can't figure it out. Rosalie's two priorities are the- baby- and keeping Bella happy."

Jacob shrugged. "We need to figure out a game plan. Sam has a few of the guys out there patrolling right now. He's looking at this as a void of the treaty. He won't hesitate to attack anyone he sees because he knows that the less of you there are, the easier it will be to get to her."

Edward ignored his words for the moment. He could see in Jacob's thoughts his worry for Eleanor. "I'm glad you found someone special."

Jacob growled a warning. "Don't talk about her to me, leech."

Edward said nothing. Bella woke up then, groggy and pulling away from Seth. "Jacob?"

"Don't you look wonderful," he said sarcastically. He sat in a chair near the couch.

Bella managed a smile. Seth moved to the floor in front of the couch, barely leaving space between himself and Bella's legs, while Edward put an arm around her. "I missed you."

"I know," Jacob teased. "So, is Seth my replacement?"

Bella rolled her eyes. "No, but at least he likes my family."

"I don't hate them," Jacob reminded her. "We just have a lot of differences."

Seth snorted. "And I don't?"

Bella studied Jacob for a minute. "You're different. You look... happier. And somehow worried at the same time."

"That's because-" Seth started. He was cut off by Edward nudging his shoulder a bit roughly. "Nevermind."