Accompanied sonata - Chapter sixteen

[herumtreiber]

Title: Accompanied sonata - 16
Author: herumtreiber 
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: A bit of angst
Characters: Edward/Jacob
Chapter length: ~4,610 words
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, Stephenie Meyer does. I don't make any money from this writing.
Summary: After the events of Eclipse, Edward mulls over his upcoming marriage.  A relationship slowly develops between him and Jake. They face opposition from the pack and some members of Edward's family. What will happen to Bella and how will the Volturi react?


Table of contents



Chapter fifteen

I paced back and forth near the rock outcropping on the Quileute border. After I'd taken the Ferrari back to our house, I called Jake on the phone. During our conversation, I was lulled by his voice over the phone. To my ears it sounded so raspy and sexy that I had to pay extra attention to my wolf's words. I gazed at the night sky, remembering fondly the last part of the conversation.

"Have to go, Edward. Charlie is going to bring Billy back and I haven't fixed anything for dinner yet."

I leaned towards the phone, caressing the screen with my thumb as I whispered. "Forget about dinner. What are you wearing?"

"What? My cutoff jeans. I don't see what that has to do with—"

I interrupted the oblivious wolf. "Do you feel the rough texture of the fabric against your cock, Jake? Do you remember what it felt like inside me?"

He groaned. "Sure do. It was tight and cold."

I smiled at the screen. "You felt different. Your warmth hugged my prick like the dawn—"

"Cullen, have to go now. I can hear Charlie's car."

I growled at the phone. "I'll wait for you tonight. At that place on the border at midnight."

"Sure thing, man. Have to patrol and relieve the guys anyway. See you."

---

oOoOo

The moon hung high above the woods, and still the wolf hadn't shown up. I lifted my arm and looked at my watch. Jake was twenty minutes late!

I could hear the wildlife scurrying around. The animals were scared by the scent and sound of a predator approaching. I grinned in welcome at the copse of trees on my right, which changed right away to a grimace when I smelled a different wolf. It was Leah.

She paused by the big cedar in the middle and I could hear the rustling sound of her clothes as she put them on. Sure enough, the Quileute woman walked towards me, her bare feet hardly making any sound against the tall grass.

Leah brushed her dark hair out of her forehead as she looked at me with sympathy. "I was making the rounds nearby and Jake told me to come over. He's gonna be late. Took a detour and went to Forks."

The woman crossed her hands over her chest and pursed her lips, spitting out her next words. "To check up on Bella."

I was exasperated. Jake's protectiveness towards Bella was annoying. She was all right, Alice herself reassured me. There were no looming dangers threatening her after the near-crash. Why did he feel the need to visit her?

My frustration was clearly visible because Leah lifted her hand. "Believe me, Cullen, Jake's stubborn. Don't I know it! But there's something else you should know."

"What?"

Leah shook her head, her ebony hair whipping around her neck. Then she shrugged. "I think you should talk to Billy. He can explain it way better than I can. Anyway—"

I was distracted by the invigorating scent of the wolf, and his apologetic thoughts. 'Sorry, man! Was busy patrolling Bella's house, I lost track of the time.'

Jake walked out of the bushes, sauntering towards us. He smiled at me as he rubbed his chest with his right hand. He observed my face carefully, noting my frustration. 'I'm really sorry, Edward. I'll make it up to you, promise.'

His thoughts meandered towards the memory of our phone call, and he blushed when he felt the rough denim against his burgeoning cock. I smiled tentatively at him, motioning with my arms towards the woods. "I'll make sure of it."

He touched my shoulder, seeking reassurance by my presence that everything was fine between us. His fingers slid down my arm and he grabbed my hand. 'I was too caught up. I need to protect Bella. Silly, I know, but that's a fact.'

We were interrupted by Leah. "Sorry to disturb you guys, but maybe you should continue your romantic encounter at your house, Jake."

He snorted. "Much as I'd love to, that's impossible, Leah. You forget the treaty."

She smiled secretively at me just before she turned to Jacob. "I talked to the elders, Jake. I made them see reason. Pointed out how silly it was to forbid the lover of the future Alpha to visit the reservation."

Jake squeezed my hand, scrunching up his face. "Future Alpha? I thought you were the Alpha!"

Leah's hand slid toward the back pocket of her jeans. I squinted at her while I read her thoughts. She had received a college brochure that day.

Leah shook her head. "I'm only the acting Alpha. You were born to the role; it's your birthright. Besides…"

She trailed off and glared at the woods. "I don't intend to remain here forever, you know. I want to go to community college; I have some ideas about how to control my phasing. When I do go, who'll be the Alpha?"

She walked to Jake and poked his chest. "You, of course. I know that, Seth knows it. Hell, I bet the council does too!"

She took a step back and essayed a weak smile. "So Cullen can visit you. Not too much, though; the council is still weary of vampires. But once or twice a week? They'll allow that."

Leah glanced at the woods while she directed her thoughts at me. 'Cullen, one reason I support your relationship with Jake is because I'm sure you'll bring out the Alpha in him. And I want Jake to take charge before I leave town.'

She flipped her hair aside and frowned at me. 'When you visit, use the opportunity to talk to Billy. Ask him to explain Jacob's obsession...'

Leah sniffed the breeze and walked towards Jake, instinctively preparing to phase if needed. I wasn't surprised by her reaction, having heard the soft steps and the smell of my siblings.

I lifted my hands and I looked at Jake, including Leah in my gaze. "My family will join us."

Rosalie glided towards us. In the moonlight, her beige blouse billowed as if she was a nymph. Jasper sauntered just behind her.

The two smiled at me while Rosalie nodded at Jacob, including Leah in her greeting. "Sorry to bother you guys but Jasper was nervous tonight and we went for a walk. Alice is keeping us on edge."

Jasper tucked a hand inside the back pocket of his black pants and nodded at Jake.

"Jasper, Rosalie." The wolf grinned at my sister while Rose slapped his shoulder.

"Hi, Jake." Rose turned to me and said, "We were just driving around and then I remembered you were talking on the phone and you planned to meet Jacob here."

Meanwhile Leah had turned her back, taking out her brochure to glance at it. "I'll go now, Jake."

The Quileute woman had taken several steps when Rose said, "Hey, I see you're going to college."

I sat on the rock and motioned to Jake to follow suit while Jasper waved his hand. "I'll just walk around to give you guys privacy; besides I need to clear my head."

Jacob sat on the outcropping, reclining his head against my shoulder. I inhaled his scent, remembering the times we'd spent together. It felt good to be near him and listen to his thoughts, they were soothing. My fingers strayed to the gleaming black Walkman that dangled from his neck.

"Heard your song yet?"

"Sorry, Edward. Haven't got time."

Jacob grabbed my hand and put it around his shoulder. I was miffed with the wolf who hadn't taken the time to listen to the song I'd composed so painstakingly, so I took my hand away.

I couldn't refrain from playing with his hair though, it was windblown and silky. We sat in silence for a while; the two of us looked at my sister who was talking with Leah, the two women silhouetted against the framework of the woods.

"The college looks neat." Rosalie's voice was tinged with yearning. "Do they offer degrees in mechanical engineering?"

Leah shuffled her bare feet, fidgeting with the buttons of her blouse. "I don't know. Haven't read that far. Right now? I'm interested in the documents they want for the application. That and the scholarships."

Rosalie crossed her arms, studying intently the woman. "I bet you could get a sports scholarship. All of you Quileutes are mean fighters."

Leah smiled wistfully. "Well, I'm good at running; no one can beat me." She motioned towards us. "The guys? They're wimps, even Jake."

Jacob grinned and shouted. "I can hear you loud and clear, you know. And I could so win a race against you." He turned to me and winked. 'Don't tell her, but no one can outrun her. She's very fast.'

I slid my thumb against his luscious lips. "I'd bet on you any day."

I leaned down and kissed him, my tongue touching hungrily his teeth, sliding down and meeting his own. As our tongues danced against each other and we became aroused, my world was reduced to Jake. I vaguely heard Leah inviting my sister to that college but I paid it no mind. The wolf grabbed my head and took control of the kiss, his warm mouth a furnace in the night in which I could slake my thirst for him.

As she was leaving, Leah called to us. "Your shift starts in half an hour, Jake. Paul took the north side. You have to patrol the south. I'm worried about the vampire attacks in Seattle."

Jacob reluctantly broke the kiss. "Sure, sure."

He caressed my cheek as he stood up, kissing my brow. "Duty calls, Edward. So, when will you visit?"

In his mind he was fretting that I'd find his house too shabby. He wondered what he could do to make it seem neat. As I stood up and patted his shoulder, my hand lingered on his tattoo, which elicited a shiver from him. "Don't worry, Jake. I don't care how neat or modern your home is. All I care about is you."

He pushed my shoulder, smiling boyishly. "Hard to hide anything from you, Cullen."

As he strode to the south, he turned his head to wave at me, "Call me before you come, ok?"

"Will do, Jake."

---

oOoOo

I ran through the woods towards the reservation, glorying in the freedom to do so. The late afternoon made the trees shine ethereally and the leaves a crisp green.

I turned to smile at Jasper. Without breaking his stride, my brother grinned at me. 'Thanks for letting me come, Edward. It was hard on the house with Alice's emotions running amok.'

He leapt over a big boulder and landed on the forest loam, his black boots making a squelching sound. I jumped over the rock and reached him, muttering, "Do you know why Alice is against me?"

Jasper turned to me and grimaced. 'Alice loves you, Edward. Make no mistake about that. But when you're with Jacob, she can't see you.'

"So what?" I mumbled tiredly. "It doesn't mean anything."

Jasper reached the border and stood still for a moment, surveying the woods around us. He touched his jacket, searching for his phone. Once he found it, he checked the batteries while he drawled, "Hard as it is living with my powers, having to endure other people's barrage of emotions, I reckon Alice has it worse."

"Why?"

"She feels responsible for our safety. Knowing the future extracts a terrible price from her. Remember, it's one of the reasons Alice's father turned on her and tried to kill her."

He ruffled his hair and then crossed his arms. "While it's comforting to have the information beforehand and make plans so we avoid the ugly situations, it places a heavy burden upon her shoulders. She doesn't understand completely the pressures of her earlier life, thank God. She's innocent; she forgot all those horrors when she was turned, so please be patient with her."

We didn't speak for a while, strolling down the road towards Billy's house. As we were passing Jacob's red Rabbit, Jasper turned to me and cocked his head. 'Jake heard the song already?'

I shook my head and rubbed my face in exasperation. "No, the stubborn mutt doesn't have time; he's too busy with Bella."

Jasper patted my shoulder. "I feel your irritation. Now you know what he felt when Bella was with you."

I walked to the porch and approached the door. It was a nice house, modest but very clean. Since Billy's illness prevented him from taking care of the chores and Jake's sisters were so busy living their own lives, Jake had to care for it.

I knocked on the door a bit timidly. I smiled fondly at the exuberant thoughts coming from within which could belong to only one person.

Seth opened the door, his grin lighting up his face. "Hi, Edward." Looking behind me, he smiled at the frowning Jasper.

He opened the door wider and motioned for us to come inside. "Leah told me she arranged permissions for you to visit."

"Who is it, Seth?" Billy's strong voice came from the kitchen. Jake's father was rummaging through the fridge.

"It's Edward and Jasper, Mr. Black."

Leaning towards me, the Quileute boy whispered. "Jake's out. He went to Forks to buy groceries."

Seth motioned to the old TV set. "He asked me to look out for Billy."

Jasper sauntered into the living room and sat down on the couch. "So you're a fan of Twilight Zone?"

Seth patted my back and went to the couch, leaning over Jasper. "Naw, man. There's nothing else interesting. Gotta say that with the things we've faced?" The boy motioned to the TV. "That doesn't look too weird."

I grinned at the two of them. Despite his understanding words earlier, Jasper had been irritated; but now in the middle of the living room, he was calming down. His amber eyes fixed on Seth, my brother seemed to imbibe the cheerful emotions coming from the Quileute.

I stood for a few seconds on the threshold, watching them as Seth explained the episode to Jasper. Shaking my head, I entered the kitchen and waved hello to Mr. Black.

Billy hefted a Tupperware, trying to remember if the dish had been cooked first so it wouldn't go to waste. He touched the white door of the fridge and called to me over his shoulder. "What happened to the song, Edward? Did you sing it to Jake?"

Billy's words unleashed the torrent of emotions I was holding at bay. I crouched next to his wheelchair and looked intently into his weather beaten face, hoping he would listen to me and not take the side of his son. "I composed it, Mr. Black. I went to a whole lot of effort to improve the melody and imbue it with the feelings Jacob inspires in me."

"But?" Billy rolled his chair backwards and put the Tupperware on the table. "I take it there's something wrong?"

I stood up and lifted my gaze to the ceiling. "Jacob is too preoccupied with Bella! After the near crash—"

"Yep, my son told me about that." Billy went to the counter and grabbed a pan, leaning forward to take the spoon next to it.

While he measured a portion of the stew to heat it up, I waved my arms. "He is obsessed with her!"

Billy fiddled with the burner of the gas stove, sighing. "I hope Sue brings us some more fish."

He looked at me sideways. "Pass me the salt, will you? Jake doesn't use it too much, says it's bad for my health."

I reached down to grab the shaker and handed it to Billy. "He's right, you know."

"That boy takes too much on his shoulders. That will make him a great Alpha, though."

"Jake doesn't want to be one; he'd much rather Leah continued in that role."

Billy lifted the sleeve of his flannel shirt to look at his watch. "He should be back in half an hour." He looked up at me, sporting a proud smile. "Jacob won't avoid being the Alpha, much as he'd like to. He carries a part of Ephraim Black's spirit."

Billy startled me when he suddenly rolled his chair forward and grabbed the pan, pouring the heated stew upon a big plate. His thoughts told me he was framing his words carefully. There was something important he wanted to tell me, but he wasn't sure how to do it.

"That's why he cares so much about Bella."

I was puzzled by the man's cryptic words. Picking up a spoon, I held it while I asked, "Sir, what does Ephraim have to do with Bella?"

After he gulped down a bite, Billy looked at me intently. "It is said that when Q'wati created the first Quileutes from the wolves, he was so pleased with them he wanted them to multiply. That's why we have the imprint, it ensures that we prosper and the shapeshifter genes are carried on to the next generation."

I sat down heavily. Was Billy implying that Jake would imprint on Bella later on? I felt my spirits plummet to the ground. Not even the sounds of Jasper cheerfully bantering with Seth, coming from the other room, offered relief.

I said hoarsely, "Is that why Jake is so interested in Bella?"

Billy shook his head energetically. "Not at all. If Bella was Jacob's imprint, he would have known after he first transformed. As you well know, that didn't happen."

"But then?"

Billy put his fork on the dish, his intense dark eyes piercing mine. "I told you before, Edward. But I guess with the news of hearing Jake's song, you forgot."

Billy shrugged. "We believe that parents transmit part of their spirits to their children. That's why Jacob is so suited to become the Alpha, because a part of Ephraim's spirit resides in him."

I stared transfixed at his aquiline face, my gaze resting on his long black hair which framed his shoulders, before looking into his dark eyes.

Billy took a deep breath. "You see, I believe Jake protects Bella so much because his spirit feels that her offspring is destined to be his imprint."

If I had been able to breathe, I would have been gasping. I pointed my finger at him. "So Jake will imprint on her child!"

I could never be sure of Jake's feelings because down the line, Bella would come back into our lives! Not Bella precisely but any child she might have with a mortal.

Billy rolled his wheelchair towards me; grabbing my shoulder, he squeezed it hard. "Not at all, Edward. Don't mistake my meaning! I've watched the three of you, observed your interactions carefully. Jake has been obsessed with Bella, that's true. But I know him; it's you he cares about. Damn, I hope you'll be a better partner for him than that girl!"

Billy let go of me and put his hands on the leather armrests of his chair. His right hand slid down to the wheel and the chair started moving back and forth. "Until you and Jacob started seeing each other, I was convinced Jake would imprint on the child you and Bella would have. It explained his obsession with the two of you."

My lips twitched in a faint smirk while I motioned to my midriff. "I'm a vampire. I can't have children!"

Billy's lined face lit up in a wry smile. "Stranger things have happened, Cullen, like the fact that you and my son are together."

He grabbed my wrist. "I told you before that Jake half-imprinted on Bella and you. This is what I meant. Be patient with my son, for the three of you are linked in ways I can hardly imagine."

---

oOoOo

Time passed in a blur. Noting my pensive state, Jasper grasped my shoulder and motioned to the door. "I'm going home. I'll tell the others so they don't worry."

"Coming, Jasper?" Seth shuffled his feet on the door, looking at us over his shoulder.

"In a moment, Seth." Jazz leaned down and whispered. "Take all the time you want."

I fiddled with the remote control, staring a while at a black and white old movie, until my wolf's thoughts suddenly invaded my mind. Sensing me, Jacob was wondering if I would look down on the house.

Jake opened the door and waved at his father who was sitting beside me. "Hi, Dad!"

He smiled at me and took long strides until he reached the couch; leaning down he ruffled my hair, inhaling the scent. I'd used a particularly flowery shampoo so he wouldn't be irritated by the vampire scent.

"You smell nice."

"I'll leave you two alone. There is leftover stew on the stove, son." Billy waved at us as he rolled his wheelchair out of the room.

"Thanks, but I had burgers in Forks." Jake nestled his chin upon my head and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. "Dad, remind me to give you the coupons I didn't use."

"Will do, Jacob." On the way out, Billy raised his hand. "Edward, the council told me you have permission to remain on the reservation until midnight. Good night!"

"Night, Dad!"

"Good night, Mr. Black."

I was mulling over what Billy had told me and my distraction was palpable to Jake. He held back on acting out his passionate imagery, sensing my mood; that and the fact that Billy was on the other room restrained the lusty wolf.

He grabbed my hand and intertwined his fingers with mine. Smiling at me, he said, "I'm tired of patrolling and school tests."

"Go to sleep, Jake. I'll—"

"Watch over me?" He nudged my shoulder; his voice sounding wistful when he said, "Bella told me you did it with her."

I brushed his cheek as we made our way to his room. "Sure, Jake."

After he took off his shirt and jeans, Jacob laid down, clad only in his briefs. The sight of his long, bronzed limbs splayed on the bed was enticing as always. But my mood was melancholic. If what Billy told me was true, I wondered if Jake was attracted to me only because I was some kind of future father for his imprint.

Stifling a yawn, Jake patted the white sheets. "Lay beside me, Ed."

Sighing, I took off my shoes and laid myself upon the bed. Jake's warmth beside me was soothing.

The Quileute reclined his head upon my chest in what had become his favorite position. "You're quiet tonight, Cullen."

"I have too much on my mind, Jacob."

"Care to share?" He turned slightly his face and looked at me.

Taking a deep breath to inhale my wolf's scent, I told him about my conversation with Billy.

I ruffled his short hair, enjoying its silky feeling. "I wonder if it's true, Jacob. Are you with me only because I was destined to be the father of your imprint?"

He lifted his head and looked at me, moving his hands so they framed my head. "I love my father, Cullen. I look up to him because he's a wise man. But no one, and I mean no one, can look into my soul."

He rubbed his forehead against mine, his black eyes looking down at me. "Except you. You call up something in me, Edward; you make my blood boil…."

He paused for a moment, searching for words. "You surprise me, you're nothing like at all like I imagined. Your body was made for me, I think we both know that. But your soul? It was made for me, too."

"I have no s…"

I couldn't finish because his lips silenced me. His kiss wasn't ardent but reassuring, soothing. Exactly what I needed at the moment. His tongue caressed my lips but didn't seek entrance. Jacob was trying to calm me, to make me understand. While he kissed me, his thoughts moved in a whirlwind.

'Shut up, man. Wish I could spout poetry like those books Bella loves to read. Know this, Cullen. I love you and it has nothing to do with what my father thinks; it's got everything to do with you and me. Someday we'll be old… leastways I'll be… and I'll still love you.'

It wasn't only his words that convinced me but the thoughts beneath. There was a wellspring of concern, fondness, passion, and love underlying his mental imagery when he thought about me. Jake's tenderness, a stark contrast to our earlier lovemaking, was reassuring. Still I felt nervous about the whole story Billy told me.

He fell asleep shortly afterwards, spooning me from behind.

I took out my phone and looked at the hour with regret. It was ten to midnight. I stood up and went out of the room, pausing for a moment at the threshold while I looked down at Jake. Bathed in the silver moonlight, he looked like a god from antiquity. I whispered hoarsely, "Good night, sweet wolf."

---

oOoOo

Going through the woods at night, I pondered Jacob. The wolf drove me nuts sometimes, but he surely knew how to soothe me. What he said about me also reflected my own feelings. Jake was always full of surprises.

Shaking my head as I jumped over a fallen tree, I realized he knew me well. He called up a maelstrom of emotions in me, the whole gamut that Bella didn't evoke. Life with him was a challenge, ever since I'd met the stubborn mutt.

I stuck my hands in my pockets as I walked up the driveway, looking at the windows that comprised a lot of the façade of our house.

I paused for a moment in front of the door, listening to the sound of the TV coming from inside. I recognized Humphrey Bogart's voice.

As I walked into the den, I noticed Alice looking at the screen. She was watching a Bogart movie, 'The Maltese Falcon.'

I was reluctant to speak to her but I remembered Jasper's words, so I tried to make small talk. "Where's everybody?"

She waved her slim hand at me. "Rosalie's in the garage. Emmett and Jasper are practicing some sport."

"I trust Bella is all right?"

"A bit unsettled, but she's all right." She turned her elfin face at me. "I worry about her, and you, and even the dog! It's-"

She gazed at the screen for a second and shrank back from it. I puzzled my eyebrows while I looked at the movie onscreen. There was nothing unusual, only Humphrey Bogart wearing a broad-brimmed hat and a trenchcoat. Was Alice so overwrought she reacted like this with no reason?

Baffled by her behavior, I skimmed her thoughts. She was lost in her past. Alice was remembering distinctly when she was in the mental asylum. She recalled one day she had a visitor, a man who wore a trench coat and a hat just like the actor on the screen. Her thoughts lingered on the man's handsome features and I couldn't help but recoil when I noticed the man, who looked nothing like James or the vampire who turned her, looking squarely at Alice with vivid red eyes.

Chapter seventeen

---

AN: Happy New Year!

Comments

[wirrrn.livejournal.com]

Keen chapter! Love the E/J moments. Still waiting for something big and cartilagenous to devour Bella :) Clever you for mentioning Jacob being interested in Edward and Bella due to the potential freakazoid mutant baby- canonically, if he was after Bella due to said freakazoid being his imprint, then he's 50% in love with E as well, in canon :)

[herumtreiber.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Unfortunately Carcharodon carcharias is busy elsewhere :)

Exactly! If the baby of the many E's is destined to be his imprint and he loves Bella because of her, then he also loves Edward :))

[wirrrn.livejournal.com]

We have Meyer in a loophole :)

[herumtreiber.livejournal.com]

If the imprint holds, so does Jakeward :)

[wirrrn.livejournal.com]

btw- still want to kick Alice in the shins in your fic too. Like Rosalie and Leah getting along :)

[herumtreiber.livejournal.com]

Yes, she's annoying. Alice thinks she knows the best for Edward, she relies too much on her visions :)

Thanks, I like writing them :)

[tntech89.livejournal.com]

very good chapter cant wait for the next one.hope this is a happy ending lol im worried now :)

[herumtreiber.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's going to have an unhappy ending for certain characters Bella as for the others, I have planned interesting things. :)

[tntech89.livejournal.com]

i cares nothing about bella.lol let the bitch suffer :)

[herumtreiber.livejournal.com]

Bella won't be happy at all :)

[walkonwaterbabe.livejournal.com]

Love this. So agree with reviewer above, do not care about bella. In fact kill her, kill her.

[herumtreiber.livejournal.com]

Thank you! They need Bella for a confrontation, afterwards...

[seamonkeyz27.livejournal.com]

Great chapter! Beautiful interactions between Edward and Jacob--- and the rest of the group too.
Your writing of Edwards emotions is just beautiful--- really pulls me right in. Love it Love it.

[herumtreiber.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I'm very glad you enjoyed the chapter! Edward is strong, yet he yearns for true love and doubts Jake, which he shouldn't :)