Jacob Moves In

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-the prompt was simply Jacob moves into the Swan house. Simple enough right? Right? LOL ;)

Bella had just spent a tiring evening with Edward and his family. She was nursing a bad cold and a throbbing head. Edward had insisted she see Carlisle straight away, worried that a simple head cold was something far more sinister. Like always Bella had indulged him. He was always so worried about her, more so since they had returned from Italy after their run in with the Volturi. Bella shuddered. She didn't want to think about that if she could help it. It was bad enough that her time there haunted her nightmares.

"I'll wait until Charlie retires to bed." Edward promised Bella as he cradled her face in his cold hands. "Then I will be right with you. I know Carlisle said you would be fine, but I want to make sure that you have everything you need. I am at your disposal." His face softened into his crooked smile before he leaned down and pecked her on the lips.

Bella felt a tickle in her nose. She tried to hold it in but failed. She sneezed all over Edward, making him back away hastily in distaste. She felt so embarrassed and didn't dare look him in the eyes. "I am so sorry." She mumbled, wiping her nose on her sleeve.

"Please, love. Use a handkerchief." Edward pulled a silk handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her gingerly. "It's not healthy spreading germs that way."

Bella had to bite back a retort. What did he know about germs? He was never ill. She stifled that traitorous thought, feeling guilty for even thinking it. He was just worried about her, like he always was. Bella dabbed at her nose with the silken handkerchief. "You don't have to come tonight, Edward." She suggested tentatively. "I'm only going to be sleeping anyway." She bit her lip, hoping that he would take the none too subtle hint that she would like some time to recover on her own without his constant scrutiny.

"Nonsense." Edward put his forefinger under her chin and raised her head so she was forced to gaze at his handsome face. Being dazzled by his beauty only made her feel plainer than ever. "You need me. I am going to take good care of you…"

Before Edward could finish Bella sneezed right in his face.

She felt completely mortified. Bella crept into the house and shut the door behind her as quietly as possible, hoping that Charlie wouldn't hear her come in. She just wanted to run to her room and hide. But no such luck. As soon as she put one foot on the staircase it creaked loudly, announcing her arrival.

"Bells, I thought that was you." Charlie came out of the front room, hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. He rocked on his heels and gave her a sheepish smile. "Could I talk to you for a minute?"

"Can it wait?" Bella begged. Her voice sounded thick because of her stuffy nose. She sniffed, wiping her nose on her sleeve again. "I'm not feeling too well."

"It's just a head cold, kiddo." Charlie brushed her ailment away as if it was nothing. The contrast to Edward's anxiety over her blocked nose was striking.

"My head does hurt." Bella insisted, wanting at least a little sympathy from her dad after completely forgetting only moments ago she had been trying to avoid him.

"Take some Tylenol." Charlie suggested. He jerked his head toward the front room. "Come and sit down, there's something I need to tell you."

"Okay." Bella finally caved in. The quicker she let him speak, the sooner she would be tucked up in bed feeling sorry for herself. She followed Charlie into the front room, immediately heading for the sofa, but stopping when she noticed it was already occupied by someone else. "Jake?" She questioned in surprise.

"Hey, Bells." Jacob smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. They had only just reconciled after fighting for weeks after she returned from Italy with Edward in tow. "I bet you didn't expect to see me."

"Uh…no." Bella croaked. She was so bunged up that she could barely breathe. She pulled out Edward's silk handkerchief and wiped her nose. She noticed Jacob's nose wrinkle in disgust. Bella knew it wasn't because he was disgusted that she was spreading her germs like Edward, but more likely that he could smell her boyfriend all over her. She smiled apologetically and shrugged helplessly. She was rewarded with an amused smile from Jacob.

"Jake's gonna stay with us for a week or so, Bells." Charlie had no idea of the silent communication passing between them.

"Why?" Bella felt confused. Her gaze drifted to Jacob who was hanging his head now, shielding his eyes from her so she couldn't see what he was feeling.

"Billy was taken to hospital a few hours ago." Charlie revealed without preamble. He sighed heavily when he heard Bella's gasp of surprise. "You don't need to stress, Billy's stable, but they want to keep him in to monitor his condition and get his blood sugar levels under control."

"Oh, Jake, I didn't know." Bella lamented as shame burned her cheeks. They had been so out of touch in recent weeks that she had no idea that Billy's diabetes was affecting him so badly.

"It's alright, Bells." Jacob shrugged as if it was no big deal when it was.

"It's not." Bella went straight to him and settled next to him on the sofa. "I should have been there for you." She whispered sadly. Tears filled her eyes and she tried to blink them away. She put her hand over his. Her touch seemed to surprise him and he raised his head to look at her properly. Bella noticed the fear in his eyes which he was trying to hide from Charlie. "I'm sorry I haven't been such a good friend lately, but I'm here now. You come first."

"First." Jacob said huskily. "Is that true?" He really needed it to be the truth.

Bella squeezed his fingers. "You have all of my attention." She promised.

Bella had taken some Tylenol and it had sent her to sleep for a couple of hours, but now she was awake again. She couldn't breathe through her nose so had been sleeping with her mouth open. Her throat felt dry and scratchy. Bella rolled onto her side, groaning at the ache in her head. In the room across the hall she could hear Charlie snoring like a freight train. Well he clearly wasn't worried that she was ill. Bella sat up and reached for her box of tissues. She blew her nose loudly, half hoping that the noise would wake Charlie, serve him right if it did. But his snoring continued on in a steady rhythm. Bella wondered if Jacob was managing to sleep. With his sensitive ears Charlie's snores must be at ear splitting decibels.

There was a soft knock on her door. "Bells, you awake." It opened slightly, letting in a shaft of moonlight.

"I'm awake." Bella whispered to Jacob as he slipped silently into her room. He closed the door behind him and it was dark again. He walked over to her and knelt beside her bed. "Worried about Billy?" Bella asked in concern. All she could see was his profile.

"Yeah, and you." Jacob reached across and put his hand on her forehead. The warmth emanating from his touch was soothing and eased the ache in her head. "You're nearly as hot as me." He mused.

"That is not humanely possible." Bella rasped. She sighed when he dropped his hand back to his side.

"Believe me you are the hottest girl I know." Jacob's teeth flashed white in the darkness as he smiled.

"If you say so." Bella mumbled. There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment only disturbed by Bella's loud breathing and Charlie's incessant snoring. "Are you comfortable on the sofa bed down there?" She asked eventually for something to say.

"It's too small. My legs hang off the end." Jacob stood up and stretched his legs for effect. "But I'll be fine." He hesitated for a moment. "Can I get you anything?" He offered. "Some water? More painkillers?"

Bella thought about it for a moment. She really didn't want to take any more Tylenol; it made her stomach ache even if it eased the pain in her head. Jacob's hand on her forehead had a much better effect and was so much better than any drugs. "There is something you can do. It might actually solve both our problems."

"What's that?" Jacob asked gruffly. Moonlight was shining through the parted drapes. It bathed Bella in light. She looked so pretty with her ruffled hair and her lips pursed in concentration.

"Could you put your hand on my head again? It made the ache go away. And in return you can use the other half of my bed to sleep." Bella made this offer as if it was no big deal. She was feeling too ill to think of the ramifications and she had completely forgotten about Edward. "It's bigger than the sofa bed."

"You want me to sleep in here with you….in the same bed?" Jacob's tone was disbelieving as he checked that was what she really meant.

"Uh huh, that's about it." Bella moved over and patted the spare spot beside her.

Jacob was so glad that the darkness hid his blush as he quickly scooted onto the bed beside her before she had a chance to rethink and retract the offer. He put his arm tentatively around Bella as she shifted closer to him and nestled into his side. "You are toasty warm." She sighed in bliss as she felt his long fingers massage her forehead. "You have to make sure you get up before dad does, though. Don't forget." She murmured.

"I won't." Jacob promised as he watched Bella's eyes begin to close.

"Choose whatever you want for breakfast in the morning. "I'll make it."

"Thanks."

"I'll make something for Billy, too. We can take it with us when we visit him in the hospital."

"Thanks, Bells." Jacob's eyes were shining in the darkness.

Bella drifted to sleep as Jacob's gentle ministrations soothed the ache in her head. She rested against his shoulder; it was much easier to breathe now she wasn't lying on her back anymore. Jacob played with a tendril of her hair as he watched her sleep. She looked so peaceful, and when she mumbled his name, he felt his heart miss a beat.

Edward Cullen climbed in through Bella's window in the early hours of the morning. He had been delayed because Carlisle had persuaded him to go hunting at the last moment in order to slake his thirst if he planned on nursing Bella back to health. It meant he could spend days without having to leave her side and fight his temptations. He didn't make it all the way through the window though. Something stopped him. And that something was Jacob Black wrapped around Bella in her bed. Edward froze like a marble statue as he heard his beloved Bella mumble Jacob's name. Her fingers flexed as they touched Jacob's cheek in her sleep as if testing he was real.

Edward couldn't remember the last time that Bella had spoken his name like that other than in her nightmares. She wasn't having a nightmare now. He noticed Jacob Black stirring. The shifter opened his eyes and looked in his direction. Edward stayed poised on the windowsill, fighting the urge to rip the dog's heart out. But then Bella murmured Jacob's name again, distracting him from his dark intent. Jacob broke the staring contest to lull her back to sleep. Then without bothering to glance Edward's way again, he rested his head next to Bella's and closed his eyes.

A/N-thanks for reading!