Authors Note: Twilight fan fiction; Jacob/ Bella; Bella/Paul- non-imprint story

Title: Fighter

Bella is finally coming back to life after the loss of Edward with the help of Jacob, but when he disappears as well Bella is forced to fix her broken heart herself. As she does she remembers the person she was before and rediscovers her strength. Bella may be many things but when it comes to those she loves, she'll prove she's a fighter.

The Slap Heard Round the World

Disclaimer Implied!

I had been through a lot and had become many things in my short life, but the one thing I refused to become once again was a victim. I was through letting other people decide what was best for me, having my choices made for me by those who supposedly knew better. That was what he had always done and I was fucking sick of it. All of these thoughts were swirling in my head as I headed to the home of my best friend or former best friend according to him. Ugg how dare he! Who was he to decide whether or not we could be friends! And God if this entire situation wasn't frustratingly similar to him.

Jake had saved my life. I couldn't and wouldn't deny that, and I loved him like a brother but that didn't give him the right to make decisions for me; decisions like whether or not we were friends anymore without even giving me a damn explanation or a chance to talk him out of whatever was in his damn head. Another similarity to him that was making my blood boil. Well I have a damn surprise for him.

As soon as I saw the house I skidded into the Blacks driveway spraying gravel behind me and immediately jumped out of the car storming up to the front door before pausing.

"Screw it," I muttered to myself before throwing the door open and slamming it behind me. I wasn't here for a friendly visit so social etiquette be damned.

"Jake I'm glad… Oh hello Isabella" Billy said as he wheeled himself into the hallway looking at me coldly.

I noted the use of my full name. It was like that huh… fine. "Billy," I replied just as coldly. "I need to see Jake" I stated

"I'm sorry Bella but I really can't allow you…"

"Guess it's a good thing I wasn't asking your permission," I interrupted. I used to think of Billy as a second father, especially after the last few months. But seeing the look on his face now I realized the feelings weren't mutual and my anger at this whole damn situation raged even hotter. "Where is he?"

"Bella look, I don't want to be rude to you"… Billy started again

"Rude," I scoffed. "I think we've gone a bit passed rude haven't we. I'm pretty sure rude was when you hung up on me or ignored my calls. You made your feelings on me seeing Jake perfectly clear, now it's my turn." I started down at him, slightly pleased to see the guilt flash in his eyes before he covered it with indifference. Just as I was about to rail at him for the injustice of this entire situation, I changed my mind. It wasn't Billy's fault Jake decided to ditch me without so much as a phone call and if the situation was reversed I'm sure Charlie would have sided with me no matter what. I was his baby girl after all. I sighed heavily.

"You know what, never mind Billy. I get it; Jake is your son and no matter what he comes first." I saw the guilt and hurt flash across his face once again, but rather than take pleasure in it, I felt waves of sadness crash over me.

"I'm sorry that things have to be this way Billy. I really am. And no matter how you have acted the past few weeks I hope you know that I love you and think of you as a second father. You helped take care of me the past few months just as much as Jake did and for that I'll always be grateful. You and Jake are family." I felt the tears sliding down my face and saw them in his eyes as well. Slowly I closed the distance between us and hugged him gently.

"I will always love you as well Bella, please remember that and know I wish things could be different" Billy whispered softly.

"I'll try," I replied as I walked out of the house and back to my truck. I exhaled loudly and wiped the tears from my eyes. Saying goodbye to Billy had literally broken the already shattered pieces of my heart, I couldn't even fathom how much more it would hurt to have to say goodbye to Jake. I took another deep breath to calm myself. I can do this, I reminded myself. If he doesn't want anything to do with me then fine, but I'll be damned if I don't get to tell him exactly what I think about him and his fucking decision. Not like last time, I thought, as the image of Edward and I in the forest flashed threw my head. That image alone was all it took to steel my resolve. I sat back in my truck and turned the radio on as loud as I could get it to go hoping to drown out the rest of my thoughts as I waited on Jacob's appearance.

As luck would have it, I didn't need to wait long. I gasped as I heard the bang of his hand hitting my door.

"What are you doing here Bella?" Jake growled. "I thought my lack of response made it pretty clear that I didn't want to see you."

I couldn't believe that this was my Jacob, my sun. Never in all the time we had spent together had he spoken to me in that tone, and that itself was enough to break the tentative hold I had on my emotions. I slammed the door open and into his stomach causing him to take a step back. It was then I noticed the four other men standing behind Jake. The way they looked they could have been brothers with muscles on top of muscles, and all with the same shaved heads and angry expressions.

"I'm here to take to you Jake… Alone" I stated as I saw the other men take steps forward.

"Well I don't want to take to you Bella, so just leave," Jacob spat venomously.

"News flash Jake, you aren't the only person in this relationship and honestly I don't give a damn whether or not you wanted to see me. I wanted to see you! So pull your head out of your ass and fucking explain" I ranted. Jake stood there in shocked silence his hands trembling slightly. It was then that I was able to really take in the changes in Jake. He was well over 6'' probably closer to 6'5 if I had to guess. He seemed to have aged 5 years in the span of a month. His body was chiseled looking as though he added 30 lbs of muscle to his now enormous frame. But the most drastic change was in his face. Gone was the carefree smile I had grown to love and even more saddening was the lack of light in his eyes. This wasn't my Jacob and I felt my heart break just a bit more.

"What happened to you Jacob?" I asked softly as I reached out for his hand. He flinched away from my touch and I felt a few tears break my hold and flow down my cheeks.

"Life, Bella. Life happened to me," Jacob replied angrily, "and I don't owe you an explanation Bella so just go home."

"I didn't say you owed me a damn thing," I cried, "but I think I deserve to know what the hell I did to make you leave me too. I think I deserve to know why you no longer care." My tears were flowing freely now and there was nothing I could do to hold them back.

"Fuck Bella," Jake growled out, his trembling increased spreading up to his arms. "Look, you didn't… and I can't… and fuck…" The trembling in Jakes arms increased further as he searched for what he was trying to say. "It's not you Bella, It's me. Things changed and I'm not good enough to be your friend anymore. I can't explain, and I'm not going to try. I can't be friends with you, that's it, so just please leave."

One of the men came forward and laid his hand on Jacob's shoulder shaking his head. "Let's go Jake," he stated and just like that Jacob turned to follow him his shoulders hunched in defeat.

Well fuck this, I thought to myself. "You know what!" I shouted startling myself as much as them. "Fuck this!" I stormed back up to Jake at him. This was my last chance to let him know exactly how I felt… and fuck it if some asshole was going to make him leave before I've said my piece.

"You can't talk to me Jacob fine don't… you don't want to be with me anymore Jake… then fine I can't force you but I'll be damned if you walk away from me without me getting a say in it. I really would have preferred to talk to you alone but since you seem to be on a short leash from your new master, I'll talk to you right here and probably embarrass the shit out of both of us." I saw him square his shoulders like he was bracing himself for whatever I had to say.

"Whatever Bella," he stated quietly. "Say what you need to say and then leave."

I held back the flinch I felt from hearing him speak so coldly. This definitely was not my Jacob anymore and it didn't seem like there was much I could do about that. "I love you Jake" I heard his sharp intake of breath but that was it. "Whether you want me to or not… whether you give a damn about me anymore or not… I love you. You brought me back to life when I was damn near dead and I will forever be grateful. You're my family Jacob just as much as Charlie. Things changed and you say you're not good enough to be my friend; well who the fuck gave you permission to decide what is and is not good enough for me." I looked into his eyes and all I could see was anguish and my insides turned at the thought of his pain. "The only change that I care about Jacob is that you're not smiling; that there's no joy in your eyes. You say we can't be friends… Well I say who the fuck are you to decide that. You will be my best friend for the rest of my life… whether you want to be or not." I was choking back tears at this point and I knew as soon as he walked away I would sob my heart out.

"Bella," Jake whispered brokenly. "I'm sorry Bella, but I can't" Jake said turning away from me. He looked back at me once before he shook his head and took off towards the others and I felt my heart shatter once again.

I turned hateful eyes on the person still standing in front of me. I stared at him a minute longer before I realized who it was I was looking at.

"Bella, I'm sorry but trust me, it's better this way. This is for your own good…"

Before he could finish the sentence my hand was flying out slapping him across the face with as much strength as I could muster. I'm pretty sure that I did more damage to my hand then I did to him, but at that moment I didn't care. Here in front of me was another person breaking my heart for my own good and if I could make him feel one tenth of the pain he was causing me for my own good I would be happy.

"Fuck your apologies and fuck you" I spat before returning to my truck and gunning it home.

AN: Okay guys, I know many of you thought I must have died or something but as promised here is the first chapter of the rewritten story… All the existing chapters have so far been updated and 3 new ones have already been drafted. I am still looking for a beta, so If anyone is interested please message me. More updates to follow!