If you haven't already, please go read my other story, "What Could Have Been." It's a Bella/Jacob story. Enjoy this one!

Chapter 1 - Returning

JPOV

I hadn't talked to Bella in two years. My heart ached for her for the longest time, but I had to find ways to occupy my mind. I phased, occasionally, but blocked out the voices of the pack – my brothers I had to leave without an explanation. I had graduated from high school this spring, and now that summer was coming around and I was a free man, I yearned to go back to La Push. I missed my father, the pack, and Bella. There were two possibilities. Option one, she could have saved Cullen's butt and gotten back together with him, or option two, she could have saved Cullen's butt and he left her again. But this time, I wasn't there to pick up the pieces. Deep inside, I felt like a jerk. I had told her I loved her, and left when one phone call interrupted what should have been the beginning of us.

I had been staying in Tennessee. The Great Smokey Mountains were a great place to run and be a wolf. I mostly kept to myself, except for the person I had been living with. He was a Quileute, but he didn't live on a reservation. It was hard to say goodbye to him; he was always kind and loving to me, like the father I hadn't see in forever. I wrote letters to my father occasionally, telling him I was alright and not to worry.

But the old man from the Smokies took me under his wing, making sure this promise was kept. His name was James, and he had stopped phasing when his wife died from brain cancer. He often talked about her, but strangely, she reminded me of Bella. Actually, most everything reminded me of Bella. But now that I was an adult, I was ready to go back to her. She might hate me, she might have moved on, but she's going to get to see me again.

When I got off the plane in Washington, it was around eight o'clock and my heart was pounding like a hammer. I didn't even think everyone would recognize me. I still had the russet skin, the black hair, and the rough Indian features, but I was bigger and older. I was taller, more muscular, less of a teenager. I was only nineteen, but I looked thirty-five. My face had grown to look manly, and my voice was the slightest bit deeper. I was a changed boy.

The drive to La Push was easy. I went through Forks, past Bella's house. Her truck wasn't there, but the cruiser was. I considered stopping to greet Charlie, but I was afraid he would scorn me for taking off. It was for the better good that I left. It gave both Bella and I a chance to figure out what we wanted and everything that happened. It was good.

The La Push sign was a little more worn; the places there were a little older. I was driving a rental car, in which I rented from Port Angeles. When I realized I was only a mile away from the houses I knew so well, I pulled over. Where should I go? I was afraid to go home. I was afraid to go to Charlie's. I would go to Sam's. The drive was only a bit longer than it would have been to my house, and it was sure to be the calmest place to go. I sighed loudly when I pulled up the drive. The house was the exact same as it had been years ago. Lights were visible through the curtains, and when I got out of the car, I heard voices inside. I couldn't recognize anyone in particular, but I guessed everyone was gathered here. Oh, crap. This was going to be a sight. I pulled open the screen door and held it open with my shoulder. Then I rapped on the wood in front of me with my knuckles, hoping it would open with a smile. I forced one upon my own face.

With a swift pull, the door swung open to reveal Emily, large with child.

"Oh, sh-" She started, stopping herself before she cursed. Everyone was in the kitchen, unaware of my presence. "Sam, come here, now!" She called, and a husky voice answered her.

"Em, is something wrong?" He ran up to her, placing one hand on her stomach, but took it away when he followed her stare. "Jacob, is that you?" He whispered, careful not to be too loud.

I finally decided to speak. "Yeah, it is." To my surprise, he smiled, and came out the door to hug me briefly.

"We missed you, everyone." His grip ceased quickly, though. He hopped back inside and opened the door wider, making it large enough for me to come through. Emily took off ahead of us, wobbling, instead of running. "You will explain later, but first, you need to know something."

"Yes?" I braced myself for the worst, the best, and the in-between.

"Bella will be arriving soon. She isn't here yet, you better thank god." His eyes widened in effect, making me wonder.

"Is she that upset with me?" He didn't answer; his eyes told me she was more than upset when I just took off.

"We'll get to that later, too." He gently pushed me forward, towards the all too familiar kitchen. I could smell baking goods, sweet with Emily's ways of culinary arts.

When I walked in the room, all mouths dropped. All talking stopped. All chewing discontinued. I could barely tell who was who. Everyone had changed in such a short time, only two years. There were two more guys added to the group, along with a new girl. I broke the silence.

"Hey, everyone." I smiled warmly, hoping it would bring forth talking in all the shock.

"Jacob? Is that you?" The new girl strolled up to me and put me in her embrace. But I had no idea who she was. She pulled away, and laughed at the confusion on my face.

"Don't tell me you don't recognize your own sister?" It was Rachel. I hadn't seen her since she left for college years before I left. The raven hair was short, and she was wore more makeup than she used to. She was very thin, yet muscular.

"No way…what are you doing here?" I hugged her again, trying to take the image of my sister in.

"Well, I came down about a year ago, and I was drawn to stay, you could say." She looked back at Paul, who had this look in his eyes, like he was…

Oh my god.

"You and Paul," I held my hands up. "Imprinted?! Oh man, I've missed a lot." She nodded and went back to sit next to Paul. I searched the faces in the room, but didn't see welcoming arms in everyone. Some were standing, some were sitting at the table or on it, and some were sitting on the counters. There were basically two groups. What looked like Leah, Kim, Embry, Seth, and the two new guys were looking at me with anger, while Sam, Emily, Paul, Rachel, and Jared looked pleased to see me. Something was up.

"Why are some of you acting like I have the plague? And where's Quil?" The anti-Jacob group exchanged glances, then got up and started out the door, pushing past me.

"Dude, you're in for the shock of a life time." Embry murmured to me on his way out, but the tone of his voice told me he wasn't trying to help. Once the door was slammed with their departure, I began to worry.

"Cookie, anyone?" Emily, ever the sweetheart, held out a fresh tray of cookies to the small crowd, smiling briefly.

"What the heck just happened?" I spoke to everyone.

"Well, we were planning on having a bonfire tonight, so I guess you're invited now." Rachel smiled at me too.

I ignored her. "I understand why they would hate me, but they aren't happy I'm back at all?" I put my back against the wall for support.

"Jacob, a lot can happen in two years." Sam stated while taking a cookie from the full tray.

"I can see that. Everyone looks different. I can barely tell anyone apart."

"Yes, that's true." He took a bite, then another before he finished chewing.

"Would anyone like to fill me in?" I took a place at the table, putting my head between my hands.

"I'll do the honors." Rachel took a cookie too, but Paul took it and shoved it in his mouth. She smacked him on the head playfully. "First of all, you're probably worried about Dad. He's fine, just a little lonely sometimes. Sue Clearwater stays with him during most days, just to keep him company. He lost his best friend, you know."

"Wait- hold up. What do you mean he lost his best friend?"

"Charlie. He died in a car accident about a year ago. That's why I was down here- for the funeral." She grabbed another cookie, making sure it was out of Paul's reach.

"How did…Bella…oh my god." I gaped. This was horrible. I felt even more like a jerk.

"She didn't take it so well. She was severely depressed. We thought about sending her to live with her mother, but she insisted on staying. She's going to college in Port Angeles now. She wants to be a teacher." Rachel polished off the cookie, looking around at her audience.

"Go on…" I was eager to hear everything.

"She lives here in La Push now. She got her own place built and everything. It's near the Clearwater's house, since that's like her second home. Leah, Kim, Emily, Bella, and I are like, best friends. Especially Bella and Leah. They act like sisters most of the time."

"Last time I checked, they hated each other."

"Things change when you've been through similar things. Both their dads died, and they lost love at one point." She glanced at Sam and Emily, who seemed unaffected by her words. She continued on. "Leah was actually the only person who helped her get out of both stages of her depression."

"So she's part of the pack now?"

"Basically. She hangs out with us every day, and enjoys herself now. For a while, we thought she was going to give up. She came back from saving her ex boyfriend, told him to get lost, and came to La Push to find you gone with no explanation. Charlie was worried sick for her. She went wild for a little while, but Leah made her sane again. And now we're here." I stared at her in shock. Bella had chosen me after all? Damn.

"I am so dumb." I covered my mouth with my hand, holding in the words I didn't want to say.

"Yeah, you kind of are. She was crazy about you and you left her." She went on talking, but I stopped listening when I heard a car pull into the driveway.

"Who's here?" I jumped up from my chair, going to the back door.

"Bella, most likely." I swung the door open and ran around the house. I had to talk to her. But I stopped in my tracks. Bella had her back against the side of a small red car at the end of the line that was parked in Emily's drive.

She was just like I remembered, only older, and more beautiful. Her chestnut hair hit right past her shoulders, and it was curled in gorgeous ringlets. Her skin wasn't as pale; it had a golden tinge to it. There was someone in front of her. She leaned her face closer to his, and he put his hands on her tiny waist. He closed the distance, meeting his lips to hers. I gasped under my breath, which was hitching by the second. She moved her arms around his neck. This was the kiss I had always wanted to share with Bella, and now she was doing it with some guy from the reservation.

When she pulled away, they smiled at each other, and I took notice of the man's face. I knew that mischievous grin.

"Bella!" I called out, not thinking. My voice cracked at the end, and I cleared my throat.

"Is that…" She said under her breath. I smiled. Her voice was like an angel, singing in heaven.

"Yeah it is. That's Jacob Black." That voice. My Bella was kissing Quil.

"Why is he here?" She looked up at him and gnawed her lip, something she hasn't stopped doing since I left.

"You know I can hear you guys, right? I'm not deaf." She took Quil's hand and squeezed. Tears jerked behind my eyes, threatening to spill.

I squinted when the sun suddenly came out from behind the clouds. The rays shined down on us, and I had to hold my hand above my eyes to be able to see Bella and Quil. I was about to close my eyes from the bright light, but stopped when the luminosity caught something. The light glinted off of a piece of jewelry on Bella's hand, throwing beams in my eyes. I closed them, but opened them again in a double take. It was a ring. And it was on her left hand. On her ring finger.

I had learned to not curse as often in my time away, but this was different.

"Oh, shit…" I covered my mouth, the jerking sensation replaced with pure fury.

Bella and Quil were engaged.