Dedicated to the wonderful Mia (call it a belated birthday present from the plot bunny that just wouldn't stop itching) it's based on a drabble I wrote from her and...I just couldn't stop.


People die. It's what they do. You're born to die. It's as simple as that. But Jacob still couldn't swallow the knot that was his father's death. Billy had lived a long and happy life. When his time came, he was ready and welcomed it with opened arms. It was Jacob that lingered. Jacob that didn't want him to go. It was Jacob who was left broken beyond repair.

So badly shattered that his own lover didn't even know what to do to fix him, so Edward Cullen did the only thing he could. He gave him space. Space to sort through his thoughts and memories and move on.

Heh. If only moving on were so easy.

His finger groped through the darkness (his power was turned off the other day, when one didn't work one couldn't pay the bills) until his finger brushed over the cool neck of a glass bottle. Whiskey. The good stuff. His fingers wrapped around it and he brought it to his lips. Hoping to drown out the pain with another swallow.

He took a deep pull, some of the liquor dribbled onto his chin and on to the funeral shirt he never changed. It numbed him. Made him cold and helped him to forget, if only for a moment. But it wasn't enough to stop him from reaching for the phone and dialing the number he knew by heart.

He'd always pick up. That's what Edward promised. Anytime you need me...

The ring tone was cut short and a tired voice answered on the other line. "Jake...babe...it's a quarter after one...what are you doing up...?" Concern was laced throughout his voice, but Jacob didn't pick up on it.

"Drinking...I'm drunk...just a little though..." he replied, his voice heavy and slurred. He wasn't even sure Edward could understand him, but he kept talking. "I need you, Edward...I need you now..."

And just like he promised, Jacob heard the jiggle of keys. "I'm on my way." And then the line went dead.