Story Summary:

No Return is the sequel to my first fic Breakthrough. If you haven't read it

Bella and Jacob have taken on a new path in their life. Along for the ride is bouncy, energetic, raven-haired, Arden. The Blacks are moving from La Push to the sleepy little town of Astoria, Oregon. Because of his success in La Push, Jacob will take on the prestigious role of becoming the Administrator of Adult Education and Literacy for the city. After the family is settled, and their first summer is spent in their new home, Bella will begin teaching at the local High School while little Arden attends Kindergarten. In her first week as a high school teacher Bella will be faced with a familiar face in her creative writing class, causing her to question the duration of her family's life in this new place. All the while, Jacob will be approached with some career altering opportunities that would prevent the family from leaving. Unfortunately for Jacob there will be a complication causing his birthright to resurface.


The Cullen's have recently reunited and their family unit is stronger than ever, especially with the addition of Dexter – a vampire who's natural gift is an exquisite amount of genius. Carlisle and Edward are working alongside the peculiar Dexter on a privately funded, top secret research project that could ultimately change the vampire life as it is known. Their scientific breakthrough is close at hand and trying to keep their work a secret from not only the general population, but the Volturi as well, will prove to be problematic. In the meantime, Edward has attached onto another human, and his love for her is growing daily. His feelings cause him to question his love for Bella, allowing him to believe that, perhaps, he was capable of falling in love again. Realizing the void in his existence has opened up a whole new determination in his pursuit of true love. If the project is successful, then the complications of his relationship with Bella will no longer exist and he can allow himself to love freely. Unfortunately, for Edward, there is a new complication that he hasn't calculated- a sweet scent, singing only for him, could change his course forever.

A/N:

Just to clarify the next installment of my story is to simply continue Bella and Jacob's life TOGETHER, as well as catch up with the Cullens. This story is 100% Bella and Jacob – happily ever after. There will be times when you are completely and utterly annoyed with both of those respective characters but ultimately they are together. No IMPRINTING – I hate the concept. So it's not happening. As always the storyline will be contingent on reader involvement, opinions, suggestions and anything else you can offer. So let me reiterate the importance of reviewing. The focus for the story as I have outlined to chapter 10 will be on the new characters, and the Cullens. We didn't get a lot of Cullen's in Breakthrough, but since this story is centered around their role as vampires, I will be exploring them more in depth. It's going to be a crazy ride, but stick with it.

Live720 is my beta bb for this story, and I adore her muchos!!!!!

Chapter 1: Five Years Later

Disclaimer: I do not possess any ownership/investment into the Twilight Saga. No copyright infringement intended. Any other uses of copyrighted/trademarked or recognizable characters/settings/references/etc are not intended maliciously or as infringement. This story is strictly for entertainment value, no profit is being made by this work.

Arden ~ Latin word meaning "great forest" also the name of Shakespeare's forest in "As You Like It"

~~**~~**~~**~~*Prologue*~~**~~**~~**~~

History has taught us that in 49 B.C., Caesar started a war by crossing a point of no return called the Rubicon River. I supposed at some time or another we have all had our own Rubicon to cross. It's the place where you are met with impossible decisions and irrevocable commitments. When the sum of your life is crashing around you, questioning everything you are, threatening everything you've ever wanted. The choice you make will change your course forever and there is absolutely no going back. This place, this Rubicon, is the point of no return.

I never had a real expectation of that happening. Some things are a certainty, like death, sickness and natural disasters. Those things are to be expected, and although there's no real amount of preparation that will ever be enough, there's still the fact that you knew it was a possibility-even if the odds were small.

But this test of my will was completely a blind slide. It really never occurred to me that I would be faced with evaluating my life, but that's where it had taken me, and that's where I had the most to lose. It was sink or swim, and the Rubicon was raging wildly.

I was fortunate to classify my single human existence into two very separate lives. As unorthodox as that seems, I considered it a blessed gift. Many people live their one expected life and never find the amount of love that I had been given.

My first life was spent, remarkably, in love with Edward. A love only dreamed about by the most vivid imagination possible. A magical, unbelievable whir of a romance, and when it couldn't be and he left, I died. That part of my life ended, leaving me shattered, wounded, and dead.

It was in that state Jacob found me. He didn't just resurrect me, as it would appear. What he did for me far surpassed just allowing me a fresh start or a do-over. My new life began when I acknowledged my love for Jake. Like flowers in the spring I became new, and better. I began to breathe new air; my heart began to beat to a different rhythm. The person I was before faded, and he helped me to become the person that I always wanted to be.

The past was the past, and my past was on the surface of my heart forgotten and in the depths of my soul buried. I had promised myself that I would never revisit that life, and I was able to keep it. After all, I had no need or desire to go back. I was too busy enjoying my new life and loves to ever realize that some things may have never dissolved.

The difference between the two was simple…longevity. Edward was a part of me for just a short season, but Jake forever. He's the calm in the midst of a gale, he's the rainbow after the rain, he's the light in darkness, and he's a port in a storm.

I had forgotten that first life. Memories lost somewhere along the way of making new ones. I hadn't forgotten out of bitterness or anger, I simply had no need to remember that life. And after all of that time, after moving on, breathing fresh air, sprouting new leaves, and loving who I was, my two lives had finally collided placing me at the edge of the Rubicon.


Three months earlier…

I closed the cover of 'Goodnight Gorilla' for the second time in as much as ten minutes. It was a favorite and we both knew the words by heart. As I did every night, I mentally noted that I needed to buy a new copy of the treasured story since the pages were tattered almost beyond recognition. The small book held such sentimental value, even in its deteriorated state; I could never bring myself to actually replace it.

I placed the book on the bed table and patted the little head lying on my chest, silently wondering how I deserved to be so fortunate. My heart filled with an unexplainable love and devotion every time those tiny little arms wrapped around me. My life was complete.

"You brushed your teeth, right?" I asked, fully knowing the answer. It was a fun game to see what creative way Arden would dance around the truth. She would never overtly lie. She was too good and honest like her father, I supposed. But, she definitely flirted with minor untruths from time to time.

"I did this morning," she said sheepishly. Aha, the "truth as it does not apply to the current situation" tactic. Clever, I thought.

"To the bathroom," I gently scolded.

"But I want another story," she pouted, using her best stalling method.

"No, brush your teeth and then it's off to sleepy land you go."

"But...I want to kiss Daddy goodnight." Again with the stalling, I thought. Charlie was right; she did have a recognizable stubborn streak in her. I definitely had my work cut out for me.

"Daddy isn't home yet, but as soon as he walks in the door he will come straight up to your room to give you a goodnight kiss."

"But...," the little deviant protested. A battle of wills was a certainty at bedtime. Although mostly exhausting, it was sometimes fun to watch her test her boundaries.

"Tomorrow is your first day of Kindergarten; you want to be well rested for all of that fun," I reminded her.

"T'morra is your first day of kite school," she sang out as she bounced off the bed and scooted into the hallway.

"Um, that's high school. And yes tomorrow will be my first day of high school," I called out behind her. High school classes would not begin for two more days, but I was spending those days working on my classroom and lesson plans. I was the new Creative Writing teacher at one of the smaller schools in Astoria. Knappa High School, total attendance 200. This new direction had me somewhat on edge. Who would've thought that the one place that had brought me the most misery in my adolescence would be the one place that I would choose as my profession. Irony at its best. I wasn't new to teaching, but I was new to teaching in a high school setting.

As I sat on the edge of her bed, listening to the water run from the sink faucet, I mentally revisited those days of my youth. Most of them marred with memories of awkward, embarrassing, and often times, injurious moments. My thoughts were disrupted when a flash of pink cotton and silky black braids barreled into me at lightning speed, catapulting me across the bed and onto the floor. My beautiful angel-faced doll had the speed and strength of her father, and the grace and poise of her mother. It was a brutal combination. When I picked myself from off the floor, I was met by two dark brown eyes wide with anticipation. She was trying to read me, to see if I was upset or okay. I stilled for just a moment, not showing any sign of emotion. Her eyes, if possible, widened further and she moved closer to the safety of her pillows. I let a small grin escape, which resulted into ear piercing giggling from the little monster. I scooped her up into my arms, and gave her a million kisses, finally placing her back into bed between the covers.

"Now it's good night for you, little cub."

"Goodnight, Gorilla," she giggled, hiding her face with the corner of her polka dot comforter.

I closed the door behind me, leaving a small crack and made my way downstairs. The endless amount of chores expected of a mother was mind boggling. I opted to wash a load of laundry, and left the handful of dishes in the sink until morning.

The house was eerily quiet, and I took advantage of the peace to check my email. The first one was from my mother.

Hey baby girl, hope all is well. How's my precious butterfly? Tell her Gran is very proud of her for being a big girl. Smooches and Hugs for all of you. Renee.

I typed a quick response, and attached a picture I had taken earlier in the day. Spaghetti was one of Arden's favorite foods, and with her amount of independence, it made for some interesting messes. I knew Renee would love it and that it would be the perfect addition to her digital scrapbook dedicated solely for Arden.

Renee loved being a gran, and she unbelievably fit the role well. Both she and Charlie fell completely in love with the dimpled darling, spoiling her ridiculously. Of course one look into those deep brown eyes and the iciest heart would melt. Our move from La Push, to Oregon was heartbreaking for Charlie, but he seemed to be managing fine with just the monthly visits, always accompanied by Papa Billy. In all of his years as sheriff, he never really took any time off. So he had an unbelievable amount of vacation time stockpiled that he used to see his grandchild. Because I only spent summers with Charlie, I guess I never really saw what an exceptional father he really was. He didn't have the ability to communicate very well with adults, but he had a special way with Arden. In some small way I felt like he was making up for lost time, giving to her what he wanted to give to me, but was never allowed the opportunity.

Arden looked forward to her grandfather's visits and incessantly talked about fishing with Poppy and Pa. Our move had been especially hard for her in the beginning, leaving the comfort of La Push, and her grandfathers and cousins. We had a tightly woven family, but it was a sacrifice worth making. Jacob was happy, doing what he loved to do, and I believed the situation would be temporary. He was, in fact, still very much involved with the reservation and La Push as an adviser for the council, and of course the community relied heavily on his tribal wisdom and influence. It would just be a matter of time before he had Astoria's program developed and running, and then I hoped we could move back home.

The next few emails were mostly promotional offers for things I didn't use or need, and I sent them to the junk bin. Before I could move on down the list I heard the ding of the dryer, and went to finish my chore.

At a little past ten, I succumbed to the pleas of my body and allowed exhaustion to overtake me. I sank into bed, as the internal warfare of my mind and body began. Like most nights, I lingered between a sound sleep and my minds regurgitation of reminders of things I was unable to accomplish throughout the day. Those pesky tasks of random items I needed to add to my shopping list, or chores I was unable to finish, or calls I failed to make. I had already went through the list of things I needed to do tomorrow-call the plumber, buy eggs and butter, wash the dishes in the sink-and was slowly dissolving into a peaceful slumber. It was in that crucial state that I felt a warm lump fall beside me in the bed.

"Bella, are you asleep?" I heard the whisper somewhere in the vicinity of my ear.

"Ugh," is all I could manage to utter out. I drifted back to semi consciousness, but before I could procure my place, I felt a warm hand on the inside of my thigh followed by tiny kisses on my ear.

Once my body signaled that I was awake-at least in theory-the thoughts began to race again. I muttered something about fabric softener and yearly shots for our family cat.

"Bella," his voice rang out against my confused thoughts and I snapped from my delusional to-do list to realize that my husband was now home.

"Jake," I said sleepily.

"I missed you, baby," he said pushing his body against mine; his intentions were all too evident.

Moving away from him I protested. "I need sleep."

"Well you can sleep, I'll entertain myself," he retorted as his hands glided up and down my body delicately.

Knowing how unrelenting he could be, I rolled myself over. It only took one quick look at his face in the dim light to awaken my senses. I saw his eyes full of hunger and his smile full of love. I really was the luckiest person in the world.

"I missed you, baby," he repeated in between soft kisses to my neck and ear. I wasted no time with idle chatter, and met him passionately with my lips on his. He responded as he always did. His taste, his touch, his warmth were completely mind numbing, and after all of these years that had never changed.

Like every other night of our union, I slept in the cradle of Jacob's arms, listening to the lullaby of his heart resonating softly in my ear. The best part of everyday rested in knowing that it would end with a tranquil peaceful sleep in the arms of the man I loved. It was that solace that made every tomorrow worth facing.