Story Title: Time Marches On

Summary: Sometimes things happen that you don't plan on. Children grow up and make their own decisions. Set sixteen years after Love.

Pairings: Too many to mention. All the same ones from before with a few added on.

Disclaimer: I never have and never will own Twilight. This story is a figment of my overactive, yet very creative imagination.

AN: I know what you're thinking, 'My God, she's making another part to this series?!' Yes, I am. I hope you all enjoy it.

Sixteen years had passed without a new member of the pack. Quil felt that it was time for him to step down. He had a family now with another baby on the way. Sam and Paul were elders now, they could handle things. He was the only member of the pack and he felt that he had served the tribe as best he could.

"Quil, are you alright?" Claire asked getting his attention.

"I'm fine. I was just thinking."

"You don't have to leave the pack if you don't want to."

"I'm a forty year old in a twenty five year olds body. We have Simon, and it won't be much longer before Chase is born. I've been a member of the pack for twenty four years. It's time."

"I do like the idea of having you around at night," she said with a smile.

"You won't have to cook so much."

"How long will it take before you're human again?"

"Six months."

"God, that long?" she asked as she rolled her eyes teasingly.

"I'll talk to Sam tomorrow."

Claire nodded as three year old Simon called for her. Quil was left alone with his thoughts once again and he wondered why he hadn't done this sooner.

XXXX

Bella rolled over in bed, slowly opening her eyes. Her eyes focused on the person standing next to the bed with a smile. She scooted over and her youngest daughter Maggie climbed onto the bed. At seven, Maggie was a sweet natured, active little girl. She wrapped her arms around Bella's waist before laying her head on Bella's shoulder. Bella rested her head on top of Maggie's as the door opened.

The door opened wider and Will stuck his head in.

"Morning, Bubba," Maggie said with a smile.

"Come on," Bella said patting Jacob's side of the bed.

He walked in with their Jack Russell Terrier following close behind him. He sat Indian Style on the bed as the dog chewed happily on a chew toy at the foot of the bed. Bella ran her fingers through Will's hair as he turned on the TV.

The kids got lost in cartoons while Bella worked on her laptop. She had a deadline that was fast approaching and she couldn't think of an ending for the story.

"No, Zeus!" Will ordered sternly.

Bella looked up to see the dog humping his chew toy. She shut down her laptop with a sigh.

"Is your sister up?"

"No," Maggie said.

"She was on the phone late last night," Will said, not looking away from the TV.

"Was she now?" Bella asked.

Will nodded before Bella got off the bed. She made her way down the hall to her oldest daughter's room. She knocked on the closed door just loud enough for the girl inside to hear. There was shuffling and sighing on the other side before a bleary eyed sixteen year old Bella look alike opened the door.

"It's time to get up."

"What time is it?"

"Almost noon, give me your phone."

"Which one ratted me out this time?" The girl asked with a sigh.

"A mother never reveals her source. I need you to take Maggie to the park so I can get some work done."

"Why can't Will do it?"

"You can't expect your ten year old brother to watch your seven year old sister. I don't ask a lot of you Christina. Please do it just this once."

"Yes ma'am," she said with a sigh.

She handed Bella her phone as she passed her to go into the hall.

"Come on Munchkin, let's go to the park," Christina called to Maggie as she passed her parents room.

"Can I come?" Will asked.

"Seth will be here to get you soon. You have baseball practice; your dad is picking you up after," Bella said.

"Okay," Will said as he walked into his room.

At ten Will looked just like Jacob. Everything about the boy reminded Bella of Jacob. Christina was a typical teenager. She had a question for every answer you gave her. She and Jacob butted heads about almost everything. Bella was usually dragged into it by Christina. She hated taking sides with the two of them. Either way she decided the other would be hurt, and more than likely give her the silent treatment for the rest of the day.

Maggie was not only a Daddy's girl but an absolute dream to take care of.

"Mom, can I ask Sarah to come with us?" Christina asked.

Bella nodded before walking back into her room. Will was back in the room watching cartoons in his baseball uniform.

"Get your cleats off the bed," she said as she started her computer again.

Seth called Will's name from the front door ten minutes later. With the house completely silent Bella tried to focus on getting some work done. Being a stay at home mom wasn't what she had originally planned for her life. Jacob had been the one to inspire her to write her first book. She made her own hours and she got to spend time with the kids. Jacob's business had taken off a year after they got married. Black's Bikes now had four stores across the state of Washington with another to open in Oregon in the next year. Life had finally started going their way and they weren't going to mess with the system.

XXXX

Rachel knocked on Joe's door for the third time in twenty minutes.

"Joseph, it's time to get up."

"Jeeze Ma, I'm up," he said opening the door.

"It only took me three times," she said teasing him.

"Is dad already gone?"

"He left an hour ago."

"Great, he's gonna be pissed," he said quickly stepping into a pair of jeans.

"That's not my fault. He tried waking you up before he left."

"I don't have time to eat, do I?"

"I made you some lunch. Eat it on the way," she said handing him a bag.

"Thanks Ma, I'll see you later. Bye Shorty," he said as he passed Sarah.

"Bye," she called as he ran through the yard to his truck.

Rachel came to stand beside Sarah. At seventeen Sarah was more responsible than her twenty one year old brother. She was so much like Rachel's mother that everyone pointed it out. Rachel had made the right decision when she had decided to name the girl after her mother.

"Do you have any plans today?"

"Christina and I are taking Maggie to the park."

"That's a good idea. Bella needs to get some work done."

Sarah nodded as Christina's car pulled up in the yard. Joe waved at them as he drove away. Sarah grabbed her jacket before heading out the door.

"Have fun," Rachel said with a smile.

"I will."

In the car Christina told Sarah about what had happened earlier.

"Will told Mom," Maggie said from the back seat.

"Mom has her source and I have mine. Thank you Baby."

"You're welcome. You aren't going to hurt him are you?"

"I don't want to get grounded."

Noah was outside his parent's house with Cassius when they passed it. Sarah's eyes met his before looking away quickly.

"Have you talked to him yet?"

"No."

"You dated him for two years. You've known him your entire life; can't you be friends with him?"

"It hurts too much."

"Why did you break up with him?"

"Things have changed. I've changed."

"That happens to people all the time. The two of you can't work through it?"

"We spent our entire relationship in separate states. He barely came home."

"I know. He can't be tamed, you knew that when you started dating him."

"He's not a bad guy. He just doesn't have his priorities in order. I want a guy who has their head on straight."

"I hear ya. I do too."

"Let me know when you find one, maybe he has a brother."

Christina laughed as she shook her head. The conversation was closed once they got to the park. Maggie saw some of her friends so she went to play with them while Christina and Sarah talked on a bench.

"Can I use your cell phone?" Christian asked.

"Text your secret boyfriend," Sarah teased as she handed her the phone.

Christina smiled as she sent a quick text message. She handed it back to Sarah once the person had answered her back.

The two of them had been best friends since they were babies. It helped to have someone close to her age for her to turn to. Will had Seth's son Jeremy to tag team with when he wanted to get on Christina's nerves. The two of them were too smart for their own good.

XXXX

Paul had sent Joe home after he had only been at work a few hours. Something wasn't right, and he knew exactly what it was. Rachel met him at the door when he got home.

"Please tell me that he is fine."

"He's sweated through three pairs of shorts already. He got the fan down from the attic and he has his window open in the middle of January. He's perfectly fine," Rachel said rolling her eyes.

"I'll go talk to him."

"Why is this happening?" she asked in a strained tone.

"We knew that this might happen. Edward has been taking in Nomad vampires since he came back a year ago."

"Why did Quil let him come back?"

"He's harmless, and he wouldn't let someone that could be a threat stay in the area. Open the door, Joe," he said knocking on it.

Joe opened the door and Paul stepped into the room, closing the door quickly.

"You know, you didn't explain this very well," Joe said as he sat on the bed.

"I told you that you had to experience it for yourself to fully understand it. It gives you an excuse to finally cut your hair. You look like a hippie."

"Aww man!" he said with a groan.

"Rach, get the clippers. He's gonna let you cut his hair."

"Not all of it!" he countered.

"I need to call Sam and Quil and get them over here. It looks like Quil can officially step down."

Rachel came in with the scissors and hair clippers and Paul left to call Sam.

"Hello?"

"Hey."

"Hey."

"Joe's going through the change."

"That makes two."

"What?"

"It hasn't happened yet, but CJ came to see Hannah and Stacia today. Hannah said that he looked considerably different from the last time she had seen him a month ago."

"How is Embry taking it?"

"Okay. I've got Ceej here with me if you want to send Joe down. Hannah's taking it pretty hard."

"So is Rachel. I'll ask Joe what he wants to do."

That meant that one of them was destined to be Alpha, but which one? Paul thought that Joe could handle it, but CJ was a better leader.

XXXX

Sam had Joe and CJ in the woods behind his house. He was teaching them how to reign in and control their anger.

"There are safer ways of phasing, the last thing you want to do is shred your clothes."

Joe nodded as he concentrated on not letting the trash talk that Noah was throwing at him get to him.

"Shut up!" he growled.

"Uh oh, I think he's gonna lose it!" Noah laughed.

"Great idea bringing him Ceej; you wait until you're going through this," Joe threatened.

"I'm scared!" Noah said in mock horror.

Sam shook with laughter as he shook his head.

"It's good that he's here. Keep going Noah," he said once he calmed down.

"Can't you pick on CJ?"

"Bros before foes," CJ said with a grin.

"You got that right," Noah quipped.

Joe finally snapped and let the laughter that had been bubbling inside him spill out.

"Very good, tomorrow night I'll show you how to phase correctly. Be at my house in the morning, Joe. You and I need to talk." Sam said giving Joe a serious look.

"Yes Sir," he said with a nod.

CJ, Noah, and Sam headed in one direction while Joe headed home. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that he would be a part of the pack. He had wished that he could be as a kid so that he could be like his dad and uncle. Now that it was happening he felt an overwhelming sense of pride. He would serve the tribe, and he would never let anyone down.

AN2: I wanted to tell you guys how to pronounce Embry and Hannah's daughter's name. It's Stay-Sha. My brother in law has a cousin with that name. I've liked it ever since I met her.