When your heart is broken, the ache is so intense, so agonizing, you are convinced it will last forever. After the wedding, Izzy spent weeks in bed, balled up in her dark room, unable to stop crying, even in her sleep. There wasn't a pain-free second in her day. Everywhere she went, every noise she heard, even everything she smelled triggered memories of him. He was the last thought in her mind before she lost consciousness, the first when she opened her eyes, and the leading role in every last one of her dreams. So many nights she prayed not to wake up to the same agony. But life goes on even when you're convinced it won't.
When Bella called her, scared and frantic, begging for her help, who Izzy was at her core, came shining through. Like it or not, Bella had become part of her family, and you always help out family. She never imagined helping would involve saving the life of a human-vampire half-breed. It goes without saying the amount of commotion Bella's pregnancy caused in LaPush was colossal. It nearly tore the pack apart.
Knowing all too well what a mother felt for her child, even an unborn one, Izzy placed her emotional state on the back burner, using every last bit of energy to make sure Bella's baby was safe. It took many, many, many meetings between the pack, the elders, and the Cullens, and plenty of meddling from Izzy and the imprintees, to agree the baby should be born before any decision was taken.
When Renesmee Carlie Cullen, aka Nessie, was born, after only 20 days of gestation, Seth tagged along with Izzy to visit the baby. Behind the pack's back of course. One look into her chocolate brown eyes, and the kid imprinted. Problem solved. No packmember would ever hurt another's imprintee. Nessie became as much a part of the tribe as she was a Cullen. And the pack and the Cullens truly became a unison.
Edward was very understanding and accepting of the imprinting. He had always liked Seth, cared for the kid, seeing him as a little brother. A bond and mutual respect had grown between them after having fought together in battle. Claiming Seth had one of the purest minds he'd ever heard, Edward actually seemed happy to know who his daughter would end up with. Bella was not as happy.
The pregnancy itself nearly cost Bella her life, giving birth to Nessie put and end to it, as she and everyone knew it would. At the very last minute, without any other option, Edward had to do what he'd been wanting to avoid at all cost. Using his venom to save her, he ended her human life, and gave her a new one. The vampire transformation took about three days to complete, at which time Izzy, along with Nessie, and Seth, who didn't leave her side from the moment he set eyes on her, were kept at a distance. Not until they were sure Bella could control her impulses, did they allow the blood pumping trio back in the house. To everyone's surprise, Bella was very calm and in control of her newborn urges, easily taking on everything that went along with the new life. But just to make sure, Seth volunteered to play guinea pig, letting Bella sniff him out before she was allowed near Nessie and Izzy. Though it caused her a bit of trouble to be around the scent of their blood, Bella learned to handle it very quick. Everything was going great. Until the imprinting bomb was dropped.
Leah was not about to stand back and allow her little brother to go up to bat on his own. She was right behind him when Bella was given the news. For a split second, wild, newborn, mama vampire showed her ugly face, and Bella went for Seth's jugular. Leah, the fastest of the werewolves, took her head on before she got anywhere near the kid. The werewolf-vampire catfight nearly destroyed Esme's living room. But once it was stopped, and everyone had a chance to calm down and apologize, things were talked out and worked out. Luckily for Seth, everyone made peace and he was allowed to be Nessie's lapdog (lol)
Explaining the imprinting to Lala, who'd been dating Seth for a few months, was completely unaware of what he was, and couldn't possibly know the truth, was surely thought to be quite difficult. Given how close Izzy was to both parties, she was sure to find herself stuck in the middle. She was even worried it would cause a slight detachment between the girls. Wasn't she happily surprised to find out Lala had been planning on breaking it off, knowing that with their age difference, and her approaching leave to college, it was the best thing for everybody. They even stayed as cool friends. Bullet dodged.
Unfortunately, Nessie caused a few more headaches along the way. The uncertainty of her future was a little worrisome, no one knew when her growth and development would slow. They also didn't know how her existence would be explained to the general public. Oddly, it didn't take long to work that out. Seth spilled the werewolf beans to Charlie, allowing the chief to once again become a part of his daughter's life, not to mention his granddaughter's. Though the public story was that Nessie was Edward's biological niece, since their resemblance could not be hidden, and that he and Bella had adopted her, not many bought the story, including Charlie. Many went crazy trying to add up the math, others made up theories, like that Bella had been like one of those women on the Health channel, that didn't know they were pregnant until they were writhing in pain on the bathroom floor. Charlie didn't know exactly know what the Cullens were, nor did he want to know.. In the end, he just wanted his girls to be happy, and they were, so as long as he was a part of that, he learned, or pretended to, overlook the weird stuff. And there was plenty of it. It helped that he was dating Sue Clearwater. Funny, the father of a vampire with the mother of werewolves. If he only knew.
With the crisis over, and excitement wearing off, Izzy slowly went back into her depression. Everyone tried being encouraging and supportive, but pretending Jake had never existed, though done with the best intentions, was not the best way to go. Leah and Embry were he only ones she was able to break down with without worrying about what they thought. Leah knew exactly what she was going through, and she was an awesome friend. Embry missed Jake as much as she did, it was so easy to sit back and miss him together, rely on each other to get over the loss of someone so important in their lives. Billy was another person Izzy could count on regardless, the only other person who loved Jake with the same intensity as she did, and though he was her rock through many a time, she realized his pain seemed greater when he saw her crying over his son. She promised herself, as long as she could help it, she'd never cause him that kind of pain again.
Izzy spent countless weeks, waking every morning, hoping that was the day Jake returned. It never was. Her hope shrunk with the passing time, but her little secret kept growing. She wasn't embarrassed, she wasn't afraid, only reason she hid it was because it had been her intention for him to be the first to know. Sadly, that was not gonna happen. The time had arrived to sit everyone down.
She spent quite a few sleepless nights planning out how she was gonna do the grand reveal. Tell Ma first. No, tell Ma and her brothers first. Maybe it was better if she told the Cullens first, after all, Carlisle and Edward already knew. But the pack had to be on it too. Billy definitely had a right to know. Lala was her best friend, it was girl code the let her know. Chris would find out sooner or later, might as well hear it directly from her. Finally, after giving herself one too many headaches, she decided to invite everyone over to her house and tell them all at once.
Having over two dozen people you love and respect, staring back at you is intimidating enough, having to stand up and say the words "I'm 3 months pregnant", outright terrifying. The room went eerily silent for seconds that lasted a lifetime. Then it erupted in a variety of mixed emotions. Some cried, some laughed, and some cheered, but in the end, everyone was there for her, backing her up 100%.
When having the talk of her life with Ma, she was told to be ready to lose friends. Small town, teenage pregnancy, what a scandal, especially when the father was m.i.a. Izzy knew what to expect, she was almost certain which so-called friends would turn on her. She was sure she was ready, after all, gossip and scandal were her middle names, and she had thick skin. Maybe it was the hormones, but it did sting a little to become 'that girl', but after the crippling anguish of loosing the love of her life, that kind of thing seemed like being hit by a pebble after being crushed by a mountain, not even worth crying over.
Chris and Lala never faltered though. Not even when they became part of the gossip. What kind of gossip, you ask? Well, lets see, for starters, Lala's stomach was the focus point of many eyes for months, cause there was a pregnancy pact between the girls, don't you know. And then there were the teams. Team Jacob claimed Izzy's swollen belly was Chris's doing, and that poor Jake had been so heartbroken, he couldn't stand being in the same town with them and ran away. Team Chris on the other hand, claimed Jake was a an ass who seduced her, knocked her up, and then ran away, and that Chris was short of a saint for being with her. There were many more theories and rumors, and all equally ridiculous. 'Shake it off' Chris and Lala would say, being by Izzy's side through thick and thin.
Too bad the thickest of the thick was not something Izzy would rely on them for. Just as things were going great in Forks. Well, as well as they could go for Izzy, Nessie's life was in danger once again. Bella had gone hunting with Seth and Nessie, unaware the woods had eyes. Irina, part of the Denali clan, mate to a vampire the pack had killed, when he was gonna kill Bella, decided to stop by and make peace, after having turned her back on them during the newborn battle, and black balling their wedding. Seeing Bella, now a vampire, hunting with a werewolf, was enough to stir up all those bad feelings she had been trying to bury. The icing on the cake, seeing Nessie, who Irina believed was a vampire child the Cullens had turned, a major crime in the vampire world, one paid with death. Filled with anger, resentment, and overtaken by the need for vengeance, Irina ran to the Volturi, the royalty of the vampire world, the lawmakers, enforcers, and executioners.
Convincing the Volturi that Nessie was a half-breed, born and not made, was of utmost necessity. Given the chance to do so was a whole other story. Apart from the Volturi, the Cullens were the largest vampire coven in existence, attaining a unity among them than not even the Volturi could achieve, proving love would always be stronger than fear. The Cullens were considered a threat by the leaders of the Volturi, and the chance to get rid of them would not be passed by. It took the Cullens, the pack, the Denali clan, and many other clans from around the world, who joined the fight for justice, to as one stand against those who promised justice, yet twisted the rules and used them to their advantage.
Though everyone was certain a loss was eminent, they were ready to fight anyways. Izzy felt their determination and acceptance, but she couldn't become any more aware of it than when Bella showed up at her window the night before the confrontation. With a backpack filled with money, fake passports, and all kinds of documentation, she was begged to run with Nessie and care for her as her own. Bella was trusting her daughter's life to her. If a fight became inevitable, it'd be Seth's job to run with Nessie, and Izzy would be running with them. Thank god Alice arrived just in time, not only saving the day, but bearing proof Nessie's future was safe. It never got to the point of war, but seeing her loved ones run off to what they believed was a certain death, it was the hardest thing Izzy ever had to live through.
The year ended with a bang, but 2007 started out filled with happiness and tranquility. The confrontation was behind them, there had been no fight, and everyone was safe and happy, together, more united than ever before. One big family.
Valentine's day brought an enormous triple wedding, thanks to the little pixie. D and Leah, Sam and Emily, and Paul and Rachel were married under the moon, the stars, and thousands of twinkling lights. A canopy the size of a football field, dwarfed the clearing, everyone in Forks and LaPush under it, enjoying the elaborate festivities. With so much love in the air, it even gave others the courage to step up. Jared proposed to Kim, and to everyone's jaw-dropping surprise, Charlie proposed to Sue.
Spring time is known as mating season. For Izzy it was more like birthing time. She became a mother the morning of Saturday April the 14th. Joseph Eli Black was born at 10:22am, weighing 10lbs 2oz, and measuring 22 inches. A big boy. Just like his father. With Jake's tanned skin and her green eyes, he was a perfect mixture of them both.
Giving birth during Spring Break, and with countless volunteering babysitters, Izzy was able to return to school without a glitch. It wasn't always easy, but she graduated top of class on June 24th, 2 days before her 18th birthday.
With Jake as a father, and the Cullens as close family, having a werewolf son was assured. It was extremely important to Izzy, that Jojo, as her baby was nicknamed, be where he needed to be, close to his family, his roots, his tribe, close to those he would be brothers with someday. With Edward's help, Izzy bought the land adjacent to Billy's, and Esme designed and had her built an amazingly quaint and cozy house, with a new and upgraded version of Billy's barn house attached to it. Having vampire relatives who are realtors, architects, builders, and decorators, has it major perks. Izzy, Jojo, and Billy, were able to move into their new houses by then end of the summer, and the old Black house was handed down to Rachel and Paul.
Though she had more than enough money to sit pretty and not work a day in her life, it wasn't Izzy's style. Leaving for college was not an option, but knowing the desperate need Forks was in for a teen hangout, the idea for Umbrella was born, an arcade/bowling ally/diner/dance club for kids to have fun and let loose. She sat with her vampire miracle workers for weeks. Their hard work paid off. The doors opened on none other than Halloween night. Being all ages, with no alcoholic beverages, or smoking allowed, it became an instant hit. Teens loved it, and parents totally approved.
Though they left for Washington State a few weeks after graduation, Chris and Lala were always around, driving up on weekends, and breaks. Lala had been considered a part of them since their days of playing grease monkeys in Jake's old garage, but sometimes it was a little difficult for the guys to include Chris in their group. But they made it work, always making him feel welcomed. As a favor to Izzy.
Adamantly denying it had anything to do with Jake, Izzy didn't date, not anyone. Deep down, very, very deep down, she did carry the hope that he would return and they would be a family. Though she would never, ever admit it, not even to herself. It took her a very long time, and many tears, to accept it was possible to fall in love again. All the while Chris and Izzy got closer and closer. They eventually began dating, long distance of course, during the fall of 2008. After getting his associates degree, and returning to Forks in the summer of 2009, Chris became Forks High's soccer coach. Then on her 20th birthday, in a very romantic evening, Izzy would never forget, Chris got down on bended knee, and proposed in front of her enormous family. Her acceptance had mixed emotions. Some very subtle, others very loud and opinionated.
The truth was that Jake had been gone for three years. The tears had dried out, the wound had sealed, and though there would always be a scar, it was fading. The laughs, the adventures, and the daily craziness of her werewolf-vampire-loonies family, slowly replaced the memories of what was but never will be again.
D had become a cop, rapidly moving up the ladder until he worked right under Charlie. Mark was in New York, attending NYU. Andy had graduated and gone to California, attending UC-Berkley. Both returning to Forks every summer and winter break. After seeing her last kid head off to college, Ma decided to head back to San Diego, where she'd been the past year. Lala got her Nursing degree and returned to work at Fork's hospital. And from her Quileute family, babies soon started popping up, like Nathan, Paul and Rachel's little boy, Sammy, Sam and Emily's little girl, and her little sister was already on her way, and after years of trying, Leah was finally expecting Izzy's first nephew. Jojo had plenty of cousins to play and grow up with.
Life had definitely gone on. Any hopes of Jake's return, any fantasies of a fairy tale ending for him and Izzy were null. Chris had been the one to be by her side through all the ups and downs. He'd been her rock and her shoulder to lean on, from the pregnancy scandal, to Jojo's birth, to all the chaos along the way. He'd backed her up in all her plans, adventures, and endeavors. He loved Jojo like a son, and he accepted every crazy character of her beloved family. Chris might not have been her first choice to have her happily ever after with, but he was definitely her prince charming.
Sometimes Destiny is right in front of you, you're just too blind and stubborn to see it. Izzy had finally opened her eyes…