Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything is the property of SM.

One night out with Jacob and his idiotic cohorts, did not instantly bring Bella out of the despair she was in. But, when Bella got out of bed the next morning, she found herself able to breathe a little easier. She got ready for her day in the usual manner and went downstairs to make Charlie breakfast with a light hop in her step. Before she knew it she had made pancakes, bacon, eggs and hash browns. When Charlie sat down at the kitchen table, a hot cup of coffee was waiting on him. Bella placed a plate of food in front of him and then sat down with one in front of her. As she shoveled in the first few bits of food, she could not help but notice Charlie's stare. "Do I have something on my face?" She questioned.

"No. Just haven't seen you eat like that in awhile." Charlie looked down at his own plate and started eating. He did not want to make a big fuss, afraid of any backslide.

"I am just hungry. I actually had a good time last night. I guess I worked up an appetite."

Bella shoveled more food in her face.

Charlie just smiled and went back to his breakfast.

XXX

Later that afternoon, Bella was lying on her bed going through Charlie's old photo albums. It had been so long since she had seen some of these photos. There were pictures of a dating Charlie and Renee with several other couples that appeared to be Native. She recognized Billy and Sarah Black. She had forgotten how tall Billy was and how incredibly beautiful Sarah was. She was pregnant with the twins in the photos and actually glowed.

She came across the pictures of her parent's wedding. Again, several Native couples as well as her Grandparents were in the pictures. Sarah was again slim in these pictures and it was Renee with the tell-tale bump under her white sundress. There was even a picture of Jacob's sisters in frilly pink dresses; they may have been a year old.

There weren't many pictures of Renee pregnant. So the next photos in the album were of Charlie, Renee and a newborn Bella in the hospital. Bella scrunched up her nose at herself as a newborn, all red, wrinkly, screaming and BALD! There were hundreds of pictures of her, in all stages of her first year. She wondered if she would be like that as a new mother. She stopped. This was the first time, well in her life that she actually thought about herself having a child. Scratch that thought. Not going to happen. She thought to herself.

She looked at photos of herself with two older girls at what looked to be the Blacks. The children all seemed to be happy. There were pictures of all her early holidays and surprisingly, the Blacks were in most of them. Soon the pictures included a little russet skinned boy with the smile she had come to recognize in an instant, Jacob.

The pictures continued and she found more of her and Jacob and less of her with anyone else. Where we always together? She thought to herself. As time went one, one person seemed to be missing from the photos, Renee. The pictures continued pretty regularly documenting her life until she was around four. Then they seemed to jump in time. That was when we moved to Arizona, she once again thought to herself.

The next album was all of summers at the Blacks. Again, she and Jacob seemed joined at the hip. There were pictures of them fishing, coloring, and playing with dolls and tea sets and well as trucks and cars. These brought back memories she had long since forgotten.

One in particular got her attention. It was of the twins laughing, herself in her favorite purple overalls, sitting on the porch with her face in her hands and a crying Jacob in Sarah's arms. He looked to have been about four. He had mud all over his face and hands. She remembered that day.

They were all out playing in the yard and the twins were off playing by themselves, as usual and Bella found herself making mud pies. Jacob, her ever present sidekick watched in amazement. "Kiss me Bells," the precocious youngster had said to her.

"What?" Bella had asked in amazement, as she finished up her latest masterpiece.

"Kiss me," Jacob persisted.

"Do you even know what kisses are?" Bella asked, slightly annoyed.

"Yes, Mommy and Daddy do it all the time. They say it's what people do when they love each other and I love you so… kiss me," Jacob pleaded.

"Well prove you love me then," Bella said.

"How? Anything, you name it!" Jacob exclaimed.

"Eat this pie and tell me how good it is," Bella smirked.

Jacob was eating the pie in an instant. He looked up, with a mouth full of mud and said, "It was good. Okay, kiss me."

"No way, you have mud in your mouth! That is dirty." Bella said disgusted.

Jacob broke into hysterics. The twins ran over and Bella told them what happen and they could not stop laughing. Soon the adults and came to see what all the commotion was about. Sarah held Jacob as his wails got louder and louder. Bella sat on the porch while the adults discussed what to do. That must have been when Charlie took the picture Bella thought.

They informed her that a she had to kiss Jacob, as he had done his part of the bargain. Bella huffed and puffed but walked over and went to kiss him on the cheek. He turned his head and Bella was met with lips covered in mud. Jacob's smile returned to his face. "Thank, Bells."

Everyone thought it was funny, except for Bella. Now she had mud all over her lips.

Bella was brought out of her memories by the sound of her phone ringing. It was Jacob. She quickly answered. "Hey."

"Hey yourself, I was just calling to let you know you forgot your candy. I don't know how long I can keep Tweedle dee and Tweedle dumb away from it. They show up whenever they feel like it. So if you weren't busy, I thought maybe you might want to come out here." Jacob finally breathed after the last word. It was obvious he had been practicing what he was going to say and just wanted to get it all out.

Bella giggled to herself. "Sure. Charlie was coming out anyway. He said something about Billy's monthly euchre party."

"I forgot about that. Now you have to come and keep me company. I will be relegated to the garage while the old farts do what ever it is that they do at those parties."

Bella could here a chuckle in Jacob's voice. "No problem. Should I bring some food?"

"That would be great. No big meal though, just a snack for you and me. You might want to make enough for Quil and Embry. The women usually cook for these shindigs."

"Women? I though it was a boys only type thing; male bounding and all."

"It is just of few of the women, Harry's wife Sue, Embry's and Quil's moms. Most of the time, the Sinclairs come because Jack Sinclair is on the council with my dad and Harry. I really don't know Bella. Come on down and see for yourself."

"I will. See you soon. Keep Quil and Embry out of my candy till I get there."

"Sure, sure. Bye Bella."

"Later, Jacob."

Bella put up the photo albums and thought about what she could make for a snack, other than mud pies.

XXX

Bella went in the kitchen and started whipping up a batch of brownies. She put them in the oven and went to freshen up. By the time the timer went off on the oven, Bella was ready to go and coming down the stairs. Charlie came out of his room and sniffed the air, "What smells so good?"

"I made brownies to take to Billy's."

"Are you coming out to the Rez? You've never done that before." Charlie could see that his questions struck a cord so he quickly backtracked. "But hey, that's great. Are you going to visit with Jacob?"

"Yeah, I forgot my Halloween loot and he mentioned something about hanging out. I thought it might be fun. No big deal."

"Yeah, no big deal." Charlie turned and tried to hide the smile on his face. He also noticed that for the first time in weeks, Bella had fixed her hair and put on a little make-up.

XXX

Bella walked into the garage with her platter of brownies. Jacob was alone and under the Rabbit. He did not seem to notice her arrival. She set the brownies down on the workbench, walked over and kicked his foot. Jacob hit his head trying to see the intruder, earning him a small giggle from Bella. "Shit Bells, you trying to scare me or something?" Jacob asked rubbing his head.

"Payback, baby. You won't know when it is coming, but it is. I will get you, and your evil little friends too," she retorted, during her best Wicked Witch of the West impersonation. Jake just chuckled at her, but was happy to see that she was making her way back to the Bella he remembered.

"You guys talking about us?" Quil asked. He and Embry came walking in, heading straight for the brownies. They looked as though their eyes might have exploded out of their heads if they did not get to the brownies. "Oooh, brownies. You make these Bella?"

"Yes, of course I made them. Do you think there is such a thing as the brownie fairy? Did they just magically appear?" Bella just smiled as Quil and Embry stuffed their faces.

"Nice one Bella." Embry managed to get out with a mouth full of brownie.

Jake walked over and wiped his hands off and proceeded to grab a brownie himself. He took a bite, "These are awesome Bella. Why aren't you eating any?" He asked, with a few crumbs falling down his chin.

"Oh, I made these special for you guys. You can call it sort of a thank you for last night." Bella just smirked, raising an eyebrow. "I added a special ingredient just for you boys."

Embry spit the brownie out. "They're shit brownies guys. She put laxatives in the brownies!"

The others followed suit. Bella could not stop laughing. "No I didn't. But the look on your faces was so worth it. Oh man, this is going to be so much fun getting you guys back for that stunt you pulled last night.

Charlie stuck his head in the door of the garage, "What's so funny?" he questioned.

"They thought I made 'special' brownies," Bella barely got out over the laughs.

"Why would they think you would make pot brownies Bella?" Charlie scoffed.

Bella and the boys completely lost it. Charlie thought she meant pot brownies. Charlie, pot, the whole concept was just too much.

"No Charlie, we thought she put laxatives in the brownies to pay us back for scaring her last night," Jacob replied. They all continued to laugh.

"Okay, well then I will leave you to your laxatives then." Charlie shook his head and walked back towards the house.

XXX

Charlie walked back in Billy's back door. He sat down at the table and grabbed his beer. A small smile crept across his face.

"You seem better than the last time we spoke," Billy said.

"It's Bella, she seems better. Her and those boys are out there laughing and cutting up. I guess they had a pretty good time last night too. It is kind of weird. She was so down and now she seems to be coming out of it."

"I told you Charlie. Just give her time. Kids are so resilient. Besides, maybe she needed to be with kids her own age and having fun, instead of moping around the house."

"Yeah I guess so, but I'm still not completely sure this whole depression thing is over."

"Well forget about it for tonight anyway. She is safe and a few yards away with Jacob and his two half-wit friends. They will take good care of her. And besides, if anyone can make her happy and take her mind off things, it's Jacob. Remember how close they always were as kids. She always spent her time with him instead of the girls. They were closer than most kids at that age. Besides, everyone else will be here soon. Kay Call is in the bathroom. She brought her famous chowder and homemade bread."

'That is the good stuff." Charlie walked over and opened the crock pot, taking in a deep whiff.

Within minutes all the others had arrived. The Sinclairs brought in a meat and cheese tray. Linda Ateara brought her bacon wrapped weenies and nachos. Bringing up the rear was Harry and Sue. Sue hade made her carrot cake as well as cherry cheesecake. Everyone helped themselves to the feast. Billy called for the kids to come in from the garage, long enough to get their plates, then rushed them back out. Bella had managed to get a quick introduction to Quil and Embry's moms and also the Sinclairs. They were parents of another boy Jacob went to school with, Jared. But Jared was a little older and not friends with Jacob and his crew.

XXX

When they returned to the garage Bella asked why they weren't aloud to stay in the house during these parties.

Quil piped up, "Maybe they are swingers and this is some sort of wild orgy."

Bell almost spit out her drink. "Are you crazy Quil?"

"Well look at the facts. We are never allowed to stay in the house. Even in the dead of winter we are sent out to the garage. If we go inside to use the bathroom, the room falls instantly silent." Quil looked over at the other two, who nodded in agreement. Quil continued. "It is always the same number of men and women. My mom is a widow. Jake's dad is a widower. Embry's mom is, well, single and your dad's single, then the Sinclairs and the Clearwaters."

Bella looked over at Jake who shrugged his shoulders. "You are saying my dad, Charlie Swan, is a deviant swinger? Seriously Quil, you have a screw loose."

Embry chimed in, "Well maybe it's not a sex party. Maybe they are all getting stoned. After all, your father who assumed you made pot brownies. Maybe they all pass the peace pipe around. We are Indians, Bella. It is in our blood." Embry proceeded to go back to eating his food.

Bella shook her head and looked around the room. None of the guys were giggling. They were all just stuffing their faces, seemingly unfazed. Bell went back to her food, trying to get rid of all thoughts of her dad as either a pothead or a sexual degenerate. After a few bites she could not eat anymore.

"What's wrong Bella?" Jacob asked. "You're not eating and it can't be the food."

"How can I eat, when you stupid jerks have made me question everything I know in this world?" Bella exclaimed.

"Seriously Bells, they are just playing cards and drinking a little. You know your dad drinks Bella. That is not a news flash." Jacob retorted.

Bella went back to eating her food. Of course Jacob was right. She knew her father. I mean, granted they had not spent a whole lot of time together in the past few years. Even when she came to live with him, she had been so involved with him. Then she had been so involved in her own pain and drama…. Did she know her father at all? She decided to push all this out of her mind for now and just enjoy the evening.

After the group finished up their grub, Jacob went back to working on his car. "Do you think you'll have it ready by your birthday Jake?" Embry asked.

"Of course I do, I am right on schedule. And when my birthday rolls around in January, I am free."

"Free?" Bella asked.

"Yes, free Bella. Not suck on the Rez. This is about going where I like, when I like. No having to ask older beautiful women for rides."

Jacob's last comment made Bella blush.

Embry broke the uneasy silence. "So should we get back to the old standby conversation?"

"No Em, Bella doesn't need to hear about that stuff," Jacob remarked rather quickly.

"What don't I need to hear? Is it too gruesome for a girl? I can hang, Jacob. Don't try to protect me or treat me like some delicate flower. I hate that." Bella contested.

"No. It is just we always try to figure out what parts of women we like and how we would want them to be. You know, take bits and pieces, and add them up into the ultimate woman."

"Oh, so you like, break down these women down to just parts, and objectify them?" Bella asked.

"Pretty much." Jacob nervously rubbed the back of his neck and seemed embarrassed. Jacob decided to take this opportunity to start working again on the Rabbit. He did not need to see Bella's reactions.

"I'm in." Bella replied. "So tell me what you guys have so far."

Quil started, "It is always an argument. I love blonds, Embry likes black hair and Jake insists that she have long Mahogany hair. I mean really Bella, what kind of straight guy even knows the term mahogany?"

Bella could not help but chuckled as Quil ducked the wrench being thrown at his head.

"How about eye color?" Bella asked.

Embry spoke up this time. "Well, no one agrees. I love beautiful dark eyes. Quil is partial to green or blue eyes and then we have ole Jake there. What does he call them? Chocolate brown, Gee Quil, you may be right about Jake." They all snickered, all but Jake.

"Check," Bella continued. "How about lips."

Quil and Embry both spoke at the same time, "Big, plump and thick!"

Quil continued on, "but Jake over there prefers, not too big, not too small, almost heart shaped."

"On to body types…. This is scary" Bella giggled.

"Quil and I both like them tall and thick in all the right places. Long legs, wide hips, thick ass and a huge rack." Embry put up his hand and Quil slapped it.

"Hell yeah!"

"And Jacob?" Bella squeaked.

Quil took this one "Small, petite, with a nice round ass and just enough tits for a good handful. What does Jake always say? Oh yeah… more than a mouthful is a waste."

"Well I guess that about covers it." Bella said

"Not quite. Embry and I like women with a tan or dark skin like ours. Jake prefers a 'peaches and cream' complexion. Also, Embry and I agree brains are overrated but Jake wants a smart girl."

Bella looked over at Jake who was again working feverishly on the Rabbit, trying to ignore the entire conversation taking place.

She finally spoke, "So basically you're telling me that Embry, you like Nicole from the Pussycat Dolls. Quil, you like Pam Anderson and Jacob likes hmmm Natalie Portman?"

"Pretty well sums it up." Embry surmised. Quil nodded in agreement.

"So Jacob is the only one of you that is not a complete pig. Good to know." Bella added.

Jacob chuckled from under the Rabbit.

Bella looked at her watch, it was getting late. "When do these things usually wind down?"

"It depends. One or two in the morning sounds about right. If Charlie has been hitting Harry's special brew, you might find yourself stuck here for the night." Jake answered.

Quil and Embry looked at each other, then to Jake. They seemed to be having an entire conversation in their minds. "It's late Em, let's head back to my place and play some Halo."

"Sounds like a plan. See ya later guys." Embry waved and he and Quil walked out of the garage.

The music was still loud and the voices even louder coming out of the house. Bella's curiosity was getting the better of her. "Jacob, let's go spy on Charlie and Billy. I am too curious."

"What if they are having an orgy Bella? Could you live forever with that visual scarred into your mind?"

"Get serious Jacob." Bella hit Jacob's arm. Bella walked towards the door.

Jacob shook his head, but got up and followed her. Bella made her way to the living room window with Jacob right on her heels. They looked in the window and everything looked normal. The Clearwaters and the Sinclairs were at one table playing cards while Billy and Charlie were teamed against Quil and Embry's moms at the other table. An AC/DC song came on and Bella watched as her father took off his flannel shirt revealing a rolling stones concert t-shirt. Interesting, did he have shirts like that? Bella did not remember washing any. He proceeded to start playing air guitar. Billy was bobbing his head up and down to the music. Harry called over from the other table, "Hey guys, you remember the trip to Seattle to watch this concert?"

"Remember?" Billy hollered back. "I am pretty sure the twins were conceived in the back of your van on the way home." They all busted up laughing.

Jacob covered his ears and fled back to the safety of the garage.

Bella followed. She went over and rubbed Jacob's back as he rocked back and forth.

"Hey, it's no big deal. It was kind of nice to see that side of them. They are just having fun."

"You didn't hear that your mom and dad were having sex in a van full of people on the way home from a concert."

"Jacob, do you remember my mom? She used to drag me to concerts growing up and let me tell you, hearing that is nothing compared to seeing your mom on some guys shoulders flashing her tits at the band and Jacob… she was like 30."

He looked up to her, cocking an eyebrow, "You may have me beat." He told her, his smile returning to his face. "Since they are having a party in there, I have some cards. Why don't we listen to music like we used to? I'll even let you pick." He went to turn on the radio.

"Um Jacob, I haven't really been listening to any music for a few weeks now. So if you don't mind…"

"Bella, that is silly. You used to love music. Before you left, you were just getting out of the boy band phase. Since you are newly single, maybe Justin Timberlake is available." Jacob teased mercilessly.

"Well since you are bringing up embarrassing pasts, do you still have those Victoria Secret catalogs under your mattress?" Bella asked, deciding that two can play this game.

"Bells! You promised to never speak of finding them again. Do you know how embarrassing that was for me? To have you see them?" Jacob grabbed his head in his hands and pulled slightly on his hair. "That's it! For your betrayal I am sentencing you to an hour of music of my choosing and you will like it. Any lip and I might make you dance."

"You're evil Jacob. You go straight for the jugular." Bella feigned crying.

Jacob tuned on the radio and made Bella listen to a variety of music from Fifty cent to Linkin Park, while they played cards on a makeshift table. By the time Gwen Stefani had come on, Bella actually found herself nodding her head and mumbling the words. Soon the hour was up and the music was never turned off. Bella found herself telling Jacob to turn up the radio when the Pussycat Dolls came on.

"I would have never taken you for the Pussycat Dolls type of girl, Bella. Next thing I know you might get up and start dancing on your own." Jacob snickered, as he laid down his cards. "Rummy! That is six games Jacob, two games Bella. Are you ready to admit I am the king yet?"

"No, I will never admit defeat but I am tired." Bella stretched and yawned. "I wish they would wrap it up. But then again, I have not seen Charlie this happy since… well I have never seen Charlie this happy."

Jacob thought for a minute then devised a plan to allow him more time with her. "Well there is camping stuff out here and we have a space heater. We could just camp out here for the night. Separate sleeping bags, I promise Bella. Scouts honor."

"What would I sleep in?" Bella questioned.

"I am sure I have some old sweats that will fit you. I can run in and get them. I am sure your dad will need to sleep here anyway." Jacob had an answer for everything Bella throw at him.

Bella thought for a minute. It sounded tempting. But what if the dreams came back? Bella decided to throw caution to the wind. "Sure, Jacob, that sounds like fun."

"Cool, it will be like the sleep outs we had when we were little." Jacob was beaming like a child on Christmas morning.

Jacob went into the house and returned an arm full of pillows. He had already changed into his sweats and an old t shirt that was way too small.

"Uhh, I left them on my bed. I figured you would want to change in there anyway."

She went back into the house and changed. While she was inside she told Charlie goodnight, placing a kiss on the top of his head. When she came back out Jacob had the sleeping bags and the tent set up in the middle of the garage. He had a lantern turned on and was lying in his sleeping bag. She hopped in her bag and zipped it up. "I am really tired Jacob. I hope you don't think I am a party pooper."

"Not at all Bella, I am just happy that you came and had a nice time. You did have a nice time, right Bells?"

"Yes I did. And I also found out that yes, your friends are pigs. But you seem to be just a little more mature than they are. You might be like seventeen."

"If I'm seventeen, how old are Embry and Quil?"

"Well Embry is probably fifteen or so. You know, his actual age. Quil on the other hand… he is like twelve." They both burst out in laughter.

"How old do you think you are Bella?"

"Well I have to take off some because I am hanging out with you clowns but I would say like twenty-five."

"Cool. That makes you like a cougar or something." Jacob joked. They both chuckled.

Jacob turned off the lantern and it was almost completely black in the tent. He quickly turned the lantern back on. "Um… do you mind if we take the tent outside? We can open up the top flap and at least have moonlight."

"You scared of the dark Jacob?" Bella asked, secretly happy it was Jacob who suggested it.

"Maybe," Jacob admitted. In no time Jacob had reconstructed their camp twenty feet away in the yard, next to the house. They returned to their positions in their respective sleeping bags. This time with the flap open, the moonlight lighting up the tent.

"Well goodnight Jacob. Thanks for yet another great night." Bella meant every word she said.

"Night, night, Bells." Jacob whispered back.

Bella looked up at the stars and over at Jacob. He was looking up at the stars too. He looked so young in the moonlight. If she squinted just right, she almost saw the little boy he used to be. But then she opened her eyes wide and saw the man he had become. She felt a flutter deep in her stomach that overpowered the dull ache, but chose to ignore it.

Muffled music and laughter coming from the house filled the air. Bella smiled. She closed her eyes and felt the first real peace she had felt in ages. Something told her that maybe, just maybe, she was going to be okay. That she had found a new family to replace the one she had lost. That she had found where she truly belonged.

A/N. Once again thank you to km3 for all your help with this chapter and story. You are amazing. I would like to that you all for taking the time to read this story.