Back to December
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thank you for the awesome reviews. Nikki :)
Part Three
Charlie Swan finally arrived at the Black's. Bella was still sitting by Sarah's side when he entered the house. It had been many years since she had seen him. She only kept in touch with him through e-mails. She braced herself in case her father was different in this reality, like everything else seemed to be, but much to her relief, when she laid eyes on him, Charlie looked the same as he always had.
"Dad." She greeted him tentatively.
"Hey, kiddo." Charlie knelt down in front of her and looked at her with a worried frown on his face. "Are you okay? Billy here told me you wandered off and got lost."
Bella glanced sideways at Jacob's father, who just shrugged.
"Were you worried about Embry?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah." Bella whispered. "My head is all over the place right now."
Charlie laid a comforting hand over hers. "Billy also told me you broke it off with Edward."
"Um, yes." Bella mumbled, glancing at Billy again.
"I'm glad, kiddo. I'm really glad. I never really liked that boy." Charlie gave her a relieved smile. "I know it can't have been easy. Billy says that you would like to stay here a while to make sure you avoid Cullen. I think that's a good idea, kiddo. I mean I'm at work a lot and I don't want you alone in the house in case he calls round."
Bella smiled at her dad and reached out to hug him. She could feel Charlie tense up for a second before returning it briefly. It saddened Bella to think she must rarely have shown him any affection. She let go of him and sat back next to Sarah.
"I'll go home and collect some of your things, Bells." Charlie stood back up. "I'll also be round every day to check on you, okay."
Bella nodded and smiled at him. Charlie smiled back at her before turning back to Billy. The two men left the house, talking in low voices. Bella watched them go, a tear trickling down her cheek. Sarah watched her curiously before reaching across and wiping it away for her.
"Are you alright, Bella?" She asked.
"Yes, sorry. I just seem to be feeling overly emotional. It was good seeing my dad. I haven't seen him in years." She said unthinkingly.
Sarah frowned. "Years? What do you mean by that, sweetie? You see Charlie every day."
Bella cursed her stupidity in her head. "Sorry...I just meant it was good to be able to hug him. I haven't been the best daughter lately by the sounds of it..." she mumbled.
Sarah's expression smoothed out. "I suppose it would seem that way to you. It must be like waking from a long sleep after being under the cold one's spell for so long."
"Kinda." Bella agreed.
"It will be okay." Sarah promised.
"Thank you." Bella said gratefully. "For everything."
Sarah gave her a serene smile before pulling her into a motherly hug.
Bella stayed with Sarah for the rest of the afternoon. Her dad came back briefly to bring her some clothes and toiletries before leaving again for work; promising to check on her the next day. She saw no sign of Jacob or Billy for hours so presumed they had to patrol the borders with the rest of the pack. Bella helped Sarah clean up and begin to prepare dinner. She wondered aloud where Jacob's sister's were. Sarah seemed sad when she mentioned the twins. She told Bella that the girl's had fled the nest. Rebecca was married to a surfer and Rachel was at College in another state. When Bella tried to make small talk about them, Sarah shut the conversation down. It was obvious that she was hurt by the twin's lack of contact home. It seemed in this universe too, Rachel and Rebecca were as selfish as ever.
Dinner was ready by the time Billy and Jacob returned home. They went straight to the table and began to plough through the enormous meal that Bella and Sarah had whipped up. Sarah rolled her eyes at her family's lack of table manners. She slapped Jacob on the back of his hand when he started to eat with his fingers. He gave her a sunny grin and Bella's heart leapt at the sight of it. She had missed that smile so much. Jacob caught her staring at him and the smile slipped from his face and he wouldn't look at her after that. Bella felt crestfallen and kept her eyes trained on her plate for the rest of the meal.
"Any problems out there today?" Sarah asked after a while.
Billy finished eating and sat back, patting his stomach. "That was lovely, Sarah."
"Thank Bella, she cooked most of it." Sarah revealed.
"Well thank you, Bella." Billy said instead. He nudged his son who was still looking anywhere but at Bella. "Thank the cook, Jake."
"Thanks." Jacob mumbled. He quickly picked up his plate and threw it in the sink before disappearing to his room.
Sarah stared after her son in confusion. "What is wrong with him? What happened out there?"
A wry smile crossed Billy's face, easing the permanent worry lines that seemed to be etched into his skin. "It was a quiet afternoon. We didn't see any traces of the Cullen's or their accomplices at all. No, poor Jake has been suffering a bit of teasing and he got pissed about it."
"Ah." A knowing smile crossed Sarah's face as she glanced at Bella. "I see."
Bella felt bewildered. What was going on? She looked cluelessly between the adults who both laughed at her. "I don't understand." She said.
"The pack share each other thoughts remember? I expect my hormonal son had finding you in your compromising position on replay in his head." Sarah winked at her as she began to clear the table.
Bella's face flushed red as Billy laughed louder.
Jacob didn't come out of his room for nearly an hour. It took that long for Bella's blush to die down. When he did emerge out of his room, he immediately scowled as Billy began to laugh again. "I'm going to see Embry." He muttered.
Immediately the brief moment of humor died. Billy sobered up and nodded at him. "Take Bella with you. It will do Embry good to know that she is near."
"He is not aware of anything." Jacob snapped. "He wouldn't even know."
"That's not true." Sarah chided her son. She knew his anger was coming from deep inside a place full of fear. "Sue said that although he is unconscious he is still aware."
"What would she know? She's not a doctor." Jacob retorted.
"Jacob." Billy reprimanded him. "I know you are upset but never talk to your mother that way."
Jacob hung his head, looking contrite. "I'm sorry." He mumbled.
"It's alright." Sarah embraced her son briefly before releasing him. "Please take Bella with you. I believe Sue is right. It would comfort him to know that she is safe and well."
Jacob swallowed thickly before nodding. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his shorts and gestured with a quick jerk of his head for Bella to follow him. She quickly did so, whispering her goodbyes to Sarah and Billy as she passed.
They strolled side by side in silence on the way to the Clearwaters. Embry was being looked after by Sue and her family as Kay, Embry's own mother, couldn't handle what had happened to her son. She was an alcoholic and had no idea about what secret life her son led and how he came to be injured. She sought solace in drink to ease her pain and rarely visited him. Bella didn't know what to say to Jacob. He still refused to look at her, keeping his eyes straight ahead, his hands shoved deep in the pockets of his shorts as he marched along. Bella had to jog to keep up with his lengthy strides.
It only took ten minutes to reach the Clearwater's spacious home. Like the Black's, it was all one storey; the outside painted a cheery pastel blue. Harry's truck was parked outside along with Sue's sleek saloon. Jacob marched up the porch steps and went straight in, not bothering to knock. Bella hesitated outside for a second before following. She hurried after Jacob as he headed down the wide hallway and into the open plan kitchen. Harry was sitting at the table, reading a newspaper. He didn't seem surprised to see either of them.
"How's Embry?" Jacob asked the older man.
Harry folded up his paper and looked at them both. "About the same. Lee is sitting with him at the moment. I'll take over soon." He then turned his dark eyes onto Bella and gave her a kind smile. Harry always looked jovial even when he was trying to be serious. "Hello, Bella. Good to see you."
"It's good to see you too, Harry." Bella gushed. This was yet another change. In her reality Harry had died from a heart attack after witnessing his beloved daughter phase right before his eyes. Here he was alive and well, and much fitter too, by the looks of his much slimmer profile. She wondered whether Leah was part of the pack, she would have to try and find out discreetly.
Harry smiled at her. "Next time you see your old man tell him we are due for another fishing trip if he ever pulls his ass away from work."
"Will do." Bella promised.
Harry opened up his newspaper again as Jacob began to march down the hall toward the room where they were keeping Embry. Bella followed him as quickly as she could. She wished he would talk to her, this uncomfortable silence was grating on her nerves. Jacob opened the door to Embry's room and headed inside. It was darker than the hall and Bella had to blink a few times in order for her eyes to get accustomed to the muted light. When she could see she noticed Leah getting up from a chair placed by the large double bed.
"How is he?" Jacob asked her.
"The same." Leah said softly. She then glanced at Bella and her eyes hardened. "I see you brought the spoilt princess with you."
"I had no choice." Jacob said sullenly. "I was ordered to. They think her being here might help Em."
Leah marched up to Bella and glared down at her. She jabbed her in the chest. "I am only tolerating you here because I have no choice. He is here because of you and I will never forgive you for that." She sneered before she quickly exited the room.
Bella felt sick. She glanced at Jacob who had taken Leah's place in the chair by Embry's bed. She know knew that deep down Jake blamed her too. "I'm sorry." She whispered.
"Save it for someone who cares." Jacob snapped. "I am here to see my friend."
Bella shrank back against the wall, her arms slipping around her waist as she tried to hold herself together.
XXXXXX
Bella stood with her arms wrapped around her middle for a few seconds before she realized what she was doing. She frowned as she pulled her arms apart and straightened up. She was not going to fall back into her old useless human habits. Instead she shoved aside her hurt and walked over to the bed. "He was my friend too." She said firmly when Jacob shot her a resentful glare.
Bella stared down at Embry, he looked like he was just fast asleep. A drip had been set up by the bed, giving him much needed nutrients while he was comatose. His chest rose and fell with each labored breath he took. Bella reached out and gently touched his hair with her fingers.
"Hey little brother." She said softly. She froze as she realized what had come out of her mouth. Why had she said those words?
It was Jacob who provided the answer. "He loved you calling him that. He told me he called you his big sis. When I asked him why, he said that because you were both only children that you had kind of adopted each other." He said brokenly.
"Em is my family." Bella whispered. "He is the kindest, most thoughtful and loving person I know. I wish he really was my brother. I've always been on my own, always."
Jacob finally looked at her properly for the first time. There was no longer any resentment or anger in his eyes, he just looked lost. "I shouldn't have said what I did, I'm sorry. I'm just so worried about him. He's my best friend." He said huskily, his voice full of emotion.
"I understand why you did. It is my fault." Bella touched Embry's hair again and stroked it away from his forehead. "He risked his life to save mine. He put his faith in me and I let him down."
Jacob glanced at her a moment before reaching out and placing a warm hand over hers. Bella felt tears prick at her eyes at the familiar touch. She had missed him so much. "Now that you're here I know he will get better." He said with certainty.
Bella wiped a hand over her eyes and nodded as words failed her.
A/N-thanks for reading!