Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight peoples.

AN: I have been on a writing binge for the past several weeks. I don't see how I have had time since I've also had my nose stuck in a book for more than ten hours out of the day. I recently read the first two books in the Beautiful Creatures series and I'm going to be starting the Mortal Intstruments Series soon. Is it sad that I'm 34 and I like reading YA fiction? I don't think so.

Warning: This is a tissue chapter...you've been warned.

In the weeks that followed Jacob's death Bella found herself pushing away the people who cared about her the most. She knew that it wasn't what Jacob wanted for her but she didn't care. She was content to be alone even if it worried everyone else. She took care of the kids and she made time every day to talk to Quil. She couldn't shut him out if she tried. She didn't talk to her dad, Sue, Leah or Billy unless she didn't have any other choice.

Everyone was worried about her but couldn't think of a way to get through to her. They kept a close eye on her, waiting for her to fall apart. Even Quil was keeping his distance, dealing with a set of problems of his own. Claire had finally served him with divorce papers and he was quick to sign them and send them back to her lawyer. She could have whatever she wanted, he was past the point of caring. Even now he felt like his feelings for Bella were one sided because she had asked him for time.

Bella had been trying to make time for Quil. She wasn't ready to see him and he was willing to give her what she wanted. Sometimes she wished that he would fight harder to make things work but she kew that she couldn't compare him to Jacob. Quil was a sweet guy who she kew would never hurt her but he, like her needed to be more assertive.

Bella was in the process of making dinner and helping Kyla and Matt with their homework when someone knocked on the door. Alexander's small, quick footfalls sounded through the house and the door opened a few seconds later.

"Ginny!" he exclaimed excitedly.

Sue came into the room with Summer in her arms and Alexander attached to her leg. Bella pulled him off giving Sue an apologetic look.

"We're missing a couple people," Sue observed.

"Josh is at his girlfriends and John has basketball practice until six," Bella explained.

"Kyla honey, can you take your brothers and sister upstairs?" Sue asked.

"Yes Ma'am."

Kyla took Summer from her grandmother and the boys followed without being told to. Sue sat at the table while Bella cut up potatoes for mashed potatoes. Sue watched her in concern, Bella wouldn't even look at her.

"Bella, you can't keep doing what you're doing," Sue broached.

"My kids need to eat," she said filling the pot with water.

"You know what I mean," she said gently.

"I am fine, the kids are fine. Isn't that enough?" Bella asked sharply.

"We know that you can take care of the kids. We just don't want you to be alone. It's okay to ask for help."

"But I don't need help," Bella said stubbornly.

"Pushing everyone away isn't helping things. You won't be able to move on until you let go of your anger towards what happened," Sue said in sympathy.

"How would you know? Harry was taken from you suddenly. I am holding onto fifteen years of anger and resentment. Jake got what he wanted, but what about what I wanted?" she asked, her voice thick with emotion.

"Oh, sweetie," Sue said, heart broken.

Sue crossed to the stove and pulled Bella to her. Bella finally let go of her control of the situation. Jacob had made the decision about what would happen and had slammed the door closed on the subject. Bella had always resented the fact that he hadn't tried harder; if not for her than for the kids. Now she was left to face them on her own. Bella shook as sobs racked through her. Sue rubbed her back gently as the front door opened.

Josh came to stand in the entrance of the kitchen and Sue waved him off over Bella's shoulder. This wasn't something that the kids needed to see. After fifteen minutes John had come home and Bella was able to pull herself together.

"I don't want to have this talk with you again. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Now for the other reason I came over because it's best to tackle both things at once. You need to let Quil in. Let your heart open up again because keeping him away will only hurt you both in the end."

"I'm not ready," Bella said quietly.

"Do you think that I was ready to feel the way I did for your dad? Do you think I wanted to be a momma to Tyson? He's got another fourteen years of growing up to do."

Sue had a point. She needed to let Quil in, it would be the only way that they could move forward. Sue squeezed her gently before pulling away. She gathered her things and went to tell the kids goodbye. Bella went back to making dinner and soon Josh came back into the kitchen. He sat at the island doing his homework when Bella turned to him.

"When did you get here?"

"While you and Ginny were talking," he said quietly.

"Is something wrong?"

"You tell me. You're the one who keeps pushing people away," he said with a shoulder shrug.

"So you heard," she said with a sigh.

"And I saw. You aren't you anymore," he observed.

"I haven't felt like myself in months. I lived everyday worrying that everyday would be your dad's last and I wanted to make sure that I did everything I could to let him know how much I loved him before he left."

"You don't agree with what happened?"

"How did you hear that? That was more than likely said before you came home."

"Kyla heard you."

Bella sighed deeply. They weren't supposed to hear that. She had let her anger get the best of her and she had lashed out which was very unlike her. She would have to learn to not keep things pent up if she didn't want another explosion like the one that had happened that afternoon.

XXXX

Embry was tired of walking on egg shells around Quil. He was letting Bella call the shots and Embry could tell that it was hurting him. It was like watching what happened with Claire all over again. Something had to change because Quil was miserable.

Embry walked through Quil's yard hearing the TV through the open windows. He let himself in and found Quil in the kitchen. Quil sat at the table eating a frozen dinner along with a beer. Embry shook his head in shame before going to grab a beer from the fridge.

"Don't judge me," Quil said gruffly.

"You could be eating at Bella's but yet you're here eating a chicken pot pie," Embry taunted.

"She asked me to stay away."

"Why do you letting this keep happen?"

"What?"

"Claire called the shots and now Bella is too. Grow a pair of balls man."

Quil gave him a hard look before shaking his head. He stood so quickly that his chair fell back, hitting the floor with a loud bang. Embry followed him to the backyard, not wanting the conversation to end. Quil needed to open his eyes and stand up for himself.

"I know that Bella is going through a lot, there's no denying that, but so are you."

"Do you think that I don't know that?" Quil spat.

"She can't treat you like you're nothing."

"She's not. Just because I don't tell you everything that doesn't mean that things are bad," Quil argued.

"Then tell me what's going on."

"It's none of your fucking business. Do I interfere when you have girl problems? Huh?" Quil questioned, getting in Embry's face.

Quil had hit him below the belt but he was so mad that he didn't care. Embry had never been in a relationship that lasted longer than a month because he was scared to get too close just in case he imprinted. He was the oldest single member of the pack and he had contemplated leaving a few times over the years. The only thing that had stopped him was Quil. He hadn't wanted him to be alone with all of the younger pack members looking up to him to lead by example.

Embry's jaw tightened and relaxed and he resisted the urge to haul off and hit Quil. Quil gave him a smug look, knowing his words had served their purpose. A small part of him felt bad for what he had said. He hadn't meant it but he wasn't about to be the one who apologized first.

Embry walked away, his shoulder colliding with Quil's hard enough to knock Quil off his balance. He stormed through the yard and slammed his truck door hard enough for anyone within a mile radius to hear. He gripped the steering wheel trying to calm himself down. He saw Quil walking around the house as he continued to seethe. He'd wait a few days for things to blow over before talking to Quil again. This was the way things were going to be now that Jacob wasn't their to referee. They were just going to have to learn to deal with it.

XXXX

After his argument with Embry, Quil had needed half an hour to calm down. Once he was calm he called Bella. He knew better than to listen to Embry, he knew what was going on with Bella and he understood and respected her need for space and time.

"Hello?"

"Hey," he said, his voice lacking emotion.

"You sound like you're having an even crappier day than I am."

"I got into an argument with Embry. What's your excuse?"

"Sue forced me to admit how I really felt about Jacob dying."

"Okay, you win," he said with a sigh.

"Tears were shed; Kyla heard part of the conversation and told the twins. It wasn't pretty. Do you wanna come over? We can wallow in our misery together," she offered.

"You got any beer?"

"No, but I can go and get some."

"That's okay, I'll bring it. When should I come over?"

"Now if you want. Josh, John and Kyla are the only ones up and they'll be going to bed soon."

He hung up, grabbing his wallet and toeing on his shoes at the same time. There'd be hell to pay if his mom found out that he had drank and drove so he'd be walking. If he got too drunk he'd stay at Billy's who lived half a block from Bella's. He stopped by his mom's store and grabbed a couple six packs and begged off when she tried to engage him in small talk. Bella was sitting on the porch with the porch light casting an orange halo around her hair.

He sat next to her, pulling the beers out of the plastic bag that his mom insisted he take. He popped the top on one before passing it to her. She took it, nodding her thanks. He opened one for himself before leaning back on one arm. Bella leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Sometimes silence was best, words tended to get in the way and weren't needed at times like this. He was content to just sit with her, taking in the smell of her honey suckle scented shampoo and Dove soap.

They sat that way for hours, drinking and saying very little. The moon was hanging directly over them by the time Quil decided that it was time for him to go. He stood, then helped Bella stand on wobbly legs.

"You should have told me that you were a light weight," he teased with a smile.

She laughed shyly before placing a hand on his cheek and looking into his eyes. She leaned up to place a light kiss on his cheek then wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist to steady her. He placed a kiss behind her ear and she sighed against him. He stepped away and stayed where he was until she was inside and she had locked the door behind her. He wanted to call Emby and gloat but he resisted the urge. That would just add salt to Embry's wound. He and Jacob had made an agreement, they would never flaunt their relationships around Embry. He wasn't about to start now.

XXXX

Billy had gone over to Charlie and Sue's to watch the hockey game but had ended up staying long after the game was over. Charlie had been surprised when Billy had mentioned that Bella was an imprint for the second time. It had happened almost two months ago; why hadn't she said anything? Why hadn't Sue?

Jacob had made the decision to tell Charlie the truth after Kyla had been born. By then Jacob had fully gone through the transition back to human so Charlie had been skeptical, Embry'd had to phase in front of him before he believed Jacob. When all was said and done he had understood but he had been hurt that no one had told him how much danger Bella had been in before then.

"Who is it?" Charlie questioned.

"Quil. She probably hasn't told you because they've gotten off to a rocky start. I don't even think she's told the kids yet," Billy admitted.

"I can understand that. She doesn't want them to think that he's going to replace their dad," Charlie rationalized.

"You know, you sounded like Bella just then," he said in shock.

"Don't sound so surprised," he grumbled.

"I'm just messin' with ya," Billy said shoving his arm playfully.

Charlie shook his head, not able to hold back a smile. He hadn't had a clue as to why Bella had closed herself and the kids off from every one but now that he did he understood her reasoning. It wasn't anyone's business but hers and Quil's, even if everyone else wanted to look out for their best interest.

"So you're okay with the possibility of gaining another son-in-law?"

"I don't know, Jake set the bar pretty high. I guess if they end up getting married I'm glad that it's someone I know will treat her and the kids right."

Billy nodded in agreement; he couldn't have said it better himself. The two best friends shared more than most friends would but they wouldn't have it any other way. They would help Bella and Quil in any way they could.