Disclaimer: I own nothing. Twilight and its characters all belong to Stephanie M.

Chapter 9

Jacob POV

Once home I took my baby girl inside to the freshly cleaned house. I'll have to replace the couch soon but at least I got the wall patched. I lock the doors and windows tight as I make my way to the nursery. Once through the door I place Joslyns diaper bag on the table by the door. She shifts in my arms but stays asleep with a soft smile on her precious face. Sitting in the rocking chair I take a deep breath as tears brim my eyes. "Bells."

Out of the corner of the room Bella steps out of the shadows by the window, leaning on it with her arms crossed. Her face sad and confused. We just stay in perfect silence, Joslyns even breathing and slight snore the only breath of a sound. Bella finally looks away and out the window. "Jake, I'm sorry."

I can feel m face harden at those words. "For what Isabella? For not warning me along with the rest of the family? For leaving me for dead? For taking away my mate? My own daughter? Or lets go farther back shall we? Are you sorry for leading me on? Breaking my heart over and over again? For leaving me? Then almost killing me for something beyond my control? Just what could you possibly be sorry for?"

She turns her golden orbs onto my form. Venom fills her eyes but will never fall. "I'm sorry for all of it! I'm sorry I couldn't love you like you wanted Jake! God knows I tried over and over again. It would have been so much easier with you. I would be human, be able to stay by Charlie. Have girls days with the imprints and Angela. Go to college. Become a teacher, have more kids, go to the beach, hell visit my own mother! But Jake I would have been a half life because I would have married my best friend but not my soulmate. Edward is the other half of me. He makes me feel whole. Hes the light in my dark. I'm so sorry things played out the way they did but I cant change the way I feel no more than you can! When I passed out on the operating table you took one look at my daughter, MY daughter, and that was it. You gave up your pack, your tribe, you gave up everything for her. And now.."

The growl I release rattles the glass in its frame. "Don't you dare try to justify killing me Isabelle Marie Swan Cullen!As you said I gave up EVERYTHING to be with your daughter and you all tried to kill me! I woke up after the blast threw me a good 50 yards from the house. I went back for you all! I searched for days for a sign! After two weeks of absolutely nothing I came home to find that my dads health was failing even more so then when I'd left. My sisters haven't visited nor called! Rachel lives on the same damn land and hasn't cared to make sure dad was okay. It killed me inside. I thought I had lost my best friend, my wife, my daughter, and found it wouldn't have been long before I lost my father as well. I came home and helped dad back to health. Re-bonded with my pack. Began living again. I missed my daughter and wife so much it almost didn't matter. I still looked for them. Even with no sign of them being alive I searched. Then Joslyn was left on Leahs doorstep for me to find and my life became almost whole. All that was missing was the rest of my family. After searching all this time for my wife, do you know how heartbreaking it was to find out she was alive this whole time, living her life like nothing happened? That she knew the blast was going to happen and expected you to be in it? Expected you to die? Hide your own daughter from you? Then when she finds out you have your daughter back comes and tries to take her away forever?"

"Yes Jacob Black I do! Do you remember when Edward left me? I almost died! If it hadn't been for you I probably would have. You where my sun Jake. My best friend. My brother. Alice saw the blast coming yes. Yes we should have warned you. I wanted to but we put it up to a vote. The only people in the family that voted to tel you were Rose and me. You were going crazy without a pack Jake! You couldn't let Joslyn out of your sight! Ness couldn't go out without you either going or checking in every hour! You became obsessive and we couldn't make you see reason. Everyone thought it would just be easier. I'm so sorry. It just had to be done."

I take a deep breath and look her over. Pale white, long hair, gold ember eyes, she looks so different. She has changed so much. "You don't see it do you?"

At her confused look I elaborate. "You were the mother of everyone. You knew right from wrong and you did everything in your power and more to make sure everyone was taken care of. When the Voltuir came for Ness, you went ahead and had Mine and her life set up somewhere else and you told me if I saw or sense the end to run. With your own daughter, because you knew you most likely wouldn't make it and it was best. How was me dying the best for everyone? Don't you understand as an imprint if either of us had actually died the other would have followed? If I had died in that fire then Nessie wouldn't have lasted much longer. At least that's what I thought."

"And now?"

I take a deep breath and stand up slowly. "Now I believe its time for you to go. Forever. When Ness left earlier today, I didn't feel the imprint anymore. We have something worked out for Joslyn. I will always love the Bella I remember, but she died a long time ago. Goodbye Isabella."

With venom still pooled in her eyes she left, like the breeze on a summer day. After a few moment to gather myself, I carry my daughter to my room and fall asleep with her in my arms. After today's event, I'm not sure what to expect from the Cullen's any longer.

Chance POV

Leah still fast asleep I sneak down stairs to start breakfast. It had been one month since Jacob had come over and told us what had happened with Isabella. I hadn't been here when everything had happened before but as he finished explaining to the pack he had taken me aside and told me about his past with the Cullen family. As he spoke with a voice wiser than his years I knew he would make the best father and leader of the tribe one day. I had went to check on Billy a couple of times with Leah. His birthday was creeping upon us and I had figured out exactly what the pack should do for him. They should be here soon for a family breakfast and cookout at the house. As the coffee finished brewing and

I plate the bacon Jacob walks in carrying Joslyn in her car seat. She lets out a happy gurgle and flails her arms as he sits her seat on the table. I chuckle. "Well good-morning to you too sweetheart. Are you ready to spend the day with everyone?" All I got in response is a bit grin and more wiggling. Jacob chuckles along side me as Leah begins to stir upstairs.

"I've got to get Dad you at the car and then well start planning the cook out."

I nod already taking Joslyn from her seat to hold. "We'll be down I a second. Leah and I need to discuss something."

Hes already out the door throwing a sure over his shoulder before the screen pops back into place. I snuggle and play with Joslyn as I head upstairs to talk to Leah about my gift for Billy. As I enter our bedroom she is siting on the bed pulling her hair up in a ponytail. Her bangs braided up the side. Shes wearing a pair of black knee length leggings and a white baggy t shirt with an Aztec design on the sleeves in black and bright blue. She smiles softly as me as Joslyn giggles giving away my secret presence. "Well good-morning handsome." She gets up and walks over to kiss Joslyn on the head. "And good-morning to you gorgeous. Are Billy and Jake here already?"

"The just got here. Jake is helping Billy inside now. I need to talk to you about something."

She takes the baby from my arms and motions to the end of the bed. We sit and she softly bounces Joslyn as she gives me her full attention. "Whats up?"

"Well you know as well as I do that Billy's birthday is coming up."

"Yes hence the party. \So?"

I give a breathy chuckle at her bored tone."So miss prissy I was thinking that since everyone is kind of tight on money and Billy isn't one for gifts, that we could all go in together for one large gift. A really large gift."

"Like what? A newer car or something?"

"No. More like...a house."

And there you have it! Chapter 10! I apologize for such the long absence. Allot has been going on on my end. Life happened. I will be back to posting one a week.