*I in no way shape or form, own these characters, or any rights to the unbelievable fortune that Stephenie Meyer is surely raking in due to the invention of these characters.

*I'd like to send a huge thank you to my reviewers. You all are what helps me to hone my writing and also gives me confidence to allow these characters to take on their own life. Some of you have also given some very interesting food for thought. Love you guys!

*I have no beta, so please excuse grammatical errors. Reviews are most appreciated, educational and motivating. Hope you enjoy.

P.S. To my faithful reader who discussed with me ways in which I could kill off Victoria, I hope that you liked it. Thanks for the ideas! They had me thinking.

Chapter 11

Building A Mystery

The old saying that time flies when you're having fun, was never a phrase that Bella had really identified with in her lifetime. Her Mom used to tell her that she had an old soul, but that was mostly due to the fact that her life was made up of a certain amount of loneliness. She had never had any friends to speak of, in Phoenix. Her schools there were so big and Bella so quiet, that people just seemed to overlook her. She never considered herself to be pretty, but she had matured into what she felt was a tolerably good looking woman. This was, in her mind, in comparison to her childhood years, when her adult teeth had come in and her two front teeth always seemed a bit big for her mouth. This drew jeers from other kids always in the form of one "beaver teeth" joke or another. She was small boned and always thin and didn't really develop any ounce of womanly curves until the end of her fifteenth year. As Bella looked back on her life, she was suddenly amazed at how very quickly the last few weeks had flown by. Truly, this was the first time in her life that she considered herself happy. The first time that she really looked forward to getting up in the morning. Dating Edward, had made her feel smitten enough to want to get up and go to school on the cloudy and rainy days, of course, but even then, things with him were so uncertain, that it caused her a constant stream of anxiety. One day he would save her from certain danger and then the next he would tell her that they never should have been friends. Eventually one day, he would tell her that he loved her and the next, he was leaving, claiming that he never loved her at all. Finally, he was asking her to marry him and then refusing to let her go her own way when she chose to.

Her present state of waking up next to Jacob every morning, made her life seem as if she had somehow stepped into somebody else's life. At first, it was a bit confusing, but she had quickly fallen into the rhythm of what was now, her own happy life.

With huge thanks to Carlisle, Bella had gotten into one of the last slots of the Physician's Assistant program at Port Angeles Community College. The widely revered and respected Dr. Carlisle Cullen had written a letter to Dr. Lois Greene, the head of the program, raving about Bella's brilliant scientific mind and ability to retain information and put it to use with very little effort. He had assured Dr. Greene that Bella was a model student and would surely be an asset to the program. Bella's stomach had done a flip when she had received a call, directly from Dr. Greene, welcoming her into the program, repeating lines from the letter that she had received.

School started in two weeks, November 11th. Today, as Bella was leaving La Push, she was stopped from exiting the reservation as easily as she usually had by a caravan of huge trucks, hauling, beautifully kiln dried logs with the notches already cut into their massively round ends. She smiled to herself. Some lucky family on the reservation was getting a log home built. As the trucks finally finished their turns into La Push, Bella pressed on, turning onto the road that would lead to the highway to take her to the college, for class registration, orientation and buying the necessary books for this semester. She wasn't really sure what the exact deal had been for the funding of her education, but she did know that some kind of deal had been brokered between Charlie and Carlisle.

As the rain pattered down on her windshield, she turned onto the highway, double pumping the clutch to shift into fifth, she shivered as the days were getting quite cold and her truck was without a well working heater. It would only blow warm air toward her feet, so she just bundled up to keep warm in the cold months. As she saw the looming, low, rain pouring clouds, her thoughts drifted back to the lucky family who would be getting a beautiful, new log home.

Bella was never one for architecture, but she had always been drawn to those log home magazines in Barnes and Noble. She loved the openness in the great rooms. Two stories with exposed log beams and a loft overlooking the great room with a huge window on the other side of the great room, always, pointing toward some spectacular view. She also admired the warm tones that the logs brought to the interior of the house. Oh well. Such things had to be worked for and she and Jake had all the time in the world to build their dreams together. Driving on toward the college, she found herself smiling at the few moments available to the two of them, with Jake's pack duties and work at Old Quills. It seemed that on top of that, that Jake was working on a project on the side that was top secret as far as Bella was concerned, but when mentioned, Emily would just smile and find some plant that needed to watered, right away, or the dryer buzzer would go off, just then as if on cue. Oh, well. If Jake wanted to surprise Bella, then she would be surprised. Perhaps he was working on a new transmission for this great old truck. Bella smiled to herself, patting her faithful truck on the dashboard. Moments, that she and Jacob had to themselves, were precious. Touching, talking, kissing and making love. Falling asleep in his arms, only to wake at dawn to kiss and cuddle a bit more just before he rose to cover his patrol.

Bella had had to work hard to fill her time and was really looking forward to school. That would be her "thing". The personal time hobby, that Emily had advised her to find, the first day at Emily's house. As many hours as Jake was working, Bella had decided to take more than a full load of classes. She would be registering for five today. Bio Chemistry, Anatomy, Latin 101, Basic Pharmacology, and Introduction to Medical Science. To Bella's delight, she had already covered most of the basics that the other students would be taking in college, while she was still in high school. Yes, school would keep her very busy. She was grateful for Emily's advice and looking forward to this next step into her future.

Pulling into the parking lot of the Community College, she found a parking space and headed to the gymnasium for the mandatory Orientation that Bella dreaded with all of her heart. She was really not a social person and large crowds nearly caused her to freeze up, but she had become quite efficient at just blending in.

After Orientation, Bella hurried around to the different booths where the Professors were set up to make sure and grab seats in the classes that she wanted. Finally she made it to the Anatomy booth and met face to face, Dr. Lois Greene.

Dr. Greene was not at all what she had expected that an M.D. teaching a bunch of lowly, wannabe P.A.'s how to do her job, but for less money. Instead, she was quite young, probably about twenty five years old. Not what one would call a great beauty, but she had a way about her that emanated quiet intelligence. A trait that Dr. Cullen seemed to share. It was no wonder that Lois Greene was personally familiar with Dr. Carlisle Cullen. They probably attended many of the same mandatory social functions and seminars, as Dr. Greene still found time in her schedule to work a swing shift as a well-respected Trauma Doc at the local hospital. Seeing Bella's name, as Bella turned in her registration, she actually smiled warmly at Bella shook Bella's hand, quite firmly, letting her know that she was happy to have her. Bella was a bit taken aback by the genuine warmth, shown in Dr. Greene, compared with most of the other Professors, who treated their ambitious students as if they were merely vermin, who tunneled under the bottom of the college totem pole. These students, were pretty much, Freshman, who were going to fit their college education in two years.

Apparently Dr. Greene liked to start classes with a bang. Informing Bella that she would need to read the first fifteen chapters of "THIEME Atlas of Anatomy". Bella realized quickly that this truly was a fast track program into becoming a Physician's Assistant, learning much of what Medical Doctors learned in Medical School, but crunched into two years. Dr. Greene's voice broke into Bella's inner monologue.

"We'll be working on cadavers the first day. I want everyone to be prepared to locate and identify the organs on that day. We will also be having a little competition, in which I will explain on the first day of class, which will win one of you a most prized experience to your education." Bella was intrigued. She was too clumsy to be competitive in sports and the like, but academically, she loved a good challenge.

Bella put her best and truly, most genuine smile on. "I'm looking forward to it, Dr. Greene." Finishing up a very pleasant discussion with her Anatomy Professor, Bella headed to the Library and purchased her course books. She couldn't help herself as she bought an oversized, Port Angeles Community College Physician's Assistant Program, T-Shirt for herself to sleep in, and three extra large, Port Angeles Community College Physician's Assistant Program, Hooded Sweatshirts for Charlie, Billy, and of course, Jacob. Smiling to herself, just before she went to the checkout stand, she noticed a Port Angeles Community College Tie. She couldn't resist. Even though Carlisle may never wear it, it was a pertinent token of her appreciation. Grabbing it up, balancing it on her pile of text books and clothing, she finally made her purchases and headed home with a smile. Orientation had not been so bad after all.

Jacob, Sam, Quil, Embry, Emmet, Jasper, and Esme, stood on a clearing in the tall Douglas Firs looking out at the choppy sea as rain pattered a pattern on the water, that was simply, mesmerizing.

"Oh, Jake. It's perfect!" Esme was nearly jumping up and down with her excitement. A pile of building materials, all logs, joists, trusses, 2x4's, 6x8's, bolts and screws. Flooring to be laid on the cement foundation, one decorative wrought iron winding staircase, plumbing materials, electrical materials, and several massive piles of stone, stood an ungodly, but orderly stacked, mountain, to their left. Just beyond it, was the new hole, lined and capped with cement, was the new septic tank. The guys looked at the pile of building materials with some trepidation until Esme took control. "Well, what are you waiting for?" She clapped her hands, sternly, like a nun in catholic school. "Get to work!"

The boys chose not to argue with the intensity of the stern, motherly look that Esme had cultured over many years of practice.

It was now 10:00am. It was pre-determined that due to Vampire speed and strength, that Jasper and Emmet would assemble the outer walls. Once that was done, Sam, Embry, and Quil, would begin the trusses for the ceiling, while Jasper and Emmet would begin assembling the inner walls. Jake would take care of the necessary stone masonry. Charlie, feeling a huge Napoleonic Complex by this point, insisted on framing the walls, that would be plastered, for painting, to add a splash of color to the house, at Esme's insistence. The company that was supposed to be assembling the massive floor to second story window of the open great room, would be arriving around 3:00pm.

As Jasper and Emmet sprang into action, Charlie sat down, hard on the ground, in sheer amazement at his first glimpse into their supernatural abilities. They were literally a blur as the walls seemed to almost assemble themselves. Within thirty minutes, the three outer walls of the house were properly assembled, Jasper and Emmet, jumping down from the top of the walls, as if it had been as easy as playing a game of Parcheesi.

Sam and Quil, climbed the outer walls and perched on the very high logs, with grace as Embry used an amazingly well thought out pully system, to haul the pre-assembled trusses up. It took the boys of the pack about an hour to secure the trusses in place. By this time, Charlie, was just beginning to recover from his shock and was busy hammering away at 2 X 4's, preparing the framing for the walls that were going to be dry walled and then plastered over, for the effect that Esme was looking for. Charlie felt good that he actually held his own, in this respect. He enjoyed swinging a hammer for once, instead of driving his patrol car and carrying a gun belt.

It was Saturday, his day off and he found himself growing excited and proud of what Jacob had accomplished in anticipation of their future, as they assembled what was to be Bella and Jake's home. What would be the two story window, overlooked the Pacific Ocean, and was surrounded on three sides by the Olympia National Forest. Charlie hammered in the last nail with pride and walked out of the front door, now completely hung and in place. He had to admit, the door itself was unlike anything that he had ever seen. It was simply amazing. Esme had ordered it, made by a local artisan. The glass depicted the scene from the Cullen's favorite baseball field's view of the wonderful waterfall that flowed from a cliff, scattered with Douglas Firs on each side, and crashing with mist. Agreen clearing in the foreground, splashed detailed and richly colored wildflowers in full bloom. Charlie didn't realize that he had been standing in front of the door for a full twenty minutes, when Esme's sweet voice, interrupted his admiration. "Beautiful, isn't it?
"I've never seen anything like it." Charlie was touched that Esme had gone to so much trouble to see that Bella's house fit Bella's personality. Esme knew that Bella loved nature and clearly would be bringing it inside of this, already rustically natural house.

"Esme, I don't know how I can ever repay your kindness toward my daughter."

Esme waved a hand in dismissal. "Charlie, you are half responsible for her existence. She has been such a blessing to our family over the last two years." Charlie watched Esme's face glow as certainly, memories of her time with Bella flitted across her memory. "She brought life back into a house that had fallen into a routine of monotony. You know that time goes a lot quicker for us? But having Bella with us, her wit, intelligence and propensity to accept us, knowing what we were, was like living once again for the first time in almost a hundred years." If Esme's eyes could have made tears, they would surely have been filling her eyes right now.

Charlie didn't quite know how to respond to this. He knew that Bella was special. A part of him knew that he should be furious with her for befriending a family of vampires and continually putting herself in harms way, but a part of him loved her wide open heart. Such a thing was very rare these days. He and Esme watched as all of the boys finished the roofing. The drywall was done, the floors installed and the large, two story fireplace, as well as the bedroom fireplace masterfully pieced together by Jacob. This had pretty much taken him all day. His father had had a knack for stonework before his accident and had coached Jake throughout the years, as Jake would get odd jobs that required such a skill. They brought in money wherever they could, to help, along with Billy's disability pay check, but Jacob had shown talent in stone masonry. As the boys finished the roof, they hopped down, all backing up next to Charlie and Esme to admire their work. Smiling, they shared a moment of pride and eager anticipation for Bella to see her wedding gift. Esme seemed to know exactly what they were thinking. Oh, no, boys! There is still a lot of work to be done in the interior design and Emily and I will be working together on the landscaping."

Charlie looked up at the gorgeous three bedroom, two bathroom house, with the same excitement that the boys felt. "Well, maybe you don't have to wait until spring to get married."

All the heads snapped toward Charlie. He blushed under suddenly being the center of attention. "Well, I mean, I'm sorry, Jake. I didn't mean to be pushy."

Jake looked amused. "Pushy? I would have married Bella the day after the imprint if she would have voiced an interest." Everyone exchanged glances full of intrigue.

Charlie was quiet for a moment, but finally spoke up. "Perhaps if you just, well, let her know that you would marry her this fall or winter if she wanted to, that you would be more than willing. You never know, she might just say yes."

"Ooh! An Autumn, beach wedding!" Esme was clapping her hands. "Or," Esme was now jumping in place, "An indoor wedding in the Reservation Council Museum." The Museum was a beautiful building, with wonderful lighting. Native American artifacts graced it's walls and adorned glass cases in the entryway. There was an actual, annual council meeting room that they would use once a year for all of the tribes of their Nation to come together and discuss politics. This room was completely glass, from floor to ceiling, overlooking a rushing stream and thick forest. It would be perfect.

"Woah, there, Esme. She hasn't consented yet and school starts in two weeks for her. She's going to be inundated with studying. There would be no honeymoon." Jake began to feel his excitement over the possibility to deflate.

"Oh, Jacob. Ye of little faith." Esme teased. "You have to know by now that we have more money than we could ever use in an eternity. You can have your honeymoon during Spring break. That will be between you and Bella, if she says yes. You all talk it over and decide where it is that you would like to go for your honeymoon."

Jake was overwhelmed. All of the years that he had referred to the Cullen's as leaches and bloodsuckers. He felt guilty. The only thing that he could think of to show his thanks, was walking up to Esme, his figure towering over her and hugging her, trying to keep his emotion intact.

"There, now. That's what friends with money are for."

Esme had them all laughing, as the Sears truck pulled up with a truckload of the appliances that Esme had ordered.

At around three thirty, a gigantic crew of the window installation crew had arrived, with two trucks, stacked with carefully pack windows. Obviously, Esme had paid for an army platoon sized group to get the windows done in one day. She was eager to get to the fun part. Decorating. By the time that 7:00pm rolled around, the windows were installed and the house was ready to begin furnishing.

The pack and Charlie were exhausted, but so grateful to the Cullen's for doing the majority of the grunt work. Jake stared in almost, a numb awe at what they had built. He was so thankful to the log home company for being willing to agree to this contract. So thankful to Old Quil, for brokering the deal, due to his very old relationship with the company. Tomorrow, after his patrol, Jake would stop by Old Quil's and just give him a hug for giving him a life, a future, and a home for his fiancée and himself. This was truly more than he felt that he deserved.

Gradually, they dispersed in good humor. Today, the Cullen boys and the pack had forged a friendship, born of laboring together for one cause, the sheer look on Bella's face when she realized that she and Jake had a home, in the first place, but a home of such beauty, that it would surely take her breath away.

Jake arrived home, bone tired, body aching, even for his strength and ability, it had been a butt kicking day, but one look at his Bella, seated at the kitchen table, pouring over a text book with that look of concentration that pinched together her brows in the middle, made everything, so worthwhile. Looking up from her book, her face broke into a dazzling smile as she jumped up and ran to Jake, hugging and kissing him.

"I stink, Bella. You might not want to get too close."

Bella looked him over, knowing that whatever he was doing for her in secret was taxing on even his fit body. "I don't care if you had just rolled in cow dung, Jacob Black. I would still run to you and cover you with kisses. You are my heart."

Jacob held her tight, relishing the love poured upon him.

Bella got that look on her face. The look that Jake knew so well. She wanted to ask something, but was embarrassed to.

"Come on, Bells. I know that look. What is it, honey?"

"I was just wondering if you would mind if I scrubbed your back for you in the shower?" Bella bit her bottom lip. No matter how tired Jake was, his body would always answer for her.

Without a word, he swept her up, bridal style and headed to the washroom, Bella's face buried in the crook of his neck.