Author's Note: Life's biting me in the ass, a little, kids. My son was officially diagnosed with William's Syndrome today. I accepted it a long time ago, but my poor husband isn't dealing with it so well. I wonder if Carlilse will find new hope for this budding family, in light of Bella's special child. Every cloud has a silver lining, my friends; every cloud except my own. Reviews make me feel better.

Please. If you read this, leave me a review. I could use a little sunshine today.

I've created a facebook profile for this story. It's filled with visual aids and other fun stuff. Join me by adding "Ayah Papaya" to your friends list.

I'm not Stephanie Meyers, in case you got confused! ;-) Review review review!

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Jacob's POV

I'd wanted to call her several times, to find out how her day was going, but I resisted. Didn't need her getting fired for hanging on the phone. I also didn't need her cutting off a limb trying to answer and fix something at the same time. The idea of Bella and power tools, together, in the same room, did not leave me with a healthy impression...

It was strange spending full days in my shop after so many months of it being run by my friend, and partner, Quil. He was glad to have me back, as carrying a two man burden was tough with only one. I called Billy to find out how his end of the bargain was going. He said he'd spent most of the afternoon coasting down hills in his wheelchair, and the baby was now passed out on the sofa. The therapist had long come and gone, and they now had the afternoon to themselves. "I really appreciate this, Dad." I did; more than he could ever know.

"I know, son. Just do your part, and make this kid some good looking brothers. I could get used to kids running around here. Have to get a bigger wheelchair, though."

We both laughed; it was pretty funny. Time was passing quickly. Her birthday was in a week; the bloodsucker would make himself visible in just over two. I had to get her love for me to grow, in leaps and bounds, before then. Busy busy..

It helped that since our return from Disney World, we were infamous. People labeled us as the 'happiest couple in Forks', and they were just waiting for the news. It probably bit that bloodsucker in his ass that everybody labeled us as the next big wedding. Nobody knew that it was Bella we were all waiting for. Naturally, the rumor was that I was the one unable to commit. Fine with me; leave her out of it. Sam's wedding was this weekend, and I was taking her with me. She was thrilled for Emily, that it was finally her turn. Weddings were exciting events for her; any wedding but her own.

Yes! 5:30! She was on her way home now. I'd see her in about an hour. After I close up at 6, I'll cook the books. By the time I got home at 6:30, she'd just be pulling up. I would see her soon. I couldn't wait. Rushing the guys up a little, so I could get out of there, I bought myself fifteen extra minutes. Hopping on my bike, and speeding through the rain, I stopped to get her flowers. Yes. I was going to overload her with every nice thing I could. I would be a force to be reckoned with; Edward didn't stand a chance. How was I going to get flowers home on a bike unscathed?

I was sitting on the porch when she pulled up. Billy and Aaron were inside looking at books, he was giving us a moment of privacy. Billy was the only one aware of the leech's return; the only one aware of the intense competition brewing beneath the surface. He would give everything he had to sway things our way. Bella deserved more than a leech's love. Ugh, the thought of it made me swallow back vomit.

Her midsize silver sedan pulled smoothly in the driveway, and it occurred to me that I had never sat in the passenger's seat while she drove. Whenever I visited her, we always took cabs. She had had a car, but never used it because the parking was so ridiculous. Before she moved to New York, she used to drive like a major granny. Today, when she pulled up, she had the windows down and the radio going. Some serious speakers in that fancy car of hers...

I stepped down to meet her, flowers in hand, and I laughed. She had obviously washed her face because her makeup was gone, but she'd missed a spot. There was a big black mark on her forehead. She looked like I did when I was covered in grease.

"What?" her eyes shifted left and right. My laughing at her made her nervous.

"You missed a spot, Bells." I licked my thumb and cleared it off for her. When I presented her with the flowers, her eyes popped out.

"Thanks, Jake." She smiled, but then thought about me laughing, and suddenly grew serious.

"Ha." She was not amused, and malice glinted in her chocolate brown eyes. "I spent almost 10 minutes cleaning myself off. For spending a day doing very little, I sure did get filthy. Really,thanks for the flowers, Jake. That was truly kind of you." A small, sad smile escaped her beautiful lips. She dusted her pants off one final time as she looked up at me to say, "Remind me to bring that box of stones to work with me tomorrow, will you?"

"What stones, Bella?" I hadn't the slightest idea what she was talking about.

"The ones in my safe, of course." She gave me a look that just screamed, 'Duh!' "Ken wants to dig through them and buy what he can sell in the store." She smiled at me as she wrapped her arm around me, resting her head on my shoulder as we wound our way back to the house.

My heart swelled with happiness; she'd done that on her own, without me prompting. Could her feelings be naturalizing? In her left hand, she held a miniscule black notebook. I wasn't sure if she'd intended on bringing that in with her or not. I didn't pay too much attention to it because she stood on her toes to give my chin a kiss. The rest of me was too high to reach--she kissed me! "Aw, hey thanks, Bells." Her big brown eyes shifted up to look at me, some of the wall crumbling. For a split second, I got a glimpse of the Bella she used to be. She's starting to shine through; I'll get you back Bells.

"Anytime, Jake." She blushed as she walked through the door I held open for her.

"HI!" he squeaked. Aaron's eyes glowed at just the sight of her; this boy was very happy to see his mother. He toddled after her with a large wooden toy in his hand. One my father had made for me, when I was his age, and one I felt proud to pass down to him. He climbed up into her arms, melting into them. His tiny pink cheeks resting on her chest; it was beautiful—so peaceful. She placed her keys and notebook on the coffee table and sat with him on the floor. It was hard to believe such a small child would be three soon; he was off the charts for his size.

"What do you have there?" When she spoke to him, she exaggerated her tones, making her sounds theatrical, but that was supposed to help him speak. She also signed when she talked to him; that was something I still hadn't gotten used to. "Can I see?" She opened and closed her hand directly next to the toy. "Can I have? Please?"

He squealed and handed the toy to her, "It's a wooden bear, Bella." I explained, "My dad made it for me after my mom passed." I plopped myself down on the couch behind her, I picked up my head to look at Billy. He was staring out the window, absentmindedly shuffling a deck of cards.

She turned the battered toy in her hands, over and over again, as if it would look different from another angle. "Why a bear, Jake?" She leaned her weight back against my legs, letting her head fall back to look at me. I couldn't help it; my fingers stroked her collarbone, up her neck, finally swirling on her cheek. She drew a ragged breath, leaving me wild with desire.

Get a grip, Jake.. "Why did you make a bear, dad?" I shifted my hands to lie, awkwardly, in my lap. My father wheeled his chair around to face us, his face suddenly serious, remembering a distant pain.

"One day I sat down with a chunk of wood, I picked up my whittling knife, and I just let my fingers walk. It took me about a week to get the detailing in that bear just right, but you see that it has lovely features." It was true the bear had some beautiful detailing. "The Quilleutes are descended from the wolf, and the Macca are supposed to be descended from the bear clan. Your mother had been the daughter of the Macca Chief, and I always hoped that your mother and grandfather had met up in the World to Come." He gazed at the hands that lay folded in his lap. "I imagine that this would be your mother's spirit form. See how similar her facial features are?" It was true; the bear was the very likeness of my mother.

"Ready to go home?" She asked Aaron as she stifled a yawn. His brown eyes lit up whenever she spoke to him, and he squealed in delight. I watched her stand up, hold out her arms to him, and he came running. She handed me my old wooden toy, scooped him up, grabbed her keys and started heading to the door. "Thank you so much, Billy. He really looked like he had a great day with you, and knowing that you're the one watching over him, makes it so much easier for me to leave him. I haven't really worked much since he was born, so leaving him feels strange." They rubbed noses standing there, in my doorway; it was too cute. I'd love to rub noses with her. We'll change the name from 'Eskimo' to 'Indian' kisses.

My dad picked up his weathered hand to touch hers. "You're like a daughter to me, Bella. Family has to take care of each other." My father was not much for kids, but he meant every word.

"Thanks again Billy." She opened the door, and stepped through it. I realized that she'd left her notebook on the table. I picked it up to bring to her, and curiosity got the better of me. I took a quick peek at what was inside. It wasn't regular loose leaf; it was a green gridding paper, covered in sketches; I didn't know Bella could draw. Sketches of rings. By the tiny notes inside, they sounded like diamond rings, of the engagement variety. Electricity poured through me, like a giant shock, as I quickly flipped through.

Don't need her to forget this book, in case she has another idea, you know, in the middle of the night, now do we? I scrambled over to her, as she was hooking him into the car seat. "Hey Bells, you forgot your little book."

She craned her neck to gaze at me, "Oh." For a second, she looked confused. "I didn't realize I'd brought that in with me." She checked the passenger's seat, just to be sure. I noticed something shiny wedged in the crack of the passenger's seat. What the hell was that? "Thanks for bringing it to me, Jacob."

"No problem. You two be good tonight, huh? Try not to get into too much trouble." I would call Charlie later just to make sure she was acting as well as she looked.

"You guys want to come eat dinner at our house tomorrow? Charlie's got tons of fish in the freezer." She sat down in the car, and put her key in the ignition, waiting for my answer.

I crouched down to have a better view of her. "Yeah, we'll be there. Leave me the car seat, and I'll bring everybody over after I leave the shop. Sound good?"

She stared down at the pedals, smiling about something. "Yeah. Sounds great. Thank you, Jacob." Still smiling, though picking up her face to look at me. Her frail white hand reached out to stroke my cheek; I smiled softly to myself.

Getting easier for her all the time. Easier for her to want to be near me, easier for her to touch me, easier for her to want to love me. God willing, when Edward saw her, she'd already have decided on me. Emily's wedding would be a big deal breaker right there. Charlie was watching Aaron for the evening, and I would be able to show her what it would be like to really be together, here in Forks. Show her what life could be like if we set up a home here, together. "You know how I feel, Bella?"

"I know." She touched my cheek again, her eyes welling up with the beginnings of tears. "I'll drop him off at eight, ok? Tell Billy I said thanks, k?" Her voice broke, right there, at the end. I could tell she wanted to be alone, and I could tell that she would cry tonight. Just seconds ago, she'd been so cheerful. I wish I knew what was upsetting her, but it was more important to respect her space; she'd tell me when she was ready. Nobody said loving somebody was easy. I stood from my crouch, kissed her cheek, and shut the door carefully.

Turning the key in the ignition, I watched her drive away from me. The sun set in the west, like it always does.