Tripping

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you for the awesome reviews!

Chapter Twenty

Jacob missed Bella badly while she was gone. She had left Max behind in his care while she travelled to Florida with Charlie to sort out her mother's affairs. Renee was going to be buried in the sunshine state that she had come to love. Phil was dutifully upset but it didn't escape anyone's notice that he and Renee had been drifting apart. He hadn't once come to visit his wife during the whole time she had been in Forks with her daughter. Bella called Jacob a few times while she was away. She sounded tired and upset. She had been going through Renee's possessions. It was hard. Phil had handed over all of her mother's clothes and personal effects, but he kept all the money and refused to give Bella any valuable keepsakes, instead he pawned Renee's jewellery, including her wedding and engagement rings. Charlie had been disgusted and the two men had almost come to blows. Bella sobbed down the phone to Jacob as she told him about the sorry life her mother had really been leading with her much younger husband. It was obvious to Bella now why she had clung to the Cullens and their supposed wealth. She had seen it as an escape.

All Jacob could do was listen and try to reassure Bella. He tried to distract her by giving her daily updates on Max. The dog had settled right in and made himself at home; although it was clear he missed Bella. He would bark crazily anytime the phone rang as if he knew it was her calling. Max proved an amazing companion for Billy. Jacob couldn't be with his dad twenty four seven and knew that Billy got lonely sometimes. But having Max there made all the difference. Billy actually ventured out of the house more as he followed Max outside and watched him exercise. He actually began to exercise himself too. He borrowed some weights and began to work on his upper body strength, going out more brought colour to his cheeks. He started eating better. By the time that Charlie and Bella were due home Billy was looking more robust and healthy then he had in a long time.

Jacob wished he had thought of getting a dog like Max before. He walked him over to the Uley's one day. It was a bright morning. Jacob was in a good mood. Bella was due home in a couple of days. She had been gone for nearly two and a half weeks. It had been sheer torture being apart for so long. If he could have booked a flight and joined her in Florida he would have. But he couldn't leave Billy or his responsibilities to the pack.

"Hello, Jacob. This is a nice surprise." Emily greeted him as he bounded up the porch steps. "You are in a good mood." She smiled as she finished sweeping up the leaves into a pile. Her long black hair was pinned carefully in place, covering her scarred cheek. "Hello, Max." She ducked down and fondled Max between the ears. "I've got a treat for you."

"For me or him." Jacob laughed.

"Both." Emily's smile widened. It lit up her whole face. She stood up again and headed inside the small wooden cabin that she shared with Sam. Uley had built it with his own two hands just for Emily. Her one specification had been that it has a big kitchen. That was her domain. She loved cooking, a trait she shared with Bella. Right now Jacob could smell the tantalising aroma of fresh muffins. They were her specialty.

Jacob watched as Emily fed Max before piling up a plate of food for him. She always seemed to have something to hand to feed everyone. A long table dominated most of the kitchen. This was where the pack hung out when they were all together. The Uley's kitchen was like their personal headquarters. They were like a huge rowdy family with Emily presiding over them in a motherly fashion. Jacob longed to bring Bella back into the fold, but he knew it would have to be done in baby steps. Meeting the pack could be overwhelming for anybody for the first time. It wouldn't really be hers. His brothers knew her well, but her memory loss meant that it would be like starting from scratch again. Jacob couldn't be sure that the others would be able to keep their mouths shut, Quil being a case in point.

"You're brooding, Jacob." Emily said after a while when he hadn't said anything. He had been eating the food automatically while he let his mind wander. "You're worried about Bella." She guessed.

"KInda." It was like Emily was a mind reader. Jacob sighed and pushed his empty plate away. "It's hard hiding this part of my life from her when she used to be so much a part of it."

"Until the Cullens intervened and essentially persuaded her to break all contact with you." Emily reminded him.

Jacob hated being reminded of those dark days after he had phased. Bella's visits to the res had become less and less as Edward's stranglehold on her had increased. He ran his fingers through his tousled hair as he thought about the Cullens. They had been surprisingly absent since Renee Dwyer's death. Jacob had been sure they would try and attempt to weasel their way back into Bella's life with their false sympathy but as far as he was aware they hadn't contacted Bella at all. At least she hadn't mentioned it. The investigation into Renee's death was ongoing. Other tire tracks had been found on the road. It seemed that Renee had swerved violently to avoid a head on collision with another vehicle. The other driver hadn't been found but the police were trying to match the tire tracks to a certain make, but that on its own was a long shot.

"It's been very quiet around here lately." Jacob mused aloud.

"Yes. Sam went up to the hospital to check on Carlisle Cullen. He was there, as usual. They haven't gone into hiding but are keeping their heads down. The other Cullens were spotted at the school." Emily replied.

"I know. Sam thinks that they are trying to keep a low profile because Renee was driving one of their cars when she was killed." Jacob drummed his fingers on the table. "I feel like this is the calm before the storm."

"Or maybe they've realised that they need to leave Bella alone." Emily said hopefully. "Maybe they'll even choose to leave the area."

That was wishful thinking. That would be almost too easy. He didn't say anything but gave Emily a bright smile as she went to retrieve the muffins from the oven.

Bella was glad to be home again. Her visit to the sunshine state had been really stressful. She had been on edge the whole time, not just because she was grieving for a mother she barely knew, or even realising what an empty, shallow life Renee had been living with her much younger husband, but the feeling of being watched was back. She had hardly slept at all. Dark circles underscored her eyes. She wished she had Max with her. She knew that she was being crazy. There was no way that the intruder that had been in her bedroom in Forks could follow her here. She never actually saw anything. She kept the light on at night. She had almost mentioned it to Charlie, but he was so tense that she didn't want to burden him with her baseless fears. It was the same with Jacob. She had to learn to be strong on her own and stop expecting others to ride to her rescue.

But still tonight she would have Max with her again and she would also be able to see Jacob for the first time in nearly three weeks. While Charlie went to the station to check in at work, Bella unpacked their belongings and sorted through the laundry. It kept her mind occupied as she waited for Jacob to come over and bring Max. She paused to text Angela and her other friends, thanking them for their concern and well wishes. She had wanted to contact Angela like she had Jacob while she was away, but she didn't have the energy. Thankfully Angela seemed to understand. "I'm here whenever you need me." She texted Bella.

There was a knock on the door. Bella's face broke into a weary smile. It had to be Jacob and Max. She abandoned her cell and ran eagerly to the door to greet them. Her smile faded when she opened the door to reveal Edward Cullen on her doorstep. How did he know she was back already? She had only been in the house a couple of hours. The only people she had told were Jacob and Angela. Edward stood on the front porch looking extremely awkward. He was dressed in a pale blue shirt rolled up to his elbows and dark jeans. His hair was carefully coiffed as always. Like Bella he had purple bruises under his eyes as if he had barely slept.

"It is so good to see you." Edward breathed. The intensity of his gaze made Bella feel a little violated. "I am so sorry about your mother."

Bella could barely breathe. She stared at him for a moment before dropping her eyes to the floor. Her hair fell forward hiding her face from him and she heard him sigh softly. "Now is not a good time." She muttered.

"I thought we could talk about her." Edward continued as if she hadn't spoken. "I got to know Renee very well these past weeks."

"Well you know more than me." Bella replied bitterly. She glanced up at him from under lowered lashes. Her attitude seemed to throw him. He was clearly struggling to understand her. "Now is not a good time." She said again, louder this time.

"Carlisle can help you, Bella. You should really continue your treatment. He is able to see you today, in fact right now if you are willing. I promise that you'll feel so much better if you do. I know you must feel so lost right now. You've lost your identity; you can't remember who you used to be. Carlisle can help you find it. I can help you if you'd just open up to me, my love." Edward was practically begging.

"I don't think I want to remember who I used to be. From what I've learned so far I don't think I like that version of myself very much." Bella replied bitingly.

"You were perfect." Edward's gaze only got more intense. His golden brown eyes burned feverishly. "You were my Bella."

Bella backed away from him. He looked a little crazed. It was probably from lack of sleep. She felt exhausted herself. "I think you should take me off that pedestal you've put me on, Edward. I am far from perfect. I am not the girl I used to be and even if I ever regain my memories I will never be that girl again. My experiences have changed me. My amnesia has made me reassess my life. I can see you are struggling with the changes in me but that's your problem, not mine. I would like it very much if you would just leave me alone in future. Whatever we had between us is long over, you need to start accepting that and move on."

"This is Jacob Black talking." Edward's eyes darkened. "He has been filling your head with lies."

"No, this is me talking." Bella retorted heatedly. She was tired of dealing with this guy's jealousy. "I want you to go."

A car drew up behind them then. Bella breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Jacob behind the wheel of the VW Rabbit. He was frowning in Edward's direction. He climbed out and opened the passenger door. Max bounded out barking furiously. When he saw Edward his barks turned to growls. His ears went flat to his head and he immediately stood protectively in front of Bella. Edward was incensed. He gave Jacob a vicious glare but Bella noticed with pleasure that Jacob did not return it. He just looked impassively back at Edward as if he was barely worth acknowledging.

This coolness seemed to rile Edward further. "What are you thinking bringing such a vicious animal near Bella?" He spat furiously. "Look at it, the beast is almost frothing at the mouth."

"Wolf belongs to Bella, not me." Jacob said coldly. "Right, Bells?" He darted a glance in her direction, his expression turning tender as he got his first good look at her beautiful face in nearly three weeks. He was rewarded with a shy smile in return.

"Right." Bella wondered why Jacob continued to use this nickname for Max. "Don't call Max names." She ducked down and put her arms around his neck. Edward seemed alarmed at her recklessness. "I've asked you to leave once already. Now go."

Edward seemed thunderstruck. His eyes flicked from her, to Max, then Jacob. There was nothing more he could say or do. He stiffened for a moment before telling Bella he would be in touch. Then with his dignity splattered across the drive he stalked back to his silver Volvo and finally left them in peace.

A/N-thanks for reading!