Stephenie Meyer owns everything Twilight.

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Thanks to her and Kisby Dog you can read this chapter with all the commas in the right place!

…

JACOB:

After the day Bella let Embry change her piercing, I spend the next few weeks scouring the Internet and free ads for jobs. I start to regret turning the receptionist position down at that tattoo shop in Seattle, and consider taking anything offered to me just so I can leave Forks. Embry has been living on his own for a year or so and is very set in his ways. I am grateful that he's letting me stay with him, but after being his boss for so long, I find the role reversal at home quite difficult. He has a set routine for everything and gets quite distressed if I don't adhere to it. I keep forgetting to put the sugar away when I make coffee, and for some reason it seems to really upset him. I remind myself that I am staying with Embry rent-free and make a more conscientious effort to be tidy, but it's against my nature.

Billy has started coming into the shop more. We don't really talk; he tends to have short conversations with Embry about how things are going, and even shorter exchanges with me. I know that we are both as stubborn as each other, and I can't see either of us backing down and attempting to make amends.

The shop has slowed down more since we're heading towards winter, and I leave Embry to run it most days. He has started tattooing paying customers and I give him a generous pay-raise. He even tattooed his wolf design on my chest and did an awesome job of it. I contemplate about maybe heading south to warmer climates, thinking there might be more work down towards Oregon, or even California. There's just nothing in Forks for me now.

"Have you been into Green-core in the last few days?" Embry tries to ask casually one slow morning in the shop.

"What do you think?" I ask in a condescending manner.

"Have you seen or spoken to Esme recently?" He asks, nervously fiddling with a pen as he stops working on a tattoo design for a moment.

"No," I reply, my eyes warning him not to continue down this path.

"And Bella?" His voice is barely above a whisper.

"God damn it, Embry. No!" I stand up and pace around, agitated.

"Oh, okay." Embry looks back at his work and continues drawing. Words can't express how much he annoys me when he starts a conversation then halts it halfway through.

"Why?" I try to sound bored, but against my own judgment, I really want to know what he's skirting around. However, I think my voice betrays my disinterest

"Bella is leaving Forks to open a shop in Port Angeles for Esme," he blurts out.

My heart stops. "When?" I ask through gritted teeth.

"Tomorrow," he replies.

Leaving? I admit I hadn't given it much thought, but I just guessed she would stay here forever. Even though I was looking to leave, I thought she was happy working with Esme, it never crossed my mind she would leave as well.

"Do you know where she's going to be living there?" I ask trying to be casual.

If he replies that she is going to live with her ex-boyfriend, I am going to have to be physically restrained from marching to the shop and dragging her back here.

"Esme found her an apartment overlooking the harbor." I am relieved but Embry seems afraid to meet my eyes.

"How do you know? You've spoken to her?" This is the longest conversation we've had about Bella in ages and I want to get the full scoop before going back to not talking about her.

"No, I ran into Sam. He's been doing some casual work for Esme, he told me." Embry nods sagely as he watches my eyes widen in shock.

Esme is employing Sam? She has to be one of the most humane, compassionate people I've ever met. I realize how incredibly fond of her I am. I excuse myself, and head into the backroom to think.

When I heard Bella was leaving, my decision was pretty much speeded up for me. There was no way I was going to be hanging around waiting to run into her if she visits Esme, or walking past her house on the off chance she might be there. And I know that if I stay that's exactly what I will do.

…

I'm at Embry's a few days later, having a Chinese takeaway with him. I have packed my few belongings into my panniers, and have neatly washed and ironed the blankets and sheets I've been using to sleep on the couch with.

"Embry?" I ask.

He is halfway through a butterfly prawn when he cocks his head to one side and looks at me.

"Yes, Jake?" he asks tentatively.

I slide the shop keys across the table to him. "As of tomorrow, the shop's all yours."

"Wow, Jake, thanks. You're definitely going, then? I saw you were all packed, but I was hoping you were going back to your Dad's." Embry looks torn between excitement and loss.

I shake my head sadly. "I'm going to do a bit of traveling around the state, look for a job on the way. I might do some seasonal work if my funds get low. I'm still hoping to carry on piercing."

"Bella might come back, you know," he says lightly.

"No, Embry. She won't." I finish my noodles in silence. I consider going to visit Billy to tell him, but decide a quick phone call would mean an argument is less likely, and a fistfight impossible.

"Dad? I'm leaving," I blurt down the phone as soon as he answers it.

"Leaving? You've found work?" He doesn't sound too happy.

"No, I've decided it will be easier if I move to Port Angeles and look for work there everyday. If I don't have any luck, I'm going to move onto Seattle, and possibly beyond if it gets to it." There's no need to mention Bella or Esme at this point. I doubt I'll find any work locally anyway.

"What about Embry?" he asks, but his voice sounds different, strained.

"He's stoked; he has practically run it for the last month anyway," I reply. I'm glad we're sticking to talking about the business.

"I can't convince you to stay a little longer?" he asks.

"There's nothing here for me anymore," I reply, trying to be honest, not cruel.

After a pause, Billy says, "Oh, I see."

"Dad, I…" I begin, but words fail me.

"Be careful out there, son," he warns me, and I hear his voice start to crack.

"Don't worry about me," I reply shortly.

"I'm sorry things haven't worked out better for you."

"Me too, Dad," I say, knowing we would never have had this conversation in person.

"Keep in touch," he finishes and hangs up.

That is the entire conversation. I don't bother telling Leah, we're still not really talking and I suspect she might try to lecture me about responsibilities to the tribe. Hypocrite, I think. I pack my bike, give Embry a last few instructions, and then there is nothing left to do. Giving Forks one last look, I put my helmet on and ride east out of town.

BELLA:

I walk towards where Billy is standing and timidly open the door.

"Bella. I would like to talk to you, if I may?" He takes his black hat off, and holds it to his chest.

"Come in," I reply tartly, taking a quick look out onto the streets of Port Angeles.

I indicate for him to step inside the shop, but flinch when he moves towards me, awaiting a brutal outburst. There is something in his eyes, a mix of shame and humility, which suggests I should give him the benefit of the doubt. Upon seeing me shy away, he hangs his head a little lower.

"Excuse me," he mumbles, as he pushes past me.

"Why are you here?" I ask, trying to keep my breathing steady while casually looking for a blunt instrument to arm myself with. I thought that by departing Forks, Billy would leave me alone, but if he wants a fight, I'm prepared to hit back tooth and nail.

He starts to talk, but I can't help but interrupt him. "Look, I know you were behind the attack on the Forks shop, so don't think you can sweet-talk me or trick me. And don't think Esme is going to back down, or run away scared, either. We're not afraid of you, even if you do send a mentally unstable besotted girl to do your dirty work. Shame on you." My voice shakes a little as I speak, but I keep looking Billy in the eye, until he looks down.

"I guess I deserve that." It is obvious Billy is uncomfortable here, in Esme's shop, and I feel glad. I cross my arms over my chest and stare back at him, wanting him to leave.

"And more," I add, getting angrier with him by the minute.

"I came to apologize," he says helplessly.

"You don't need to apologize to me. You need to apologize to Esme," I tell him firmly. I wonder what's going on.

"I did that a few hours ago. I'm going to pay her back for any damage caused," he admits, his voice full of shame.

Even though I am admittedly taken aback by Billy's admission, I sniff in reply. Knowing Esme, she probably forgave him without a moment's thought.

"I am not as tolerant as Esme." I sweep my bangs across my forehead so he can see the still tender scar he indirectly caused. His face screws up as he winces for me.

"I let things get out of hand. I'm sorry," he says, bowing his head down.

"Sorry? Good thing Emily never mentioned your name to the police, isn't it? You brainwashed her really well. Esme too, it seems."

"This isn't going as I had planned," he sighs heavily.

"I guess you thought you could quickly apologize and leave with a clear conscience?" His eyes flicker as the recognition of truth crosses them. "I see. Well, if that's all you've got to say…"

I stay by the open door with my hand on the frame, waiting for him to go.

"I never meant anyone to get hurt. I was trying to protect my people," he attempts to explain. I look past him.

"Well, it backfired. Like father, like son, eh?" I quip, but as soon as the words leave my mouth, I am ashamed that I have been disloyal and unfair to Jacob. "I didn't mean that," I quickly garble, but the damage is already done, and I see his eyes blink furiously as they start to fill up with glossy tears.

"I haven't seen Jacob in a while," he admits as he swallows hard.

"That makes two of us," I reply, trying to push Jacob out of my mind.

"Did you know he moved out of home last month?" Billy asks as he turns to go.

"Embry told me," I nod.

"Did you know he has skipped town?" he asks, looking at me.

"No. He found a new job in Seattle?"

"I don't know, no one has heard from him since he left," he replies.

"Not even Embry?" This stuns me. I understand why he isn't talking to me, but to turn his back on all his family and friends. He must feel so lost and lonely.

"So he doesn't know you're here? You're not trying to re-gain his trust by coming to me?" I ask, unable to stop myself.

"No. I'm just trying to make amends for a bitter, old fool, who thought he was trying to preserve his way of life, and instead destroyed what little of it he had left," he says, and I am knocked sideways by his frank admission.

"You understand why I am finding it hard to accept your apology?" I can feel my resolve crumbling. He nods in acquiescence. "Do you really think you've changed?"

"I still want Quileute culture to survive and prosper, but I know now that I was going about it the wrong way," he says returning my gaze.

"So how are you going to go about it the right way?" I ask, hopeful.

"Esme has offered to sell some Quileute items in the shop without taking a cut, and I am going to go into local schools to educate non-Native children about our tribe," he says.

As I look at Billy, deep in thought, I see for the first time how much he looks like Jacob. I had never really seen the similarities before, Jacob always insisted he looks more like his mother, but I begin to see that they have the same eyes. God, I miss him, I think. As much as I have loved setting up the shop and it has kept my mind busy, having his dad with me right now is making me feel like I can't consider living my life without him.

"Do you think Jake is all right?" Several worst-case scenarios flash through my mind as I see him jobless and on the streets.

"I think so, he's resourceful like his mother. He also has a small trust fund he can dip into but he never has. Well. I've said my peace, I should go."

"Thank you for coming, Billy. I know it wasn't easy for you," I mumble and we share an awkward moment. It feels like we need to end things cordially. I thrust my hand out towards him. I take a deep breath as he hesitates, looking at me then at my hand, but his face forms into a rare smile and he shakes it warmly. He puts his hat back on, and tips it to me before walking outside.

I close the door behind Billy and lean back against it. A moment passes as I struggle to keep my head emotionally above water. I fail, and as I slowly sink to the floor, the pent up frustration and heartbreaking longing I have been repressing for the last few weeks comes pouring out. I start softly sobbing, quiet little chokes of tears, but they quickly escalate until I am almost howling from the pain of being away from my Jake. I don't care who hears me as I face the agonizing truth that I am unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

…

Thank you for being so patient with me, Jacob and Bella will meet again next chapter…