Chapter Nine

And when you're crying out.
When you fall and then can't pick, you're heavy on the ground
When the friends you thought you had haven't stuck around.
That's when you feel my kind of love.

My kinda love – Emile Sande

-0-

By some miracle, the puppy made it through the next 48 hours and had even begun eating on his own whenever he needed. Before I knew it though I was back at school meaning Dad was required to take care of the pup, who we still had yet to name due to nothing sounding right to Jacob and me. I, of course had fallen hard for the little pup as had Jacob. In fact, I was under strict instructions to kiss the pup goodnight every time we were about to hang up the phone. It was adorable really.

Rolling over in bed, I held the pup to my chest as he continued to snore away and blindly reached out for my phone as it buzzed, alerting me to an incoming text message. Doing what I could to blink away the sleep from eyes I held the phone close to my face, reading the message that had come through, unable to stop the smile from appearing as I registered who it was from.

Jacob Black (6:07am) - Happy Birthday beautiful!

Sighing softly, I glanced at the time and frowned, it was still early but with it being my birthday and Bella's, tradition dictated that today we indulged in special birthday pancakes. So quickly I typed my message back, still finding it impossible not to smile. One single text and he had the ability to make me feel so special and thought of.

Grace Swan (6:08am) - You really know how to make a girl smile don't you :) You still coming tonight?

After hitting reply I laid the phone back down on the bedside cabinet and slowly began to peel away the covers, whilst still holding Gizmo. At my movement he'd awoken, making a small grunt of displeasure, before burrowing his face back into the warmth of my pyjama top. Combing my fingers through my air, I carefully picked up his makeshift bed and blanket and left the room, taking quiet steps downstairs.

Birthday tradition for Bella and I equalled special birthday pancakes with a large side of bacon. So after carefully placing the small box on rug in the living room and placing Gizmo inside I danced my way into the kitchen. Turning the radio on low I went about preparing breakfast, feeling way so happy for this time of the morning but then again, life was pretty good right now.

Flipping the last pancake onto the mountain already on the plate, I carried it over to the table. Placing it in the middle I turned to get the bacon when Dad came walking into the kitchen, his eyes lighting up at the sight of breakfast. "I thought this was my job…" he commented, and I smiled, pointing to the fridge.

"You can pour the juice." I said, tucking my hair back behind my ear I laid out the bacon and began to butter the toast. Only before I could finish Dad was stood next to me, his arm going around my shoulders as he leaned in, pressing a loving kiss to the top of my head.

"Happy Birthday kid…" he said, pulling out the arm he'd held behind his back, to reveal my presents. Seeing them I smiled brightly, wiping my hands against my pyjama bottoms as I took them. Unlike my sister who he'd most likely been into before coming down, I loved my birthday, I loved gifts I just loved the whole day in general.

As Dad took over buttering the toast, I began to carefully unwrap my gifts, practically dancing on the spot when I found my first gift to be a camera. I'd never been camera shy, I loved taking pictures with my friends it was the perfect way to capture all those little moments forever. "Dad this is amazing thank you!" I said, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek.

"Yeah, well thank you Mom…she coordinated…"

"Of course, she did…" I laughed, pulling aside the wrapping paper I smiled. Inside lay a beautiful scrap book and I was instantly looking forward to filling it. Looking up at Dad I smiled, "It's perfect thank you Dad." I said, already knowing what I wanted the first picture inside the book to be. As Dad shuffled over to the table, I quickly pressed the on button on the camera, before stepping over to where he'd sat.

Wrapping an arm around his shoulder, I let my head rest against his, the camera stretched out in front of us. "Smile!" I sang, smiling widely as I clicked the button. Smiling down at the image I'd captured I turned to Dad and showed him, laughing at the slight flush on his cheeks. It was then Bella walked into the kitchen and smiled, "Happy Birthday sis."

"Happy Birthday to you as well sis." She replied, as we hugged tightly. I knew she hated birthday's for whatever reason, but it never stopped me from going all out for our birthday. Hence dinner tonight, a special birthday dinner I'd be cooking but I loved to do it, so I didn't mind. Dad was providing the cake.

My phone buzzed as Bella and I pulled apart and I reached for it the same time Gizmo came pottering into the kitchen, climbing over my sock clad feet. Smiling I leaned down and plucked him up as I opened the new message from Jacob.

Jacob Black (6:10am) - Only one girl I wanna make smile ;) Couldn't stop me if you tried, see you tonight beautiful xx

"Breakfasts getting cold kiddo,"

I turned at Dad's voice and smiled, sitting down at the table with Gizmo nestled on my lap I found myself feeling happier than I had ever. Little did I know then that tonight would be the beginning of the end for any kind of calm around here…

-0-

"She bailed?" Jess huffed.

Sighing deeply, I nodded my head before glancing over my shoulder to where my sister was currently sitting with the Cullen's across the other side of the cafeteria. Any birthday happy I'd been feeling had dissipated when Bella had told me of Alice's plans and that she, and she alone had been invited to the Cullen's for a birthday celebration. Not that I was upset at not getting an invite, it was all about Bella bailing on a traditional dinner. We'd never celebrated our birthday's apart…

When Edward turned to look at me, I frowned and turned away, instead choosing to focus on the birthday cupcake in front of me. Angela and Jess had sung Happy Birthday before thrusting this delicious looking cupcake under my nose. Chocolate sponge with a heavy amount of chocolate frosting, which had been littered with hundreds and thousands. Reaching for a knife I made easy work of peeling back the paper and cutting it into three.

"I guess traditions change, to be honest it wasn't surprising really." I admitted, handing them both a piece of cake, licking the frosting off my fingers once they were empty. It wasn't a lie…nothing about Bella's decisions where the Cullen's were concerned surprised me anymore…was I disappointed yes, surprised no.

"You're taking this a lot better than I would be." Angela commented shooting me a concerned look. As my eyes glanced up at her, I shrugged my shoulders lightly, taking a small sip of my drink.

"Honestly, what can I do, shout and cry? It's not going to change anything, and I can't even be pissed at The Cullen's for inviting her, as much as I want to…it was up to Bella to stick to our plans, she didn't so, it is what it is." I said, smiling slightly. "They want to celebrate with her, it's fair enough you know. I'll have Dad, Jake and Billy…"

"Ah so that's why you're not pissed, that La Push hottie is going to be keeping you distracted tonight." Jess teased as she finished her piece of cake, her eyebrows waggling. I stared at her as Angela giggled.

"That La Push hottie has a name and don't make it sound like that." I felt my cheeks heat up at Jess's teasing and at Angela's little smirk.

"Oh please, you are telling me you guys aren't going to be sneaking away from the parentals for a little birthday smushing?" Jess teased and I laughed, covering my face with my hands to hide the blush.

"Oh, there's totally going to be smushing." Angela laughed, leaning over to tickle my side. Laughing I dodged out the way and threw one of my fries at both of them, ignoring the looks on their faces.

"I hate you both."

-0-

Despite my protests to the contrary, I was hurt. Bella had just left for the Cullen's and I was feeling like an idiot for thinking she may cancel. We'd never been apart on our birthday and I didn't like it, but I was trying to be okay with it. It was just one of the many changes we were experiencing this year, hopefully next year would be better.

At the end of the day, I wasn't going to let it ruin either of our birthday's.

"Grace, Jacob and Billy are here!"

Dad's voice carried upstairs, and I jumped up from my dressers, moving over to the window. Sure enough, there was Jacob and Billy having just gotten out of their truck and I felt my mood lift immediately. As if sensing me watching him, Jacob looked up towards my window and as our eyes locked, I felt my heart race. Smiling, I waved down at him before backing away from the window, not wanting Dad and Billy to see me swooning.

Taking a moment to still the butterflies in my stomach, the butterflies that always erupted into a frenzy when I saw Jacob I turned back to my mirror. I hadn't dressed fancy, but I'd made a little bit of an effort. Wearing a short-sleeved blush coloured skater dress, that flared out at my waist and my hair down in loose curls, I felt, for lack of a better word, pretty. There was a big part of me hoping Jacob liked what I was wearing but, in all honesty, the dress was for me and I was happy at the very least with how I looked.

Blowing out a small breath, I slipped my feet into my ballet shoes, I headed towards my bedroom door only pausing when I realised, I'd forgotten someone on the bed. "Sorry pup." I said, moving back to the bed to pick up the puppy, cradling him to my chest as we left my room. As I headed downstairs, I spotted Jacob and felt my smile widen.

"Hey." I said in way of greeting. Jacob's own smile widened, but before he could open his mouth to reply, Billy chimed up from the living room.

"Hey kid, happy birthday." He called out and I chuckled, moving into the living room I leaned over the back of his chair and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Thanks, old man." I said, placing the puppy down on his lap. "I hope you guys are hungry."

" Starved." Both Dad and Billy chorused, making me laugh. Shaking my head, I squeezed Billy's shoulder and headed back towards the kitchen, taking Jacob's hand to follow me as I went. As we moved into the kitchen, out of sight of both of our Dad's I turned to face him, meeting his smile with one of my own.

"You look, beautiful." He said quietly, making my cheeks warm. Smiling, and holding both his hands in mine, I pushed up onto my toes and leaned up to kiss him, happy when he met me halfway. The kiss was short and sweet, not lasting nearly as long as I would have liked but it was more than enough for now.

"Thank you." I replied quietly as we parted.

"I got you somethin' but um…" he looked over his shoulder towards the living room before turning back to me and smiling, "I'll give it to you after dinner." He said, leaning down to kiss my nose sweetly.

"I can't wait." I replied, squeezing his hands with mine before we parted. "You feel up to helping me finish dinner off?" I asked, turning to the oven. Jacob moved to stand beside me and rolled up his sleeves, his arm brushing against mine.

"Just tell me what you need me to do." He said, as we both got to work.

-0-

Dinner went great and as much as I'd missed Bella being there, Jacob and Billy more than made up for it.

The food I'd made went down like a treat and to my immense surprise Dad had brought out a birthday cake but with my blessing had been able to get away with singing 'Happy Birthday', I don't think any of us wanted to sit through those three trying to sing that. I couldn't have been happier though and the cake was the perfect way to finish dinner.

With both Dad and Billy taking care of the washing before sitting through some baseball highlights, Jacob and I headed out onto the front porch for some time alone. There was a definite chill in the air but sat beside Jacob, curled into his side with his arm around my shoulder, I barely felt the cold. Threading my fingers through his as I smiled brightly. Sitting under the stars, this moment felt perfect.

"As far birthday's go, I'd put this one in my top three." I said, resting my cheek against our intertwined hands, smiling up at him. Jacob looked down at me curiously.

"Top three, what won out?" he asked, and my smile widened.

"Oh, it has to be my tenth birthday. Mom got us this huge bouncy castle, me and Bella stayed on that thing until all the cake and bouncing, made Bella throw up." I told him, laughing lightly at the memory. Jacob laughed and kissed the top of my head.

"Fair enough, but maybe this will give this birthday a little edge." He said, removing his arm from my shoulders and straightening up. Following his actions, I watched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, wrapped parcel. "I told you later, it's later. Happy Birthday Grace." He said softly, holding the gift out to me.

"Jake." I said softly, smiling at him as I took the parcel from his hands. Biting down on my lip, I carefully unwrapped the woven string holding the paper together, and pulled the paper aside, gasping when the present was revealed to me.

Inside the box was an intricately hand-woven beaded bracelet. With beautiful shades of turquoise, blues, lime greens, pinks and purples, loom woven with crystals beads, making a beautiful bracelet. It was completely unique, something I'd never seen before and I absolutely loved it.

Jacob reached inside and pulled it out as I continued to stare, taking my hand in his, he gently wrapped it around my wrist. Once it was clasped, he turned my hand back over to let me see how my beautiful gift finally looked. "Do you like it?" he asked carefully.

"Jacob, I love it's…beautiful." I gasped, leaning into press a kiss to his lips, before I turned my eyes back onto my gift, gently caressing the beads with the tips of my fingers. Smiling softly, I turned to look back up at him, "Where did you this, I've never seen anything like it."

"I made it." Jacob admitted and I stared at him in amazement. My heart, all of a sudden threatened to burst with this new feeling. Love. I'd felt love before, familial love but this, sat beside Jacob, his hand in mine, I knew I was falling hard. The time it must have taken him to create something so wonderful, something so beautiful for me, it meant more than I could ever say.

"You're just full of surprises aren't you." I whispered, pressing my head against his.

"Kitchi." He said suddenly and I pulled my head back, frowning at him.

"Excuse me?" I asked

Kitchi, it means brave in Indian. I thought it'd be a good name for the little guy inside." He said and I smiled in awareness, laughing lightly at my momentary confusion.

"Kitchi." I repeated the name out loud before nodding my head and smiling softly, "I think it's perfect." I said, leaning up to kiss him once more.

As he leaned in and our lips brushed, I felt a warmth. I didn't know what the future was set to bring me, but one thing was for sure, this night would be a memory I'd keep forever and Jacob, well Jacob would always be in my heart.

The sound of car pulling up forced us to part. Frowning at the interruption I looked down the drive to see Edward already opening the car door for Bella to climb out. Sighing softly, I took Jacob's hand, pulling him up and we both headed inside.

-0-

The next couple days were quiet, the Cullen's hadn't shown up to school and I could only watch as Bella seemed to grow more and more antsy in their absence. Something had been off; the night Edward had brought her home on our birthday, but Bella hadn't said anything, so I didn't push to find out what was wrong with him. Though I will admit to being a little more than curious over what had happened to her arm, but she said she'd simply fell which for Bella, sounded about right.

"Have you requested your applications yet?" Angela asked, chewing on the end of a liquorice wand. Jess eagerly nodded her head, sitting forward and placing her elbows on the table we were currently occupying in the library.

"I have. I can't wait to get them, I'm applying early." She said and I smiled, nodding my head at Angela in response to her question before turning back to Jessica.

"Cornell still top choice?" I asked, having only known both girls for little over half a year, learning of Jessica's desire to go to Cornell had been the first thing I'd known about her.

"Of course, Cornell's the dream." Jessica sang, making me smile a little bit more.

"I know what you mean, Yale is a long shot but as my nana always said, 'shoot for moon, even if you miss, you'll end up amongst the stars'." I said, hopeful for my chances of getting into Yale but still smart enough to know I needed a lot of back-ups.

"That's so beautiful." Angela whispered,

The smile on my face faltered and I leaned back into my chair, placing a hand over my stomach as I felt an unmistakable knot form. An uneasy feeling washed over me, making is impossible to remain seated. Blowing out a breath I stood from my chair, catching the girl's attention, but I paid them no mind and reached for my phone, quickly typing out a txt.

Grace Swan (5:37pm) – Are you okay?

"Grace you okay?" Angela asked with a frown, but I didn't answer, I couldn't, because I wasn't okay, there was something very wrong.

"No, I need to get home." I whispered, staring at my phone and willing Bella to text back but when she didn't, I began quickly packing up my papers. "Can one of you give me a ride home please?" I asked, that nauseous feeling in my stomach growing more and more persistent.

"Yeah sure." Jessica said softly, her and Angela sharing a look but neither saying anything. As if on cue to my rising panic my phone rang and without looking at the caller ID, I answered.

"Bella?"

"Uh, no Gracey it's Dad, I was hoping she was with you." I heard Dad's tired and worried voice and my panic increased all the more.

"Oh my, no she went home a couple hours ago I stayed behind with Jess and Angela to do some extra credit. Bella went home!" I said, combing my fingers through my hair, indicating to the girls we needed to go. "Have you tried Edward, Alice?"

"She's not there, I tried calling a few times. There was a note left in the house, saying she'd gone for a walk in the woods…" he sounded frustrated and I couldn't blame him, that didn't sound like Bella at all.

"Bella wouldn't go for a walk in the woods."

"Just get home, okay." Dad said, and I nodded my head thankful that the girls seemed to sense something was wrong as they hurried towards the carpark with me.

"Be there soon." I whispered, hanging up the phone. "Bella's missing." I said in way of explanation to Jess and Angela, none of us slowing our rush to the cars, with me silently praying my sister was okay and this was all just a misunderstanding.

-0-

Bella was missing and the knot in my stomach tightened dangerously. I clung tightly to that feeling, that she was alive but there was something wrong. Call it what you want but something was wrong with Bella, something so deep it caused a deep ache in the centre of my chest. Almost like I could feel her pain, it was crushing.

"Hey, come here."

Looking up from the stairs I was sat on I turned to see Jacob approaching me. Standing to meet him I was immediately wrapped up in his embrace, held tightly against his chest. "Where is she Jake?"

"I don't know babe, but we'll find her!" he assured me, both of us slowly approaching the search teams gathered around my Dad's cruiser. Dad was panicking, as was I. Night had fallen a few hours ago, making the search all that much harder.

"I'm going to try the Cullen's again." Dad said reaching for his phone. I observed Harry and Billy exchanging guarded looks before Billy turned to my Dad.

"The Cullen's left town Charlie."

"Well, where the hell did, they go?" Dad asked, frustration and panic lacing his voice. Billy put a hand on my Dad's arm as Harry patted my Dad's shoulder.

"We'll find her Charlie" he assured my Dad and sure enough not ten seconds later Jacob was calling out for my Dad, his attention turned towards something behind us. Following his line of sight and the path to which my Dad had just ran I gasped, running towards the topless man carrying Bella.

"Dad is she okay?"

"She's alright." The man insisted as he handed a barely conscious Bella over to my Dad. She wasn't hurt, physically at least, I could tell that just by looking at her, but something was up, it was almost like she was in some kind of shock. Had Edwards leaving done this? That couldn't be it could it? I couldn't help but note that it was too much of a coincidence, Edward leaving and now my sister was catatonic.

Dad was already turning back to the house and I was at his side, my hands brushing her hair aside, rushing along with my Dad as we hurried back to the house. I barely glanced at Jacob, or anyone else as I ran into the house, my sole focus being that of my sister

"We should take her to her room, I'll get her something to drink." I said, neither Dad nor I pausing to say anything. Rushing into the kitchen, I began to make her a hot chocolate, something to warm her up but also something that would help keep my hands busy. In what felt like seconds Dad was back downstairs and looking older than he ever had before.

"Is she okay?" I asked quietly wringing my hands together. Dad looked at me but paused before answering my question, almost like he wasn't sure himself. Sighing he combed his fingers through his hair and shook his head, glancing back towards the stairs.

"I don't know baby, she's sleeping now." He said gruffly, his hands on his hips as he looked towards the front door. "Would you?"

"I'll stay with her tonight." I said, shooting him a wobbly smile, one he could barely return before he headed back outside to send everyone home. Quietly I finished making Bella's drink and headed up the darkened stairs myself to be by my sister's side. I knew I wouldn't be sleeping much tonight, wanting instead to keep a close eye on Bella. She seemed okay, but as the night drew on and the house began to still, the silence was punctured by a terrifying scream…

…And that was when the nightmares began…

-0-

Here's Chapter Nine and we're finally at New Moon and the parts of the story I've been excited about. It's the beginning of the end for any sense of normalcy or quiet in Grace's life and she's finally going to get a peak into the world her sister has dragged them all into.

I don't want to beg for reviews, but I can only hope everyone whose favourited and followed feels like they like this enough to leave me some love as well…reviews are like love and let me know what you like and dislike. Thanks for all the new followers though - lillypad101, nightinshadow, Sonia Otero, riddikulusdragon, HigherAngel

Twin268 – Thanks for another wonderful review. As for the shoutout I like to reply to any and all reviews I get. You guys take the time out to write a review, it's only fair I take a moment out to reply as well! Reviews are love! I think with Bella and Grace they've always been close, and Grace especially has been able to have friends outside of their relationship. They've always put each other first but from everything we know of Bella and how she was with Edward from the beginning, the way she's acting with Grace is perfectly plausible. She still loves her sister but can't see past Edward at the moment. Jacob was definitely wronged in the books; he was a good guy who fell for a girl who'd never love him in the way he deserves. In comes Grace, her and Jacob are unique because they've loved each other before the whole werewolf and imprint thing. As for Grace going to save Edward, without giving too much away, a lot is going to happen between now and then…a lot of big stuff that's going to alter Grace and Bella's relationship before the end of New Moon, stuff that's going to change Grace's world and shake her to the core, so I don't think Edwards going to be on Grace's list of priorities. I just can't wait because everything from now on is just going to be insane.