FAGE… The 13th.

Title: Picking Up the Pieces

Written for: Jadiona

Written By: NCChris

Rating: M

Summary/Prompt used: Post-Twilight/New Moon AU - Jake/Bella/Paul MMF tragic romance; I do my own beta'g and banner making, so any errors or lame banners are all mine. I do not own Twilight or any of the characters, nor do I make any money from writing this story. Twilight belongs to Stephanie Meyer; I'm just playing in her sandbox. This is not an overly lemony fic, but there are a few scenes. Please do not read if you are under 16. Thanks!

If you would like to see all the stories that are a part of this exchange visit the Facebook group: Fanficaholics Anon: Where Obsession Never Sleeps, or add the C2 to get all the stories direct to your inbox. You will find all FAGE entries for this year and the previous ones at FAGE… The 13th community page.


Chapter 2 – Home

Disclaimer: Twilight and all its characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. This is a work of fiction based on her world and characters. I don't own any of it, except my plot bunny. This isn't an overly lemony fanfic, but there are some adult scenes. Please don't read this story unless you are old enough; 18+ would be best. I hope you enjoy this short story!

Bella sat holding her cell phone. One of Renee's conditions for her returning to the Olympic Peninsula with Charlie had been that Bella would accept and use a SmartPhone. Renee and Phil had purchased the phone, loaded it with apps that made it easier to use for her vision impairment, and added it to their family service plan. Mostly, Bella used it to keep the people in her life calm.

She texted Charlie when she woke up, when she got to therapy appointments, when she arrived at the Black's home or the Clearwater's, what she needed from the Ateara's store on her way to La Push, and all the other errands that were a part of a normal life for a young woman. She had learned that almost dying had an intense effect on Charlie's need to be more involved in her life. He worried more than he had before. It had taken some time to adjust to the new dynamic, but the cell phone helped. A text message saved her the embarrassment of "safety checks" by Forks deputies or some friend or other of Charlie's.

Today though, it was not Charlie she was trying to contact; it was Jake. She'd spoken to Billy the night before & for several nights before that. Jake was sick, had been very sick for weeks now. Mononucleosis was no joke, but Bella was getting worried. Embry and Quil were sick, too. Billy said to stay out of La Push; the teenagers there were dropping like flies as the virus made the rounds. She sighed and spoke to the phone, letting it transcribe her increasingly concerned message to her best friend.

She set the phone aside and took out a braille book she was reading. She found that it took much longer to read than it used to, since she was still learning to recognize the language by touch. Immersed in her story, she didn't immediately notice when her phone chirped with a new message. She stretched and set the book aside as she finished the chapter.

The phone chirped again. She picked it up and Jake's voice, deeper and a little rough, sounded through the tinny speaker. He was feeling better. He was sorry he hadn't called her back sooner, but he wanted her to come out to the bonfire in La Push. One of the guys would come pick her up.

Bella sent a quick reply to Jake letting him know she was glad he was finally feeling better and that she'd be ready, before sending a message to Charlie so he wouldn't worry when she wasn't home after his shift. Honestly, she was a little annoyed with Jake for blowing off all her messages. He couldn't have even sent her one quick message back to let her know he was okay? It didn't make sense.