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!
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Ch. 10 - Aftermath
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 and Paul moved through the days following Jacob's death in a fog. The imprint bonds were in turmoil and even Old Quil wasn't sure how to fix them. The only comfort they found was lying in bed where Jacob's scent still remained on the sheets.
Harry's memorial service had been held earlier, but Paul & Bella hadn't attended. They were saving their strength for Jacob's funeral. Paul felt as haggard as Bella looked. He'd been doing his best to help her through this, but truth be told, they were both barely hanging on. Bella couldn't keep any food down and Paul ached everywhere.
The morning of Jake's memorial dawned cold and gray, reflecting the pallor of Paul and Bella's skin as they rode in the procession with Billy to Third Beach, in view of James Island. Paul held Bella as she sobbed through the service, his own face stony as tears slid down his cheeks silently. Billy sat stock still in his chair as if he was still waiting to wake from a nightmare. The tribe had been told a cover story, a tragic accident. There wasn't a dry eye on the beach as Joy Ateara sang a mournful Quileute song as the service ended. Bella and Paul stood, as if frozen, as the mourners drifted away. Charlie hugged a stiff Bella and awkwardly patted Paul's shoulder. The couple seemed untouchable in their grief. Even Billy was at a loss of how to help his son's mates.
Life went on. Old Quil communed with the Spirits; there was no cure for the damaged imprint. Paul and Bella would learn to live with it; like a darkness that would occasionally rise, but would ebb and flow over time. Seth learned the ropes at Sam's knee. Kim went into labor and delivered a happy healthy 10 pound 6 ounce baby girl that she and Jared named Hope. Hope's birth gave the Pack something to celebrate and, though the pain remained, she lived up to her namesake and brought a little hope back to their lives.
Bella had started watching little Hope two days a week while Kim worked on getting her GED and Jared worked at the plant with his dad. Bella spent hours just rocking the sleeping newborn. It was the only thing that alleviated her grief at all when Paul wasn't able to be at home. Billy kept an eye on them both and, truth be told, having the new life in the house helped him, too.
The childcare arrangement had been going on for a week or so when Kim let Bella know that she was staying late for tutoring and that Jared would come get Hope when he got off work. Bella, of course, never minded keeping her and told Kim not to worry. When Paul got home, he found her curled up on the bed with the baby, both of them sleeping. Something tight in his chest loosened a little as he tenderly kissed the top of Bella's head, waking her so they could get Hope ready for Jared to pick up.
It was Billy's turn to cook supper that night and he'd chosen to do a fish fry. Jared showed up as Bella was setting the table and Hope was enjoying some time in the baby swing. They invited him to stay for supper since Kim wouldn't be home until later and he happily agreed. Billy's fish fry was legendary.
As they sat down to eat, Bella and Paul both picked at their food, only eating enough to keep Billy and Jared from worrying. They'd both begun to look gaunt in the weeks following Jake's death. Jared was easily the most jovial of the wolves, but, as he watched his friends waste away, he wondered how much longer they could go on like this. It was while he was thinking about what the future might hold for Paul and Bella that he heard a noise.
As a wolf with superhuman senses, he was used to tuning out sounds that would never even register for humans. However, this noise seemed to get louder the more he tried to ignore it, as if his wolf was pawing at him to take notice. Jared cocked his head a little, focusing more on the sound. It seemed kind of familiar, like he'd heard it before, but couldn't place it.
Hope chose that moment to begin fussing from the baby swing. Jared told Bella to relax and eat when she went to get up for a bottle. He knelt behind her to get his daughter and suddenly realized what the sound was.
Never the most tactful of wolves, he simply blurted out the first thing that popped into his head, wondering aloud why Bella hadn't mentioned she was pregnant.
All hell broke loose at the dinner table.
