Sunday 3rd September

"Edward," Bella whispered, shifting out of his arms. "I have to go. Term starts tomorrow and I still haven't finished planning my classes for the first week back."

"Mmm. It can't wait?"

Bella smiled and shook her head.

"School is mean, stealing you away from me," Edward pouted.

"Oh darling," Bella laughed. "I'll be quick, I promise. Then you can have me all to yourself the entire night."

"Now that's something I can live with," Edward agreed.

Bella slipped out of bed, grabbing her clothes and donning them quickly.

"I look forward to tonight, Edward," she said, teasingly.

Her husband groaned. "Go! I swear, you'll be the death of me."

"Oh Edward, you forget you're already dead."

Grinning, Bella left the room and made her way to her study. She sat down at the desk, pulling out the files and sheets needed for the new school year.

"Year nine, term plans," she muttered, reading the top of the page. "Term one, Charles Dickens and Oliver Twist." She pulled out a lesson planner, and scribbled 'Lesson one' at the top. "Hmm, introduction to Charles Dickens… video and spider diagram sheet. Homework: to read the first chapter of Oliver Twist."

The door creaked open and Bella glanced up from her work, to see her husband standing there, watching her sheepishly.

"Edward, what are you doing?"

"I wanted to see you."

Bella raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Why, exactly?"

"Is it such a crime for a man to want to see his beautiful wife?"

"It is when said wife is busy planning her classes for the following week," Bella replied. "And Edward, you should know by now that flattery will get you nowhere."

Edward shrugged. "Well, it was worth a try."

Shaking her head, exasperatedly, Bella took hold of her husband's shoulders and steered him out of her study. "Go, and if you want me to spend the night with you alone, don't disturb me again."

With that, she shut the door in Edward's disappointed face, and, sighing, she returned to her work.

"Year seven, term one. Greek mythology," she said, pulling out another file. "Let's see… introduction to The Odyssey. A summary and then a comprehension sheet I think, and I'll spare them from homework. Then lesson two can be an introduction to the Twelve Olympians with a fact sheet on the Greek Gods as homework." Bella was in the process of noting this all down when the door opened again.

"Edward, I told you not to disturb me," she said, becoming impatient.

"I'm not Edward. I should think that by now, you would be able to distinguish the scents of your husband and your sister."

Bella looked up to see Rosalie smirking at her.

"Oh, Rose! I'm sorry. It's just, Edward has been bugging me all morning and I really need to finish this planning…"

"Don't worry about it. I understand," Rose said, soothingly.

"So what do you want?"

Rosalie sighed. "Jacob ran off again and I don't know where he went. I wouldn't let Renesmee go after him, so she's locked herself in her room and refuses to come out. She keeps asking for you."

"Why did Jacob run off?"

"He's had a tough day at the repair shop, with a very difficult customer. On top of that, I think he received news from La Push. Not good news. He phased and ran," Rose explained.

Bella groaned internally. She needed to finish her planning but her family crisis's where never over.

"Can Renesmee wait a bit longer until I finish planning for tomorrow. I'll come up to see her then. As for Jacob… I think it best to let him cool off. He'll come home when he's ready."

Rose nodded and left the room, closing the door quietly behind her. Bella turned back to her work, twisting her pen between forefinger and thumb. "Year eight, term one. Witchcraft. Introduction to The Malleus Maleficarum, I suppose, and then creating a fact sheet for the history of witchcraft. Then… two free periods."

Placing her pen on the table, Bella slotted her planning sheets into their folders, deciding to deal with Renesmee now, and finish planning later. Tough luck on Edward if they didn't get some time alone that evening.

"Renesmee," Bella called, softly, knocking on her daughter's bedroom door.

The door opened a crack, enough for Renesmee to see her mother standing outside. She flung the door opened wide and threw herself into Bella's waiting arms.

"Shh, darling. What is it?" Bella asked, leading her daughter into the room and closing the door behind them.

"It's Jake," Renesmee cried. "He received a letter and got really mad and upset when he read it. Then he phased and ran off. I'm worried about him. He's never like this!"

Bella's tightened her grip around her daughter. "Oh sweetie, he is a wolf- a shapeshifter. Jake is very good at controlling his temper, I know, but even he has his breaking points. He will be back. He always comes back. And Renesmee, he would never leave you for too long. He couldn't bear it," Bella said comfortingly. "I'm sure Jake will be back soon. Rosalie told me she thinks he received bad news from La Push. He just needs some time to cool off and then he'll be back. Don't worry about him."

Renesmee nodded, snuggling closer to her mother. "Thank you," she whispered.

"That's okay, darling. Now, as much as I would love to stay and spend some time with you, I really must get back to planning my classes. Your father has been continually distracting me from my work, and he is determined to have me all to himself tonight, so I have to finish it today."

"Aright, Mum. Do you want me to keep Dad distracted?" Renesmee asked, smiling conspiratorially.

"Oh yes, please do, darling! What will you force him to endure this time?" Bella asked.

Renesmee grinned, secretively. "Oh, I expect you'll find out later, when you're alone and he whines to you about the horrors his daughter put him through."

Bella laughed. "Have fun torturing your father!" she said, leaving the room and going back to her study. She opened the door, cautiously, half expecting to see Edward there, waiting for her. But the room was, thankfully, empty. Just as she sat down, an ear-splitting scream rang out through the house. Horrified, Bella jumped up and flung her study door open, following the sound of the screams. She burst through the door to the garden, and breathed a sigh of relief at what she saw. The rest of her family had already gathered there, and were watching the scene, amused. Renesmee, seeing her mother arrive, caught her eye and winked. Shaking her head fondly, Bella turned and went back inside, laughing at her daughter's efforts to distract her father. No doubt she'd be hearing more of it that night.

Back in her study, Bella picked up her pen and planner to continue working. Now, hopefully, there wouldn't be any more distractions.

Letting out a huge sigh, Jacob slumped down against the wall, after dealing with a very difficult customer. He and Rosalie were running a car repair shop. The unexpected friendship had began after Rosalie grudgingly admitted Jacob was good with mechanics, and allowed him to join her company. Their friendship was often strained, and the derogatory names were still used, but more out of habit than any real desire to spite the other.

"Jacob," Rosalie said, walking into the back room. "There's a letter here for you. It arrived just as I was leaving home."

Jacob nodded and took the letter. "Thanks."

As Rosalie left him alone in the room, he tore open the envelope and took the letter out. Unfolding it, he immediately noticed a few smudged words, and with a mounting fear and shaking hands, he began to read.

Jacob,

I would ask you how you are faring, but you will hate the pleasantries, as the news I have for you is anything but pleasant.

Your father, Billy Black, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday night. The funeral is to be held on Thursday the 5th of October. We'd appreciate it if you found time to attend, and we are sure that you will. Any of the Cullens who wish to join us may also attend. I'm sorry, Jacob. I wish I did not have to give you this news.

My sincerest regrets,

Sam

It was not just his hands shaking. His whole body was shaking. His father was dead. Of course, Jacob knew it was going to happen someday- but nothing could have prepared him for this.

Shoving the letter carelessly into his pocket, he stormed out of the shop, slamming the door behind him, ignoring Rosalie and Renesmee's questioning looks. He ran into a thicket of trees, picking up speed, tearing his shirt off, and phasing. He didn't think about what he was doing, where he was going. He just needed to be alone, to have time to get his emotions out.

There were no voices in his head. Jacob was too far away from the pack, since they were all in La Push, and he was currently in England, having moved with the Cullens. Since it had been fifteen years since he had left, many of the pack had stopped phasing, so as to age alongside their imprints. Jacob kept phasing, though, keeping himself young so he could spend eternity with Renesmee and the Cullens.

Fifteen years…

Jacob supposed he should have expected this. After all, Charlie had passed the previous year, and neither he nor Billy had exactly been young. How Bella had coped with her father's death, Jacob didn't know. How could she deal with it, knowing that she would live forever, but her father would not, and she could never see him again?

Hours had passed since Jacob ran off, and he knew he should be getting back, for he did not want to worry Renesmee or Bella. At a slower, calmer pace, be began to make his way home. When he finally returned, it was well into the night, and he could see Bella anxiously sat on the front doorstep, looking around. He found the place he'd phased and dug around in his shredded shorts for the letter.

"Jacob!" Bella cried, relieved, as she spotted her best friend appearing out of the woods. "Oh. You uh, need clothes. Wait here. I'll go fetch you some."

A minute later, Bella reappeared, holding various pieces of clothing.

"Thanks," Jacob said, gratefully taking them and pulling them on. Once he was dressed, they went inside and sat in Bella's study, which was lit up by the warm, comforting glow of the fire.

"Jacob, why did you run off?" she asked, gently.

Jacob placed the crumpled up letter on the table, and Bella carefully opened it and began reading.

"Oh God," she said, looking up at her friend. "I- I'm so sorry, Jake. You have to go. Take a flight tomorrow. Stay for a week or so. It's been a long time since you spent any time there. I'm sure Rosalie will be fine without you for a few days."

"Bella, you and Renesmee have to come too." When Bella opened her mouth to protest, he continued. "Billy cared about you Bella. And besides, Sam said you could come if you wanted. Bella, I need you and Nessie there. You are my best friend and she is my imprint. I need you both," he pleaded.

Bella couldn't refuse. "Okay. Renesmee and I will join you. I don't like the thought of missing the first few days back but… how long will you stay?"

He thought for a moment. "A week," he decided.

"Alright," Bella said. "Renesmee can stay the full week, but would you mind if I only stayed for the funeral? The school will understand, but I'd rather not miss the first week…"

"Of course. It's Monday tomorrow, and I'll leave in the morning. Come on Wednesday and leave on Friday?"

"Yes, that should be fine," Bella said. "Now, you should probably find Renesmee. She was pretty upset when you ran off. And I'll call the school and explain that she will miss the first week back."

Jacob nodded and stood to leave, when Bella grabbed his hand.

"Jake, I really am sorry."

He gave a small smile of acknowledgement, and went to find Renesmee. He knocked on her door and said, "Nessie?"

The door opened and Renesmee flew into Jacob's arms.

"What happened, Jake? Why did you leave?"

"I'm so sorry, Nessie. I just needed some time alone."

"Mum said Rosalie thinks you received bad news from La Push."

Jacob nodded. "I did. My father, Billy, he died yesterday." Renesmee gasped, and clung to Jacob tighter. "The funeral is on Thursday. Your mother is calling the school to say you will miss the first few days. You and I will be spending a week in La Push, and Bella will join us for the funeral. You don't mind, do you?"

Renesmee shook her head. "Of course I don't mind."

"Thank you."

In her study, Bella picked up her phone and called her friend Ashley, who was the head teacher at the school she worked at.

"It's two in the morning. Why are you calling?"

"Ashley, it's me," Bella said, smiling slightly at the grumpy tone in her friend's voice.

"Bella! It's lovely to hear from you, but… it's two in the morning. What could possibly be so important that you felt the need to wake me up? Something pleasant, I hope."

"I'm afraid what I have to say is anything but pleasant. Something bad happened to my friend, Jacob? Do you remember him?"

"Oh yes, I remember him. What happened?"

Bella sighed. "His father passed yesterday, and the funeral is on Thursday. He is staying for a full week, because it's been an awfully long time since he last spent time with his friends there. Renesmee will be staying the full week too, and I was planning to leave for La Push on Wednesday, and return on Friday. If that is alright with you, of course."

"Oh, Bella! Of course it's alright. If you give me the class plans for the days you will be away, I'll pass them onto a supply teacher. Please, pass on my condolences to Jacob."

"I will, Ashley. Thank you."

"It's no problem, Bella. But now I would rather like to get some sleep. It is the first day back tomorrow, and I have to arrive promptly."

"Goodnight, Ashley."

"Goodnight, Bella."

The call ended, and Bella placed her phone down, gazing at the finished plans for the first week of her English classes. Knowing Edward would be impatiently waiting for her, she reluctantly went to their room, not at all in the mood for what Edward had hinted at earlier. Thankfully, he seemed to know this, because when she opened the door, he opened his arms and welcomed her into them.

"I heard what happened to Jacob," he said, quietly. "I'm sorry."

"Thank you. Are you okay with me leaving for a few days?"

Edward shook his head, incredulously. "Do you even need to ask me that? Bella, he was your father's best friend. He was you best friend's father. I could never blame you for wanting to go to his funeral."

Bella curled up against him. "What did our darling Renesmee do to you today?" she asked, curiously.

Edward snorted. "Darling my foot. She dragged me outside saying that everyone else was busy and she needed someone to practise on."

"Practise what on?" Bella asked, warily.

"She said she needed someone to dress up! God, it was worse than it would have been with Alice! She produced a ton of clothes she'd made-"

"Made? Since when does Renesmee make clothes?" Bella asked, perplexed.

"Ask her!" Edward replied, grumpily "But anyway, she forced me to try on the most horrendous clothes ever to have been created. For two hours!"

Bella stifled a giggle at that. After all this time, Edward still had not realised his daughter was purposely distracting him with these 'torture methods', and that his wife encouraged them. Renesmee had become quite good at disguising her thoughts, but when she was thinking up more creative plans, Bella would often shield her so Edward could not read her thoughts at all.

"Oh, Edward. I'm sorry our daughter put you through all that. How would you like me to make you feel better?" she asked, attempting to keep a straight face.

"I want to hold you all night until you have to get ready for school tomorrow."

Bella smiled. "Well, I'm sure that can be arranged."

Husband and wife held each other close, simply enjoying the presence of their spouse.