Hello there, dear reader.
I've played around with FF for close to a decade, reading and writing, but this fic is different. It's my debut into writing seriously; a brain worm I've considered for years and finally put metaphorical pen to paper. In light of the Twilight renaissance, I humbly contribute my wares for your enjoyment (I hope).
Any and all feedback is appreciated and will fuel my progress.
I detest lengthy ANs so I will simply note that I've adjusted some details from canon, such as character ages and Bella's heritage. If you notice this throughout the fic, it is intentional. If you would prefer a summary of the changes let me know in a review and I can edit and add that to this chapter.
Finally, all recognisable characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. I've just borrowed her toys and have simply been playing with them.
Chapter One
It was two minutes before the final bell rang, signalling the end of what had been a long Monday for the young brunette seated at her desk at the front of her second grade classroom. She stood gracefully, slender legs encased in dark wash denim, and made her way towards one of the students seated in the front row, kneeling before him but avoiding touching him until he took notice of her presence. The boy raised his head, turning towards her with eyes so dark they were closer to onyx than brown.
"SJ," She smiled with obvious affection for the boy, and he was quick to return the expression with a smile of his own, showing off the double gap where his front teeth used to be. "It's time to put on your headphones; the bell is about to ring…" She gestured to the headphones that hung around his shoulders, and SJ placed them over his ears, ensuring they were securely in place before nodding to indicate he was ready. SJ's autism made him especially affected by loud noises, and the headphones helped him manage more easily in situations like this.
"Thanks, Miss Bella!" His voice was louder than normal with his headphones in place, unable to hear his elevated volume, and Bella chuckled as she returned to the front of the room right as the bell sounded.
Bella gathered all of her students into two lines by the classroom door, just as she had done at the end of every day since she started her position at La Push School the previous fall. Her students held hands with their line buddy, Bella's wrapped gently around SJ's, and they followed her towards the large entry doors and led into the courtyard neighbouring the carpark.
Many parents were already waiting for their children and exchanged pleasantries when they collected them from their teacher. Bella held tight to SJ's hand as she spoke with parents, and wished her students a warm goodbye until the following day. Despite the usual hurry most parents were in at school pickup time, Daniel Kipp was leaning against the outside of the school building, legs crossed at his ankles and hands thrust into the pockets of his paint-spattered khaki pants.
Soon, the only remaining students in Bella's class were Amelia Kipp and SJ. Bella closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath as she prepared for the now unavoidable interaction with Daniel. This had been his ploy for the past few weeks; he would wait just out of the way until all of the other students had left with their parents and Bella would have no choice but to approach him to hand over Amelia. He seemed to relish playing his game, and when Bella turned to face him he ran predatory eyes over the petite form of his unwilling opponent.
"Hello, Mr Kipp. Amelia was a delight today, as always." Bella smiled pleasantly enough, despite her discomfort. She placed a gentle hand on Amelia's shoulder before indicating for the young girl to join her father. As Amelia skipped closer towards her father, Daniel pushed off the wall, his heavy work boots scraping against the brick. Bella flinched minutely as he approached, her discomfort increasing the closer he encroached on her personal space. She moved SJ slightly behind her more out of instinct than conscious thought, shielding him from Daniel's view as a leery smile spread across the man's face.
"Hello yourself, Miss Bella," He emphasised the title that indicated her single status, as if it were somehow a shameful brand. "It's been too long since we last chatted." Bella only hummed in response, glancing at her watch and preparing to make her excuses. Before she could open her mouth to do so, he continued, "We shouldn't wait so long to see each other again. Why don't you join me for dinner tonight?" She was momentarily stunned at his directness but recovered quickly.
"I'm sorry, Mr Kipp, but I have plans this evening. In fact, I really should get going as I'm already running behind." She made to leave, before a calloused hand gripped her bicep just tightly enough to cause a twinge of pain as the breath caught in her throat.
"Another night then. I am more than willing to free up my evenings to enjoy time with you." The insinuation in his tone unnerved her and sent a shiver of disgust down her spine as her heart hammered against her ribcage.
Remembering SJ, Bella took a deep breath before turning back towards Daniel with fiery eyes.
"I don't date my student's parents, Mr Kipp. Now please let go of my arm; I have places I need to be." She somehow managed to keep her voice from wavering as she glared into his piercing blue eyes before wrenching her arm from his grip. She led SJ away as quickly as possible, refusing to look back towards Daniel. As she buckled SJ into his booster seat in her aging red truck, she heard a dark chuckle followed by a call of, "I'll see you soon, Miss Bella," from across the lot and another involuntary shiver overtook her. She'd deterred him for now, but it wouldn't be long before Daniel Kipp tried again, she was sure of it.
When Bella pulled into the drive of her best friend's home not ten minutes later, she'd resolved to put the uncomfortable interaction with Daniel Kipp out of her mind. SJ had spoken animatedly on the drive, talking excitedly with Bella about the antics of his twin sisters – Ava and Kari – over the weekend. They'd spent Saturday at the beach taking advantage of a rare sunny day and enjoying a family picnic before splashing in the water and searching the tide pools for shells and fossils. SJ's stories always brought a smile to Bella's face; the boy held a special place in her heart, which was why she was more than willing to drop him home so often to help out her friend.
Once she parked up, she slid from her seat to the ground with a slight jump to compensate for the height of the cab. Despite its hulking size, she'd fallen in love with her truck as soon as she'd laid eyes on it and bought it from Billy Black without any hesitation just a few days after moving to the Res. After helping SJ from his seat and slinging his backpack over her shoulder, they walked hand in hand up onto the large wraparound porch and through the front door without knocking.
"Honey, I'm home!" Bella called as they entered, releasing SJ's hand so he could make his way into his bedroom. He always played with his dinosaur toys once he got home from school, and maintaining his routine was important for the young boy.
"I'll be there in a sec!" Bella heard Emily call from the direction of the master bedroom, so she took a seat at the kitchen island to wait for her friend.
After a few minutes, Emily made her way down the hall and Bella rose to envelop her friend in a hug by way of greeting, Emily's growing baby bump pressing slightly against Bella's abdomen.
"SJ's in his room," She explained, and Emily nodded before moving into the kitchen.
"Thank you so much for bringing him home, Bells. Leah offered to watch the twins today so I've managed to get caught up on so much cleaning and laundry. It really was a huge help!" Emily's gratitude was obvious, but Bella waved her hand in dismissal.
"No thanks necessary, Em. You know I'm happy to help out any time. You only need to ask."
As they continued to chat, Emily started pulling out groceries and laying them on the kitchen island. She paused briefly to rub her lower back and Bella gave her a once over, noticing just how tired her friend looked.
"Em, why don't you sit? Let me make a start on dinner for you." She quickly surveyed the ingredients Emily had removed from the fridge, "Beef casserole?" She guessed and based on the smile from the raven-haired woman, she was right. "I can do this with my eyes closed! You sit your butt down there and relax. You look dead on your feet." At the look she received from Emily, she quickly added, "Still the most beautiful woman I know!" It earned her a chuckle as she quickly got to work chopping vegetables and browning the beef in two huge casserole dishes at Emily's direction.
"Considering you've taken over my kitchen, you are staying for dinner, right?" Emily's tone was teasing but clearly brooked no argument so Bella offered none.
"Sure, Em. Are you expecting more company? I know Sam eats like a horse but this is a lot even for your husband!" Bella tried to disguise her anxiety at the prospect of more company; Sam's friends were all just as tall and broad as he was and their hulking forms were a source of intimidation for the slight woman. She was always overly cautious around them and avoided being in too close contact, despite how friendly they always were to her. Sam seemed to understand her skittishness and never pushed her, a quality which she appreciated and endeared him to her despite her trepidation.
"Sam asked Colin and Brady to come to dinner." Bella had heard some about the boys Sam was mentoring; from memory they were twenty years old this year and only three years younger than herself.
"How are they doing?" She was genuinely curious – Sam had taken a real interest in the boys and seemed invested in helping them succeed.
"Well, for the most part. They just started a few online courses but they're struggling with the transition to tertiary study." Bella nodded, recalling how overwhelming she'd found college in her first semester.
"Sam was actually going to ask if you'd meet with them, maybe tutor them to help keep them on track? The council will happily pay you a stipend, if you have the time." Emily's request was unexpected, but welcome. After all, Bella had gone into teaching because she loved to help others to learn. Before she could talk herself out of it, she found herself agreeing, "Sure, Em. I'm happy to help. And I don't need a stipend; if I was interested in money I wouldn't have changed my major to teaching." Bella's eyes darkened with memories from a time before La Push but she didn't elaborate further, and Emily didn't ask. She had seen that same darkness cloud Bella's usually-bright doe eyes before, and knew that her friend would share if and when she was ready.
Emily went to check on SJ, who was now laying on his bed reading his newest copy of Artemis Fowl – courtesy of Bella, who was constantly encouraging his reading. She smiled affectionately as she watched her son from the doorway for a few moments, appreciating just how much he was thriving with a teacher who cared so much about his needs, was so willing to put in the effort required to support him. When she returned to the kitchen, Bella was stirring the vegetables into the casseroles before turning the stove down and lidding the dishes, leaving them to simmer for a few hours.
"Bells," the interruption made her start before she turned towards Emily, "I'm really, really glad you moved here." Bella smiled softly before moving to hug her friend gently, unsure where the sudden burst of affection had come from but appreciating it nonetheless.
"Me too, Em. Me too."
Bella had always loved the rain. More specifically, the crisp scent that lingered after a heavy downpour; moisture hanging in the air so thick you tasted it with every inhale, cleansing you from the inside out. Rain washed away the scars left in the earth, encouraging new growth, new life. This was what had precipitated Bella's move to La Push – her late father's reservation, her one-time home for the first five years of her life and possibly the rainiest place in the mainland States. Bella had returned to her birthplace after nearly twenty years to take a vacant position at La Push School, desperate for the constant downpour to heal the scars marring her heart like it did those of the forest that surrounded her new home.
Bella closed her eyes, breathing deeply as the scents of the woods that bordered her friend's property invaded her senses, and refused to allow errant thoughts of her life before La Push to gain purchase in her mind. She'd embraced this same approach for the last six months, ignoring the painful memories and instead focusing on appreciating the beauty and comfort she'd discovered in returning to her roots, her tribe. The things that had come before didn't matter now.
"What's got you in such deep thought, Bells?" Emily's voice was teasing but kind, always kind. Bella chuckled lightly, turning chocolate orbs towards her best friend and accepting the steaming mug of tea proffered.
"Thanks, Em," she raised her mug in a gesture of appreciation before taking a sip and sighing in contentment. "I was just thinking about how much I love the rain. It's so cleansing." A small blush creeped along Bella's cheeks at that admission but she offered no further information and Emily was not one to pry.
Bella kicked off her ballet flats and tucked her feet underneath her legs, pulling the throw that normally hung on the back of the porch seat across her lap to avoid a chill creeping into her skin. She turned herself towards her friend, admiring how graceful she was even at five months pregnant.
Emily was twenty-eight, a few years older than Bella's twenty-three, but possessed a youthful beauty that was enhanced by her russet skin and glossy black hair, which hung straight and to her hips. Three thin scars ran down the right side of her face, from hairline to the wrist of her arm; despite the extent of her injuries, Emily was easily the most beautiful woman Bella had ever met.
Emily joined Bella, curling up in an adjacent chair as well as she was able with her swollen middle.
"No matter what I say after this little one is born, promise me you won't let me get pregnant again?" Emily grumbled, running an errant hand over her belly.
"You might want to chat to your husband about that one, Em." Bella's eyes were full of mirth as she teased, "I'm not sure I have much to do with you getting pregnant!"
"Oh, you know what I mean, Bells. I'm getting old – I don't think my body can do this again!" Bella only laughed, giving Emily a pointed look and raising her brow in jest. "I mean it! I found my first grey hair the other day… we can't all look as youthful as you, my young friend." Emily's gentle chuckle joined Bella's as she spoke.
"Emily! You are gorgeous, you crazy woman! But trust me, looking youthful isn't all it's cracked up to be." Bella's tone turned more serious as she turned fully toward her friend, "I was asked out by a high schooler a couple of months ago, right after I moved here. It was the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me!" Emily immediately erupted into giggles, which quickly became guffaws as Bella's cheeks reddened in embarrassment.
Once Emily had calmed down enough for the conversation to continue, Bella recounted the whole interaction; a boy no older than seventeen had approached her when she was in Forks to grab a few things that the grocer in La Push didn't have in stock and she'd had to rebuke his advances multiple times after he'd struck up a conversation. When Bella admitted she'd asked if he was shopping with his parents in an effort to conclude the conversation, Emily dissolved into giggles once more.
Not long after Emily's amusement had calmed and they'd returned to normal conversation, the women heard the familiar rumble of Sam's truck as it rolled up the drive. As soon as the engine cut, he exited the huge black monstrosity with ease, rain glistening as it caught in his dark, cropped hair, before moving to the rear doors to unharness Ava and Kari from their car seats. Even in his Forks Police uniform, the lithe muscles of his body were obvious and set Bella on edge.
Sam's happiness was palpable as he carried the three year olds – one on either shoulder – toward the porch as they giggled in delight, demanding their father move faster. His smile somehow increased tenfold as he moved toward his wife, shifting Ava onto the same shoulder as Kari so he could pull Emily into his chest. Bella averted her eyes, the blatant display of affection overwhelming and too intimate for an audience, as Sam first kissed each of the three lines cutting through Emily's cheek before placing a passionate kiss on her lips in greeting.
After a few moments, Sam greeted Bella warmly but respected her space and didn't move closer to her. He thanked her for bringing SJ home from school, which she once again dismissed with a wave of her hand, and excused herself to check on dinner and give the couple a chance to catch up.
Just as Bella was dishing bowls heaped with casserole the front door flew open and two men came crashing through, shoving each other back and forth with ribbing jests flying between them. Bella instinctively stepped back, watching the scene with wide eyes and clutching the ladle to her chest.
"That's enough, you two idiots!" Sam's voice boomed across the kitchen and the men stopped almost immediately, straightening themselves before Sam continued, "You frightened poor Bella half to death. You owe her one hell of an apology."
In a second, both men looked straight toward Bella who was still frozen in shock a few feet back from the stove. As she saw their faces for the first time she noticed that, while their bodies appeared to be those of a grown men, their features were distinctly boyish; in fact, they couldn't be far out of adolescence. Taking a deep breath to bolster her confidence, Bella offered a shy smile and waved her ladle back and forth in a gesture of greeting.
"Sorry, Bella! Sam's right – we really can be idiots." The raven-haired boy shot her an apologetic smile, an expression that further highlighted his youth. "I'm Brady, and this is Colin." He gestured to the other boy, whose head of messy brunette curls bounced as he nodded his hello. She felt relieved knowing these were the boys Sam had been mentoring and not unexpected guests.
"Nice to meet you both. And there's no need to apologise; I can be a little skittish sometimes! No harm done." Her smile was more genuine now and she relaxed, returning the ladle to the casserole and continuing to serve up dinner.
Bella wasn't surprised to see that Colin and Brady's appetites rivalled Sam's and she was grateful for Emily's forethought to make a double batch of casserole. While she was still shy around the new additions, Bella found that she warmed quickly to Colin and Brady who both chatted animatedly while they ate at Sam and Emily's huge dining table. She could see why Sam had taken such an interest in supporting the boys; they seemed to be intelligent and eager to learn, despite a slight immaturity for their twenty years.
"So Bella, how do you feel about tutoring us? It would be such a big help!" Colin asked, smiling brightly in her direction.
"I'd be more than happy to. If you both wanted to come by the school after three tomorrow, we can go through your assignments and see where you both are up to. Does that sound ok?" They both responded enthusiastically before SJ suddenly contributed, "But Miss Bella, they won't fit in our seats! They're too big just like Daddy!" The table erupted into a fit of giggles as SJ gave them all a gap-toothed smile before returning to his dinner.
Once plates were cleared, Bella offered to do the dishes but was dismissed as Colin and Brady took her place at the sink and started to clean up after their meal. Taking the opportunity to make her exit before the children's bedtime routines began, Bella wrapped Emily and then the children in warm hugs before quietly farewelling Sam, Colin and Brady with a small wave. Despite the friendliness of the group she was far more comfortable once she'd escaped to the freedom of the night and was once again on her own. She took one deep, cleansing breath that tasted of rain and pine trees before jogging through the drizzle and into her truck to head home as the sky darkened and night began to fall.
And there it is, dear reader. Thank you for making it this far. Please let me know what you think. Until next chapter…