An Occasion

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter.

Part Eleven-More Than One

When Jacob and Bella walked back inside the house, they found Billy wide awake in the tiny square living room, a book in his hands. Charlie was still dozing in the chair a few feet away.

"Your old man has no stamina." Billy chuckled quietly when he noticed Bella gaping at him in surprise. "Not like me, heh." He then shot her a conspiratorial wink.

Jacob shot past a stunned Bella and loomed over his father; his gaze suspicious. "You're enjoying messing with us, aren't you?"

Billy's good mood vanished and he glared up at his son impatiently. "What are you on about? I was just teasing Bella about Charlie. There's no need to get all bent out of shape about it."

Jacob bent down and grabbed the armrests of the wheelchair, drawing his father closer until they were almost eye to eye. "Don't treat me like a fool, Dad. I saw you outside just now. So did Bella. How did you get back so fast?"

Billy made an irritated sound in the back of his throat. "I've been right here the whole time, Jacob. In case the wheelchair doesn't give it away, I can't get out of the house without help. You know all this. Stop being ridiculous."

"Stop being so condescending. And stop hiding what you are and what you can do. I am getting sick and tired…."

"And I'm getting sick and tired of refuting your bizarre theories." Billy cut in sternly. "You've got it all wrong. You've let your vivid imagination get the better of you. Now, if you don't mind, I need to visit the bathroom."

Jacob held Billy's livid gaze for a long moment, before he relented and stepped back, giving Billy space to move. He was angry. Very angry. He watched with a scowl on his face as his father manoeuvred his chair out of the small room and disappear in the direction of the bathroom.

"Why does he keep lying?" He whispered in frustration to Bella. "He knows we saw him."

"Unless it wasn't really him after all." Bella suggested tentatively.

The doubts began to creep in as soon she discovered Billy sat calmly in his wheelchair mere moments after spotting the ginormous black wolf outside. Supernatural creature or not, she couldn't believe that Billy would have been able to move that fast, change into his normal clothes (what did he do with his clothes when he transformed?), settle back in his wheelchair and act so calm and collected all within such a short space of time.

"It has to be him." Jacob argued. "It's the only thing that makes sense."

Bella looked at him helplessly. "I don't know what to say. I think we're wrong. But I still believe he knows something."

Jacob's shoulders sagged in defeat. He was utterly crestfallen. "I was so convinced it was him. With all his health problems, it felt kinda cool that they could be brushed aside when he transformed into the wolf. I wanted that for him, you know, to not be in pain anymore, to be strong again…. like he used to be…before mom…." He hung his head to hide the pain in his eyes and swallowed thickly.

Bella saw him biting his lower lip and clenching his hands together in a desperate attempt to control his emotions. He was really upset and looked like he was about to cry. And she couldn't have that. She threw her arms around him instinctively, wrapping them around his waist and pressing her face against his chest. He was so big, she felt like a child hugging a grown up.

"Its okay, Jake. I've got you. You're not alone in this. We'll figure it out." She promised rashly. She glanced up at him and smirked. "And can you please stop growing? I keep getting a crick in my neck because you're so darn tall."

Her lame attempt at humour made Jacob laugh despite himself. "You're an idiot." He said as he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her. "Thanks, Bells." His voice was huskier than normal when he thanked her.

They stood like that for a moment, both feeling comforted by the contact. It was strange to Bella, being this close – emotionally rather than physically, though the physical was strange for her, too – to another human being. It wasn't her usual style. But this was friendship. And Jacob was so warm. And she was enjoying her role as the comforter for once.

"If this is the way you're going to react. I'll freak out more often." Jacob's voice was light, normal again, and his laughter rumbled against her ear. His fingers touched her hair, soft and tentative.

Bella felt her face heating up, quickly pulling away as she covered how flustered she felt with a forced smile. "Its hard to believe I'm a whole two years older than you." She announced to create a distraction. "You make me feel like a dwarf, Jacob."

Jacob grinned in amusement, patting the top of her head. "You're like a little doll. A porcelain doll!"

Bella rolled her eyes, taking another step back to create some space between them. For some odd reason her stomach was doing strange flip flops. "You better not start with the albino wisecracks."

"Seriously, Bells, are you sure you're not?" Jacob stretched his arm out next to hers. The difference in their skin tones wasn't flattering. "I've never seen anyone paler than you…. except for…" He broke off, frowning.

"You can say his name, Jacob. I'm not going to fall apart." Bella said quietly.

Jacob ducked his head and peered at her closely. "It'll be alright, Bella, honey. You've told him its over. It'll take a while, but in time you'll both be able to move on."

"I guess." Bella mumbled. Somehow, she didn't think it was going to be so easy.

As Charlie had indulged in a few drinks, Bella was the one to drive them both home. After they went inside, she delayed as long as possible, anything to put off the inevitable. Instinct warned her that Edward would be waiting in her room.

Charlie yawned in his recliner. "I can't fight it anymore. I'm going to bed. You should turn in, too. You've got school tomorrow."

Bella sighed in defeat. "I suppose." She agreed. Her fingers fiddled with the wolf charm at her wrist.

"It was a good day, wasn't it." Charlie said as he rose to his feet. "You enjoyed your birthday?"

"Yes." A real smile took over Bella's face as she looked at the silver bracelet adorning her wrist. "I had the best time."

Charlie came over to stand beside her. He gave her shoulder an affectionate pat. "That was a lovely gift from Billy and Jacob. You should treasure it. That bracelet used to belong to Sarah, you know."

Bella let out a small gasp of surprise. "Jacob's mom?"

"Yeah." Charlie's face turned sad. "She was a lovely woman. Jacob has her eyes."

Bella felt her own eyes turn misty with tears. She felt like Jacob and Billy had bestowed upon her the most precious of gifts, knowing they had such a sentimental attachment to the bracelet made it even more meaningful. "I'll take good care of it." She promised.

Charlie gave her shoulder another awkward pat. He was never comfortable showing too much emotion. "Happy birthday, Bella." He said gruffly.

"Thanks, Dad." Bella sighed, knowing she couldn't delay things any further. With a heavy heart she followed her father upstairs to her room.

"Bella?"

Edward's soft voice came from behind her. She stiffened, turning her head slowly to find his white face hovering near her shoulder. She had just finished changing into her night things – a loose pair of sweatpants and a white tank top.

"What are you doing here, Edward?" She hated that her voice had a slight tremor in it.

Edward walked around her, putting his hands on either side of her face, forcing her to look up at him. "I couldn't leave things as they were. It saddens me when you are angry with me."

"I am not angry with you." Bella said carefully.

Relief washed over Edward's features. He smiled, touching her lips with his cold fingers. "I'm so glad. Alice and I have had a terrible night, cancelling a party at the last minute is no easy feat. But we forgive you for bailing on us. I'm sorry if you felt we pushed you too far and it became overwhelming."

"You did push me too far."

"It came from a place of love. I just wanted us to celebrate your birthday together." Edward gave her an indulgent smile.

Bella was too tired to argue. She pulled her face out of his hold and drifted toward her bed and sat down. He was soon sitting beside her, one arm slipping around her waist securely. She looked down at his long pianist fingers grasping her waist and thought about how he could break her so easily if he had a mind to.

"Edward, I meant what I said earlier today." She whispered now, trying to keep her voice under control.

Edward's eyes tightened. "What do you mean?"

"Its over."

Edward's teeth locked together. He released her, reaching out and tugging her quilt off the bed and draping it around her shoulders. He then tucked it in around her like she was a small child incapable of doing it herself.

"Please relax, Bella." He urged her. "You just need a good night's sleep. Things will seem clearer in the morning."

Bella wanted to scream she was so frustrated, but she could hardly do that with Charlie in the room next door.

Edward was stroking her cheek lovingly. "Shhhh." He started humming the lullaby he had composed for her, but instead of calming her, it just made her more distressed. "Everything will be alright. You'll see." He crooned.

"It won't." Bella persisted, shucking the quilt off her body. She wondered how she could make herself any clearer – to force Edward to face up to reality and understand that this wasn't some little tiff, but that she was deadly serious. "Listen to me, Edward. Listen and really hear what I'm saying…."

"Bella, please, I am trying my hardest to be patient." Edward spoke over her. "You are tired and overwrought. Just go to sleep. We'll talk again in the morning…." His mouth suddenly snapped shut and in the next instant he was standing at her bedroom window, peering out into the night.

It took Bella a minute to contemplate the sudden change in him. Edward was staring out of the window, his handsome features twisted into a ferocious scowl, his lips pulled back over his teeth. Whatever had his attention severely displeased him. Bella joined him at the window, her curiosity piqued by his odd behaviour.

Because it was so dark with the moon hidden behind the clouds, it took her a while to see what he was seeing. She squinted toward the line of trees in the distance, her eyes slowly adjusting to the gloom. It was only then that she saw him – the ginormous black wolf – but this time he wasn't alone, he had reinforcements with him. There were now three of them, their large eyes glowing like bright torches in the darkness.

A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.