A/N: I do not own the Twilight franchise or any of its characters. They belong to Stephenie Meyer. This story takes place four years after Breaking Dawn. AU. Thank you for reading!

Chapter 1: Effortless

Everything was grey. The sky. The walls of the bedroom. Her skin. Life seemed to have lost its meaning.

Dull.

It didn't matter how good the weather was, which wasn't very often anyhow because this is good 'ol murky Seattle, and it didn't matter the events that took place over the course of the day. For a while now Bella's life just seemed mundane-same old, same old. She felt...empty. It was as if she could feel herself gradually slipping away from her husband and daughter. There were days she longed for an escape, even if it was for a little while. Edward occasionally leaves the house to go hunting or take care of other important matters around this time of day. He always offers Bella to tag along and usually she would. But lately she felt in all respects, tired.

With a worn-out sigh, Bella sat up in their California king bed and sauntered to Renesmees's room. She was gone. She must have already gone outside to meet Jacob for the day. Bella walked over to Nessie's window bench adorned by white cushions. She pulled back her silver patterned curtain to see if they were nearby. She saw no one.

Jacob only visits three days a week, which although it may be hard for Bella to admit, is probably better for everybody. Bella is well aware of the countless heartaches she put him through, and she doesn't blame him for the wall he's built specifically for her. Though, sometimes she could swear that sometimes he lets his guard fall. But never for too long. There have been times when she's caught him staring at her in a way that he rather shouldn't-like she's the only person in the room. His gaze would be so tenacious at times that she couldn't help but stare back. Their sensual exchange would be interrupted by a not-so-subtle clearing of the throat from her husband.

She heard the door to the back entry way of the house slam shut, causing her train of thought to come to an abrupt stop.

"Mom! We're back!" Renesmee yelled from the kitchen. We're? Bella thought. Jacob couldn't have possibly been with her. He never steps foot inside the house unless it's a holiday. When he visits with Renesmee he limits himself to the woods and La Push. What could be the reason for this?

The stench hit Bella intensely. Blood. Was Renesmee hurt? Jacob? Bella scurried down the foyer and down the stairs and rushed to the kitchen.

It was Jacob. His leg was badly wounded. A deep cut ran from his knee to almost halfway up his thigh.

"Jake, what happened?" Bella's voice shook with worry. Was it a vampire? Is someone after him? Bella's mind was going a million miles a minute. Why am I just standing here? she thought. She ran to the cupboard underneath the sink to get out the first aid kit. When she stood back up she was met with rather calm stares from her daughter and best friend.

"What? Why are you both staring at me like that?" Bella shrieked with confusion. Jacob and Renesmee exchanged looks until he finally spoke.

"Relax. Ness and I were climbing up a tree and coming back down, I fell onto some branches. Not a big deal." Jacob spoke in monotone. Bella stared at him with confusion still. Renesmee plopped down from the marble isle and walked out of the room, shaking her head. Bella could've sworn she heard her daughter mumble something but she paid it no attention for now.

"Jake, that's a huge cut. Doesn't it hurt at least?" Bella asked, gazing at the wound.

"Well, yes but not much. I'll be okay. I'm a w-".

"Werewolf. Right. Got it." Bella's cheeks turned into tomatoes. She dropped her head to look at her bare feet, playing back her recent episode. They were so relaxed because he'll heal fast. That would explain the placid stares. Now it was clear she'd made a fool of herself. Looking up from her feet she was met with a soft gaze from Jacob, who was sitting slumped on one of the stools. He looked like his younger self. The Jacob that pulled her out of the depths of her despair when Edward up and left. But that was then and this is now. Times have changed and people she loves most along with it. Though out of everyone, she believes Charlie has changed the least. To her surprise, Charlie's actions and feelings towards Bella remained the same after her decision to change. Bella will love him eternally for that.

Jacob waved his hand to Bella. "Anyone home?" he said sarcastically. Bella shuddered when he grabbed her arm. She didn't even realize that he had walked over to her.

"What, Jake?" Bella was embarrassed. Perhaps the vampire transformation only changed but so much.

Jacob's hand traveled tenderly down her arm to grab her hand. Bella's eyes followed his hand to see him interlace his fingers with hers. It was these types of moments that Bella sensed he was letting down his guard. He used his other hand to slightly tilt her head upward. "You know, you don't have to get so worked up over me.", he said softly; his eyes seemed to read her as easily as a children's picture book. "I appreciate it, really. And don't look so embarrassed." he added with a sweet grin. This was the Jacob she missed-there to comfort her when she was feeling low or flustered or just completely out of it. But this was an all-the-time thing. And it shouldn't have been. In fact, it shouldn't have been this way for a long time now. Jacob deserved to have someone to care for him, too. Bella was going to make an effort to change that.

Bella gingerly removed his hand from her chin and tugged him toward the isle. Jacob slid atop the marble in one smooth movement. "What are you doing, honey?" he asked.

"I am trying to be the one to help you for once. Sit still." Bella went to grab the first aid kit again. She pulled a stool over. She had no idea what she was really doing, but she was at least going to try. Jacob watched as she sorted through the various bandages and gauze. She spotted some peroxide and some cotton pads. She felt Jacob's hand on top of hers causing her to pause.

"Bells-" Bella's gasped softly. He hasn't called her that in God knows how long. He's letting his guard down. "You really shouldn't be messing with that stuff if you don't know what you are doing. Plus...you know...", He was referring to her being able to ignore his blood.

Bella scoffed, "Please, I'll be fine. Who can't handle something as simple as peroxide and a little blood? Besides, if I ever did cross that line it wouldn't be with you. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Now sit still!" Bella's eyes looked back over the wound then back to his eyes for reassurance. Jacob rolled his eyes in surrender. She slowly rolled his shorts up above the wound, careful to not cause him more pain. She could feel his eyes burning into the top of her head as she went to work.

"Well you, my good Sir, are done." Bella joked and did a half bow. Her laugh filled the grand house. Jacob just shook his head in amusement, his gaze soft. Little by little he stopped laughing until he was just staring at her-intense but soft. Much like the stare that almost got her in trouble with Edward. Bella missed moments like this immensely.

She found herself matching his gaze, both of them trying to read the other, neither one saying a word. But Jacob was sensing something he hadn't seen in a long time, not since Edward left her. She wasn't happy. Bella's eyes averted his and fell to the cold floor. She couldn't believe the affect he still managed to have on her after all that's happened. It was then that she realized how little space was between them. Before Bella knew it, her eyes were welling. She knew Jacob finally unearthed the darkness she'd been carrying for months now. He could always tell what was going on inside her head. Trying to fool him was always impossible.

Bella came to terms with her poor decision-making skills almost half a year ago. But what could she do about it? She had built a family and a sustainable but now lackluster marriage. She decided to become a vampire at a young age, too immature to thoroughly sort out the countless details. She gave up her sleep, her diet, her normal friends, all to be a part of his life. And for what? Just to end up like this only a few years later? As far as she knew at that point in her life, Edward had everything she craved to have for herself. He was perfect and supernatural. Bella was just, well...Bella. Nothing more, nothing less. However, there was one person who saw Bella to be so much more than what she saw herself to be and that was none other than her best friend Jacob Black. Perhaps Bella was too infatuated with Edward's qualities to recognize her own perfections. Jacob constantly told her how smart and ambitious she was as well as stubborn and clumsy. But that's what he loved most about her. She was balanced. Not too perfect (like Edward) and not too blemished.

Jacob started to slide off the counter but a hand pushing his chest back prevented him from doing so. Bella really didn't want this to be another time where Jacob was the one consoling her and not the other way around. He held onto her cold, delicate hand and pulled her towards him causing her breath to catch. The two haven't been this close in proximity in years, yet it felt so effortless. With Jacob still sitting on the counter and Bella now in between his legs, if anyone walked in they would take the scene to mean something totally different that what it was. But right now, that held no importance. Not even if her daughter and his imprint came strolling through the kitchen right now. This was dangerous. She shouldn't have been this close to a man that was not her husband. But it didn't feel wrong.

Jacob cautiously wrapped his warm arms around her freezing body-their differentiating temperatures also having no meaning. Right now they were just two people trying to be there for the other. Bella felt his warm hands slowly rub circles on the small of her back as she hung her head onto his chest, sobbing. She began to feel soft kisses on her auburn hair. Had they crossed that blurred line?

Perhaps the person whose footsteps they heard hurrying up the stairs could answer that for them.

A/N: Thanks for reading!