Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Twilight. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer. I do own the original characters created for this storyline. Please support the original release.

Writers Notes: Welcome to Dear Soulmate! Chapter Two! Battling the Broken:::


~~Flowers by Miley Cyrus~~


Bella was broken. After everything she had been through. She was broken. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. It was now 4 months since Edward left. She was shattered. Her mind in a catatonic state. She was going through the motions. She didn't pay attention to anyone around her. Either they were coming or going. She didn't see how worried her dad was. Or that Jake had been by a dozen times and talked to her but she didn't register it. Eventually they stopped coming. Just like her friends at school. They weren't friends anymore. She was the weird quiet kid now. What did it matter? Graduation was close and she didn't even know. She just went to school whenever her dad told her it was school or to work when it was time for her to work.

Finally, Charlie had enough. He slammed the door on the truck. The forceful slam made Bella blink and look at her dad. Her focus was broken from her mind.

"This isn't normal Bella. You're sick. I need to get you help. I can't watch you either away to nothing." Charlie said, his voice breaking a little. He didn't know what else to do. She just wasn't Bella anymore.

"W-what?" Bella squeaked out.

"You need to move on. He's gone. You don't even see your friends anymore. This isn't healthy."

Bella blinked a couple times. "I was thinking about seeing Jake today." She lied.

Charlie raised a brow, studying her. "You're going to see Jake?"

Bella nodded. "Yeah. I know what you're saying… dad. I'll go see Jake. I'll… be better. Promise."

Charlie hesitated but he seemed satisfied with her answer. "Okay. That's good." He said with a small smile. It was the first glimmer of hope in months.


After school Bella went to Jake's like she said. She hesitantly knocked on the door and he answered. He was larger than she remembered. He looked almost the same though. His long dark hair was down past his shoulders. His dark eyes seemed to light up when he saw her. He smiled a bright white smile and she smiled slightly back.

"Bella! This is a surprise." Jake said, walking outside and closing the door. He noticed how thin she was, thinner than the last time he saw her.

"Um. Yeah. I know it's just last second. I thought maybe we could… um… hang out?" She was picking at her nails, a sign of her nervousness. She used to never do that before… him.

Jake placed a hand over hers, forcing her to stop picking her nails. He smiled at her. "Of course. I was about to work on the car in the workshop. Want to take a look?" he asked and Bella nodded and followed Jake to the workshop that sat next to Billy's trailer. "So, I haven't seen you in a while. Graduation is coming up right?"

Bella nodded. She leaned against a workbench as she watched Jake tinker with the car engine. It was an older car. She didn't know anything about cars but she recognized that the style matched the age of her truck. "Yeah." Her voice was small still. She was anxious. It was a new feeling to set in since her dad slammed the truck door this morning. It was like she was awake now but now she was active with her thoughts.

Jake nodded. He knew from what his dad told him, that Bella was left in the woods by her ex boyfriend Edward. He just left her stranded without showing her the way back. He was there when Sam brought her back. She was nearly hypothermic. The way she reacted when she woke up was terrifying. He has never seen someone that unstable before. He spent a couple months going over there with his dad. Trying to get her to talk and interact but she was just a shell. Her eyes were dull and she looked right through you. Today she was anxious and he could tell. Her eyes still lacked a light in them and he knew that something had to happen to force her over here today because she was still distant. He looked over at her. "Pass me that wrench." He said gently.

Bella blinked a couple times looking around her and picked up what she thought was a wrench. She handed it to him and he chuckled a little. "What?"

"These are pliers." Jake said and then he brushed past her and grabbed the wrench. He held it up smiling.

Bella looked at it. She knew that. She didn't know why she handed him the pliers. Her dad had taught her some stuff with tools. She was good at angles and really good with woodworking. "Sorry. I knew that… I don't know why I gave you pliers." She said her voice meek and distant.

Jake nodded his understanding. "Its okay not to be okay." He finally said as he used the wrench to tighten a bolt on the engine.

"What?"

Jake leaned back and looked at her. "Its okay to not be okay. If you just need to come here and sit in silence while I work. That's okay. I take it Charlie wants you out of the house more."

Bella nodded. "Yeah. Threatened to send me to the looney bin." She said with a nervous laugh.

Jake stared at her. He really looked at her. He saw the fear in her eyes now. She didn't want to be locked away. She needed help but she needed the right kind of help and he thought he could do that. "Well. Consider me the looney bin. I'm your place to come to so you don't get locked away. I'm here for you Bella." He said with a soft smile.

Bella looked at Jake. She saw the sincerity in his eyes and his words. She just smiled back and nodded. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Jake said and returned to working on the car.


Days of hanging out with Jake turned into weeks. At first it was quiet and awkward but it turned into laughing and actual conversation. Bella was coming back to herself again. After months of being so lost, she was found. It was a battle against being broken and she was winning.

Charlie was happy to see his daughter starting to return to normal. Jake was coming over more and they were hanging out. They threw popcorn at each other like they had when they were kids. Jake picked her up and carried her over his shoulder with her laughing and hitting his back playfully. It was a sight to see. Billy was happy too. Seeing Bella be free from the grasp of vampires. He liked seeing his son happy too.

"They are so happy." Charlie commented. "Like kids again." He said to his old friend.

Billy smiled at Charlie. "Yes. She's doing much better. I'm glad Jake was able to finally get through to her."

"Me too. Hey I was meaning to ask. Do you think the Rez boys would like some work?"

"Oh you know they do. What do you have in mind?"

"Just some repairs. I have some shingles needing replaced on the roof and I want to put in a ramp on the porch. That way you can get in easier to come watch the games."

Billy waves a hand. "You don't have to worry about me." He said with a chuckle.

Charlie smiled. "No, I do worry. It's about being inclusive these days. Ramp needs to be put in. I figured the Rez boys are strong. They can help out."

Billy smiled. "Alright. I'll tell Sam, let him know."

"Thanks." Charlie said and then looked up at Jake and Bella. She was grabbing her keys. "You guys heading out now?"

"Yeah, were going to watch that new scary movie in the theater. Return of Swamp Thing." Bella said with a smirk. "Gonna watch Jake jump like a little girl." She teased.

"Hey that was one time. The dog came out of no where. It was a natural reaction." Jake said laughing.

Billy shook his head smiling at his son. "Just be careful. Charlie is going to give me a ride home."

"Will do. Thanks dad!" Jake said and he followed Bella out the door


The movie was good. Jake jumped a few times but so did Bella. They came outside in the fresh summer air of Port Angeles. Bella was smiling. She had fun with Jake. She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear as she waited for Jake. He stopped off in the bathroom. It was dark out, the moon high in the sky. It was bright and Bella found it so appealing. Jake joined her and smiled at her. They walked to her truck talking about the movie and got in.

"That was great. We need to do this more often." Bella said as she drove home.

Jake agreed. He loved hanging out with Bella. And if he was honest, he was falling for her.

They pulled up in Billy's driveway and she put it in park. She turned and looked at him. "Thank you."

Jake smiled. "What for?"

"For being my Looney bin."

Jake smiled and watched the blush reach her cheeks. He was amazed at how much she had progressed since she first started coming over more. He reached over, his hand on her cheek. He tilted her face to look over at him. Their eyes locked and he leaned in. Their lips about to touch.

Bella's breath hitched a little and her eyes fluttered closed. But she put a hand on Jake's chest. It stopped him from kissing her. She opened her eyes to stare back at a confused Jake. "I want to wait. I'm… I'm not ready Jake." She whispered.

Jakes gaze changed. He understood in some small way but he felt a little hurt. It was just his reaction to being rejected. "Got it." He said his voice a little harsh.

"Wait Jake, I-"

"No need to explain Bella. I understand perfectly." He snipped again and got out of the truck. He left her sitting there dumbfounded.

Bella sighed and started back home. She was worried about Jake and that she upset him. She wasn't ready. That was the truth. Her heart felt so constricted. Losing… him... She didn't have the strength yet.