Bella's POV: Well, I can't say I was surprised by Leah's outburst. She hated me then, she'd hate me more now. I'm glad she didn't jump me though. Edward would've freaked out. I have that

buzzing tickle in the pit of my stomach that tells me someone's watching my every move. It's unnerving; I don't know which member of the pack it is, but I have a sneaking suspicion it's someone else.

But I've been wrong before. I now completely understand what Edward meant when he said the pack had a … distinct smell to them. It was more of an amplified wet dog scent; not nearly as bad as

he made it out to be. Then again, he was biased. I found the scent easy to ignore after a while; I missed these people and they became my prime focus. Emily and Sam had a little daughter, Hannah.

She's a sweetheart. Alice wasn't kidding when she said Charlie would be a wreck. He looked completely depressed, physically and emotionally drained. I was afraid I'd end up having to carry him

back to the car. He actually looked…old. Not like, 'grandpa' old, just frail. Weak almost. I was worried. I'd seen Charlie drunk, I'd seen him livid with anger, I'd seen him struck by insults, and I'd

even seen him so sick he could barely get out of bed. But never, not in all the time I've known him, did I see him look like this. Loss is a hard thing to deal with, particularly when it's your best friend. I

could understand that. But this… he looked probably very similar to me when Edward left. I just hoped Charlie wouldn't do anything stupid like I did [I still shudder thinking about that cliff sometimes.

While we were waiting for the rest of the mourners to arrive, I answered the interrogation about school, Edward, everything. I lied as best I could for questions about my appearance- there wasn't

much that I could say. What? 'Oh, my husband killed me and gave me immortality before our honeymoon. It works wonders on the skin.' It wasn't easy, and being a pathetic liar made things harder. I

think the pack noticed my hesitation. I hope it was interpreted as awkwardness, you know, 'long time no see' kind of thing. It was though, in part, which gave my conscience some relief. I still

wondered why I had been requested to be here. Billy never really seemed to like me that much, particularly after Edward's return. Somehow I felt this was some kind of trick to try to rekindle

something with Jacob. I still cared about him- how couldn't I? He had been the best friend I had ever had, and then he was gone. I had heard about it from Charlie during a visit. He said that one

morning, Jacob had 'simply disappeared. Like, poof! Gone! Billy didn't know what happened. It was just the invitation, and he really wanted to go to the wedding Bells. Billy I mean. But he started

getting sick, and Jake was gone... Anyway, his first round of Chemo took place on the day of the championship game, so I had to bring in the TV, and…." If Edward hadn't been bracing me, I

probably would have collapsed at that moment. And if I hadn't been a vampire, the shock would have probably put me in the ER. Slowly but surely, as people began to fill the little cottage, the Elders

began the preparations. In ceremonial Quileute costume, they carried out the body of Billy Black, chanting in a language all their own. I walked next to Charlie. There was a dazed look on his face, and

he tried to keep his face straight. I slid my hand into his, and he squeezed it gratefully. He looked at the leather glove and then to me.

"These aren't doing much for you Bells. Your hands are like ice." He rubbed my hand between his palms. I felt low in that moment. He was so unhappy, and could have done well with a warm hand to

comfort him, not him trying to comfort a cold one himself. I couldn't help but wonder if Edward had ever felt the same way. We gathered in a circle, holding hands with the person next to us, as Billy's

body was hoisted onto a mound of tree branches. He would be cremated, and his ashes scattered over the reserve he had treasured for a long time. A movement caught my eye from the bushes

slightly to my left. Embry and Quil emerged from the shrubs. I stopped breathing. Once again I'm thankful I'm a vampire; breathing is not mandatory, and this pause would have likely had me blue in

the face by now. Why you ask? Because between Quil and Embry emerged Jacob Black.