Bella's POV

After Jake left, I went back to sleep, and not getting up until mid-afternoon. I didn't realize how exhausted, physically and mentally, I was. When I woke up I took a long shower, then decided to groom myself; brush my hair, painted my toes and nails, etc. etc.

I decided cook dinner. Surprisingly, Jacob had food in the fridge, for a guy who's rarely home. While the steaks were in the oven, I started on the sides; asparagus and mashed potatoes.

Standing in the quiet house alone, it began to sink in…Charlie was gone, and it hurt knowing I couldn't just give him a call... I should give Renee a call and check on her. I did miss her. It was time for me to make some positive changes, and reconnecting with my mom was a start.

The oven timer beeped, I opened the over and pulled out the metal tray. Unwrapping the foil, I cut down the center of one steak; medium rare, seasoned with herbs and marinated in a sauce I made. Perfect. I closed the foil tight, to retain the heat. I reached to open a cabinet, to find some plates, "Shit!" I grabbed my side, taking slow deep breathes. It was a shooting pain up side, causing me to tremble.

The front door opened.

"Bella!" Jacob was already next to me. "What happened?"

"I reached for the cabinet." The pain was receding into a dull throb now. "I'm okay. I'll just take one of those painkillers Carlisle prescribed."

"Here, let me fix the plates." He offered, kissing my forehead and rubbing my back.

I grabbed my bag off the coffee table, fishing out the little orange bottle.

"Thanks for cooking Bells. It smells great."

I smiled, nodding, as I gulped down the big white pill.

Jake carried our dinner into the living room, and I sat at what'd become my spot on the sofa. We ate our meal quietly, and when Jake finished he turned on the TV. It struck me as odd, since Jacob didn't actually watch much TV. He finally settled on some sports network, and I decided to clean up. I washed the dishes in continued silence, with the animated commentators in the background.

I replayed this morning in head, and smiled at the warmth of the memory. I was on fire, and when I heard the pack calling for him, it took everything in me to pull away. I wondered if he felt the same. That was the first time we'd actually kissed, willingly at least. Jacob was somehow impossibly more beautiful; I was beyond curious about what it'd be like to be with him in that way. I'd definitely have to wait for my ribs to heal though.

I let out a heavy sigh.

Noticing the silence I turned around. Jacob was leaning on the frame between the kitchen and living room. His mouth was partially downturned and brows furrowed.

"What's wrong Jake?"

He crossed his arms, taking a breath. "It's really not my place to say, but…"

"It's okay then, you don't have to-"

"No, it's just…Sam told me that he and Emily recently had a miscarriage." It sounded like the word got caught in his throat. His eyes were on the floor.

No, not Emily.

"Does anybody else know?"

"I don't know. Not that I know of. Sam just told me today… I couldn't believe it. He asked me not to say anything to the pack, yet."

"I didn't know they were trying."

I wiped away a rogue tear. I truly felt sorry for Emily and Sam.

"They weren't, it just happened. Bella, you should've seen the look in Sam's eyes." His eyes were distant. Jake looked genuinely pained. I wasn't sure what to do. I walked up to him, pulling his arms loose, and wrapped my arms around him.

"Everyone knows they'd make perfect parents. They just need time to heal first, and it'll happen." I quietly said to his chest. I looked up to see his face, I could've sworn he would shed a tear; he buried his face in my hair, squeezing me. I could tell Jacob was shaken up by this, they were family though, I remembered that much, which meant we all would hurt. I kissed the curve of his thick neck.

"Maybe we could do something nice for them? Not anything big, just something to show we're here for them." I offered, although I had no idea how to handle this kind of situation.

"Maybe."

"You want to lay down?" I asked, pushing a hand through his hair.

Jake stood up straight, "I'm just gonna shower first."

"Okay."

I felt rejected for some reason. I shook the thought from my mind.

He turned towards the bathroom, and I stood there hugging myself.

Sam's POV

Leah was the last person I expected to find out, but at the same time I was glad she was there for Emily. I came back in the house after she'd left, Em was sitting on the couch with a blue mug in her hand and feet curled under her.

"Hey sweetie." The house was quiet, but it wasn't uncomfortable. We could use quiet, for once.

"How'd it go?" I asked, sitting next to her.

"Leah was a good listener." Her tone was flat.

"You okay?"

"No…but it felt good to let it out." Emily sniffled, wiping away tears.

"I snapped at Jake…He knows. I asked him not to tell the pack."

It was silent for a few minutes.

I'd been racking my brain all day, trying to think of something, anything, to help Emily feel better. For the first time in a while, I wasn't sure if I should give Emily some space or show that I'm here for her.

"Em? Do you need some time…to yourself?"

She looked at me, sorrow swam in her hazel eyes, but her expression was blank.

"I just want to help, somehow." There was a burning tightness in my throat, and my skin felt too tight against my bones.

She stared at me a few moments.

Then, Emily simply nodded, shutting her eyes tight. I took her face between my hands and kissed her. I looked at her one more time, then walked out the door. I headed straight for the trees, shifting immediately once I was out of sight.

I ran.

I kept running. Replaying the moments the lead to this: reading the pregnancy test together, hearing the baby's heartbeat for the first time, finding Emily on the floor….

I howled, piercing the night sky.

I tried to focus on anything other than my thoughts. The thunderous rhythm of my paws against the ground, the ocean nearby, something to distract me long enough. I spotted a tree with plenty of foliage surrounding it, and trotted over. I circled the space a few times, checking the scents, and laid down. I curled into myself whining, and waiting for the right time to return. I didn't know what to do, and the silence in my head was deafening.

Was nobody else phased right now?

Or was I so lost in sorrow, I couldn't hear them?

I buried my face in my fur, letting the darkness of night cover me.

Jacob's POV

I had to admit I was worried about Sam and Emily. I'd never seen Sam break over anything before, and I wasn't around when the accident happen, so this was new to me. I couldn't begin to imagine how Emily was feeling about all of this. During lunch she was quiet, but I didn't think anything was wrong. The pack had taken a lot of hits lately, and we hadn't really been around each other like usual…Maybe that was it?

There was a light knock on the bathroom door, before it opened.

The shower curtain pulled back, and Bella stepped inside, looking at me. Her creamy skin flushing from the heat of the shower.

"Let me help you. Whatever I can do, I'll do it."

I pulled her into my arms, and the water spilled over my shoulders between us. I leaned my chin on the top of her head. "I know Bells."

She moved her head from under me, "That includes talking to me." Her chocolate brown eyes were pleading, and her brows knitted together.

"With everything that's happened, I'm just tired is all. The pack's dealt with a lot of shit lately; Seth and Leah taking care of Sue, Billy's sill not himself, Victoria, Emily and Sam, and now we have a cub that just phased-"

"Wait. What? Who?" Bella's eyes widened.

"Michael Oakes. He just turned thirteen this week, and phased today. He's fine, though."

"He's just a kid."

"He is."

She let go of me, and bent down to pick up the body wash sitting on the tub. Wetting the loofa, she washed me clean. Rubbing in circles over my shoulders, chest, and arms. I watched her, focused intently on washing me. It was relaxing; the steaming shower, her heartbeat, the massaging motions of the loofa. I felt the tension melt from my muscles, her touch soothing me. I decided to do the same for her. I was careful, making sure to cover everything. We rinsed off, and lifting her up, I stepped out the shower.

I pulled a towel off the rack, and dried her off, then myself. Bella smiled, and I thought about how good it felt to have her back. I also thought about how grateful I was that I didn't imprint on some other girl. For me, it had to be Bella, it was always her. I walked out the bathroom, heading to the spare room to get her pajamas, and myself some shorts. I returned, she looked confused, but smiled when I handed her the clothes.

"Let's go lay down." She said grabbing my hand, and I followed.

We climbed into bed, situating ourselves under the sheets. I settled on my back, one arm behind my head, the other wrapped around Bella's waist. She snuggled up against me, her head resting on my chest, and arm draped over me.

"I think you're right, we should do something. Maybe have a barbeque here, just for the pack?" I stared at the ceiling, the moon's glow filling the room.

"That's a great idea." Her head lifting to look at me. "I could help cook. I mean I've never barbequed before, but you could show me." I chuckled, brushing the hair out of her face.

"Well I'm pretty damn good at it, so you'd be learning from the best." I said, raising a brow.

One side of Bella's mouth curved into a smirk, and her brow lifted, "Oh really now? I guess I hit the jackpot then." She laughed, putting her head back down.

"I believe I'm the one who hit the jackpot…with you being my imprint." Bella reached her hand to my face, turning it towards her, and kissed me long and slow.

I smiled at Bella, and she kissed my hand, before laying back down.

We fell asleep, not moving the entire night.