Chapter 30: New Frontiers
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
Carlie had that big guy, the one and only Jacob Black, wrapped around her teeny finger. He thought he could never love anyone as much as he loved Bella. He was dead wrong. It was a different kind of love to be sure, but it was just as powerful.
Bella had to laugh at some of his antics: her Jake, lying on his stomach, dangling a rattle over Carlie's head, rubbing noses with her and making her giggle, blowing rasberries on her tummy. The camera clicked away, day after day.
When she started toddling around, she became a daddy's girl, and Jacob loved it! He was working at The Right Track, and enjoyed his involvement with the troubled adolescents, but when it was quittin' time, he hightailed it home and left his job outside the doorstep. Nothing was more important than his wife and child.
According to plan, Bella began teaching as a substitute so she wouldn't have to leave Carlie with a babysitter for too long. But even that didn't last, because little Liam Jacob joined the family when Carlie was two and a half. Aaron Ephraim came next and Sarah Renee brought up the rear.
Just before Liam was born, Jacob used some of the money from the sale of the Spider to build a home a little closer to his work. They would live there for the rest of their lives.
Jacob took over as Alpha, and was well respected in the community. Bella was respected as well, or at least her cooking skills were. The teens that worked at the garage would drop by after work for a snack or two, or until Jacob bodily shoved them out the door. Sometimes he wondered though if it was just her cooking that enticed them, 'cuz once or twice he noticed that lovesick look in some of those boys. And man, he didn't blame them one bit. It seemed that as Bella blossomed fully into womanhood, her beauty blossomed with it. Unbelievably, she was more beautiful than ever.
Not everything changed. Quil and Embry still remained Jacob's best friends, and the barbeques and bonfires continued for the family get-togethers.
Years passed and one late afternoon on a Saturday, Jacob noticed a sickeningly sweet odor. He hadn't phased in ages; there was no need, but the scent was still unmistakable. He went to the door, and there stood his old nemesis, Edward Cullen, looking like he did since the first time Jacob laid eyes on him. Same old wild bronze hair, golden eyes and chalk-white skin.
Edward smiled, and nodded. "Jacob."
"Who's at the door, Jake," Bella yelled from the kitchen.
"An old friend. A very old friend," he muttered under his breath.
"C'mon in, Edward. Take a seat. I don't bite much anymore. Anyhow, technically the treaty doesn't apply here. We're not on tribal land.
"So what brings you to our home today?"
Hesitating, Edward said. "Actually, Alice sent me. She sends her love, but couldn't bear to see Bella again. She thought it would do me good to see her one last time though before we go off to Europe."
Entering the room, Bella halted mid step.
Edward stood up, letting out a little gasp. Jacob noted the flame of love flickering in his golden eyes even after all this time.
Her hand went to her mouth. "Oh my gosh, Edward, is it really you?"
She ran into his outstretched arms, and Jacob, unwittingly felt that old twinge of jealousy bubbling up.
They sat together on the couch for a few minutes gazing at each other. Finally, Edward spoke up. "I understand you have four children. Are they here; can I meet them?"
Rolling her eyes, Bella told him, "Not everyone can hold back the years. They're all grown—married with children of their own now."
Edward cleared his throat. "I guess that's understandable. You don't seem to have aged much though."
That familiar blush crept over her face. "Well, that's really sweet of you to say so."
Smiling, Edward turned to Jacob who was trying his best to be civil. "I see she still has those roses in her cheeks too."
They all sat around for an hour or so catching up on their separate lives. When Edward stood up to go, he had a funny expression on his face, like he was hiding some dark secret. Jacob had to wonder why Alice really send him here. It was a given that the fortuneteller could see beyond him now that he wasn't phasing any longer.
As the lonely vampire said his goodbyes, he added something odd. Jacob had mentioned that it was their thirty-third wedding anniversary (just to rub it in), and that they were going out tonight to celebrate.
"Drive safely," he cautioned, and left their home. This coming from a guy who still drove like a speedway racer, huh. . .
"On the way back from their romantic evening, Bella was giggling." Did you see the look on Edward's face when you mentioned how long we've been married?"
Jacob nodded his head, chuckling all the while. "I know. He looked like I'd run over his cat or something."
"That was really mean. You didn't have to rub it in his face like that, Jake."
Jacob laughed out loud. "Hell, it was worth it!"
Bella's eyebrows shot up. "Oh my gosh—Jacob Black—you're not still jealous are you?"
"Damn, straight. I'm always jealous where you're concerned."
She put her hand on his arm, squeezing it reassuringly. "You're being ridiculous. Can you imagine having to repeat high school over and over for thousands of years? Not to mention loping about in the forest looking for a warm blooded animal to sink my teeth into. Ugh!
"The only warm blooded animal I'll ever need is sitting right beside me at this moment."
Jacob suddenly grew very serious. "So, then you don't ever regret marrying me?"
"No, I just regret not admitting my love for you sooner. I can't believe all the heartache I caused you. I'd still like to make it up to you someday."
Grinning devilishly, Jacob countered with, "Hold that thought for tonight, hotstuff! Because, someday has just arrived." He beeped the horn in celebration.
It was late and they were coming around a hairpin curve on a mountainside when suddenly a blinding beam of light hit their windshield. A semi had gone over the median. The driver had probably fallen asleep at the wheel. There was no place for Jacob to go. In an instant, the truck struck their car, plunging it over the edge. Bella screamed as the car tumbled down the slope, flipping over several times before a clump of pine trees halted their descent.
Bella was lucid for a few minutes, just enough time to reach over, struggling to grab hold of Jacob's hand. He was on the cart right beside her. They were both hooked up to monitors, and the sound of the electronic beeping was interlaced with the low voices of their children and spouses. She heard the words: brain damage, mortuary choice, grief counseling, and the sounds of quiet sobbing coming from Carlie and Sarah. Then silence.
Carlie cried out, "Oh god, Dad's not breathing." Her husband, Nathan, put an arm around her, trying to comfort her.
"Look, Carlie. Look at the monitor. It's still going, see? His heart's still beating."
"But how can that be? He's not breathing, Nate."
The ER doc intervened. "No, son, I'm sorry. He's truly gone. That's your mother's heartbeat. She's holding his hand. That's the electronic signal the monitor is picking up. In simpler terms, her heart is beating through your dad."
The children sat in the little cubicle grief-stricken. Liam, Jacob's oldest son, left for awhile, putting out calls to Billy, Renee and Charlie. When he returned, the monitors alarmed as Bella's heart also stuttered and finally stopped, her hand still grasping Jacob's.
The funeral was the largest, the little community had ever seen. All of La Push was there to mourn the passing of the couple, and to commemorate their lives. Several of the pack members stood and said a few words about the two inseparable lovers. . . And that day, no one could deny that there was ever a greater love than that of Jacob Black and His Bella.
The End
A/N: I like to think that Jacob waited for Bella at the entrance to the spirit world, and that he and his Bells walked into the light together, hand in hand.