Do Not Own Twilight.

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal."

- From a headstone in Ireland

Loving the Sun

-A Broken You-

Paul appeared next to Jared. "Give her to me."

Sam grabbed his arm and attempted to push him back to the other side of the living-room. He shrugged him off. Sam narrowed his eyes at him.

"Just fucking be careful with her, alright? She's broken, she doesn't need you to be an asshole to her."

Paul ignored his Alpha and picked her up. He carefully walked to where Billy was mourning and sat on the chair near the bed. He cradled Bella on his lap. She cast her eyes down and continued to weep. Sam hesitated briefly before approaching the Chief. He whispered his condolences and reminded Billy that they needed to call an ambulance and the council. They had a cover story for the public and the EMT's. Billy nodded and wheeled over to where Paul sat with Bella. He kissed her cheek and left to make the necessary phone calls.

Paul smoothed her hair back. "This isn't easy for any of us. You gotta find some strength in you."

She shook her head.

"I know you don't want to, but you need to. What happened was real."

Paul waited patiently until he felt her turn.

She scrambled off Paul and ran to the side of Jacob's bed. She touched his forehead and brushed the hair off his closed eyes.

No heat.

It felt wrong for him to be cool. He was meant to be warm and full of life; he was her own personal sun.

"He's gone." she whispered to herself.

Paul left her alone.

She didn't know or care how much time had gone by. It was dark. Red and blue lights flashed against the wall, through the window. Charlie tried to steer Bella away at some point. When his warmth pierced her skin something inside of her snapped.

"Don't touch me!" Bella fought him off. "I need to be with him. Get off me!"

Charlie wrapped his arms around her waist and held her. His facade broke, the deep sadness he felt bled through him.

"I can't... leave him. Let me stay... Please." She flailed and struggled, tears streaked down her flushed face.

"Someone help-" his voice wavered.

Quil stood in front of him before he could blink and grabbed Bella in one swift movement. When he hugged her, all of her struggle ceased. "Bells, you gotta stop. They need to take him."

Every ounce of fight she had within her vanished as she looked at Quil's anguished features. Words failed her. Nothing could ever make this bearable.

In the living room, Paul and Jared each had a hand on Billy's shoulders. Steadying him. Lending him some of their strength. He heard what was happening with Bella. He mourned not only for his son, but also for her.

Sam explained the imprint.

His mind was at war with his heart. Billy wanted to thank to the spirits his son experienced the love of his imprint before he passed; and his heart wanted to curse everyone around him who was alive. Why did they live and the light of his life, his only son, have to die?

Sam's quiet voice rang in his ears, "Paul, come help me. They can't fit the gurney in the house. We have to take him out to the ambulance."

It was as if every movement in front of him slowed. Billy heard and saw his surroundings; he was trapped in a daze. His throat closed and his heart ached.

Sam had Jacob's body wrapped in a white sheet, together, he and Paul carried his son, his pride and joy, through the house. The two large young men cried in silence as they held his child in their arms.

"Wait." Billy's whispered plea stopped them. "Thank you... for..."

Paul shook his head at the Chief, "He was our rightful Alpha; to carry him out is an honor."

Jared gripped Billy's shoulder, "They have to go."

Billy nodded in understanding. His son was loved by his pack brothers. He was loved by so many.

Billy's strength gave out. He succumbed to the grief.

-One Week Later-

Bella barely slept anymore. Her days and nights were mostly spent in the Black house. She redecorated Rachel and Rebecca's old room; all their belongings were put in boxes, and Bella moved some of her things in.

Jacob loved his father. If there was something she knew how to do, it was taking care of people. Jacob would have wanted that.

She cooked healthy meals, cleaned the house, washed clothes, and made sure Billy took his medication. Words were scarce. Both lost in their own thoughts and memories. Bella could hear Billy's gut-wrenching cries late at night through the thin walls.

She in turn would go into Jake's room, grab a shirt from his dresser, and immerse herself in his scent. It tortured her, pained her incredibly so, but she needed his scent. It was slowly but surely fading from every part of the house except his bedroom.

People from the reservation came with food, cards, flowers, and words of comfort. Bella accepted them all on behalf of Billy. He never acknowledged another's presence unless it was a pack member, Charlie, or Bella. The television remained off since that fateful day. The noise seemed wrong without Jacob's laughter in the background.

Billy's daughters were arriving today. Rachel took a few days off school and Rebecca was coming in from Hawaii for the same amount of time as well. They were determined to only stay for the funeral. Billy glared at the phone when he called them to explain how Jacob died in a motorcycle accident. Bella didn't know what was said, but the look on his face was enough for her to comprehend the harsh underlying emotions within the Black family.

Rachel and Rebecca escaped La Push as soon as they turned of age. Their mother's death proved to be too much for them. Rachel went to college in Pullman, Washington, and Rebecca met and fell in love while on vacation in Hawaii. La Push was nothing to them but a reminder of death.

When Bella heard the car pull up she went to the screen door to open it, and her heart stuttered. They both had bronze skin, they were tall and lean with long, straight black hair and the exact same dark eyes - they looked like Sarah Black. Like Jacob.

Rachel made a snide remark about Bella having changed her childhood bedroom. Billy, who had yet to speak, turned to look at her. His face reddened, his hands shook in fury.

"Rachel Black you will not disrespect Bella in my house! She has done nothing but take care of me since your brother's death. She didn't abandon me, she didn't leave me to wither away and drown in my grief. You left! You and Becca left as soon as you could without a single glance back. This is the first time I've seen you in so long that I didn't even recognize who was standing outside. To come back and try to hurt one of the few people that has been here for me is inexcusable."

The twins were slack-jawed as they heard their father. Billy never lost his temper with them. He always seemed happy to hear from them anytime they remembered to call.

Billy's blood pressure rose, Bella handed him some cold water and his medication, then she went on a walk to give them space.

When the door quietly closed, Billy turned his attention back to the girls who were strangers to him now. "She is doing your duty. She is not my blood, but she has been more of a daughter to me than either of you. From the moment Sarah died all you two did was plot and plan to leave me and Jake." - he took a deep breath and allowed some of his anger to abate - "You are welcome to sleep on the couch and the air mattress. There is a motel in Forks if staying here does not meet your needs."

He wheeled his chair out of the living room and went to Jacob's room to be near his son's possessions.

Rachel and Rebecca left shortly after. They called from their motel room and left a message for their father with Bella; they would be back for the funeral.

Thank you tamfan for helping my thought process where Paul & Sam carried Jacob out of the house. A big hug for you honey.