Authors Note :: My keyboard on my laptop decided it didn't need the e, o, or enter keys anymore so it threw them off and now I'm on a borrowed computer to give you this chapter. Once mine's back from being repaired I will respond to all of my wonderful reviews I promise! For those of you asking about Jacob being imprinted to Bella the answer's yes. Once Edward was a thing of the past Bella's heart opened up to Jake and he imprinted on the woman he loved so much.

Some may think this chapters a filler, you're kinda right. It's just to give you a sort of understanding of their lives and how things are at the moment, kinda shows what Bella's thinking about while locked up in her room.

Still no Beta, so mistakes are my own fault and I take full responsibility xP

Here's the next Chapter…annnddd Paul makes an appearance in this one! So Enjoy!

Chapter 2 :: Proof it was possible.

POV :: Bella

Two weeks had passed, and he was still gone.

I'd woken the next day expecting to see his face on the pillow next to me telling me it was all just a nightmare and I was being silly thinking he'd died. We'd laugh and make breakfast for Aly, correction I'd make breakfast for all of us while he generally got in my way which would make the little girl laugh and yell 'daddy inway!'. We'd moved in together when Alyssa was born so that our daughter could grow up in a family because we knew one day we'd get married. I'd given her his last name because she was his daughter and because we'd decided there was no point in naming her Swan now just to have to change it to Black later when Swan was no longer my last name. We had a routine for each day it seemed, or at least a pattern for how it would go. Wake up, have breakfast, Jake would go to work at the garage he owned with his pack-brothers, Aly and I would head to Emily's daycare center "Rug-Rats Playground". Emily had opened it a year ago and it's where I took Aly to spend the day with her godmother and other children from the rez. Knowing she was safe since none of the pack was ever far from the center. The guy's garage was right across the street actually, their sign of a howling wolf with "Howls!" written below in what seemed to be a fancy script to everyone else but I knew was my own messy scribble. The sign amused some of the older kids who spent their days in Rug-Rats, well that and the occasional show the guys put on being all goofy outside to make them laugh.

I'd head out for the knickknacky gift shop / bookstore, called "Le-Bells" thanks to Jake's sense of humor in naming our business since the women-folk had named the guy's garage. I shared ownership of Le-Bells with Leah of all people. We'd come to an understanding when I'd sent Edward away, and through that a friendship had surprised us both since we never saw it coming and were basically like sisters now. We were trouble with a capital T when together according to the guys. I had wanted to open the store so that the tribe could sell their makings such as carved figurines, jewelry, and all sorts to our few tourists or even locals. I'd also wished for a bookstore so that we wouldn't have to travel so far to get a good read, and with the books on local tribal legends and things being made. I had figured it would also help to boost an understanding of the tribe if people could read about them and where they came from or what they believed. It had been rocky to start finding a place and getting people open to the idea of selling their items through our store but we always made sure to pay them up-front for the items rather than waiting till they sold. Sure we ended up with some items that didn't sell as well as others but we didn't mind.

The money being used to run the business wasn't something I thought much of, it had come from the Cullens and while it had taken a long time to get everyone on the same page as me about using it, I'd won in the end. What was the point of having the money but not using it? Why not put it into something worth-while so it could be used toward a goal rather than sitting there collecting dust and not being available to help out with stuff because of who it was from. They were gone and I'd been given a gift I couldn't return. Basically I told the pack to suck it up because I'd use it for my shop with or without their acceptance or help. Then surprisingly when we'd asked for extra help in getting it fixed up and ready we'd gotten quite a few offers from people outside of the pack. I'd basically lived in La Push for two years by that point and knew plenty of people, but I was still surprised by the show of support. Might have had a little something to do with the man who's child I'd just had and who's house I lived in by opening time. Jacob was respected and well liked and that was how it was meant to be when you were the Alpha.

He'd officially taken the 'position' around the time Alyssa was born, claiming his birthright and taking the position from a willing Sam. There hadn't been a fight for dominance between them, Sam had known the day would come and had stepped down with honor and respect. Even as Beta he'd still been able to call everyone to order if Jake wasn't there or was part of the problem since being alpha didn't change his at times quick temper. He'd opened the garage with Embry, Quil, and Paul, and it was doing great business being the closest and most decently priced garage around. Jake had been surprised when Paul had approached him about helping start the business, he'd married Rachel and had settled down a bit. All of the pack had greatly improved their self control but no one had really expected Paul to pull it together the way he had. He'd changed for the better and he was my best 'guy friend', even helping out at Le-Bell's when he could.

When Rachel died Paul disappeared for a few months, her death had shocked everyone since it was so unexpected. Drunk driver of all things. When he'd come back it had been our doorstep he landed on and we'd taken him in without a second thought. He was Jake's brother in law and pack-brother, my best friend and Aly loved him making it obvious Paul her favorite 'uncle'. Seeing him like that had scared us all and we worried he'd never be the same again, but in time he came back around and started to let himself live again. I guess maybe I understood him better than anyone, I'd been in his shoes before no matter how much Jake liked to pretend like I hadn't. I knew the heartache well and the desire to be numb to everything; it's how I'd felt when Edward left. Here I was back in those shoes again, only this time the pain was far worse, and it scared me because this time I wouldn't have Jake to pull me through and brighten my days. He was my sun, air, and life force, he was everything to me and our daughter and now he was gone.

Ignoring the knocking on the door from downstairs knowing if it was one of the pack they knew where the spare key was or the pack-member sitting in my kitchen would let them in. I rolled over pushing away thoughts of the past and embracing the darkness of my room and life. Aly was safe with her godparents Emily and Sam, and I was here in my big bed alone. When I'd realized that it was all real the day after his death I'd asked to be taken home, I wanted to be around the things that were so familiar to me even if they hurt. I hadn't even made it three steps in the door before breaking down and was glad Sam and Paul had come with me. They tucked me in and from that day I've not been alone at any point, someone was always there. I didn't always know who since I only woke up to eat, roll over, or use the bathroom.

I'd been forced out of my bed for the funeral, it was on first beach and it was beautiful, for something so horrible. I'd held my head high and kept my daughter in my arms through nearly all of it. She didn't understand the day, kept trying to make people smile since even at her tender age of two she could tell her favorite people were sad. She'd actually yelled 'daddy in box' at the top of her lungs halfway though it, maybe some day that would make me laugh but not that day or any day soon. Emily had stepped in for me, taking her to get something to drink and a snack as I fought to keep numb, fought not to break down there. After that day she stayed with Sam and Emily but she was home some nights, wanting to be there and having been told mommy was sick. Sometimes she'd just lay in bed with me and ask every few minutes 'mommy be'ew?' but my answer was always the same, "No baby". I worried about her, I worried I was being a bad mom right now but I just couldn't get myself up out of that bed. I prayed today wasn't another day she'd lay there next to me and ask if I was better, she'd cried yesterday because she was scared mommy was going to go away like daddy. I guess one of the pack had explained that daddy wasn't coming back.

The knock on my door earned a soft groan from me and the bright light from the hall had me pressing my face into my pillow and twisting to give the door and person my back to block it out. "Bella? Can I come in?" the soft voice was Paul's and I gave a 'sure' that was muffled by the pillow. He must have understood though as he moved into the room and sat down reaching out and gently rubbing my back. He stopped by every day, checking on me the way I'd checked on him every day he'd been at his own house after Rachel's death. Now I knew how he'd felt and why he'd seemed annoyed through most of it, I just wanted to be left alone. "You know you can't stay in this bed forever right?" he asked and I just sighed. He was trying to be nice I reminded myself as I lifted my head a little but still not looking at him. "I know Paul…but I just really want to…" he interrupted and finished my sentence for me. "Be left alone I know. But I got news for you Bee. You didn't leave me alone, you didn't let me become a part of my mattress permanently and I'm here to return the favor. You will survive this, you will face the world and your daughter again, and you will be ok some day. You don't believe it now but trust me ok? And if you need someone to talk to, boss around, or to just sit here and breath I'm a call away ok?"

His words were gentle but firm, he was thinking he could drag me through this dark tunnel and out the other side like I'd done to him. I didn't want it, and I didn't know if he'd succeed but I couldn't tell him to go away like I could the others. He understood better than any of them and he wouldn't just sigh and walk away he'd show me what it was like being pestered by a pain in the ass to the point of getting up even if just to push them out the door. That was how I'd managed it so many times, driving him crazy to the point of him pushing me out the door, eventually he would go into his living room when I got there so he didn't have to push me so far. From there on out I'd talked him back into living if only to avoid my constant annoying presence. Maybe he wouldn't be as bad as me or push as hard, but he'd give it his best, which I knew could be annoying. "Thanks Paul." I said softly and put my head back down on the pillow pulling the blankets up further and listening to his steps as he walked over to the door and left me to another night alone.

I didn't believe that I could live again, but wasn't Paul proof it was possible?

PLZ Review, it makes me smile and lets me know someone's alive out there in the world?

Ok now see you made me make myself sound all hermit-ish. I do get out, I do see people. I'm just not sure they're alive? I dunno…doesn't matter.

LEAVE A REVIEW.