A/N: A lot of people had a lot of opinions on the last chapter and on Bella! Thank you as always for your reviews. They make my day. Well, this is the last section of that mega chapter I had written. Edited and ready for your reading pleasure.

Bella was quiet on the ride to Forks. Despite her attempts at dissuading Jasper from coming along with her, he would not budge, and was now driving the Audi through the winding roads in Washington. To be honest, she was glad for his company. Bella did not want to be away from him, even if it was only for a few days, and she did not want to be stuck alone in the aftermath of what she was going to do.

Bella tried so hard not to think about the next couple of days; but the harder she tried to keep her mind preoccupied with something else, the more it invaded her thoughts. Jacob, once her sun, her savior, was only a few miles away and she imaged he was not going to be happy to see her. But despite that, she missed him, his smile, his ability to make everything somehow seem okay. But she had known the day that Edward turned her, that it was most likely forever gone, her friendship with him irrevociably damaged.

When she couldn't bear to think about what she was going to do another moment longer, Bella made herself think about Forks itself instead. What was different? Probably not a whole lot, the most exciting thing was probably a new stop sign they put in. Who was still there? Was Jessica, Mike, or Angela living in Forks? No, they were probably all still in college, senior year, getting ready to venture out into the world, start their careers and their lives. Were they in love? Did they find the person they were meant to be with the rest of their lives?

It pained Bella to know that she knew little to nothing of their lives or of Jacobs. How she had been so willing to give it all up for this life, so willing to leave them all behind. And now, as she looked out the window at the wet snow covering the ground, Bella thought back to how quickly she had decided to put her old life, Jacob and the pack, in Jeopardy. All because of her missing Edward, and also, if she was truly honest with herself, because she was afraid of the coming to terms with the feelings she had for the man that sat next to her.

As if sensing the dilemma raging in her head, Jasper glanced over. "Second thoughts?"

Second, third, one millionth thoughts. It did not sit right what she was going to do, but she was going to do it anyway. And she hated herself for it. "No second thoughts."

The brief look he gave her let her know that Jasper knew she was lying. Bella did not say another word the rest of the ride there, instead choosing to stare straight ahead at the falling snow, tears welling in her eyes as she saw the sign that greeted her to Forks, Washington yet again.

Jasper and Bella had debated briefly on whether or not to stay at the old Cullen house. They were both pretty sure it was still in their possession, even if the Cullens did not recall it. Neither was particularly anxious to stay at the old home, but they agreed ultimately that it afforded them the privacy that they would need. It was not as if Bella could just make an appearance in Forks, after all, she was supposedly dead.

No, she was here for one thing and one thing only.

"Bella, are you coming?" The concern in Jaspers voice was obvious. How did she not realize that they had arrived to the house already?

"Sorry. I'm just distracted." Bella stepped out the vehicle, taking in the house once more. It was exactly as she remembered it. She could practically hear Emmett's booming voice greeting her from an outside hunt or Rosalie working in the garage on one of the cars. But no one of course was here. The house, which had always been lit up on her past visits, was dark.

Jasper pulled Bella into his side. "Are you sure this is what you want, Darlin?"

"I'll be okay, Jas." Bella turned her face upwards towards him.

He looked down at her sadly. "I'm right here with you."

"I know. Thank you." She separated from him as he pried open the door, revealing what Bella already knew, that the contents of the house were empty, cleared out months before with the move to Minnesota.

Jasper walked into what was once the living room, his footsteps hollow as he stopped in the middle of the room. "So now that we are here, what are you going to do?"

"I'm not sure."

"Bella, you need to have a plan."

She knew that the military man in Jasper cringed at her comment. "Well, I am sure that they will detect us soon enough and when they do, I was going to tell them of our situation."

"They may not detect us right away if we stay in the house."

"I know. I was planning on hunting anyway, and…" Bella trailed off, she did not tell Jasper what her other desire was while she was in Forks.

"And what?"

"They will detect me when I go to visit my house."

Jasper was next to her in a heartbeat. "Is a good idea?"

"I need to. If I am here… it's been three years since I have seen my father. I know he thinks I'm dead, but I just want to see that he is okay, make sure he is alright. Besides, maybe I can also collect evidence while I am there."

"I'm just worried about you."

Bella smiled at him and he smiled back, her heart melting a little. "I know. But I will be okay. I promise."

"Have you considered what if the wolves are not exactly friendly?"

Bella had considered that it was very much a possibility. But if her Jacob still cared for her at all, then she hoped that he would see her and listen to her. "Well, I guess we just have to hope that they are. Won't we?"

Bella had decided that the best thing to do was visit her house that night, when her father was sleeping. That way, she could see him, at least one last time. She had thought that she had closure when she was turned. She was so certain of the life she wanted that she rushed it, turning shortly after the marriage. She hadn't counted on missing her father so much, worrying about how he was doing.

Jasper was beside her as she exited the forest, staring at the white house in front of her. He reached for her hand instantly, providing the comfort that only he could give her in a moment like this. She forged forward towards the house, finding the key that Charlie still kept hidden underneath the back porch. The door creaked as she opened it slowly.

The house was quiet. Too quiet. She did not hear Charlie's heartbeat in his room or anywhere in the house. His scent, while recent, was not as fresh as she had anticipated it to be. Bella peered out the window, noticing that his patrol car was not in the driveway.

"He's not here. Charlie must be working the overnight shift or on a fishing trip." She sighed in disappointment.

"Do you still want to look around?"

"Yes. Maybe we can find something." Truth was, she wanted to reminice.

Bella looked through the downstairs. Some things were different in the house, a picture removed, the furniture rearranged, the flat screen TV gone. But many things were the same as the last day she had walked through it when she was still human, a few days before they faked her death. Bella walked upstairs, into her room.

At first glance, it appeared exactly the same as it was before her "passing". Bella slowly walked through the room, fingering the comforter, picking up several of the stuffed animals she had acquired over the years. She smiled as she looked through her different medals and awards she had won as a child; a picture of Charlie and her by her beloved red truck. She turned quickly, realizing what was missing from the room.

Bella glanced at the bed. Her dream catcher, the one that Jacob had given her so many years ago on her birthday, was no longer hanging on the bed. Bella had wanted to take it before she was turned, but had been afraid that Edward would not understand. "It's gone."

"What's gone?" Jasper asked.

Bella turned to see Jasper leaning on the door frame, looking in the room. "The dream catcher Jacob gave me. I wonder what happened to it?"

"Jacob took it."

"What?"

"Didn't Edward ever tell you the story?"

Bella couldn't help but look at him bewildered. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"After you had 'died', well, we all went to your funeral."

Bella remembered perfectly, of course. She was only a week old vampire and the Cullens needed to attend her funeral to keep up appearances. Edward went of course, along with everyone else in the family. Bella had stayed behind with Tayna and Kate from the Denali clan, to make sure that Bella behaved herself and did not go on some kind of insane killing spree. Bella had desperately wanted to go to see, but for obvious reasons, she couldn't.

Jasper continued. "When we had your funeral, everyone attended. Even the wolves. It was raining out and the preacher was saying a few words. Edward, of course, played the spouse in mourning. He was quiet and reserved, playing his part quite well. Alice…" Jasper smiled a little. "Well, Alice was giving an Oscar caliber performance. At one point, Carlisle told her tone it down or he would make sure that she didn't shop for a month.

The wolves of course knew that you had been turned and they were very on edge. I used my gift quite a lot that day in an attempt to diffuse the situation as well as give some peace to your parents. The pack went along with pretending you were dead, but their emotions were more of disbelief at your choice of lifestyle. But Jacob… well, Jacob, he wasn't pretending. The emotions I got from him were just as intense as your mother and fathers. Jacob was definitely in mourning."

Jasper looked her in the eye. "He loved you, Bella. He loved you with all his heart. When they were getting ready to lower the casket, Jacob stopped them. Every one of us paused, afraid of if Jacob was going to expose us for what we truly were.

Instead, he walked up to the casket, pulling your dream catcher out of his pocket. He placed it carefully on the casket, a single tear falling down his face. Jacob whispered something in Quileute, something so quiet that only we and the wolves could hear it. He then turned and walked away without saying another word to anyone, phasing into a wolf the moment he entered the woods."

Bella was silent. Edward had only mentioned that her father and mother had both been understandably upset, but they would be fine. He had never mentioned once that the wolves had even been in attendance, much less Jake. In fact, it seemed as if he had been very vague about the whole thing. "Do you know what Jacob said?"

"Not at first. The good thing about vampire memories is that we don't forget… At least, not usually." Jasper added as an afterthought. "No one else really bothered to learn what he said, except for Edward and I. Edward, well… it was because he felt possessive over you. Myself, I could feel the intensity of his emotions. They were as strong, if not stronger, than your father or mothers. I felt compelled to translate it."

Bella sat down on the bed. "What was it?"

Jasper crouched in front of her, his eyes penetrating hers. "Even in death, I will love you just as I will mourn you. You will forever be my first love and the one that I compare all others to. Be happy my Bells, forever and for always."

Bella felt her stomach tighten and the doubt that had been creeping into her mind since passing over the Forks line was spreading, consuming her whole.

Jasper pushed a strand of hair out of her face and pressed his lips together lightly. "Darlin', you have a tough decision you need to make."

"I know."

Suddenly, the smell of wet dog permeated the air. It was quicker than what Bella had anticipated. She ran outside, only to see a light brown wolf in front of her. "Seth!"

The wolf cocked its head, sticking its tongue out before trotting to the edge of the woods. A boy came walking out, his emotions conflicted. "Bella, Jasper. You are not supposed to be here. The treaty is no longer in effect."

Bella was happy to see Seth. He was still just a boy. A boy who had his whole life in front of him, or should. How could she do this? Seth liked the Cullens, trusted them. Trusted her. She forced the words out of her mouth, disgusted with herself. "I know Seth. And I wouldn't have come back here if it wasn't really important. I need to see Jacob."

Seth looked unsure. "Bella, I am not sure if that is a good idea."

"Please. Just tell him it is important."

"I…." Seth paused. "All right. I will. If he is okay with it, he will meet you at the break of dawn on the edge of the reservation where the Cullens and the Wolves always met. If not, take that as a sign that he does not want to see you, and for your sake, I would leave immediately."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet."

Bella nodded. "Thank you for trying."

Seth began to turn away. "Oh, and Bella?"

"Yes?"

"He is not there," nodding towards the house. "Your dad, I mean. Not usually. Charlie is down on the reservation now, but he won't sell the place. He's engaged to my mom."

Charlie? Engaged? Bella smiled. She was elated to know that he had someone as wonderful as Sue. A small weight had been lifted off her, only to be replaced by another, much worse discovery. Her dad would be in danger now as well. "Seth… does he know?"

Seth shook his head. "No. Jacob and Sam, they forbid it. They don't want your dad to know what you… what you are. I have to go and let the others know you are here."

Before she could respond, Seth changed back into his wolf form and ran into the woods. Bella stood there, stunned for the second time in several days.

Jasper roused her out of her state. "Bella, do you want me to come with you?"

"No. I need to do this on my own. I need to see Jacob. I will be safe with him. I promise."

"Just follow your heart, Bella. That is all I ask. Please."

Bella peered through the thickness of the fog, staring at the figure that was on the edge of the forest. She knew that he would be there to greet her alone, without anyone else from the pack. She was glad for that; it had been years since they had seen one another and Jacob had never seen her as a vampire.

Jasper had expressed worry just before she left about how Jacob was going to react; he didn't forget the feelings that Jacob held for her as a human, and he worried that seeing Bella changed might send the boy over the edge, hurting Bella in the process.

The fog cleared slightly and Bella stepped trepidciously over to where her former friend, almost lover stood. She saw that Jacob was just as handsome as ever, his features stuck at the age of twenty five till he decided to stop phasing. But as they stood only a few feet apart, she saw there was an emotional hardness about him that was not there before and Bella was very much aware that she was responsible for at least part of that.

She thought back to the last time she had seen Jacob. She was in her wedding dress and he had stopped by, asking for one last dance with her, one last moment with her as a human being. When he had found out she was turned shortly after the wedding, he had demanded that the treaty be null and void, but Sam had still be debating on what to do at that point. Bella had still longed to reach out to Jacob, make him understand, but Edward and Carlisle suggested it would be best if Bella did not attempt any further contact with him, so she did not.

But looking at him now, she wondered if that was the best decision. His eyes were empty as he stood in front of her, taking in her new body, her new life. Didn't she do to him what Edward had done to her? She left him, heartbroken. She might as well have said the words, 'It will be as if I never existed.'.

Only here she was, in front of him, taunting him. She took a deep breath and attempted a half hearted smile at him. She wanted to say something profound, or at least comforting. All that came out was, "Hi Jake."

"Bella." His voice was hard, his face not betraying a single emotion. Bella did not have to be Jasper to know that it was all a façade. "What do you want?"

Bella faltered quickly at the question. She wanted a lot of things. She wanted Edward back, she wanted Jacob to imprint and fall in love and find the happiness he deserves. She wanted to be back with her family in Minnesota, and she wanted Jasper in more ways that expansive mind was willing to process at the moment. But most of all, she wanted to not have to make the decision that was suddenly very realistically looming in front of her.

Bella decided to dodge the question for now. "How are you, Jake?"

Jacob laughed coldly. "You know how I am Bella."

"Jacob-" Bella paused, trying to think how to approach this. Then, she knew what she needed to say. "I'm sorry."

Bella could tell she caught Jacob by surprise. "You are sorry?"

She nodded, looking at her friend. Even if they were supposedly mortal enemies, she would always hold him as one of her dearest friends. "I'm sorry for everything. Three and a half years can make a big difference. Even for you and I, who are stuck, unchanging, until either you decide to stop phasing, or I get killed. I am sorry for the way I treated you. It wasn't right. You were there for me, you were always there for me, and I used you so many times. Not intentionally mind you, I loved you too much for that. But I always made sure to emphasize that you were second in comparison to him, that you did not mean as much to me as he did. That was not fair. Jacob-"

Bella walked up next to him, ignoring his now strong scent, and placed her freezing hand in his hot one. She locked her golden eyes to his brown ones. In another lifetime, the both of them would have been happy together, in any normal circumstance. But they were not normal, never would be. "Jacob, I want you to know, I did love you. I am so sorry that I could not be what you needed me to be."

Jacob faltered, and for a brief moment, she saw the boy who had saved her from the depths of hell. Her friend that she would be forever indebted to. It was only one brief shining moment, but it was a moment that she would hold on to forever and for always. His hard exterior returned. "As much as I love reminiscing about the good old days, what is it that you want, Bella?"

Her mouth began to form the words to tell him the story of what happened between her and Edward, Jasper and Alice. Tell Jacob just how much she needed his help, beg his forgiveness, and be forever in his debt if he would do her this one favor. Just talk to the Cullens.

Talullah's voice rang in her ear. "It will incite Caius and send him on a hunt that will destroy and kill not only the wolves, but many in that tribe."

Bella pictured Emily, Sam, Jared, Kim, Paul, Seth, Embry, Quil, and her Dad. All looking at her, all begging her to do what she knew was right in her heart all along. And then she looked at her Jacob. He had always been second. And she was about to ask him to be second again. She had been willing to sacrifice Jacob, all in her own selfishness for Edward.

And she realized she couldn't do it.

She looked over Jacob. "Just to apologize, Jacob. You deserve at least that from what I put you through. I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Be happy, my Jacob, forever and for always."

Before he could respond, she turned and fled, tears stinging her eyes as she ran through the familiar woods of Forks, only to see Jasper where she had least expected him, in her and Edward's meadow, waiting for her.

She flung herself at his body, his embrace welcoming, tearless sobs wracking her body. "I couldn't do it. You were right. How could I have been so damn selfish? You must think I am awful. I hate myself for what I have been thinking for the past two days. I've been so blind."

She felt Jaspers lips form a smile into her hair. "I don't think you are awful. I had faith in you that you would make the right decision all along. You and I have been through a lot, more than most would be able to bear. It's understandable that you were not thinking clearly."

"I just felt like I was on the outside, looking in, at a person I wasn't, making a decision I would regret the rest of my life."

"Are you ready to go home?"

"More than you know." She hugged Jasper desperately back, finally coming to terms that she had just let go what may have been her only chance to ever be with Edward again.

Author's Note: Now come on. You did not really think that I would have Bella destroy Jacob and the werewolves did you? :)

So what did you all think of the last three chapters? I am pretty curious because I came so close to just posting it all as one because I did not want you all to hate Bella because I know that she had a lot of OOCness in the past couple of chapters. Just like Jasper had to go to the Cullens to sort out some things on his own, Bella needed to make the same journey, and this was her way of letting her mentally come to terms with some things.

The story is about to start progressing pretty quickly from this point forward folks, so the answers you are seeking (well, some of them) are on the horizon in the next few chapters.