Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Jake~

I had heard the rumors and the town gossip. Edward Masen bought my house. I sent Quil and Embry to check it out. I knew Bella really didn't want to break up with me. I knew she loved me and wanted me to be there for my daughter. Lilly may have been Edward's biologically but she was meant to be mine. Fate wanted us to be a family. I had it all planned out. I knew how things should be and how things would have been if She just would of figured out what I already knew. We were meant to be. Our whole lives we had been just inches from being together. It was Edward that got in my way back then and it was Edward that was in my way now. I knew it wasn't my Bella that sent back my gifts. It was her friends that were making her do it. She wanted my gifts. I didn't mean to yell at her on her porch. It was regrettable when she fell but she had to see. She was being thick headed and difficult. I had to find a way to get rid of her friends. When her friends were gone and it was just the three of us she would see how silly this all was. Then we would get married and I would adopt Lilly. We didn't need her friends. She would make new friends. Friends who understood why I loved Bella even though she had traipsed around town like a whore. They would understand how I could love our daughter even though she was a bastard. I had a plan and step by step I would put it in motion. Bella would be back with me soon enough.

Emmett~

I was in deep shit and I knew it. When Quil and Embry left I knew in my bones I was in deep shit. I drove back to work as slow as I could just to take a few extra minutes before I had to deal with this. Jake would know Edward bought the house he wanted. Jake was not dealing with his break up at all. He maintained they were still together and Bella just needed a break. I knew the truth. She didn't need a break. She did what she should of done after their first date. She dumped his ass. Everyone knew she let it go on to long but we understood why she did it. She didn't want to be alone. They were both adults that just needed to go there separate ways but Jake wouldn't go. I heard the way he talked about Bella. She wasn't his girlfriend, she was property. It made me sick to listen to him but he never said anything directly to me and I needed a job. So I kept my mouth shut and stayed away from him. I always told Bella he was a nut case and she needed to stay away but Bella being Bella always thought he was just being protective or he was over reacting. Jake's truck was parked in his spot in front of the office. I parked my truck and plastered a smile on my face. Maybe I was over reacting. Maybe they just wanted to remind me to pick up my check and the tone of voice he used didn't mean anything. I was great at my job. I was so good that people asked for me specifically. I rolled my eyes at myself and kept walking. I was being stupid. Nothing was going to happen.

Emily's face dropped when the door closed behind me and she looked up.

"HI Emily. Did the payroll come in?" I decided it was best to stick with the pay check thing.

"Jake has your check. He's in his office." She kept her eyes down when she spoke. I kept smiling. I walked behind her and knocked on Jake's door. He gave a muffled command to come in. I walked in leaving the door open behind me.

"Emmett, have a seat." He said. I nodded. I sat down in one of the chairs on front of his desk.

"What's up? Emily said you've got my check." Jakes desk was neat as a pin. I could see the check laying in front of him in the middle of his desk.

"Yes, I have it. I wanted to talk to you." As if on cue Quil and Embry filed in the small office and stood on either side of Jake.

"What's going on?" I looked all three of them in the eye.

"I want you to know Emmett, we think you do fantastic work. We've never had a complaint about you and you are highly requested." Jake said. He leaned forward in his chair placing his folded arms on the desk.

"Thanks. That's nice to hear." Quil and Embry looked at each other and back at me.

"Em, are we not paying you enough?" Quil asked me.

"No. No. I make great money. Enough to support Rose and I both. I have no salary complaints." I assured them, still smiling.

"Well if you are making enough money to stay a float why are you doing side jobs?" Embry cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes.

"I'm not really. I just help my friends out sometimes. Home construction is expensive."

"You help your friends out during your work day in your company vehicle?" I wasn't being paranoid. This was about Edward.

"I was on my lunch break when you saw me today. I was dropping some of my tools off. Helping Edward Masen isn't going to affect my performance here, I promise. It's only on weekends and at night."

"You were dropping them off in the middle of the day in your company truck. If you'll recall there is a clause in your contract that prohibits the misuse of company property." Jake slide my contract to me with that section highlighted.

"Everyone does it." I said looking over the contract.

"We understand that but The Maple house is a lot of work, seventy five thousand dollars worth to be exact. If you are working for Edward for free on the weekends and using your company truck to help him during the week then you are practically stealing from us. We can't have that now, can we?" Jake leaned back in his chair and smiled. This was possibly the most uncomfortable I had been in my entire life. I knew what they wanted me to say but I couldn't bring myself to say it.

"What is it you want me to do?" I asked in a growl.

"Just don't help Edward. Not on weekends. Not during the week. Not ever. Just let the house fall down around him and when he leaves don't beg him to come back. In return, I will make you a full partner in the business. I'll sign a portion of it over to you right now." Being a partner was a dream come true. I made money hand over fist for them for years and I had earned what he was offering but I wouldn't take it at Edward's expense.

"I'm sorry. I can't do that. He's been my friend since the first day of kindergarten. I can't do that to him." All my hard work flushed down the drain. If he wasn't one of my oldest friends I might of thought twice.

"Was he your friend when he told all your secrets to make a quick buck? Was he your friend when he left Bella pregnant and alone? How is it you can show him loyalty and he's done nothing but hurt the ones you love ? I gave you a job. When the mill closed down and the whole town was suffering it's loss I took you in. I gave you a job. I convinced my father to let Rose run the bar. I thought we were friends." Jake slid my check to me and shook his head, "I'm sorry Em. I can't let you work for me if I don't have your loyalty." I took the check and stuffed it in my back pocket. "You'll have my resignation by the end of the day." I stood up and walked to the door. "No need. You're fired for misuse of company property. I'll need your truck keys and you can clean out any tools you might have in the work shop." I tossed my truck keys and my door keys on to his desk and left without looking at him.

Inside my truck my first thought was Rose. She didn't know what was going on. She would be blind sided if Billy fired her. I pulled out my cell phone and dialed our home number. It was to early for her to be at the bar but there was no answer. I dialed her cell but there wasn't any answer. I called Alice and she told me Rose had been called in to do inventory. "Fuck!" I screamed after we hung up. I drove quickly across town to Black's hoping to catch her before she got blind sided.

I could hear her screaming before I got out of the truck. It was a sound I would know anywhere.

"What do you mean I'm fired? I've busted my ass Billy. This isn't fair!" I threw open the door and stepped inside. Billy was in his wheel chair holding Roses keys. She was standing in front of him hands on her hips. Her cheeks were flushed. Her eyes were red. They seemed to have been arguing for a while.

"Rose, this is a family business. I simply can't turn it over to you knowing the kind of people you associate with." Billy was in on it too. They knew I wouldn't turn on Edward and Rose wouldn't turn on Bella. They planned this.

"Who she's friends with has nothing to do with her ability to do her job. She's busted her ass and you know it. She's been working for over a year for free. You had a deal with her." I stepped beside Rose and slid my hand into hers protectively. My Rose was tough as nails. She wouldn't let them beat her down. She wouldn't let them win.

"Rose has made her choices Emmett. I gave her the choice and she chose."

"What choice? Bella or the bar?" I roared. Rose wiped away the tears running down her cheeks.

"He said he would sign it over to me today if I got you to stop helping Edward and arranged a meeting for Bella and Jake." she said softly. "You fuckin bastard! You wanted my wife to pimp her best friend out to your psycho son? That's sick."

"This isn't over Billy. I'm getting a lawyer." Rose said firmly. Billy laughed, "Do it. Waste your money. We didn't have a contract. As far as anyone knows you were just volunteering to help a poor old man out. You've got no case and no witness's. Get the hell out of my bar." I had never wanted to hit an old man in a wheel chair but I wanted to beat the shit out of Billy Black right now. I pulled Rose out of the bar. She climbed in her ancient red BMW and peeled out of the parking lot. She headed in the direction of our place. I followed behind her. She was crying so hard she could barely drive.

When we got home I cuddled Rose on our couch and let her cry. Crying wasn't my style but I understood how she felt. Rose lost her bar. She had worked so hard and given up so much and now it was gone. I lost my chance to be partner. I stroked her back and kissed her forehead. Tomorrow we would worry about paying the bills. Tomorrow we would have to face our friends and admit we were broke but tonight I was just going to hold my Rose and let her cry.

Bella~

Our booth was busier than usual all night. I was exhausted when the game was over and eager to hear about Lilly's meeting with Edward. I could only assume it was going well since I hadn't heard from wither of them.

"I didn't see Rose and Em tonight. Hope every thing's okay." Alice said and folded the little bit of merchandise she had left.

"I'm sure they're fine. You know Rose and Em. They probably just got caught up." I wasn't worried. It wouldn't be the first time they missed something because they had fallen in bed together. It was really sweet. Alice picked up the box and walked it to her car in the parking lot. I yawned and cleaned up on my side. I could see him coming from the front side of my booth. Jake was walking over to me. His head was down, dark hair flowing around his shoulders.

"Bella can we talk, please? I only need a minute." he said softly. "I don't need to hear anything you have to say, Jake. Just leave me alone." I turned my back to him and wrapped to go cups back in plastic. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said the other night. I am so upset. I miss you so much." I sighed, "Apology accepted but Jake we really are over." I turned back to him. The service counter of the booth separated us, he took a step closer. "I saw Edward in the stands with Lilly. I know they're waiting on you but I have something to say and I'll never forgive myself if either of you get hurt." his voice wavered over the last part of his statement. His eyes were full of concern. "Sure, whatever. Just do it fast. I want to get my kid home." I mumbled. I truly didn't want to hear anything he had to say. "I know Edward out bid me for the house on Maple. That's okay with me. What's not okay with me is him coming into town and sweet talking you after seven years." the hard edge to his voice returned but he kept it low as to not draw attention to us.

"Sweet talking me? What are you talking about?" I kept cleaning up and didn't look at him.

"You know what I mean. Buying houses you love. Showing up at the coffee house every morning. I just need you to think about something. If he hadn't found out about Lilly would he still be here?" my head jerked up.

"What?" my eyes narrowed.

"Think about it. He hasn't called in seven years. Hasn't written. He didn't even notice you at his Dad's funeral. Do you think you were on his mind when he came in to town? Because he didn't come back here for you. He only came back because his Dad was dieing. To top it all off he profited from you. All of you. What's he going to do next? Write a book about the home town hero that finds out he's got a daughter. Is that what you want for Lilly?" he asked with a hiss and to his voice.

"This isn't any of your business. Just leave Jake." I said over the lump in my throat. The house was my proof he hadn't forgotten me. It was my only proof. I wouldn't let myself think about the fact that he was leaving town when he saw Lilly the first time. I wouldn't let myself think about how he only sought me out after he had wanted to ask me to see Lilly. I wouldn't let myself think about any of those things until Jake laid them in front of me plainly.

"Like I said I just had to say it because if he hurts the two of you and I didn't try to stop it I would never forgive myself. I still love you Isabella and I'll always be here." he turned and walked away. I squatted down behind the counter and wiped my eyes.

"Bella what's wrong?" Alice high feminine voice asked me from the back door of the booth.

"Nothing. Nothings wrong. Hey could you go get Lilly for me? I'm not feeling so good. I'll meet you guys by the car." I stood up and untied my apron and tossed it in the box.

"Don't pull that shit with me. What's going on?" Alice grabbed my hand and looked me in the eyes.

"Jake just said some things. I shouldn't let him get to me."

"Your right, you shouldn't. Whatever it is, I'm sure he's just trying to rattle you." she rubbed my arm lovingly.

"Yeah. I'm sure that's it too." I faked a smile when I heard Lilly's laugh coming to the booth. I had let Edward see her and let Lilly see him. I wouldn't be able to separate them now but I could protect myself. I could still protect my heart.

A/n- Thanks for all the reviews. I really love getting them. I hope this chapter is well received even though it's sad and Jake is psycho. Review review review.