I own nothing.

This is my shortest chapter so far, but it's also my favorite. Hope you enjoy.

It was Saturday again before I got around to asking Charlie about paying for my brakes. He said that he knew nothing about it, and I believed him. I was pretty good at reading Charlie. We talked about who it might have been but couldn't come up with anyone. Charlie suggested that perhaps I have a secret admirer, an idea that I shot down rather quickly. However, it did make me think, did Alice describe Carlisle Cullen? Though her description seemed extremely vague, I guess it could've been him she described. He was middle age and kind of tall. However, his hair is very blonde, not "darkish blonde", and Carlisle is definitely good looking, not "sort of", but maybe Alice didn't think so. But how would Carlisle have known I was having work done on my car and where I was having it done no less? Maybe I didn't have an admirer, maybe I had a stalker. I should pay more attention to my surroundings from now on.

Charlie did suggest another ridiculous idea, "Maybe it was Jeff taking care of "his girls"." He continued, saying, "Even in the after life Jeff knows that you won't allow anyone but him to help you." Though thinking of Jeff without crying had been getting easier to do, I had to change the subject this time.

"Dad, I know you want to help me with my bills, but this is something that I have to figure out. If I've learned anything, it's that I can't rely on anyone…because people can leave and it's just best not to depend on anyone but myself. Besides, I need to be able to take care of Sheridan. She's going to get older and go to college one day and I will be the one to see that she has every opportunity. It wouldn't be fair to you or anyone else if I don't step up and take care of her and myself."

"I understand where you're coming from Bella. I'm proud of you, but just promise me that if you get into any trouble that you'll lean on me. Ok?"

"Ok. I will. I promise… Thanks Dad."

"Besides, you're my baby and Sheridan's my grand baby and I want to be there for you both."

It was probably the deepest conversation I'd ever had with Charlie, as well as one of the few times I called him "Dad".

Sheridan and I spent the following Sunday relaxing. It was peaceful and really nice just to spend the day playing with her. We were sitting on the floor in the living room after dinner that night playing with Sheridan's baby doll, when the door bell rang. I wasn't expecting Charlie or anyone else for that matter and it was getting kind of late for visitors, so I was a little nervous about answering the door. However, when I peeked out the peep hole of the front door I saw the retreating form of one of the last few people I ever expected to see, especially on a school night. I swung the door open in haste.

"Jackson?!" I called to his back.

He stopped immediately and turned back to face me. "Bella! Thank God you're home."

I wasn't prepared for the big black, swollen eye that graced my younger brother-in-law's face. "Oh my! Jackson, what happened to you?!" I met him halfway to the door to get a better look at him. The relief that was on his face when he saw that I was home was now gone and replaced with what looked like guilt. He hung his head and he slumped his shoulders. I immediately went into "mom mode". "Are you ok? Are you hurt anywhere else?"

A tear slid down his right cheek as he shook his head no. "You should see the other guy." While when most guys make that statement it's meant to sound macho and bad ass, but when Jackson said it, the words were drenched in guilt and regret.

"Come on. Let's get you inside." I pulled him through my front door and locked it. Then I took a quick glance at Sheridan, who was now watching CNN for some reason and seemed quite content doing so. So I drug Jackson into my kitchen and had him sit down at the table. I then grabbed a bag of frozen peas from the freezer, a glass of water and two mild pain killers.

"Here. Take these and put this on your eye."

He popped the pills, took off his glasses and clutched the peas over his eye while making a hissing noise.

I sat down next to him at the table and took a second to take him in. Other than his eye, he looked ok. This whole situation seemed so surreal though. Jackson with a black eye? I would've never thought. While Jackson looked a lot like Jasper, he had Jeffery's level head. He is definitely not the type to fight. The kid is sweet as sugar. If I was honest with myself, I thought Jackson was a bit nerdy, with his glasses, big teeth and lanky build. He was the only sixteen your old I'd seen with such perfect posture. Most times his posture rivaled that of a General in the Confederate Army, but now sitting at my kitchen table he just looked defeated.

"Now, tell me what happened."

"I told Dad about the band."

"The band…you're in a band?"

"Yeah."

"He didn't like that you're in a band?"

"Nope."

"So, he hit you?"

"No."

"Who hit you then Jackson? Spit it out. It's like pulling teeth with you!"

"No, Dad hit me, but I hit him first." Another tear slid down his cheek.

I reached across the table and rubbed his hand. "Tell me why you hit your dad."

"I just…wanted him to come to our gig. I knew he wouldn't approve but I thought that if he saw how good we were, he would be proud. We've been working so hard…" he trailed off now wiping his cheeks of the tears. Then his expression changed to angry. "I just got so mad…" he continued gritting his teeth and clenching his fists. "He just wouldn't shut up about how Berkley didn't care about how good my band was and that I shouldn't be worrying about Stupid shit like my band." He let out a rush of air. "So I hit him, and I didn't stop. I knew it was wrong but I did it again. That's when he hit me, so I stopped." He covered his face with his big hands. "I'm horrible Bella! What kind of son attacks his own father?"

"Shh…no Jackson, you're not horrible", I said as I stood up and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. "It's going to be ok. I'm sure he feels just as bad for hitting you", I told him, but in all honesty, I didn't know what to tell him. He shouldn't have hit his father, and his father shouldn't have hit him either. Should I call CPS? Should I call Mr. Whitlock? Mrs. Whitlock?

"Bella, he kicked me out. He won't talk to me, neither will Mom, and I can't get a hold of Jasper. I have no where to stay and…" He was starting to panic. That's when it hit me. WWJD. What would Jeffery do? Jeffery would have Jackson stay here in a heart beat.

"Stay with us." I blurted out. "Stay with me and Sheridan. You can have the guest room and we will figure this out together." I saw some of the panic leave his features but he looked usure.

"I don't know Bella. I wouldn't want to burden you."

"Nonsense! You're staying here. We're family. Besides, you can babysit-"

"Ok! You talked me into it", he said before I could finish. I smiled at his eagerness.

"Good! Now, have you eaten anything? I have some left over spaghetti."

"I ate earlier but I could make room for some of your spaghetti."

I heated up the spaghetti and served it to him.

The next morning on my way to work, after I dropped off Sheridan at daycare, I called Mrs. Whitlock from my cell. I told her that Jackson was staying with me. She seemed a bit surprised. When I told her that Jackson felt terrible and wanted to come home she was indifferent. So I told her that if she and Mr. Whitlock weren't going to get Jackson back home then I needed her to register him at Forks High. She said that she would handle it and to tell Jackson to expect to start classes next Monday. I just couldn't understand how she could be so cold to her son. It made me furious. I knew that they were never really parental, but Jackson is a good kid, He's so smart and talented, never in trouble.

The conversation with Mrs. Whitlock put me in a bad mood that day, but things started looking up after I picked up Sheridan and headed home. I made a meatloaf, mashed potatoes and peas, and we all sat down at the table for dinner. For some reason, having Jackson there was good for my soul and made me feel a little less lonely.

Later that night, after I got Sheridan in bed, Jackson and I talked a bit about his mom and dad and the whole situation. He still felt terrible but he said that his parents wouldn't return his calls. I told him that maybe he should give them some time. I just couldn't understand though. They'd already lost one son and now they were pushing this one away. I couldn't think about it without getting upset so I changed the subject.

"So, how are you feeling about starting at Forks High?"

"I don't know. I know that it's going to be smaller than Port Angeles but I think I might kind of like that."

"Maybe you'll get to reconnect with some old friends."

The Whitlock's moved from Forks to Port Angeles after Jeffery graduated, Jackson was in Jr. High.

"Hey, I need to get my oil changed, I'm about a thousand miles over due. You know a good place?"

"I sure do. Masen Automotive, it's that new place up toward Port Angeles. Really nice people", I thought fondly of Alice and especially Edward. "Let me get the number for you."

I went upstairs to my bedroom and pulled out the drawer of the nightstand. I dug around in all my junk until I found the card I remembered tossing in there. I took a second to look over it because I'd never looked at it before. It was a pretty simple card, just white with black letters. It read:

Masen Automotive

113-576-2167

113-486-5343 cell

I had reached down to put the drawer back into the nightstand when I noticed an old faded piece of paper from my note pad. Edward 113-486-5343 was written in Jasper's hand writing. I picked it up and compared the two numbers. They were the same.

"I'm going to leave you with my guy's number."

"Your guy?"

"Yeah, my dealer."

My mechanic with the swoon worthy voice was Jasper's dealer. Edward is Jasper's dealer. Edward sales weed.

"Hey, did you find that number?" Jackson was standing at my bedroom door waiting.

"Yeah, here you go", I said as I extended the Masen Automotive card out for Jackson, while I crumpled Edward's number and stuffed it into my pocket.

"Thanks, I'll probably call in the morning. You said they were nice?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I think the mechanic there is a friend of Jasper's."

"Huh, well, maybe I can get a good deal then, or maybe he'll know where the hell Jasper is."

"Maybe. You know Jasper though, he is where he is."

"He's like a damn nomad. I guess I'm pretty lucky to have you Bella. Thanks for taking me in."

"I'm glad you're here actually. Jeffery would've wanted you here with us."

It may seem like I brought Jackson in out of left field, and I sort of did, but he's one of my favorite characters. We'll have fun with him! I'm excited.