Bella reminded herself, every day, every hour, and for the first few days, almost every minute, that if there was any hope of having anything worth having with Edward, they needed the time to be apart. For him to see that her remaining human was just not a possibility. That it would endanger anyone whose life was connected with hers.

She focused on the very few benefits this separation provided, one of which was the freedom it allowed her to mend her friendship with Jacob Black. He'd all but crushed her in his hug, the first time he'd seen her.

"You OK?" he'd asked.

"Now that I can breathe again, yes," she'd rasped, smiling at him.

"Sorry," Jacob mumbled, but with a chuckle. "It's just good to have you back. Even if, well, I'm sorry...I know it's not how you wanted things." Then he'd kind of squished his face up in an expression she hadn't seen before, and said, "who am I kidding? I'm not sorry—I'm just happy you're here."

She'd laughed too, tucking away the very deep, and painful mixture of emotions clawing at her innards.

Long term plan, she'd reminded herself. Long term.

Then she'd said a silent prayer that this didn't all blow up in her face.

She'd seen Edward at school, at a distance, but he'd respected her wish for space as much as he could. The other Cullens knew no such boundaries, though, and came and went at will. Alice and Bella's friendship grew, and it surprised Bella to realize just how much Edward's presence had dampened the possibility for growth there.

Perhaps she was more right than she'd initially thought.

It was a tenuous list of benefits, though.

Charlie's reaction had surprised her.

He'd put down his stack of files, when she'd mumbled her news to him from the kitchen, and with a gruff, "hey, come here," and given her a hug.

"I'm sorry," he'd said.

"Why?" she'd asked, returning the gesture, head against his chest, "You hate Edward."

He'd sighed. "Hate is a strong word. I love you, though."

Bella had pulled her head back a bit, looking down, "it's just for...now," she said. "I think it's important for us to have some time apart." This made it sound more temporary than she knew it could be.

It could be forever.

Charlie'd looked at her. "Wait," he said, "you are, or you aren't together?" He wasn't angry, but his confusion was tinged with suspicion. He was the kind of man who operated in the clarity of black and white. Together, or not together.

"We're not together," she had said deliberately. "I need time….space."

This fell into the uncomfortable realm of muddily unclear to Charlie, but he hadn't pressed. He'd suspected it would only become more confusing the more questions he asked.

"OK," he'd said instead, feigning understanding.

Jacob was watching Bella, as they ambled towards the house. "So," he asked, "whatcha wanna do?"

She looked at him, her smile small, but genuine, "you know, I would love to go to the beach."

"Sounds good," he said, but then his face fell a bit with his darker humour, "as long as there's no cliff diving."

Bella chuckled, "sure."

It was deserted when they arrived, and they ambled through the rocks and driftwood, skipping, or in Bella's case, slipping over the tide pools. Jacob caught her a few times, and he saw her begin to twist, her ankle turning at an odd angle grabbed her with both hands, awkwardly pulling her towards him.

"OK," he said, letting go, "maybe, have a seat before you need stitches again."

She snorted derisively, but acquiesced. They sat, leaning up against the large tree trunk that had been bleached by the wash of the sea, and tenuous strokes of the sun. It was peaceable, sitting there, listening to the waves slip over, and off the rocks.

Jacob threw small stones out into the tide's pull, watching them disappear with larger 'plops.' He'd been so surprised when she'd called.

He'd been a stubborn idiot too. That was the nice way of putting it, he thought.

He'd shown up at her place, leaving her bike there for Charlie to see. And her dad had, alright. Jacob'd done it deliberately, knowing it would get her into trouble.

She'd still called him though, trying to talk. He'd been so angry. Refused to speak to her.

It was Billy, passing along the message that she'd broken up with Edward. That if he could call her, she'd appreciate it.

He'd felt like the idiot he was then.

She'd been so gracious when he had finally phoned. Said she was just happy to be able to talk to him.

He was ecstatic.

Sure, she said it was just a separation. That she still loved him.

Sure.

But she was here.

With him.

He risked snaking a hand around her back. It was still cool on the beach, the off-shore breeze nipping at their extremities.

She didn't pull away, but leaned against him. It was chilly, after all, and he was not.

"Excited about graduation?" he asked.

"Not really, no," she said, shrugging. "University, kinda."

"Mm," he said, wishing he could join her there this year.

"How're things with...everyone?" she asked, flicking her eyes up and around. She was careful with their secrets. Even here.

"Good," he said, "quiet," and looked at her. "Not something you should have to worry about."

He didn't anticipate her reaction. She snorted, and pulled away, hunching her arms around her legs. "I really hope that is not you placating me."

Jacob's eyebrows moved high up his forehead. "No," he said carefully, "it really has been quiet."

After a bit, she unfolded herself, "sorry," she said, "bit of a sore spot."

"I can tell," Jacob said, elbowing her in a friendly way. "Trust me, Bella. I won't lie to you about stuff like that."

She looked at him, watching his face shift in the light. "OK," she said. After a moment, she stood, "it's too cold here, though. Elsewhere?"

"Sure," he said. "We could….um...go pretend not to ride our bikes?" He'd apologized so much about his stunt after she'd forgiven him, that she'd refused to talk about it anymore. He hoped bringing them up didn't make her uncomfortable.

She laughed. "Oh, no. Knowing my luck, I'd end up road pizza. Sorry. Charlie really would blow his top."

"Fair enough," Jacob said.

They walked slowly back the way they came, but when they reached the trailhead, Jacob stopped abruptly.

"Hey," he said softly, "remember how I said I wouldn't keep anything from you?"

"Sure," Bella said, missing his tone, her keys jingling in her hand.

"I'll meet you back at my place, OK?"

"Why?" Bella asked.

"I don't know yet," Jacob said, but he lifted his chin towards the eastern stretch of the trees, "but I'm about to find out."

Bella swallowed. "OK," she said. "Sure."

It was one of the most harrowing drives she'd had. She half expected Victoria to come bounding out of the trees, her angry mouth the last thing Bella would see.

The sanguine, and utterly ordinary appearance of Jacob's house was less reassuring than she wanted it to be, and she paced there, not wanting to go inside until Jacob arrived. Minutes stretched to the tens, and then a half hour, and she changed her mind, cold and anxious. She was sitting on the couch when the door creaked open.

"Sorry," Jacob called, coming and sitting beside her. "Everything's fine."

"And?" Bella asked.

Jacob's mouth twisted.

"Jake?" Her tone had risen.

"She was here," he said, "but she left," he shrugged. "Took off into the water."

"Near—where we—?"

"No," he said, "further north. Anyway, the lee—your—uh...ex's sister? The one that was waiting for you—"

"Alice?"

"Yeah, that one, she called Sam."

Why would Alice call Sam? "And?"

"Asked that one of us escort you part way home."

What? "Escort me?"

"Yes. Her words. Not mine."

Bella's anger was visceral. Alice? After what she'd promised?

She huffed out a breath. "Fine," she said, "let's go then."

"But Bella—"

"No," she said, "i need to talk with her. In person."

"OK," Jacob said, clearly disgruntled, despite his thin efforts to hide it. He'd hoped their visit would be longer. He was angry that the Cullens had managed to ruin their time together.

The drive was quiet, Bella harder on the accelerator than she should have been.

"Careful," Jacob mumbled, hearing the engine whine. And then, when he heard a crunch in the gears, furrowed his brow. "When was the last time someone looked at your truck?"

She shook her head, driving onwards. When they reached the boundary line, she almost sped past it. "Here," he said, "pull over."

"Why?"

He looked at her sharply. "This is the line."

"So?"

"They take over. I get out."

"What?" Bella asked, the syllable angrily clipped.

"They take over. I get out," he repeated, and then lifted his chin towards the treeline, where Alice emerged from the shadows.

The words, you have got to be kidding me ripped through Bella's brain, but then so did others. Far less polite ones.

"See ya Bells," Jacob called quietly, and then wisely disappeared.

When Alice slipped into the cab, Bella gave her a dark look. "Alice," she said, "didn't we have an agreement about this?"

Alice put both hands up in the hair, in a brief, mock surrender. "Wasn't watching you," she said, "I saw Victoria heading their way and called them. Sam mentioned Jacob was with you, and I hoped you wouldn't mind hanging out with me for a bit."

"Alice—" Bella said through gritted teeth.

"Bella," she interrupted her, "I'm telling you the truth."

They stared at each other.

Bella blinked first, and then sighed. "Fine."

They drove on for a bit, each privy to the quiet of their own thoughts. The truck grumbled much of the way.

Alice frowned, hearing it. "How was your visit with Jacob?" she asked, trying to keep her thoughts squarely in the present.

"Good," Bella said, "until it was interrupted—not by you," she added, "thank you," she added. "Sorry, I'm…"

"Utterly right to be suspicious. It's fine," Alice said, giving an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry your life can't be more...normal, Bella."

"Who wants normal, when you can have a blood thirsty vampire on your tail?" she quipped.

Alice didn't laugh. It stretched every one of her instincts against its grain, to not watch Bella's future. It was like trying to play catch with an invisible ball. She could see everyone else's reactions around it, just not the ball itself.

It sucked.

She knew Bella needed the space. Deserved the privacy.

But she still wished Bella would let her look, and just hide her thoughts from Edward.

"How're things...at home?" Bella asked. Alice understood her question perfectly.

"OK," she said. "Kinda edgy on the weekends. Better on the weekdays."

The days he saw her.

Bella nodded, jaw tight. It was just as difficult for her. But it had to happen. Had to.

"I support you," Alice said. "I'll do my part."

Bella risked glimpsing at her, sideways, snapping her eyes back onto the road. "Thank you," she said.

The constant squirm of misgiving and doubt thrashed about in her midsection.

Long term plan, she told herself, long term.

She just hoped, against what felt like a swelling tide of improbability, that she was right.

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight. No copyright infringement intended.