Disclaimer: I am not SM it all belongs to her. I only own the story line and whatever future characters that decide to pop up. Again I am still new to this process. Please read and review? I really do like the help and feed back I get. It helps me improve my writing as well as developing my story. On with the story.

A/N: Special thanks to:

MADMAMABEAR for being my Beta.

What Could Have Been

Chapter 2

Jacob POV

I was so ready to be done with school for the day. I had a few homework assignments to do for history and math but nothing too difficult. I had always been good in school and I couldn't wait to finish early. After all I've been working my ass off in school even during the summer. The rez school actually let me take a whole year's worth of classes so I could graduate early. The walk home was cold because we had a bad storm coming in from the north, one that not only promised rain but snow as well. It was going to be an early winter and I needed to make sure we had enough wood to heat the house, which does get pretty damn cold in the winter for my dad anyway.

I walked down the back road to my house and stopped at my garage to put my book bag down inside. I grabbed the ax and headed to the wood pile to chop some wood. I must have cut about a cord of wood before I stopped to carry some into the house for my dad. I would go back out to my garage to do my homework after dinner. I liked working out in the garage because it was quiet and I could stay focussed on my work. I grabbed an armload of wood and started walking up to the house when I got a scent of something sweet. But not vampire sweet. It was a normal, human smell. I walked in the back door and called to my dad to let him know I was home.

"Hey dad, I'm home and I cut some firewood, so we should be set for awhile."

"Ok thank you son."

"Hey did Sue make dinner yet? I'm starving. I want to eat so I can get back out to the garage to do my homework."

"Yeah she's been and gone already. Dinner's on the stove."

"Ok, cool. I'm gonna grab some food and head back outside to my studies. I'll be back in an hour or two, okay Dad?"

"Jake? When you're done with your homework, we need to talk alright?"

"Sure Dad, what about?"

"We're having a house guest for awhile."

"Really? Who is it?"

"I'll tell you later, get on out there and hurry back in."

"Ok, later Dad."

"Study hard, Son."

"Always do, Dad. Always do."

I walked over to the cabinet and got a plate and loaded it with meat loaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans and Sue's famous cornbread. Damn that woman could cook! She told me once that my mom had taught her how to make a few things that Dad and I would like. Rachel and Rebecca would have loved them too. I miss my sisters, but Rachel will be home in a few months from college. She graduates in June and then she's coming home to stay. Of course Rebecca won't come home no matter how much Dad begs. You would think she would want to be around her family but ever since Mom died, she just will not budge on moving back home.

I walked out to the garage and sat my plate and drink down on a crate and dug in. I wolfed my food down so fast. I really should have slowed to taste it. Oh well, it's a wolf thing, always inhaling our food and we never seem to get full. I pulled out my books and folders and got started on my homework. It really didn't take me that long to get it all done though I kinda took my time.

Bella POV

I finally woke up from what seemed to be an eternity of sleeping. I was so relaxed that I didn't even realize I had slept that long. I woke up to the smell of food, Sue must have been over to cook for Billy and Jake. I got up and put my shoes back on and went out into the kitchen to grab something to eat. I was moving around the kitchen getting plates out for Billy and me and I dished up dinner.

"Hey, Billy come and eat, food's on the table."

"On my way, Bella."

I pulled a beer from the fridge for Billy and a soda for myself and sat down at the kitchen table to wait for Billy.

"Bella? Do you have enough to eat?"

"Yes, thank you Billy. Is Jake home yet?"

"Yes, he is. He's doing his homework right now, but he'll be back in awhile."

"Okay, does Jake even know I'm here?"

"No, he doesn't. I haven't told him yet because I wanted it to be a surprise for him. Jake's been so lost without you and he won't even talk to Sam or Quil or Embry about what's bothering him."

"Wow. And I thought I was messed up over Edward? And now Jake's messed up about me? I feel so horrible about everything I've put Jake through."

"That's why Charlie and I thought that this would help you both deal with all of the stuff you've been experiencing."

"I understand why you're doing this and I appreciate all that you're doing for me, thank you again, Billy."

"You're very welcome Hon. Why don't you go and wait in your room until I talk to Jake?"

"Okay, but I've got a better idea. Why don't we wait until in the morning and I can surprise him with breakfast, does he have patrol tonight?"

"Not a bad idea, we'll wait until the morning to tell him then. And no he doesn't have patrol anymore. Sam won't let him because Jake's been too distracted and Sam's afraid he'll get hurt by not thinking clearly."

"I don't want Jake hurt either and I hope that me being here doesn't make him feel worse."

"Don't worry so much, it will all work out in the end Bella."

"Well I'm off to bed then. I'll see you both in the morning. 'Night Billy."

"Goodnight Bella, sweet dreams!"

JPOV

I finally finished my work and I was so damn tired. The rain had started and it was pretty cold. I hurried to the house and walked in the back door. My dad had already gone to sleep, I guess our talk will wait until the morning. I went in my room and took off all of my wet clothes and wrapped a big towel around me and walked to the bathroom to shower. The hot water felt so good on my cold wet skin, which was odd for me because I've always felt like an oven. But today for the first time in a long time, I actually feel the cold.

I miss Bella so much and damn Edward for hurting her and for hurting our friendship. Bella and I were in a good place before Edward came along and tore us apart like a stag on one of his hunts.

My soul feels empty without Bella, she's like the warm summer breeze blowing through the cherry blossom trees in town. She fills my head and my heart with a friendship that no one has ever done before. I washed my hair and remembered when Bells would run her fingers through it and tug on it after Sam cut it almost all off when I phased for the first time. She was so pissed at Sam for making me join the pack. I tried to explain to her that Sam didn't make me do anything. I think she felt like she was losing a part of her soul, that it was being ripped away from her, stolen without permission.

I washed my body and rinsed off and as soon as I was done showering I dried off. I caught the scent of...cherry blossoms? No way is Bella here. I must be really tired, so tired that I'm hallucinating fragrances now. I stumbled to my room and put on my boxers and then I climbed into my bed and fell asleep. I was so exhausted that I slept so deeply and finally dreamed for the first time in two years.

I was walking through the forest and I took the short cut through the town of La Push to First Beach. The air was warm and the sand felt good on my bare feet. I walked over to a piece of driftwood and sat down. I watched the waves roll in and lap at my feet. The water was warm so I decided to go for a swim. I must have been in the water for an hour or so before I got out and started walking home. The forest smelled fresh and clean and very calm and I took my time going home. I was just enjoying my day when I caught sight of something in the trees. She was beautiful and smelled of roses.

My mom had died so long ago that I forgot how beautiful she was and she had this way of showing you how your future can change, if you just believed in the magic that surrounded us and never took it for granted. I loved my mom so much and the one thing I truly believe ever since I was a child is that she would always watch over me and protect me when I needed her. I walked for a while until I heard a woman's voice speaking to me, and I began to follow it.

"Jacob? I miss you and your father and your sisters so much. I know it's been hard on you growing up without me to love and guide you through life, but maybe I can help you from the spirit world. If you ever need me just close your eyes and dream of me, I will always be a part of you, forever."

"Mom? I miss you so much. I feel so lost. My soul is so empty without Bella and I don't know how to fix it. I see her in my dreams and I smell her scent all around me, but I can't find her. It's like she's just out of my reach, taunting me and tempting me."

"My son? Do you love this girl?"

"Yes, I do with all that I am and all that I feel. She's a part of me that I don't want to lose."

"When you feel so strongly for someone, they are your soul mate and nothing and no one can take them away from you. My love will guide you to what you seek and your love and souls will be tied together forever."

"I love you Mom, thank you for being here for me when I needed you."

"Tell your father and your sisters that I will always love them and that I am sorry for leaving my family so early in life. My love and prayers are with all of you always. You are in my heart, and I am in yours."

"I will tell them Mom. Goodbye."

"Farewell my son, until you need me again, all you have to do is dream of me and I will be there...always."