Oh my goodness, would you look at that? Another double update.

Chapter 16: Gone

This can't be real. This can't be real. This can't be real. Could vampires get sick? He felt like he'd be sick. Or maybe pass out.

This can't be real.

Wouldn't he know if she had died? Wouldn't something in him, something somewhere in his cold, dead soul, know if she were really... gone?

Dead was too harsh a word. Too ugly for his beautiful Bella.

He'd spent over a century around couples who were the very definition of true love. First Peter and Charlotte. Carlisle and Esme. Rosalie and Emmett. Then Alice and Edward. There seemed to be almost a gravitational pull between them. They revolved around each other. The same way he and Bella had. So wouldn't he feel it if that connection, that pull, was suddenly gone?

A dark thought full of hope wormed it's way into his mind. Had Rosalie been lying? Was Bella really gone or had it all been some sick scheme to get him to come home?

He looked down at the phone in his hand. There was only one sure way to find out. Charlie Swan didn't owe him a damn thing and if what Rosalie had said was true, then he wouldn't blame the man if he hung up on him the minute he heard his voice. But he needed to know for sure.

Bella waved as her dad drove off to La Push for Harry Clearwater's funeral. She wished she could go, but after the last time she saw Jacob, she was fairly certain she would not be welcome.

"You're not going?" Alice asked, appearing beside her from out of nowhere.

"I'm not the most popular person among werewolves right now."

Alice frowned. "Because you're friends with me."

"Because they're stubborn assholes that can't let the past go," she huffed.

"There is quite a bit of history there. Edward told me once... Huh," she trailed off, looking down the road to see Jacob's Rabbit coming toward them. "I didn't see them coming. I didn't see him stop you from jumping either. Maybe my visions are allergic to dogs."

Bella rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Alice."

She shrugged her petite shoulders. "You never know. I'll go hunting while you two chat. I'll be nearby if you need me."

She disappeared just as Jacob pulled up with Embry and Quil. "You too, Quil?" she winced.

"Yeah," he glared at her. "Me too."

Jacob climbed out of the Jeep and Embry took the wheel. He and Quil left after a nod from Jacob. "You alone?" he asked.

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Yes. Shouldn't you be at the funeral?"

"Had to talk to you first," he said, stepping past her and into the house.

She rolled her eyes. "No, please. After you."

Entering the house, she found him in the living room, looking at a picture of the two of them, and she immediately softened. She'd missed him. "Look, Jake, I'm sorry, I-"

"This place stinks to hell."

She grit her teeth. This wasn't her warm and sunny Jacob. That was who she missed. Not whoever the hell was standing before her. "You're welcome to leave. In case you forgot, you're the one that barged in here."

Jacob cut straight to the point. "How many Cullens are here and how long are they staying?"

"Just Alice, and she can stay as long as she wants!" she snapped.

"Are the rest coming back?"

"Not that I'm aware of," she bit out, angry at the situation and angry at the tears that stung her eyes. "Anything else?"

His jaw was tight. "That's it."

"Better go report to Sam, then."

Jacob made to go, but stopped when he reached the door. Bella saw him in the reflection of the back window. His shoulders dropped and he hung his head. "I did it again, didn't I? I keep breaking my promise not to hurt you."

She swiped at her tears before he could see them. "It doesn't have to be this way," she said, turning to face him.

With a few of his long strides, he closed the space between them. He tucked her hair behind her ear and brushed her cheek with his thumb. "Yeah. It does."

She couldn't look at him or she'd lose the little control she had over the tears in her eyes. "Am I gonna lose you this time, Jacob?"

Never. The word very nearly choked him. He knew he couldn't promise her that, but he wanted to. Instead, he brought his hand under her chin so he could look at her face. The tears in her eyes broke his heart. "It was easier when we were both human, wasn't it?"

A pained laugh fell from her lips. Jacob gave her a sad smile. Ever so slowly, being sure to give her plenty of time to react to his movements, he brought both hands up to cup her face, and leaned in. He heard her catch her breath and her heart start to race. Her eyes softly closed. "Jake..."

The shrill ringing of the phone shattered whatever spell they had both been under. Jacob reached over to answer it, never taking his eyes off Bella. "Swan residence."

She watched his face turn dark before he snapped, "He's not here. He's at a funeral." He slammed the phone back onto the receiver. "Filthy bloodsucker."

Bella's head spun and her body went cold. "Wait, what? Jake, who was that?"

"Dr. Carlisle Cullen," he spat.

"What? Why didn't you let me talk to him, what the hell, Jacob?" she nearly shouted.

"He didn't ask for you!" he snapped back at her. Before either could say anything else, he groaned and staggered back against the wall.

"Jacob?"

He was trembling, his breath coming in shallow pants. "Bella, stay back..."

Bella looked past him to see Alice standing near the front door, her the look on her face one of complete despair. She was sure her friend would be crying if she could. She rushed to her side. "Alice? What is it? What's wrong?"

Her mouth opened and shut a few times before she finally managed, "I had a vision... Jasper..."

Her heart plunged down to her toes. "What happened? Is he okay?"

"He... he thinks you're dead."

"That was him calling," Bella realized, tears springing to her eyes once again. "Not Carlisle."

Alice nodded. "He... he doesn't think he deserves forgiveness, that death would be too easy," her voice was choked with the sob caught in her throat. Bella could scarcely hear her, but there was no mistaking what she said next. "He's going back to Maria."