*Disclaimer I own nothing recognizable, all those rights go to Stephenie Meyer. As all Song Rights go to the listed artist. I only own any original characters.

A/N: YAY, I updated for the first time in months on schedule! While I can't promise to continue the current timely schedule, I will try (try being the key word) as my schedule will be freeing up a bit here soon. As always I want to thank everyone who has added this story to their favorites and is following this story. Your support means so much. Again, my schedule hasn't allowed me much time, so again I apologize to all of you for not returning a private thank you to everyone who has reviewed. Please know each one makes my day and I appreciate each review along with each supporter as it all pushes me to continue on with this story.

Chapter Notes:

This chapter is also taking place on Thanksgiving, but in this chapter we get a peek into Jacob's life and see how he is coping with Sarah's death and his new burdens.

So, that being said let the story continue...

Bed of Lies

I don't think that I can take another empty moment

I don't think that I can fake another hollow smile

When it's not enough just to be sorry

I don't think that I could take another talk about it

Song- Bed of Lies

By- Matchbox Twenty

Jacob sat at the cliff's edge, his toes dangling over the edge and his knees hugged closely to his body. As he watched out into the vast ocean he focused on where water and sky became one. He long ago slipped away from the Ateara home with the hustle and bustle of the celebration, as people sat congregated in their chatter while feasting on turkey and its' trimmings. Jacob couldn't be there; it was all too much and too hard to pretend. What would he say when they went around the table asking you to list what you're thankful for?

What could he say as everything had been basically ripped away. A single tear trickled down his cheek; he was sure by now he had cried enough tears to fill an ocean. His life had been so simple one minute, and then the next everything went into slow motion causing everything that seemed so simple to become so complicated and hard.

He remembered it all so clearly….

His mother dropped him off for his required time with his father, which he wasn't really thrilled about it; but knew there wasn't much he could do about it so he always just grinned and bared it. He use to idealize his father, but that was before he heard all about what he had done to Sam and to Sam's sister. Even though he didn't know her he knew Sam, and he was a friend. Sam was devastated and completely engrossed in pain, and even though he seemed at peace you could still see how certain things sent him into a tailspin.

And now Jacob could understand that tailspin as he could understand the pain of loss. Because with one phone call to his drunken father, his life had changed more than he ever thought possible. In that phone call it caused hysteria within the man, who barked quickly to his son to get his shoes on and get in the car. Jacob knew he shouldn't as his mother had warned him so many times about getting in the car with his father when he was drunk; but the pain and anger that his father showed told Jacob not to cross the man. So he did as he was told.

It wasn't even raining, which was almost a miracle in these parts, when they skidded off the pavement and into the dense forest, causing the car to crumple in around them. As the world became still and he could once again focus, Jacob could see they were now facing down a hill with the nose of the car completely folded in on itself. Everything felt like a blur as a pair of arms pulled him from the vehicle in a brief moment as he was pulled from the broken metal, he could see from the corner of his eye that his unconscious father was being pulled out as well.

Quickly the arms that had freed him placed him into another set of arms and led the way to where red and blue lights pulsed. As they crested the embankment he was placed into the back of an ambulance where he was poked and prodded and asked all sorts of questions. All the while the person asking and poking was in awe that he only had minor scratches and bruising.

It was then that his father was loaded into the back of the ambulance on a stretcher, still unconscious and seemed to be struggling to breathe. Fear shot through him at the sight; while he wasn't happy with his father he still loved him. His deep focus caused him to jump as the back doors slammed shut, right before the vehicle shot forward with sirens blaring.

"You know, kid, you're lucky that we were right behind you when you went off the road," the man sitting across from him said as he stuck Billy's arm with a needle, prepping him for an IV.

Jacob winced at the sight, only nodding to the man's words but said nothing as they sped through the winding roads. He was in such shock at what happened and focusing on his father's struggled breaths that he didn't even know they had arrived. He jumped in fright as the back doors ripped open and they pulled his father from the vehicle and rushed him through the sliding doors. Jacob only stood when he felt a hand pulling up on his arm, causing him to look up at the medic.

"Come on, son; you look physically fine but let's have the doc take a look to make sure it's all good on the inside."

Nodding mutely he followed the man into a room where he sat on a bed and waited, and waited until the doctor came. After a few pokes and checks he was deemed fine and cleared. He wanted to ask about his father, but felt to stunned to do so. As the doctor walked out for the first time in hours, he felt some relief as Harry came into the room, but that relief soon became confusion. Why would Harry come for him, where was his mom? The sight of the familiar face gave him the courage to find his voice.

"Where's my mom?"

As the words left his mouth, Harry's face completely distorted into sheer pain as his eyes gleamed with unshed tears, causing Jacob's heart to race.

"Harry, where's my mom?"

This time Harry turned his head away for a moment before turning back around to face him.

"Jacob, son-" Harry's voice shook from emotion. "Jacob, your mom isn't coming... your-" his voice cracked again as his eyes shined brighter. "Son, your mom had an accident too." Harry fought against the quiver, "She didn't make it son, she passed away. She's gone-"

That's all he remembered hearing as his mind became nothing but white noise; that statement swirled through his mind and anger surged through him causing him to shoot to his feet and stand toe to toe with a man that he considered an uncle. "No, you're lying!" he yelled out but deep down he knew it wasn't a lie. But somehow in someway he believed if he believed it was a lie, it would be just that.

He felt a hand on his face causing his face to rise and focus on the one before him. "Son, I wish it was a lie but it's not. She is gone, taken in an accident similar to the one you and your old man were in. The only difference is your dad will pull through it, but he didn't make it out like you. Scott free. Your dad won't be able to walk again as the impact severed his spine. He'll spend the rest of his days in a chair," Harry choked out through his own grief.

In that moment it all hit him. His mother was gone. Never would he feel her arms pull him close, never again would he feel her tuck a stray piece of hair behind his ear as she rolled her eyes and asked when was he ever going to allow her to cut it. Never again would she fuss at him about homework, a messy room, or talking back. Never again would she teach him a life lesson and he would never get any of the things he took for granted ever again because she was gone.

His mind flashed to his father and the ramifications there. Never again would his father walk. It wasn't like his father played baseball or football with him in the last few years as he found himself more in tune with his own demons; that led him to a liquor bottle when not working than paying attention to his son. But Jacob's dream that his father would find his way not only back from his decline and once again find his place back at home on the rez with him and his mom, and find time to hike, fish, and play ball with him was long gone. He would forever be bound to a chair, forever be in need of care. Care that Jacob knew was going to be put on him. Sure they'd have help out of pity for him due to such a heavy loss but none of it would come for his father, as the man was the fallen chief and a disgrace. In that moment he fell to his knees and erupted in tears at what he lost and what he now gained as the reality around him hit him full force.

Shaking his head to clear the memory, he wiped away another stray tear as his eyes again focused on the void in the distance. His mother, who was so badly burned from her accident caused them to have a closed casket, now laid in the ground for almost three and a half weeks; and his confused father now sat at the Ateara's home and was most likely picking at his meal, as he was rattled with pain from losing the love of his life.

The thing that surprised everyone the most was that after Billy awoke only hours after his accident, Harry emerged from his room with a stunned look on his face. Sue held Jacob tighter in fear that things had gotten worse, but depending on how you looked at it, the opposite happened. Billy had no memory of the past four years. He didn't remember all the wrong he did and he didn't remember his downward fall from grace. He didn't remember getting the call about Sarah and to him Jacob was still a seven year old boy. In that moment everyone agreed it was best to let some of the past fade away because no matter what, he wouldn't remember it. They knew if they added all that to the festering wounds that had just been created it would make life even harder, not just for Billy but for Jacob as well.

Sam was unhappy to say the least knowing this. He hated the man with a passion and wanted him to suffer, but as Sue said, 'Just because he forgot it doesn't mean they have too.' However her words seemed to fall on deaf ears to Sam as he felt cheated and angry that they could welcome him back all the while aware of the past.

So when it came time for Billy to finally meet Sam, he had been given an altered version of events on Sam's return, causing Sam to become livid in anger. Most of all when Billy made the comment that it seemed Sam inherited his father's temper, and then offering to be there for him. It was too much and pushed Sam past his breaking point. From that moment, not only has Sam stopped his friendship but so has Jared, Seth and Leah all out of loyalty to Sam, which resulted in their once tight group of friends to be split apart. Jacob couldn't fault Sam, he had every right to not want to live a lie and demand justice and he couldn't fault Jared for choosing his best friend just like he couldn't fault Leah for choosing her boyfriend, or Seth for following his sister out of loyalty. Because they had done what Quil and Embry had done; they had stood by, their best friend.

Even though Jacob played the part of the lie, it didn't mean he didn't hate it because he knew it was wrong. Yet a part of him enjoyed the lie; even with his father now in a chair, he was more the man and father he once was. He no longer drank like a fish, and he tried to show strength for his son who had been given such a large burden that was way beyond his eleven years. Granted, Billy still broke down here and there at the loss of his wife and the loss of memories of his son growing into a young man; but everyone knew he was better off without a recap of them. A blank void and fake memories he pulled from either dreams of the past or wishful thinking were a much better way to go. He even accepted his demotion well. Believing what he was told that Harry and the others thought it best so he could have more time to focus on his health, then have to worry about running a tribe along with it. And the seat was being kept warm by Harry until Jacob became old enough.

Even though things seemed to be settling into a routine, Jacob felt drained. He felt lost and broken and struggled with each day at the responsibilities that were thrust upon him, as he was a sole care giver at the age of eleven. While he had help with meals from Sue and Joy, he still struggled because they couldn't cook all the time for them and Jacob didn't want them too. They weren't responsible; they couldn't consume their lives and just focus on the destroyed one around him. They had families that needed them, so Jacob had to learn to do at least the basics. He had to learn to keep track of appointments and scheduling for making appointments, follow ups and pick-ups from the hospital shuttle or rides from family friends since he was way too young to drive. He had to also monitor his father's medications, keeping to a timely schedule. He had to learn how to get his father in and out of bed; he had to learn to wash and dress the man from the waist down; he had to learn how to help his father use the bathroom. He had to learn how to shop for food at the tribal store; he had to learn about bank accounts and bills, he had to handle his father's breakdown at the loss of his job and he had to help fill out disability forms so they'd have an income.

He also had to sit there as Sue and Joy went through his mother's things, because Billy couldn't handle seeing the last bits of his wife leave their home, causing Harry to come and take him away for a bit. Jacob just sat and stared, occasionally nodding a yes to keep or no indicating to give it away. Joy and Sue both ensured him she'd want her things to go to the less fortunate. He also had to stand there alone as the only relative during his mother's funeral and burial as his father was still in the hospital and his grandparents had passed away over a year ago.

He lost time with friends as he had to care so much for his father. Quil and Embry learned that play was restricted to the Black's property which left them with not much to do but work on two old motorcycles his father had bought many years ago. A few times Jacob would see Sam and his group when they would walk to the tribal store. He couldn't help it, it was instinct to smile and greet them. Except now in response, he was greeted with silence, glares and a sneer from Sam before the group would veer off from the stores route to the beach for a day of fun. Fun that Jacob was no longer able to enjoy. While he understood his former friends' actions, it didn't make it hurt any less. He lost them like he lost his mother, his father's ability to care for him, and his childhood.

To all it looked like he was coping well, but he felt like he was suffocating inside at all the loss around him; and he didn't know how to break free from the tightening grasp around his chest. Because no matter how many people say they understand, they didn't. They didn't have any clue on the pain or responsibility he faced everyday.

"It gets easier, you know," a voice he never thought he'd hear broke through his mind

"Thought you hated me."

Slowly the owner of the voice took a seat next to him. "I never hated you, Jacob," Sam said reassuringly while keeping his stoic tone. "I hated that I'm supposed to act like my pain didn't matter; especially for someone who went out of his way to put me and my sister through so much."

"I'm-"

"You shouldn't be the one apologizing. It should be me," Sam sighed. "It took me a bit but I get it now, while in some ways this is for him. This charade is for you as well, and for that I can do it because we are friends. You stood by me after you found out what your dad did; so I figure if you can do that, I can do the same. Because like Sue said", 'Just because he forgot doesn't mean I have too.' Sam paused for a moment before turning to face the younger boy, "I'm sorry, Jacob."

"Thank you, Sam." Jacob sobbed out as everything came pouring out and he felt Sam's arms wrap around him, pulling him close and supporting him. He really wanted to say he didn't need to apologize but he couldn't get more past his lips before the sob overtook him. It felt like a weight had been lifted to have his friend back, to have him say not try, but that he would stand beside him. He didn't know how long he sobbed until he felt words bubble up and cross his lips, "It never gets better."

"In time, it does."

The answer had Jacob pull back and look at him with a bit of anger; he hated people saying they understood or give it time and it will work out. What did they know? They didn't and he was so tired of them thinking they did. "I'm sick of people telling me that, when you or nobody knows what it's like," he bit out.

"Really? You're going to say that to me?" Sam roared, causing Jacob to jump at the intensity. "You little asshole, I know more than my fair share of pain, which was dealt out by the hand of your own flesh and mine. I know what it's like to be forced into caring for someone when you're not ready for it, and I know what it's like to feel pain and loss. I still worry everyday where my sister is, or if she is alive or dead. And as much as I want to know, I'm terrified to know the damn answer," he snarled as pain shot through him at the thought of the loss of his sister and her unknown fate.

Jacob felt stunned for a moment before embarrassment hit him at what he had said. Of course Sam knew pain and loss. He was truly the only person who knew all the feelings reeling through him. "Sam, I'm sorry," a shameful whisper quickly crossed his lips.

"You better be," was bit back as they entered into a silence. "Listen, Jacob, I know all you're going through more than anyone and I'm willing to be an ear for you because I know better than anyone your daily hell. While it's not exactly the same, it's pretty damn similar. So as much as you've been trying to put on this brave front it's gotta stop or you'll completely snap and lose yourself. While things won't ever be prefect, they will turn into okay, then fine, and eventually better. They will never be fantastic because the pain and hurt will always be there but you have to live outside it. And for you it starts with removing some of your burden and allowing Harry, Sue and Joy more access to help. You gotta drop the martyr act. You're eleven and just because your dad needs extra care doesn't mean you need to turn fifty. You have help in the tribe like Sue, Joy, and Harry. Utilize it. You have friends, utilize them to distract you and you have me to understand you. So utilize it. It's more than I ever had when I was raising my sister. But it's what I did have when I lost my sister and if I can pull through and function, so can you," he said as he rose to his feet.

Jacob had so much weighing him down, but he felt lighter and for the first time in weeks he felt some hope. Because Sam was right; there are tools for him, and even if he wasn't ready for one big giant step right now by allowing everyone in at once; he knew with Sam being there and being able to relate, and being that sounding board that he eventually would be.

"If you don't hurry, I can't be guaranteed any pie. And if I lose out, someone is gonna have to pay the cost. And seeing as it was you who cost me, I'd say we know who'd be on the receiving end," Sam's face giving nothing away, letting the words say it all.

Jacob had no plans on being on the receiving end of one of Sam's paybacks as he was brutal. His cool exterior kept him from ever giving anything away. One time at a sleep over Quil decided it would be amusing to put Sam's hand in warm water as he slept, and even at the protests of his friends he decided it was too funny to pass up. Sam said nothing when he woke; he got up, showered, changed and threw his clothes and sleeping bag into the washing machine before sitting down to breakfast, all with a neutral face, compared to Quil's amused face. All the other shocked faces thought Sam would have yelled and screamed and then beat on Quil for a good while.

Later they found out behind that cool façade was a calculating mind. Because the next night ended up with Sam sneaking over to the Ateara home and saran wrapping Quil to his front porch pillar in nothing but his nut huggers while he slept. The act caused quite a ruckus when the first morning jogger passed by and screamed at the sight. In the long run Quil not only got pranked himself but now had to live down the pictures his mother and father took for blackmail. The memory caused an instinctive reaction and for the first time in weeks, Jacob smiled and laughed as he darted to his feet to follow his friend. While his world was still out of balance, it no longer felt completely off kilter. Not only had he opened himself up to what he shut out but was again embraced by those who had shut him out. The vice around his heart released a bit, allowing it to beat more freely at the hope that now swirled through him.

"Hey, wait up," he called out as he darted after his wise friend. All the while he hoped they didn't miss out on any pie because he had no desire to end up like Quil.

I hope you all enjoyed seeing Jacob's side, and in the end the support that Sam is willing to give. While it might not seem fitting for Billy to get a free pass due to his accident, Nothing is that easy when it comes to redemption in this story.

Next chapter we will play ping pong again as we go back to LA. The time has come now to push Bella into choosing a path that could lead her to La Push at the events that are to be played out.

As always, please review as they are very much appreciated; however as always flames are not.