FAGE 17: Graduation

Title: A Life Well Live

Written for: Cmcgint1

Written by: Rllance

Rating:T

Summary/prompt used: Five years after marrying Edward Bella returns to Forks with secrets. Jacob steps in and helps her deal with them.

Bella finished packing the remnants of her life. The fear had brought her both immense joy and unbearable pain. Edward had spent the past six months desperately urging her to stay, but she realized their safety would always be at risk as long as she remained human. Six months ago () she talked to Rose, Carlisle, and Esme; they had helped her break it to Edward and Alice that she would return to Forks; more specifically, to La Push, a place of mystery and safety, the only place the vampires cannot reach.

Jacob had not been too hard to convince of her plan. After all, the only thing Edward and Jacob ever agreed on was that Bella would remain human and live a regular life. It had taken five long years of arguments and a real health scare for Bella to agree with them. Bella felt both lucky and heartbroken, it wasn't cancer as suspected but an unknown pregnancy A Pregnancy that they had taken away without her knowledge. It made her decision easy, she wasn't ready to be a vampire… not now, not ever. She was filled with fear, uncertainty, and a strange sense of anticipation. Sam and Paul were more challenging to convince, but they relented when their imprints got involved.

Come tomorrow, her life will change forever again.

Bella arrived at the Fairbanks airport, in the care of Rose and Emmett. The rest of the Cullens stayed in Denali with Edward because he wasn't dealing well with her leaving.

Emmett chose to stay in the car, he couldn't say goodbye. He kissed her on the forehead before she got out of the vehicle.

"Bella, we will meet again soon," he whispered as he wiped away the tear that had escaped from her eye.

"I know," she whispered before getting out of the car.

Rose followed her through the airport in silence. the Learjet had some advantages, and a beautiful vampire pilot didn't hurt either. Three and a half hours later, Bella was saying her goodbye to Rose.

"Live a long human life, Bella." Rose stated, "I wouldn't have minded having you as a sister. I am glad you chose this instead of staying with us."

"Thank you, Rose, for everything. As much as I would like, don't make Edward and Carlisle suffer too much. They were trying to protect us all." Bella replied.

"Carlisle was trying to protect you. Edward was just being selfish. They both should have told you and let you make the decision. It was your baby and your body." Rose's golden eyes darkened to molten glittering with anger.

"It is done, Rose. We all must move on and live our lives." Bella whispered sadly.

"You're right, Bella, and Charlie is waiting for you. Emmett and I will see you soon. Carlisle has your secure phone number, and you have his should you need us for anything." Rose said as she wrapped Bella in the most delicate bear hug ever.

Bella turned and grabbed her book bag, and disembarked from the Learjet. Walking as quickly as she dared across the tarmac and into the SeaTac terminal in search of Charlie.

Charlie wasn't hard to spot. He stood at security in his uniform, talking to the TSA agent.

"Charlie?"

Charlie turned towards her and opened his arms to her. Bella did something very uncharacteristic of her: She

"Welcome home, Bells," Charlie said as he hugged Bella as tightly as he could, pulling away from the uncomfortable show of emotion. "How many bags do we have to retrieve before we can get out of here?"

"Only three plus my bookbag."

"Five years, and you only have three bags?

"No, I have a whole shipment of boxes coming soon" she shrugged softly, "But that is books and furniture so those are being shipped to the Rez."

"I guess I could have brought the cruiser instead of Sue's SUV. I should have listened to her." He chuckled, rubbing his neck.

"How is Sue?" Bella asked as they climbed into Sue's black SUV.

" She's good. She's working at the Rez clinic for the most part, but picks up extra shifts at Forks hospital when she can." He replied as they pulled out into traffic

"She doesn't do it for the money, Charlie." she huffed, trying not to laugh at him.

"I know, Bells. Sue loves to help people, and she does that through nursing. Is that why you chose teaching to help?" Shooting her a quick glance before turning back to the road ahead of them.

"Yes." she turned to look out the window, wanting to stop any more deep discussions while still on the road.

"But why the Rez School Bells? What happened with you and Edward? What made you come back to Forks?" Charlie pushed, wanting to know more about his daughter who he had barely seen or spoken to in the past five years.

"I can't do this right now, Charlie." she sighed feeling the secrets on her shoulders just that little bit more.

"Okay, Bells, Sue told me not to ask, but I thought we wouldn't see you back here for a long time, if ever. You hated Forks." He sighed, matching her energy.

"I didn't hate Forks Charlie or you. No matter what I said when I first came back. I loved it here as a kid, and I loved it here when I came back, but Edward became more important." It sounded defensive even to her own ears.

"Just answer one question for me. Did Edward abuse you, Bells?" She could hear the tension in his voice as he said those words.

"No, Charlie. We just wanted different things in the end." she felt the sadness and pain in her chest.

Edward didn't abuse her in the traditional sense. Still, Bella knew that she was postponing the inevitable, Jake had made his conditions known. Charlie would be told all of it. The good and the bad, she wasn't going to be able to hold anything back.. He already knew the wolf's end of the story. Jake had told him, showed him really when Charlie proposed to Sue. Jake defied Sam's orders because he knew Charlie deserved to know about the lives of his stepchildren. But Bella planned to wait until dinner when everyone was there, so she only had to tell it once.

Bella hid in the bathroom at Charlie and Sue's for as long as she could. After the three-and-a-half-hour car ride, the excuse of washing away the travel grime was quick on her tongue. The tense silence made her stomach hurt. She scurried across the hall to her old room to prepare to go out for dinner.

She dropped her towel and assessed herself in the mirror alone. Bella had never found herself attractive, and living with the Cullens had not helped her self-image. Looking at her reflection she got lost in her memories. Memories of a false cancer diagnosis and a baby who didn't even have a chance to live.

The panic started coming in waves. It had happened to her a handful of times in the past five years but hadn't happened since she had made the decision to come home a little over a year ago.

Her mind drifted back to the night she found out Edward had decided that their baby didn't have the right to exist; that he used Carlisle and her doctor to change her life without permission. What hurt her the most was his smug, cold demeanor when she confronted him and how he spoke.

"I did what was best for you, Bella. For all of us, really. There is no way Voltori would let it come into this world or let any of us live if we let it live." he sneered, the condescension in his tone spelt the end of their relationship.

Bella felt herself start hyperventilating, trapped in her own memories. As she crumpled to the floor, she heard the window open. The last thing she heard was Jacob whispering her name before passing out in his arms. Waking up some time later dressed and under the cover of Seth's big bed, surrounded by Charlie, Sue, and Jacob. She sat up quickly and immediately felt dizzy.

"Easy, Bella," Sue said as she helped Bella sit up.

Bella couldn't help but notice that she was dressed in jeans and a lightweight long-sleeve shirt.

"What happened, Bells?" Charlie asked.

"Just a panic attack, Charlie" she muttered rubbing her eyes.

"You act like this is a regular thing Bella," Charlie asked as he looked her over like only a father could.

'It hasn't happened in over a year, Charlie. It's just been a while since they were that bad. I guess being back here triggered it." She groaned looking around the room once more.

"Are you sure you should have come back?" Charlie asked with pain in his voice.

Bella sawJake tense, and she placed her hand on his arm. "I am where I belong."

Bella looks at Sue and Jake and sighed. "Can I talk to Charlie alone for a minute? I know we need to get to dinner, but this can't wait."

Sue nods her head, heading towards the door. "Of course. Jake and I will be outside."

Bella stands and starts to pace the room.
Questions fill her mind with how she should have this conversation. One she never wanted to have with her father.
After several minutes, she takes a deep breath and starts. "What do you know about the legends of the Cold Ones?"
"Just what I heard around the Rez as a kid," He looks at her with confusion. "Why?"

"Remember when Sam disappeared for weeks on end? And how many of the Tribe grow fur?" She gave Charlie a minute to process, waiting until he nodded. "Think of who was new to Forks when that happened…"

Bella sees Charlie's mind working. Like the cop he is, going over the clues he had been ignoring for years.

"Are the Cullen's the Cold Ones?" He bit out as he looked her in the eyes, waiting for her to continue.

She nods yes. Pausing, "But there's more."
Charlie sat there, processing the mountain of information he received from her nod.
"How could everyone keep this from me? I had the right…" he muttered, his voice getting louder.

"Daddy. You're not hearing me. There's more." Her voice cracked as she realised what she was about to say.

This snapped Charlie out of his thoughts. Looking at his daughter, anguish fills her face.
Taking several deep breaths, he asks to continue.

Unable to look at her father, she turned and looked out the window. The same window Edward and Jacob used to enter her room at night.

"I was pregnant." She whispered, the pain in these words still sharp.
Charlie listened to the horrors of what happened to his daughter under the care of a man he once admired. And the man he thought was a boy and reluctantly trusted with his only daughter. A man he would kill if he ever saw again. Without remorse.

It could have been minutes, hours, days or lifetimes as he sat there, listening to what his only child had gone through. Picturing what she had to have gone through… alone with no support. Standing he made his way out to the workshed and grabbed his trusted axe. The good thing about living so close to the forest, trees were close by to take the brunt of his anger and frustration that ran through his mind.

As Jacob saw Charlie leave he headed up to where they had left Charlie and Bella. There on the bed he saw Bella, tears running down her face. He wrapped her in his arms and felt each time she jumped at the sound of Charlie's axe hitting the trees outside her window.

"What the hell, Jacob." She bit out as she turned to face him.

Jacob shook Bella. "You didn't do anything Bella, none of us did. This is all on him. Edward did this. Him and the rest of his family. He preyed on you." Jacob shook his head. "You have to see that now Bells."

"But how are we going to keep Charlie safe if he is mad at everyone?" Her shoulders jumped as she heard the thunk of the axe again.

"Like we have the last seven years. . Don't worry we will figure it out." Jake said with conviction. There hasn't been any leeches since the red-head, but we'll increase patrols if necessary

"We were supposed to talk to the pack tonight Jake." She groaned, running her fingers through her hair, her nervous ticks coming back.

"That is an easy fix Bells I can just let them see what went on tonight." Tapping his head, Jake smiled down at her.

"Jake, they can't see everything!" she blushed as she realized exactly what they would be privy to if they saw everything that had happened.

"Are you kidding no nudes are allowed with those guys? One of them is married to my sister." He shuddered at the thought. It was bad enough that he'd seen slips at first.

"Okay, give me a second and we will head out." Bella turns her back on Jacob as she goes to the closet and pulls his jacket out of her old closet. Bella turned and headed to the closet, pilling out a jacket that she hadn't even remembered she left here

"You still have that old thing." Jake laughed as he stood, looking at the jacket shocked.

"Yeah, I didn't want to lose it," she smiled as the material felt just like it had when he first gave it to her. "Besides, it's the only lightweight jacket I own that the Cullen's never touched. Thought the pack would appreciate it."

"Well come on Loca, let's get this over with before we both chicken out and run away." He grabbed her hand, pulling her to the door.

"I wish that was an option, but we both know this is the only answer." she muttered, though not putting up much of a fight.

"I know Bells but I am glad you are home." She felt him tug at her arm again and gave in. Time to face the music… or wolves.

Jacob and Bella set out on the thirty-minute drive in silence. The closer they got to the Rez the closer Bella got to Jacob. She had done this since the cliff-diving incident. Whenever she was in his presence Bella would move toward his warmth. Shockingly Jake slipped his arm around her and pulled her even closer.

Turning to face him as they pulled up to the cabin Jake had built for her as soon as he found out she was returning. She needed a quiet place that butted up against the woods, so the pack could keep an eye out for her.

"Jake."

"Shh, Bells," he said as he pulled her close.

"Kwop kilawtley, Bells. Kwop kilawtley." Jacob whispered as he bent to kiss her for the third time in their lives and for the first time Bella responded with abandon. When they left the truck, the windows were foggy, and Bella was breathless.

The cabin was bigger than she expected but she knew the tour would have to wait. The travel and the trauma of the day caught up to her. Bella took the key from Jake's hand, heading towards the door and leaving Jake to grab her suitcases and bag. He fixed her a grilled cheese and tomato soup while she showered again. He left it by the bed and locked the door behind him. He shifted before his feet hit the ground.

Several days later Bella managed to patch things up between Charlie, Billy, and Sue. Somehow managing to get him to join them all for Pack Sunday dinner. Jake had gotten her permission to share everything with the rest of the pack. Bella hoped Charlie saw that he was not the only one in the dark. He would not feel alone.

Dinner was just as Bella remembered. Loud, warm, and chaotic. After dinner, Bella kept her story simple. She knew they would all know the truth about her relationship with Edward one day. Charlie didn't say anything until he and Sue were leaving. Bella and Jake followed Sue, Charlie, and Seth to the car. They walk in silence. When they reached the car, Charlie turned, and wrapped Bella in his arms, and just held her. Not saying a word, not asking the questions Bella was sure would come. He didn't want to let her go, so they stood there until Sue cleared her throat.

After they left, Jake and Bella hopped in her truck, and Jake took her to the cabin, where they made love for the first time.

Summer was leaving Washington as Bella and Jake stood beside each other, watching the rest of the pack play football. Seth was returning to college soon, and they were just enjoying having him at home. The little brother she never knew she wanted or needed.

He had been the only other member of the pack to go with them to meet Rose and Emmett at the Cullens' house. Carlisle's agreement that he, Rose, and Emmett were the only ones who were allowed to return to Forks ever. She was glad to see them, and so was Seth.

Bella and Jake told Rose their secret. Come next year Bella and Jake would bring her vision from years ago into reality. The baby that Edward had taken away was going to have two living siblings. Two raven-haired babies with both wolf and vampire godparents. Their relationship wouldn't be secret much longer but for right now they share a secret glance before Jake joined the football game.

I want to say a big thank you to my Fage ladies for bringing me through this one. Thank you Deonne and Brier Lynn Rose for all of your help. Cmcgint1 I hope you enjoy. I am so sorry it is so late.