"The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves. We live in denial of what we do, even what we think. We do this because we're afraid."
The lie he told to protect her has had nine years to destroy her, and it's time to pick up the pieces.

When Bella Swan's typical teenage life is forever changed, she's forced to rely on a brother she barely knows and the makeshift family that surrounds him.  AH, OOC, ExB

"Darlin’, I have some bad news,” Wes began, and what he said next ripped my world apart.

I knew he was talking, trying to explain what happened, trying to lessen the blow. His lips were moving, but the pain was so loud I couldn’t hear him. My father was dead. Dad, the only family I really had, was gone, and I was…what?

*banner by FrozenSoldier

You know those fics where Edward doesn't come back and Bella forgets about him and five seconds later she's in bed with Jacob and none of it makes any damn sense?
Yeah, this isn't one of them.

A BELLIE AWARDS NOMINEE!

This story picks up from the moment in New Moon when Jacob has driven Bella home after the cliff diving incident, right before he catches the scent of Alice. Only in this telling, Alice wasn't looking, so there's no sudden appearance at Bella's house, no Rosalie calling Edward and sending him on a suicidal mission to Volterra, and no reason for Bella to do anything but believe that Edward didn't love her anymore. This is simply a story of what might have happened if everyone stayed mostly in character and Edward's return was delayed. Yes, delayed. Because we all know that he was "this close" to coming back on his own anyhow.
So what would have happened if Bella had tried to move on with her life?  Would she have found happiness with Jacob?  And would Edward be too late?

* First in a series of stories that tell of Bella and Jacob during Edward's absence, Bella's start at college, and the Cullens' eventual return.

~I thought of Jacob’s warm arms wrapped around me, his infectious laughter, and his ability to keep me from falling to pieces again… The pain choking my heart relaxed and I could breathe.~

~“More than anything,” I whispered, not caring what I'd just agreed to. When it came to Bella, it didn't matter what the question was. I just wanted.~

Winner of:

Best Author, Most Romantic, Favorite Jacob, Most Suspenseful, & Best WIP in the Wolfpack Awards | Best Non-Canon Pairing (Incomplete) and Best WIP in the Moonlight Awards | Best During the Series in the Razzle Dazzle Awards | The Storyteller Award in the Shimmer Awards | Best JacobxBella in the Silent Tear Awards | Best Jacob Point of View in the Twilight Twins Awards

Bill loves Sookie, but can she trust him? Eric wants Sookie, but does he love her? Two determined vampires, one stubborn telepath, and a big decision to make. 

Companion story for Breathe Again. Written as a side to Posts 39-54. Rachel's having a tough time adjusting, and she's been taking it out on Bella. One-shot.

~ So I was jealous. I could admit that. I just couldn’t admit it to her. ~

Companion story to Breathe Again, written as a side to Post #43: Waiting. Victoria pieces together the circumstances behind James's disappearance and plans her revenge. One-shot.

~ He was my killer and my savior. And now he was nothing. ~

~ A part of me was gone. I could still see his soft red eyes and feel the gentle curtain of his blond hair brushing against my cheek. When I breathed deeply enough I could imagine his sweet scent filling my lungs. I had to find him. ~

Companion story to Breathe Again, written as a side to Chapters 33 & 34: Mischief.

What kind of friend would Embry be if he just stood by and let Lauren come in between Jake and Bella? (One-shot)

~If you asked me, Jake was lucky Bella even bothered to come to him about it instead of just dumping him. And now he was too scared of stirring up trouble and upsetting Bella to do anything about it.~

~The pack was lucky, too, because dealing with Jake when he and Bella were on the outs was no picnic. But a call to Leah and a trip to Forks High would solve everything.~

Companion story to Breathe Again, written as a side to upcoming Chapters 9 & 10: Revelation. Sam and Emily try to figure out what's going on with Jacob and what's causing Bella's volatile reactions.

~"Her name's Bella," he replied defensively. "Jake's got some kind of bizarre relationship with her."~

One-shot.