a/n: It's been 6 years since I updated this story. I left ff and ended all of my stories. But my author friend, Kittycat69 basically said "wtf you can't quit a story that has over 350 reviews!"...but I have no time. I'm in college. She is too, and she manages to write...so she laughed at my excuse. So I finally said "okay, fine, i'll keep writing the story and see where it goes". It's been so long since I wrote this story...I don't even remember where I planned on going with this plot. So bear with me while I figure this out again. This chapter is a little bit of filler..but, hey, after 6 years, this is WAY better than nothing, right?! :) It's drabble-format, kind of Bella's musings on the last couple of days and the events that happened. So yeah, please please review. I will be WAY more encouraged to keep updating this regularly if I get lots of reviews :) I hope you enjoy this chapter! More will (hopefully) come soon!

His Gift

Chapter 12:

Bella's POV

Sun streamed in through the cracked bedroom window and onto my face. The warmth and light pulled me from my dreams and into reality. I didn't want it to be morning. I just want to sleep for the rest of my life. I don't want to get out of bed and face reality.

But you can't run away from your responsibilities. As much as I wish I could, I know I can't.

I stretched, arching my back above the bed and sighing before opening my eyes.

…Wait, this isn't my room.

'Oh yeah,' my brain finally broke though it's sleepy haze, 'I don't live at home anymore.'

Every morning, I open my eyes and feel a wave of disappointment when I don't recognize the ceiling above me. Then I remember what happened and I feel like I want to cry myself back to sleep.

I sat up and glanced around Jake's small bedroom. The bed took up most of the space in the room. The only other pieces of furniture in the room where a dresser, bedside table, and bookcase. Posters lined the walls.

It's strange waking up in a room that isn't your own.

You think I would be used to it by now.

Billy Black didn't seem the least surprised when Jake and I showed up back at the house with my packed purple bags. He just sighed, shook his head, and held the front door open for us. I think he felt bad about how Charlie had reacted. He certainly didn't agree with Charlie's ultimatum of 'get an abortion or get out'.

I hope he changes his mind. I want to come home.

This isn't home.

It's been a little over a week and a half since I unofficially moved in with Jack and Billy. The small house could barely fit both of them, and a third person just added more space-issues. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms wasn't a lot of space for a man in a wheelchair, a bulky teenage boy, and a pregnant teenage girl. Thankfully, I was still small. I won't have a baby bump for a while.

The size of this house will be even more of an issue when I'm the size of a planet.

I feel bad, but I basically took over Jake's bedroom. He sleeps on the couch now, even though I insist he should take his own bedroom. But he plants himself on the couch and we both know there's no way in Hell I could move him into the bedroom on my own.

The couch is too small for his growing frame, and I know it's uncomfortable. The padding is matted down and the cushions are lumpy. That couch has seen better days.

Jake rubs his sore back when he thinks I'm not looking.

Jake and I spend a lot of time in the backyard in the garage.

We go in there sometime after breakfast and don't go back into the house until our stomachs protest for lunch or dinner.

Jake likes to tinker around with his Rabbit and I like watching him. Sometimes I'll bring a book and read, resting my back against a stack of tires in the corner. We play oldies music on the rusted radio. Jake sings out loud to all the songs he knows. His voice is always a little off-key, but that never stops him. He asks me if I want to sing too, but I say I'm not in the mood to sing. He doesn't protest. I have a feeling he only sings to make me think everything is okay.

We both know it isn't.

It's easier for us both to sit in the garage, drinking too many sodas and listening to the radio. It's easier to play pretend in the garage than it is to face reality. We both know things have changed…and we can't hide from it in the garage.

I find myself thinking about Edward more than I wish I did. I see him in my dreams, but he is in my nightmares too. Jake doesn't know about the dreams (or the nightmares, for that matter)…and I think that's probably for the best. It would only make Jake angry to mention Edward or the Cullens. He thinks the worst of them.

It's not hard to see his point, though. I mean, they did leave so suddenly.

I find myself thinking of Edward and wondering how much our lives would have been different if he had known about the baby. I think he would have stayed and been supportive. His family would have been so happy. I can only imagine how excited Alice and Esme would have been.

Tears prick at my eyes when I think of the 'would have been's and 'could have been's.

I bury my head in my book so Jake doesn't notice my watery eyes.

Meanwhile…

Edward POV

My family and I arrived in Forks, Washington. It took us longer to get here than we thought. Turns out, my family wanted to plan our return before we just suddenly showed up back in town. I've spent the last week pacing, waiting for us to finally leave and go to Forks so I can see Bella again.

It feels weird being back. We weren't even gone for that long, but it feels as if the town has aged so much since we were here last. In reality, it's been a little over a month.

We stay in the forest as we make our way towards Bella's house. It would be hard to make it though the streets of Forks without someone recognizing one of us and asking why we came back. It's easier to stay in the shadows until we figure out what our next move is.

We are in the forest next to Bella's house.

It's Emmett who notices it first. The sent of dog. A growl erupts deep in my chest. That mutt has been here with Bella.

I want to tear him apart.

I'm about to walk out of the tree-line and climb the tree to Bella's window when Alice catches my shoulder.

"She isn't here, Edward."

I ignore her and shake off her hand. I move once again towards Bella's house. She grabs my elbow and whips me around to face her.

"Edward," she stares he straight in the eyes, "She isn't here."

"Where is she then?" Carlisle asks from nearby. He sounds so far away.

"I don't see her in my visions anymore," Alice explains, turning to address the rest of our family.

"Which means…?" Emmett asks.

"Which means," Alice turns to look back at me, "She is with Jake."