The Five Year Plan

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-a note to my readers….

Hey guys,

thank you for the PM's and the kind feedback. I owe you all an explanation for why I pulled 'Leaving So Soon.' Even though I have indulged in fan fiction for a number of years that doesn't make me any more confident about my writing ability, and lately it has just gotten worse. I have been trolled countless times lately on this account and it's putting me off posting here at all. Coupled with the fact that I have finally finished some original works and trying to gather up the courage to publish them has made me ever more ambivalent about the whole thing. 'Leaving So Soon' was my attempt to write in a more grown up manner. Angst is not my forte as you can see from my awful attempt at it, and then I posted the last chapter too hastily when I wasn't happy with it.

So I am going back to basics. I'm sorry guys and hope that has not put you all off from reading my work. I continue to appreciate all the support and well wishes.

Hugs,

Nikki

Everyone always assumed that it was Jacob who had saved Bella. But what they failed to realise was this wasn't the whole truth. In reality she had saved him. This was the thought that flittered through his mind as he glanced at his reflection in the mirror. His face looked haunted. Weeks of running as a wolf in the wilderness had changed him. The aftereffects were clear. Jacob tore his eyes away from the image the mirror projected at him. It was too painful. Instead he did his best to shave without looking at his reflection directly again. The disposal razors he was using became blunt quickly, but eventually he was done. He ran his fingers across his chin, the feel of his smooth skin felt strange to him. Jacob's attention was drawn to his hair. It was a tangled mess on top of his head. Combing was not going to rescue it. He had to resemble a human in some capacity. It was important. Today was important. He couldn't screw this up like he had done with everything else. Jacob grabbed a pair of shears and began to chop his hair. Eventually he was done. He rubbed some gel into the shortened strands to smooth them down, then turned away from the mirror and left the bathroom. Time was running out and he needed to get dressed. He had an appointment to keep.

She was there just like the leech had promised. Jacob hadn't been sure that Cullen wouldn't just ignore his request, but maybe because it came via Seth Clearwater, the bloodsucker had decided to be gracious and allow Jacob one last meeting with the girl he loved. He braced himself, not too sure that he wouldn't just breakdown at the sight of her. Surprisingly he managed to keep his composure. It was Bella who fell apart. As soon as she caught sight of him her beautiful brown eyes welled with tears. Her wedding dress clung to her thin frame. Her fingers tugged at the heavy skirts and lifted them, and without preamble she ran clumsily toward Jacob and flung herself bodily into his waiting arms.

Now he broke down. He heard her murmur that everything was perfect now that he was here. Jacob raised his eyes to the leech. Cullen gave him a warning look, and then said aloud that he owed Rosalie a dance. That was purely for Bella's benefit. The ruse worked. Her attention was pulled from Jacob as she gazed gratefully at her new husband. "Thank you." Edward than gave her a loving smile and walked silently away.

Jacob and Bella were finally alone, or kind of. Jacob was well aware that his pack was hidden in the trees nearby. Sam didn't believe that he would be able to behave himself. None of them did. The leech may be out of sight, but he would be listening in too. Jacob couldn't help but feel bitter about that, but he had to swallow his resentment. There was so little time. He took Bella's hands in his and just looked at her for a moment. Time and distance had not dimmed either her beauty or his feelings for her. Jacob often wondered how such a slight girl could invoke such strong emotions in him. At times he wished that it wasn't so, but Bella owned his heart as well as his soul. There was no changing that now. He heard the rustle of her silk dress as she moved closer to him. She was studying him as intently as he was scrutinising her.

"Where did you go?" Bella asked tentatively. "I missed you. I kept bugging Seth every day, asking if he'd heard anything. None of the others would speak to me." Her sad smile wavered at the memory.

"I don't know, everywhere, nowhere." Jacob's voice was husky with disuse. It felt odd to converse again let alone walk on two legs. "I think I was in Canada for a while."

"Canada." Bella echoed faintly. "Don't you remember?"

"Not really." Jacob shrugged. None of that mattered now. He had other, more important things to discuss with her.

"Do you want to dance?" Bella asked as the distant strains of the band hired by the Cullen's reached them in their little copse.

"No." Jacob tugged on Bella's hands, urging her to follow him so they were more enclosed within the trees. She didn't hesitate. She trusted him implicitly, even when Edward had tried to persuade her otherwise. Jacob paused, turning to face her again. He suddenly sat down, his back resting against the rough bark of a tree. He wasn't surprised when Bella copied him. She had never cared for material things, not even the expensive gown she was soiling as she joined him on the ground. He fought the urge to smile. He bet that would piss Cullen off. "Are you sure you want to do that?" He asked.

Bella knew what he meant. She did smile. She smoothed out the skirts of her dress and gazed at him enquiringly. "It can be cleaned." It was true. She really didn't care about the dress. "Thank you for coming." She hesitated, her smile wavering again. "I know how hard this must be for you. I…"

"We haven't much time." Jacob interrupted her. From the pocket of the dark jeans he was wearing he pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. "This is for you. I meant to give it to you before but things got crazy."

"What is it?" Bella took it from him. Their little fingers brushed and the sudden warmth from his skin made her pause. She glanced at him from under her long lashes, face puzzled. Jacob gestured for her to read it. He watched as she unfurled the paper, a little line of concentration marred her brow as she read the contents. It reminded him of the times they used to do their homework together at the Swan house. That seemed like another era. She used to have the exact same expression on her face as she concentrated on her assignments. "The five year plan." She read aloud slowly. "What is this?"

"It was something I wrote months ago, way before I turned wolf and way before I knew that the vamps were real." Jacob revealed tiredly. "It was just some dumb plan I had. I thought…." He shrugged. "Never mind what I thought. I just wanted you to see that's all."

Bella read on. "Year one, when I graduate I plan on getting a job, hopefully as a mechanic and start putting money by to improve the house." She glanced at Jacob again. "That's so sweet and responsible. I'm proud of you, Jake."

"I don't want you to be proud. Just read on." Jacob closed his eyes. Why did he feel so weary? It wasn't just being in his human form again which was making him tired; it was being in the vamp's lair. It was sucking the life out of him.

"Year 2, I plan to apply for a business loan. I'll be eighteen so will be old enough. I want my own garage. I want to show Charlie I can support her. Dad can do the books and all the office stuff. We'll be a team. " Bella gasped, staring at Jacob dumbfounded. "Jake, is this…."

"Just read the rest, Bells." Jacob opened his eyes again. Hearing his dreams coming out of her sweet mouth was like an arrow straight to his heart. It hurt more than he could imagine, but by the tortured look on her face it was hurting Bella just as much.

Bella swiped at her eyes and swallowed thickly. "Year 3, Bella will be at college, studying. The separation will be hard, but the vacations will make up for it. I'll be working hard too, building up the business and renovating the house. It has to be ready." Her voice shook as she continued to read. "Jacob." She whispered, openly crying. "I can't…."

"You can…for me." Jacob wasn't begging. It was the simple truth. He caught her gaze and their eyes locked. Tears slid down her face. She owed him. "Do it, Bells."

"Year 4, the house will be done. My hard work is paying off. Dad is thriving, so is the business. The opportunity to be part of something great has been good for both of us. Charlie is impressed with my work ethic. He knows I can take care of and provide for Bella. I know he won't say no when I ask him. Bells is doing good at college. She's missing home, missing me, but in the end it will all be worth it."

"I can't believe you wrote all this." Bella's makeup was smeared. Her thick mascara blackened her eyes as it bled down her face. "When?"

"I told you it was before I turned wolf and my life turned to shit, when I was still just a dumb kid from the res who believed in happily ever after." Jacob replied tonelessly. "Just keep reading. You're nearly at the end now."

His words stung. Bella could hardly see the paper now. Her vision was blurry as she continued to cry tears full of guilt and sadness. Her hands shook as she continued to read. "Year 5, Bella's home! She graduated with honours. My girl done good! She achieved her dreams just like I did. She can be a writer, a teacher, whatever she wants to be. I have a good business, a house to live in with a kitchen so big she can indulge in all the cooking she wants to. Charlie said yes when I asked and so did Bella. We're a family and one day I hope it will just go on getting bigger."

In big bold writing Jacob had signed his name at the end like it was some kind of official document. Bella put the paper down and crawled toward him, her fingers outstretched. Grass stains coated the silk of her gown but she didn't notice. Her attention was all on him. For once Edward Cullen didn't infiltrate her thoughts. Her focus was nothing but Jacob.

"I gave you my heart. I gave you my soul. I wanted to give you my future." Jacob took Bella's trembling fingers and kissed them one by one with his warm lips. His dark eyes glimmered with moisture as he gazed at her hopelessly one last time. "I have one last thing to give you." He fumbled in the pocket of his jeans again. He sighed as he pressed a small black box in Bella's hand and curled her fingers over it. "This belongs to you." He said quietly. He watched as comprehension dawned on her beautiful face. "Goodbye Bella Swan." Jacob rose gracefully to his feet and walked away.

He didn't look back…

A/N-thanks for reading!