Lost and Found

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!

Part Eighty Six-Healing

Two years later;

Bella watched as Charlie bent down and put the fresh flowers in the vase next to Sam's grave. He was often here, visiting his son, tending the grave, and just to sit quietly and keep Sam company. It gave Charlie some semblance of peace. Bella saw the weak sun shimmer on her father's greying hair. Losing Sam had aged him overnight. He had taken early retirement from his job and had spent the last two years helping to build up Jacob and Jared's garage. He had invested a lot of his savings in the joint venture, as well as helping with the books. In the last year the fledgling business had really taken off, and Jacob and Jared were able to employ some of their friends. Embry worked at the garage part time, it gave him time to study. He had gone back to college to further his education. Seth also worked there as an apprentice mechanic. Like Embry he was doing an on-line course to make up for all the years at school he had missed.

The clouds moved across the sky, shutting out the sun. Bella guessed it would rain soon. She held her hand up over her eyes as she peered into the distance. She could just make out Jacob and Rebecca; they were standing in front of Billy's resting place. Both of them were wearing solemn expressions and appeared very subdued. It wasn't often that they went to visit their father's grave. It was only because Bella was accompanying Charlie to visit Sam that the Black siblings had decided to come along to visit Billy's grave. Bella shut out the memory of the day they had found Billy Black's broken body after the newborn battle. Jacob, Rebecca and Embry had taken a long time to get over their father's betrayal. Bella knew that Jacob would never be able to really let go of his hurt that Billy had essentially offered her up as a sacrifice to save his own skin. However, there was nothing they could do but live with the pain and move on. Billy wasn't around to defend his actions.

Spots of rain hit Bella's skin and she stared up at the sky as the black clouds began to roll in. She bent down next to her father and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's time to go, dad." She said gently.

"I feel old, Bells." Charlie said wearily as he hung his head.

Charlie's words frightened Bella. In theory he was still a young man, but Sam's loss had really impacted on him hard. Bella knew that her father hadn't been living the last few years, just merely existing. "It's gonna be alright, dad." Bella helped him to rise and kept her arm about him as they walked slowly toward Jacob and Rebecca.

Sarah had dinner waiting for them all when they came back to La Push. Charlie and Bella had relocated to the reservation after Charlie had decided to sell his house. He said he couldn't bear to live in Forks anymore; there were too many painful memories. Instead of buying another place to live, Sarah had offered Charlie a room in her house. He had been reluctant to take up the offer at first as he felt as if he was intruding, but Sarah assured him that he would be doing her a favour. She could use his rent money, and as it was a certainty that Jacob and Bella would be getting married in the near future, it just made sense. Charlie had agreed. After living a bachelor lifestyle for so long, he worried that he would find it hard sharing house space with a woman again. He and Sarah were not romantic, but they did share a deep friendship, which eased the transition.

"I'm worried about him." Bella confided to Sarah as she helped the older woman serve up the dinner in the kitchen. "He seems very melancholy."

"It's the two year anniversary since we lost Sam. Today is just painful for him. He'll be better once it has passed." Sarah assured her kindly.

"I hope so." Bella bit her bottom lip anxiously as she glanced at her father. Charlie was sitting in the front room, talking quietly to Jacob about the garage. Rebecca had gone home to Jared. They lived a short walk away in a small, neat rented two bedroom house. It was one of the new buildings on the res. The Cullen's had generously donated quite a substantial amount to the tribe, and the money had been spent on improving the tribal school's facilities and building affordable housing for the young people just starting out in life.

Sarah picked up the plates now piled high with food and placed them on the table. "Dinner's ready." She called out to the men.

Charlie and Jacob stopped talking and strolled into the kitchen. Jacob grinned at his mom, kissing her on the cheek as he smelt the delicious aroma wafting his way. "That looks awesome as always." He praised her.

Sarah swatted Jacob playfully with her hand as she gestured for the others to sit down. She purposefully sat next to Charlie, determined to get the man to relax and give Bella a break from worrying about him. Jacob pulled out Bella's chair and kissed her gently on the lips as she made herself comfortable. Sarah rolled her eyes at her son's affectionate display. At least he had toned it down today, normally it was hard to avoid catching him and Bella together, they couldn't seem to go a second without touching, embracing or kissing, which made it hard for others sharing the same living space. Sarah had warned her son that Charlie found all the PDA hard to witness, so reluctantly the young couple tried to be more discreet, but often failed miserably.

"Thanks for this, Sarah." Charlie tried to muster up a smile.

"You're welcome. Now tuck in." Sarah replied as she began to eat her own meal.

Charlie nodded and began to follow her example, although his head was filled with memories of the son he had lost.

Ephraim sat across from Carlisle in his study, drinking a beer. Piled in front of Carlisle was a stack of books which he had been spending the last week studying. He had called his friend over to the mansion as he had good news for him at last. Ephraim and Leah had quietly married the year before in a private ceremony with only their close family and friends in attendance. Carlisle had been one of those present, along with Esme. The noticeable absentee from the ceremony was Sue Clearwater. As much as Leah had tried, she had found it impossible to mend her broken relationship with her mother. Sue's inability to change had driven not only her daughter from her life, but her son and husband as well. Harry Clearwater initiated divorce proceedings six months after the newborn battle. He could no longer reconcile living with such a bitter woman. He now lived in an apartment which he shared with Seth. Leah and Ephraim lived closed by in a house that Ephraim built with his own two hands.

"How's married life treating you?" Carlisle questioned with a smile.

"I think you know." Ephraim grinned as he chugged his beer and reached for another.

"Leah is glowing." Carlisle said pointedly.

"You miss nothing do you?" Ephraim laughed. "She's due in the fall."

"It's good to see you so settled, my friend." Carlisle replied as he opened one of the books with a flourish. "I may have to place a bet on whether it's a boy or girl. Alice's talents can't predict the result for obvious reasons so I may actually win for a change."

"Well it can only go either way. I'll let you in on a secret, it's a boy." Ephraim lowered his voice. He knew that the other members of the family could easily pick up on their conversation.

"Ah, the wolf sense of smell continues to intrigue me." Carlisle sat back in his chair with the book held in his hands. "I have more good news for you, Ephraim."

"You've found a way for Jacob and I to give up the wolf when we so choose, haven't you." Ephraim looked eagerly at Carlisle as he waited for him to confirm his suspicions.

"Yes. When you and the young Alpha feel it is time there is a way you can both let go of your wolves without suffering the consequences which you've had to endure over the years." Carlisle passed Ephraim the book he was holding. "This was sent to me by one of my researchers in Italy. He came across it quite by chance."

Ephraim knew by researchers that Carlisle was referring to one of his associates within the Volturi. They had collected a fountain of knowledge over the centuries and had a whole floor in their castle dedicated to Native American history. Carlisle had been unable to visit the library himself as he did not want to arouse suspicions about why he needed access to it, but he had a number of friends who could discreetly do it on his behalf, and his gamble had paid off.

Ephraim's brow furrowed as he read through the ancient tome. "It can't be as easy as this." He said in disbelief.

"There have never been two Alpha's before, my friend." Carlisle said quietly. "You had no one with power equal to your own to order the wolf to once again go dormant. But now you and Jacob have each other. He can free his brothers when it's time, and he can free you, and vice versa. Taha Aki, as you recall, had no one to help him in this regard, which is why he lived so long until one of my kind ended his long life. This way you and Jacob get to live, Ephraim. You have served your tribe well, and when you feel the time is right, you can both live a normal human life span."

Ephraim did not often show emotion, but his eyes moistened as he became overwhelmed with the good news. "This will ease young Jacob's mind. This has been weighing heavy on his heart."

"Well now you can deliver the good news." Carlisle politely pretended not to notice the single tear which ran down Ephraim's cheek.

"How can I ever thank you?" Ephraim shut the book and looked Carlisle steadily in the eyes.

"You already have by being my friend." Carlisle assured him with a smile.

Bella had been on tenterhooks ever since Ephraim had left with Jacob. Something was up she could tell. It grated on her nerves that she was left out of the conversation, but she tried to contain her impatience. She knew Jacob would rather hear the bad news first, allowing him to process it, before he found the right words to tell her that nothing could be done. They had been living in denial for the last two years, trying to forget about what could happen in the future. They pretended to make plans. Jacob started his business, pretending he was doing it to build a secure financial future for when they had children. But in reality it was a way to distract himself from his worries. They had put off marrying, just like Jared and Rebecca. All four of them had decided to live in the moment and not think about the future.

In the end Bella didn't have to wait as long as she had expected. She sat on the porch swing, her hands clenched in her lap as she watched Jacob walk slowly back to the house. She studied his expression and her heart thudded loudly in her chest. Jacob looked stunned. This could only mean one thing. Tears began to leak out of Bella's eyes. She couldn't help it. Their future was in ruins. How could they be happy knowing what lay ahead for both of them. She would grow old and die, while he remained as he was now. He would be forced to endure a life without her; he would have to watch his children die too. It was unbearable to think about.

Eventually he looked up and saw her watching him. Jacob ran the rest of the way toward her when he saw the tears running down her face. He knelt down in front of Bella and took her hands in his warm ones. "It's okay, honey." Jacob reached up and wiped her tears away with his fingers. "It's all okay."

"It's not." Bella cried in anguish. "It's not fair. We don't deserve this."

"What, we don't deserve a life filled with happiness and love. We definitely do, honey." A slow smile lit up Jacob's handsome face as he let go of Bella's hands and fumbled in the pocket of his jeans. He tried not to laugh at the confused expression on her face.

"Jake, what are you saying." Bella demanded impatiently.

"No, it's what I'm asking." Jacob finally found the ring. It was one he'd had especially made for Bella. He had never told her, and had held off proposing until he knew for sure one way or the other whether something could be done regarding his future, and now he knew. He held up the ring and his smile widened when he heard Bella gasp and saw the shocked look on her face. It was a striking princess cut diamond ring with shoulder stones in 18ct white gold.

"Where did you get this?" Bella's left hand shook as she held it out toward him. Jacob slipped the ring on her finger easily before lifting it to his lips so he could kiss it.

"I've got good contacts." Jacob replied, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Esme helped you, didn't she?" Bella laughed as she held up the ring in front of her and admired it. It was beautiful.

"Maybe." Jacob conceded as he got up from his kneeling position and sat beside her on the swing. "So will you?" He asked, his expression turning serious again.

"Will I what? You have to ask out loud." Bella said archly.

"Bella Swan, will you marry me?" Jacob enunciated the words slowly.

"Um…I think that it will have to be a YES!" Bella squealed in delight as she threw her arms around Jacob's neck and began kissing him frantically all over his face.

A/N-thanks for reading!