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It wasn’t really a conscious decision on her part – it just happened.
And, she reasoned, if there were still the fraction of a chance that she’d be changing, she’d better soak up as much human life as she could.
The awkwardness she felt with Edward reminded her of when they first had classes together, and he was odd, silent, and elusive. But there wasn’t anything she could do about it.
-/-/-/-
One day, in La Push, she and Jake went for a walk. They headed toward the beach, through the clearing and down a trail for about half a mile.
Bella was chasing Jake, who had snatched her hat off playfully, and being the klutz she was, fell sprawling on her front, cutting her arm on a rock.
That was a ploy to get me to take off my shirt, wasn’t it, Jake prodded as he inspected her arm, remembering the time she crashed her motorbike and he’d yanked off his shirt and mopped her bleeding head with it.
Bella stuck her tongue out at him, then bit her lip. How’d you know, Black?, she laughed.
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Bella realized her truck needed new shocks as it slammed through potholes on the rough road to La Push. She would ask Jake if he was strong enough yet to change them for her.
Then it dawned on her when her head hit the rear view mirror.
Humans valued life more because it was finite. Knowing they faced death made them appreciate every day.
Edward had long tried to convince Bella that she really didn’t know what she was getting into by wanting to be changed. That it was more complicated than she knew.
She’d conveniently ignored his warnings, intoxicated by her love for him and the thought of spending eternity together.
Eternity. That suddenly seemed like a very long time. And she couldn’t ignore the happiness she suddenly felt just thinking about seeing Jake in a few minutes.
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Argh, this one was a killer.
I've been wondering where Matt’s grandma has been, if he in fact didn’t go to the Chicago Art Institute so he could care for her. We finally see her at the end, but first... Matt's been "slinging dough and not 60 yard bombs" (per Riggs), delivering 'za (a Scrabble word he uses later), shlepping scrap for the artist, and hanging with Jules, who’s busy applying to colleges almost anywhere but Texas. He’s working the pizza counter, and Riggs comes in for a slice. (ACK! Tim appears to be wearing a ring on his left ring finger, but apparently it’s his keyring. Phew.) Matt invites himself to go hunting with Tim, recalling the scene when he was motorcycle shopping and Riggs took him out for pitchers before practice and to The Landing Strip for some exercise.
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Chars: Bella, Jacob, Edward
Bella, look at me, Edward said quietly, then more forcefully.
You have to tell me what’s going on. Ever since that night with Jacob, you haven’t been the same, he said.
Bella looked down, then up at the ceiling, then the wall counting the sockets—pretty much anywhere but Edward’s glowing amber eyes. She was trying her best not to think of how she desired Jacob pretty much all the time now.
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Spoilers: Takes place after season 3.
C’mon Timmy, time to pay up, Mindy chided. You promised. And this is a break in the regular schedule.
Tim pushed his fingers through his lank hair. Then he clapped his hands and chuffed, steeling himself.
Alright. Shock and awe time, he said, heading for the saloon doors to the back of The Landing Strip.
He’d managed to lose a poker match with Mindy the week before, and in a drunken stupor, broke and with little choice, he’d put up something he thought he’d lost a long time ago.
His dignity.
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Chars: Bella, Jacob, Edward
Bella didn’t think much about what happened in the tent in the days that followed.
Her main concern was that Jake had gotten seriously hurt watching Leah’s back, and he needed to heal. His wounds had long healed, but emotionally and strength-wise, he had a ways to go.
After a couple of week of daily visits, he finally seemed like his normal self. And Bella had those visions again. The dream.
Of two beautiful little children—theirs—running at a crazy speed toward the woods. They were undeniably Jake and Bella’s. And so real.
Then she felt a pang in her lower abdomen. An ache that only deepened when she thought about Jake, her time with him, as one.
She’s underestimated the pull of the physical, and very human, part of their relationship.
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Tim’s sleeping in the bed of his truck (alone) and a cop tells him he has to scram, after recognizing him. Then he’s in Riggins Rigs at work under a car, hilariously wearing a brand new uniform shirt with its sleeves torn off, muscles bulging. ( Read more... )
*Three months later.*
Tim bundled Em into her stroller.
Ready, starlet?, he asked Ash, grinning. They’d been able to park right near the front doors of Target, since it was just before 10am on a Tuesday.
It was the day Ash’s cd went on sale, and although it wasn’t exactly going to be a huge seller, it was the most important day of her singing career so far.
They had to wait a minute for the manager to unlock the doors. You folks beat the crowds, the guy said, holding the door open for them. Welcome to Target.
They walked quickly to the music section. Ash bemoaned the fact that the last record store in the area had closed recently, but the good news was that Target was stocking her title, Heavensent. If Target was good enough for Pearl Jam, it’s good enough for me, she thought, laughing.
Omigod Tim, there it is, Ash said excitedly, pointing to the “new releases” rack at the end of an aisle.
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It’s August in FNL land, which means the little snowglobe of Dillon’s been shaken up and set down.
Coach's day does not start well. He has a new red "East" hat whose brim needs breaking in. He's scoping out new employer East Dillon High's facilities. The guy with keys, who thinks he’s trying to break in (he is kicking the door), doesn’t know or care who he is.
He has a bunch of misfits at team tryouts—overweight, skinny, attitude-filled, bling-wearing kids who all wanna be QB. They too don’t care who he is, at first. A juvie (the new kid, Vince) fresh from petty larceny, is brought to the field in a cop car. (Hey, there are black cops in Dillon now! Where’d Landry’s dad go?) Vince has only played "Madden" football, not the real thing. But he can run fast, as the cop who chased him attests. Eric takes a 15-year-old vcr to Sears for repair, where an idolizing salesman convinces Eric to hire him as an assistant.
Tami’s still principal at Dillon High. The boosters are yanking her chain, making her do the first game coin toss, which conflicts with Eric's first game at East. Joe McCoy even tells her to choose heads. She gives him the Stink Eye and he says he’s teasing her. The new coach and Joe ride around in a golf cart, with Buddy chasing after them. (He looks like he's dropped a few pounds, btw.)
RIGGINS! Oh thank god. ( Read more... )
Spoilers: Takes place toward the end of Eclipse, in the tent.
Chars: Bella, Jacob, Edward
The muscles in Bella’s jaw were sore from her teeth chattering so hard. She’d never been so cold in her life.
But now, wrapped in Jacob’s arms like a steaming hot dog in a toasty bun, she could finally relax a little.
Edward was reluctant, and jealous, of the idea of Jake being a human space heater, but he wasn’t ready for Bella to die. Not this way, anyway. So he bit his tongue and sat watching. He finally had to excuse himself and take a walk outside, he couldn’t stand it any longer.
Take your time Edward, and don’t get lost, Jacob teased him. He shot Jake a dirty look.
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Two months later…
Tim wiped his brow, leaving a streak of grime on his face.
Almost done, just gotta touch up the trim and mount the light fixtures, he said to Ash, who had brought Em in to check on Tim.
They’d decided to convert the garage, which was just filled with junk anyway, into a suite for the three of them to live at least temporarily, until Tim had saved a little more money, and Billy had made enough to pay down some of the value of their house, which was by all rights half Tim’s.
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It took several trips to carry Ash’s stuff to the truck after her gig. Tim went to get the last things.
Ash was putting her guitar in the truck’s cab when one of the reps who’d watched the show surprised her from behind, touching her shoulder.
Ahhh!, she yelled, whirling around.
Oh, sorry Ashley, the man said. Just wanted to say goodbye. Name’s Ben, from Rip & Burn Music.
You’re the guy who proposed to me, right?, Ash said quizzically.
Yeah, he said. Figured what the hell. Loved your set. I think you have a great future.
Ash shrugged, dropped her head.
How bout at least getting’ a beer?, he said, moving closer to her.
Listen, I’m flattered, but I’m otherwise engaged, Ash said. She was trapped between Ben and the truck, so she pushed herself up onto the front seat.
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Hey, Mrs. Collette!, Tim said, pulling the door open and handing her Em. Thanks for sitting.
Ash’s Aunt Angela had volunteered to watch both Em and Jake when it turned out all the usual suspects wanted to go to the Pipeline and hear Ash perform.
That included Landry, and even Julie Taylor, who sometimes babysat but decided to go with Landry to hear Ash sing.
No problem, honey. And call me Angela, Timmy. Can’t stand that “missus” thing, makes me feel so old. She nuzzled Em with her nose, cooing and kissing her.
Hey Ash, ready?, Tim shouted. I got the box of demo cds, some business cards, and your guitar and music.
Ash came into the living room. Hey Aunt Angela!, she said, pecking her on the cheek. How do I look, Tim?, she asked. He opened his mouth and nothing came out for a few seconds. You look… christ. Incredible, he finally managed to say.
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AN: Spoilers: about a-year-and-a-half after the wedding in FNL S3 finale. These characters are not mine.
Clarke, what’s happenin’?, Tim said, opening the front door.
Hey Riggs, Landry said. Ash had asked him to help her put together her new demo. She wanted his opinion on the play list.
Landry and Tyra had been on-again, off-again since she had delayed going to UT for a year. She’d wanted to be in Dillon for Jake’s arrival and infancy.
This had both annoyed Landry, since he was pushing her to go to college, and pleased him, since she’d be home. And looking for company.
He was also somewhat jealous that Ash had gotten a gig at the Pipeline when he couldn’t.
But he knew she had serious talent, and he was nothing if not a good friend.
Landry, hey, Ash said, walking in with Em in her arms.
May I?, Landry asked, ever polite. She nodded, and he took Em, cradling her gingerly and making funny faces. She giggled and clapped her hands.
Hey darlin’, he cooed. Oh man, I want me one of these someday, he laughed.
( Read more... )</div>Tim was mighty relieved his talk with Garrity was done with. He had hoped what amounted to her magic spell controlling him all those years had ended. Now he was sure.
He stopped at the Kwikimart to pick up some milk and ran into Jerry, Lyla’s boyfriend.
Hey, Jerry said, tentatively. He knew a lot about Tim, mostly the bad stuff from Lyla, so he was suspicious of him, and he found Tim physically threatening, although he had to admit that Tim was even more good looking than he expected.
Funny meeting you here, Tim. Jerry was holding a yogurt and a granola bar. Where are you headed?, he asked, pushing his glasses up his nose.
Hey Jerry, Tim said, smirking at his lunch. Home… just left Lyla. We had an interesting little talk.
Jerry looked puzzled. Lyla…? But she said she was going to the mall for some errand…
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Tim and Ash managed to have a nice evening with Jason, despite running into Lyla and her new boyfriend.
Lyla was obviously upset at seeing Tim—now married, and with his wonderful daughter and wife. Mrs. Riggins!, a destiny Lyla thought her own not long ago.
Tim got a text from Lyla the next morning. Can u meet at bleachers at noon, it said. OK, he replied.
Their old stomping ground. Where they did shots of peach Schnapps after practice, spent countless hours watching and being watched. And made out. A lot.
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Tim and Ash finally got up the next morning, both slightly delirious that they were indeed married.
Tim had a fondness for shared showers, and seduced Ash, a bit reluctant, into joining him. In truth, it didn’t take much once he was naked.
With Em, we’re not gonna be able to do this very often, he purred, drawing her under the hot streams of water, pressing his soapy body against hers, hard against soft.
She was sold after that.
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Ash and Tim’s wedding reception went on through the evening. After a blazing sunset, everyone danced lazily on the patio under the clear night sky.
Ash’s dad had given the couple a welcome gift—a deluxe suite at the Doubletree Hotel nearby. Billy and Mindy would watch Em for the night.
Much as they wanted to be with Em, the promise of a night in a nice hotel, just the two of them, was irresistible.
And, Ash’s dad gave them a gift certificate of babysitting for whenever they could take a real honeymoon, maybe to Cabo, when Em got a little older.
-/-/-/-
They both giggled when the hotel clerk asked their names.
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Riggins, Ash said, giggling, after Tim gave her an inquisitive look. They hadn’t really talked about what her married name would be.
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They were standing outside Dillon town hall, waiting for Billy to get off his phone so Tim and Ash could tie the knot.
Ash in her lace dress, Tim in his black suede shirt, Em in her carrier wearing her Panther cub jumper.
Gathered nearby were Billy, Mindy and Jake; Tyra, her mom and uncle (Ashley’s dad), and Ash’s mom, who stood awkwardly a few feet away.
Billy kept putting up his hand saying he was almost done. He finally rang off. Just a few minutes. Got a surprise, Timmy, he said, mysteriously.
Damn it, Billy, I want to do this. What are we waiting for?, Tim said, irritated.
Just then, a familiar red pickup drove into the lot.
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