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.

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

~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  

Exerpt from chapter 5: 

"He only had a minute left, if that. I braced myself and drew on every bit of control I had, praying that my self control was not just a choice but a super power. I would need it now. I pictured all the people that loved me and what it would look like to them if I killed this man as I bit down into the pulse of his neck."

Explanation: 

Bella begins a diary that starts the morning after Breaking Dawn ends.  It includes her reflections of the past two years, Renesmee's birth, her relationship with Edward, finding out about Edward's past, and events that happen in her new life. 

I haven't completed this story because a diary is never complete.  However, I plan on including specific events of Edward's past as well as the beginnings of the Volturi, and events of other characters lives as Bella continues to get to know them. 

I'm trying to stay as true to the Twilight series as possible while filling in the gaps that weren't dealt with in the original series.  Most of my information can be traced back to specific events or conversations in the Twilight series as well as interviews that Stephenie Meyer has given concerning these details. 

Disclaimer: 

I am not Stephenie Meyer and do not own these characters.  This is entirely a work of fanfiction and no infringment on copyrights are intended.