Chapter Text
Bella sat cross-legged on the floor of the attic bedroom, laughing softly as Jenna clumsily grabbed for her hair. The baby let out a delighted squeal as Bella leaned back, dodging sticky fingers with mock drama.
“You know,” Zoe said from across the room, flopping dramatically onto the edge of her bed, “I can’t wait for you to get married. Maybe then I’ll finally get to not-sleep without being kicked in the ribs at three a.m. by a toddler.”
Bella rolled her eyes. “She’s tiny.”
“She’s a ninja,” Zoe corrected. “And somehow takes up an entire mattress by herself. It’s witchcraft.”
Bella laughed, adjusting Jenna in her lap. “Speaking of the wedding,” she said, her tone shifting ever so slightly, “you can bring a plus one. If you want.”
Zoe raised a brow, propping herself up on her elbows. “What, you think I’m gonna bring someone I picked up at a bar?”
Bella gave her a dry look. “Please don’t. For Charlie’s sanity if nothing else.”
Zoe smirked. “Noted.”
There was a beat of silence. Then, Bella added casually, “You could invite Damon.”
Zoe’s smirk faltered. She looked away, picking at the frayed hem of her shirt. “You really think weddings are Damon’s thing?”
“No,” Bella admitted. “But I think you miss him.”
Zoe didn’t answer right away. She didn’t have to. The bond between her and Damon was always there—low and steady like background static, except lately it had taken on a sharper edge. The longer she ignored his calls, the more the tension rose. Agitation, confusion, flickers of something bordering on pain. It bled through her like a second heartbeat.
Bella seemed to sense it. “You haven’t answered his calls.”
Zoe gave a tight shrug. “He’s Damon. He’ll live. Or unlive.”
Bella snorted. “That’s not really the point, is it?”
Jenna babbled softly in Bella’s lap, playing with the sleeve of Bella’s shirt. Zoe watched them for a second, jaw tight.
“Alice said something weird,” Bella added after a moment, more carefully this time. “When I told her we needed to save a seat next to you for your plus one.”
Zoe’s gaze snapped back. “What kind of weird?”
“She got this weird look on her face,” Bella said slowly. “And then she asked if I knew whether you were seeing anyone. Like she didn’t like the idea of it.”
Zoe exhaled through her nose. “Of course she did. She’s Alice. It's probably the face,” Zoe gestured to her own, "looking like their dead vampire mother figure or whatever."
Bella nudged gently. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Nope.”
Bella didn’t push. Instead, she let Jenna grab her thumb and offered a quiet, “You don’t have to decide right now. Just think about it. The plus one. Damon.”
Zoe made a face. "I doubt you want to risk Damon being within stake-throwing distance of Carlisle Cullen on your wedding day." She sighed theatrically, “Maybe I can convince Rosalie to ditch Emmett for me.”
Bella’s lips twitched. “Or the three of you can start some weird vampire throuple.”
Zoe let her head fall back onto the mattress. “I’ll think about it.”
“About the throuple or the plus one?”
Zoe cracked one eye open. “I promise I won’t bring some guy I met at a bar. Anything for Charlie.”
Bella chuckled, then turned her attention back to Jenna, who was now trying to chew on her sleeve again.
Zoe closed her eyes, the room quiet save for the baby’s soft babbling—and the distant hum of a bond strung too tight, stretched too far.
Zoe leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, trying to sound casual. “Just a heads-up—my plus one for the wedding is coming into town tomorrow.”
Charlie glanced up from his coffee. “Not Damon?”
She shook her head quickly. “No. Definitely not.”
Charlie arched a brow. “And just to confirm…” He lowered his mug, giving her a pointed look. “This friend is just a—”
“Gross, Charlie.” Zoe made a face. “It’s Tyler Lockwood. He’s like my brother.”
Charlie grunted. “Had to check. I’m already letting one teenager get married in my house. Don’t need a second eloping while I’m distracted.”
Zoe rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smirk. “Relax. Tyler’s harmless," She paused and then shrugged. "Mostly. I've known him forever. Our dads were friends.”
Charlie narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “At least if he shows up, we won’t have to worry about Damon trying to kill Carlisle.”
Zoe winced. “...About that.”
Charlie groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Zoe.”
“Tyler doesn’t know,” she said quickly. “About Carlisle, I mean. He knows Jenna’s mine, but not that she's also... y’know. And he’ll keep it a secret.”
Charlie stared at her. “Tell me—please—that this Tyler Lockwood isn’t a vampire.”
Zoe gave an awkward grimace. “Not exactly.”
“Zoe Clark—”
“I mean, not technically! ” she rushed to explain. “He’s a hybrid. Like Klaus. But not Klaus. He’s not dangerous, he’s just—well, feral sometimes, but sweet.”
Charlie stood up, muttering, “I’m pulling out the wooden bullets.”
“You are not shooting my plus one, Charlie.”
“No promises.”
Tyler stepped through the front door, backpack slung over one shoulder, a wide grin already plastered on his face. “Okay, I’m sorry, but how did anyone ever believe this kid wasn’t yours?” he said the moment he caught sight of Jenna, who was perched on Charlie’s hip gnawing on a plastic spoon. “She’s basically your tiny, grumpy clone.”
Charlie muttered, “It was the compulsion,” adjusting Jenna slightly on his arm.
Tyler raised his brows but didn’t push.
Zoe smirked. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Zoe, sensing the need to diffuse the tension, stepped between them.
“Charlie’s big into fishing,” she offered with a pointed look at Tyler.
“And Tyler loves to run off and live in the woods like a grumpy cryptid,” she added dryly.
Tyler chuckled. “It’s not as weird as she makes it sound.”
Zoe took a long sip of her iced coffee. “It’s worse. Probably rabid, too.”
Charlie blinked. “Should I be worried?”
Tyler grinned. “Nah. I only bite when provoked.”
Charlie didn't look reassured.
Later, after Charlie had gone to put Jenna down for a nap, Zoe and Tyler settled on the back porch. A breeze rustled through the trees, and for a moment, things felt almost normal.
“So,” Tyler said, breaking the quiet, “Caroline told me Damon’s pissed I got the invite and not him.”
Zoe snorted. “Of course she did.”
Tyler gave her a knowing look. “Was that on purpose?”
Zoe shrugged, swirling the last bit of ice in her glass. “It wasn’t not the purpose.”
Tyler let out a low laugh and sat down beside her. “One week until the wedding.”
Zoe winced. “Yeah. I guess.”
“Thanks for having me. Seriously.” He nudged her shoulder lightly. “Zoe Clark invites me to a wedding? No way I’m missing the chance to see you all dolled up.”
She rolled her eyes, but there was warmth behind it. “You’re such a dork, Lockwood.”
He grinned wider. “And you’re stuck with me all week. Sucks to be you.”
Zoe smiled, but it faded slightly as her eyes drifted back toward the woods. “Not the worst thing,” she said quietly.
And Tyler, being Tyler, didn’t push—just leaned back and let her have the silence.
The morning light spilled lazily through the kitchen windows as Bella padded downstairs in pajama pants and a hoodie. She paused when she saw Tyler hunched over a mug of coffee at the table, head in his hands like it was the only thing keeping him upright.
She smirked. “Rough night?”
Tyler didn’t even look up. He just groaned, eyes closed. “So… Zoe doesn’t sleep? Like, at all ?”
Bella laughed as she moved toward the coffee pot. “Nope. Welcome to the party.”
“I thought Caroline was being dramatic when she said that,” Tyler muttered. “I figured it was, like, insomnia or something.”
“Nope. That’s just part of the new-Zoe starter pack,” Bella said, pouring herself a cup. “Eternal wakefulness and mild chaos.”
Tyler exhaled slowly and took a long sip of his coffee. “That’s just what the world needs. A conscious Zoe Clark 24/7.”
Bella snorted. “Charlie pretends she doesn’t sneak out, and the rest of us… we’ve agreed not to ask. No one wants to know what she gets up to at night.”
Tyler ran a hand through his already-messy hair. “Yeah, I can only imagine.” His tone was dry, but fond.
"When she's home, you just need to distract her long enough for you to fall asleep." Bella says, voice low like this was the most important secret in the world. "She doesn't usually wake us up once we're already asleep."
"Jesus," Tyler muttered, alarmed that this was normal for Bella and Charlie.
Bella tilted her head, curious. “Were you and Zoe close? Back in Mystic Falls?”
Tyler shrugged, keeping his expression guarded. “Sure. Our families were always kind of… linked. My dad and her dad were both on the Council. Founding Families stuff. So we saw a lot of each other. Grew up in the same weird bubble.”
Bella narrowed her eyes slightly. “And?”
“And what?” he asked innocently.
She gave him a look.
Tyler smirked faintly. “And we got closer over time. That’s all."
Bella didn’t press. She just took a sip of her coffee, eyes still on him. “Right.”
Tyler arched a brow. “You grilling me, Swan?”
“Just… getting a sense of things.” She smiled, amused. “You’re her plus one, after all.”
Tyler chuckled and shook his head. “My mom would either kill me if I ever tried dating Zoe Clark or make me buy a ring before the first date. She loves Zoe. Used to dress her up in the frilliest dresses known to man kind."
Bella's lips quirk. "Tell me there are pictures."
Bella stood in front of the kitchen table like a general briefing her troops. Tyler was bouncing Jenna on his knee, cooing at her while Charlie sipped coffee and Zoe picked at her nail polish like she couldn’t care less—though Bella knew better.
“I cannot believe I’m saying this,” Bella started, crossing her arms, “but we need ground rules. For the wedding.”
Zoe raised an eyebrow. “What, like no summoning demons during the ceremony?”
"We haven't done that in years." Tyler added, piling on.
Bella gave them a glare. “Close.”
She took a deep breath and pointed at Zoe first. “As my maid of honor, you have two jobs. And they’re very specific. You ready?”
Zoe gave a half-hearted salute. “Hit me.”
“Number one: You are not allowed to kill anyone. Especially if their last name is Cullen.”
Tyler snorted. Jenna let out a delighted babble.
“Number two,” Bella continued, ignoring the interruption, “you have to show up. With Jenna. There’s no skipping out last minute because you ‘don’t believe in love’ or whatever nonsense you’re planning to say that morning.”
Zoe opened her mouth but Bella held up a finger.
“I’m serious.”
Zoe huffed. “Fine.”
Bella turned to Tyler, who was now making funny faces at Jenna. “And you —”
He glanced up, eyebrows raised innocently. “Me?”
“You can’t eat anyone. Not even if they’re annoying. And your most important job? Make sure she —” Bella gestured to Zoe with both hands “—doesn’t eat anyone either. No snacks. No bites. No suspicious disappearances.”
Tyler gave Zoe a wink. “No promises.”
Bella’s eyes widened in panic. “I’m serious, Tyler! This is my wedding. I want no casualties .”
Zoe muttered, “Define casualties.”
“Zoe!”
“Okay, okay,” she said, hands raised. “No feeding frenzy. Scout’s honor.”
“You were never a scout,” Charlie muttered.
“I could’ve been,” Zoe replied.
"You would've been kicked out within an hour," Tyler muttered.
Bella closed her eyes and took a steadying breath. Then she turned to her father.
“Dad.”
Charlie looked up, suddenly wary. “What?”
“You’ve got rules too.”
“Oh come on—”
“Number one: You cannot fight with mom. And you have to be nice to Phil.”
Charlie grimaced. “That man wears boat shoes.”
“I don’t care. Smile. Shake his hand.”
“Fine.”
“Number two: You are not allowed to shoot anyone. Or threaten to shoot anyone.”
Charlie held up his hands. “I haven’t shot anyone in years.”
“Number three: You’re not allowed to threaten Edward.”
Charlie grumbled under his breath. “That’s a lot to ask.”
Bella gave each of them a pointed look before turning and walking out of the room.
Behind her, she heard Zoe lean toward Charlie and murmur, “She didn’t say anything about maiming Edward.”
Charlie clinked his coffee mug against hers. “Cheers to loopholes.”
Jacob rounded the bend in the Swan-Clark driveway, the familiar crunch of gravel under his boots doing little to calm the knot in his chest. He wasn’t sure what he expected—maybe to see Bella standing on the porch, or for the door to open the second he stepped close. Instead, he found someone he didn’t recognize loading a cooler into the back of an old truck.
The guy looked up, sunglasses perched in his dark curls, tanned arms flexing as he slammed the tailgate shut. Jenna’s car seat was visible through the back window.
“Can I help you?” the stranger asked, his tone casual but guarded.
“I’m here to see Bella,” Jacob said, trying to step past him.
The guy didn’t move. “Right. And you are?”
“Jacob.” He glanced toward the house. “I just need five minutes.”
The man tilted his head, clearly unimpressed. “Well, Jacob, I’m Tyler. Zoe’s plus one.”
Jacob blinked. “Plus one…for the wedding?”
“Yeah.” Tyler crossed his arms. “And I’m not sure Zoe or Charlie would appreciate someone stomping onto their porch without knocking. Jenna's napping.”
Jacob clenched his jaw. “I’m not here to cause trouble.”
Tyler raised an eyebrow and studied him for a long beat. “You’ve got that look.”
“What look?”
“The one guys get when they’re about to do something stupid because they’re in love with someone they can’t have.” He leaned back slightly, arms still folded. “You like her. Even if she’s getting married.”
Jacob’s jaw tightened. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Tyler gave a soft snort. “Yeah, I do.”
Jacob looked away, jaw flexing.
“Trust me,” Tyler said more quietly, “being in a love triangle you can’t win? That’s not romantic. It’s not noble. It just… hurts everyone involved. Eventually, someone breaks.”
Jacob stared at him, conflicted.
“Bella’s made her choice,” Tyler continued. “You stepping in now isn’t going to change that. But it could ruin what’s left of whatever you two still have. Be the bigger man, Jacob. Step back.”
The screen door creaked open behind them, and both turned to see Charlie stepping out, fishing rod in hand and wearing a trucker cap that looked about fifty years old.
“Truck ready?” he asked Tyler.
“Yep. Let’s go catch something ugly,” Tyler said, offering a quick grin before heading for the driver’s side.
Charlie glanced between the two younger men, sensing the tension but choosing—for now—not to comment. “Jacob,” he greeted evenly.
“Charlie.”
Tyler started the engine. “You coming or what, Chief?”
Charlie hesitated, then tipped his head at Jacob. “You can stop in and see Bella, but don’t stay long. Big weekend ahead.”
Jacob gave a tight nod, already feeling like he’d lost whatever argument he’d come here to make.
As the truck rumbled away, Tyler didn’t look back. But if he had, he would’ve seen Jacob watching the door—not like someone hoping for a reunion, but someone realizing the door might already be closed.