Now we all know that Bella and Edward are soulmates, they're going to be together forever, and ever and I'm super excited for it! But I believe what Jacob says in EC, about how if Edward wasn't around that he and Bella would be happy together, that it would be comfortable and easy for them.

So I have a question about that......

What if the timing of the series took place 5 or 6 years down the road. That would give enough time Bella and Jacob could have been married for a couple of years and have a very happy life together. What would the story have been like, if Edward came around at this point in Bella's life? Bella would still have the same power over him as before, but would Edward still steal Bella's heart? Would she stay with Jake because they're happy and married; or would she leave him to be with her soulmate? How do you think the story would change? Or would it be the same story?

It wouldn't be the same story i don't think. I think that once bella makes a decision she's sticks to it and if was with Jacob and No Edward yet. i think that she's a stick by your man sort of wife. Or i would want her to be. I would just hope that if he hadn't imprinted on her, he wouldn't imprint at all because then that would leave the door open for edward. GAAAA..
*brain overload*

It is hard to think about that.

Edward was so miserable without Bella!! It hurts to even think about it. He truely loves Bella and wanted what was best for her, he wanted her to stay human. So if he came back and she was living a happy life with Jacob I dont think that he would interfere. He would live the rest of eternity knowing that she was "happy".

I would feel bad for Jacob ( it took me 5 re-vamps to feel this way) if Bella "setteld", I know that is a bad word to use, but anything after Eward would be setteling.

I agree with you on the "settled" bit. I believe that she would never have truly gotten over Edward. She would have been happy with Jacob (providing he didn't go off and imprint on someone else) but he would have never been that great, lasting love that she has for Edward (aren't we happy though that this isn't how the story has been?)

Sorry, I must not have made myself clear in my earlier post. I'm asking what you think would happen if the story started without Edward at all. The Cullen Clan is no where to be seen until AFTER Bella and Jacob are married for a couple of years. That Bella and Edward's first run-in together was after she was a married woman?

I'm not sure i would have been able to keep reading the books. The first time i read NM i hated it, (blasphemy i know) I could not believe that Edward left!! Then after the cliff diving when she was talking about how she could love Jacob, i was screaming "this cant be happening", then Alice showed up and saved the day!!

I don't think that Bella would have married Jacob. Now, now..I am not saying that they would not have been together, but she is soooooo oppossed to marriage that by the time she married Jacob, she would have been way too old for Edward and I don't think they would ever encountered on another!
But I do think that if Bella was still young and with Jacob in some way when she met Edward, there would be no way to keep them apart!! Edward says what he feels for Bella is stronger than imprinting. And Bella has an instant reaction to Edward as well. I don't think you can deny that!

I dont think that Edward would have let there be a "run in"... He would see that her and Jacob where together and leave, she would never know he was there.
He told Jacob even if she choes him he would be "keeping watch" EC 502

I don't like this theory, to me if Edward wasn't there Bella would be dead. Jacob would have never entered the picture. I know some people believe her fate would be changed if Edward wasn't around.


Then there is the whole scenario about him being a werewolf and imprinting(I don't think they vampires cause the change)

If the Cullens never returned to Forks Jacob would not be a werewolf and if there was no Edward to leave Bella alone, she would have no excuse to run off to Jacob for help with her reckless actions she took part in in New Moon.

Unfortunately Bella might have just ended up with Mike Newton if Edward was not in the picture. The she probably most certainly never have really discovered Jacob.

We need to put Blondie on this one and get a good fanfic for the possibilities!!!

There would have been no "Twilight" story line.

If she was 22 hapily married where would she have run into the 17 year old Edward? If they did happen to meet somewhere, like if she were the school libraian assistant, would he have stalked her the way he had in twilight? I think he would have given up after seeing how happy she was with her life. He would have been frustrated and miserable still, but he wouldn't have tried to come between them the way Jake tried to come between Bella and Edward.

However, now that I am analyzing it... if Edward came in to the picture after Jacob breaks Bellas heart and divorces her because he has imprinted on someone else... this would be a whole new story...a little more adult themed! hehehehe an entirely diferent story but I would probably read it...

Okay Jacob is how many years younger then Bella?ANd the only reason she really talked to him was to get information form him after Sam peaked her interest on the Cullens. No Cullens, no peaked interest, I think she may have seen Jacob more as the annoying little brother then as anything else. I agree there is no way I could have read the books as many times as I have if there was no Bella and Edward! Who would I dream about at night if it wasn't for Edward?

WOW, I was way off....I guess i should have looked at the post better.

Thanks for all the replies. I was just thinking about how much life is dictated by timing, and it got me wondering about the series. For vampires a few years one way or the other isn't that big of a deal, if the Cullens had come later how would the story have played out. I agree with everyone, that it would have been much different and not the story we love, but it's still interesting to ponder how much different a little time can make things