Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight saga or the vampire hunks in it. (Carlisle, Jasper, Emmett, Garrett) ;)

~Chapter Three: Round One with Dad~

I had gone home soon after my moving speech, but not before agreeing talk more. Namely the process of the injections and how soon we were going to begin.

I was officially awake now and ready to head over to the Cullens house. There was something very special I had to announce, I had decided who was going to be the first to donate their. . .ingredient.

I held in an excited squeal all throughout the drive to the remote house. Oooh, I could imagine the look on his face when he hears that I picked him to go first! Eeeep!

I nearly fell trying to get out of the truck and practically flashed into the house. I skipped to the living room and forced myself to stand still.

"Hey, guys, I'm here!" I called playfully, I knew they could hear me even if I whispered it.

A whoosh of air later and all six vampires were gathered in the living room. I beamed at them, nearly bursting with excitement.

"What has you all excited, Bella?" Jasper asked, his southern accent strong with his amusement.

"Later, I promise. Now, we should talk about when we're going to do this. Carlisle, do you have everything you need?"

The blonde doctor nodded, golden eyes curious. "I have the medical tools required, I only need to know when and be supplied with the sperm. I suggest it be quite fresh to increase the chances of successful implantation."

I blushed to the roots of my hair.

I tried very hard not to think about what he suggested. "I can supply the who. I've thought on this a lot, everywhere I go I kept thinking: who would go first? So, after a few days I've made my decision and I choose. . . . Jasper."

The vampire in question stiffened, his mouth dropped open and he gasped in wide eyed shock.

"Could we have a few moments?" I asked the family, flashing them a smile.

Once they had made themselves scarce, I took a few steps toward the frozen Texan. "Jasper?"

No answer.

"Jazz?"

He came to life, wide eyes blinking and focusing on my face. "Me? You choose me?"

I nodded, smiling warmly.

"Why? I mean, surely Emmett or Carlisle should go first! Carlisle has the most experience with parenting, he has Esme as a mate to help him. Emmett and Rosalie all but gave up on being able to have kids. The big oaf is a teddy bear, perfect for being affectionate. Rose. . .she's waited a long time for this-kids. I'm. . . . Well, look at me!" Jasper ran a hand through his honey blonde hair, puffing out a frustrated breath.

My heart ached for him. He didn't realize how beautiful and kind he was. How perfect he would be as a father.

"Jasper, look at me. You are a great person. Maria was the monster, not you. She influenced you and molded you in your most vulnerable state, to make you what she wanted." I halted my train of thought before I became really angry at that beast of a woman. He'd think I was upset with him and that wouldn't be true.

I took a calming breath and continued my speech. "Jasper Whitlock, you listen to what I have to say and no interruptions! You are a kind, gentle man who is very protective of the ones he loves. You. . . .you can make me smile just by listing off things you see, smell and hear. If only you could see that you're not insignificant! You're not ill suited, you're not any of those negative things floating around in your head."

"Bella . . . .the things that I've done-I've done horrible things to good people. They didn't deserve it. You're wrong, you're just too kind to say what I'm thinking." He avoided my eyes, my face.

I could literally feel my heart breaking.

I ignored his attempts to keep me away, touching his cheek with my hand. "You are worthy, Jasper Whitlock. I will see to it you know that as often as I have to."

Jasper sighed, still avoiding me, but all the fight left his posture.

I smiled, wanting to change the subject to break through his dark cloud. "So, when should we do the injection. . . .procedure. . . .thing?"

He shrugged, running a hand over his face and disclosing my own. "How about two weeks from now? On a Saturday."

"Saturday it is."

I blew out a breath as we both seemed to relax a bit. The family returned and we talked about unimportant, little things.

The date was set, now I just had to be prepared to tell my father what I was up to.

Oh, boy.

Images of my father trying to shoot Jasper flooded my mind. I shook them off, I wouldn't allow it!

"Belly bean?" Emmett's usually loud, obnoxious voice was soft and his head cocked to the side.

"I'm fine, just thinking." I smiled warmly at my favorite giant.

His answer was a one thousand watt grin.

I snapped my fingers. "Oh! That's reminds me, I figured out the chain of impregnation. Wow, that sounds weird when I say it out loud. Anyway, it goes as follows. First is Jasper, then Emmett, and then finally Carlisle."

"Why is he last?" Esme frowned at me.

"I need him to be objective during my pregnancies, if his is the last child he will know more of what to expect. He won't be as involved as he would be if the child he was helping birth was his own." I explained calmly, expecting her question.

"That sounds logical," Carlisle replied, patting Esme's hand.

"Hells yeah, second place!" Emmett boomed, pumping his fists.

I rolled my eyes. "Emmett, while I appreciate your enthusiasm over the idea of being a father, this isn't a contest or a competition."

"Still, if it wasn't obvious. . .dibs!" He roared, pointing at himself.

We all rolled our eyes, the big lug may never grow up.

We still loved him, though.


A week has passed since the meeting at the Cullens concerning the donor order. I still hadn't figured out how to tell my father I was going to be having babies for the Cullens.

I was afraid of his reaction. I had done nothing even remotely close to this before, so I had no way to gauge exactly what would happen.

I mentally slapped myself, enough of that. He would have to come to accept my decision, because it was happening with or without his approval.

I just wanted him to be okay with it.

I groaned, banging my head off my joined hands.

I had to tell him soon.

A door closed downstairs, making me jump a foot in the air.

"Bells?" Charlie called, most likely going through his usual routine of removing his gun belt and ammunition. He even went so far as to take all the bullets out of his gun. Ha ha, dad, I'm not that clumsy! Geez.

"Up here!" I shouted back, pushing back from my computer and walking to my bed. I quickly put away any evidence of the baby related things I had been looking at earlier.

"Billy asked me to go with him and Jake out on the lake. The way it sounds, we'll be gone all day tomorrow." Charlie gave me a sheepish smile.

"That's fine, dad, I can fend for myself for one day. I could hang out with the Cullens, maybe ask Alice if she wants to go to Port Angeles to see a movie or something." I shrugged, used to his love of fishing.

Charlie's eyes narrowed. "You've been spending a lot of time over there, any particular reason why?"

I swallowed nervously, internally wincing at his suspicious tone. "I've been hanging out with Jasper and Emmett. I didn't really know them that well when Edward and I were together. He wanted me to stay away-he had jealousy issues."

"Oh, he did, did he? Is that why you stopped seeing Jake? You two used to be thicker than thieves, now you don't even talk to the boy!"

I winced, guilt eating at my insides.

I had been sort of avoiding Jake and I just lied to my father because I was too chicken to tell him at the moment.

He caught the guilty look on my face.

"Bella, what's going on?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Dad, there's something I should tell you. . ." I sucked in a big breath for courage. "I'm planning to become a surrogate mother for the Cullens."

There was a moment of silence.

Charlie's face paled, then slowly and steadily grew redder, until he looked like he was close to busting a blood vessel. "What?!"

"Dad-" I began, but was cut off almost immediately.

"Isabella Marie Swan. Are you telling me that my teenage daughter wants to have the child of a married man?! Out of the question! Absolutely unacceptable!"

My anger flared to life instantaneously and I stood as well.

"I didn't tell you so I could ask your permission!" I snapped. "I'm eighteen years old, an adult in the eyes of the law. I don't need your permission!"

"Don't you talk to me about the law, young lady! I am the Sheriff in this town!"

"I will if it means you try to forbid me as the Sheriff. I want to help the Cullens have biological children, so I will do just that!" I yelled, my breathing heavy as my temper raged.

"I will not approve of my daughter carrying another woman's husbands child." He replied stiffly, leaving as soon as the last word was spoken.

"Lucky for me, I don't need your approval." I grumbled, fighting tears.

It was true, I didn't need it, but I wanted it.

I descended the stairs as quickly as I could without injury. I needed to get out of the house.

Now.

I lifted myself into my russet beast and drove where I wanted to be. Where I needed to be at the moment.

Thirty minutes later I parked in front of Cullens house.

I sat in the truck, working to calm my inner tempest of emotions. I didn't want them to see me like this.

Once I felt like I could safely encounter someone without bursting into tears, I hopped out of the truck and made my way to the house.

I was met in the living room by Alice.

I shot her a wane smile. "Hey, Alice."

She wasn't smiling back. "Bella, what did you just do?"

I frowned at her. "What do you mean?"

"Would you care to explain why your future disappeared?" She demanded, almost glaring at me.

I sighed. Great. Just what I need right now.

"Where are the others?" I asked softly. "This concerns them, too, they should be here when I explain."

Not a blink and a whoosh of air later, the room was occupied by all seven of us.

I bit my lip, stalling a little.

I didn't want to tell them about my fight with Charlie, I had enough trouble convincing Jasper that this was a good idea.

Jasper eyed me and Alice curiously, eyebrow raised. "I have made a decision, a decision that changes things a bit. I want to change the date of insemination to tomorrow afternoon."

Carlisle stared at me, stunned. "Why the change in schedule?"

"I have my reasons." I answered cryptically. "Will you be ready?"

He blinked at me. "Yes."

"Alright, then, now that that's settled. . . .who wants to watch a movie?" I asked, taking the opportunity to change the subject and hopefully keep anyone from pressing me for answers.

"Sure, we can watch that new spy movie!" Emmett replied, grinning at me.

After a few minutes, we decided to watch an action movie. I cuddled on the love seat with a pillow, content for the moment to spend time with my second family.

Tomorrow would be a big day for all of us.