Disclaimer: I own nothing Twilight or 'Alice' related. I just happen to love both. I also do not claim to be an expert in the medical field or in social work. Forgive any glaring mistakes you may find.

Bella's POV:

I must have been gaping like a fish because Jasper slowly moved forward and wrapped his arm around me.

Ya, Carmine had been preparing me for the slight chance that Charlotte's biological family may try to claim her but since they hadn't when we first had explained the circumstances of her abandonment we agreed the chance was slim to none.

And yet here in front of me was a man who looked broken and torn yet hopeful.

I looked up at Jasper and saw that his blue eyes had darkened with anger and his holding me was as much for his benefit as it was for mine. I tightened my grip on Charlotte and said quietly "I assume you are responding to the classified I put out detailing Charlotte, her abandonment and health issues?"

"Yes, I saw it in the Forks paper." This man named Jacob said and a familiar feeling niggled at the back of my mind but I brushed it off.

"Then you would also know that it said to contact me through my lawyer and social worker." I said trying not to let anger overcome me.

"Your father is Charlie Swan." Jacob said his eyes pleading "Our dads are best friends. I played with you and Emmett and Rose when you were little."

Ah, that is where I recognized this man from. Billy Black's youngest child, his only son. About the time that I turned 6 I lost contact with him and now here he was trying to take my daughter from me.

She could be his. A voice taunted me. He could take her from you and you would never see her again, it's not like you have any rights to her- she's not yours.

"Dad said your father had been up here visiting you and I tracked down where you worked. One of the receptionists sent me up here saying you'd be here if Charlotte hadn't been discharged yet."

"Look, Mr. Black as you can see Charlotte and Bella have had a rough few weeks and it won't do any good going through Bella." Jasper finally spoke up and there was a hard edge to his voice. "In the classified ad there was a number to call to reach her lawyer. I suggest you call that number and go from there."

I quickly buckled Charlotte into her carseat as Jasper finished with "Can't say it's been a pleasure to meet you although I do hope we never cross paths again. Now if you'd excuse us it's time to get Charlotte home."

"But she's my daughter!" Jacob said blocking the doorway. "You can't keep me away from her."

"Actually," Jasper spoke again venom lacing his words. "She might not be your daughter and we aren't just going to let her go with some stranger until it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt that said stranger is her biological father. Once again, call Bella's lawyer to arrange a paternity test."

I must say Jasper's venom and protectiveness were very attractive and I was more than glad that he was with me.

Jasper kept one arm firmly around my shoulders as he led me out of the hospital room and down the corridor ensuring that he was between Charlotte and I and Jacob Black at all times.

I spared one look backward and watched as my childhood friend sank to the ground in sobs, holding his head in his hands and looking painfully broken.

It made me feel a little guilty but a bigger part of me also knew that I couldn't lose Charlotte and hoped desperately that the paternity test came back negative.

Jasper led me out to the car as he was driving us home and helped me snap in Charlotte's car seat. He still looked livid and I was a little worried as I buckled myself into the passenger seat.

He climbed in without a word and all of a sudden all of his pent up frustration came out and he slammed his fists into the steering wheel with a loud grunt.

"Jazz?" I asked softly trying to keep my tone neutral "Are you ok?"

"No Bella," He said loudly "I don't want you to lose Charlotte."

I raised an eyebrow and gave him a pointed look "Is that all?"

He sighed and ran his hands back through his golden curls and looked at me sadly "I don't think I can stand losing Charlotte." He admitted "I know she's your daughter but I love her so much already."

For a moment I thought he might add more but he shut his mouth and leaned his head back against the head rest.

"I can't stand the thought of not waking up with her there," I admitted glancing back at Charlotte who despite the loudness had nodded off.

Her golden locks were coming in, in curls and the green of her eyes was becoming more pronounced every time I looked at them save for the dark brown ring around her iris.

"I just have to hope against hope that Jacob isn't her real father," I sighed and Jasper took my hand in his and I felt instantly calm.

"They look nothing alike." Jasper said softly obviously trying to reassure me.

I couldn't stop the scoff that escaped me and I said quietly "And Emmett and I look nothing like our mother."

He gave me a questioning look and his eyes betrayed the surprise he was feeling at me broaching the topic of my mother- something I never really did.

Renee Swan was a flighty witch of a woman who deemed it necessary to abandon her two young children simply because she hated small town life.

In all the years since she'd left she had never come to visit us or offered for us to go and stay with her. She was enjoying her 'single' life far too much after getting married to my dad at 17 and having Emmett just before her 18th birthday.

I sighed and continued "Renee has the blondest blonde hair I have ever seen on someone who doesn't dye their hair and she has blue eyes. She's also extremely tan naturally and unlike myself quite tall. Here I am with brown hair, brown eyes, fair skinned and far too short to reach things without the assistance of a ladder."

He nodded slightly and gave my hand a gentle squeeze, I'd been so wrapped up in telling him this (something I had never told anyone else before) that I had completely forgotten he was holding my hand.

"And then there's Emmett- the only trait the two of them share is that he's tall but so is dad so that's not saying anything."

"Bella," Jasper said "I'm sorry for melting down- you need my support not a temper tantrum."

"Jasper," I stopped him with a raise of my hand "Thank you for telling him that. I don't think I would have been able to find my voice or the presence of mind to tell him all that."

I leaned forward and brushed my lips across his cheek, tempted to just crush my lips against his and leaned back again smiling.

"Come on let's get you pretty ladies home," Jasper laughed turning the key in the ignition.

My mind torn between my slight Jasper obsession and this new revelation about Charlotte's family Jasper drove us out of the parking lot, heading towards home.

J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B

"So the paternity test is scheduled for next week?" I asked into my phone as I paced in front of the microwave where Char's bottle was currently heating.

"Monday morning to be exact," Jenks, my lawyer, told me "The results will be in by Tuesday."

"What if he is her father?" I asked allowing my nerves to take over my line of questioning.

"Then he will have to undergo a home exam and take courses so he knows how to deal with her problems and until all that is done she will remain in your care."

I sighed loudly "So if he's her father I have no chance of keeping her?"

"Sorry Bella," Jenks did sound apologetic "All the judges I know want to keep biological families together in every case possible."

"Thanks Jenks," I said and we said our goodbyes.

I was so thankful that Carlisle and Eleazer had convinced the board to give me a maternity leave of sorts. If the adoption went through with Charlotte I wouldn't have to return to work for another 6 months and they were going to continue giving me my full salary.

It was only yesterday that I had found out about the possibility of Jacob Black being Charlotte's father and Charlotte came home but it felt more like years.

In the past 24 hours I was alone with Charlotte for the first time in two weeks, I had found out her father might be an old childhood friend, that same 'friend' had contacted Jenks and set up a paternity test, and I had gotten an hour and a half of sleep because I was so worried.

I plucked the now warm bottle out of the microwave, tested it on my wrist and headed into Charlotte's nursery where I found her staring up at the stars Emmett had painted on the ceiling when he'd come up a month ago.

"Here we go sweetie," I cooed and she greedily took the bottle as I gave it to her. I stood just staring at her for a few minutes and then headed back to the living room to finish my laundry.

I hit play on the remote and started the miniseries 'Alice' from where Alice entered Hatter's teashop and started ironing and folding my laundry again.

It was only ten minutes later that my buzzer rang. Jumping over piles of folded laundry I hit the talk button "Hello?"

"Italian delivery for Swan," Jasper's southern twang filtered through the crappy system.

Biting back a squeal of excitement I buzzed him up and met him at the door throwing myself into his arms.

He was still wearing his police uniform and he was carrying both a brown bag that smelt delicious and a backpack.

"Jazz!" I said kissing his cheek as he wrapped his arms around me "What are you doing here?"

"Well looking at your fridge last night you had next to no groceries and I know you're worried about taking Charlotte out into public at the moment so I thought I would bring dinner. Where is my little princess?" He asked walking into my apartment and putting the bag with food on the counter.

"Sleeping, finally." I laughed "She refused to nap this afternoon but was getting grouchy so I put her to bed early. I'm just finishing laundry and watching 'Alice'"

"That's that one you were telling me about with the funky Mad March?" He questioned.

I nodded excitedly "If you wanna stay I'll restart it and we can watch from the beginning?"

"Sure," He laughed "But only if you allow me ten minutes to shower and change?" He asked holding up his backpack.

"You know where the bathroom is," I chuckled "I'll put dinner out."

3 hours, 2 wine coolers a piece and a delicious meal Jasper and I were sitting on the couch watching the end of 'Alice'.

"So did you like?" I asked bouncing slightly in my seat. I was a little buzzed I'll admit that but nowhere near drunk.

"Well, I was a little distracted," Jasper blushed "But I loved everything I saw."

"How could you have been distracted?" I pouted playfully.

"Easily," Jasper said and he got a determined look on his face.

Before I could really register what was happening his lips were on mine and his hands were tangled in my hair.

Oh my God I was kissing Jasper Whitlock!