Babies, Babies, Babies

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews, Nikki.

Part Nine

When Jacob and Bella went inside the house they found Sue Clearwater talking quietly with Billy. She had come to give him a check over. After the aborted babysitting venture along with the stress that Rebecca and Solomon had placed on his father's shoulders, Jacob had discreetly asked Sue, who was a nurse, to visit Billy and do a general health check. Bella looked around for her father and found Charlie hovering in the background making moon eyes at Sue from a distance. Really he was utterly hopeless. Perhaps it had been so long since he had tried to talk to an unattached woman he had gotten out of practice. After all he must know how to flirt; he had married her mom after all. Bella nudged Jacob in the side; he had agreed to help after a little persuasion. Jacob looked at her cluelessly for a second before Bella motioned with her head toward Charlie. Jacob rolled his eyes and left her side to try and bring Charlie into the conversation between his dad and Sue.

"Hey, Charlie, you should give Sue some of that fish you and dad caught on your last fishing trip…." He stopped speaking when he saw Charlie's face redden. He heard Bella groan behind him. At the mention of her name Sue turned around and glanced their way. Jacob tried to recover the situation. "I was just telling Charlie to give you some fish." He continued. Bella put her hand over her face as she watched her dad's mortified expression.

"Fish?" Sue seemed perplexed. "My freezer is stacked full to bursting already." She smiled weakly at Charlie before turning back to Billy.

Jacob had no idea why Charlie and Bella appeared so flustered over the mention of fish. Bella had asked him to kick start a conversation and that was what he was trying to do. Charlie liked fishing, it was a topic he was comfortable with and Sue ate fish, didn't she? As if a lightbulb popped in his brain Jacob grinned and winked at Bella, who was signalling him to shut up. He ignored her and ploughed on. Perhaps Sue would like Charlie to take her out for a fish pie or something instead? "Hey." Jacob began again as he tapped Sue on the shoulder.

"Yes, Jake." Sue looked over her shoulder enquiringly.

"You like fish, right?" Jacob smiled at her as Sue frowned.

"I already said I have enough fish thank you, Jake." She seemed bemused by his line of questioning.

"That's cool and everything. Perhaps you don't want to cook it…."

"No, Jake. I don't want to cook it." Sue agreed firmly.

"Well someone should cook it for you, or…" Jacob flashed her one his sunny smiles. It lit up his whole face. He made an expansive gesture with his hands as he jerked his head in Charlie's direction. "Or he could take you out for a fish dinner or something. How about that?" He declared.

Billy snorted with laughter while Sue bit down on her bottom lip to stop herself breaking out into an amused smile. Bella had her face covered with her hands while Charlie's face had turned so red it looked like he was about to explode. "I…um…yeah…check on the cruiser." He hurried out with his head firmly down so he didn't have to look at Sue Clearwater or anyone else for that matter.

Jacob felt Bella grab his hand and pull him to one side so they could talk privately. "What was that?" Bella whispered. "You've completely embarrassed my dad now. Why did you have to mention fish?"

"Because he likes fishing." Jacob said stating the obvious. "You asked me to introduce conversation between them and I did."

"Hopeless, absolutely hopeless." Bella crossed her arms and glared at him, tapping her foot on the floor as she did so.

"Don't look at me like that, Bells. Please." Jacob peered into her face, trying to find his sweet Bells, but she just shoved her way past him muttering something about damage control.

"Sue, can I have a quiet word with you?" Bella put on her brightest smile as she approached the older woman.

Bella, Jacob and Billy all stared through the window as they looked at Sue as she went to talk to Charlie. Bella had decided that the best approach was probably just to be honest. She had told Sue about her father's interest in her and that he was feeling too shy to ask her out on a proper date. It seemed that Sue was not as oblivious to Charlie's interest as had been assumed. She had noticed his longing looks and red face whenever he spoke or was around her. Sue had never tackled a man before about dating, she had always felt it should be the man who asked a woman, but it appeared Charlie just didn't feel able to. Maybe because she was the widow of his former friend, or he really was just worried about rejection, either way, after hearing Bella's explanation for Charlie's reticence, Sue took pity on the police chief of Forks and went to ask him out instead.

"He's smiling." Jacob said hopefully.

"He still looks like a boiled cabbage though." Billy pointed out.

"Perhaps Sue can wear sunglasses on the date." Jacob snickered. He fell silent when he felt Bella elbow him in the side. "Sorry."

"Hush." Bella pressed her face too close to the glass and bumped her forehead. Jacob and Billy laughed quietly as she rubbed her sore head. She saw her father shaking Sue's hand as if they had just come to some sort of agreement. She groaned internally. Charlie was acting as if it was a business transaction. At least he was smiling like Jacob had said, and Sue appeared cheerful enough. They all watched as Sue and Charlie wandered back to the house and made a mad scramble to look nonchalant in case either of them noticed the pairs of eyes that had been watching their every move.

Bella spent the next few hours with Jacob in the garage as he worked on the pick-up truck. He told her that work had picked up and he was finally making some extra money. Word of mouth about his good work and fair prices had paid dividends. Now that for the foreseeable future money wouldn't be so tight Bella could see that he was more relaxed. Rebecca and Solomon were still trying his patience, but after Billy had a stern talk with his daughter, Rebecca finally seemed to be making an effort to look for employment of her own. Solomon on the other hand still seemed to expect a free ride. Jacob confessed that he felt another confrontation was on the cards if the lazy dolt didn't start making some sort of effort. It seemed that Rebecca's husband was getting itchy feet and missing his old life, the one without responsibilities and a wife and kids in tow.

"You don't think he'll leave do you?" Bella asked worriedly, wondering how Rebecca would cope with two young kids under two by herself, and what that would mean for poor Jet and Marlon.

Jacob sighed as he tightened a nut on the engine. "I don't know but it seems likely. You can just tell, and I can see the fear in Becca's eyes. She has been really clingy with him. It seems the honeymoon period for those guys is well and truly over."

"That would be so scary, being alone with two young kids to bring up." Bella was sitting on an old upturned crate; she pulled her knees to her chest as she thought about the harsh reality of bringing children into the world. Some people had them when they just weren't ready, Becca and Solomon being a fine example. But was there ever really a right time? Bella tried to imagine herself in Rebecca's place, she would never abandon her kids no matter what the circumstances, if she was alone she would make it work, however hard or frightening it was, her kids would come first….then it hit her like a bullet to the heart, she would never have to worry about that scenario. On the path she was travelling now she wouldn't be able to have any children. She was in effect barren, or she would be soon.

Bella didn't realise that Jacob had stopped working and was watching her. He could see her mind was far away. He saw the myriad of expressions crossing her face, first anxious, than pensive and a little angry, then utter sadness. It was the last one which took his breath away. What was she thinking about? He hunkered down in front of her and carefully pulled her legs straight; he then rested his hands on the tops of her thighs, instinctively rubbing them. Bella jolted as she felt the warmth from his touch even through the thick denim of her jeans. "What's wrong, Bells?" Jacob asked in concern.

"I just realised something…." Bella whispered brokenly as tears pooled in her eyes.

"Tell me, Bells." Jacob pleaded. He hated seeing her so sad, especially when he didn't know the root cause of it.

Bella's lower lip trembled as she gazed at his beautiful face, and he was beautiful. Bella always thought Edward was handsome, so much like the Adonis statues made in the distant past with his perfect even features and his classic nose and mouth, but Jacob was different. His beauty was more earthy, more tangible and reachable. His dark eyes and anxious expression pierced her heart. She could see the love and she suddenly wanted to drown in it. But she had been selfish enough in the past; she didn't want to be so again. She refused to burden him with the details of her epiphany. She had hurt him too many times. Instead she forced a smile on her face and touched his cheek reverently, she loved the feel of his smooth skin under her wandering fingers and the heat, it was so soothing.

"Bells." Jacob said again as his eyes wandered her face, worrying about what had caused the sudden sadness.

"I'm fine." Bella tried to infuse some cheerfulness into her tone. "I might head inside and make some lunch while you finish out here." She dropped her hand and stood up.

Jacob stood up too. She was retreating from him, he could sense it. She was never good at hiding her emotions, not from him anyway. He knew her too well. Her sudden announcement that she needed to make lunch was an avoidance tactic. "Talk to me, Bella." He begged her again.

Bella avoided his gaze. "Jake I…."

"Jake, Bella…." The sound of Billy's voice startled them both. Jacob tore his eyes away from Bella's and ran outside to see what was wrong. Bella followed him out. Billy had sounded distressed.

"Dad?" Jacob saw Billy's face fall as he looked at him and Bella. "Jet not with you?"

"No." Jacob exchanged an alarmed glance with Bella as Billy put his head in his hands. "What's going on? Solomon was watching her while Becca went job hunting."

"The fool fell asleep." Billy said helplessly. "I went to check on baby Marlon when he started crying for his feed and Solomon trudged out of the twin's room muttering in his language. I asked him where Jet was and he just shrugged. The last time I saw her was an hour ago. I came out here hoping she was with you two. Oh my god, I'm scared Jake. She's still a baby herself."

Jacob felt worry consume him but he had to stay calm. Damn Solomon to the pit of hell! He saw from Bella's face that she felt the same. "We'll find her, dad. Don't worry. I'll get the whole pack out looking. She couldn't have gone far." He patted Billy's shoulder and sped off to call his brothers.

Bella hurried to Billy's side and tried to comfort the older man as he began to cry silent tears.

A/N-thanks for reading!