Chances

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thanks for the awesome reviews. Nikki :)

Part Ten-Bella's Husband

Bella sat on the windowsill in her bedroom and looked out over the garden and beyond. It was still early in the morning; the sun had barely risen. But this was her favorite part of the day. Everything was still peaceful and calm as night handed over the reigns to the day. She studied the forest, wondering where Jacob was right now. She knew he was on patrol and had been for most of the night. Perhaps he was near First beach standing near the edge of the cliff looking down at the wild ocean. She pictured his proud wolf in her mind, the red tints in his thick coat gleaming in the weak light from the dawning sun.

She had her arms looped round her knees as she hugged them to her chest; she continued to enjoy the quiet. It was while she was resting that her memories came back with full force. She gasped as she saw herself kneeling beside Billy, her eyes closed as she concentrated on finding his heart. Then Billy's body morphed into a young child. She was in a shopping precinct with Edward and Alice standing beside her as a young boy fitted in front of them, his distraught mother yelling for help. Bella had acted on instinct that day. She had dropped the bags filled with clothes she had been carrying and ran to the boy's side.

"Let me." She had said calmly to the young woman.

Edward had joined her. "What are you doing?" He had hissed. "We are attracting unwanted attention here."

For the first time ever Bella had ignored her husband as she set to work, feeling for the boys pulse as he thrashed around in front of her. She felt her eyes close of their own accord and she kept a hand on his wrist while the other had touched his forehead. She had felt the power flow from her hands and into the small boy. Within seconds he had stopped fitting and opened his eyes. Bella had felt triumphant as she opened hers and smiled at him happily, then she had keeled over in a dead faint.

She remembered now that she had been unconscious for a day and when she had woken the same thing had happened; she had no memory of what she had done until two days later. When she had spoken to Edward about it he had admitted that he had been hoping that she would never remember, he insisted her actions had been reckless. While he had kept her in the dark he had been in discussions with Carlisle about her unexpected talent. Carlisle had cautioned him not to let her do another healing. After that they kept a round the clock watch on her, making sure she was never alone and never allowed to mix with humans again unless one of them was with her.

Bella felt anger course through her at the thought of Edward. When she and Charlie had returned home, she had checked her cell to find several messages from her husband, threatening to come and fetch her home himself. Because Alice couldn't see her because of Jacob and the pack, Edward was getting very edgy as his controlling nature came to the fore. Bella knew it wouldn't be long before she was forced to leave Forks and return to her prison.

"Alright kiddo?" Charlie asked cautiously as he watched her sit down for breakfast.

Bella gave him a small smile. "I am fine, honestly."

Charlie sighed. "I know, but you can't blame your old man for worrying."

"I know." Bella touched his arm briefly, biting gingerly into the toast she had made. Bread was one of the few human foods she could tolerate, although she had to be careful not to have too much. One slice per day was her limit.

"So what are your plans for today?" Charlie asked as he joined her at the table, a mug of coffee in his hand.

"I'm not sure. I thought we could spend it together doing whatever you want." Bella suggested.

"You are not seeing Jake then?" Charlie checked.

"No, he has been out all night on patrol." Bella saw her dad's face redden, he was still having a hard time dealing with what Jake was and in a small way, her too, although he was doing his best to hide it. "Are you sure you are alright with this dad?"

Charlie nodded. "Of course. I just need a little time to get used to things that's all."

"Does that include forgiving Billy and Sue properly?" Bella pressed.

"One step at a time, kiddo." Charlie took a gulp of his coffee.

Bella patted his hand. "Okay." She took another small bite of her toast and smiled.

They spent the day fishing in the end. Charlie took Bella to one of his favorite watering holes and they sat side by side on the bank of the river as he gave her a lecture on the best way to catch fish. Bella followed all his instructions to the letter and didn't catch a thing. Charlie managed to catch a few and he laughed at her disgruntled expression. In the end Bella had knelt on the bank and stuck her hand in the water, within seconds she had a thrashing fish in her hand. Charlie's face was a picture as he stared at her in shock. Bella didn't let him forget it all the way home.

Their joy was short lived when they pulled into the drive to see a familiar car parked across the street. Charlie's face darkened and Bella felt nausea well up in her stomach as she stared at Carlisle's black Mercedes.

"What is he doing here?" Charlie snapped. He opened the door to the cruiser and stepped out.

Bella followed suit, running round the car to stand by her dad's side. She could see no sign of her husband, but she knew he was nearby because she could smell him. It seemed that he had gone hunting during her absence. He usually did so to make sure he was fully in control when he confronted her.

"Where is the little shit?" Charlie marched over to the car and banged on the window.

"Dad, he's not in there." Bella caught his arm and pulled him back. "We should go inside. Edward will turn up when he is ready."

"I'll be ready too." Charlie's hand shot to his hip where his gun usually hung from his belt, but it wasn't there.

"Shooting at him won't have any effect, remember." Bella reminded him gently.

"You won't be going back with him, Bella." Charlie huffed.

Bella had been upset when Billy had confessed that Charlie knew about the baby. It had taken all her willpower to keep her emotions in check as her father had asked her for the full story. She had no choice but to be open about what Edward and Carlisle had done. She refused to lie to Charlie anymore.

"Dad I need to deal with Edward." Bella whispered.

"You are in no state to..."

"Dad, I have to. Come inside we need to talk." Bella took his arm and he followed reluctantly, his keen eyes scanning the immediate area for any sign of Cullen.

"You can stay here with me." Charlie thundered. "I will not allow you to go back to them."

Bella sat at the table and cradled her glass of water in her hands. "I have no choice. I can't stay here long term, it's not practical. I am not fully human. I refuse to put you in danger because of my own selfish wants. There is a reason that the Cullen's move from place to place. Staying too long in one area attracts unwanted attention."

"You are not a va...vampire, kiddo." Charlie choked over the words. "You are more human than that. No one will ever know."

"It doesn't work like that." Bella said brokenly. "And I am a vampire dad, you have to accept that."

Charlie banged his fist on the table. "That's bullshit. The same would apply to Jake then. He is a freaking wolf. What is the difference between you and him? You are both half of something."

"The difference is he is a protector and I am a...a...a...I am a danger to you." Bella cried out. She felt tears well in her eyes but she forced them back.

"You are a healer, Bells. A healer." Charlie sat opposite her and grabbed her hands desperately. "You are special, don't compare yourself to that Cullen boy."

Before Bella could answer there was a knock on the door. She stared at her dad wildly. "That's him, he's here."

Jacob rolled out of bed and onto his feet as he heard a warning howl echo through the air. That howl could only mean one thing, a cold one had been spotted. He didn't bother using the door but slipped through his bedroom window and out into the open air. He sped toward the trees and phased as soon as he was under cover.

"Report." He ordered through the pack mind.

Quil and Embry were on patrol. They quickly filled his mind with images of Edward Cullen on the hunt. Jacob was enraged. He let out a loud roar and took off for the Swan house. Quil and Embry quickly followed their leader as he sprinted toward his goal.

Bella opened the door slowly. She hadn't seen her husband in over a week and her old feelings of hate at what he had done to their baby welled up in her. "Why are you here now?" She asked coldly. "I still have a few days left."

Edward sighed dramatically as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Bella, you know why I am here. Firstly I am worried about you and secondly Alice has not been able to track you properly for days. This can only mean that you have been spending time with Black again."

"What of it?" Bella snapped. "Jake is my friend."

"And also your natural enemy." Edward stated bluntly. "You seem to forget what he is and what you are now. You are not human anymore, no matter how many times you try to be."

"I am." Bella whispered. "Carrying your child was testament to how human I am."

Edward flinched at her words. He ran a hand through his hair in agitation. "I had no choice Bella. You have to understand that. Come, this is not the place to discuss this, pack your things and say goodbye to your father. I have tickets booked, we need to get to the airport immediately."

"That wasn't the arrangement." Bella retorted. "I will come back when I am ready."

"I can see the dog's influence already." Edward said testily. "Even now he still playing on your guilt and trying to turn you away from me. Come."

"You arrogant..." Bella stopped speaking when she heard her father come up beside her.

Charlie gently moved her to one side. He opened the door wider and crossed his arms as he looked at Bella's husband. He now knew that Edward could read his mind and he didn't bother to hide his thoughts as he hurled insults at the creature, as he now thought of him.

Edward stiffened as he read Charlie's mind. "I see that you know."

"Yes I know." Charlie said aloud. "And you also know that you are not welcome here. I suggest you leave right now."

Edward wasn't listening, his eyes had narrowed as he sniffed the air. Bella too had heard and smelled who was approaching. It was Jacob. He must have come across Edward's scent as he hunted.

"You are a fool." She spat sarcastically at her husband. "Or did you deliberately leave your scent everywhere so that Jake would know you were here.? Did you do it to stake some kind of claim?"

"You are my wife." Edward snapped, finally losing his patience. "I have no need to stake a claim."

"What the hell is going on?" Charlie asked in confusion.

"Jake's coming." Bella told him wearily.

Seconds later a half clothed Jacob, followed by Embry and Quil strode confidently out of the trees surrounding the house. He looked every inch the Alpha male that he was, his tan skin glistened in the weak sun, his muscles bulging with every move that he made. His shorts hung low on his hips as he stood in front of Edward. Bella thought her husband looked sickly and ill next to Jacob and the others vitality.

"We meet again, Jacob Black." Edward stated coldly as he turned to face his nemesis.

Jacob matched his stare. "So it seems." He snapped fiercely.

A/N-thanks for reading!