*I in no way shape or form, own these characters, or any rights to the unbelievable fortune that Stephenie Meyer is surely raking in due to the invention of these characters.

*I'd like to send a huge thank you to my reviewers. You all are what helps me to hone my writing and also gives me confidence to allow these characters to take on their own life. Some of you have also given some very interesting food for thought. Love you guys!

*I have no beta, so please excuse grammatical errors. Reviews are most appreciated, educational and motivating. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 10

Ready Or Not

Bella approached Billy's house with a distinct feeling of trepidation. Whatever, or whomever, was in there, she knew that they were really going to throw a stick in the wheel of her day. Shoring herself with a deep breath, she walked up the ramp and into the house, finding her way into the kitchen. There at the table, with steaming cups of coffee in front of them, sat Billy, and an older, but attractive woman. The older woman tapped her fingernails on the side of her coffee cup nervously, as Bella entered.

"Bella, why don't you poor yourself a cup of coffee and join us." Billy was yet to introduce her. This did not escape Bella's notice.

Feeling very conspicuous, Bella grabbed a mug out of the cabinet and poured herself a cup. At that moment, she wished for all, the world, that she took cream or sugar in her coffee, just to stall, what already felt strangely, that it was going to be a heavy situation. Finally, she sat down at the table and looked at Billy, expectantly.

Billy cleared his throat. "Bella this is an old friend of mine, Esther. Esther, this is Bella." Bella and Esther shook hands. "This didn't seem so bad", Bella thought to herself, looking quickly at this Esther, woman.

"Well, I'll leave the two of you to it." And Billy was gone, just like that. Bella made a mental note to kill him in a very painful, ritualistic manor after whatever that this was, was over.

"Bella?" Esther could see that Bella was extremely uncomfortable. Esther wasn't exactly comfortable herself. How could she possibly make this easier on this granddaughter that she didn't really know?

Bella's eyes were upon her, wide with the tension of the moment.

"Bella, my name is Esther, as Billy told you. He just didn't tell you that my name is Esther Swan." Bella looked a bit surprised for a moment, but guarded.

"Okay, so that's quite a coincidence, Ms. Swan. What do you want with me, if you don't mind me asking?" Bella's fight or flight was suddenly in high gear, for some unknown reason.

"Bella, I'm your Grandmother."

"I don't have a Grandmother. At least, Dad never talked about his . . . . Mom? Suddenly Bella felt the blood rush from her head. This woman was clearly either Native American, or Indigenous to North America in one way or another. However, as she looked hard at Esther Swan, she saw Charlie's dark eyes. His dark, thick, shiny hair. Looking closer, she even saw her own nose and her chin. Esther still had beautiful, smooth skin, she noticed for her age. This was crazy.

"Where have you been? I mean, what do you want with me, now? Why hasn't Dad ever said anything about you?" Bella's questions fell over one another, like a slinky, walking down stairs, yet she knew in her heart that this woman was, in fact, her Grandmother. She didn't know whether to feel happy to meet her, or angry that she had never been around.

"Listen, Bella. That's a long story for another day. Long story, short, I was a real jerk to your mom and dad, years ago and we quit speaking. I didn't even know that you existed, before I got a phone call."

"Okay, but why are you here now, Grandma?" It felt a bit strange coming out of her mouth, but Bella found that she was comfortable enough to refer to this woman as her grandma.

"I'm not one to mince words, dear, so let's just get this over with."

"I'd like that. I can see where Dad and I get our natural dislike of small talk." Bella managed a slight smile, already recognizing familiarities in her new Grandmother.

"I'm here about the Firebird dreams, Bella. There is something to them and you need to know, now. It was important enough for me to come down here from Vancouver Island. You are about to go through an enormous change in your life and I am here, to walk you through it."

"You came down here because you wanted to help me with my pregnancy? And what does that have to do with my Firebird dreams?" Bella was getting very confused.

Patting Bella's hand, softly, Esther smiled to herself as the fiery opal ring on Bella's left, ring finger, flashed, almost prophetic. "I'm not here because of the twins, but congratulations, anyways. Even though I haven't been here, I get a sense of excitement over being a Great Grandmother." Bella smiled at this. She was warming up to Esther Swan. There was something in her that made Bella feel akin to her.

"I'm here, because I know about the spirit warriors of the Quileute's. I also know that Jacob is one of those spirit warriors." This took Bella by surprise. Only certain people, carefully chosen by the elders were allowed that information. It was the deepest, most private secret of the tribe.

"Are you Quileute, Grandma?" Something in Bella, thrilled at the thought that she may have been a quarter, a part of Jake's people.

"No, I am from a different, but closely related tribe from up north. And therefore, a quarter of you is too." Esther watched Bella's reaction. Bella seemed surprised, but not upset. She felt proud of her Granddaughter's apparent strength of heart.

"We have our own spirit warriors in our tribe, Bella. However, it is the women in our tribe, that are the spirit warriors." Bella's head shot up at this. Her heart began beating wildly. Instinctively, she knew that her life was about to get a whole lot more interesting. As if it hadn't been interesting enough, up to date.

"Well, Grandma, give it to me straight." Bella had been through enough, not to be some shrinking violet, or deal with any dramatic description of the "spirit warriors", of the tribe that she was only a fourth of. "Are you trying to tell me that I dreamed of the Firebird, because I'm going to turn into one?" Bella was being facetious and laughed. Her face froze, mid smile, when she noticed a distinct look of relief in Esther's eyes. Esther said nothing, only looked hard at Bella.

"Oh, my God. You are kidding, right? Right? Grandma?" Suddenly Bella's head began to spin, she felt nauseous. She ran for the bathroom and barely made it before throwing up, rather violently. Just as quickly, her grandmother was there. Esther, suddenly showed a clear and present maternal side, grabbing a washrag, off of the towel bar and wetting it. She gently laid it on the back of Bella's neck. Rising for a moment, she walked to short distance down the hall and knocked on Billy's door. Billy opened it.

"I think that it would be wise to call Dr. Cullen." Esther was calm, but obviously concerned. Billy nodded and flipped open his cell phone as Esther headed back to the bathroom. She squatted down next to Bella, rubbing her back. Bella had begun to cry.

"Now, now, Bella. It's not all as bad as it sounds." Esther spoke in soothing tones. Bella turned her face to her Grandmother, curious, now, to know more.

"We are the predators of all others, Bella. There are none that prey upon us. When we, or you, in this instance, phase, you will actually be able to fly. Most people only dream about this." Esther smiled down at Bella and wrapped her arms around her. Bella couldn't resist the comfort and leaned into her Grandmother's chest as Esther rested her head on Bella's and continued to encourage her.

"We have a song that is the most beautiful thing that anyone with a pure spirit has ever heard, but it is like poison to those who are evil. We stream fire from our wings and our tail, but it never consumes us. The cold ones quit bothering us, hundreds of years ago. As soon as just one of us phased, we could dispatch with many, many, of them." Bella straightened up a bit, spellbound by her Grandmother's words.

"Why do you think that I am going to phase?" Bella was drained, resigned, but wanted to be sure.

"You dreamed the dream that every spirit warrior has dreamed, before their body becomes able to phase and goes through the change, when you had the fever. Each dream, however, has a personal connotation. Dr. Cullen feels that you didn't actually phase after your fever, however, because of the pregnancy. Above all, a woman's body and spirit, protects her children. Born, or unborn." Esther squeezed her shoulders gently and smiled down into her eyes. "I know that you don't know me well, Bella, but I am here to help you through this. I don't want to be away from my family any longer, so I am going to buy a house here in Forks. I will keep my house on Lake Kennedy, on the Island, as a retreat. You and Jacob are welcome to use it anytime. I am a woman of some means, as it seems that you are becoming, too, Granddaughter, of your own destiny." She smiled proudly at Bella. Bella couldn't help but feel glad at making such an obviously, incredible woman proud of her.

"I am here to help you through the phasing when the time comes. It is just an added bonus that I am able to witness the coming of my first and only Great Grandchildren. Esther was feeling the happiness of this truth wash over her.

"I will tell you, Bella, that when one of us begins to phase, that it is usually in anticipation of the need for our abilities."

"Are you saying that there are Vampires around?"

"No, no, not right now. If that were the fact, the pack would still be phasing." Bella hadn't thought of that. "It's just that, well, the ancestors are preparing their people for things to come. When that time comes, we will be ready, Bella. Consider the personal nature of your own dream. Sometimes there are clues as to what you are being called to deal with, but don't fret about this. I will be with you, every step of the way." Esther's voice was calm and kind. "We will deal with whatever comes along, together and we will know, before the danger is here."

Bella hugged her Grandmother to her. "Thank you, Grandmother. Thanks for being here for me and thanks for being willing to help me through this. I don't know what I would have done without you. I'm glad to know you and I'm glad that you're here."

Just then, they were interrupted by Carlisle.

"Bella? How are you feeling?" Esther rose from Bella's side, by the toilet and smiled at this rarity. This Vampire that had chosen a life of peace and helpfulness to mankind. She especially liked the fact that he seemed to love her Granddaughter as a concerned Father and took excellent care of her and the babies. Carlisle seemed to sense the beauty of the legacy that Esther had passed on to Bella.

"I'm a little shaky, Carlisle. Bella was pail, with red streaks down her face from crying. Carlisle helped her up and into the bedroom. "I want you to rest a bit, Bella. From what I saw out there in the driveway, you've been busy. Nice truck!" Carlisle always knew how to lighten the mood. He was always so pleasant. Bella smiled at him as she lied back into her bed. "It's for Jake. I got my first check today. It won't fit on his finger, but I figured that if he could give me a ring, than I could give him a truck." Bella made Carlisle and Esther laugh out loud.

"Well, rest here for an hour or so. I know that he will be home in about an hour and a half, but take it easy for a couple of days, okay? You have time to work on those commissions." Carlisle pulled out a little Doppler monitor from his bag, squirting ultrasound gel on Bella's stomach, causing her to wince with the sudden coldness. Placing the Doppler on her lower abdomen, two heartbeats could be heard, still strong and healthy. "They're just fine, Bella. I'm going to give you a minor sedative. You've been through a lot today, but it won't knock you out. I wouldn't want you to miss Jake seeing his new truck. After all, if I give Emmet a call, you might just have to pick Jake up from work. His Rabbit, may not want to start." Carlisle smiled, mischievously.

"You're so bad, Carlisle!" Bella laughed. "I like the idea, though."

"Great, I'll make the call. I'll also call Sam and Emily to drive you to his rescue. Go ahead and make a scene out of his new truck. He'll have every man on that worksite, green with envy." Bella laughed again. "Thanks again, Carlisle. I appreciate your help."

"It's nothing, Bella." Carlisle smiled serenely as he gave her a shot in her hip. Immediately, she felt more serene and at peace. Seeing Esther standing, awkwardly in the doorway, Bella reached her hand out to her. Esther quickly stepped forward, smiling, and took it. "We've got this, Bella. We come from tough stock."

"I'll say!" Carlisle laughed. "This young woman has withstood more in her young life, than most people could ever even dream of in twelve lifetimes. We're right proud of her, Esther." Carlisle squeezed Bella's shoulder, packed up his bag, and nodded kindly at Esther. "I'll be back in the morning, to make sure that you're in bed, young lady!" With that ultimatum, Carlisle was gone.

Just then, Bella's cell rang. It was Jake.

"Bells, I just tried to turn my engine over to move my car out of the way of a loading truck and it won't start. Could you come give me a jump, please?"

"Sure, sure. I'll be right over." Bella smiled to herself.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sam walked around and around the truck in a constant tirade of, "Oh, my God!" Bella and Emily giggled at him.

"Do you know how loaded this thing is?" Sam was yelling. His excitement was obvious.

"Well, I did buy it off the lot, today, Sam." Bella smiled, glowing at Sam's reaction. Hopefully it was a sign that Jake would be just as pleased. When Emily finally calmed Sam down enough for him to drive, he opened the back door of the cab for Emily, giving her a hand up. Bella's hand hadn't even reached the handle, before she felt herself swept up in Sam's huge arms. "Oh, no, Swan! You're not so much as climbing in or out of this thing. Carlisle told me to make sure that you didn't exert yourself at all." He gently placed Bella in the front passenger side. Emily beamed at her kind fiancée. She was proud to be engaged to such a thoughtful man. Secretly, she dreamed of when she and Sam would be an expectant couple. Now, she knew for sure, that she would be well taken care of.

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Jake pushed his rabbit out of the way of the huge truck carrying supplies into the construction site, with the help of the other new guy, Jimmy Langford. Jimmy was as nice a guy as they come and he and Jake were quickly becoming friends. Jake had been picking him up for work and taking him home, as soon as he had learned that Jimmy didn't have his own set of wheels, yet.

They quickly got back to work, but talked as they hammered, framing the executive home, in the newest subdivision being built outside of Port Angeles. "You know, I asked my girl to marry me this morning?" Jake shared this tidbit of information, too happy to hold it in. He decided that Jimmy was cool enough to let in on his happy little secret.

"I hope that she said yes, dude." Jimmy gave him a knowing smile.

"She said yes." Jake smiled.

"Congratulations, man, that's awesome!" Jimmy's voice carried. Several of the other guys heard the conversation and were shouting their congratulations and whistling. Jake was slightly embarrassed, but proud, just the same. The whistle blew for a break, when some big shot in a brand new Chevy truck pulled into the site. Squinting, he noticed that it had a big red bow on it. Whoever was driving, laid on the horn for a minute, drawing everyone's attention. Jake stood agape as Sam Ulee climbed out of the driver's side, beaming, as he helped Emily out of the back door of the cab. Instead of heading to meet Jake, half way, Sam ran to the front passenger side and opened it, lifting Bella out and setting her gently on the ground.

"Sam? What the hell is going on here?"

Sam looked over toward Bella, who nodded to Sam. Sam threw Jake the keys.

Bella was giddy. "Happy engagement, baby." Bella blushed slightly as Jake just stood, planted to one spot, his mouth agape.

"Bells, are you kidding me?"

"Nope. I got my first check today, Jake. I won't have my man driving to work in a Rabbit, glorious, though it is."

Jake walked slowly toward her, his eyes wide. "I can't believe that you did this for me, Bells. Good, Lord! Look at this thing, he was squinting at the sticker in the window, eyes widening with each spec that he read." Jake was in shock.

"Snap out of it Jake, can you believe the specs on this ride?" Sam was practically dancing with excitement for his best friend.

Jake looked over his shoulder and winced as he spotted his supervisor walking towards him. He wore a scowl that could peel paint off of wood.

"Black! What's all this?"

Jake didn't know how to respond. He had just received the most amazing material gift that anyone had ever given him and he was trying to decide whether he cared or not what the boss thought, when the bosses scowl suddenly turned into a huge grin.

"Just joshin' ya, Jake. I hear congratulations are in order." He shook Jake's hand, firmly and patted him on the back. "Who's the lucky lady?"

Jake grinned at this and put his arm proudly around Bella. "Bella, I'd like you to meet my boss." Bella and his boss stood smiling at each other.

"Jake, does your boss have a name?" Bella gave him her most enchanting smile. It didn't hurt to butter the boss up a bit, to further Jake's career.

"Caleb Swain's the name. I'm happy to meet you, Bella." Mr. Swain, shook Bella's hand as well. "Now can you tell me who the lucky bastard is who just got himself the truck that I've had my eye on for months, now. Love the bow." Caleb was smiling good-naturedly. Peaking into the window, he gasped, "That black leather interior looks fantastic in this truck. I had my eye on the tan, but I might just be inclined to change my mind, now." Caleb was still peering into the window.

"It's mine, boss. Bella bought it for me today, you see, my girl is an artist and she just received a huge commission from some billionaire, to create stained glass for all of the windows in his house." Jake squeezed Bella against him and kissed the top of her head. Bella blushed.

"Damn!" Caleb whistled, walking around the truck. "If I'd have known that Bella gave this kind of gift for a marriage proposal, I'd have asked her myself." Bella laughed loud at this. Jake laughed a little less jovially, but still found humor in it. Slowly, men started filtering over from their breaks to check out Jake's new ride. Jimmy stood back with Jake and Bella.

"Oh, Bella, this is Jimmy, a friend of mine." Bella smiled at Jimmy, who shyly blushed a deep crimson. "Pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

"Great to meet you, too, Jimmy." Bella was touched by his shyness. She understood that emotion very well. Suddenly Jake had an idea. He told Bella that he would be right back and Bella watched him as he ran over to his Rabbit, opening the door. He reached into the glove box and pulled out a folded up paper and a pen. Writing something on the paper, he had a faint grin on his face. Throwing the pen back into the glove box, he shut the door, paper in hand and walked back toward Jimmy and Bella.

"Bella, I'd like to thank you for the truck, that I am yet to get a good look at." He kissed her deeply, causing cat calls to erupt from the crowd of construction workers. Now it was Bella who blushed and Jimmy who looked empathetically at her.

"Jimmy," Jake continued, "life has been incredibly good to me. I'm sorry that this is all that I have to pay it forward, but here." Jake held out the title to his rabbit and the keys to Jimmy. Jimmy backed away a few steps.

"No way, man. I can't take that from you." Jimmy was waving his hands in front of him. He looked positively shaken by Jake's sudden burst of generosity. "I couldn't possibly, man. You hardly know me." Jimmy pleaded.

"I know you well enough, Jimmy. You deserve your own ride. I have gotten everything that I want in life right here on this job site. Take it, or I'll be offended." Jake's eyes were pleading. He would never be offended, but he really wanted to do this for this nice guy, whom he had just befriended.

Jimmy hung his head. "I don't know what to say, Jake."

"Just take the keys, dude. Don't say anything, but jump the damn thing, while this truck is still here and go to Wal-Mart tonight and get a new battery!" Jake smiled, brilliantly.

Giving Jake a one armed hug and slapping him on the shoulder, Jimmy humbly accepted Jake's gift. "I'll never forget this, man. I owe you one and I mean that whatever you need, I'll be there, man."

Jake just slapped him on the back and yelled out, "Alright, guys, let's get this job done so that I can check out my new truck and my new fiancée." Jake winked at Bella and kissed her again.

Caleb shook his head from side to side and addressed the crowd. "It's not every day that we get to see someone get all of their dreams come true in one day! Get outta here, people! Go celebrate and drink one for Jacob and Bella!" Jake was truly touched. Bella smiled to herself. Jake had surely been noticed by his supervisor today. Sam went to lift Bella back into the truck, but found a firm hand on his wrist. "Mine." Was all that Jake had to say as he lifted Bella into the truck. "Let's see what you've done, Bella. I can't believe this, baby! You should have saved that money!"

"I didn't spend, but a fourth of it, Jake, and it is for us. Look at the room in the back." Jake looked at Sam's huge frame sitting comfortably in the back seat of the cab. Bella continued. "In six months, we're going to have two car seats back there, babe." This made Jake feel warm all over.

"Watch this!" Bella pressed a button. A voice over the Bose speakers said, "Driver, please speak."

"Holy crap, Bells! It's talking to me!" Jake was amazed and ecstatic. Bella giggled at his enjoyment of his gift.

The voice answered. "Thank you, driver. Voice acknowleged. Welcome to the voice activated, OnStar, Sirius Radio, Navigational and Weather system app. Please see your users guide for more information.

Jake's eyes were huge. Sam was thumping him on the shoulder, bouncing in his seat. Bella had to admit, it was a great ride. She looked forward to driving their family around in this truck. Bella continued, it also has electronic, smart stabilization, heated and cooled seats, and WiFi!" Jake whistle. "Bella, this is amazing. Thank you so, much, baby!"

Arriving at home, Jake lifted Bella out of the car and dropped to his knees, hugging her belly. "Bells, why did you do this for me?"

Bella ran her fingers through Jake's hair. "Well, you have given me everything that I ever wanted." She shined her colorful opal in front of him and laid a hand on her belly, then hugged him to her. "I figure that this was the least that I could do."

"Thank you so, very much, babe. I love you so much, Bells, and I can't wait for our family to be all together. To be able to hold our babies." Bella smiled down at him. Unfortunately, their private moment was interrupted by headlights. Jake stood to his feet and squinted into them. "Oh boy. Here it comes." Charlie's cruiser was just pulling in to Billy's driveway.

Charlie and Renee climbed out and Charlie whistled. "Wow, who's truck is that?" Bella cast a nervous glance at Jacob. "It's mine, Dad. I got my first commission check today."

"Well, I'll give you one thing, kiddo. You've got good taste! Congratulations!" Charlie hugged her tight, admiring the truck. Bella turned to hug her Mom, who was looking a lot better. Charlie and Renee walked ahead of them into Billy's house. Jake and Bella gave each other a nervous glance. Jake grabbed Bella's hand and squeezed as they walked on together, to face the music. Charlie and Renee were about to find out that their daughter was not only engaged to be married, but pregnant with twins.