Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. It belongs to the very talented Stephenie Meyer.
Bella sat at the kitchen table doing homework. She was supposed to make her favorite dish, but put her own spin on it. She was surrounded by cook books, and she didn't know what to make. She had so many ideas going through her head that she couldn't pick just one.
She pushed away from the table with a huff. Her back was killing her. She had been sitting for almost an hour, and now she was paying for it. Angus lay on the rug by the stairs when she walked down the hall. He jumped up, standing patiently at the door. She put his leash on him before walking out the door.
Her neighbor from down the road drove by, and he waved. His son turned in his seat, watching Angus with a wide grin. Clay and Adam had been the ones to help her get settled in when Jacob couldn't be there.
On her way back to the house, she saw Jacob's car in the front yard. Angus barked happily at the sight of Jacob on the porch. Bella let him loose and he took off at lightning speed, with his ears flapping in the wind.
"I thought he was gonna take flight for a second," Jacob said, scratching behind the dogs ears.
"Sometimes I think that too," she said with a smile.
Angus greedily licked at Jacob's hands as Bella leaned over the rocking chair. She kissed Jacob as his free hand fisted in her hair. He groaned as she pulled away.
"Bring him inside. I need to get dinner started," she said over her shoulder as she walked into the house.
Bella came up with the idea to make single servings of his favorite dishes. There were four in all. This way, Jacob could choose for her. He sat at the island doing his homework while Angus begged for food at Bella's feet.
"Why do you have homework on a Friday?"
"It's a paper about a movie that we watched today. I have to have an outline done by Monday," he said with a sigh.
"What movie was it?"
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," he said with an eye roll.
"I've never seen it."
"It was kind of boring. We have to write about what we the think the movie meant," he explained.
Bella continued making dinner while Jacob watched her. He had half of what he needed done. The boys heartbeats mixed in with the quick chopping of vegetables were soothing to him.
He had a hard time concentrating in school as of late. His mind often wandered to Bella and the boys. What would he be like as a dad? He liked to think that he would be the one to give the kids whatever they wanted, while Bella would be the disciplinarian. He could handle that as long as Bella could.
"Did you hear me?" Bella's voice broke through his thoughts.
"Sorry, I was thinking." he said absentmindedly.
"About what?" she asked.
"How do you feel about being the disciplinarian for the boys?" he inquired.
"Would you back me up?" she questioned.
"Always," he reassured her.
"Then I guess it wouldn't be too bad," she said, pulling a tray out of the oven.
"What did you say before?"
"Alice told me the boy's names today."
"I thought that we weren't going to ask her," he asked, giving her a stern look.
"She did it by accident. And I'm not telling you," she explained.
"Oh come on!" he said with a laugh.
Angus sped around the island, putting his front paws on Jacob's feet.
"Get down," Bella said, not turning around.
"Why are you cooking so much?" he asked in confusion.
"You are going to decide what I am going to make for class."
"I am?" he asked in intrigue.
"Yep. It's dinner for two, just less romantic."
"I can make it romantic," he boasted.
"That's what I thought you'd say. Can you set the table? Everything is almost done."
A few minutes later, Jacob sat while Bella brought dinner to the table.
"Okay, we have; mini spinach quiche, garlic and ginger chicken, and roasted root vegetables," she said with a flourish.
"What did you put in the fridge?"
"That's for later. It's a surprise," she said, giving him a teasing look.
Bella sat down across from him as he forked a piece of quiche. He moaned as he slowly ate it. She smiled; her last minute idea to make his favorite foods had worked.
Jacob forked another bite and held it out for her. She leaned in, not taking her eyes off of his.
"And you said that this wouldn't be romantic," he said, teasing her.
"I was wrong," she said, taking the fork from him.
She cut a piece of chicken before feeding it to him.
"This just might be it," he said with a groan.
"Don't say that. You have to try everything," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Try it," he said, holding out the fork to her.
He was right, it was amazing. The garlic and subtle hints of ginger and rosemary really set it off. The vegetables had the just the right amount of firmness that she wanted, and the herb mixture that she had rubbed onto them didn't take away from their natural flavors. She went to the refrigerator but wouldn't let him see what she had until she set it in front of him.
"Mint chocolate pudding?" he said in astonishment.
"Mm hmm."
"You do love me," he mused.
"More than I should," she said, laughing lightly.
He pulled her into his lap, and she rested an arm on the back of the chair and the other on the table. She looked to the table before sighing.
"I forgot to grab a spoon," she said with a sigh.
"That's okay, we don't need one," he reassured her.
He swiped his finger through the pudding before running his finger across her neck.
"Whoops," he said with a devilish grin.
Her breath hitched as she arched her neck for him. He licked her neck slowly. He wrapped his arms around her waist before lifting her out of his lap.
"Grab the bowl, we're going upstairs," he said quickly.
He carried her up the stairs quickly, kicking the door shut behind them. Angus' claws could be heard scratching at the door as he whined. They drowned it out. Right then, they didn't care.
XXXX
Jacob had been gone less than an hour, and Bella was already wishing that she could see him again. They had spent the entire weekend in bed. She wished that they could spend all of their time together that way.
She was still thinking about him when her phone rang twenty minutes later. She picked it up, checking to see who it was.
"Hey, Mom."
"Hi sweetie. How are you doing? How are my grand babies?"
"The three of us are fine," she said reassuringly.
"And how is Jacob?"
"He's good."
Renee was apparently outside because Bella could hear the wind chime that she had gotten her mom for her birthday that year. The sounds of the ocean created a calming background noise.
"I've been thinking," Renee said, breaking the silence.
"About what?"
"When do you start school again? I know that it's in the fall, but I'm not sure when."
"I'm only halfway through this semester mom. I haven't thought that far ahead, but I think it starts in late September," Bella answered.
"So the babies would be a few months old. And you'll be going back to work by then too."
"More than likely," she agreed.
"Is Jacob working?"
"He started working last week. He's a mechanic for a car dealership in Forks. Why?"
"I know it's customary for the mother of the new mom to come and help out when a baby is born. But I was thinking of waiting until you went back to school and started working again. The first couple of months are always crucial to a new mom. I didn't want to overstep my boundaries," Renee explained.
"Mom, you can come whenever you want," Bella said with a laugh.
"I want to be there when they are born."
"You can."
"Baby, you are so good to me. Are you showing yet?"
It was customary for woman who carried multiples to start showing sooner than a woman who only carried one.
"How did you know that?" Bella asked in amazement.
"I read it on the internet," Renee said dismissively.
Bella laughed as she put a hand over the small bump protruding from under her shirt. She hadn't been able to stop herself from touching it since it had popped up a week ago. Jacob had been a little leery at first, but when Bella had placed his hands on it then covered them with her own, his eyes had widened in wonder.
"Have you felt them kick yet?"
"No, but I'm patiently waiting," Bella said with a dramatic sigh.
"When do you find out the sex?"
"Friday. Jacob can't go with me, so a friend of mine is going." she explained.
"Who?"
"Do you remember Leah Clearwater?"
"Loud mouth, lots of sass?" Renee asked.
"You do remember her," Bella said with a laugh.
"'No daddy! That's not how momma does it!' Poor Harry didn't know what to do," Renee said with a laugh.
"How old was she?"
"Three, I think. You were still just a baby."
"She hasn't changed much," Bella said in reassurance.
"I don't imagine she has. How old is she now?"
"We just threw her a twenty-first birthday party."
"I can't wait to meet her. Or Jacob, it would be good to put a face with the voice." she said with a sigh.
"I haven't replaced my camera yet, and he doesn't like having his picture taken."
"I guess I'll have to wait, then. How did you break your camera?" Renee asked in confusion.
"I dropped it in the lake. You know what? There are some pictures of him on my Facebook page."
"I didn't know that. I'll go on later." she promised.
"Okay," Bella said in encouragement.
They talked for a few more minutes before Angus whined to go outside. Once they were back inside, Angus snuggled up next to her with his head in her lap.
"Your grandma misses you. She can't wait to see you," she said as she ran a hand through his short fur.
He watched her through half closed eyes as she scratched behind his ears. He yawned before closing his eyes completely. Bella soon fell asleep herself, lulled by his soft snoring.
XXXX
"Black," Jacob's supervisor called from across the garage
Jacob looked around the hood of the car he was working on.
"Phone call," he said before going back to work.
He wiped his hands on a rag as he walked through the garage. He stepped into the office a few seconds later. He cradled the phone in his hand while he shut out the sounds outside with the other.
"Bells?" he questioned.
"Yeah," she answered.
"What did the doctor say?"
"Its official, its boys."
"That is awesome," he said with a shaky laugh.
"Yeah, for you. I'll be living in Manland," she said with a laugh.
"Is everything okay?"
"Everything is great. They're within their weight range. Ten fingers, ten toes. Strong heartbeats and Leah talked me into staying with her for the weekend," she said with excitement.
"What about Angus?"
"We went to get him," she reassured him.
"Come to my house for dinner?" he prodded.
"I've already taken care of that. My dad will be there too."
"I miss you," he said quietly.
"You'll see me in a couple of hours. You can wait," she said reassuringly.
"I don't have a choice," he said with a sigh.
"I love you too," she said with a laugh.
He hung up a few seconds later as the door to the office opened. The secretary walked in, giving him a kind smile.
"Was that Bella?"
"Yes ma'am."
"So what's happening, Dad?" she questioned.
"We're having boys," he said with a wide smile.
"Lord help her. You let her know that I can babysit whenever you need me. My grand baby lives in California. I haven't seen her in almost a year," she said in encouragement.
"I will Gina."
"You take care honey," she said, patting his arm as she passed him.
Jacob went back to work, pushing Bella and everything else from his mind. The last thing he needed was to get fired because he couldn't keep his head on straight.
XXXX
Bella took notes on how to make the perfect soufflé. It was something that she had yet to master. She always burnt it or took it out too early.
The instructor drew class to a close as Bella finished taking the last of the notes. Everyone filed out of the room silently, and Bella got caught in the crowd.
"Bella? Can I talk to you for a minute?" The instructor asked from the front of the room.
Bella made her way through the crowd, everyone was careful not to jostle her.
"I have to say, that the chicken that you made for your project was one of the most innovative takes on chicken that I have ever tasted," she complimented.
"Thank you," Bella said, feeling heat rise up the back of her neck.
"How long have you wanted to be a chef?"
"Ever since I was fifteen. That's when I took over the cooking responsibilities in my house. The chicken is my fiancée's favorite dish that I make," Bella said breathlessly.
"He has good taste," she said with a nod.
They talked for a few more minutes as students from the next class filed in. Her instructor had just paid her the biggest compliment that she had ever received.
The whole forty-five minute ride home was filled with worry. The truck was making more noise than normal. Even more than it had than it had the weekend before when she had stayed with the Clearwater's. It let out a loud bang before coming to a halt less than a mile from the cabin.
It wouldn't have been so bad if she hadn't been on an incline. The truck slowly rolled backwards until it finally hit a tree. Bella gripped the steering wheel with both hands as her heart rate slowed.
Clay came running down the hill towards her. He quickly opened her door as she unbuckled her seat belt.
"Are you okay?" he asked, panicked.
"Yeah, I'm alright. Clementine finally kicked the bucket though," she said with a shaky sigh.
"It was only a matter of time. Out you go," he said, helping her out.
They walked up the hill towards his cabin in silence. He helped her into his truck, much to her disagreement.
"I can walk the rest of the way home. It's less than half a mile," she said, brushing him off.
"It's raining," he said as he started the truck.
"It's just drizzling," she said in defense.
"You can still get sick. Plus, it's freezing," he reasoned.
She gave up arguing as he pulled down the driveway. They were in front of her house less than two minutes later.
"Do you work tomorrow?"
"Yeah. I can call my dad and ask him to come and get me."
"I have to go into town meet with my editor in the morning. I'll take you," he offered.
"I appreciate it."
Once she was inside, she fell onto the couch with a grunt. Angus hurriedly pawed at her chest, thumping his tail against her stomach.
"Not now, little man," she said as she gently sat him on the floor.
He was back on the couch within seconds. He sat on his haunches, watching her curiously.
"Do not get on me," she warned.
Angus was a pretty perceptive dog. If it had been Jacob, he would have been hovering over her. He didn't seem like the type to do that, until something actually happened. She didn't know how he would react when she told him what had happened. There would definitely need to be a room full of people.