Blast from the Past
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-Hey everyone. I didn't want to keep you all hanging from the last chapter. I have finished editing this and thought I would post it now. Thanks again for all the lovely reviews and awesome support. Nikki :)
Part Twenty One-A Resolution
Bella closed her eyes, blocking out the concerned faces around her. She couldn't bear their looks of pity. She felt Jacob's hand wrapped around hers as he sat beside her on the bed. His other hand gently stroked the damp hair back from her face. "You're gonna be fine. The baby is alright I know it."
Bella let him ramble on, her hand stayed clamped to her belly as the pain clawed at her insides. She felt the bed dip on the other side of her as Sue Clearwater murmured comforting words in her ear. "Bella you need to relax. You have been through a lot of stress and need rest."
She ignored Sue's voice, keeping her eyes shut tight. Another stabbing pain made her cry out. Jacob's hand tightened around hers. "Can't you do anything else?" He begged Sue Clearwater.
"I have done all that I can," Sue replied sadly. "Seth has gone to fetch Amy, she helped you Jake, maybe she has options that modern medicine cannot provide."
"Did you hear that Bells? Amy will be here soon, she'll help." Bella did not react to his voice, she continued to keep her eyes tightly closed. If she looked at him she might begin to cry and she knew if she did that, it would all be over.
It seemed an age before Amy finally arrived. Seth had driven Sue's car to fetch the old woman. She shuffled into the room leaning heavily on her cane, her one good eye scanning the room. "So this is the girl who you nearly died for." She stated in her usual blunt manner.
Jacob shot her a dark look. "This is my Bella. Can you help?" He got right to the point.
Bella's eyes opened briefly and she got her first look at the old woman who had been Jacob's saviour all those years ago. She was not at all what she had expected; older then she had imagined. Her one good eye showed the wisdom of the ages. Amy caught Bella studying her and she stared back at her intently. "How far gone are you?" She demanded.
"Very early," Jacob spoke for her. "She has..."
Amy turned her sharp gaze on him. "I was speaking to the girl. She still has the use of her tongue."
Jacob had to bite back his retort. He was used to Amy's harsh manner and knew her way of speaking was not intended to hurt. It was just the way she was. Bella forced her eyes open wide as she stared back at the old woman. "Jake is right," was all she managed to say.
Amy nodded. "I see. I want you all out of this room now."
Sue looked horrified. "No way. I am sorry but I need to be here to monitor Bella."
Amy banged her cane on the floor making everyone jump. "Leave, all of you. You want me to help then I need to be alone with the girl."
"I am not leaving her side," Jacob said adamantly, clutching onto Bella's hand tightly.
Bella glanced sideways at Jacob as pain rippled through her stomach. Her fingernails dug into his skin. "Do as she says," she gasped out. "You told me she helped you, we need to trust her."
Jacob felt desperate. "I can't, I need to be here."
Bella gripped his hand, tugging on it so that he leaned close to her. "I am asking you to go, please."
Jacob gave her a distraught look as he nodded reluctantly. "I will be outside the door. If you need me, just call out."
Bella nodded tiredly. She felt so exhausted.
"I don't think this is a good idea," Sue protested one last time.
Amy just huffed in irritation. "Will you never learn Sue Clearwater? The girl wants you all to leave the room. Now go."
Jacob rose quickly from the bed. "I love you," he whispered to Bella before backing out of the door, Sue tagging reluctantly behind. Bella mouthed the words back to him, the pain roiling in her belly stealing her ability to speak.
The sound of the door closing made Bella jump, her eyes connected with Amy's one good eye. "Well girl let's see what we can do." Amy pulled the bag slung around her waist and dumped it on the bedside cabinet. She tipped it upside down and all sorts of paraphernalia fell out on top. She rifled through the pile until she found what she was looking for. She held up a small candle and a tiny leather bag.
"What are you going to do with those?" Bella asked nervously.
Amy regarded her astutely. "We are going to connect with it's soul. I need to see if the child is really meant to be."
Bella felt tears leak out of her eyes. She closed her eyelids and turned away from the old woman. She was certain now that Amy was mad and no help whatsoever. A sad sigh escaped her lips as the pain intensified; she knew that it wouldn't be long now.
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Amy sat on the bed and watched as Bella succumbed to the soothing draught of the powder that she had thrown over the small candle. The flame had crackled intensely for a moment as the smoke drifted across the room, making Bella breathe in the sweet scent. As soon as she had done so her body had relaxed, the lines of pain in her face smoothing out as she descended into a dream like state. Amy closed her eyes and began to hum an ancient song in her own language; rocking back and forth as she did so.
A smile crossed the old woman's thin lips as she reached out a wrinkled hand and placed it lightly over Bella's stomach. "I see them my dear, a boy and a girl, twins. But the girl is weak," Amy frowned as she tried to see a future for the girl twin. There was nothing. "I am so sorry but she has passed girl. The boy however is still lingering."
Bella heard Amy's words as if from a distance. Her mind was far away on top of a mountain, it was a bitterly cold day, snow covered the ground. The sun hung low in the sky, casting shadows across the bright snow making the small crystals glitter. Her eyes scanned the horizon and she drew in a shocked breath. She recognized where she was now as she caught sight of a wound up sixteen year old Jacob Black, his back to her as he began to descend the mountain.
The familiar words were torn from her lips as if the scene from six years previous was on replay. "Kiss me and then come back."
Jacob stopped walking. He turned halfway around, glancing back at her over his shoulder. His expression looked disbelieving. "You don't mean that," he said bitterly.
"I do mean it. I want you to kiss me," she cried out desperately, fearful for his life.
Jacob seemed to waver, his hands clenched into fists as he studied her carefully. All the hurt she had ever caused him showed in every line of his body as he considered her offer. He was still not sure that she really meant it. He needed her to mean it.
"Jake, please," she begged him again.
He couldn't take anymore. If this was his one chance to hold her in his arms and kiss her, he wasn't going to squander it. No matter the consequences. He was in front of her within seconds, his warm hands cupping her cold cheeks as his lips crashed onto hers. The feel of his hot lips sent Bella into a tailspin, she had never felt such consuming passion in her life. It took her a moment to respond and this hesitation caused Jacob to pull away.
"I knew you were bluffing," he said angrily, beginning to back away.
"No, I'm not," she yelled up at him.
"Then show me," he shot back at her.
So she did. Pressing her whole body against his, Bella practically climbed up his torso as she looped her arms around his neck as she sought out his lips. Jacob pulled her up the rest of the way and she wound her legs around his waist, clamping herself to him. Their mouths moved fiercely against each other as anger and fear made them desperate. There was so little time. As the kiss intensified Bella was pulled out of the moment as she saw in her minds eye the image of a black haired boy and girl running off into the distance. She called out to them both, but only the boy responded.
The girl kept running away ignoring Bella's desperate cries. She faded further and further into the distance. Bella caught up to the boy and she bent down and crushed him to her chest, holding onto him tight. She felt his thin arms slip around her neck as he whispered, "Mommy."
Bella's eyes were still riveted to the little girl who was now just a small figure in the distance. She strained to see as she saw the outline of a familiar figure appear and scoop the little girl up into a loving embrace. Her lip quivered as she recognised her own mother, Renee. "Mom..."
Renee smiled at her serenely before backing away into the distance until she disappeared from view. Bella felt a sense of calm wash over her as she opened her eyes to see Amy looking down at her.
"The girl's soul is at peace," Amy patted Bella's stomach gently. "But the boy's soul remains here. You will carry him full term and he will be healthy, I have seen it." She assured her.
"Thank you," Bella whispered as she lay her hand over the old woman's. The pain in her stomach had eased. She had lost the girl twin but she had the boy that Jaymie had spoken of.
Amy did not speak to her further. She slipped her hand out of Bella's and leaned on her cane heavily as she stood. She gathered her accoutrements up quickly and blew out the candle. The sweet smell of the powder dissipated and Bella felt her head clearing, although the image of her mother remained in her mind's eye. Amy finished shoving everything back into her bag and left the room.
Jacob accosted her as soon as she opened the door. "Is she alright?" He begged. "The baby?"
Amy gave him an annoyed sigh."She is fine and so is the baby. Your girl was carrying twins, she lost one but the boy remains. Be thankful for small mercies Jacob Black. Now I have to go and see Master Uley. Hey you boy," she waved her cane at Seth, nearly taking his eye out as she did so. "Take me to him. That man needs to learn patience and respect for his elders."
Seth winced. Amy scared the pants off him. He knew that Sam was in for an ear bashing and he felt a smidgeon of sympathy for his brother in law. He reluctantly followed the old woman out of the house, mouthing to Jacob that he owed him one. Jacob gave him an amused smile before running into the room to see Bella, impatient to hold her in his arms again.
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Charlie and Billy arrived at the Clearwater's house with the two children in tow. Bella's dad immediately took J to see Bella while Jaymie stayed with her grandma.
"The baby okay now," Jaymie lifted her arms for Sue to pick her up.
"Yes, the baby is fine." Sue told her, kissing her on the forehead.
An excited squeal from J made them both giggle. Jaymie wrapped her arms around Sue's neck and hugged her. "I have brother and J have brother. Lot's of brother's," she revealed happily.
Sue laughed. "Oh Jaymie you are such a special girl." She said affectionately. "Would you do your grandma a big favour?"
Jaymie nodded her head eagerly. Sue whispered in her ear. "Don't tell your mom it's going to be a boy. She loves being surprised. Let it be our special secret, okay. Can you do that sweetie?"
"Big girl's secret?" Jaymie checked, feeling all important.
"Yep, big girl's secret," Sue agreed. "Shall we do the special handshake to seal the promise."
"Yes," Jaymie crowed curling her hand into a fist. Sue did the same and they bumped their fists together before waggling their fingers under their noses.
Billy wheeled his chair back into the room and caught them out. He was on a high after seeing that Bella and his son was okay. "What are you two doing?" He asked curiously.
"Big girl fings," Jaymie said pompously. Sue laughed at Billy's stunned expression.
XXXXXX
J, Bella and Jacob were all crowded together on the bed. Bella held onto her son tightly,kissing him on the head. Her dad sat on a chair by the bed, discreetly wiping a tear from his eye. It had been a shock to hear how close his daughter had come to losing both of the babies. It was sad that she had miscarried one twin; but a relief that she was still pregnant. He still found it hard to think about his little girl all grown up. It had been one hell of a day.
They all sat in contented silence for a few moments, savouring the peace and quiet. Sue peeked in after a while asking if anyone was hungry. Jacob and J nodded but Charlie refused anything and so did Bella. Sue chided her gently saying that she had to eat to keep her strength up. Bella conceded and she left to rustle up some snacks.
"Can I go see Jaymie?" J pleaded eventually, bored of lying on the bed.
Bella smiled at him tiredly. "Okay but play quietly." She warned him.
"Yes momma," J slipped off the bed and ran from the room.
"I'll go and keep an eye on him in case he gets under Sue's feet." Charlie stood up and gave Bella a quick hug.
"Thanks dad," Bella said gratefully. He was giving them some time alone.
When the door closed Jacob gathered Bella up in his arms and hugged her to his chest. She could hear his strongly beating heart and the sound comforted her. "I love you so much honey," he told her, tangling his hand in her hair. "I have never been so scared in my life."
"It's okay, Jake. I'm fine," She gave him a small smile.
He looked down at her and studied her carefully. "Will you ever tell me what Amy did?" He asked.
Bella settled in his arms, a yawn escaping her lips. "Soon, I just need to process it myself. I feel so tired Jake. I'm just going to rest my eyes for a bit." Her eyelids were already drooping. "Love you."
"Love you more," Jacob whispered back. He held Bella as she drifted into sleep. When he was certain that she was no longer awake he allowed his emotions some release. Tears rolled down his face as he grieved for the daughter he would never get to see.
A/N-Thanks for reading!