Chapter 25:

JPOV:

I lathered the wash clothed with the flowery scented soap and rub it over Bella's back while I sat in the tub with her. I had no intentions of being perverted. I was just enjoying some down time with my girl. She had lit a few candles around the large tub. It was serene and romantic. I listen as she told me about her childhood. I loved listening to her voice as she spoke of memories from her past. I could always tell which ones were going to be about something embarrassing the way her voice would lower and the good ones her voice would go a pitch higher.

We had spent half the day snorkeling and the other half shopping for souvenirs for our friends back home. I knew she was tired. I could hear her yawning several times while talking to me. I lathered up her head and slowly massage her scalp while she moaned.

"You're good at that." Bella moaned.

"I know." I teased.

"God, yeah." Bella moaned again.

"If you don't stop that we might not make it out of this tub without me sitting you on top of my stiff cock." I warn her as it began to swell and grow to its full length.

"Sorry." She mumbled.

I lean her head back as I pick up the empty wine glass we had shared and dip it in the water. I rinse the shampoo out of her hair.

I placed a tender kiss in between her eyes before I push her back up.

"Thank you." She lean back placing herself against me.

"You're welcome." I mumbled trying to make my body relax and push all the dirty thoughts out of my head. She was too sore and tired for me to mess with tonight.

"So what about you? Do you have any childhood memories you want to share?" She asks curiously as she let out another lower yawn.

"Not really. Most of mine are about Rachel and Rose pissing me off or me and Aidan doing something half cocked as usual. Uncle Marque scolding us about something and then later telling me that he knew I could be a better child. I always felt bad when he scolded me. I knew he was right. I often acted up because I was bored and restless. When I first learn how to work on cars and stuff I discovered away to keep my idle hands busy and stay out of trouble. Well, for a while anyways." I laugh as my chest rumbled against her back.

"What about Paul? I mean I know he is Marque's god-child but didn't he visit or hangout with you guys?" Bella ask as she played with the remaining bubbles in the tub.

"Yeah, he came over often until he became a teenager. Then we rarely saw one another. Most of the time he would just push me around because I was smaller than him although he was only a year older than me. I remember thinking when I grew up I was going to be so taller than him and I would get even." I laughed softly as I recalled the constant bickering we were often in once we were together more than a few hours.

"Why do you think he is so unhappy?" Bella ask.

"I don't know." I shrug my shoulders. I honestly didn't want to think him at all. Paul was one of those people I had given up a long time ago. Recalling Rachel's confession of the affair Paul had with my sister made my stomach burn. I still could not stomach the ideal that he had slept with my sister. It just didn't make any sense. They fought as bad as he and I did. What changed so drastically that Rose would fall for him? What did she see in Paul that none of us had?

"Well, you should figure it out maybe then he will stop being so mean to you and move on. No one is that nasty all the time without good reason. I mean think about it, when you're happy it's due to something that affected you, right? So if you're mean then something had to happen to affect that attitude as well." Bella thought out loud.

I knew it made sense but for as long as I knew Paul he had never revealed any hidden motive to the source of anger toward me or the whole world for that matter.

"Let's get you out of here before you wrinkle up like a raisin." I stood up and step out. Picking up the towel I stood waiting for her to get out. She lifted her arms as I wrap the towel around her.

"God, you're so damn beautiful!" I whistled.

"Stop it!" She giggled as she swatted at my arm.

"I mean it Bella. I am so glad that you came to my club for your birthday party. If not who knows who I might have ended up marrying. I would have never known you or touch or tasted this sweet body." I nuzzled in the crook of her neck and shoulder.

She wrapped her arms around my neck as she pulled me closer to her.

"It was fate I guess." She whispered as she lean over licking my neck.

I felt my manhood going to full alert twice in one evening. I had to stop her before I ravished her right there on the floor, the counter, the wall, hell anywhere I could fit our bodies.

"Honey, stop it. You need your rest. We have to fly home tomorrow." I reminded her as I pulled her away from me.

"I don't want to go home." She whined as her lips pressed together to produce a big pout. I laughed at her.

"We all must go home at some point." I pressed my forehead against hers.

"I know. I just have been enjoying our time together without any distractions." Bella yawned loudly.

"I know what you mean. Come on off to bed." I smack her ass as she walked into the room. I pulled back the blankets and sheets for her. She dropped the towel to the floor and wink at me.

"If you get sleep now then in the morning I can please you several times before our flight." I promised as I walked to my side of the bed and crawled in next to her.

Pulling her backside up against me we found asleep in no time.

EPOV:

I stood over Tara's sleeping body as I replayed everything that I had just discovered from Jane Wood. Some of what she said sounded like nonsense but the other half of it made such perfect sense that I nearly wept in front of the stranger. It was such an incredible tale that I wanted badly to believe every seductive word that slipped out between her red lips.

However, being played big time already by Tara I had learn a lesson about listening to sexy women. They came with deceit half of the time. My hands were clench into small fists as I stared horrified at Tara. Was it possible what Jane had told me? Was it possible that I had been played an even bigger fool by Tara? My heart crashed as my pulse escalated.

"I'm sorry Edward its true Tara was with two other men while she was sleeping with you. She did not end either of the extra affairs until her pregnancy began to show. I fear that this baby might not even be yours. Bella, had me investigate because she knew about her friends infidelities. She suspected that Tara used you in more than one way. Unfortunately I did not get this information until after she had already gotten married." Jane took a deep breath before she continued with her tale.

"I think she was hoping I would find this information and use it against Tara and win you back before she went down the aisle with her beau. I'm sorry Edward. I'm not saying that this baby is NOT yours but there is a chance it may not." She chewed on her lower lip flashing her blue eyes at me with pity.

I wanted to scream. I sat there gripping the steering wheel so hard I was sure it was bending beneath my pale hands.

"Who are these other two men?" I finally manage to find the strength to ask the main question that was pounding against my skull.

"A Jasper Rathbone, who resides in Port Angeles , a photographer. The other guy is a local, Mike Newton, I believe he and his family own a few small businesses here." She replied in a low tone.

I ran my hands through my hair as I recalled meeting Jasper on several occasions with Tara. He was helping her with her modeling debut before she got pregnant. Mike! I could not believe that she had slept with that weasel small dick asshole! Right underneath my own nose. I wanted to murder her. She had not only made a fool of me once but fucking three times. The bitch was going to pay. If this baby was mine I was going to take it away from her and file against her and prove she was a unworthy mother.

Fucking cunt! God, Bella had warned me a million times in the past about how Tara never had just ONE lover in her life. Why did I think I was so damn different? When had I become so damn arrogant?

"I'm sorry Edward. I truly hate being the messenger of such horrid details." Jane winced as I slam my hand against the wheel a couple of times.

"What were you saying about Bella's wellbeing?" I was struggling against my need to rip, hit or hell even kill something with my bare hands.

"Yes, well, you see she married Mr. Black who for all purposes seem to be a great guy but we learn later he was rather possessive and controlling. Bella can't go anywhere without his permission. He is constantly jealous of any man who dares to speak or look at Bella. I spied a few bruises that she claimed were from her clumsy nature." Jane stopped as she stared out of the passenger window for a few moments.

"Well, she is clumsy. Love the girl but some days we were lucky if she could walk a straight line without falling down." I chuckled bitterly as I allowed all the memories of her clumsy moments flash across my mind. I felt warm tears stinging my eyes. God, I missed her so damn much. I wished she was here instead telling me about all of this. She would know what to do next. She would tell me how to handle all of this. She was such a good listener.

"Yes, I know." She laughed but I didn't quite hear the humor in her tone.

I still sensed that Jane was not here for this purpose only. I couldn't put my finger on it but I feared she was out to hurt Bella more than to protect her. Something just did not feel right about this woman. The affair story made perfect sense. There were several times when I could not locate Tara and hours that she could not give me a good reasonable account for. It hurt like hell to know the mother of my possible first born child was a genuine slut with not regards to anyone else's feelings. She was going to pay a hefty price for this betrayal.

"Did Bella send you here to tell me about her marital woes?" I ask curiously as I stared hard at her. I was watching every detail of her facial expression. I wanted to see if I could tell rather or not she was bold face lying to me the same way Tara had.

"No." She shook her head.

"Then why did you find it necessary to come tell me now? If Bella's marriage is not healthy shouldn't you be telling her parents? I can't interfere with her marriage. I'm sorry I just…it's not fair of me to step back in the picture now." I continued to watch her closely.

"I …well…I just thought she might listen to you. I believe her heart still belongs to you. I think she thinks she deserves this since she walked away from you." Jane shrug her shoulders as she stared down at her hands that were placed on her knees.

"Honey, she didn't walk away from me. She fled. I can't blame her either. I fucked up not Bella. I need time to consider all of this." I ran my hands through my hair again as I began to consider all the possibilities with what she had told me.

I could definitely see Bella suffering because she thought it was necessary. She was a good girl. She never gave up on people. She always tried to see the good and the best in them. If this guy, Jake, was beating her up and controlling her well how was I really any different? After all there was more than one occasion that I manipulated her to do what I wanted. I always had her do what was best for me and not so much her. Yeah, I would definitely check up on it but I wasn't going to rush off and do something incredibly stupid. Done that once before.

I let her out of the car as I remained for a few minutes in front of the apartments considering everything she had told me. My heart was torn into a million pieces. I would love to be Bella's hero and rescue her if that was what she needed. I would do anything to make up for the pain I had caused her. I wouldn't allow that bastard to hurt her. She deserved to be treated like a queen. The girl was a one of a kind. If this jerk was responsible for hurting her then I would do everything in my power to stop him.

In the apartment I stood over Tara considering what to do with her. Considering what my options were with this pathetic situation I had created. Everything in me wanted to reach down and place a pillow over her sinister face and choke the very last breathe out of her. I knew it was not the smartest impulse so I walk away. I had so much to think about. I had so much to consider. I also had to find a way out of this mess once and for all. I was no longer going to suffer because I thought I deserved it. Nor would I let Bella go on hurting for something she had no control over.

QPOV:

I kept staring at the clock under the bar. Wondering where the hell Aidan was? He was always punctual. My nerves were on edge. I knew that if I didn't confess to him about my part in Rose's plan I would burst. I couldn't bear telling Jake. I knew he might disown me and fire me. I was honestly trying to do something to help him out not worsen his situation.

Jake had always been good to me. He always looks out for me. I would never purposely betray him. I never intended to fuck Jayden that night or in the past. I had been so weak when she first approached me. Jayden was hurting and I was just hornier than hell. I knew that Jake wasn't in love with her anymore and I had hoped to keep our one night affair a lifelong secret.

Alice. Now Alice was different. At least I hoped that was the case. She was so beautiful. Smart. Talented. Compassionate. Loyal. She was the ideal lady you brought home to meet your parents. She was the sort of girl you long to be a better man for.

If I lost her I ….well…I don't think I would ever be the same. She had turned my world upside down since that night. We went back to her place and sat talking for hours until we fell asleep on the couch. It was the perfect night. No sex. A few kisses but nothing more physical. The following night we caught a movie and dinner and once again just a few kisses and hands held. It was incredible. I couldn't remember the last time I had actually dated a girl.

In the past I had what we guys call "hook ups". You know the kind of girl you enjoy her company for a few hours and nothing more. You never invest in those. They were intended for fun and nothing deeper than that.

Alice was not a hook up girl in my book. She was like an angel. She was full of energy and tenderness. She was impulsive but not in a scary way.

"Hey where were you, in Alice land?" Aidan called out to me as I blink a few times breaking away from my thoughts.

"Dude, where have you been?" I cried out a little too loud.

I watch as Aidan sat on the bar stool and gave me a puzzled look.

"What are you my mother?" He chuckled.

"No. It's just that I really needed to talk to you." I explained as I prepared him his usual drink.

"So what has your panties in a wad?" Aidan asks.

"I need to make a confession." I began as I placed my hands behind my head and look up at the ceiling.

"Shit! Who do you think I am Father Aidan?" He laughed as he sipped on his drink.

"Hell no! You're a far cry from a priest but Aidan you're the only one I can count on to be honest with me and keep my secret." I pleaded with him as I braced my hands on the counter and stared straight into his eyes.

"Oh, this is not going to be good." Aidan sighed heavily as he gulp down his drink.

"No it's not." I agreed as I said a silent prayer that Aidan himself did not come over this bar and kick my ass for Jake. I decided it was now or never and began to spill everything to him.

TaraPOV:

I was having one of those dreams where food was chasing me. It seemed that was just about all I dreamed of since I got pregnant. I woke up feeling wet and soggy between my legs. Rubbing my eyes I pulled myself up in the bed. I flip the lamp on scanning the room for Edward. He was nowhere to be seen as usual. I swore he was having an affair behind my back. I knew he couldn't stand the sight of me in this condition. When I was slender and curvy in a good way he couldn't resist me but now in this large body I had no control over him and it was pissing me off.

It was not like I tried to get pregnant on purpose. Hell, I still don't understand how it happened at all. I've been on the pill since I was fourteen and been with a zillion guys since and not once had I had a pregnancy scare before this. The worse part about this pregnancy was the fact that I honestly wasn't even sure if it was Edward's baby. It sickened me to think that my child might be Mike's or Jasper's. I was using them to get what I wanted when I messed around with them. I had no intentions of starting a serious relationship with either of them.

I prayed daily that this baby was Edwards. I knew that Edward would take care of him or her. He would provide for them. He would love them in a way that every child deserved. I knew what it was like to be neglected. Sure my parents were loaded and I got everything I desired except two parents who actually loved one another and who never truly paid any attention to me. They would hand over money and gifts to keep me occupied and out of their hair. I couldn't recall one birthday party where they sang to me around the birthday cake. It was more like the servants would be waiting for me at the table where they sang to me and gave me the gifts my parents had left for me. It drove me crazy. I would do pretty fuck up stuff just to see if I could get their attention. Of course it rarely worked. I would get a good scolding and something would be taken away and then poof off they went back to their professional and personal worlds.

I knew this baby would get plenty of attention. Although I hated to admit it I was just not mother material. I knew it would probably be in its best interest if I just gave it to Edward and left. I know it makes me sound so lousy and a looser but I wasn't going to put my child through any more pain than necessary. I am selfish. I am hateful. I am greedy. I am none of the qualities that makes a woman a good mother to a child. I was at least logical enough to know this.

I knew most people here would judge me harshly. I really didn't give a damn what they thought about me. I had already endured their snide remarks and judgmental glances when I was with Edward. I knew they hated me for breaking up Edward and Bella. I wasn't sorry for it. Hell, I figured by now Bella was probably happy that I had forced her away from the jerk. Sure, he is hot in bed and easy on the eyes but Edward, well, we are more alike than he wants to admit. He can be controlling, arrogant, snobby, and downright dirty when he wants to be.

Yeah, at this point I really think she should be grateful to me. I helped her escape before she was tied down to him with a few kids of her own.

I felt something oozing out of me. Pulling the sheets back I saw why I had woken up feeling wet. Red. Crimson red blood. I felt my heart skipping erratically. I might not want to be a mother but I sure as hell didn't want to lose my baby. My entire lower half was soak in blood.

"Edward….Edward…..EDWARD!" I shouted terrified of what was happening to my body. I knew the doctor said I was at risk of losing my baby but it didn't seem to make sense to me since I was only a few weeks from my due date. Flashbacks of all the things I was not supposed to do and did began to replay in my mind.

Tears were streaming down my face as the uncertainty of my child's life bled out .

"EDWARDDDDD!" I screamed as loud as I could.

Still, he didn't come. Where in the hell was he? He was always here at night.

I reach over and pick up my cell phone and dialed 911. I prayed that he was just passed out in the other room. That hopefully when the paramedics arrived they would wake him up. I didn't know what was going on with my body and I was terrified for my unborn child. I knew how much Edward had invested in this baby. I knew that if we lost it then any chance I might have had with Edward would be lost to me as well.

I wept and wept while I sat there listening to the operator talk to me trying to keep me calm while I waited for help. Where was Edward? It was two in the morning. Surely he had not with off tonight of all nights to get laid! I swear if I lose this baby because he was off with some other girl I will personally make sure his life is a living nightmare!