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This is kind of short, but I couldn't make myself drag it out. It was kinda hard to write. But Jacob lovers should love this one. They're reunited!

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all that is recognizable.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: "Delicate" Bella's POV

"Right this way, Mrs. Black," Colonel Call told me as we walked through the hospital on base. I could see so many troops everywhere-some who were wounded, so who seemed to be fine, some who just needed some shots. It was the first group, with their bandages and casts, that terrified me. I knew that my Jacob would look like them.

Finally, we stopped at a curtain that was pulled so no one could see in. I held my breath and gripped my purse, trying to remember if I had packed the photograph of Edward Jacob and Abigail Hope. I sincerely hoped I did.

The kind colonel pulled the curtain away, allowing me in.

I gasped.

My husband didn't look like himself. He was asleep on the bed, with his left arm and right leg in casts and stirrups. Tubes were connected to his body. His face was not only tanned and lined from the sun, but covered in bruises. His beautiful raven hair was completely shorn, obviously by the Army for hygiene reasons.

But what I noticed most was that he was so skinny.

"Sergeant Gerandy, this is Mrs. Black," Call said quietly to the medic in the corner.

Gerandy shook my hand eagerly. "A pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

"You, too," I whispered. "What are all the tubes for?" I had a sinking suspicion that was weighing heavily on my heart. I was begging for it not to be true.

"Nourishment," Gerandy replied, and my heart broke into jagged pieces. "He was close to starving to death when we first found him. He can eat solid foods, but he needs more nutrients than the chow here can give him, I'm afraid."

Just what I suspected. I wasn't sure why, but this bothered me more than anything. Maybe it was because Jacob had such a hearty appetite. I often associated food with Jacob because it was one of his great loves. And he had to go without it for so long…

Gerandy made a move to wake him up, but I halted him. "Don't," I said quietly. "Let him sleep. Please."

The doctor nodded, and Call placed a hand on my shoulder. "We'll leave you alone, ma'am."

I nodded and weakly sat in the chair by his bed. I was so nervous about this whole situation that I could only fidget. I stared down at my folded hands as I tapped my foot. My left hand felt so heavy with the wedding ring I hadn't worn in months. I twisted it around and around.

But I quickly grew bored with that, so I pulled out the black-and-white photograph out of my purse. It was a professional portrait that Alice had surprised me with a few months back. My little loves Jake and Abby sat on the sands of First Beach, wearing matching white outfits. Alice had managed to make them hold hands and smile widely for the camera. It was the most beautiful picture I had ever seen.

It was a good distraction. But sitting here, staring at their faces, I began to miss them terribly. Tears filled my eyes and I looked up at Jacob.

His dark eyes were opening. They widened as they saw me, and then he smiled. My glistening tears were fogging up my eyes. I could barely see him as he reached an IV-laden hand to me.

"Bella," he whispered.

"Jacob," I replied in the same reverent tone as I squeezed his fingers.

He chuckled softly. "Don't I get a kiss?"

I giggled and stood up to be closer to him. I gingerly took his swollen, bruised face between my fingertips and pressed my lips to his. The kiss was beautiful, soft, and sweet, but behind it burned every emotion we both felt. He deepened it for just a second, using the tongue that I thought I would never feel again.

When I pulled away, I very gently laid my head down on his chest. Though he was still tall, he was so small and delicate. His right arm-the unbroken one-wrapped around me.

"I can't believe you're here," he said simply.

"I know," was my genius reply before I inhaled deeply. He smelled of a hospital, but there was a little hint of his woodsy smell.

"Bella, I love you so much," he said, stroking my hair and kissing it. "Don't ever leave my arms."

"I love you, too," I replied honestly, sobbing into his chest. I was so happy right now. As long as I was in his arms, I was safe. I was at home.

"Shh, don't cry, baby," he whispered. "You're with me."

"That's why I'm crying," I choked out. "I'm so happy. You're alive. Jake, you're really alive."

"Thank God," he smiled, kissing my hair again. "Crawl into bed with me, sweetheart. I want to feel you against me."

Despite my tears, I giggled and looked up at him. "No way. You need room to heal. How badly are you hurting?"

He shrugged. "I'm…alright. Morphine drip, you know. That's why I was asleep." His eyes grew distant for just a moment. "I would feel better if I could feel you."

I laughed again. "I've missed you so much."

He ran his fingers through my hair. "I'm here now. I'm never leaving you again."

I nodded, convinced of this, and kissed his lips. He wanted to deepen the kiss, but I had more important matters.

You know you're a mother when you don't find kissing your long lost husband the most important thing anymore.

"Jacob," I whispered. "We need to talk."

He raised an eyebrow before wincing. "Ow, that reaction hurt."

"What reaction?" I gasped.

He laughed. "Not you, babe. I meant the eyebrow thing. I'm still trying to figure out which parts of my body don't like to be moved. But I'm kinda scared of whatever you want to talk about."

"Don't be," I mumbled. "Um…I really don't know how to say this."

"Just spit it out," he said, his face contorted into a confused grimace.

I picked myself up off of him and grabbed the picture from my chair. "Um…Jake, you're a daddy."

He froze for thirty seconds before his eyebrows knit together. "I'm sorry, what?"

"You left me pregnant," I whispered. "I didn't find out until the day of your…memorial service. You gave me two little blessings."

"Two?" he asked, his beautiful eyes wide and his mouth open.

I nodded, laughing through my tears. "Yeah. Twins. Look at them. Aren't they…perfect?"

He gingerly took the picture from my hands, staring in…awe. His jaw was still slack as he took the sight of our children in.

I giggled in proud glee. "That's little Jake and Abby Hope. They've been the only reasons I've survived." As soon as I said that, Edward's face came to my mind. Well…almost…

"They're gorgeous," he said softly. "Wow…"

"What do you think?" I asked him.

He gave me a little smile. "I'm scared as hell, but I think I already love them. What are they like? Tell me everything."

Ah, time to gush. "Well, they're nine months old," I began. "They're the center of my world. You won't be able to deny either of them. Jakey looks just like you, but Abby has your personality exactly. They're so funny, sweet, and intelligent."

"I can't wait to meet them," he sighed. "I bet you're a great mother."

I shrugged. "I guess. I have a lot of help from the Hales and the…Cullens." My mouth went a bit dry.

"I bet Billy loves the kids."

"He does," I confirmed. "You're going to fall head over heels when you see them."

"It's scary," he admitted. "I don't know anything about being a father, and I didn't have nine months to prepare for it."

"You'll be a great daddy," I assured him.

"How do you know?"

I beamed at him before tenderly kissing his nose. "Because you're a great husband."

Jacob grew stronger, and we began to work through the other facets of his medical care. He was in physical therapy quite a bit, especially for the leg that had been shot. They had managed to get the bullet and buckshot out successfully so he wouldn't lose his leg. But he needed help re-teaching his body how to use it.

He was also in a little psychiatric therapy. I was never allowed to help him through this, which I understood. Gerandy, Call, and I all talked about it, and none of us could even imagine what he had been through. He seemed to be doing well, though.

One day while he was in a psychotherapy session, I received a call from Edward. "Hello?" I asked nervously.

"Hey, Bella," he said softly. "Abby and Jake have been missing you, and I thought you might want to talk to them."

"Of course!" I said eagerly. "I miss them so much."

I heard the phone shift as he turned speakerphone on. "Jake, Abby, come see who wants to talk to you!"

"Hey, babies," I cooed, smiling broadly. "Mommy loves you so much!"

I could hear Edward whispering something to them, and then they greeted me. "Hi, Momma!" they both shouted.

"Oh my god!" I gasped. "Hi, babies! Hi, Jake! Hi, Abby Hope! Edward, did you teach them that?"

He laughed. "Yeah, we've been working on it."

"That's the most beautiful sound I've heard in a long time," I sighed.

"How is Germany?" he asked me.

"Well, in the three weeks I've been here, I've seen the airport and Campbell and that's about it."

"How is Jacob?" Edward asked softly.

"He's doing well," I replied. "He requires a lot of medical care, but I'm sure we'll be coming home soon."

"That's good," he said. "Have you told him about Jake and Abs?"

"Yes. He was in shock at first, but now he's ready to meet them."

"Good," Edward whispered. "Bella, I miss you."

"I miss you, too," I admitted, already feeling the complications I had escaped from for three weeks.

Jacob chose then to walk in, a big smile on his face. I noticed that he was using a crutches and dragging his broken leg with him, but he was still walking! On his own!

"I have to go," I said quickly. "Kiss the bugs for me."

"I will," Edward said. "They're in good hands. 'Bye, Bella. I love you."

"Love you, too," I muttered before hanging up and going to Jacob. "Baby!" I greeted him, hugging his waist tightly. "I'm so proud of you."

He kissed my forehead. "I'm getting there. Help me to bed?"

I took his elbow and led him to the bed, tucking him in. "You're doing so well."

He nodded. "Yeah, I think I've earned a kiss for the day, eh?"

I laughed and kissed him forcefully. Jacob hadn't changed at all.


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