Chapter 29 - Welcome to the Party.
Jacob's POV
We watched as Nessie left the room with Doc. Once the door closed behind them I watched as Seth let out a breath he had been holding and ran his hand over his face. I was remembering all those conflicting emotions I had when Bella was pregnant with Nessie. The poor guy was going to be in for a rough time.
Suddenly I felt like I had just been smacked on the back of the head by a baseball bat. I was going to be a father. Nessie and I were going to have a baby. I slumped back in my seat and closed my eyes.
"Jake are you okay?" Seth's voice was wary and full of apprehension. I opened my eyes and looked at my good friend. He was like a brother to me, and now suddenly, he would take a new role in my life. This was the man who would be to my daughter what I had been to Nessie. As much shock as I think I was in, I was comforted by that fact. I trusted Seth more than I trusted almost anyone.
"I'm gonna be a Dad. Crap, only me." I laughed slightly. "Nessie and I finally are together. One night. That was it and now I'm going to be a dad."
"We don't know that for sure yet." Seth was trying to be supportive, but the excitement and worry in his eyes told a different story. I raised my eyebrows and he shook his head. "Okay so we do know, but still let's wait for Doc."
We sat in silence for a long time and then there was a knock on the door. Edward entered and sat in the matching wing back chair next to mine.
"How are you two holding up?" He had calmed since pinning me against the wall, but I still was on guard.
"Not so good. Do you have any idea what Nessie could be facing? There has never been anything like us before has there?" I closed my eyes and images of Nessie's birth flashed through my head. The pain that Bella had to endure. I didn't know if I could be a strong as Edward was.
"Jacob you will all be fine. Nessie is strong, and this child is more human than anything else. Remember that. And Seth, I expect you to give this one as much grief as possible." He winked at me and sat back in his chair.
"Do you hear anything from Doc?" I was getting impatient.
Edward concentrated, "Not yet, but Nessie seems to be dreaming." He smiled and then his face turned dark. "That's strange." He stood and crossed to the door. He then turned and looked at me, and the level of concentration on his face was one I hadn't seen before.
I stood and crossed to him. "What is it?"
"It's like something is blocking her dream. I saw the start of it, she was setting in rocking chair, holding a baby, but then it just went blank. I can hear everyone else, but Nessie is just blank."
He quickly opened the door and went downstairs. And just as quickly he returned. "Bella isn't blocking her." He concentrated again and shook his head. "She's awake now." He smiled then and motioned for us to go back into Doc's office. We started the waiting game again, but luckily it was a short round.
Doc opened the door and told me to go be with my girl. "We'll be down explaining to the family. That is what Nessie asked for me to do. She's scared Jacob. I know you are also, but we will do everything in our power to get all of you through this." I stood and quickly left the room, heading down the hall to Nessie. I looked in the open door and she was setting on the bed, looking at the floor. She looked so small. I hated myself for a split second, but then I realized that I couldn't hate the fact that Nessie was carrying my child.
She heard me enter the room and looked to me with tears streaming down her face. I was quickly in front of her, picking her up in my arms and cradling her against my chest.
"Jake, I'm scared." I kissed her forehead and gently rocked her in my arms. "I'm sorry."
"Baby you have nothing to be sorry about." She looked into my eyes, and I didn't think it was possible for me to love her more than I already did, but my love now wasn't just for her, it was for our child also. "This is a miracle Nessie. We are going to have a baby. We will get through this." I sat on the bed and lay back, placing Nessie next to me.
"How is Seth?"
I laughed. "He's confused and scared. But excited. He is finally feeling that what he's been waiting for, without even knowing it, is finally here."
We lay there is silence for a while, just listening to each other breathe. Then I started to wonder again about Edward not being able to see Nessie's dream.
"Baby, what were you dreaming about earlier? Your Dad said he felt blocked somehow."
She sighed, "It was nothing really, to be honest, I only remember setting in a rocking chair, holding our daughter. I don't remember anything else, just waking up."
There was a knock then on the door and I looked to see the family standing there. Seth was standing in front of the group, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Nessie sat up and motioned for him to come over to us. Seth practically ran to the bed and pulled us both into a hug. I heard him whisper "Thank you," and then released us to take a place at the head of the bed on Nessie's side. I just shook my head and glared at Edward who looked like he was trying really hard not to burst out laughing.
Keep laughing GRANDPA! I passed the thought to him and he glared at me. Bella noticed the exchange between us and slapped his arm.
"Edward, behave."
Then leave it to Emmett to take the focus off of us.
"Babies having babies. What has this world come to." There was the sound of a sudden intake of air, and then Edward and Jasper threw themselves at Emmett. The three of them went rolling down the stairs. Their women stood at the top of the stairs shaking their heads. "Okay. I get it. Not ready to joke about it yet." They all returned to the room and Emmett looked at us sheepishly. "Sorry."
"So Nessie, Jake, we all talked and the family is moving back to Forks. I want to be there in case you need us and we need to get your house built as soon as possible." Doc smiled and the family circled the bed.
"Are you sure? I hate to have you put in any kind of danger." Nessie looked at all of her family and the worry seeped out in her voice.
"We are safer in Forks than anywhere else, and right now it is important we are together as a family." Jasper grabbed her foot and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"So I guess we head back home." I was hoping that my voice didn't give away my desire to get on the road as soon as possible. Edward looked at me and nodded.
"Nessie I want you to stay here and take a nap. We have some arrangements to make." Doc ushered everyone out of the room.
"Daddy, would you guys mind going to my apartment and packing up my things. I really just want to be done here and go home." Nessie smiled weakly at us and I leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"We'll take care of it Baby. No worries. Get some sleep." She slightly nodded her head and closed her eyes. Once we were in the living room I looked at Edward. I asked her about her dream and she didn't remember any of it. Edward's eyes quickly looked at me then I could tell he was trying to put pieces together. Do you think this I something we should worry about? Edward gave me a quick nod and then looked at Bella, pulling her to him and kissing her.
"Well let's go and get Nessie's things moved." Edward motioned to Jasper, Emmett, Seth and me. Edward, Seth and I got into his Volvo, while Jasper and Emmett took the Black Chevy Silverado pick up.
We drove in silence, with Seth fidgeting in the back seat. Suddenly his voice broke the tension that was filling the car. "Okay what aren't you guys telling me?"
Edward and I looked at each other and sighed. He looked at Seth in the rear view mirror and smiled. "We were just trying to figure out what was going on with Nessie's dream earlier. When Jacob asked her about it, she didn't remember what it was about either. It is just a little odd that's all. Everything is fine my friend."
Seth breathed out a sigh and looked out the window. When we pulled in front of Nessie's apartment, I was very glad that we picked up before we left. I think that seeing a messy bed might just push Edward over the edge. As I was walking towards the stairs, Brian came out on the porch. The sky was grey and it was starting to snow; perfect weather for vampires.
"Hey Jacob. You guys getting Vanessa's things?" Brian leaned over the porch railing, looking at each of us. Most people would be intimidated seeing the five of us, but he barely blinked.
"Yeah, we are going to be leaving tonight. I'll drop the key by when we are done." As I was finishing talking I heard a small growl rumble in Edward's chest. I turned and looked at him and his gaze never left Brian.
"Tell Nessie I will call her soon. I plan on making a trip up to Seattle and maybe we can get together." Brian waved and went back inside.
I looked at Edward again and his eyes met mine. What was that all about?
Edward leaned in and growled, "He was blocking me."
When we got to the top of the stairs I looked behind me as I opened the door and Jasper was still standing staring at the porch.
"Jaz you coming?" Emmett sounded annoyed, but when Jasper's gaze found us, we all stopped dead in our tracks. He motioned for us to go inside and we did, closing the door behind us.
"What is it?" I had seen Jasper angry quite often, but never like this and the curiosity tested my patience.
"Jacob, how well does Nessie know that man?" He was pacing and the look on his face was indescribable.
"I don't know. I think they are friends, but she hasn't been here long enough to know he too well. What is going on?" I was losing my patience.
Jasper stopped and looked at Edward who's hand started to shake and another growl escaped, this time much louder. "The emotion coming from that man was pure rage. He has a mask in place and there was something that I haven't felt in a long time. I could feel him blocking his true emotions and when I tried to send an extra dose of rage his way, he deflected it back to me." He ran his hand over his face. "Something is not right. There is something more going on here."
Seth looked between all of us, and suddenly became the voice of reason. "Well whatever is going on, let's get Nessie's things and get her away from here." We all jumped into action and had the truck loaded in less than thirty minutes. Seth and I walked the key to Brian's apartment. When he opened the door, there was a woman in the room with him. She appeared to be in her early twenties, black hair pushed flat to the sides of her head by a skull cap. She was wearing a lot of make-up and when she saw me, a small smile played on her lips. There was nothing friendly about it though.
"Here you go Brian. Thanks again." I started to leave and he motioned to the girl.
"This is Vanessa's friend Stacy. They worked together at the Baghdad." He looked back to her and when his eyes settled back on me, the friendliness that was there earlier was gone.
"Tell Nessie I hope we can see each other again soon. I'm gonna miss her." There was something about what I saw in Stacy's eyes that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
I felt Seth grab my arm and pull me towards the door. "I'll give her the message. Bye." I turned towards the door and Brian called after me.
"Hope to see you again Jake."
The last thing I heard as the door closed behind me when we stepped out on the porch was Stacy's laughter and it sent a chill through me that made the winter air seem warm.
