Inheritance: Chapter 37

APOV:

I raced over as fast as I could to the location that Leah had given me over the phone. Traffic was piled up bad. I got out of my truck and began to walk around. I could hear people talking about the loud explosion they had heard and seen. When I came across Jake's parked vacant truck I felt instantly frightened.

I prayed and prayed as I pick up my pace that the big bang everyone was so excited about had nothing to do with Bella. I knew in my heart that if Bella died somehow that Jake would be lost to us forever. He truly loved that girl. Hell, I even nearly fell in love with her myself. If she hadn't been Jake's girl I probably would have hit on her a long time ago.

Instead we had grown close as good friends. I trusted her. I appreciated the help she offered at the shop. I enjoyed the meals that she brought to me for lunch. I enjoyed watching her make Jake squirm like no one else had ever done. She was a riot. She was a good girl.

She was also the very reason I had met Leah. Leah was surprisingly growing on me. She had a bit of an edge that I was not used to but I also respected the way she stuck up for herself and her friends. She was definitely no push over and amazingly she also had a soft side. I saw it whenever she spoke of home or of one of her friends. I knew there were many layers to Leah and I was anxious to slowly peel each one of them back and discover all of her.

Now, here I was in the middle of a traffic jam from hell, trying to locate my best friend and his wife. I located two fire trucks, two ambulances and several cop cars. There was a barricade blocking me from getting to close to the scene. A group of people were line up trying to see what was happening up ahead of us that was causing our delay.

I could see the smoke rising from a few feet away. I saw two cops pulling what look like a man away from the scene. Cupping my hand over my brow I tried to see if it was Jake. Sure enough as they got closer I could tell it was him. What scared the shit out of me was how limp his body appeared to be. They were literally dragging dead weight. He did not move nor make a sound from what I could see and hear.

"It's bad Reynolds. One of them was still in the car when it exploded." A young police officer with the tag "" informed another officer that had just walked up on the scene.

"What happened?" He looked disgusted at the sight in front of him.

"Brown called in on a car that was speeding and causing several accidents starting back on Fourth Street. He and two other squad cars began to chase the car. It didn't slow down. It just sped up faster. It ran up on that car over there, flew straight up in the air landed on its side. It skidded across the pavement a few hundred feet then began to flip several times before it finally stopped over there. We manage to get one person out before the explosion." Reynolds confided in the other officer.

I felt as if I had bricks in the pit of my stomachs. Pain began to sink into every nerve ending. Only one had survived the accident. The way the officers were pulling Jake away from the scene I had a sickening feeling that Bella had been the victim who died.

My phone rang causing me to jump slightly.

"Hello." I placed the phone against my ear. I felt as if there was literally pressure on my chest.

"Aidan! Oh my God are you there? At the scene. We are watching it on television. There was an explosion. Did they rescue Bella in time? Well did they?" Leah was crying frantically. Once again I was privy of her softer side.

"I don't know Leah. I saw them pulling Jake away. I can't get to him yet." I answered knowing that it wasn't the information she wanted to hear.

"What do you mean they were dragging him away?" She shouted.

"I don't know Leah. I just saw him. The officer said that one of the people in the car didn't get out before the explosion. I don't know yet who was in the car. I swear I don't." I heard my voice starting to crack up. My heart was aching.

"OH God! NOOOO!" Leah began to sob loudly into the phone.

I closed my eyes as my own tears began to ease out of the corners of my eyes.

"I see Jake. I've got to go. I will call you back." I hung up the phone and frantically ran up to the officer Reynolds fellow.

"Please I need to get to him. He is my best friend. His wife was in that car." I pleaded.

The officer glanced over at Jake who was sitting on the curb with his head between his legs.

"Okay." He pulled the barricade back so I could slip inside. I ran over to Jake's side sitting next to him.

"Jake! Jake was she in the car?" I cried out as I held my breath waiting on his response.

"I don't know. It doesn't matter. I mean the body they did pull out was limp and covered with blood." Jake mumbled as his entire body shook in spasms.

I put my arms around him holding him next to me.

"She could still be alive. Let's go see. They are pulling up a gurney now." I cried out putting my hands underneath the pits of his arms trying to force him up. He shook me away.

"Stop it. If it's Jayden they pulled out I will kill her Aidan. It's best I stay here." He shouted furiously as he covered his face and sobbed even louder.

I watched as the paramedics drew closer to us. I couldn't stand there and not know. Walking up I saw the paramedics had placed an oxygen mask over the face.

The closer I got I saw a tinge of brunette hair underneath the layers of blood.

"Bella?" I whimpered as I forced myself to be brave enough to look closer.

"Do you know her?" The older paramedic asks.

"I think so." I shook my head.

"We are taking her down to Franklin. She looks pretty banged up. From what we can tell most of the blood on her isn't hers at all. Not sure yet about her internal organs." He explained as they continue to push her toward the parked ambulance.

I pulled out her arm from underneath the blanket and saw the familiar wedding ring on her left hand. Closing my eyes tightly I said a prayer to God thanking him for letting her survive the car explosion. I knew we were not completely out of the woods yet. She looked pretty banged up.

I raced over to Jake's side. I knew how happy and relieved he would be once I told him that it was Bella and they were taking her to the hospital.

"Jake! Oh my God it's Bella. She made it out." I shouted as loud as I could over the sounds of the sirens, machines, and the fire hoses that were still trying to stop the car fire.

"What?" He looked at me with disbelief.

"It's her. I saw her hand. She has the ring you bought her. Her hair is brown underneath all that blood. The paramedic said most of the blood wasn't from her." I threw my arms around him. His body continued to spasm.

"I can't believe it. I just freaking can't believe it. All damn day the news was bad. It just kept coming. From bad to worse. Your now telling me that she escaped the fire. Oh my God!" Jake stumbled slightly.

"Go. Go follow her. I will make sure your truck gets to the hospital." I push him toward the ambulance where they had just Bella inside.

I watched as he raced to the vehicle where his wife and true love was preparing to be rushed to the nearest hospital.

I pulled out my phone as I began to walk toward our parked cars.

"Leah, baby, calm down. Jayden was in the car when it exploded. They had managed to pull Bella out. They are taking her to Franklin. I know. I know sweetie. I need you to get a ride here. I need help with Jake's truck." I hung up the phone smiling with relief.

Finally the day was getting better and finally I was able to give someone some encouraging news at last.

JPOV:

My head ached. All day long shit kept coming at me and now at last my Bella was still here with me. She looked like hell. Jeff the paramedic was trying to wipe away most of the blood from her face and arms so he could see exactly where she was injured. Her pulse was good. He said she appeared to be damn good for someone who was in that horrendous car wreck.

Jeff said they would need to run some x-rays and probably a few tests just to make sure she was out of serious danger. I asked him why she had not woken up yet. He said that sometimes the body goes into shock and they pass out from the fright. In Bella's case I believed that was possible.

We were drawing close to the hospital when she stirred slightly. I watched as she open her eyes mid-way.

"Jake?" she moaned.

I squeezed her hand.

"It's me baby." I whispered as I stroke her hair.

"Oh my God. I'm so sore." Bella moaned louder.

"I know. We are almost at the hospital where they will help you with the pain." I tried to soothe her.

"Okay. Did…they…get….Jayden?" She asks as she choked.

"No." I shook my head.

"Oh." She sighed heavily before drifting back to sleep.

"Sir we are here." Jeff announced as he jump up opening the doors.

I followed them inside. Of course I was directed toward the lobby to fill out some paper work while they tended to her.

I was trying to focus on the papers in front of me when it suddenly occurred to me that I had not heard from Rachel yet. Glancing around I saw they were not in the lobby where I had left them earlier.

I called Rachel.

"Oh my God Jake. I'm so sorry. I forgot to call you. She pulled out of the surgery but they still need to watch her closely. The Dr. is still concerned about possible bleeding." Rachel exhaled loudly.

"Jake did you get Bella? Is she okay?" Rachel continued.

"The car exploded Rachel. Luckily Bella was pulled out just in time. Jayden is dead. I'm here in the lobby. They are taking Bella back for x-rays and stuff." I sighed heavily.

"Jesus! It has been one hell of a roller coaster day!" Rachel cried out.

"I hear you there sister. I don't know if I could take anything else." I swore if one more person gave me any type of bad news I would shoot them. I knew it wasn't nice to shoot the messenger but seriously enough was enough.

"So I take it Paul is with Rose." I stated.

"Yeah, he has been glued to her side ever since they let us come back to her room. She is in room 445. When you get done with everything come join us. Oh and Jake I'm truly glad Bella was not in that car when it exploded." Rachel's voice was tender.

I hung up the phone and sat the clip board aside. Covering my face with my hands I fought back the tears. My emotions were so scattered. I wasn't sure if I was happy, furious, relieved, or hell even scared.

Jayden had made my day total hell. Jayden. I felt an ounce of guilt for that thought. She was dead. She could no longer hurt Bella or me. I pulled my phone back out and stared at it.

I had to call her father and tell him the news. It was going to be one of the hardest things I had ever done in my life. I knew that Jack tried so damn hard to get her the proper help she needed. All those years of medications, shrinks and fancy rehabs and this was how it ended. His only child was dead.

I knew that it would come better from me than some random police officer. Hitting the contact button on the phone I took a few long deep breaths before I made the call.

BPOV:

I still could not believe I was alive. All of my friends were in the room with me, my husband was practically in my bed with me and yet it still felt incredibly unreal. When Jayden had pulled me into that car I was sure I was going to die today. When the car flew up in the air I knew at that precise moment my life was over. Yet here I laid eating lime Jell-O while my friends all discussed the coverage that was on the news today. I listened as Jake told us girls who were not present at the meeting he had with Paul earlier today that he and Paul had formed a truce.

The challenge was officially over. Jayden was dead. Paul was in love with Rose. Jake and I already knew how much we loved one another. So now what we were going to do with the rest of our lives?

I was enjoying my time with my friends but my body was starting to hurt again. I had apparently had a badly sprained ankle and wrist. My chest had a bruise from the seat belt. My head had a couple of small knots from the impact. So over all I was truly lucky. They ran all the routine tests and I had no brain damage or internal bleeding. I was one hell of a lucky girl the doctor had praised me.

"I can't believe she is dead." Alice shivered. Quil drew her closer to him with his arm wrapped around her.

"I know. I mean as much as I hated her and she owed me for my tires I didn't want her to die. It was obvious she was psycho. She needed some serious help." Leah looked sadly at Jake.

Everyone knew how Jake felt somehow guilty for her horrendous acts toward me, his sister and anyone else he cared about. We all told him several times that he was not responsible for her actions.

Still, it was hard for the truth to sink into his head when he was still silently grieving her death. I could not blame him. I mean she was once a woman he had cared dearly for. She was a part of his past, a part that was now permanently over.

"So when does Rose get to leave?" I ask as I gave his hand a supportive squeeze.

"Not for a few more days. She had major surgery unlike you." He placed a tender kiss on my forehead.

"I hope she enjoys the room service here cause I hate it." I stared down at the disgusting food they had called my dinner.

"I will have Rachel sneak you in some food." He offered.

"Why can't I just go home now?" I whined.

"You will go home in the morning. For now you will be patient and behave." He warned me.

"When has she ever done either of those things?" Aidan teased.

I rolled my eyes at the both of them.

"Well, we better get going." Alice jump up pulling Quil by her side.

"I will definitely be by tomorrow." Alice gave me a gentle hug.

Leah and Aidan followed behind them after they each hugged me.

At last the room was empty and it was just me and Jake alone.

I knew he was hoping they would leave soon. Ever since I had woken up we had someone in the room with us the entire time.

"I'm so glad you are here with me." Jake pressed his forehead against mine.

"Me too." I agreed as I stroked his face.

"I thought I had truly lost you today. I have never been so sick to my stomach or so frightened as I was when that car exploded in front of me." Jake bit down on his lip as he swallowed hard.

I could see that he was still quite emotional over all the events that had unraveled uncontrollably today.

"I imagine. Well let me tell you what having someone point a gun at you and drive like a bat out of hell was no picnic basket." I laugh tenderly.

"I bet it wasn't." Jake lifted my hand placing soft feathery kisses on the back of it. I smiled warmly at him.

"I was thinking that once you get out of here we could start working on our marriage." Jake suggested.

"Working on it? Is it in some sort of trouble?" I cocked an eyebrow. I wasn't aware of any serious problems between us. Especially now that the one person who was usually behind the drama was no longer in our lives.

"Okay let me rephrased that. I want to start working on our family." Jake placed his hand over my tender stomach.

I felt butterflies scattering in the pit of my stomach. Was he serious? Did he really want to have children now? I frowned as I considered our lives with a baby in it. Now that Jayden was no longer a threat to either of us, it was a good time to have a baby.

"I like that. Except we need you to meet my parents first. After all it is going to be pretty damn hard to explain to my parents how I am pregnant and oh by the way I've been married for the past several months now." I exclaimed.

He looks quite serious in thought. I was worried that he might have changed his mind since I mention he would have to meet my parents.

"You know what, your right. I say we redo our vows. We have a real wedding this time. We could even have it in Forks that way your parents and their friends could come witness it. Then on our second honeymoon we could work on that family." His face lit up so brightly that I was amazed at how sad it had been just a few minutes ago.

I could see that the ideal had taken away his guilt and fears and replaced it with hope for us and our future.

"It sounds lovely. Just let's try to keep it simple. After all we don't have to have a lavish event just to prove how much we love one another. I think it is pretty clear at this point that I am forever your girl." I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him tenderly.

"I'm so happy to hear that because I plan on being your forever Jake." Smiling he kissed me back passionately. I could feel his love surrounding around me. I would no longer have to wonder if there was someone out in the world that I was good enough for. I had Jake and he had me. Together we didn't need a wealthy inheritance to help our marriage thrive. All we needed was the love that we shared between us.

RPOV:

Paul wouldn't stop doting on me the moment I had managed to wake up from the induced medicated sleep. If I needed my ass scratched I was sure he would do it if I ask. It was almost ridiculous how hard he was trying to make up for all the pain we had caused one another. I had to keep reminding him that I was just as guilty as he was.

"I mean it Rose I want to marry you. I want to have children with you." Paul insisted as he placed kisses from my fingertip up to my shoulder.

"Slow down Paul. We have forever you know." I giggled.

"It's not long enough." Paul sighed sadly.

Running my hands through his hair I pulled his face toward me.

"I'm so glad you gave up the challenge and that Jake offered you half the business. It just proves to me that you both have grown so much since this all started. Jake can finally do what he loves and you can do what you love. Bella and I get the men of our dreams. Now that my dear lover is an Inheritance that is priceless and has no limit." I stated as a single tear of happiness trickled down my face.

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Paul agreed as he pulled me into his arms and kissed all the pain away.

The End:

*****There will be one more chapter to this story: A Epilogue: Hope you guys enjoyed the final chapter of Inheritance. It was the second story I had ever written for Twilight Fan fiction. I'm in the works at the moment writing a story with LuvinJ, a fabulous writer who inspired me to write fan fiction of my own. It's called Wayward Souls, it's our first collab together and it's a murder mystery, using the Twilight characters. You should join if you like action, romance and a good old fashion murder. We are writing under the name of August Luvin. So I hope to see you on that story and all of my others. Xoxox A