Jacob and Bella had stayed out on the trails much later than they intended, laying on the grass and talking. Too nervous to be naked on his motorcycle outside in the middle of the day, She was relieved to find Charlie had stayed at Sue's. Bella might have been his adult daughter, but he still loathed motorcycles. Seeing his beloved, pregnant daughter on the back of Jacob's Harley would have probably given him a coronary.
The next few weeks passed peacefully. Construction had resumed on the garage while the foundation for their house was set into place. Esme had incorporated ample space to cook for and feed the pack, as well as a handicapable bedroom and bathroom for Billy.
While he was currently happy where he was, Jacob worried Billy would want to live with his son again someday. Bella secretly had Esme add on a small shop for Jacob's woodworking hobby. The master bath would contain a bathtub large enough for even Jacob's massive build to soak in. Bella couldn't help but smile at the thought of bathing their future children in it as well.
While they had made it clear that the outer portion of the house needed to look as if it belonged on the reservation, Bella had left a great deal up to Esme. Bella wanted bright, clean surfaces. Jacob hoped for cozy, homey vibes where everyone would be comfortable gathering. The two things they agreed on were no carpet or white furniture. Between the wolves, Billy's wheelchair, and her future children, Bella wanted durability. They planned to acquire their possessions a little at a time like any other young couple. Despite the limitless options the Cullens could have provided them, both preferred that living simply as the rest of the pack did was for the best. Jacob felt that if he was to be a good alpha, jealousy and resentment could not become an issue. He did not want to live excessively while his brothers did without. Though it would be difficult at first, they were not without some furniture. Bella's bed was practically brand new. Jacob had a TV and a dresser. The kitchen would be fully functional with built-in barstools around a large island. They would make do. If the rain held off long enough, the house could be finished within the month.
Jacob worried a great deal about the size of their loan from the Cullens. They were sure to be indebted for a long time, even if the garage did do well. He later voiced his thoughts to Bella on the situation, admitting his worries, ideas, and plans. They had laid in her bed for hours as he finally unloaded everything on his mind. Bella had listened intently, playing with his hair all the while. By the time he was finished, she felt like she was falling in love with Jacob all over again. They had made love for hours that night after doing the one thing that Bella had sworn not to do. They made a promise. There would be complete honesty going forward.
No avoiding what needed discussing. No lies. No secrets, ever again.
Secrets created guilt and damaged trust. They had already started their own family. They were a unit as much as Jacob was with his pack, and needed to function as such. Bella was determined to give Jacob no further reasons to distrust her.
Bella was surprised one afternoon as someone burst through her kitchen door, bellowing her name. She walked downstairs to find a beaming Paul leaning against her kitchen counter.
"Jacob's right," she chuckled. "Everything you fucking do is loud. When this kid comes, you're gonna have to quit slamming doors, you know?"
"Awe, come on, Bells. I'm happy. Don't kill it," Paul pouted. She couldn't help but grin.
"What's up?" Bella asked, hopping up on the counter next to him.
"I'm gonna tell you a secret, okay?" he teased.
"Why me?" she asked him.
"Because you're the only person who will be excited for me," he said honestly. "I'm excited, and I need someone to be fucking happy with me for a minute, okay?"
Bella nodded, laughing. "Tell me," she said.
"Blondie is going to help me buy a bar," he said and grinned.
"You're not even twenty-one," Bella said skeptically.
"Like six months away, Bella," Paul argued, "It'll take at least that long to fix the place up, anyway. And, if I can talk Rachel into it, the liquor license can go into her name. I can just hire a legal bartender until I'm twenty-one."
Bella eyed him warily. "Are you sure you've thought this through?"
"Rachel will take convincing. She's going to complain that I need serious goals. Sam is just going to bitch that I already drink too much, it will fuck up the patrol schedule, that it'll take too much time from the pack, bark, bark, bark."
Bella laughed. "Why do you want to own a bar, Paul?"
"Bella," he huffed, gesturing dramatically, "I don't want to be a fucking mechanic. Do I know how to fix cars? Yes. Do I want to do it every fucking day? Hell no. That's not me."
"So don't fix cars," she said. "Not wanting to be a mechanic isn't why you want to own a bar, though."
"I like people. I don't have the temperament for bullshit. I like to have a good time, tell some jokes, and enjoy the shitshow. I'm strong enough to bounce the douche bags myself, and I could probably even hire other Pack if they don't wanna work at the shop. There aren't suitable jobs around here for us. No offense to fast food workers, but we all know I don't have the patience for that bullshit," Paul said seriously. "I fucked up my financial aid when I had to drop out of college, so until I can afford it, that's a bust. At least behind the bar, I can put some of my psychology courses to good use. Not like I can afford to be Clark Kent anyway."
"Busting out of your suits," Bella asked, laughing.
Paul groaned, aggravated.
"Hey," she said, putting her arm around his shoulder, "You don't have to be a fucking mechanic, Paul. Being in the Pack doesn't mean they get to control the rest of your life, too. You and Rachel, much like Jacob and I, will have to learn how to compromise. Jacob and Embry are going after their dream. Why can't you go after yours? If you want to own a bar, then own a bar. Besides, if you're not a mechanic, I won't have to feed you every day." Bella giggled as Paul snarled at her.
"See? That was what I needed. A little fucking support. Thank you, Bella," he said.
"Any time," she said, reaching behind her for a container of cookies. She took a bite from one as she passed Paul the container. He happily snatched a few and plopped down cross-legged on the floor.
"So," she asked, "when do you plan on telling everyone about this little plan?"
"Uh, yeah, I was kind of hoping maybe you and Jake could host a gathering soon?"
Bella grinned. "Yeah, we're supposed to be doing that anyway. I'd like the chance to mend things with Leah, and we still have to inform the rest of the Tribal Council about my pregnancy."
"Oh, they know," Paul said, laughing. "Billy just wants to put Jacob on the spot since he got out of having to tell his old man. Just don't tell him that."
"Paul," Bella groaned. "Ugh, now I have to. We have a no secrecy thing now."
Paul laughed. "Noted. I'll leave you out of uncomfortable surprise plans for Jake in the future." Bella glared at him playfully.
"You're lucky I'm pregnant," she teased. Paul laughed.
"Jesus, I thought you were gonna slug Rachel that night," he said.
"Oh, when she found out?" Bella chuckled.
"I mean, I just thought if you'd get in Leah's face and slap me..." Paul said.
"I'm sorry for that," Bella interrupted him. "I shouldn't have done that. My mom hits. I always hated it. I don't ever want to be like that with Sarah." She cupped her lower abdomen lovingly. It was hard now, some of her tops beginning to feel tight.
"I can hear the little shit," Paul said, and she grinned at him.
"I wish I could. Stupid human ears," Bella laughed.
"Still wishing you were a leech?" Paul teased.
"Not in a million," Bella said.
They were both startled as her kitchen door again flew open. Leah walked in, heading straight for Paul.
"Seriously, Paul? Do you know how fucking late you are?" Leah yelled at him.
"Hey, Lee," Bella said. Leah scowled at her as Paul stood up and hugged Bella goodbye. He took off as Leah glared after him.
"I heard my name when I was coming up to the house," Leah said.
"Yeah, I just told Paul I was hoping to talk to you," Bella said.
"Actually, I heard him mention when you got in my face," Leah said, unable to hold back a smirk.
"That, too," Bella laughed. "Look, Leah, I'm really sorry I didn't tell you. I couldn't. Jake didn't know yet."
"But Sam knew," Leah huffed.
"Sam only knew because he could hear the baby's heartbeat," Bella argued. "I didn't purposely go around making announcements. I didn't want anyone to know until I could tell Jacob."
Leah froze, scowling. "Sam heard her heartbeat?"
"Yeah. Can't you hear it?" Bella asked her.
"Honestly, I haven't even listened for it," Leah said. Bella slid off the counter and walked over to Leah. She lifted her shirt, revealing the slight curve of her waist. Leah's eyes grew wide as she focused.
"Jacob," Bella said, pointing to a specific point, "Always puts his ear right here. He could listen to her for hours." She grinned up at Leah. "You're seriously not going to let Rachel be Sarah's only Auntie, are you?"
Leah glared at her for a moment before wrapping her arms around Bella's shoulders. "You fucking fight dirty, Swan," she grumbled.
"Hey, Bitch," Bella reminded her, "you're stuck with me. Remember?"
Leah stayed and talked to Bella while she made supper. She readily confided about her current situation with Quil. He was starting to slip up, getting a bit too flirtatious in front of the others. Leah was constantly on edge with worry that they'd be caught. Despite having set specific rules for their arrangement, feelings had changed somewhere along the way.
The problems that occurred between Leah, Sam, and Emily had created new rules for the pack. Though Leah was the first female they'd known of, it did not mean that she would be the last. Leah had referred to the rule as, "No interoffice dating." She suspected it was partially put into place because of Sam. She wasn't his anymore, but he still laid claim to her somehow. Despite being with Emily, he still got jealous. Meanwhile, Quil was convinced that Leah's lingering feelings for Sam were why she didn't want him to know. Bella was infuriated for Leah but had no clue how to help her fix the situation.
Jacob had been on Patrol with Leah, though he went home to check on Billy afterward. When he got to Bella's, Leah left, claiming she had things to do. Bella strongly suspected one of those things was sneaking over to see Quil without Jacob catching them. She sincerely hoped that should the rest of the pack find out somehow that it didn't go too badly for either of them. They were adults with free will. They deserved to love who they loved.
Charlie got home shortly after Jacob did. Later, while Jacob helped Bella clean up the supper dishes, she told him about her visit from Paul and his request. Jacob had chuckled over Paul's new career decision.
"I can't promise Rachel will like the idea, but more power to the guy," Jacob said.
"Really," Bella asked, "You're cool with it?"
"Bells, Paul and I bump heads. I'll be his Alpha eventually. I'm already technically his boss as second in command. If he doesn't want to have to put up with me as his boss at work too, good for him," Jacob said. "To be honest, now that he's essentially my brother-in-law and lives at my house, I could use the break."
"I bet Billy could, too," Bella chuckled.
"I might have to have a little chat with Paul that I don't want to have," Jacob said. "I think he and Rach are having sex in my garage. Shit's moved around, and it reeked of sex in there today. It's been weeks since we were in there. I know it's not from us. The guys are constantly in and out using my tools, so I can't determine whose scent it is. To be honest, if it's my sister, I'd rather not know." Jacob chuckled awkwardly.
Bella had a pretty good idea who the culprits were, and it wasn't Paul and Rachel. She made a mental note to give Leah shit when she saw her next and pulled Jacob behind her to bed.
The next day, Bella woke up later than she had planned. She began rushing around with her regular chores and started on some dishes to take with her to Billy's later. She cursed and turned off the stove before running to answer a knock at the front door.
Who the hell is here? The pack always uses the kitchen door.
Renee was the last person Bella expected to find on the other side. She stood speechless as Renee threw herself at Bella, embracing her happily.
"W-what are you doing here?" Bella asked anxiously.
"What do you mean, what am I doing here? I wrote to you weeks ago," Renee said.
"Mom, we haven't spoken in over a year," Bella said as Renee walked past Bella and into the house. "I haven't gotten any letters from you."
"Yeah, I was wondering if you'd been getting them," Renee admitted nonchalantly. "I figured maybe Charlie tossed them or something."
"Yeah, I get the mail every day," Bella said suspiciously. "So, why are you here?"
Renee's smile vanished. "I wanted to see you. You're my child."
"You might want to think of something better than that," Bella said. She walked past Renee into the kitchen and resumed her tasks.
Renee followed her and sat down at the kitchen table. "Boy, some things never change," she said, glancing around at the house she had fled from fifteen years prior.
Bella bluntly asked, "Are you still sober?"
Renee glared at her. "Yes, Bella, I am still sober. I'm doing well, not that you've bothered to ask over the last year."
"Two years, actually," Bella admitted. "So why do you want to see me now?"
"Believe it or not, Bella, I'd like to mend our relationship. I have written to you numerous times, including from rehab. I think I could fix things if you'd give me a chance," Renee said.
Bella spun on her mother angrily.
"If you think coming here to visit is going to fix seventeen years of abuse and bullshit, you're crazy," Bella said. "You drug me around, kept me from Charlie, let your drunk boyfriends treat me like shit. You cared more about alcohol than me, that was for sure."
Renee cringed. "Bella, I had an addiction."
"You had a daughter," Bella screamed at her. "One that clearly meant nothing in comparison to your habits."
Renee had teared up, though she wasn't looking in Bella's direction anymore.
She was staring at the refrigerator. Bella had forgotten having stuck the sonogram picture back on the door for Charlie. The poor man cheesed like an idiot over his coming grandchild. Bella cursed under her breath, turning back to her cooking.
"Bella," Renee said as she walked toward the fridge. She grabbed the picture to take a closer look. "Bella, are you pregnant?"
Bella took a deep breath, anticipating her mother's anger. As she turned around, she was surprised to find Renee sitting back at the table, staring into the sonogram.
'Yes, Mom, I am pregnant," Bella said and sighed. The look on Renee's face surprised her. Renee didn't look angry. She looked terrified.
Renee's voice shook as she asked, "Who is the father?"
"Jacob," Bella admitted. "I'm with Jacob Black now." Renee looked up at her with relief. She covered her face in her hands and laughed nervously. Bella was surprised at how much of herself she saw in her mother at that moment.
"Thank God. I was afraid it was Edward," she groaned.
Bella barked out a laugh and asked, "Why would you say that?"
"Because he's a vampire."
The spoon Bella was using clattered to the floor. Trembling, she once again turned to look at her mother.
Carefully, Bella asked her, "What did you just say?"
Renee looked her daughter in the eye as she set the sonogram picture down on the table. "I think it's time for us to have a little talk."
PLEASE REVIEW XO