Ricochet

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Chapter Eight

While Rosalie left to go hunting, Bella spent time preparing the boys a hearty lunch. She had missed cooking for others. With her and CJ being the only ones who actually ate real food in the Cullen household, Bella's talents had been limited to prepping small meals for both of them. But now she had the opportunity to expand her culinary repertoire, she grabbed the chance with both hands.

Bella was to food like an artist was to paint. She intuitively knew how to throw the most random things together, the end result being the most sublime dishes. She had such a love for cooking, it was her way of giving to others, this deep avenue of self-expression. In Charlie's small kitchen, she moved as if she had her own personal concerto playing within. She had once dreamed of being a chef, since girlhood always watching cooking shows and trying to make dinner. Renee soon seized the opportunity to hand over one of her least favourite domestic chores to her young daughter. Bella eagerly took over the reins and was soon experimenting with recipes and developing her own, compiling a secret recipe book for when she made it big.

When had she given up that that dream?

When Charlie, Jacob and little CJ stumbled into the kitchen, their cheeks kissed pink from all the energetic play outside, they found the table held a veritable cornucopia of every kind of food or drink you could want.

Bella smiled at them distractedly, urging them to make themselves comfortable and begin eating without her. She was in the middle of baking a cake. As he sat down next to CJ at the table, Jacob covertly watched Bella at the stove. She was in her own world when she was baking, he knew her so well he could see her building new worlds in her imagination as she whisked and measured. As she made the cake, she would often smile to herself and quickly write a few notes on a small notepad, the one she always carried in case inspiration struck.

Seeing her so free and easy, lost in her element, brought fond memories back to Jacob. It was as if the choreographed freedom of her actions, free yet orderly, did the same for her brain. This was the Bella he knew and loved. He found himself getting sentimental for what could have been, his dark eyes growing soft as he continued to watch her.

"Jacob." CJ tugged on Jacob's shirt sleeve to grab his attention.

"Hey, buddy." Jacob reluctantly tore his gaze away from Bella and focused his attention fully on his son. "What's up?"

"You stay for dinner, too?" CJ asked hopefully.

Jacob exchanged an awkward glance with Charlie. "Not today. I have to go home and check on my dad. But I will definitely come back to see you tomorrow."

CJ looked crestfallen. "I don' have daddy." He mumbled. "Only ol' Eddie. He don' play, just goes on and on about being quiet, and minding my manners and respecting elders and stuff."

The atmosphere in the previously warm kitchen dropped by about ten degrees. Bella glanced quickly at her son; her face ashen. Jacob was having difficulty keeping the anger off his face, he stood up abruptly and walked out of the room.

"Can you keep an eye on the stove?" Bella said to Charlie quickly as she hurried out of the room after Jacob.

"Was I bad?" CJ asked Charlie anxiously as he picked up on the tension.

"Of course not." Charlie assured him quickly, he faked a smile. "Why don't you help me clear the dishes?"

"K'." CJ agreed in a small voice, still convinced that he was the reason his new friend Jacob was upset. He didn't have any experience at making friends, and he was worried that he had already driven Jacob away because he didn't think before he spoke, like Ol' Eddie was always warning him about.

As Bella hurried after him, Jacob suddenly picked up the pace, striding ahead easily with his long legs as he opened the front door and disappeared outside. Bella was distracted by the overt grace of his movements. She had always been fascinated by his dexterity, his fluency and the easy way he moved for such a well-built man.

When he swung around suddenly to face her, planting himself firmly in her path, she nearly collided with him. "Let's get this over with." He said in a hard, husky voice.

Bella waited pensively for him to continue.

"I want to know exactly what bullshit the bloodsucker has been filling my son's head with." Jacob demanded.

"Its not what you think." Bella's voice was weary. "Edward was born in a different time to us. He is the product of his upbringing when children were seen and not heard."

"I don't give a fuck what his reasons are. That is no excuse. How could you tolerate that? Did you hear what CJ said in there?" Jacob pointed an accusatory finger at her. "A boy that age shouldn't be frightened to make a bit of noise now and then. He should be able to play, to make friends. Not tiptoe around in isolation."

Bella flinched; his words were like a slap in the face. "It wasn't like that. I already told you, CJ and I lived apart from the rest of the family in a cottage on the grounds. He could make as much noise as he wanted then. Edward's father was a disciplinarian and he wanted to instil the same values in CJ, it caused many arguments between us. It was the main reason CJ and I moved into the cottage. After that I only allowed Rosalie and Esme access. When I did spend time with Edward, it was always alone."

But Jacob didn't seem to be listening. He was taking deep, deliberate breaths, trying to calm himself. He was so mad; his hands were shaking.

"Jacob, please." Bella whispered. "I did the best I could. I promise that CJ was always protected and well cared for."

"Fine." Jacob answered, breathing deeply again. He was back in control now. "I'm not going to argue with you about this now, Bella. It doesn't matter anyway; the damage is done. It's what we do now that matters."

"What damage?"

Jacob didn't flinch as Bella shouted the words in his face, angered by his insinuations about CJ's welfare.

"Let's head back inside. There's nothing more to say. I want to spend more time with CJ before I head home." Jacob walked past her, striding back inside the house.

Bella gaped. "There's everything more to say!" She shouted, forgetting to keep her voice down. "Don't you dare walk away from me, Jacob Ephraim Black."

Jacob paused mid step, but didn't turn to face her.

"I love CJ." Bella said to his back. "I love him more than anything else in this world. He always comes first. I raised him well. He's a sweet loving boy. And I'm so fucking proud of him. So, don't you dare accuse me of – "

"That's enough!" Charlie appeared in the doorway, his brows drawn down and his expression stern. "That little boy you claim to love so much can hear your raised voices. He is in there, crying his eyes out, thinking he's the cause of all the fighting. I suggest you both grow the fuck up and put your differences to one side and go in there and reassure him otherwise."

Bella's face turned white as she shoved past Jacob and fled inside the house, calling CJ's name. Jacob tried to follow her, but Charlie blocked the doorway so he couldn't get inside.

"A word before you go in, Jacob."

"Not now, Charlie." Jacob said impatiently.

"Yes, now!" Charlie snapped. He motioned for Jacob to move further away from the entrance so they wouldn't be overheard.

Jacob followed him reluctantly. "What is it?"

Charlie stopped, putting his hands on his hips as he confronted Jacob. "I know you are angry with Bella, son. And you have every right to be. I'm angry, too. But you can't let that anger eat you up, because you'll only end up hurting those you care about the most. That includes my daughter and that little boy in there."

Jacob's expression was pained, his eyes desperate. "I don't know what I'm doing, Charlie." He admitted in a low voice.

"None of us do, son." Charlie reached up and patted Jacob's broad shoulder in sympathy. "It's overwhelming to suddenly find out that you're a father. You've missed out on so much. I understand how that feels, the hurt and betrayal of missing all those pivotal moments in your child's life. I missed most of Bella's through no fault of my own. Now she has to take responsibility for that, she knows that. But one thing you mustn't do, is let little CJ get caught in the middle as you both try and navigate your way through this mess. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes. I'm sorry, Charlie." Jacob apologised wearily.

"You don't need to apologise. Just focus on making things right with CJ." Charlie squeezed Jacob's shoulder in solidarity one last time, before leading the way back inside.

CJ's skin craved the comfort of his mother, of soft skin. He needed her scent, the movement of her body and the feeling of his feet leaving the ground for the safety of her arms. Bella picked him up and cuddled him, whispering soothing words close to his ear. His thin arms slid around her neck and he clung on tight.

"I'm sorry, Mommy. I didn' mean to be bad."

"You didn't do anything wrong, sweetie." Bella murmured; she kissed the top of his head.

"Jacob don' wanna be my friend no more. I said bad things." CJ sobbed.

"That's where you're wrong, buddy." Jacob's deep, husky voice was instantly reassuring. He threw his arms around them both instinctively, drawing them into his comforting embrace.

Bella stilled against him, frozen for a second as his long arms wrapped around her and CJ. She hadn't expected that. They stood like that, with their small son pressed between them. Both felt comforted by the contact. Jacob was so very warm. "You always did give the best hugs." She whispered, tears brimming in her eyes. "I've missed them. And I've missed you."

"Me, too." Jacob's voice was light, normal again, there was no hint of his previous bitterness. His fingers touched Bella's hair, soft and tentative.

Charlie stood watching them from a few feet away, his own eyes moist with tears.

"You are coming back, Jacob?" CJ checked for the hundredth time as he stood on the front porch, holding onto Bella's hand.

"Yes." Jacob promised. He ducked down, a teasing smile lighting up his face as he ruffled CJ's hair. "You try and keep me away."

CJ's answering smile was an exact copy of Jacob's. Bella felt a lump lodge in her throat. It was so obvious that they were related, any outsider could see that. She knew that she was going to have to sit CJ down soon and have a conversation about who exactly Jacob was to him.

"I'll see you later, Jake. Thanks for today." Bella managed a weak smile.

"Yeah, it was good." Jacob made brief eye-contact with Bella, before jumping down the porch steps in one go and backing toward his Jeep, calling out a last goodbye as he did so.

Now he had a grim job to do, he was going to have to go home and confront Billy.

A/N-thanks for reading!