CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

(BPOV)

The next few days were tense for everyone. Jacob and I had been mindful to give Charlie some much needed space, given how he had reacted, which meant I had been spending most of my time with Billy at their house while Jacob ran patrols with the pack. Billy had been kind enough to let me make myself at home, doing chores and cooking to keep myself busy. His conversation proving to be a great distraction at times.

"It's been nice having you around lately. You sure know how to keep an old man company!" Billy sighed, setting down his morning paper with a soft smile to me.

"I've enjoyed being here. It's been nice, Billy. Thank you for letting me stay with you!"

"It's no trouble, dear. Besides, I know how happy it makes my boy. What time is Jacob supposed to be in this morning? I heard him leave late last night."

"He said he would be back sometime before noon." I replied, glancing anxiously toward the door.

"Another meeting I assume?"

"Yeah and patrol with Sam."

Billy nodded, taking a sip of his coffee as his gaze wandered to the pile of pancakes I had made minutes before.

"You're not hungry, dear? Barely ate anything this morning?"

I met his gaze, seeing the knowing smirk he now wore and blushing from it.

"... you know... don't you?"

"I've suspected it for a little while now... yes." He admitted, placing his hand on mine. "But something tells me you yourself don't know for sure? Am I right?"

"I bought a test- we bought one- I just haven't had the courage to take it, Billy."

He nodded to me in understanding, his gaze lingering past me to the picture displayed on his fridge of Sarah. The look of love in his eyes for her making my own become tear filled.

"I remember how scared my Sarah was when she found out we were expecting for the first time. She was young, too. But those kids- they became what she lived for."

I swallowed hard, trying to calm my nerves as I thought of all the responsibility that came with parenthood.

"We're young-" I finally forced out, releasing Billy's hand and standing from the table to refill my hot cup of tea.

"Yes you both are... but I have faith in you two. Young or not, you would be okay, Bella." He assured me.

I tightened my grip on the hot mug in my hands, his words making me ponder what Jacobs reaction would be if I truly were pregnant.

"It's okay to be afraid like this, Bella. Jacob would understand that. You both know each other so well. That's probably why he hasn't pushed you to take the test yet. He knows what your limits are and what you need from him. It's how the two of you work- it's always been that way."

"He has so much on his plate already. With the pack and being Alpha-"

"Jacob has broad shoulders. He can take it- trust me."

As if on cue, and way earlier than expected, Jacob came in through the front door, his skin and jet black hair dripping wet from the heavy rain that fell outside. He paused in the doorway, running his hands through his soaked hair and trying to shake some of the water off him before approaching us. My eyes roamed over the sight of his taut stomach, seeing the defined muscles there beneath his warm russet skin and trying to force myself to look away. He was beautiful. In every meaning of the word. His smile soon lit up his face when his gaze met my own, clearly seeing my awe struck expression now. He crossed the room in four long strides, taking me in his arms and kissing me in a way that left me breathless. My head whirled when he pulled back, his warmth seeping in through the fabric of my clothes despite the rain.

"Morning, honey." He whispered, slowly releasing me as Billy let out a chuckle and handed him a hot cup of coffee. I watched in a daze as he sat down at the kitchen table next to Billy, pulling me into his lap and reaching for the remaining stack of pancakes in front of him.

"Everything go alright out there, son?" Billy asked, handing Jacob the syrup from across the table.

"Yeah- went really well. Everyone's fallen back into place. Sam's happy with things and so am I. We're working together just fine now. Things feel - right again."

"Good, son. I'm glad to hear it. I'm sure it's a relief to you."

"It is." Jacob replied, his arm tightening around my waist as Billy wheeled himself toward the coffee pot in search of a refill.

The feel of Jacobs warm breath on the back of my neck and his words then had my skin tingling.

"Sorry honey- did I get you wet?"

I nearly dropped the glass mug in my hand as his lips brushed my ear, sending shivers down my spine and causing an ache to settle between my legs. My reply to him was so low it was almost inaudible, but I knew he alone could hear me.

"Only you can."

Jacob pushed his plate aside then, his gaze flickering to Billy before settling back on my own.

"Later."

That one word made my skin heat and my head fill with the many possibilities of what later could bring. My heart began to pound when Billy returned with his coffee and crossword puzzle, his observant gaze watchful of Jacob and I while he finished eating. When the pancakes were gone, I cleared the table and did the dishes, using the mundane chores to serve as a distraction from my thoughts for a little while. It wasn't long before I felt Jacobs arms wrap around my waist from behind, his chest pressed firmly against my back as he reached out and took the last dish from my hand.

"Dads heading into town soon. He has some medication he needs to pick up. I offered to take him but his friend is coming to pick him up."

"So, we'll be alone?"

"Yeah- just us."

His hands moved up under my shirt, causing me to drop the dish in my hand, the clattering noise from it loud when it hit the sink.

"You don't have patrol tonight?" I asked, my body leaning back into his with a contented sigh.

"No- Leah and Seth have that covered till tomorrow when they trade off with Paul and Embry."

"So, I get you to myself for the night?"

"You do-" He replied, slowly turning me around to face him, his gaze warm and full of promise.

"That sounds really nice."

His lips brushed mine and my heart raced as he pressed me tightly to him, his warm hands roaming up my back as a groan left him.

"I've missed you, honey."

I stilled in his embrace, thinking back on Billys words and knowing that sooner or later, I had to take the pregnancy test. Jacob pulled back, his hands reaching for mine as he pulled me into the living room with him.

"I haven't finished cleaning up after breakfast-" I protested, seeing his grin when he pulled me down onto the sofa with him, his warm hands cradling my face.

"That can wait. There's something I need to say to you. Something I should have said days ago."

I nodded, feeling my breath hitch at his words. His face full of conviction to me.

"What is it?"

"I know you're afraid to know- whether or not you're pregnant." He sighed, pressing his forehead to mine. "but honey... we have to find out. We can't keep waiting and putting it off. When everything happened with Rana, it took over my focus and I'm sorry for that. I don't ever want you to feel alone in this. I'm here, Bells... always."

His sincere words touched my heart and calmed my frazzled nerves. I knew what the stakes were here. Knew just how much a baby would change our lives and how hard things could become, but I also knew who Jacob was- the kind of man he was becoming- and this made me believe in us all the more.

"You're right." I sighed, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I have been afraid- because life can be really scary like that sometimes. I mean- look at Renee and Charlie. They were in love when they had me- but it wasn't enough-"

"We're not them, Bells." He countered, placing a kiss to my lips before I could continue.

"I know, but I'm sure they thought the same thing at one time. That what they had was enough to overcome anything, but it didn't work out that way. I've always wanted more for my kids someday - you know - I wanted things to be so different for them. I didn't ever want them to feel torn like I did because of divorce. I have always promised myself that when I had children someday, I would be sure it was the right time and things were in the right place. We're so young, Jacob."

He grew quiet at this, his expression becoming pained from my thoughts now. I touched his cheek, feeling regretful that I had spoken so openly with him about this. It was plain to see that he didn't feel the same fear, that his outlook on it was far more optimistic than my own and I hated that my negativity was now weighing on him.

"Honey, what happened with your parents makes you nervous- I understand that. But don't let their past try to dictate our future."

"It's hard not to." I replied, getting up from his lap and heading back for the abandoned sink full of dishes. Jacob caught my hand before I could get far, his fingers lacing with mine as I whirled back around, a gasp leaving me when he pulled me to him, his lips a mere breath away.

"I love you, honey. Young or not - I know that you're the only person my heart will ever beat for. I wanna make every dream you have come true, Bells. All of them. I want us to make a million memories together, even if we have to make a thousand mistakes first. I wanna make them with you- no one else. I want us to grow old together... build you a house with my own hands."

He spoke this with such devotion that I found it hard to find any fault in his reasoning.

"... have kids with you-" He finished, as his hand touched my stomach, his eyes meeting mine with so much love reflected in his gaze that tears welled in my own now. "... Marry you. In whatever order that may come."

He wrapped his strong arms around me then, his embrace erasing the fear that was trying to consume me with this. The same way it always had. The same way I hoped it always would.