Struggling to be Honest

JacobxBella

Rated M

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers

Struggling to be Honest

Chapter 23

(7 Months Later…)

Soft lips grazing her neck woke Bella up from her peaceful slumber. Opening her eyes she turned her head and looked up at her boyfriend and love of her life Jacob. Smiling she turned over onto her back, which was rather difficult with her nine month pregnant stomach, before reaching her arms up and saying, "Good morning."

Jacob chuckled and wrapped his arms around his girlfriend, lifting her up in a sitting position before hugging her close, replying, "Good morning to you, honey."

Bella smiled and allowed Jacob to kiss her lips before he bent down to her swollen stomach. His large hands rubbed her large stomach before he kissed it through her gown, saying, "Good morning, babies. I hope you slept well."

The smile on Bella's face widened at the Shifter's words and actions. Ever since she had found out she was pregnant, her and Jacob had a few ups and downs with everyone around them, meaning their parents. Nothing too bad, just being talked to more than they would have liked about responsibilities, getting jobs, buying things for the babies, et cetera et cetera. Charlie and Bella both had delayed telling Renee, especially since Bella did not want to have any sort of contact with the woman ever since she insulted Jacob and Bella had slapped Renee. Renee had eventually gotten over her daughter's words and actions and decided to make a trip to Forks to apologize and talk with Bella. However, she was more than surprised to find her only child that she willingly left in the possession of her ex-husband six months pregnant. Renee had promptly passed out after seeing that and didn't wake up until the next day.

Bella could still remember the day that she found out she was having twins. She had been shocked but happy, and was even more so when she found out she was having a boy and a girl. It was like the Quileute gods were making sure her vision came true. She even remembered when she told him about said vision of hers.

(Flashback)

"Bella, can you believe it? We're having twins, and one of each gender, too!" Jacob said excitedly as he and Bella left the hospital.

Bella smiled and nodded as Jacob wrapped his strong arm around her. Rosalie was waiting to take them to her apartment where they would be living on their own for the time being. Rosalie and Emmett agreed to pay all the bills and such since the apartment lease was in their name, though Rosalie called instant godmother rights when the twins were born. Currently Emmett was moving his and Rosalie's possessions out of the apartment with help from Jasper while the Pack helped move Jacob and Bella's things into the apartment. Jane and Alice were helping to set up the room that would belong to the twins while Esme was in the kitchen cooking a meal for them to eat later with food for the Pack when they were done.

The brunette thought about the vision she had about the two children that were obviously hers and Jacob's. Now it was coming true and she felt the need to tell him about it. Stopping she said, "Jake, I need to tell you something."

Jacob stopped as well and turned to look at his Imprint, a look of slight confusion on his face when he asked, "What is it?"

"That day on the mountain, when I asked you to kiss me, I had a vision," Bella started. "As soon as you kissed me, I saw a different life from the one that I had decided to choose with Edward. The vision showed me two children, twins to be exact, and one was a boy and the other a girl. They looked like you and they ran off towards you, running away from me. But they did wave and smile at me, beckoning me forward. I realized that that was a future I would have if I chose you instead of Edward, but I didn't realize that I loved you until it was almost too late. But I'm glad that I did because everything seems to be falling into place."

Jacob stared back at Bella in surprise for a moment before swooping down and capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. Bella let out a surprised sound before relaxing and returning the kiss. The two of them stood there kissing before they were interrupted by Rosalie.

"Okay, you two. Let's get a move on. Emmett just called and said that they were almost done. You can love and do whatever else when you get to the apartment and everyone else leaves."

(End Flashback)

"What are you thinking about?" Jacob's voice cut into Bella's thoughts.

Bella looked at her boyfriend and answered, "Oh, just about when I told you about my vision of our twins."

Jacob grinned and gave his love a sweet kiss before saying, "I need to head on to the garage, so I'm going to head on out. Make sure to call someone if your water breaks and make sure to call me."

"Jake, I got it. You've been worrying about my water breaking ever since I entered my ninth month. My water isn't going to break today."

"Bells, you're good at jinxing things. Watch you go into labor today."

"No I won't, silly wolf. Now go on, go make bread."

Jacob shook his head with a smile before kissing Bella once more and leaving out of the bedroom while bidding her goodbye. The sound of the front door of the apartment opening and closing told Bella that her boyfriend had left and she let out a sigh. It was time to start going about her day.

Getting out of bed Bella went to the bathroom and released her bladder before cleaning up, then she washed her hands, her face, and brushed her teeth. After running a brush through her hair she tied it up into a high ponytail before heading back to the bedroom to change her clothes. Pulling on a pair of pregnancy yoga pants and maternity t-shirt that said 'We're two of a kind!', She headed towards the kitchen and pulled out all of the ingredients she would need to create a Korean dish known as Kkanpunggi, or spicy garlic fried chicken. Once she had everything laid out on the counter, Bella walked over to the tripod stand where a camera was set up and got it ready to record.

Bella loved cooking and decided to create an online cooking channel that she called Jake n Bells Kitchen Fun, Jacob making appearances when he was able to. She was surprised her edible creations became so popular and so much so on the internet that she was surprised to get a check in the mail one day for it. That had only been four months ago, and before Bella knew it she was an online cooking sensation. Bella also got a lot of requests for cooking certain dishes, and the kkanpunggi was one of them.

Setting the timer to start recording in fifteen seconds, Bella walked back behind the counter and waited for the light on the camera to shine red. Once it did she smiled and waved saying, "Good morning, everybody. Welcome back to another episode of Jake n Bells Kitchen Fun. As you know, I'm Bells and today I am going to be making by special request Kkanpunggi, or spicy garlic fried chicken. It's a Korean dish and I can't wait to get started."

Bella easily moved around the kitchen as she spoke and prepared the dish, not once faltering and thoroughly enjoying herself. It wasn't long before Bella had a plate filled with kkanpunggi, which she held up at a slight angle so it would be completely seen by the camera but not fall off of the plate.

"And that's it, you guys. Now normally I would taste it, but as you know I'm pregnant and I get acid reflux easily, so I'm going to forgo it today. I hope you guys enjoyed watching and learning, and I hope you will try and recreate your own version of this Korean dish. Thanks so much and I'll see you next time on the next episode of Jake n Bells Kitchen Fun. Bye!"

She smiled and waved at the camera until the recording light went out, letting her know the camera had stopped recording. Bella sighed and set the plate down before walking over to the tripod and turning the camera off; she would upload the video later. Walking back over to the plate of food she created, she decided to pack it and take it to Jacob later for lunch. Doing so she placed the food in a reusable container and put the lid on it before putting it in the microwave. Just as Bella turned around to leave the kitchen, she let out a cry of pain before feeling warm liquid run down her legs. Gripping the counter she whispered, "No, no, no. Not right now."

But it was happening right now. Bella was alone and in labor. Letting out another cry when a contraction hit she, as quickly as she could, left the kitchen and walked back to the bedroom where her cell phone was. Picking it up she sat on the bed and dialed Carlisle's number. The phone rang twice before Carlisle answered, saying, "Hello, Bella."

"Carlisle, I'm in labor," Bella panted before groaning as another contraction hit.

"How fast do you think you can get to the hospital?" Carlisle asked.

Before she could answer the phone was taken from her hand. Looking up Bella was surprised to see Alice, her phone to her ear as Alice said, "I can have her there in no less than five minutes."

Alice hung up the phone and gave it back to Bella before saying, "I saw you going into labor, so I came to help you. Now let's get going."

The pixie like vampire picked up Bella and quickly ran out of the apartment and down the stairs to her car in no less than four seconds. She placed the brunette in the passenger seat of her yellow Porsche before jumping in the driver's seat and zooming out of the parking lot. Just like Alice had said, she arrived with Bella at the hospital in five minutes, Carlisle waiting for them with a nurse and a wheelchair. Carlisle helped Bella out of the car and into the wheelchair where the nurse took her inside the hospital. Bella managed to give her cell phone to Alice and told her to call Jacob before Carlisle wheeled her away to be ready to give birth to her twins.

Leah stretched as she stood looking out the window of Kai's bedroom. She had stayed the night with him but they didn't have sex. That was something that Kai didn't want from her right away. He said he wanted to wait until a year had passed and their relationship had progressed some more, and Leah was okay with that. Kai had asked Leah to be his girlfriend officially four months ago, wanting to get her consent and not have her oblige just because of the Imprint. Leah agreed to dating the Hoh man officially after taking some serious time to really think about her feelings for him, how he made her feel secure, and if she could really see herself spending the rest of her life with him regardless of the Imprint. When she realized that she could see a life with Kai in her future and that he would love her unconditionally, and realized that she could and would as well, she didn't hesitate to answer. She still smiled when she thought of how Kai had swooped her up in his strong arms and kissed her before happily smiling at her and his grey eyes sparkling.

Muscular arms wrapped around her waist before she was pulled back into an equally muscular chest and a nose buried itself in her neck. Leah smiled as Kai gave her a kiss on the neck before he said, "Good morning."

"Good morning to you, too," Leah replied. She giggled softly as Kai placed more kisses along her neck before she turned around and captured his lips with her own. The two of them stood there kissing for a while before Kai pulled away saying, "I've made breakfast for you. I hope you like pancake and waffles stacks, bacon, sausage, omelets, fruit, and freshly squeezed orange juice."

Leah hummed in approval and nodded saying, "I definitely like fresh squeezed orange juice."

Kai chuckled and kissed Leah once more before taking her hand and leading her to the kitchen table. Halfway down the hall Leah realized she was still wearing the large t-shirt and drawstring shorts (the only pair that would stay up on her hips) that Kai let her borrow to sleep in. She wondered what Julie and Owen would say; she really hoped his parents weren't home. Unfortunately luck was not on her side as she saw Owen pouring himself a cup of coffee and Julie setting plates at the table.

Julie smiled as the couple walked in the room and said, "Good morning, Leah. This is quite the spread that my son has prepared for you. I hope you don't mind that we indulge too, though Kai already said that we could."

"Sure, it's fine," Leah replied with her own smile. "This amount of food could feed both the Pack and the Sleuth."

"Speaking of which, there is a Sleuth meeting being held tonight, son. We understand that you love being with Ms. Clearwater, but don't forget your duties; be there," Owen said in all seriousness, though his eyes held nothing but fondness for his child.

Kai nodded and said, "Yes, dad."

After everyone was seated at the table, Julie said a blessing over the food and they all indulged in the breakfast that Kai had prepared. Leah couldn't help but say it was some of the best breakfast food she had ever tasted. When everyone was finished Owen gave his wife a kiss, ruffled his son's hair, and patted Leah on the shoulder before bidding them farewell and heading off to work. Julie decided to clean up and told Kai and Leah to change clothes and go have fun. The two Shifters couldn't say no to that and did so, both of them getting dressed in Kai's bedroom. The grey eyed man was respectful enough to give Leah the privacy she needed as she changed clothes, making her heart thump a little faster. Once they were both dressed and had their shoes on, they brushed their teeth (Kai finding a spare, unused toothbrush for Leah) and washed their faces before leaving the house, yelling 'goodbye' to Julie.

"Hey, I got to stop by the garage Jake works at. There's something wrong with my car and he said he'd look at it for me. You don't mind, do you?" Leah said as she unlocked her car.

"Nope, not at all. Let's just hope it makes it there before it breaks down on the side of the road," Kai said playfully as they got into the car, yet being very serious at the same time.

Leah lightly hit him in the arm making her boyfriend laugh before starting the engine and pulling away from Kai's home. They left the Hoh Reservation and headed into town, talking about different topics until they reached the garage. The she wolf spotted Jacob shaking the hand of what seemed to be a satisfied customer as she pulled up to the garage right as her car broke down. The car made a rattling sound and smoke began to creep out of the hood of the car. She looked at Kai who was looking back at her, his eyebrows raised as he said, "Hey, at least it broke down already at the shop."

Jacob shook his head as his Beta and her Alpha boyfriend got out of her car and walked over to him. He greeted Leah with a hug before saying, "I hope you know you won't have your car for about a week, two if the damage on the inside is bad."

"Yes, which is why I have a boyfriend who will take me wherever I want to go," Leah said poking Kai in his side, right over where he was ticklish.

Kai squirmed a bit before nodding and saying, "That's true."

"Dude, I know it's mostly the Imprint along with your actual feelings for Leah, but you are pussy whipped and you guys haven't even had sex yet," Jacob said with an amused grin.

Leah blushed as Kai laughed before saying, "Hey, you'd do the same for Bella if she needed a ride."

Jacob nodded and said, "True, but she also knows she's got other people to call if I can't come to her aid."

"How is Bella? It's almost time for the twins to be born, isn't it?" Kai asked curiously.

An excited grin appeared on Jacob's face before he said, "Yeah, it's almost time. She seems to be doing fine and hasn't had any contractions other than those Jackson Kicks."

"It's Braxton Hicks," the couple said at the same time, a look of slight annoyance on their faces.

Jacob gave them a sheepish smile before taking the keys to Leah's car from her and finished driving the vehicle into the garage. Leah and Kai waited in the waiting area while Jacob and his coworker Larry assessed Leah's car and began working on it. However, they both came to the conclusion that working on the car would take a week or more. Jacob left to go and tell the two waiting about his assessment and wasn't surprised when Leah wasn't too happy about it. Right when he was about to say something else, his cell phone began to ring in his pocket. He excused himself and went to answer it, smiling when he saw Bella's name flash on the screen.

Pressing the 'Talk' button, Jacob said, "Hey Bells."

A giggle that did not belong to his Imprint was heard before the person on the other end of the line said, "You should hear the amount of love in your voice when you say Bella's name."

"Pixie," Jacob said curtly.

"Jacob, I'm calling you from Bella's phone because Bella's here at the hospital."

"What?! Why?! Is it time already?!"

"She went into labor not long after finishing her cooking video and I brought her here so Carlisle can get her into a room."

"Bella's in labor?! Why didn't someone tell me?!"

"I just did."

"I'm on my way!"

Jacob hung up his cell phone and looked up to see Kai and Leah standing up in concern. Knowing that they were going to ride along with him he told them to wait while I told his boss he had to leave. Three minutes later the three of them climbed into Jacob's Rabbit and headed down the road towards the hospital. Jacob didn't realize that he was speeding until he heard a police siren and saw red and blue lights in his rearview mirror.

Groaning he pulled over and put the car in 'Park' before looking in his side mirror. The moment he saw who stepped out of the police cruiser he got out himself and yelled, "Charlie!"

Charlie looked surprise for a moment before saying, "Damn it, Jake. You know better than to speeding. Even if your wolf abilities allow you to heal quickly, we don't need you in an accident."

"I know and I'm sorry, but I'm trying to get to the hospital," Jacob said. He was getting ready to explain when he looked back at the cruiser and saw Bella's mom get out on the passenger side. A look of surprise and confusion crossed his features as he looked at the auburn haired woman before looking back at Charlie.

The police chief had the decency to look embarrassed when he noticed Jacob looking between him and Renee. Rubbing the back of his neck he said, "I just picked her up from the airport. She's uh, she's moving back to Forks and moving into the house."

"What's going on?" Renee asked as she stepped forward. She said 'hello' to Jacob before asking her question once again.

"Bella's having the twins!" Jacob blurted.

Charlie and Renee's eyes widened before Charlie told Jacob to follow behind him. Once they were all back in their respective cars, Charlie turned on the police sirens once again and sped through town, Jacob not far behind. Minutes later they arrived at the hospital and parked and the five of them rushed inside. And the whole way Jacob prayed he hadn't missed anything important. He promised Bella he would be there in the room with her when she had their babies and he wasn't going to break that promise.

Bella let out what seemed like the hundredth groan as another contraction hit. Her contractions were getting closer together and she prayed Carlisle would get the nurses to hurry with preparing the Cesarean for her. Rosalie and Alice were with her currently and the seer had told her that Jasper, Emmett, Jane, and the Pack were on their way. The Pack was especially excited as there hadn't been a child from a true Alpha of the Pack for a while, and now there were going to be two. As much as she appreciated them and their support, the one person she wanted with her at the moment was Jacob.

Rosalie was currently stroking her head comfortingly when she sniffed the air and said with a smile, "I smell a familiar dog coming."

"Jake?" Bella asked breathlessly, her question answered as the door to her room opened and Jacob rushed in, followed by Charlie and Renee. With a smile Bella reached out her hand and said, "You made it; I'm so glad."

"Of course I did, honey. I wouldn't miss this moment for the world," Jacob said taking her hand before giving his Imprint a kiss.

Bella smiled up at him and caressed his cheek before looking over towards her parents. Don't get her wrong, she was happy to see Renee, but she was confused to see her so soon. Renee had told her she wouldn't be able to make a trip to Forks until sometime after the birth of her twins. So why was she here now, not that she minded?

Charlie walked over and asked, "How are you feeling, kiddo?"

The brunette smiled and answered, "I'll feel much better when Thing 1 and Thing 2 are out of my stomach,"

Everyone chuckled while Alice and Rosalie quietly left the room, giving the family some time alone. After they left Bella asked, "What are you doing here, mom?"

Renee bent down and kissed her daughter's forehead before saying, "Hi, sweetie. I know I didn't tell you, but I'm moving back to Forks."

"Huh?"

Renee sighed and a look of sadness crossed her face as she said, "It was after I returned back home after visiting three months ago and finding out you were pregnant. I returned earlier than I had told Phil and I walked in on him…I walked in on him cheating on me with some ginger haired bimbo in our bed. He tried to explain to me that it was nothing but then his little slut piped in and said that they had been seeing each other and sleeping together for the better part of a year. Furthermore she told that she was expecting and that Phil had been planning on divorcing me for about five months, but didn't do so because he wanted to spare my feelings."

"Oh mom, I'm so sorry."

"It's fine, Bella. I filed for divorce and decided to move out, only to realize that I had invested most of my earnings and savings into the house we lived in. But it was actually Charlie who suggested I move in with him."

"Dad?"

Bella and Jacob looked at the police chief in question, watching as he flushed a bit and scratched his cheek. Clearing his throat Charlie said, "Renee had called me and told me everything and I guess I gave her words of comfort. Ever since then we have been talking more and reconnecting so to speak. When she told me that she was looking for a place to move to and couldn't find anything, I told her she could move back here if she wanted. I know she doesn't particularly like it here in Forks, but the house is paid for and she can have your old room since you're not living there anymore."

Jacob smirked and asked, "And is that all?"

Both Charlie and Renee caught on to what Jacob was implying and they both blushed, making Bella's brown eyes widen in surprise. Sitting up, only to lean back down as a contraction hit, she asked, "When you say 'reconnect', do you mean just as friends or like me and Jake?"

Luckily for her parents Carlisle walked in followed by a nurse, preventing them from answering (not like they were going to anyway). He greeted Charlie and Renee and told them that it was time to take Bella to the Cesarean. He and Jacob helped transfer Bella from the bed to the wheelchair to take her just down the hall before asking if Charlie and Renee wanted to be there as well. Charlie declined but Renee agreed, wanting to be there for motherly support. Carlisle nodded and they all left the room, five walking down the hospital corridor one way, one walking the other back towards the waiting room.

Charlie reached the waiting room and sat in an empty chair next to Billy, who had been brought by Sam when the news of Bella's labor was heard. The police chief let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair, noticing Billy's eyes trained on him intently.

"What is it, old man?" he asked.

"Are you alright, chief?" Billy asked.

Charlie nodded and said, "I guess so. I just realized that we're about to become grandpas."

Billy nodded and clapped his best friend on his shoulder as he said, "Yes, yes, we are. And do you know what that means?"

"What?"

"It means that you're getting old, old man."

"I'm getting old? What about you?"

"I'm forever young."

"'Forever young' looks nothing like you, Billy."

An hour later Bella was back in the room she was first placed in and was smiling down at her first baby, the boy twin. He was wrapped in a traditional blue blanket and his tiny face was so cute. His skin was a lighter shade of russet than Jacob's, but Bella had no doubt it would darken as he got older. His hair was black with a slight brown hue to it and was so soft to the touch, just like his skin. He was perfect and Bella couldn't believe she had given life to this precious being.

The sound of a baby whining across the room caught her attention and Bella looked up to see Jacob quietly shushing their daughter that was wrapped in the traditional pink blanket. Her daughter was the second born and she was just as perfect as her twin brother. Her skin and hair color was the exact same as her brother's and she had captured Jacob's heart the minute she was placed in his arms.

Jacob looked up at me and grinned before walking over to me with our daughter and sat in the chair next to the hospital bed. Looking at me he whispered as not to wake up the babies, "They are perfect, Bella. They're absolutely perfect."

"Yes, they are. I can't believe that we created two precious beings like these," Bella said in awe.

"You saw this happening, honey. You saw us with our own children one day, twins to be exact. And now here we are holding our twins, the twins that you had a vision about. Honestly Bella, I didn't think something like this would ever happen to me, to us. You were so set on being with that bloodsucker and marrying him, even becoming one of them. It hurt me so bad just to know that; you broke my heart, you know. But I never once thought that me pressing you enough and making you face the situations that you didn't want to would cause you to be completely honest with yourself and with me. And even though a lot has happened in the past, it brought us to where we are now. Nothing could be more perfect than this," Jacob replied.

Bella stared at her boyfriend for a moment before smiling lovingly at him, her brown eyes shining with unshed tears and full of love for the young man in front of her. She had never once imagined when she had moved to Forks, Washington that she would have a future with Jacob. And she never imagined it because she did nothing but imagine a future with Edward for about a good year. She still couldn't believe that it took Jacob disappearing for months, then returning on her wedding day and making her face her decisions to make her finally be honest with herself and make the best decision of her life. She struggled to be honest with a lot concerning Jacob and herself, but she was glad she finally decided to be candid with her feelings.

She bent over a little silently asking for a kiss, which Jacob met her halfway with. They kissed sweetly and lovingly before parting, Bella softly saying, "I love you. I love you so much, Jacob Black."

"And I love you, Isabella Swan," Jacob replied before kissing her lips once more. After he pulled away and looked back down at their daughter in his arms he said, "We have to name them before the family comes in."

They both thought for a while but they came up with the perfect names. Starting with the first born twin they named him Ephraim William Black, and they named the girl Sarah Annabeth Black. And as they waited for their family and friends to meet the new editions of the Swan family, Black family, and Quileute tribe (and godmother Rosalie), Bella and Jacob knew that their lives were only going to get better and they were looking forward to the future.

Author's Note: This is the end of Struggling to be Honest. Thanks so much to everyone that favorited, followed, and read this story. It means so much that you guys enjoyed it. I am very happy with how it turned out and I hope that you all are as well. Once again, thanks so much you guys! XOXO, SehunsBae37.