Disclaimer: I do not own 'Twilight' or any of the characters!

Rating: T (language!)

Pairing: JB/EC

Enjoy! I did all the talking in the last chapter so y'all could just get on with the show this time.... *Smiles delightedly*

Chapter 10: One Step Closer to Figuring it all Out

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(Jacob's POV)

The next couple of weeks were pure torture. Carlisle had made me promise to rest as much as possible and take care of myself, slyly adding in that it would be best to let Edward help whenever he could. If I didn't agree then he'd threatened to make me stay in the hospital bed for the remainder of my…pregnancy. I shook on it with a scowl on my face.

The first measure Edward took to seeing I was taken care of, was move my bed into his room so that it would be easier on me incase I needed something in the middle of the night. I told him he could go fuck himself since everyone in the house was faster than lightening and had superhuman hearing. He'd just rolled his eyes, reminding me that somehow, I'd managed to sneak out without anyone knowing until after the fact. He just thought he was so clever. The second measure was even worse than the first: moving into his room was a pretense for the talking we were going to be doing. I should've known.

Don't get me wrong, I wanted to mend things with Edward but I was too hurt and too stubborn to let him know all of that. The first month all we did was argue and at one point our arguing escalated to a near physical altercation which left me more hurt than scared at the time. He'd quickly backed away from me after raising his hand to hit me, apologizing over and over before disappearing for the next couple of days. I'd cried the entire time he was gone.

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"I don't blame you if you don't ever want to talk to me again," he sighed, running a hand through his already-messy hair. I was a wreck but had agreed to listen to him after he returned the night before. All the sobbing I'd done over the past forty-eight hours made it seem like I couldn't cry anymore, but as soon as he'd walked through the garage door in the kitchen, I lost it all over again before I let him carry me upstairs to his room where I cried myself to sleep.

"Jake." He paused briefly to correct himself. "Jacob. Sorry pales in comparison to how much I regret raising a hand to you. I--" he faltered again, making me hear the emotion in his voice. I cursed as the tears started flowing again. "I shouldn't let what you say move me to act in such a violent and thoughtless manner, especially now that you're carrying my child--"

"Our child Edward," I croaked, trying to get my breathing under control.

He smiled and I felt marginally better, forgiving him even if I didn't want to outright admit it.

"Our child."

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I was five months along when the third month of my forced surveillance period rolled in and was less than thrilled about my ever-expanding stomach. Carlisle had said that he could tell me the sex of the kid but I'd told him I didn't want to know. Then he (and Alice) had launched into a whole lecture on how I would have to start accepting the fact that I was going to be having a baby, as in another human being.

I'd shrugged and told them I was dealing the best I could at that point. When Edward started in on the same discussion a couple nights after that, I'd felt an unexpected, yet distinct jab in one of my ribs. He'd looked just as surprised as I felt when I saw him go completely rigid. Well talk about acting like a human.

"Jacob," he breathed, staring at my stomach in a way that made me feel like I was the most important thing in that moment…that there was really a…a baby in there. I felt the same way, I saw exactly what Carlisle and Alice and Esme and even the evil Barbie from hell had been talking about. Talk about perfect timing. I was completely surprised when he kissed me. I could practically feel my heart melting at the gentleness he possessed when he moved from my lips to my belly, whispering nothing and everything to the growing child inside of me.

I was going to have a baby.

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I didn't really know what to do or say…I was almost as distraught as she was and I could do absolutely nothing. Well except sit there and listen.

"I knew when he…when he came t-that same morning. I-I could tell something was wrong….He didn't deny it but he didn't c-come out and say it, but I knew. And then…w-when he t-told m-me the truth, when I told him to c-come back to you, he didn't. I thought we were going to go back to normal…he didn't touch me the same way anymore, didn't stay for long when he visited. I had to beg him to stay the whole night sometimes and I just knew."

Bella's tears got to be too much and my heart truly broke at the sight of my best friend in front of me, pouring her heart out. "Where's Edward when you need him?" But of course he was nowhere to be seen. He'd convinced me that this was a conversation meant only for Bella and me--I could see why.

"But Jake," she sighed, only shuddering now, "when you ran away and we were all down in the living room, I tried to be there for you and for him. He yelled at me, told me I was selfish for wanting to comfort him, to be there for him and he was right." She paused to wipe a few more tears, looking anywhere but at me. I could understand. "Alice drove me home…I cried for the rest of the next day, maybe a little the day after that. I didn't bother calling, Alice actually called me to let me know you were okay and that you were…."

She trailed off but I could tell she'd been headed in the direction everyone seemed to take when referring to that incident. I felt like it would be a good time to say something. "Uh, yeah Bells, I was shocked too." "No doubt," she chuckled half-heartedly, sending a beam of hope through me. Of hope that our friendship wasn't completely shattered. "How far along are you now?" For the first time since she'd gotten there, I looked her in the eyes. They were red and still filled with tears…much like the way she'd been looking when she'd come from my funeral so many months ago. I answered her. "Six months."

She nodded, a jerky movement of her head that made it look like she'd just twitched or something. I coughed to hide a laugh. "May I--?" "You really don't have to ask." "I've seen people get punched in the face for touching a pregnant woman's stomach without asking first," she muttered, standing up from the seat across from the couch I was sitting on. Her touch was unsure, but I felt the baby kick her hand--she gasped. The look on her face told me she found it just as bizarre as I did.

She looked up into my face again. I felt compelled to apologize, "I'm so sorry Bells…I never meant to hurt you. I…you are my best friend." The waterworks just wouldn't stop, even for Bella when she wrapped her arms around me, sobbing into my shoulder.

I knew that we'd gotten past a bump or maybe a lot in the road, but that it would be a long time before we were anywhere near to where we'd been before our lives were changed by one single look, kiss, touch and so on.

"Damn you Edward Cullen."

(End Jacob's POV)

(Edward's POV)

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face as Jacob rolled over onto his side, muttering about pancakes and eggs for breakfast. I knew what I'd be cooking as soon as he woke up. I watched him sleep…to ease my mind I guess you could say. Its something short of a miracle to be allowed so close to him at all.

I have faults. I've done things to cause him heartache and nothing but trouble and sadness. When he'd yelled at me, blamed me for his running away and putting our child's life in danger…I'd lost it. I'd lost all sense of reason, time, my humanity. The monster in me had roared to life, the burn in my throat wiped away what self-control I had in that moment and all I wanted to do was destroy everything that was left of my life.

But when I raised my hand, in the blink of an eye that feeling dissipated and I could see fear in my Jacob's eyes. I could see hurt which oddly overshadowed the fear--what was I about to do? And it hit me. The breath was literally forced from my lungs and I knew I had to leave, I'd had to get away before I did something which could not be forgiven. Sorry was not enough even as I uttered the word again and again. Jacob hadn't moved, hadn't even seemed to have heard me. I was gone before he could stop me. To where I hadn't known at the moment…it didn't matter…nothing else but Jacob's safety had mattered….

Jacob shifted again, this time to face me, knocking me from my thoughts. His eyes were half-closed but he was practically glaring at me. "You're doing it again." "I apologize, I didn't know you were awake." He rolled his beautiful dark eyes to the ceiling, before fixing me with their gaze again, "It's even more dangerous if you beat yourself up without me being awake to stop you before you went crazy." I grinned, leaning down and placing a gentle kiss upon his forehead before murmuring, "Perhaps you're right. But--" "No buts Edward," he growled, "I've done just as much wrong as you have. It isn't fair that you can forgive me, but I can't seem to forgive you. Does that make sense to you?"

"No," I answer honestly, "it doesn't." He smiles before sitting up, his stomach making it difficult to move as fast as he'd like to. Rubbing the bump gently, he opened his mouth in the most alluring of ways, threw his head back before saying, "Good. Now I'm hungry, go make me some pancakes and eggs."

I couldn't help chuckling, dodging the pillow he threw as I exited the room. I have many faults, many regrets, but coming back to Jacob will never be one of them.

(End Edward's POV)

(Jacob's POV)

I grinned down at my stomach, rubbing at the top of the bulge where I knew the baby's head was resting. It's been eight months now, since everything changed…since I was thrust into a new life. Eight months and everything seemed so much easier before, less complicated…hell it was less of everything now that I'm here, now that I have Edward.

The baby moved again, making me groan and sit a little bit straighter against the mountain of pillows I'd gathered around for myself. Despite being much more happier about the situation, being pregnant was like living with an alien inside--very uncomfortable. But after a moment I got comfortable again then went back to caressing my stomach.

Give me a break okay?

My eyes droop a little. I've been more tired the last couple of days than any other day of my pregnancy. Carlisle said it was to be expected. In the beginning it was unclear how long my pregnancy would last. By the fifth month he'd estimated that the nine months women experienced would be the same for me. I'd cried about it for the rest of the day. Anyhow, since I'm a little over a week into my eighth month, I could expect the baby's restlessness.

My hand keeps moving across my stomach. I'm so close to sleep its like Ohio State against Michigan at the playoffs….

Just then, the baby delivers a good morning kick (so much for trying) and a velvety smooth voice delivers a message I've been waiting to hear, "They're here." Good. I take his offered hand as I attempt to stand on my own. I can just barely see the tips of my toes. "I'm so happy they've decided to come," I beam, no longer on the brink of sleep and so happy that it hurts somewhere in the pit of my stomach. "Just don't get too happy love." I rolled my eyes at my insanely gorgeous vampire….

I only say things like that because I'm pregnant people.

I knew what was coming next. I didn't need to see the devilish glint in his eyes so I just shut my eyes tightly and wrapped my arms around his neck as he scooped me up and whisked me away down the stairs. When I opened my eyes I couldn't help the smile that instantly sprang across my face.

"Hey Jake!" came the excited voice I thought I'd never hear again. When Seth ran into my arms, I knew that the final pieces to my heart were finally coming together.

(End Jake's POV)

(Edward's POV)

I watched from the kitchen, Jacob and Seth Clearwater talk animatedly about any and everything they could possibly think of. His sister, Leah, stood off to the side, looking as if she smelled something far from pleasant. I smirked, knowing the feeling all too well. She and her brother didn't smell particularly appetizing either.

Since Jake's change and eventual pregnancy, the stench of werewolf never reappeared, lucky for me since I'm the one who sleeps next to him. Lucky for him too, the smell of vampire never bothered him anymore since he could more or less be classified as such. It was a good thing either way, that two of Jake's old family members came around to see him. Ever since he'd been disowned by his father and banished from the pack, I could tell that Jake was never truly happy, though his bright smiles and carefree attitude could have fooled anyone.

It was just surprising that Seth and Leah were the ones to put tradition and pressure from their pack aside to come see Jake, and not only that, but to put themselves in a potentially dangerous situation. Not that any of us would intentionally cause harm to either one of them. When Carlisle had informed us all of the call, I knew that maybe things would start to fall into place and perhaps…Jake could start to truly be happy again.

"Edward you better pay attention to the salad you're making," came Alice's singing voice, "it would be a bad thing if you didn't make enough for all of our guests."

I'd been paying attention…but I'd only made three full serving bowls of one salad. Jake ate that much by himself--we needed three more. "I'm on it Alice," I grumbled, suddenly displeased at how crazy the quantities of food the boy actually ate; it was getting ridiculous.

By the time I'd finished the last salad, Jake and Seth were sitting on the couch, Seth's hand's tentatively touching his belly. Emmett and Jasper were playing chess by the large front window and Leah was situated rather stiffly in an armchair near Seth's end of the couch, watching the two with an agitated look on her face. Rosalie, (as expected of her), was nowhere in sight. She'd taken to the excuse of shopping in Seattle to be as far away as possible for as long as she could before Esme went and dragged her all the way back to our humble abode.

Speaking of our dark haired mother, she was just finishing up the three turkeys in the oven while Alice pranced gracefully around the large dinner table to set it as ornately as possible. I decided to go and lounge next to Jake with a good book while we waited for dinner to be served.

"This is just so freaky," Seth exclaimed as he surely felt the baby kick. Just before I got to the twelfth chapter of Gone with the Wind, Jake turned to me, giving me a look with his dark entrancing eyes. "Yes?" I asked without turning to look at him. "I think Seth should be his Godfather." "Oh?" I asked, looking at the young teen in question. His cheeks were enflamed, making them appear a rosy brown. "Thanks Jake…but only if uh…if Edward doesn't mind," he replied, embarrassed at all of the eyes on him. "Of course I don't mind, and I think you would be an excellent choice," I assured him, never taking my eyes from his own to let him know of my sincerity.

The way he sprang up and threw his arms around me was just too much of a reminder of Jacob. It took me a moment, but slowly I hugged him back, the heat radiating from his body somewhat of a comfort. "Thank you Edward. I really appreciate what you did for him." I kissed the young man who was carrying our child, happy that I could do something good for him and someone he cared about. "Oh this calls for a picture!" Alice squealed, just as the doorbell rang. "Oh…I wonder who that could be. I didn't see anyone coming," she said, changing course and going to the door.

I couldn't hear her, but I knew it was our final dinner guest to arrive for the evening. When Alice opened the door she immediately gave Bella a warm hug, ushering her inside before the girl could utter a word. I stood and helped Jacob to stand as we both greeted her. Me with a hug just as warm as Alice's and Jake with a hug much less intimate than my own.

Although he and Bella had talked and forgiven one another, there was less of a connection than there had been before everything had turned out the way it did. "Hey Bells," he said as he pulled away from her. "Hey Jake. Wow," she exclaimed, looking down at his stomach, "you're getting pretty big." Seth came over and hugged her tightly, "I know! Isn't it so weird?" "You're getting pretty big too kid," she laughed. Seth laughed as well, but scrunched up his face at being called, "kid." "I'm nearly fifteen now Bells," he whined.

She and Jake shared a look and said in unison, "Kid." "I swear Jake, as soon as you have the kid we're going to have a wrestling match to the death," he warned, playfully taking on a fighting stance and jumping up and down on his toes. "Then you wouldn't be a Godfather anymore," my sable-haired lover quipped. "Godfather?" Bella asked, giving me a mocking look. "Yeah, it was Jake's idea," Leah offered, looking relieved for the first time since she arrived.

"Would you be the Godmother?" I looked over to see Jacob staring expectantly at her. I found it quite endearing to see the childlike anticipation written on his face, ironic in a way seeing as he was carrying a child himself. Even if I couldn't read her mind, I could practically see the gears turning in her head. Finally she gave an answer, "I'm not so sure if I can Jake." He nodded, "Alright." It was really odd how they interacted with one another now. Almost as if the things that had gotten them here, when it concerned them as friends, never happened.

"Well everyone, dinner is ready and Rosalie should be here in a couple…moments. Bella, if you would like I can take your jacket," Esme offered graciously. "Thanks Esme." Bella truly was a sport in any case. If she'd never connected with the rest of the family, she wouldn't have stayed around after I'd told her how I really felt about us--about Jake.

As we all settled at the dinner table: Carlisle next to Esme, Alice next to Jasper, Leah next to Seth, Jacob next to myself and Bella between Carlisle and I, I got the feeling, no matter how mood killing it might have been, that something big was going to happen. Alice has been showing me glimpses, quick flashes of images that have been coming to her for the past few weeks. There was never much to go by in these images; our house, static-like blurs of Jacob, the cabin…broken chains of images that were related but had nothing to do with the other. Just now, she'd shown me another image, and this time it did nothing to dispel the quiet unrest within me.

The hazy vision of Jacob doubled over in some unknown bathtub, clutching his stomach, did nothing to quiet my worry at all.

(A/N: There you have it folks! chp. 11 revamped, no pun intended...but is 'revamped' actually even a word? my meaning is basically edited...better than evah before...right. peace and love! thoughts welcome!)