AN: Sadly, I do not own anything except the plot line. PLEASE review, they make write faster(:

Chapter 4:

Hardships

Jared helped Bella with her bags after she had checked out and walked her to her car saying, "I'll wait for you to tell Paul before I say anything; but you have to tell him Bella. It's not fair to him that he doesn't know. I know you think that he's the biggest asshole in the world, but I think he had a pretty good reason behind his actions."

Seeing Bella was going to interrupt Jared held a hand and continued, "Just give him a chance Bella. That's all I'm asking."

Bella just nodded and said, "I know I have to tell him Jared. At first I figured if he didn't care about me, then he didn't care about what we made together. But then with my lil guys 'gift' I knew that he had to be here; with the tribe that might know what was happening with him."

Jared looked at Bella trying to judge how truthful she was being. Bella sighed.

"I promise I will tell him Jared, just give me time."

Jared nodded his head, said his goodbyes, and turning to go into the woods.

"Where's your car Jared?" Bella yelled to his retreating back. He just grinned wolfishly and replied,

"I ran Bells."

When he was out of sight Bella sagged against her truck and prayed to the spirits that Jared really wouldn't say anything to Paul.

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As she pulled into her driveway Bella glanced down to Paul's house, and was surprised to see how run down it was. She hopped out of her truck and huffed when she saw Charlie coming out to help her.

"I'm pregnant Dad, not dying. I can get the groceries."

"I know that Bells, just trying to protect you and the lil slugger."

Bella, knowing there was no beating that logic, just walked inside and sat down on the couch propping her feet up on the coffee table. Curiosity got the best of her and she yelled out to her Dad,

"What happened to Paul's house?"

Charlie looked at his daughter, and dropped the groceries in his hands as realization hit him.

Bella looked at him in shock as he said,

"It's not someone random at all is it Bells? Paul's the dad. That's why you didn't want to come home. Why doesn't he know sweetheart? Did he do something to you? I can grab my holster real quick, and I can put a bullet or two in his ass right now."

Bella was scared at the look on her father's face so she hurriedly said, "No dad! We just broke up and I had to get away, I haven't had the chance to tell him yet. And before you start with the riot act, yes I know that he has a right to know, and I plan to tell him soon."

Charlie looked at his babygirl, and wished he could take her pain away. He ran his hand through his hair and said, "All right Bells just make sure that it is soon. If he hears somewhere else, then it's going to look real bad."

"I know dad. So I'm going to ask you again," Charlie glared at her for her smart-ass remark, "Where does Paul live now?"

"I don't really know Bells, but I do know where you could find him. You remember Emily's place?" Charlie wait for her nod before he continued, "He's always over there eating, and it's right around dinner time so you should find him there."

Bella just nodded and grabbed her keys on her way out the door.

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Bella turned into Emily's drive, and tried to remember how to breathe correctly. She put her truck into park and glanced up to see none other than her cousin barreling towards her. Jacob ripped open the truck door to swing his cousin into his arms.

"Bells!" Jacob's bellow brought out the rest of the house, and boy were they a lot of them Bella thought. She was just glad that Jacob had yet to notice her belly, but she was getting scared at how hard he was squeezing her. Jared was apparently thinking the same thing because he came rushing down the steps and ripped Jacob off her.

"Watch the lil guy dumbass!" the second the words were out of his mouth Jared slapped his hand over his mouth and looked at Bella.

Bella knew it was just a waste of breath to yell at Jared when everyone was going to find out eventually, so she just smiled and shook her head at him. Then Bella timidly looked to her cousin. Jacob's face was one of pure rage.

"Who did this to you Bella? I'll kick his ass for you."

Bella just started laughing and patted his arm, "I just might take you up on that Jakey, keep in mind that you said that." Jared cringed at that, but Bella decided to ignore it and look towards the crowd and was glad to see that Paul wasn't there.

"Who did I speak to on the phone?" Bella asked, surprised at how strong her voice sounded.

A tall older man stepped forward and said, "It really is a pleasure to meet the girl that can cuss a random man out over the phone. I'm Sam."

Bella blushed and took his offered hand. "Sorry about that, it was a mothering instinct, is there somewhere we can talk?"

Sam nodded his head and motioned for her to go inside. "Would you like anything to eat?" said a pretty Native-American woman with scars marring one side of her face.

Bella grinned at her and said, "That would be lovely; I'm eating for two now so don't be afraid to pile on the food."

The lady laughed at that and turned to the stove. Bella turned towards Sam and waited for him to begin.

"That's my wife Emily, and her cooking is the best thing you will ever taste."

Seeing the food that was put in front of her Bella didn't doubt it. She looked at Sam impatiently and motioned for him to talk. Sam looked at her and asked, "Aren't we going to wait for Paul?"

Everyone else in the room was waiting for the answer as well. Bella sighed and asked, "Can I speak freely Sam?"

He nodded and waited for her to continue, "As soon as Paul knows about my lil guy, and I figure out if I'm giving birth to a lil guy or a wolf cub I am going to go back home, put my feet up, and pass the fuck out. Now can we get this show on the road?"

Sam looked shocked at her words but started to speak anyways.

Outside the house Paul was walking towards Emily's back door, and in the process not seeing Bella's truck; wondering why he was so jittery. It's like someone had stuck a bunch of bugs in his skin, he just couldn't stay still.

He wiped the sweat of his forehead before yanking open the door and yelling, "You fuckers had better not have started eating without-"

Paul could only stare at the hallucination in front of him. She had been in his dreams since Sam had made him send her away. Now she was standing in front of him. He was dumbstruck and still hadn't moved.

Bella lifted up her head to look Paul in the eye. Everyone gasped at the same time, and Bella looked around for the problem. Not finding anything she looked back at Paul to see him looking at her with a fierce adoration in his eyes.

Bella steeled her heart to that look and ignored the pull she felt towards Paul. She knew she couldn't go down that road again. Her and her lil guy couldn't take it.

Paul seemed to shake himself out of his stupor and stared towards Bella. Seeing this she put a hand to stop him and wrapped her other one around her stomach protectively. That action brought Paul's gaze down to her belly and his eyes widened. He looked so crushed and whispered,

"That day… you had to tell me… mine?"

While no one else could understand Paul, Bella nodded her head.

Paul dropped down to his knees and began to cry. With his head in his hands he just kept whispering, "I didn't know. I didn't know, I didn't know."

Bella, with tears rolling her face, looked towards Sam and said, "I'll call you so we can finish this conversation at a different time." With one final look at Paul she walked out the door and drove home.

Opening her front door and seeing her father on the couch she looked at him and said, "Don't let him in okay?"

Charlie could do nothing but nod as he watched a shell of his daughter walk up the stairs.

Bella showered and laid down trying to ignore the pounding on the door.

Right before she fell asleep she grabbed her stomach and whispered, "I love you. Never doubt that."