The Epiphany

Chapter Seven

Bella's POV

We walked slowly to Sam and Emily's house to find the pack sitting around. I felt the pack's eyes on me as Jake and I walked inside, seeing no inside.

"Is it just me or was everyone staring?" He looked apologetic and pulled me into his arms.

"It's not you, Bells. They just aren't sure what to think right now." I was confused and tilted my head to the side.

"What the think about what?" He looked slightly sad.

"They aren't sure if they should believe whether you are here for good or not. All they know right now is that you came back early from your honeymoon and what we did when you came to see me." I bit my lip and kissed him gently.

"Well, what do you think? Do you think I'm here for good?" She gave me his smiled and cupped my cheek in his hand.

"I'm very confident in you being by my side for a really long time." I blushed heavily and kissed him again.

"That is all that matters to me. I don't care what anyone else believes or thinks. What you think is all that matters to me, Jake." He gave me a proud smile and kissed me.

"I'm glad to hear that, honey." I smiled at him and then Emily walked in from the back, smiling at me.

"Bella! I heard you were back." She walked over and gave me a hug, a smile plastered across her face. "It's great to have you back." I smiled to her.

"Thanks, Emily. It's good to back." Then her eyes drifted to Jake's arm around me and me leaning into his side.

"Bella, could you help me a little in the kitchen? The boy's appetites are getting the best of me nowadays." I nodded.

"Sure. All you have to do is ask." I turned and gave Jake a full on kiss, feeling him smile against my lips.

"I'll be outside, honey." I nodded and released the kiss, going with Emily into the kitchen. She had her eyes widened at me as she started me on deserts.

"What is up with you and Jake? I thought you were married." I pushed as I giggled, biting my lip.

"Well, I, umm, am getting a divorce." Her jaw dropped while I mixed ingredients for a Oreo cream pie, starting with the Oreo deep dish crust.

"What? Do my ears decieve me?" I shook my head, smiling to myself.

"Well, I guess I had a revelation when we got to where Edward had us going. We decided together that it would be best if we came back. I decided on the divorce and we are trying to get it done as quickly and painlessly as possible. He has always told me that if I decided that he wasn't best for me that he would step aside and let me live my life. That is what he is doing. We are still going to be friends, but it will never go back THERE again. Sadly, his only condition to the divorce being finalized is giving me alimony." She widened her eyes.

"Really? Most women have to fight for alimony." I rolled my eyes.

"I don't want it. I just want to move on from it, but he wouldn't budge on it. The good thing is that if I ever decide to get married again that the alimony will stop coming. I doubt that will ever happen though." She looked confused.

"Why? You don't think you and Jake will ever get married?" I widened my eyes at her.

"Emily, Jake and I just started and you already brought up the topic?" I giggled and she looked confused.

"Why not? It's a topic that most women think of when they first start with a guy. Why start dating a guy unless you can see yourself spending their lives together?" I nodded and blushed heavily.

"I don't know about marriage, but I know I could spend my whole life with Jake and perfectly happy." She had a smile across her face and nodded.

"Yeah. I thought that might be so." I nodded and sighed.

"Speaking of marriage, when are you and Sam tying the knot?" She giggled and filled up the tuper-ware containers with food while I tucked away the pies I made in the fridge to chill.

"Actual in a couple of weeks. Can I ask you something since the boys are probably at the beach by now?" I nodded as started to put bags of ice in a cooler filled with canned sodas.

"Sure, Emily." She looked very nervous.

"Do you ever want children?" I was taken aback by the random question. I mean, its not often that someone asks you something like that.

"Well, I never really thought of it, but I guess its something I can see myself doing, being a mother I mean. I like kids and since I'm with Jake now, its something that seems concieveable. Why?" She looked saddened.

"Well, Sam and I have been together for a long time. From the beginning, he has told me that he has wanted kids and marriage someday when he is fiancially stable. We are stable and everything and he has been wanting us to start trying for a baby, but I don't know. I guess I don't really have the heart to tell him that I don't want kids. Don't get me wrong. I love kids, but I don't see them for myself." I understood her sadness now.

"You don't want kids or you don't want to go through the pain of giving birth?" I was going through the process of elimination to figure out why out of everyone I knew that Emily Young didn't want to be a mother. She scoffed slightly.

"I would go through it, but I guess I never really had very good parenting. I mean my dad left when I was just a baby and my mom was never really there much. She was an alcoholic so I was practically taken in by Harry and Sue as a second daughter which is how Leah and I became close. The only family I have ever really known is the Clearwater's, but I guess I'm scared that I won't be a good parent." I was shocked by this and had to clinch my jaw to keep it from dropping to the floor.

"You think you won't be a good parent? That is crazy, Emily. You would make a great mom. I see how you are with the pack. You act as like the mom of all of them. I have seen it, Emily! You would be an amazing mom!" She got a light blush over her russett skin and tears filled her dark brown eyes.

"You really think so?" I nodded vigorously.

"I know so. Any child would be lucky to have you as their mom." She ran into me for a hug and poured out her tears.

"Thank you, Bella." I nodded and then a moment later we seperated after Sam, Jake, and Paul walked in, seeing Emily wiping her tears away. I had a few falling myself. I wiped them away and Jake went to me, gently kissing me.

"Em, honey, are you okay?" She nodded and Sam scowled at me for a moment. "What did we just miss?" I shook my head as Jake kissed my forehead gently.

"Girl talk. That is all." I gave Emily a small wink and she hugged herself to Sam as Jake walked me outside.

"You want to tell me what that was about?" I shook my head and leaned my forehead against his shoulder as we started our walk towards the beach.

"She only asked me about insecurities. Her own." He nodded and looked confused as I passionately kissed him. "I love you." He chuckled and wrapped his arm around me, holding me close.

"I love you, too, honey." I smiled up at him and kissed him again.

"Good. You better because you are stuck with me." He chuckled and pulled me closer.

"I wouldn't want it any other way." I nodded as I kissed his cheek.

"Can I ask you something?" He chuckled and nodded gently.

"You can ask me anything, honey." I giggled and kissed his cheek again.

"How did I get so lucky?" He chuckled and turned to me, kissing me hungrily.

"I'll tell you when you tell me how I did." My heart swelled as we walked the rest of the way to the bonfire.