A/N: Sorry it's been a long time, that was never my intent. I update when an idea to continue the story line hits and for the last few weeks I've been working extra, plus school and traveling to see my sailor before he leaves for another deployment. (Actually I'm packing as I write haha) but! Ive had a bit of an idea for a few days and I FINALLY have a moment! Let's hope it pans out lol. Thanks again for your patience, I hope this doesn't disappoint.

Bella pushed the mop forward and stopped, arching her back slightly, rubbing a sore point in her back. It'd been a few weeks since she and Jacob had reunited but she stayed where she was, working to help support their little peanut until she needed to return to the rez. It wasn't that she didn' t think Jacob couldn't support them, but with her new independence she wanted to be able to help and sensing he'd be in for a tongue lashing going against her he let her stay. Knowing he was needed for patrols, work and setting up the apartment for the baby he traveled between the rez and bellvue. Oh the fun of the talks they had...she grinned to herself thinking about the multiplet talks they had, focusing on the first because it seemed to be the most important at the time.

"Bella..."he moaned into her mouth as he sat her on the bed in the tiny room she had been staying in. Threading her fingers in his hair she pulled him closer, trying to deepen the kiss. "mmmm..."she moaned.

"What?" she grunted. Clearly this was not how she wanted to spend her time; talking. "Jake...I missed you...please..."gripping his raven hair tighter he hissed in pleasure.

Pulling back slightly Jacob smiled. "I know I want you too, but we need to talk. Figure things out." He pecked at her cheek, groaning a bit when he moved up to sit next to her. Bella laid flat on the bed, huffing at the ceiling, knowing he was right. He seemed to always be right but at the most inopportune times.

"I ran because I felt like I'd messed up of your life. We're young and this wasn't in the cards...It took me a few weeks to realize that I did take your choices away, but I also never let you choose and that's not the right way either. I'm sorry." she mumbled and rubbed her small belly, something she had started to do when she was thinking deeply or was explaining what she had done to peanut.

"You did. Did you think what it would do to everyone else? Were you really trying to do something good? How can you see any good in running away?!" His anger started to rise again, standing he walked to the small window and leaned against it, crossing his arms.

"Bella...you can be a big idiot sometimes...I thought we got over this...I'm hurt and..."he struggled with the next words, " I don't know that I can actually trust you anymore."

Bella winced and tears warm tears pooled in her eyes; damn emotions. She hadn't thought things through in the beginning, she had seen the test and ran, be the cowardly girl she was in the beginning. Jacob had been there anyways. She had been working on being stronger and he helped but she left at the first real challenge between them. She really couldn't blame him.

"I know..."she whispered, her voice straining against the emotions whirling around inside her.

" I want to be in your life, but you have to let me in. You have family, your friends...people who you've hurt..."he sighed, trying to hide his own emotion. Looking over to her he sighed again, softly and moved back to sit next to her, reaching out to grasp her hand.

"I know...and even if I'm sorry I have to earn back their trust...but...I don't think I'm ready to go home yet." She spoke slowly, softly which disturbed Jacob when he heard her last words.

"What!" he shouted. Gripping the bed with his free hand he turned to face her. "Bella, honey, I'm not saying..." she pressed her finger to his lips, quieting his thoughts.

"I'm not saying I won't come home." she put his hand on her protruding belly, running her thumb over the back of his hand in soothing circles. "Peanut needs to be born on the rez and being a pack baby obviously its uncles and aunts, grandparents and the other children will need to be around. I wouldn't take anymore choices from you. But, and please baby, hear me out." She glanced into his melted chocolate eyes. "I started this job and I know they'll need me for a while longer, I gave them my word and I don't need to let more people down. It may be simple but I earned what I have now and I want to help with things."

Bella stood, moving to the small dresser in front of the bed. Pulling out the lowest drawer she began to pull out a small plush wolf, onesies with words like "I run with wolves" and "B.Y.O.B bring your own bottle" and "My crib or yours." Laughing Jacob reached out and pulled her close.

"There's a few more outfits and I started to stock up on diapers and bottles and pacifiers, but I...I knew you wanted to make the crib..."with that bella let the tears fall freely.

"I am so sorry Jacob! " Flinging her arms around his neck she squeezed him closer. "I wanted to come home...so much! I just..."sniffling so deeply it became a snort she wheezed out more words. "How could you forgive me! I shouldn't have told anything to embry over the phone..."breathing in she snorted again, giving jake the opportune time to laugh slightly, one of his deep, grumbling laughs that came from deep in his chest.

"I think you owe Embry a lot...he's stuck around and for a moment or two even Quil sounded smart. You really shouldn't let him have good ideas, it goes to his head." Grinning he kissed Bella softly on the lips. "If you want to stay...no matter how much I think its a bad idea, you can stay...I'll stay but Sam..."

"You can't stay!" Cocking an eyebrow up and twisting his head, his whole body asked the question he didn't speak.

"I mean I want you too but your needed and..."shrugging she let all her defenses down. "Sam needs you just as much as I do and besides...I wouldn't trust Paul and Quil to set up a baby's room without you to supervise." He shot her a lopsided grin and blew out a breath.

"You win..." he sighed.

"Bella you ok?" Heather asked from the counter.

"Yeah...just sore...this mop is not my friend, never had been, never will be. Why can't we just get a swiffer?" she laughed. She plopped the mop into the bucket and pushed it to the closet to empty it. Heather followed with a slight bounce in her step.

"So..." Heather poked at her friend. "How was the appointment? I know it's your last night but you can still talk to me. How did Jacob handle it all?" Bella felt like the questions being thrown at her from all directions.

It was her last night at the store, getting closer to her eighth month Bella decided she need to head home. She had spoken with Sam a few times, explaining everything; how she wanted to stay, her apologizes and how Jacob would come back and forth to help but he knew he was needed there and a few more things. Heather had become a close friend and had gotten to know Embry, Jacob and Quil when they all came to visit. Nothing had come of it but she knew something was different with this close knit group of friends no they were family.

Today, however, had been special. Bella had decided to announce the sex of the baby to her friend. She was keeping it a secret from the pack until the baby would be born. But she felt like she could bust if she didn't tell someone else besides Jacob. That was also tricky because of the pack mind but some how Jacob had been able to keep a lock on that thought.

Smiling, she walked to the back room to gather her bag. Heather trailed behind.

"It was good. Everything's fine and yes I will tell you."

Heather grabbed her bag and followed Bella out of the store, locking arms with her.

"Spill it! I've waited all day!" She bounced.

"Jacob did well, he's still not a a fan of another person touching me or anything, but he understands. We've decided at least on the first name. " Smiling Bella lifted her free hand an laid it on her now very round stomach.

"And!" her best friend squealed.

"Embry..." she whispered into her friends ear.