AN: Sorry this one is a couple of days late. RL does tend to get in the way.

Stephenie Meyer owns it all, I am only borrowing the characters for my story. No copyright infringement intended.

How Can I Help You?

Chapter 22

The Ex-Factor

EPOV

It had been such a wonderful day. Bella was lovely, Riley was happy, and we were surrounded by all of our family and friends. I'd been helping Emmett at the grill for a while, but Em called me out for not paying attention again, he told me to find Bella. She had taken a very cranky Riley in for his nap so I went in search of Charlie. I wanted to see how he thought it was all going. I saw him across the yard greeting Billy Black.

I had not been thrilled that he was coming here. I knew he had always been a part of Bella's life, but I just didn't want anything to upset her today, and one comment from Billy could do that. As I got closer to Charlie, I noticed that he wasn't laughing with Billy, but it looked more like he was arguing with him.

Every hair on my body seemed to stand up at the same time.

"Charlie, is everything alright?" He turned to look at me, and I could see that he was battling for control of his emotions.

"Edward…I never thought, I mean, he wasn't…" Dread settled into my stomach.

"What is it, Chief?"

Charlie looked over my shoulder towards the house. "Billy called me earlier and said he had a ride so I wouldn't need to pick him up. I never imagined that the 'ride' was Jacob."

"He's here? Where? I've got to tell Bella…Christ Charlie, she's not ready for this yet."

I whirled around to go into the house and saw my beautiful girl looking out over the crowd. I just wanted to drink her in. She was the light in my life. She had made me a whole man again, not just a father, not a widower, she made me, me again.

I had started moving towards Bella and the deck when I spotted him. He was there behind her, just as her eyes met mine. I ran, closing the distance between us and drawing attention from everyone.

She had just turned around when I made it to her side. "What are you doing here, Jake? You aren't supposed to be here until next weekend."

I moved behind Bella, drawing her to my chest. "Are you alright, love?" I was glaring at Jacob, but he hadn't even noticed my approach.

"I had to see you, Bells. Before everything became final, I had to see you." He moved to touch her arm, but I moved us out of his range. Only then did he acknowledge my presence."

"Cullen." His eyes were taking in our proximity to each other, the way I held Bella, her hands over mine, with out fingers entwined.

"Jacob, I think it would be better if you left now. Please don't ruin the party for Bella and our friends."

"I want to see Riley, Bella. Where is he?" I felt her stiffen and I was ready to remove him one piece at a time if necessary.

"Riley is asleep and you can't see him. Please, Jake, go back to your father's. I'll call you tomorrow and we'll talk then." Bella was trying to get him away from the party without a scene. Charlie walked over to us.

"Jake, I told you to leave twenty minutes ago. This is not the time or the place for this. Bella and Edward have asked you to go, so do it now, son. I'd hate to have to take you down to the station, but I will. I'll bring Billy home later, so you head on out."

For a minute it looked like he would argue. Bella looked back at me and I loosened my hold on her. "Go, Jake," she whispered. "Let me call you tomorrow, ok? I'll meet you somewhere to talk."

She wouldn't be alone wherever it was. "Bella…"

She wrapped her arms around my waist. "I'll be fine, Edward. Jake's not going to hurt me. You'll have Riley to take care of at home."

"I can take care of you both, love, just let me."

Jacob looked at me, there was sadness in his eyes along with anger, at me or at himself, I wasn't sure. "Ok, I'll go. I didn't mean to interrupt your party."

Everyone around us visibly relaxed the moment Jake drove away. Bella was shaking.

"Love, are you alright?" I felt her nod against my chest.

"Yes, it was just unexpected." Charlie looked at us, smiling sadly. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't know he was in town yet. I never would have invited Billy to come if I knew Jake would come with him."

"It's alright, Dad, don't worry. I'm ok." She looked at me, saying, "Can we go inside for a little while. I just need to be quiet."

I looked over to Charlie. "Tell everyone to enjoy themselves and that we'll be back out a little later." Charlie kissed Bella's cheek, nodding. "Sure, take care of my girl. We'll handle everything out here."

I followed Bella into the house, locking the door behind me. I turned to reassure myself she was alright, but found myself pushed against the door with Bella attacking my mouth.

After the initial shock wore off I wrapped her in my arms and greedily returned the kiss.

My body was at war with my brain. I knew we should be talking, but the way Bella moved against me drove away every thought but the one that said to get inside her as quickly as possible. She was wild, pulling at my clothes, trying to press closer together.

We broke the kiss long enough to remove our shirts. "Bella, baby, we need to slow down."

She cried out, whether in sorrow or frustration I do not know. "Please Edward, I need you." It wasn't possible to deny her anything.

"It's alright, love. We're ok. Let's go upstairs." I swept her into my arms and took the stairs at a run. I laid her on the bed and stepped back to remove my jeans as she removed the rest of her clothes.

I watched her sprawled across the bed, waiting for me. My body protested the distance between us as she rubbed her thighs together, seeking some form of friction to ease her ache. I crawled up the bed, nudging her legs apart and settling between her thighs, in my happy place.

I felt her hands running along my back, pulling me closer. Trailing kisses along her collarbone and up her neck, I reveled in the taste of Bella. I was so close to losing control, yet I wanted to make sure she was as satisfied as I was. Her breasts were made for my hands, the feel of her nipples tightening due to my touch, drove me crazy. I wanted to taste every inch of her, but knew it would have to wait.

I felt the urge to mark her, make her realize that no one else would ever touch her, she was mine and I was hers. I took her mouth in a searing kiss as my hand left her breast to trail down her stomach to the heat that was emanating from her sex.

"Who do you belong to, Bella?"

Her eyes flashed and darkened with desire. "You."

"Who touches you like this?" I cupped her heat, making her shudder.

"Just you, Edward."

I drove two fingers into her moist heat and circled her nub with my thumb. She arched off the bed whimpering my name. I felt her walls clench around my fingers as she came, and continued to pump them in and out of her, extending her orgasm. As she came down from the high, she opened her eyes and I saw my Bella looking at me. Her eyes shining with all the love we had for each other.

"And who makes you come like that?" I whispered, kissing first her nose and chin, then her lips.

"Only you, Edward, my…" Her breath caught as I thrust into her. I tried to slow my pace, but with my control now gone, I pounded into her. I knew I was close, but I wanted her to come again. I shifted so I could rub her clit and give her the extra sensations to push her over the edge. She screamed my name as she came that time and with a few more thrusts I followed her over. My orgasm seemed to go forever, until I collapsed onto her. I quickly rolled to the side so not to crush Bella with my weight.

"I love you, Bella, only you." I kissed her then went to stand to go to the bathroom and dispose of the condom. It was only then that I realized that in the frenzy to come together, we had not used one. I turned back to her, hating to break our bubble.

"Bella…" Her smile was dazzling. I knew I needed to tell her because I wasn't sure how she'd feel about another baby so soon. "Love, I um… forgot a condom."

BPOV

After two mind-blowing orgasms I was feeling very loose and pretty invincible. When Edward mentioned we had not used a condom, I really wasn't concerned. Was I ready for another baby so soon after Riley? No. Did I want us to wait until after we were married to expand our family? Yes, hopefully. Would I regret it if we had just conceived another child? No, because the baby would be part of us, our love. It would be another surprise, certainly, but never something to regret or get rid of.

I had learned from Rose that Todd was her OB/GYN and she was very comfortable with him, so when we spoke earlier in the day, he agreed to take me on as a patient and called his service to arrange an appointment for a checkup, so I had a doctor in place regardless.

Edward was looking at me with such an uncertain look in his eyes. "It's alright, Edward. I have an appointment in two weeks with Todd to get the birth control shot. I'll have blood work run before to make certain and if I am, I am, but I am pretty certain it's the wrong time of the month for it to happen. I'm not going to worry about it, unless you don't want more…" He got back into the bed and pulled me into his arms. "Anytime, love. I just don't want to rush you."

We stayed there in the bed, just holding each other, knowing our time was limited and we needed to return to the party and our guests.

"Are you alright now, love? I know that Jacob showing up got to you. We're okay now, you're fine and Riley is fine, we have our family and friends right outside. Nothing will ever come between us again." His gaze was locked on mine, willing me to believe him. I did, but was also aware that Jake could hurt us.

"He can though, Edward. Jake can still hurt us."

"How, Bella? How can Jake possibly hurt us? He's lost you and your divorce will be final in ten days. You'll be free of him and we'll be free to move on together."

I sat up, reaching for clothes. As I started to dress, pulling on everything but my shirt that was downstairs, I told him my fears.

"Yes, the hearing is in ten days, but if Jacob really wanted to hurt me he could delay the judge's ruling. All it would take is a call to his lawyer to file a motion and the judge could be forced to reschedule the hearing and that could take several more weeks or months to get back on the docket. I want it over. All I want is to belong to you. I want our family to be whole."

Edward pulled his jeans on then walked over to me, putting his hands on my shoulders, turning me to look at him. "Yes, Bella, he could do that, but do you think it changes anything? I would rather you be free of him now, but if it's delayed a few weeks or a month, it doesn't change how I feel. It won't change our family. Besides I don't see how the judge would delay the ruling and finalization. You and Jake signed the papers, everything was already worked out. You didn't ask for anything from him in the divorce, no spousal support or proceeds from the sale of the house, nothing. Riley is ours and Jake has no claim to him, so that won't be a factor. Worst case scenario is that we have to wait a few more weeks before I make you mine permanently. I want you to realize that we are forever, love. You will be free from Jake, but I don't intend for you to be a single woman for very long. I want the world to know you are mine."

Edward knew just what to say to settle my nerves about Jake, and what he said set off new ones, tingling butterflies in my stomach, excited at the thought of being Edward's permanently.

"We better get back outside, we've been gone a while and I'd hate for Charlie to try to come find us." I went into the bathroom to repair the damage to my hair and washed my face before we walked downstairs. We were just heading out the door when I heard Riley call for me. "Mammaa…Mammaa" We both turned and walked back to his room. Our sweet little boy was bouncing on his mattress holding onto the railing.

"Up", he said as he reached for me. I carried him over to the changing table as Edward got a fresh diaper and new outfit as Riley's pants were wet. "I'll change him while you get him a bottle, Bella." So I left the boys and went to poor some apple juice into a sippy cup for Riley.

Edward walked him out and Riley was now in jeans and a long sleeved hoodie with sunglasses and a baseball hat. "He's too cute, but I don't think he's going to need the shades, Edward, the sun isn't out."

"No, but he looks like the cool little boy that he is." Charlie and Billy were sitting together on the back deck.

Dad reached for Riley as we walked over to them. "Here's my boy. Bella he's really growing fast." I just smiled at him. Billy looked over at me and started to apologize.

"I'm really sorry, Bella. I didn't even think about Jake bringing me. I guess it's still difficult to believe that you two aren't together any longer. I apologize for not checking with you before bringing him."

Edward squeezed me a little tighter to his side. "It's ok, Billy. I know you didn't do it to hurt me. It was just a surprise. Jake told me he wasn't coming in until next weekend."

"He called and said he needed to come sooner, there was some news and that he needed to talk to you in person." He was looking over at Riley and I could see the hurt and longing in his face. I looked at Edward and he nodded at me, as if he could read my thoughts. "Its fine, love, I don't mind." I took Riley from Dad and placed him in Billy's arms. "I don't want to take him from your life, Billy. I know you love Riley as much as Dad does and there is no reason for Riley to lose that."

Edward and I sat with them for several minutes, then checking that Dad and Billy would be fine watching Riley, we walked back down to the yard to visit with friends. Apparently Alice had sent an invitation to Mike and Jessica Newton and they had arrived while Edward and I were occupied inside. They were talking to Eric and Todd as we walked over.

Edward was glaring at Mike, but it was Jessica that spoke up. "It's a great party, Bella. Thank you for inviting us. Edward, it's good to see you."

"Well we wanted everyone to celebrate our happiness." I ran my hand along Edward's lower back hoping to soothe him.

"Bella, where is that adorable son of yours? You and Edward certainly make beautiful babies."

"Well its baby for now, Todd. If you and Eric want to see him, you'll have to talk his Grandpa into it. Dad and Billy are watching Riley right now."

I saw Rose sitting in a chair near Emmett, who was still working the grill. "Let's go check on Mama Rose. She's been pretty quiet today." We excused ourselves and after a quick kiss, Edward walked over to Em as I pulled a chair up beside Rose.

"Are you feeling alright, Rose?" She looked a little pale.

"Yeah, I've been having Braxton Hicks a lot today." She only had about 6 weeks left, but I knew she'd been uncomfortable lately.

"Did you tell Todd?" She nodded, "He told me to rest and if they started to come regularly to call him. So Em sat me in this chair and won't let me move unless it's to go to the restroom." I remembered those days from my pregnancy with Riley. If I even felt a twinge Jake would make me lie on my side until it passed.

I felt physically sick that I had made Edward miss all of that, and that caused my anger with Jake to spike yet again. I knew talking everything out with Jacob would be hard, but I hoped he would be truthful with me. I really didn't want the whys of what he did, but I wanted him to come clean about it all.

Edward was worried about my meeting with Jake, but I wasn't worried about my safety, I worried about Edward and what he would do to Jake if anything happened.

I would call Jake tomorrow and ask him to meet me at the diner. It would be a neutral place, it's public and there would be others there to ease Edward's mind. I wanted Edward and the girls to be safe at the house and taking care of Riley. I was not planning to let him see the baby at all, but I wanted to clear the air with Jake before anything else happened.

I was worried Jake would try to delay our divorce, but Edward was right, what's the possibility of a few weeks delay, when we will have the rest of our lives together. We are a family and will be a family forever.

As for Jake, I'll take a leaf from Scarlett O'Hara's book, "I'll think about it tomorrow."

O~O~O~O~O

AN: So the next chapter will be the big confrontation/conversation between Bella and Jacob.

Thanks for taking the time to read, please leave a review.