Disclaimer:

Jacob: Donna doesn't own Twilight.

Me: No I do not.

J: We love her anyway.

AN: I wanted to let you guys know that starting with this chapter every chapter represents a month. So the story will progress pretty quickly starting now. Things will slow down once the twins are born.

He stood in the yard, taking in the scenery. Mountains surrounded the cabin on either side. The lake below was calm and serene. This was the kind of place that he would have wanted them to start their lives together in. It felt like someone had twisted a knife in his gut to know that she was living the life he wanted for them with someone else.

A dog barking close by pulled him from his reverie. He turned when he heard the front door to the cabin open.

"Edward?" Bella said from the porch.

Angus darted out the door and stopped at Edward's feet. He snarled, showing his fangs before barking again. Bella moved quickly down the stairs and picked the dog up. He calmed down enough that Bella could get a grip on him.

"What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk."

"I said everything that I needed to say to you the other night."

"There were things left unsaid," he said, running his hands through his hair.

The sun glinted off of something on his hand. Bella noticed it as he put his hand down.

"You're married?"

"As of last week," he said with a nod.

"Congratulations." Bella said with a tight lipped smile.

"I'm not over you, but Tonya dulls the ache. I still have trouble letting my guard down. I constantly compare her to you."

"Come inside," she said, turning towards the house.

The first thing that he noticed once they were inside was a picture of Charlie, Billy, Jacob, and Bella on the mantle. Bella went to put the dog in the laundry room while he walked through the living room. Charlie stood behind Billy, resting his arms on Billy's chair while Bella and Jacob stood on either side of the chair. The four smiling faces made Edward quickly look away. What had he been thinking when he decided to come here? He had no right to be here. He wasn't a part of Bella's life anymore. He had brought it upon himself.

Bella came into the room to stand behind him. He turned towards the door, seeing her in the entrance way.

"I shouldn't have come here. This was a mistake."

"Why did you come here? Be honest."

"I came to see you one last time. And to tell you that Carlisle and I have talked to Aro and Caius. They will leave you alone as long as I never see you again."

"What about your family?"

"You can see them as often as you like."

She opened the door for him and put a hand on his shoulder as he passed her. He looked down at her hand, then into her eyes. She pulled him into her arms without saying a word. He wrapped her in his arms, holding her tightly.

Neither of them heard the person on the porch until they were standing in front of them.

"Hello, Leah."

"Hi," Leah replied in a cool tone.

"Edward is leaving. You can come in."

Bella shut the door, hearing Angus come running down the hall. He jumped into the window seat, watching Edward drive away. Leah came back down the hall, watching Bella curiously.

"He came here to say that I would never see him again. That's something that should be done in person."

"I didn't say anything," Leah said quietly.

"I know what you are thinking. I'm not stupid," Bella said harshly.

"I would have wanted Sam to do the same thing if I were you."

"I'm sorry. I keep forgetting that you've been through this before."

"Don't worry about it. That is the most amazing sound I have ever heard," she said, coming to stand next to Bella.

"I wish that I could hear it," Bella said sadly.

"You will. How far along are you?"

"I'll be a month on Wednesday."

"Wow. There's more than one?"

"Two."

"Oh man. Double trouble."

"God, I hope not," Bella said with a groan.

"Have you told your dad and Billy yet?"

"We were going to this past weekend. But that accident on the highway kept my dad out all day and half the night Saturday. He slept all day Sunday. We want to tell them when they're together. We're going to try again this weekend."

"Have been to see a doctor yet?"

"I have an appointment on Monday."

The two friends laughed and got caught up. It felt good to talk to someone about what was going on and not worry about the person telling someone else.

XXXX

Jacob and Bella sat on the loveseat in his living room. Billy was in the kitchen making dinner, while Charlie sat on the couch next to them.

"Are you two okay? You're awfully quiet," Charlie asked.

"We're fine," they said at the same time.

"If you say so," he said, giving them an unsure look.

"Come and eat," Billy said from the kitchen.

Billy and Charlie joked back and forth, while Bella pushed her food around on her plate. Jacob nudged her under the table. He mouthed the word "eat" before picking up his own fork.

"Why are you two so quiet? Did you use up your conversational skills talking to each other? These two talked for five hours every night this week," Billy said, looking between the two of them.

Bella shrugged her shoulders while Jacob looked down at his plate.

"Okay, this has gone on long enough. No more lying." Charlie said with a sigh.

Bella's eyes met Jacob's across the table. She looked from her dad, then to Billy. Her dad was looking at her through worried eyes while Billy gave Jacob an expectant look.

"I'm pregnant," Bella said, gathering all of her confidence.

The room was silent except for Billy's wheels moving across the floor. Charlie's chair scraped across the floor as he stood to follow Billy.

"They didn't say anything," Bella said quietly.

"Once the shock wears off, the yelling will happen. Then you'll wish that they had kept quiet."

Billy came back into room and placed something on the table. When he lifted his hand, both Jacob and Bella's eyes went to what lay on the table. Sarah's engagement ring sat next to Jacob's plate.

"Dad, I can't take that," Jacob said with a sigh.

"You're going to ask her to marry you," Billy said in an authoritive tone.

"We're too young," Bella said in a panicked voice.

"You should have thought about that sooner," Charlie said from the door.

"What if we get engaged now, but wait until we're done with school?" Bella asked, looking at Billy and then at Charlie.

"Bella's applied for Culinary School," Jacob explained.

"I'll pay for it, then."

"I can't ask you to do that, Dad."

"That's the only way that you're getting out of getting married right away," Charlie said as he leaned against the door jamb.

Bella looked up at Jacob, hoping for some kind of reassurance. His eyes met hers, giving her the answer she needed.

"Okay," she said in a defeated tone.

Jacob stood from the table, picking up the ring. He turned it over in his palm, looking at it sadly.

"Dad, I can't take this. Rachel should have it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Jacob said, handing it to Billy.

Bella stood, following Jacob from the room. They stood in his room, and she could see the tension in his shoulders.

"Did you have to tell them that you wouldn't marry me?"

"I didn't say that."

"Not in those words, no. But you might as well have."

"It's not enough that I'm pregnant, now you want to ruin your life even more?"

"How can you say that?"

"I'm nineteen, you're only seventeen. We're too young to be dealing with this." Bella said as she bit back a sob.

"I am trying to do the right thing."

"So am I. Do you really want to get married while you are still in high school?"

"That doesn't matter to me."

"You say that now, but in a few years you are going to wish that we had waited."

"No, I won't," he said, shaking his head.

"Can you please see this from my perspective? I want to wait. I don't want to tie you down any more than I already have," she said as tears started to fall.

"Do you promise that we will get married in two years?"

"Nothing could stop me," she said, shaking her head.

Jacob turned to face her, wiping away her tears.

"I know school is important to you. I shouldn't have argued with you about it."

She stepped into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist. He draped his arms over her shoulders as she started to cry harder.

"This is something that you're going to have to get used to, at least for a while."

"I can't wait," he said sarcastically.

"There are other things that will happen, too."

"I already know about morning sickness."

"Did you know that my boobs will almost double in size?"

He bit back a groan before letting out a strangled laugh.

"I knew that would make you feel better."

"I'm going to be thinking about your boobs for the rest of the night."

"Get your mind out of the gutter," she said with a laugh.

"You put it there," he muttered.

"Will you still think about them when I'm old and they sag?" she asked with a teasing smile.

"I'll be too old to get it up then, so it won't matter," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Jerk," she said with a laugh.

She smacked him in the chest for good measure. He laughed as she brought her knee up.

"Don't you dare!" he said, covering himself.

"If you let me, we won't have to worry about having any more kids," she said with a laugh.

"No!" he said with a laugh.

"You're right; it would hurt me more than it would hurt you," she said with a sigh.

"See? I was thinking of you."

"Uh huh, sure you were."

She relaxed against him again, and he tightened his grip on her.

"Will we still be able to have sex?"

"I don't see why not."

"Now?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"No. Not with our dads in the next room," she said, rolling her eyes.

"I can ask them to leave."

"You are such a pervert," she said against his chest.

"Then when?"

"I'll be at my dad's all weekend. Friday we can spend all day together."

"Why not tomorrow?"

"We'll be together tomorrow too, but Sue's house will be full of people, seeing as tomorrow's Thanksgiving. We won't have much alone time."

"Friday it is."

XXXX

Thanksgiving morning was tense, frantic, and silent at the Swan house. Bella made green bean casserole, stuffing, and three different pies to take to the Clearwater's. She was nervous about how everyone would react when they found out that she was pregnant.

She knew that their opinions shouldn't matter; she hardly knew them. That wasn't anyone's fault but hers. Other than Embry, Quil, and Sam, she hadn't taken the time to get to know any of them. That was going to change today.

Her dad sat in the living room watching the Macy's Parade. Football would wait until they got to Sue's. They had watched the parade together for as long as she could remember. Thanksgiving and Christmas were the only times that Charlie had ever come to Phoenix other than her birthday.

Someone knocked on the door as Bella was pulling the last pie out of the oven. Charlie answered it, but said nothing. The person came into the kitchen quietly. Bella looked over her shoulder in surprise.

"Rose," Bella said as she turned.

"I thought you might want someone in your corner today."

"How did you know?"

"Jacob called Emmett last night. Sue wanted to invite us."

Bella let herself be pulled in for a hug.

"Who all is coming?"

"All of us."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"It smells wonderful in here. Can I do anything to help?" Esme asked as she came into the room.

"No. Everything is done."

"Then go and get ready," Alice said, pushing Bella up the stairs.

XXXX

Bella looked up at Sue's house, wondering if she could really face everyone inside. The front door opened, and Seth came bounding down the steps. He opened Bella's door as she was unbuckling her seat belt. He pulled her in for a bone crushing hug, which made her shout in surprise.

"Seth! Not so hard!" Leah said from the door.

"I didn't bring Angus, sorry."

"That's okay, maybe next time?" he asked, looking her in the eye.

"Seth, let go of her," Sue said, coming down the stairs.

"I was just saying hi," he said with a shrug.

"He doesn't know his own strength," Leah said, opening the back door of the truck.

Leah, Sue, and Seth brought everything in for Bella while she waited for the Cullens to pull up. She didn't see Billy's truck or the Rabbit, so she knew that Jacob wasn't there yet.

"Hi," Emily said from next to her.

"Hey."

"I hear that congratulations are in order."

"Times two."

"I hope you don't mind that Leah told me."

"It's fine."

"She says that the pack will hear it when you come in."

"I'm putting off going inside for as long as possible. I'm surprised that Seth didn't say anything."

"Nothing has ever fazed him. He has a high tolerance for shock value."

"He always used to tell me 'No worries Bells, everything is gonna be okay.' He was only five."

"That doesn't surprise me," Emily said with a laugh.

The Cullens parked on the other side of Charlie's truck while Billy parked behind them. Emily patted Bella's shoulder in encouragement as Jacob helped Billy into his chair.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Bella," Carlisle said with a smile.

"Happy Thanksgiving. Emily, this is Carlisle, his wife Esme, and their children Alice, Rosalie, Jasper, and Emmett. Everyone, this is Emily; she is Sam's fiancée."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Emily. Sam is a good man."

"Yes Esme, he is," Emily said with a smile.

"Everyone come inside," Sue said from the door.

Jacob took one of Bella's hands in his and led her into the house. They stopped just inside the door to take their jackets off when they heard a high pitched shriek.

"Jakey!" A little girl screamed as she ran up to him.

"Hey, Claire," he said, picking her up.

"This is Claire?"

"Yeah."

"I'm three," Claire said, holding up three fingers.

"Wow. You're a big girl."

"This is Bella."

Claire smiled before burying her face in Jacob's neck. Bella rubbed her back as Quil came down the hall. He stopped in front of Bella.

"What is that noise?" he asked as he took Claire from Jacob.

"You haven't told him?" Bella asked with wide eyes.

"The only reason Leah found out is because she was eaves dropping while I was on patrol. She heard me talking to you."

"What does Leah know that I don't?"

"Bella's pregnant," Jacob whispered.

"I won't tell anyone else."

"Thank you," Bella said with a sigh of relief.

"Let them get farther than the door," Billy said, coming up the hall.

"I came to get Claire," Quil said in defense.

Jacob was pulling her down the hall when she pulled away.

"I'm not ready yet. I'm gonna go in the kitchen."

Jacob nodded before veering into the living room. Sue, Emily, Mae, and Leah were busy in the kitchen.

"You were smart to make your stuff beforehand. The rest of us weren't so lucky," Sue said as Bella came to stand next to her.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No. We've got it covered. I'm going to make the younger boys set the tables soon."

Bella watched the women work as Embry came into the room, followed by his mom. He stood a few feet away, watching Bella.

"I'm not allowed to help," she said with a shrug.

He smiled as he shook his head.

"How are you?"

"Pregnant."

"Jake told me as soon as he got home the night he found out."

"That's what he said. Quil found out a few minutes ago."

"Are you hiding in here because you don't want anyone else to find out?"

"No. I'm scared about how they'll react."

"I'll take care of that," Leah said, pulling her up out of her chair.

They were in the living room before Bella could put up a fight.

"Everybody, say hi to Bella," Leah said, getting their attention.

"Hey, Bella," everybody said.

"If you're wondering about the noise, it's coming from Bella. Jake knocked her up."

"Leah!" Bella hissed.

"My job is done," Leah said, walking away.

Bella laughed nervously as everyone went back to what they were doing. Jacob looked at her with an amused look. She sat next to him. He slung an arm over her shoulders as she sighed. The worst part was over. She had worried over nothing.

"It's a good thing Charlie wasn't in here," Seth said from the floor.

"Your sister knows better than to do that," Jared said, defending her.

"You okay?" Jacob asked.

Bella looked over at him, still wondering why she had worried so much. She nodded as the room erupted in noise. Football was on, and everything else was forgotten.