Disclaimer: SM owns all twilight characters, this plot is all mine.

Thank you blazing for looking this over for me.

Chapter 26

BPOV

"Jake"

"Hey Bells what's up?"

"Nothing, can you bring the kids to my house. I will be working there all day."

"Oh okay, do you want us to come now, to help?"

"If you want to. I just thought you would want to spend time alone with the boys. You have been helping me here on the weekends and you don't get much time. Between last weekend and Friday you haven't gotten much guy time, but if you want to of course you are welcome."

"Uh…I might show up early, to help out, but I do want to play with the boys for a while."

"Okay, will Leah be with you?"

"Do you want her there?"

"It would be nice. We had a good time when she came with us for ladies night. In fact, we all want her to make it a regular thing. Did she have a good time?"

"She told me she did."

"I think I will call her, to invite her over too. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay, bye Bella."

I hang up and call Leah.

"Hello"

"Leah its Bella."

"Yeah" I like talking to her she is so perky.

"Hey, why don't you come over with Jake later on." She laughs.

"What?" I ask.

"I don't know why Jake didn't just bring the phone out there. He is so simple sometimes."

"Tell me about it I didn't even know you where there." I roll my eyes. "So will you be here?"

"Yeah definitely."

"Great, see you in a while."

"Yep bye"

We hang up and Edward stops working on the staining and walks over to me.

"You are an amazing woman."

"Why?"

"Because, you ask her out with your friends and you ask her over here to your home."

"Well it's not much of a home right now; we have a few more weeks before it is livable." I joke.

"Well I have Tuesday off I'd like to come in and do some work. Is that okay?"

"Let me think about it please." I want him involved I just don't want him too involved.

"Yeah, no problem just let me know. I would still like to have lunch with you though." I nod and he smiles.

We stand around and flirt for a while then get back to work. While I am working on the carpeting I feel someone over me on all fours. It's Edward, of course. We lay there, making out for a little while when I hear the door shut.

"Mama"

I try to get up. "Nope, you are going to stay right here."

"But… the kids…"

"Are fine, Seth will more than likely walk back out, Billy will call for Jake, and honestly Leah will step in at that point. Bella you are my girlfriend and I know you love your kids but if we keep stepping away every time Jake comes around I will get a complex and Billy will start using that to his advantage. I know Jake is your friend but Bella I am tired of pulling away. I want people to see how much I want to be with you."

Have I really been that unfair to him? I think I might have. I can't let him get too close though. Although… a little affection won't hurt. I do kind of like it when he gives me this attention. What the hell, live it up, I guess.

"Hey, where did you go?" I get pulled out of my mental debate.

"Huh. Oh nowhere…I can't really go anywhere when you are on me." He kisses me again.

"Oh come on mom. Really? That's just gross." Seth stands there with his ands on his hips and a disgusted look on his face.

"Mama, what are…" he looks at us and blinks. We have not gotten out of our predicament. "Daddy!" he wails.

Yea, I think Edward has a point.

As if on cue there is a thumping on the stairs and there is Jake. "Bella you know he doesn't like that. Why do you do it?"

"Do what, play around with her boyfriend?" Edward gets up. "Jake you have got to stop this. That is why he is acting like this. I understand he is your son but do you really think I would hurt him in any way, really?"

"Uh…"

"I know Jake, I am a father too. I would never dream of coming between you and the boys. I know what its like to love a person with all you have and now someone else is here and you are worried about things now. At the risk of offending you let me ask you this. Don't you want as many people as possible to love your sons? They like my daughter and when you are not around Billy and I actually have a good time. When you come around that's when he starts this. I know he is adjusting but Jake you need to see he is playing everything to his advantage."

Jake is speechless.

"Told you so," Seth says. "Now Billy, stop acting like a baby and come on."

"Jake he has a point." Leah finally says. "You can not complain about innocent playing when we were…last night when he wanted to get in your bed." She looks at him with her eye brows raised. I can't stop the laugh that erupts from me.

"Daddy" we hear Amanda holler. Edward wraps me in his arms. Amanda walks in the room a minute later and sees us. "Hey dad, hey Bella." She rushes over and hugs us. Jake just watches on. Amanda turns around and says hi to Jake and Leah then heads off to the boys.

I look between Jake and Edward and wonder if the pissing contest is over. Jake still looks a little put out and Edward still looks frustrated. Oh for fucks sakes you two, this is crazy.

"Leah come on I want to show you the kitchen, it's pretty well done." I walk past Jake and turn around. "You two, be nice. I don't want to have to break you guys up." Then I leave with a laughing Leah.

"Do you think this will end badly?" Leah asks when we get into the kitchen.

"What the house?" I am confused.

She chuckles "No those two, alone, in a room. Jake is so odd with Edward."

"Leah, I will be honest with you, Jake is no different than me. Except for the fact he is still trying to be "alpha" in the boy's lives. He is worried they will love Edward and forget about him. It's natural, I did it with you. I was just a little more…subtle. When you are in a situation like this" I motion between the upstairs and us, "life gets confusing and you become territorial of what is yours. The kids mean a lot to the both of us and Jake just doesn't want to lose them. The thing is, if he keeps doing this to Edward, one of two things will happen; Edward will leave me and then I will be put out severely, or him and Edward will make life hard on the kids. I know he is worried but he also need to trust me a little too."

"He is trying Bella." Leah says.

"Oh I know, but I am almost annoyed with him. I know its mean but I got over it with you. I mean no offence by that. I just want you to know, I know you are important to the boys and they like you, a little advice…Seth is a lot smarter than what anyone thinks and he knows a lot about the kids. I'm not saying use my son, but in a small way I guess I am."

"Bella, that is confusing."

"Okay let's try this. Seth knows what Billy is doing before he does it; if he says something, listen. Don't go to him for every little thing, but he will let you know when to keep your eyes open. Don't let the fact that he is seven fool you. He is not your average seven year old. If you are going to be around you need to know Seth is a huge help. Now do I want to know what Billy walked in on?" I smile mischievously.

"Uh… well do you want to hear about what I did with your ex-husband?" Leah grimaces.

"Leah," I laugh, "Jake and I are not average, please, tell me you do not miss that."

"I think you can imagine then." Leah gives me a triumphant look, and then explains the whole thing.

After thanking her for being there, I realize that maybe-just maybe Leah will work well with me.

We hear a crash then…

"Mamas gonna kiiiill you." This gets our attention and we both take off.

EPOV

"Leah come on I want to show you the kitchen, it's pretty well done." Bella walks out stopping only to warn us to play nice. Thoughts of how to play very nice with Bella roll through my head.

"Dude, I'm still here." Jake snaps me from my daze.

"Look Jake, I know you are their dad, but can't I love them too? I mean we all have so much fun together. I meant what I said when I told you Billy only acts like this when you are around."

"I know Seth and I had a little chat about that. That boy really is something." Jake snuffs.

"Yes he is." I agree. "I want us to be friends, you are Bella's best friend and if we keep this up she will feel torn between the two of us and I don't want that for her. She means a lot to me and I don't want to add anymore stress on her."

"I'm tryin here, but I don't want Billy to think I am turning my back on him if he needs me either."

"Supporting Bella and I will not do that. He is playing a game right now and using you to do it. I'm not saying he is bad I'm just saying please show him that it's okay."

"How, by not running in?"

"No come in, let him see that you checked on it but if nothing is wrong and leave it alone and tell him everything is fine."

"I will try, but keep the groping to a minimum. Kids don't need to see that."

"We where not groping, we where horsing around. Even last weekend though when I tried to touch her look what happened that turned into a very uncomfortable situation."

"Okay, I will try. Just remember this is a learning process for us all."

"Alright, that, I can do."

We are soon caught off guard by a crash and Seth screaming. "Mamas gonna kiiiiill you."

We rush to the kids. When we walk in Bella is already there with Leah next to her cleaning up a mess.

"What happened?" Jake asks.

"I didn't do anything." Amanda defends off the bat. "Billy did it."

"Amanda, sweetie, what did he do?"

"He threw that." She points to a shelf lying below the window.

"Billy did you throw that?" he just nods. "Billy I just bought that window, damn it." Bella's frustration is thick in her voice.

"I will call the window people tomorrow and have it replaced." I offer.

"Edward, no. My son did this and I will fix it. I just have to wait till Friday, my savings is running low."

"Nope, I got this one." Jake pipes in. "Leah call them and take care of it, you still have that card, right?" She nods and Bella starts to protest. He holds up his hand to stop her. "My son broke it you can't tell me no." he smiles triumphantly.

"Our son." she corrects.

"Yeah and you bought the first one, so I buy the second one." He states firmly.

"Uh… guys, I am not a parent here but should we make sure he doesn't do it again?"

That snaps everyone back and Bella and Jake take Billy into another room.

Wow this is so messed up. Everyone arguing about a window. It's a fuckin window. Bella really needs to relax. Seth looks at me, and just shakes his head and goes to take Amanda out side. Leah and I clean up the mess and cover the window. By the time we are done Bella and Jake walk in talking.

After thanking us for tending to the window Bella suggests we have a couples night just the four of us. Jake seems on board. With a lot of hesitation I agree. Don't get me wrong I don't think Jake is a bad guy, I think he is used to watching out for Bella and the boys, therefore I wonder if he has a hidden agenda.

*The next weekend*

JPOV

"Jake, you have got to relax. Bella invited us for a reason." Leah says.

"Sure, sure."

"When I went out with them I had a blast. You know Bella like no one else does, so why are you freaking out." She looks at me. "Oh Jake, Edward is not a bad guy. Besides I thought you trusted Bella's intuition."

"Yeah"

"Then for heaven sakes, Jacob, trust her now."

"I am trying"

"Tryins' dying, get it done." She snips.

We walk in to the 'Bella Italia' and Edward is standing there with Bella. She is giggling. Seth may have a point. But…

"Jake, glad you could be with us." Edward extends his hand keeping one in Bella's back.

"Sure, sure" I respond earning me a warning look from Bella. She knows I only say that to pacify people.

We get shown to a table and Edward pulls out a chair for Bella and she looks into his eyes with a dreamy look. Hmmm… I pull out Leah's chair and she just looks at me and slightly shakes her head. I have to say, I am thankful she doesn't want that kind of stuff. It's just not me. Bella must have seen because she gives a small giggle, Edward looks at her and she just holds her hand up.

It is strangely quiet until the waitress comes to take our orders. I just sit back and soak it all up.

BPOV

Jake is just killing me from the minute he arrives with Leah. He pacifies Edward as he is nothing but polite. Then when Edward pulls out my chair Jake does the same for Leah. The look on his face says he is clearly out of his element, and knowing him I know he is just so not like that. I can't suppress a giggle as Leah silently lets him know she doesn't want him to do that. Edward looks at me and I hold my hand up to let him know, never mind.

We look at the menus in an odd silence. I half wonder if Edward and Leah notice. I don't get much time to ponder the issue though because our waitress comes over.

"Hi, I am Michelle, how can I help you tonight?" She bats her eyes between Edward and Jake, shifting her weight to stick her hip out at Edward but tilting her head to look at Jake while wearing a huge ass come and get me grin. Leah and I look at each other. She is clearly as pissed as I am. Is this chick blind, stupid, or both. I will not watch this all night. So help me if he doesn't stop this now I will walk out.

"We need a few more minutes." Jake says with out looking at her.

She walks away and Leah leans over the table to me. "Was she…"

"Yep." I lean in too as we see-saw back and forth in chopped incomplete conversation.

"At…"

"Both…"

"Slut."

"Treading…"

"Dangerously…"

The guys are looking at us, Jake look at little confused and Edward puts his hand on my leg and leans in to whisper. "Relax Bella, I will handle it." I look at him.

"If you don't, I will." Leah leans over.

"What's the problem, guys?" Jake asks just as hushed as us.

"Jake, you are so simple sometimes." I huff a laugh.

"That's why I like him so much." Leah takes his hand and smiles at him, while she explains.

We go back to looking over the menu. I watch the waitress from where we are she is watching us. I see Leah out of the corner of my eye and she is fuming. After we all have decided what we want we talk while we wait for the waitress. It doesn't take long and she is back. This time the lipstick is touched up and fresh eyeliner has been applied. I take a deep breath and blow it out. Leah just looks at her slack jawed.

"Have I given you enough time to decide, guys?" she asks flirtatiously.

Edward puts down his menu and Jake takes Leah's hand, now that he knows what the problem is and why Leah is unhappy.

Edward looks at the waitress and curtly tells her, "First I think my friend and I would like to speak with your boss, and second our girlfriends would like a new waitress. Now please." She walks away and returns right away with her boss.

"Emily? I didn't know you worked here." Leah smiles. The waitress looks sick now.

"Leah, hi sweetie. I understand I have been requested. What's the occasion?" She asks.

"Well, Emmy, I know you don't run a brothel here and as you can see we are on a double date and you have a waitress here who thinks she can have her choice from my boyfriend or my friend's boyfriend here. She has carried herself suggestively and is practically throwing herself at them. Now Emmy I came to enjoy myself with my friends and have a nice meal, not beat some skank's ass for fucking with my man."

She looks at the girl and raises an eyebrow. "Michelle, how many times have I had to do this now?" She turns to us again. "Being I clearly have issues with my wait staff, I will be tending to your table personally, and you entire meal will be on the house. I apologize for my server." Looking back at the waitress, she orders the girl to the kitchen. She takes our order and leaves.

"Thanks, Leah, your making me look bad. I wanted to have a say too." Edward laughs.

"Sorry I guess I just got carried away. I know Jake didn't see it, he isn't the type and even if he did, he would leave before he said anything and I don't want to leave I am having fun."

The table starts laughing. Leah never really struck me as the forward type but it does make me feel better, because if anyone gets out of control with the boys I truly believe Leah would be there to stop it. There is a large comfort in that for me.

We all relax and look to enjoy ourselves. After we leave the restaurant I call my parents and make sure its okay if we leave the kids there and stay out longer. After their approval we all head out to the club.

On the way in Jake pulls me back, holding his hand up to Edward as he gets a dirty look.

"Hey, you're right he is cool. He has only got eyes for you, and I see he is all that you always asked for. I now see what you see in him."

All I can do is nod with a smile as tears threaten to spill over. Then he walks me back to Edward and takes Leah's arm. We walk in and enjoy the rest of the night at the club, and no one leaves drunk. I officially classify this as the best night ever.

This is where you leave your thoughts. I know it's kinda all over the place but there was not much happening during the week. Press review and leave your thoughts.