EPOV

Dinner was, interesting shall we say.

After my family, all except my mom, had examined us like we were an exhibit at the zoo, Bella left the table and my mom got stuck into them all.

**Flashback**

'What in the world is wrong with you all that you are behaving like this? Have you never seen anyone outside the family eat before? Now poor Bella must think you're all touched in the head. What is the problem?" my mom hissed at them.

'It's just so strange, they're like a little family. Edward sitting there feeding the baby while eating himself as though he's been doing it for years. And they move as if they know exactly what the other one is going to do before they even do it. It's fascinating.' Alice answered.

"Fascinating or not Bella is important to your brother and you are going to scare her off. Now can you behave or do you all need to leave?" my mom asked.

They all mumbled that they would behave. Rosalie had slipped out to check on Bella and I continued to help Carson with his food, ignoring my siblings.

Eventually after many minutes of silence Bella and Rose came back in.

**Flashback**

After dinner things settled down and we actually had some fun. Bella and Carson left early what with Bella having to get up so early. When I walked her to the door I asked if I could take her out on Saturday if it wasn't too short noticed. She thankfully agreed.

I honestly couldn't believe she had been in my life for such a short time. I actually dreamt last night that instead of being chicken in high school I had asked her out and Carson was mine. We were married and life looked pretty damn good.

Emmett thought it was freaky that I wasn't scared by how fast things were going, Rosalie thought it was sweet but warned me to be careful with a child being involved, Jasper told me if I was happy he was happy for me.

And Alice, Alice was happy for me but was annoyed I hadn't called her the minute things started happening with Bella. She told me she understood that it really wasn't any of her business but as my older sister she worried about me. Really she was just nosy.

Friday morning I drove to my studio to pick up some of my equipment I had stored there at the beginning of the week. Alice and Rosalie wanted me to go and take some before shots of their shop before it was remodelled.

I got what I need and headed to Rose and Alice's place, which was two streets over and got to work.

A few hours later I was on my way home when I had to stop for gas. I stopped at the gas station just outside of Forks. I saw two big Native American guys at the pump next to mine.

"So he really did it then?" the smaller of the two asked.

"Yup. Serves her right. Who does she think she is? She strings him along for years then tells him about the kid, keeps him away from him and now she's whoring herself out all over the place. I don't know what the fuck she thinks she's playing at!"

"Sam, you know that's not how things have played out at all. Jacob is acting like a dick right now and you know as well as I do that he needs help. If it was your kid would you let him anywhere near?"

These were Jacobs friends? And what had he done to Bella?

I decided to listen some more and find out. I fiddled with my card at the machine as though I couldn't get it to work.

"Well I'll never find out will I. Besides the boy should be learning about his heritage. He doesn't even have his proper name because she wanted him to have hers." Sam fumed.

"That's what most single moms do. Besides Jacob isn't exactly adhering to the laws of the tribe right now either. He disappeared all last week leaving his dad to fend for himself. He should be looking after his father not be out getting wasted every night. My mom went over and found Billy living on toast because Jacob wasn't there to take him grocery shopping. Plus there's all the meetings he's missed.

Besides, Leah says that Bella's dating one guy and it's the first guy she's ever known about. Her and Bella are close so she tells her stuff. Jacob is just bitter it's not him."

"And Leah is such a great judge of character isn't she Seth. She can't even bring herself to talk to her own cousin when she needs her." Sam spat.

"Maybe if her cousin hadn't broken up her relationship shortly after she lost her own child Leah would have been there for Emily when she found out she couldn't have any. Don't bad mouth my sister because you couldn't keep it in your pants. I'm going to wait in the car."

The guy Seth got in the pick up truck they had with them. I paid for my gas, pumped and left the gas station and headed for the bakery.

By the time I got into Forks it was three thirty. I knew Bella would've picked Carson up by now so I headed to her house but she wasn't there. I headed to my parents and saw my mom's car outside. As soon as I got in the front door I could hear a baby crying. When I got to the living room it was Carson.

Bella was sitting holding some gauze to her arm while my mom tried to comfort Carson.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Ewa!" Carson cried out when he heard me.

I went over to my mom and lifted him and then went over to Bella who was trying not to cry.

"What happened baby?" I asked.

If Jacob black had done this to her he wouldn't be breathing by tonight.

"I parked my car at the back of the bakery, like normal and then Leah was out sick so I was working the counter. Luciana shouted on me a while ago and when I went through she told me to go outside. My car had been trashed. The tires have been slashed and the windows all smashed. It was almost time for me to get Carson so I called my dad but he was out on a call and I couldn't get a hold of my mom. I managed to get a hold of your mom and she said she would come by and pick me up.

I couldn't get the door unlocked to get Carson's seat out so I put my arm in the window where it was broken and ripped my arm open. We had to get a rolling pin from the shop, knock all the rest of the glass out and then get into the car to get the seat out. I had to shake all the broken glass off the seat and then fold up a blanket for Carson to sit on. I didn't want to go to the hospital so you're dad is coming here to stitch up my arm." she sobbed.

I kissed her head and sat down beside her. She leaned her head on my shoulder and I rubbed Carson's back as he drifted off to sleep.

We sat quietly for a little while and then the conversation I overheard came back to me. I didn't even think about it right away, I was shocked at the scene I walked in on.

"Baby, does Jacob have friends named Sam and Seth?" I asked.

"Yeah. Leah, who I work with, is Seth's sister and Sam is her ex. Why?"

"Because I think Jacob wrecked your car.? Before I had a chance to tell the story the front door opened and my dad and charlie barreled through.

"Bells, you okay?" Charlie asked.

I let them talk while I lay Carson down on the love seat and covered him up. I tucked his Nemo stuffed toy under his arm in case he woke up. He loved that thing. I looked up to see that my dad had already started to clean Bella's wound but her dad and her were staring at me.

"Hey Chief Swan, I'm Edward Cullen." I said extending my hand.

"Nice to meet you Edward." he replied as he shook my hand.

He looked behind me to his grandson.

"Now, Bella said you think Jacob had something to do with this," he said as he sat down next to bella.

I sat on the armchair facing him.

"I was driving back to town today and I overheard two of his buddies talking," I said as I told him everything I heard.

"See, the problem is that I don't think we have enough proof to do anything about it. As much as he is acting the idiot he isn't one. I don't think he'll have left anything behind. All I can do is pay him an unofficial visit and caution him. I think I should wait though because if I go over there right now I'll be the one going away," Charlie finished.

"I never ever thought I would hate him but I do. I despise him for all he's doing to me right now. How can he say he ever loved me when he does shit like this!" Bella growled.

And damn if it wasn't sexy.

"And I can't believe he would leave Billy like that. He knows Billy can't get around by himself. That alone proves how far up his own ass he is. Instead of his friends standing up for him they ought to try and help him," she continued.

"Okay Bella, you're all done. Keep that covered and clean and we'll check them in about a week."

My mom had been so quiet I'd almost forgot she was there.

"Charlie would you like to stay for dinner?" she asked out of the blue.

That was my mom, she was always trying to feed people.

"I'd love to but I should head out. I'll need to talk to Jacob and then Renee will have dinner on."

"Dad, mom's not home. I called her when I was at the shop and then again just before Edward got here. Why don't you have something to eat. If Jacob did do this you'll be lucky to find him any time soon."

"Honestly Charlie it's no bother. Bella and Carson will be here anyway." my mom butted in.

"Okay then if you're sure you don't mind," Charlie agreed.

After we ate Charlie left to go find Jacob. He was determined to make him talk. I headed out to drive Bella and the baby home. I took my mom's car because Carson's seat was already in there.

"How you holding up?" I asked as I massaged her thigh.

"Okay, I guess. I'm just having a tough time wrapping my head around the fact that someone who was my best friend is doing all these things to me. Then there's the fact that I don't even know how I'm going to get to work tomorrow. My car's been taken away by my insurance company. Plus I think it's weird that my mom didn't call to see where my dad was."

"There's a hell of a lot going on in that beautiful head of yours. Okay, I don't know about your mom but I can come over and take you to work. I'm not working until ten. I can also pick you up from work and then we can try and arrange something to cover the time it'll take for your car to be repaired or whatever. As for your mom maybe she just got caught up doing whatever she's doing."

Bella had said on more than one occasion that her mom was scatter-brained. It seemed logical that she genuinally forgot to call Charlie.

"I can't ask you to do that. I have to be at work for six. You would have to be up at like five fifteen to be over here and get me to work on time." she said.

"It's fine. I'll get up, drop you off and then maybe sleep for an hour when I get back. It'll be fine. Now do you want me to help with Carson tonight? You'll need to keep that dressing dry and you said he needs a bath."

"That would be great if you don't mind" she said shyly.

"Of course I don't. Bella I want to take care of you. All of you have to do is let me." I answered her.

We pulled up at her house and made our way inside. I carried Carson upstairs and Bella started his bath. I played with him in his room until it was ready. I took him through to the bathroom and Bella got him undressed. I put him in the tub and played with his as Bella watched.

Once he was clean I lifted him out and wrapped him in a towel. I lay him down on Bella's bed and kept him occupied until she had a diaper on him. We got him ready for bed and I put him in his cot then Bella read to him.

I went downstairs and got some water while I waited. A few minutes later Bella came down.

"Is he asleep?" I asked.

"Yeah. He was out like a light. Thank you for being here tonight. I wouldn't have been able to bathe him or change him without your help."

"It's fine. I've actually enjoyed myself. He's a feisty little thing in the water!"

He had soaked half the bathroom within five minutes of being in the tub.

"Yup, he likes his splashing. He shorted a hairdryer at my parents house one time, nearly started a fire."

"How in the hell did he manage that?"

"Because my mother left her dryer plugged in and he started splashing. He filled a jug with water and when she turned her back to get him a towel he poured it all over the counter beside the tub, effectively blowing up my mothers hairdryer. It was her own damn fault" she laughed.

"So, I should let you get to bed miss," I said as I pulled her into my arms and kissed her.

After a few minutes she pulled away.

"Are you sure you don't mind taking me to work in the morning? I could always call Luciana and have her come get me. Or Leah if she's going to be in."

"Bella it's fine. I'm going to head out now and let you get to bed."

She walked me to the door.

"I'll see you in the morning baby" I leaned down and pulled her bottom lip between mine.

We made out for a couple of minutes before I pulled away. I was starting to get uncomfortable.

"I'll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams," she called after me.

I turned and blew her a kiss and headed for home.

Thanks for all reviews.

Next chapter should be up in a couple of days.

As always chracters are not mine.