Babies, Babies, Babies
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thanks for the kind reviews, Nikki.
Part Four
Jacob came back from a long patrol shift; he was feeling tired but hopeful. Bella's last words to him had really buoyed him up…this…you are more important, she had said. He clung onto this and allowed himself to hope for the first time in weeks. Embry, who had shared the patrol shift with him, had tried to warn him to not read too much into Bella's words, but after Jacob replayed the scene in his head Embry had to concede that Bella did appear genuine. He told Jacob he was just worried for him, all the pack were. They were brothers and best friends, Embry was his closest friend, even more so than Quil, and he listened to his advice. He promised he would be cautious but Embry's wise words still couldn't extinguish the hope that Jacob carried like a lighted candle in the darkest recesses of his heart.
It was two in the morning when he finally reached his house. He crept inside, being careful to make no sound. He didn't want to disturb the children or Rebecca and Solomon. Jacob was surprised to see that his father was still awake. He was sitting at the kitchen table whittling a piece of wood. The only light came from a small lamp and it left Billy's face in shadow. Jacob knew that something was bothering his father, this was Billy's way. He would take out his frustration on the wood, whatever time of day or night it was. Sometimes his best work was done at these times.
"Dad?" Jacob said cautiously as he joined Billy, taking a seat across from him.
"How was it?" Billy questioned as he continued with his task. Jacob suspected that Billy had finally had his talk with Rebecca and it can't have gone well.
"All quiet."
"Good." Billy replied curtly.
"You talk to Becca?"
"Yes."
"And?"
Billy sighed and put down his tools as he finally looked at his son. "I did. She is deluding herself. Her husband has no skills that I can see, he can't cook for toffee. They have only the clothes they brought with them, they have no money. They were chucked out of the apartment they were staying in for non-payment of rent. As always your sister is being self-absorbed again, but that hardly surprises me." He was very bitter. It saddened him that after all her time away from home after she left declaring she wanted to seek adventure, Rebecca had not grown up, and she was a mother now.
"Oh god." Jacob ran a hand through his hair. Worry weighed heavily on him as he wondered just what the hell they were all supposed to do now. The food was already running out and Billy's welfare cheque wasn't due for another week. "I could try to find more work, perhaps…"
"You do enough, son." Billy interjected. "Don't worry I have some funds for the moment…."
"From where?"
"Charlie lent me some money." Billy hated admitting he had to accept charity; his pride had taken a hit. Charlie had been discreet about it as always but it still hurt. But he was left with little choice; he had two young children to feed now. His pride was of little value if the poor things had nothing to put in their mouths.
The two of them remained silent for a while as Billy began to carve the wood again. Jacob watched his father's skilful hands, not for the first time he began to wonder whether they could sell some of Billy's work to makes some extra money. He was about to say something when Billy got there first. "I'm worried about you too, Jake." He confessed.
Jacob had an inkling where this conversation was headed. "I'm fine, dad."
"You are a strong man, son. Much stronger than I ever was." Billy put his tools down again; his eyes were weary as they studied his son anxiously. "You have a big heart and…and I don't want to see it get broken again."
"My heart is fine." Jacob said stubbornly.
"Is it?" Billy reached across and gripped Jacob's hand in his own in a rare display of paternal affection. "Bella made her choice and it wasn't you. It's been awful witnessing the pain she left you in, I've seen you hurt and I've seen your sadness, and I've seen you try to overcome it. Please don't let her fool you into thinking that there is any future for the two of you. I see the hope in your eyes and it makes me anxious." His eyes roamed Jacob's face worriedly.
Jacob felt his heart constrict in his chest. His father had tapped into the very thing that was easing the pain of losing Bella, his hope that she may change her mind. You are more important, she had never said that before, she had never put him first before and this was what he was clinging to, that somewhere inside she was beginning to doubt her initial choice. He loved her so much, that despite the pain she caused him, he could no more stop loving her than stop night turning into day. "I'm going to fight for her, dad. If it was mom you would do the same. I know you would."
Billy released his hold on Jacob's hand as moisture welled in his eyes. He picked up his tools and began to carve the wood again. "That's where you're wrong, son. Sometimes you have to accept that loving someone means knowing when to let them go."
Jacob felt like Billy had punched him in the gut. He got up from his seat and without saying another word to his father he left the house, ran toward the trees and phased.
"Postpone the wedding?" Edward sounded incredulous. He sat on the edge of Bella's bed and took her hands in his. He peered into her eyes, trying to read what she was thinking through her expressions alone. It was a source of frustration to him that he couldn't see into her mind. Her confession that she had been to La Push had thrown him. He hadn't seen that coming neither had Alice for some reason. "I thought we had agreed that you were going to stay away from Jacob Black." He continued. "Seeing him is only going to cause you both further pain."
"Yes, Jacob is in pain right now." Bella pretended to misunderstand his meaning. "I explained about Rebecca and her husband coming back home. They have two young children and Billy can't support them financially. It's going to be difficult for…"
"Ah, I see." Edward relaxed. He smiled gently at Bella as he caressed her face with his slim fingers. He left a trail of cold in his wake and Bella did her best to hold still and not flinch from the chill. "The problem is easy to solve. How much do you think they'll need? A few thousand?" He looked at her enquiringly.
"I don't want you to give them money, Edward." Bella said in disgust. "For one, Jake would never accept any form of charity and least of all from you." Her words came out more harshly than she intended. She saw hurt glimmer in Edward's eyes and she immediately felt ashamed. It wasn't his fault that he didn't really understand the situation. He had been drowning in money his whole life and had no concept of how insulting his gesture would be to Jacob and his family. It would look as if he was merely trying to pay them off. "I'm sorry." She softened her tone and took his hands in hers. "It's not just financial support they need, they need emotional support too. Jake is struggling and I want to be there for him, like he was for me when…."
"When I left you." Edward finished for her. His handsome Adonis like features became breathtakingly sad. "I regret my actions every minute of every day." He declared passionately. "Don't get me wrong, I am grateful to Black for being there when I wasn't but it has made you feel beholden to him. Bella you cannot save him."
"He saved me." Bella pulled her hands out of his. His attitude was getting to her. Why was he being so cold about Jacob's situation? This was unlike him. She had guessed he would be hurt that she wanted to put the wedding off for a while, but he really did not seem to have any understanding of why she wanted to be there for Jacob. She didn't think it was jealousy; he really was just completely clueless. "I owe him."
"Not your life." Edward pointed out. "You don't owe him your life, my love."
"That's where you're wrong." Bella got up and began to leave the room. "See yourself out." She closed the door to her room leaving Edward staring after her.
Charlie couldn't hide his relief at the news that Bella was postponing the wedding. Bella rolled her eyes as her father hugged her and told her she was making the right choice. "You're too young to be getting hitched, kiddo."
"I said postponed, dad. I will be getting married eventually." Bella interjected.
"Bells, if you wanted to get married, which I really don't believe you do, then nothing would make you postpone it or whatever. You are having second thoughts even if you won't admit it." Charlie's good mood could not be dampened.
Bella sighed. She was too tired to bandy words with him. She was feeling awful. She hated hurting Edward. He had sent her several text messages telling her how sorry he was. He said he only wanted what was best for her and he would help in any way he could. That was the Edward she knew. The kind, caring soul she had fallen in love with. But right now she had other priorities. Jacob needed her, she had promised she would be there for him, and she meant to stand by her promise. "I'm going over to La Push for a while." She told Charlie. His overenthusiasm was wearing her down. An amused grin crossed his face as he practically shoved her out of the house. Yes, he was definitely pleased that she was going to spend time with Jacob and not with her erstwhile fiancé, Edward Cullen. But first there was something she had to do. Bella climbed into her truck and headed for Port Angeles.
Bella found Jacob sitting on the front porch. Jet was sitting next to him; her head was resting on his side as he read her a story. Bella smiled as she climbed out of her truck, being very careful to close the heavy metal door gently. She could see that little Jet's eyes were closing. It had taken Bella longer than she thought to get what she wanted in Port Angeles. The long drive there and back, plus the shopping had worn her out. She yearned to lean into Jacob's side like the little girl was doing and close her eyes. Instead she waved at Jacob. His eyes lit up at the sight of her. He quickly ended the story and picked Jet up in his arms. "Let me just get her settled." He mouthed to Bella. She nodded at him and watched as he dashed inside the house.
While he was gone Bella began to unload the truck. She had bags of non-perishable food; she had bought both Jet and baby Marlon some new clothes and a few toys. In fact she had blown all of the money she had originally saved for college on essentials for Rebecca and Solomon's family. Bella knew Billy's biggest expense was food and she hoped that what she had managed to buy would ease the burden for a few weeks. She was still in the midst of unloading the truck when Jacob came back outside. He stood silently watching her; he couldn't believe all the bags that were littering his front yard. It took him a long moment to pull himself together and join her.
"What's all this?" He asked, gesturing at all the bags.
"Just a few things." Bella smiled at him.
"This isn't a few things, Bells." Jacob choked out. He leaned down and peered into some of the bags. "You must have spent hundreds of dollars." He stood back up and looked at her. "Where did you get the money?"
Bella knew what he was thinking. She could see his pride already getting ruffled. He thought she had taken money from Edward. "I used my college money, okay. It's the money I saved from working at Newton's and some Charlie gave me."
"Your money?" Jacob stared around at the bags again.
"Yes, my money. Mine." Bella said firmly.
"You shouldn't have done that." Jacob ran a hand through his hair as he avoided her eyes. "It's too much. It will take me ages to repay you."
"You have repaid me a thousand times over already." Bella whispered as tears welled in her eyes. She took his hands in hers and gazed up into his dark eyes. She could see the glimmer of tears reflected in his. They stared at each other for a long time. "Please take it, Jake. It's not really for you anyway. I promise I didn't spend a single cent on you." She smiled weakly at her lame joke.
"You better not have." Jacob said huskily. He let go of her hands and pulled her against him. She nestled close to his body. She fit perfectly like always.
A/N-thanks for reading!