Babies, Babies, Babies

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thanks for the kind reviews, Nikki.

Part Sixteen

Bella sat down on the edge of her bed and stared at the rose on the rocking chair. The ornate ring sparkled under the dim lighting in the room, and she felt as if it was mocking her. She couldn't believe he had ignored what his own sibling had told him, ignored her wishes again. Her words had been final, just the fact that she had returned his ring should have been enough. But when had he ever really listened to what she wanted. Bella felt anger building up inside. She was tired of this. Tired of having to deal with a guy who seemed oblivious to others wishes, Edward must really think she didn't know her own mind, and assumed he could weasel his way back into her life with sweet words and false promises. No, if she wanted him to really understand they were through then she was going to be forced to do it face to face, forced to do it in such a way that there could be no doubt in his mind. Bella hated the thought of hurting Edward, she was not one for confrontations, but he had given her little choice. She pulled her cell out of her pocket and dialled his number. He picked up on the first ring.

"Bella?"

"I got your note. Can you come over right now?"

"Of course, I'll be in your room in…"

"No, Edward, use the front door. My dad and Jake are in the house as you are fully aware." Bella said coolly.

"Perhaps you are right." Edward conceded. "I think that the d…Jacob Black needs to see that we are together and united."

Bella didn't bother to answer. She ended the call, grabbed the rose with the ring still attached and then hurried down the stairs.

Charlie and Jacob were still in the front room talking. Jacob had finished telling Charlie about the latest dramas in La Push and they had moved onto a more comfortable topic, sports. They heard Bella thundering down the stairs and when they glanced through the open door they saw that she looked rather flushed and extremely irritated. "Perhaps I should have grabbed the duvet." Jacob whispered to Charlie. "Bells looks a bit annoyed."

Charlie laughed under his breath. "Yes you should. You are in the dog house now, son."

Jacob grinned in amusement. Charlie didn't know how apt that phrase was. They waited for Bella to come into the room but instead she was hovering by the front door. They watched as she inhaled deeply and smoothed her hair down as if she was psyching herself up for something. Jacob got up to go and join her, but before he had crossed the room there was a knock at the door. "Are you expecting visitors?" He asked Charlie.

"No." Charlie frowned and stood up too. He joined Jacob as they saw Bella open the door and greet the unexpected visitor. To the older man's surprise he suddenly noticed that Jacob's posture stiffened. His eyes darkened and Charlie saw a glimmer of anger reflected in them. What the hell was going on? He didn't need to wait long. As he stepped forward he got a full view of the late night visitor. Edward Cullen strode confidently into the room, his hand held out for Charlie to take. Bella was right behind him. "What the hell is going on, Bella?" Charlie demanded.

"I asked Edward to come." Bella interjected smoothly.

"Why would you do that, Bella?" Jacob was incensed. Edward had a triumphant expression on his face as he smiled at his rival smugly. Jacob just wanted to smash his fist into the marble monster and wipe the smirk right off. He couldn't believe what was happening in front of his eyes. How could Bella do this? She swore she had broken things off with Cullen and now he was here, practically laughing in his face. Out of all the hurtful things she had done to him this was the worst. He tried to catch Bella's eye but she seemed to be deliberately avoiding looking at him.

"What are you playing at, kiddo?" Charlie could see the hurt on Jacob's face and it only increased his own ire. He thought things had cooled off between his daughter and the Cullen boy but it seemed exactly the opposite. To invite him here while Jacob was in the house was just plain cruel. He didn't think Bella had it in her to be so callous. Charlie put a steadying hand on Jacob's shoulder. Billy's son looked as if he was going to explode.

"I am sorry to arrive so late, Chief Swan." Edward had dropped his hand now that it was clear that Charlie wasn't going to take it. He ignored the insults flying in both Charlie and Jacob's heads as they both glared at him. They didn't matter anymore. Bella had proved her love to him by asking him into the house so she could show both Black and her father that they were meant to be together. He loved the fact she hadn't taken long to cave in after his romantic gesture with the rose. He knew that Bella hadn't really meant it when she had told Rosalie to tell him goodbye. His adopted sibling was a liar anyway and lived to taunt him. He guessed she had fabricated what Bella had really said and was livid that his so called sister had betrayed him by telling Bella about his plans. He longed to take Bella back to the mansion so they could be alone and he could tell her the full version of what he and Carlisle had decided to do about the baby issue. But he could be patient. He knew that he and Bella had to show a united front. So he stood calmly in front of the two enraged individuals and showed not a flicker of emotion at the horrid thoughts that were racing through their minds.

"Bells, I asked you what the hell is going on here." Charlie demanded again. He had no clue what Bella was playing at. She was staring at Edward with a calculating expression on her face. She was holding something tightly in her fist, but he couldn't see what it was. He pressed harder on Jacob's shoulder; the boy was practically vibrating now. His muscles were tense and his eyes were shooting lasers at Cullen.

"I asked Edward here for a reason, dad." Bella finally replied. "There's something I need to clear up, something I need him to understand."

Edward's smug demeanour disappeared to be replaced with confusion. He tore his eyes away from the two men and looked in bewilderment at Bella. "What do you mean, my love?"

Jacob calmed down a little and he stopped shaking as he studied Bella carefully. She didn't look like someone who was about to throw herself into a lover's arms and declare her undying love. In fact she looked like a woman who wanted to slam her fist into said lover's face. He watched with interest as Bella held up her hand and uncurled her fist. He heard Charlie gasp as she revealed the ornate ring that Cullen had given her.

"Let me make things very clear, Edward." Bella continued as she passed the ring to him. "We are over. When I told Rose to give this ring back to you I meant it. When I told her to tell you that I said goodbye, I meant it. Now I never thought of you as thick, but it seems that the only way to get you to listen and understand is by telling you face to face and with witnesses. Have I now made myself clear?" She raised her eyebrows and looked at him expectantly as she waited for him to answer. The utter devastation on his face was tugging at her heart strings. She really hadn't wanted to do things this way but he had pushed her into a corner. Now he would have no doubts that she meant what she said.

"You should go now." Charlie said quietly when Edward didn't move. He was staring at Bella as if all the life had been drained out of him. Charlie never thought he would ever feel sorry for Cullen but even he had a smidgeon of sympathy. Jacob on the other hand was now completely relaxed and was having trouble hiding his grin. Charlie nudged Jacob in the side warningly and told Edward to leave again. Finally Cullen seemed to come to life. He shot Bella one last distraught glance before abruptly leaving the house.

"Well I guess that's it then." Charlie didn't know what to say. Bella's actions had taken him completely by surprise. He rubbed the back of his neck as he studied his daughter carefully. Now that Edward had left her confident demeanour had deserted her and she now seemed upset. "You did the right thing, kiddo." Charlie said softly. "Though I am surprised by the way you did it."

"He left me no choice." Bella muttered. She swiped at her eyes and avoided looking at him or Jacob. "I'm really tired. Goodnight." She swiftly left the room.

"Bells, wait…" Jacob went to go after her but Charlie stopped him. "She needs me." He begged Charlie.

"She needs time alone." Charlie patted Jacob on the shoulder. "She'll talk when she's ready. I'm going to go up myself now. Will you be okay down here?"

"Yeah." Jacob mumbled.

Charlie nodded and bid Jacob goodnight as he slowly climbed the stairs after his daughter.

Jacob couldn't sleep. He was worried about Bella. It was a brave thing she had done, standing up to Cullen like that. He wasn't sure why she had decided to do it in that particular way, Jacob didn't know about the note. He wished he had handled it better though. The last thing she needed to see was him practically laughing at the bloodsucker. Jacob knew Bella hated upsetting people and would have found little pleasure in hurting Cullen. He should have showed better restraint. Too late now! He pondered whether to sneak up to her room and check on her, but that would make him no better than Edward. No, Charlie was right, he would wait until Bella was ready to talk about it herself, and when she did confide in him, he would be the friend she needed. With this thought in mind Jacob finally lay down and closed his eyes.

A/N-thanks for reading! What do you think of Bella's actions? Did she do the right thing or should she have approached it differently?