Babies, Babies, Babies

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

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

Part Seventeen

Jacob put his arm over his face as he shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. He just couldn't sleep no matter how hard he tried. All he could think about was Bella asleep upstairs. He continued to squirm around for a while as he fought hard to sleep. He had dozed off a few times but as his tall frame was too long for the sofa his legs kept falling off as he shifted around and it woke him up again. Jacob sighed heavily as he sat up abruptly and ran a hand through his messy hair; if he carried on like this he would not get any rest at all which would make him practically useless the next day. He got up and headed toward the kitchen. Perhaps some warm milk would help. Jacob opened the fridge and grabbed the carton of milk before hunting through the cupboards for a pan. He finally found one and poured a generous amount of milk into it before heating it up on the stove. He sat down at the kitchen table and waited for the milk to warm up. When it was done he poured it into a mug and went back to his bed on the sofa. The milk did seem to help a little; Jacob lay back down and closed his eyes. He drifted into a light doze as he began to dream about Bella.

Bella was standing in his room, for some reason her hair was wet and she was dressed in nothing but a small towel. She was smiling at him seductively as she raised her hand and ushered him toward her. A grin crossed Jacob's lips as he strode toward her, he reached out to tug on the small towel, and he was dying to see what was underneath. It was so cool that Bella was letting him; she didn't seem fazed at all. In fact her eyes were roaming his body; she was biting down on her bottom lip as she reached out and ran a finger down his muscled chest. Jacob felt his skin burn. Her intoxicating scent was all around him; it was so real and tangible. It was like she was really there. Jacob rolled onto his side and whispered Bella's name…

"Jake."

"Huh?" Jacob woke up with a start. His eyes flared open to find Bella standing in front of him. She wasn't dressed in a skimpy towel like his fantasy Bella but in a pair of sweat pants teamed with a thin tank top. "Bells?" Jacob sat up and rubbed his eyes. No wonder he could smell Bella. He tried to act casual, but he felt fidgety and uncomfortable as he tried to shake off his dream. "You okay?" He mumbled.

"Sorry I didn't mean to wake you." Bella apologised as she perched on the arm of the sofa. Her face was very pale and Jacob could see tears shimmering in her eyes.

"Hey honey, c'mere." Jacob pulled her onto his lap and Bella curled up gratefully against him as he wrapped his arms around her. He loved the feel of her in his arms, her body fit perfectly against his. She was perfect. "Bad dreams?" He asked.

"Yeah." Bella hid her face against his chest. "I didn't mean to wake you; I just needed you so badly." She whispered. "I just needed…"

Jacob pulled away a little when she stopped talking. Her head was bent and she was trying her best to avoid looking at him. He wasn't having that. Jacob cupped her chin in his hand and raised her head. "What did you need, Bells?"

Bella's tears started to spill down her cheeks as she gazed into his eyes. Jacob was taken aback at the sadness in them. It hurt him to see her so distressed. It just made him hate Cullen even more. "I was dreaming about you." Bella continued. "You were injured and I couldn't get to you….I was…I tried but something was holding me back, I don't know what. But I needed to get to you, I was desperate. Then the pack appeared and began to carry you away. I tried to break free to follow but I was stuck. It meant that I couldn't tell you….tell you…that…" She was sobbing hysterically now.

Jacob hugged her tighter and rocked her as if she was a small child. "It's okay. It was just a nightmare. I'm here, I'm alright."

"When I left your house after I told you goodbye I was a mess, a complete and utter mess." Bella began to murmur. A wistful expression crossed her face and Jacob guessed she was actually reliving that moment in her head. He wanted to say something but he stopped when she continued to ramble. "I cried for ages, it was like I was grieving for you, for us, but I was the one who told you goodbye. Edward stayed with me the whole time, I knew my reaction was hurting him but I just didn't care enough to stop. I couldn't…" A small frown marred her forehead as she drew in a sharp breath. "When he finally left me alone I got up and went to my truck, but when I tried to start it the engine wouldn't work." She ran a hand over her face as her brow furrowed. "I was going to come and tell you I'd made a mistake. I couldn't leave you, not really, but when the truck bailed on me it was like fate or something was telling me to leave you in peace. To finally let you go. But I didn't, did I? I came back to you." Bella's eyes glazed over as more tears ran down her cheeks. "I never really did shake off that vision you know. It was always on my mind one way or another, and afterwards all I kept seeing were babies, babies everywhere. In that moment I knew what I needed, and I needed you." Her eyes came back into focus as she looked at Jacob directly. "I need you, Jake. Don't you see? I need you like I need air to breathe. I can't live without you, my heart was breaking without you but I couldn't see things clearly, I don't know why, but I see now. I am stronger when you are with me, you make me stronger…"

Jacob remained quiet as she worked through the things spinning around in her head. He sensed she was only half aware of what she was saying as if a part of her was reliving the past as the other part clung to him in the here and now. "Everything has been so fuzzy lately; I think I was just existing through each day and not really living. Does that make sense to you?" She suddenly begged him.

"It does." Jacob said huskily. He was choked up with emotion, she had described in a few words how he felt each day they had been apart. He had only been existing. The life inside him had died the day she rejected him, but had flared up again when she turned up on his doorstep that day when Becca had come back home with her husband and two kids. "It so does." He curled his fingers into the back of her hair and gazed deeply into her eyes. "You broke my heart, Bella." He confessed no longer holding anything back from her. "You nearly broke me."

Bella began to cry again. Everything was crystal clear to her now; she didn't think she had ever experienced such clarity. "I broke my own heart too. I'm so sorry. I wish I could relive it all again and change what I did. I wish…."

"Hush, it doesn't matter now." Jacob felt his own eyes becoming moist as he inclined his head toward hers and did what he had been wanting to do since she had come back into his life again. He kissed her. Bella's lips trembled beneath his before she slowly reciprocated. She wound a hand around his neck as the other stroked his cheek as they kissed. Warmth surrounded her as she drank him in. The taste of him filled her mouth as she pressed her lips harder against his. The kiss turned desperate and demanding just like it had on the mountain top. The warmth turned to blazing heat and Bella felt like she was burning, but in a good way. Jacob was holding her so tightly as if he was trying to make her a part of him. Finally she had to tear her mouth away from his just so she could breathe. They were both panting heavily as they looked at each other in wonder.

"Wow." Jacob said huskily.

"Wow is right." Bella whispered as she stroked his cheek tenderly.

"What does this mean, Bella?" Jacob tugged her closer again; he didn't want a breadth of space between them, not now, not ever again.

"We kissed."

"Yeah we definitely kissed. Is this a one off or…." Jacob's words were cut off as Bella pressed her mouth onto his. He smiled into the kiss as he fell back on the sofa and pulled her with him.

Bella was hot, very hot. She tried to move but the heavy muscled arm draped across her waist was clamping her in place. Jacob was lying behind her, she could feel him, she could feel all of him. Now her face was hot too. Bella felt the blush creep down her neck; she suspected that her whole body was flushed. The sofa was rather small and he was taking up a lot of space. Bella didn't want to disturb him; they had been up until the early hours after all, doing things, doing very pleasant things. A slow smile crossed her face at the memory. Focus, focus, she reprimanded herself. She was just glad that Charlie hadn't come down the stairs and witnessed their….another wave of heat washed over her. She better get up before her father did catch them in this very compromising position. She didn't want to face her father's wrath. She wanted to enjoy the happiness she was feeling right now.

Bella tried to wriggle carefully out of his embrace but this only made Jacob tighten his grip, she let out an unladylike squeak when he suddenly rolled onto his back and pulled her with him. She was now lying directly on top of him and by the huge smile on his face she could tell that he was enjoying having her there. She had to laugh to herself. He did look kinda cute with his eyes shut and that dorky grin on his face. It was nice seeing him so happy and peaceful. But still she needed to get up. Bella squirmed around again but only succeeded in straddling Jacob instead. She put her hand over her mouth as all sorts of funny and pleasurable feelings washed over her. Jacob's smile was now much wider, and no wonder, she could feel his attraction pressed squarely between her legs. How was she supposed to get out of this one? And really did she want to? Focus girl, focus, she reprimanded herself again. Wriggling around more would not do either of them any favours. Bella knew she had to be firm. With one swift movement she clambered off of him, not caring any longer if she woke him. Bella saw Jacob's eyes flicker open as a smirk crossed his delectable lips.

"Aww honey I was enjoying that."

Bella grabbed a cushion and threw it at his head as he burst into laughter.

A/N-thanks for reading!