Babies, Babies, Babies

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

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

Part Nineteen

Bella and Jacob checked on the sleeping children. "They look so innocent, don't they?" Bella whispered sadly as she tucked the duvet around Jet. They had moved Marlon's cot into Jacob's room too so that Jet would have her brother with her. The little boy was fast asleep, content after yet another feed.

Jacob took Bella's hand in his and kissed the back of it. "Yeah, they do." He agreed. Anger at his sister's abandonment of his niece and nephew shot through him again. He saw Bella glance at him as if she could sense his fraught emotions. She smiled at him sadly before tugging him out of the room after her.

They headed to the kitchen and joined the others sitting there. Billy had come home to the upsetting news that his daughter had left her own children behind. He had found it hard to accept at first and had to keep reading the text as if he didn't really believe what it contained. Sue was sitting next to him, talking to him in quiet reassuring tones. Charlie was on the other side next to Rachel, who for once remained quiet. She had a deep set frown on her face as she looked at her father and Sue Clearwater. Jacob and Bella pulled out the only remaining chairs and sat down.

"Are you okay, dad?" Jacob asked in concern. He was deeply worried about Billy. His health was fragile and any added stress only made his diabetes worse. Jacob cursed his selfish sibling in his head.

Billy sighed heavily. "I don't know what to think or feel, son. I just can't comprehend how your sister could do this to her own children. I can understand that she may have been struggling, but to take off like that….I…" He stopped speaking and ran a hand over his face.

"We're all here for you." Sue assured him. "We'll work something out between us to help care for the children."

"Definitely." Charlie agreed as he smiled affectionately at Sue.

"That's a joke coming from you, isn't it?" Rachel suddenly came to life as she glared at Charlie. "I mean it's not like you raised your own daughter is it?"

"Rachel, shut the hell up." Jacob retorted, he was mortified that his sister would say such a thing to Charlie. He saw that Bella's face had turned red as had her father's.

"Why should I shut up?" Rachel would not back down. "Why should we take help from a man who couldn't be bothered to see his own child? Huh?" She stared everyone down before her angry eyes found Bella's. "Don't deny that he was never there for you?" She said directly to Bella.

"You have no idea what went on so I suggest you keep your accusations to yourself." Bella's voice was laced with steel. She saw her father about to speak up but she gripped Charlie's hand in hers and he fell silent. Bella's eyes narrowed as she matched Rachel's fiery glare. "My mother made it immensely difficult for my dad to see me. She put obstacles in the way at every turn; we never stayed in one place for long. She would arrange a time then cancel at the last minute. Renee can be a very selfish person when she wants to be."

Rachel just shrugged as she lowered her gaze. "Still sounds like an excuse to me." She muttered.

"Rachel." Billy thundered. "If you cannot keep a civil tongue in your head then leave. I did not bring up my daughters this way, dammit. Who are you and Becca? Tell me?" His fist thumped on the table as he finally lost his temper.

Resentful tears sprang into Rachel's eyes as she looked at Billy. "Brought us up? That's a joke." She replied bitterly. "Life stopped in this house after mom died. You fell apart and never recovered. Becca and I were left to bring ourselves up no thanks to you so no wonder my stupid twin has no idea how to be a parent. After the age of fourteen we never had one."

Jacob stood up abruptly causing his chair to fall backwards. He leaned over the table and looked at his sister in disgust. "You selfish cow." He wanted to yell in her face, but he kept his voice low for the sake of the two sleeping children. "I don't know where this chip you are carrying around came from but before you say another word think about your own damn shortcomings."

The angry tears began to spill down Rachel's cheeks as she stood up too and faced her brother. The others looked between the siblings wondering whether to intervene but some sixth sense told them to remain quiet. "All I ever wanted was to be somebody and do some good in this world." Rachel choked out. "I've always known Becca had a selfish streak, you don't know how many times I've hauled her ass out of trouble, but when she contacted me and told me that she had married that waste of space, Solomon, I cut her off and wanted nothing to do with her. For once I wanted to think of my wants, my needs…."

"You've done nothing but that for years." Jacob interjected sarcastically. "After you took off there were no phone calls, no visits, and only a pathetic postcard now and then. You left me to shoulder the burden for everything. You left dad wondering and worrying what he had done wrong to drive you away. We all lost out when mom died, dad lost his soul mate. Do you know how that felt for him, do you?" His eyes turned to Bella as he asked the question and he saw that tears were wetting her cheeks. He stopped talking and sat back down, taking her hand in his and pressing it into his cheek. "I'm sorry." He said softly.

"It's alright." Bella wiped at her eyes as she smiled at him sadly.

"Sit down, Rachel." Billy said wearily. "There has been enough blame. I am sorry if you felt abandoned after Sarah passed. I did the best I could as did Charlie here when Renee left him, as Sue does every day now that Harry has gone. We are all human and not perfect. We mess up and make mistakes but one thing we all have in common is we love our children no matter how many times they hurt us. We love them and forgive them as we hope they do us."

"I can't take care of those kids, dad." Rachel slumped in her seat and covered her face in her hands. "I don't know how. I can't do what Becca wants….I just can't do it."

"No one was asking you to." Billy continued.

"But you can't take responsibility for them. Not in your condition." Rachel raised her head and finally looked directly at her father. "And Jake is too young. No one else here is related to them. We need to contact social services."

There were collective gasps around the table. Billy's eyes darkened with anger as did Jacob's. "They are my grandchildren and they will be staying right here where they belong." Billy roared making Rachel jump.

"Dad I am only thinking of what is best for them." Rachel tried to placate him.

"No, you are only thinking of yourself as always." Jacob snapped. "If you can't say anything helpful then leave. Go back to college and forget we all exist again."

"Don't be facetious." Fresh tears welled in Rachel's eyes again. "I am not being selfish, I am thinking of the children's welfare. Dad is ill and needs looking after himself. You have only just graduated. There is not enough money coming in. Do you really expect others to help care for Jet and Marlon long term? Everyone has responsibilities of their own and demanding lives. Is it fair for the kids to be pushed from pillar to post with different carers watching them every day? That's not caring for them. Jet and Marlon need a stable home with two loving parents. Anyone would love to have them…."

"There are people who will be there long term." Bella interrupted Rachel. Her face was flushed with the effort of her restraint. She had tried to keep quiet but couldn't any longer. "I will be one of them. Jacob is in for the long term. He does nothing but care for everyone. He will make it work, we will all make it work because we love those kids, we love them with all our hearts and Billy is right they are family. Don't you dare interrupt and say I am not related to them." Bella said fiercely as she saw Rachel open her mouth to protest. "Because I am, so is my dad. La Push has become our second home just as much as it is anyone's here…." Bella was breathless when she sat back down. She felt Jacob's fingers wind around hers and when she dared to glance at him she saw he was smiling, in fact they all were, except Rachel who looked as if she had been slapped.

"I couldn't have said it better." Billy said huskily as he gazed determinedly around the group, his eyes settling on his chastened daughter. "The question is Rachel is whether you want to be a part of it."

Rachel was mute for a long time before she gave a subtle nod and then left the room.

A/N-thanks for reading!