Babies, Babies, Babies

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

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

Part Twenty Six

"Hey, Jacob." Jacob turned around when someone called his name. He sighed heavily when he saw Elise running across the sand in his direction, so much for trying to get some peace so he could sort his head out. He saw some of Elise's friends standing huddled together in a group as they whispered and pointed toward him. Jacob had half a mind to just turn his back on Elise and keep walking but she'd probably just create a scene if he did. He reluctantly waited for her to catch him up. "Good to see you, Jacob." She said breathlessly as she reached his side. Immediately she fluffed her windblown hair and smiled at him flirtatiously.

"What do you want, Elise?" Jacob asked her irritably. "I'm kind of busy."

"That's not a nice way to greet a friend is it?" Elise pouted as she fluttered her eyelashes at him. Her lame attempts to flirt had no impact on him whatsoever which she finally seemed to notice. Elise stopped acting and put her hands on her hips as she looked him up and down. "It's nice to see you out of the pale faced princesses clutches anyway."

"Keep your mouth shut about Bella." Jacob snapped. "You don't know anything."

"I know that she doesn't belong here. You could do better. I'm here, I'm right here." Elise dropped all pretence as she practically begged Jacob to show her some attention. She'd had a crush on him for a long time but he never seemed to want to give her the time of day. She knew she was pretty, she certainly got enough attention from the other boys, but Jacob refused to take notice and it irked her considerably.

"Have some pride, Elise." Jacob said wearily. He was well aware of Elise's crush on him. "I am not interested. I can't make myself any plainer."

Tears welled in Elise's eyes as she stared back at him. She stepped forward and put a hand on his chest. Over her head Jacob could see that her friends were giggling and pointing. She was putting on a show for their benefit. They couldn't hear the conversation between them but they could see, and obviously misinterpret what was playing out before their eyes. Jacob knew that this would be spread around the res within hours and he didn't need the hassle of having his name up there with Elise's. He grabbed Elise's hand and shoved it off his chest. "You are harassing me now and I don't like it. Stay away." He said in a low voice before striding purposefully away from her.

"You'll regret that." Elise whispered as she watched him leave. No one rejected her, no one.

Sue checked Marlon over carefully. She took his temperature and felt his tummy with gentle fingers. He cried miserably as he looked up at her. His tummy which should be soft was quite hard. His temperature was slightly raised but not too significantly. "He hasn't been sick or anything?" She asked Bella and Billy who were hovering anxiously nearby.

"No, but he refused his feed which is unlike him." Bella told her.

Sue stroked Marlon's sweaty forehead. She then carefully buttoned up his vest and picked him up. She placed him on her shoulder and gently stroked his back just like Bella had instinctively done earlier. This position seemed to ease his pain, although he still cried. "I think he's got colic."

"Colic? You mean like a stomach ache." Bella asked. She was itching to take Marlon from Sue and hold him herself.

"Yeah, it's like he's got excess wind trapped in his stomach which needs to be released. Seth was a very windy baby and suffered with it a lot. I'll give him something to ease the pain and hopefully it should ease off soon." She patted Marlon's back softly and he let out a little burp.

Bella and Billy exchanged a relieved look. They had been so worried it was something more serious. Bella couldn't wait any longer she held out her arms and Sue finally passed Marlon over to her. "Just do what you've already been doing. Even a walk might help. I used to take Seth for a drive. I don't know why but the rhythm of the engine seemed to soothe him and helped him fall asleep. You could try that." Sue smiled at Bella.

"I don't have my truck with me." Bella placed Marlon on her shoulder like Sue had and stroked his back in gentle circles.

"Take mine." Sue passed her the keys to her car.

"You sure?"

"Go on; take a drive around the block, maybe over to the beach. I guarantee Marely will be asleep in seconds. I'll just give him some medicine before you go." Sue took Marlon back again while Bella went to get her coat and some warm clothes for the baby.

Bella parked up just across from First beach. Sue was right as soon as she had strapped Marlon in his car seat and driven a few times around the block, his weary little eyes had closed and he had fallen fast asleep. Bella felt tuckered out just watching him. She switched off the engine and sat back. The sun was hidden behind some clouds and it made the sea look grey and threatening as it hit the shore line. From a distance she could see a few people strolling across the beach. Some had dogs with them; others were walking alone just looking at the horizon. She recognized Jacobs tall figure as soon as she saw him. He stood head and shoulders above everyone. There was no mistaking that it was him. Bella sighed, she wished she could hail him but he was too far away. She wondered why he was walking along the beach anyway. Wasn't he supposed to be at a pack meeting? Her brow furrowed as she strained her eyes. She saw someone; a girl with long, shiny black hair was running after Jacob. She watched as he paused and waited for the girl to catch up with him. Bella felt heaviness in her chest as she watched him lean close and talk to the mystery girl, then the girl placed her hand intimately on Jacobs's chest and almost at once he took her hand in his. Bella had seen enough. Tears leaked from her eyes as she switched on the engine and began to reverse. It was only when she drove off that she saw the mystery girl's profile and recognised her, it was Elise.

Bella hauled Marlon's car seat out of Sue's car and carried it into the house. She did everything automatically as if she was on autopilot. She was trying her best to stop herself replaying the scene in her mind of Jacob and Elise on the beach, him reaching out when she pressed her hand intimately over his heart and then him cradling her hand in his. He had lied. He wasn't at a pack meeting at all. Had Embry delivered a message to him from Elise, asking him to meet her away from prying eyes? Bella had always wondered why Elise had been so hostile toward her and now she knew why. She had inadvertently come between Jacob and this girl.

"How is he?" Sue greeted her as soon as she got in the door.

"Yeah, it worked. He's sleeping." Bella smiled at her faintly as she put the car seat gently on the floor. "I'll leave him there for a while. I don't want to disturb him."

Sue heard the dullness in Bella's tone. She studied Charlie's daughter closely. She would have thought Bella would have been elated that the drive had been a success and Marlon had found sleep. But she looked as if she had been poleaxed, her eyes were filled with immense sadness and her face was paler than normal. Perhaps Bella was sickening for something herself. "You okay, sweetie?" Sue felt Bella's forehead but it felt cold rather than feverish.

"Just tired I guess. Where's Jet?" Bella asked as a way to distract Sue.

"Out the back with Billy playing with her ball." Sue still looked concerned. "If you're worried about something you can talk to me you know. I'm a good listener."

The older woman's kindness nearly reduced Bella to tears. She wished she could confide her worries to Sue, but she didn't even know where to start. How do you explain the pain of a broken heart? Why had Jacob lied to her? She couldn't understand it, it just wasn't like him. "I'm fine, really." Bella plastered a smile onto her face. "Honestly."

"Well remember I'm here if you need to vent." Sue reluctantly caved in.

"Thanks." Bella whispered.

A message came through to her cell just after lunch. Jacob still hadn't returned from his meeting. Bella was feeling sick with each passing moment as her imagination conjured up all sorts of scenarios about what Jacob and Elise could be up to. It was sheer torture trying to cover up her heartache as she spoke to Billy and played with Jet. Marlon woke up around noon and Bella fed and changed him. He took only half his bottle but he didn't seem as distressed as before. In fact he went straight to sleep after she put a new diaper on him. When her cell beeped Bella made an excuse and locked herself in the bathroom so she could check the message. It was from Carlisle.

"Esme and I are two hours away from Forks; may we arrange a time to meet with you?"

Two hours away! Bella bit down on her bottom lip as she tried to think of what to do. She had no idea when Jacob was going to be back and wasn't sure she could face him when he did return. The betrayal still felt too raw. No she would make an excuse and go back to her house for a while and meet up with Carlisle and Esme there.

"Can you meet me outside my house at three?"

Almost immediately the reply came through.

"See you then."

Bella inhaled deeply as she tried to get her nerves under control. Now she just needed to find a good excuse to leave for a while. She was glad that Sue was here so she could help Billy with the children. Taking another deep breath Bella left the bathroom and went to make her excuses.

A/N-thanks for reading!