Babies, Babies, Babies
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thank you for the kind reviews, Nikki.
Part Twenty Eight
"What the hell is going on, Bells?" Jacob leaned close and whispered in her ear as the others went inside the house. Seth and Leah helped get Billy into his wheelchair and pushed him up the ramp Charlie had fitted for his friend's visits.
"I know about your meeting with Edward." Bella replied softly. "And I know that he told you about Alice's vision, but right now there isn't time to discuss any of this. Your dad wanted to come and talk to Carlisle face to face as did I. We all want the same thing here, for Edward to finally get the message and leave." She glared at him when he opened his mouth to say something. "Don't start complaining that you were kept out of it, after your tantrum about what Edward said Billy decided it was best you were kept in the dark in case you threw your toys out of the pram again."
"I did not tantrum." Jacob said feeling completely affronted. "You should have told me."
"Yes I should, just like you should have told me. I expect we did it for the same reasons. I didn't want to worry you and you didn't want to worry me. Well look how well that turned out." Bella pulled her hair back from her face as the wind began to blow it wildly around her head. The weather was taking a turn for the worse again. She just wanted to get this meeting over with.
"You're not thinking of going back to him then?" Jacob asked. His voice was tight with emotion as he spoke.
"I'm hurt that you even have to ask that." Bella tied her hair back and began to walk toward the house. "Come on there's no time for this. If you come inside then please remain quiet and let Billy do the talking. Promise me?"
"I can't promise that. But I will try my best to keep my cool." Jacob caught up with her and took her hand in his. "I'm sorry for doubting you, Bells. I am. I just…"
Bella pulled her hand out of his. All she could see was him holding Elise's hand the same way. She saw the hurt in his eyes but ignored it. "We'll talk more later." She said stiffly as she ran up the porch steps and into the house.
"It is good to see you again Mr, Black." Carlisle said politely as he held out his hand toward Billy.
Billy hesitated before taking Carlisle's cold hand in his warm one and shaking it. "Yes." He couldn't bring himself to return the greeting. As far as he was concerned if he never saw the Cullen's again he would be happy.
"And you, Bella. You look well." Carlisle smiled at her benevolently as did Esme, who immediately floated gracefully in Bella's direction and hugged her. Bella heard the low growls from the wolves but it didn't stop her hugging Esme back. The two of them parted and smiled genuinely at each other.
"I am sorry to call you back here." Bella apologised.
"Do not concern yourself." Esme touched Bella's cheek gently before retreating and re-joining Carlisle.
Billy cleared his throat to get everyone's attention again. "You know why we want this meeting." He looked directly at Carlisle as he spoke.
"You have concerns about Edward." Carlisle seemed uncomfortable as he mentioned his adopted son's name. He exchanged a pensive glance with Esme before turning back to face Billy.
"Yeah like the fact he is still hanging around and hassling Bella when she has clearly told him time and time again to leave her alone." Jacob interjected as he got straight to the point. He saw Bella glare at him but he avoided looking at her and continued to fill Carlisle and Esme in on exactly what Edward had been up to since they had left Forks.
Esme's hand flew to her mouth and she appeared distressed as Jacob bluntly told them about his last run in with Edward and the so called vision that Alice was meant to have had about Bella going back to Cullen. "He's been manipulating everything and frankly we are all sick of it. If you don't get him to leave then I assure you I and my pack will not hold back if we cross paths again, treaty or no treaty."
"Jake, shut up." Bella hissed as she saw Carlisle slip his arm around his mate's waist and try and comfort her. "You have no right to issue threats like that. You promised you'd keep your cool."
"I am keeping my cool, but I'm sick of this farce. All this pretend politeness it's ridiculous." He gestured toward Carlisle and Esme. "No matter how they dress themselves up they are still vampires…."
"Enough, Jacob." Billy roared.
Jacob clamped his mouth shut as he locked eyes with his father, neither spoke for a long time, and it was Jacob who dropped his gaze first. Billy's hands clutched the armrests of his wheelchair tightly as he watched Carlisle and Esme warily. They didn't seem riled up just upset at his son's harsh words. He sighed heavily. Despite the way Jacob had put things he was essentially right, the upshot was Carlisle and Esme needed to either remove Edward from the area permanently or there would be consequences. Before he could say anything Carlisle finally spoke.
"You are in agreement with your son." There was so much pain in his voice that it made Bella flinch. Leah and Seth moved restlessly in the background, Billy appeared uncomfortable but Jacob remained stoic, he stood with his arms crossed and his eyes hiding his emotions. Bella thought he looked just like Sam.
"I am sorry for the way he put things but yes. You have to get Edward and Alice to leave. Bella has made her feelings clear and your son needs to respect that. She is with us and if he continues on the path he is on then we really have no choice but to put a stop to things." Billy glanced at Bella, her face had turned white and she seemed as distressed as Esme, whether that was because she was worried about Edward's fate or upset by Jacob's cold attitude toward Carlisle and his mate he wasn't sure.
"Bella?" Esme turned her sad eyes toward Bella. "Are you in agreement with this? Are you truly no longer in love with Edward?"
Bella swallowed thickly as tears sprang to her eyes. She felt Jacob put his hand on her shoulder but she shrugged him off. She was livid at the way he had spoken to Carlisle and Esme; they were two of the most gentle and giving people she had ever met. She knew Jacob was angry at Edward but that gave him no right to be so harsh with the others who had only ever tried to help him. Carlisle had gone out of his way to help Jacob when he was injured after the newborn battle.
"Bella?" Esme said again when she didn't answer straight away.
Bella felt everyone's eyes on her, especially Jacob's, as she tried to pluck up the courage to answer Esme. "Edward was my first proper boyfriend. I will always treasure the memories of the good times we had together, but I don't love him. He broke my heart and even though he came back, I don't think I ever really got over the fact he left me. I'm sorry, maybe I changed, maybe I've grown beyond what he can offer me….you see when he left, when you all left that first time I…fell in love with someone else." The tears finally escaped from Bella's eyes as she glanced behind her at Jacob. His stoical mask had crumbled and she could now see the boy she loved underneath, the gentle, loving, caring Jacob. Hurt had made him act rashly and she could see in his eyes that he was regretting what he had done. Even though she was still mad at him, she could understand why he had lashed out like he had. "I love Jake, you see." She approached Esme with her arms open. "Even though I tried not to, even though I fought it I just couldn't stop loving him." She felt Esme embrace her gently. "I'm sorry. I so wanted to be part of your family, you, Carlisle and the others have been so forgiving and accepting of me. I love you all too and will miss you, but I have to ask you to take Edward and go. You must never come back to this place, not while the Quileute tribe remains nearby. Future generations cannot go through what Jake and his pack have. Please understand?"
Esme leaned close and whispered softly in Bella's ear. "We do understand and we love you too. You are my daughter, always." She then pressed a gentle kiss onto Bella's cheek and stepped back.
It was then Carlisle's turn to hug Bella. He stroked her hair for a second before releasing her. "We will go now. I echo Esme's sentiments. You will forever be a part of us, Bella Swan, no matter where we are in the world." He then turned to face Billy. "I make you a solemn vow Billy Black, I assure you that I and my family will never come back to live in this place. The treaty will no longer exist." He held out his hand for a second time and this time Billy did not hesitate to shake it at once.
"I apologise for my harshness." Jacob said with great difficulty. He held out his own hand toward Carlisle.
Carlisle shook it. A small smile crossed his face. "You were fighting for the woman you love. I cannot fault you for that." His expression softened as he looked affectionately at Esme. "We will take our leave now." Carlisle held out his hand toward Esme and she took it, lacing her fingers with his.
Before they left she reached out for Bella one last time. Bella felt Esme press something into her hand as she hugged her goodbye. "For the children." Esme murmured before she hurriedly left with Carlisle.
Jacob came up beside Bella and put his arm around her shoulders as she opened her palm and stared down at Esme's parting gift. It was a cheque for $500,000 dollars.
A/N-thanks for reading!