Babies, Babies, Babies

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thanks for the kind reviews, Nikki. Thanks to Sarah88 for her advice about colleges! :)

Part Thirty Four

"I thought I better warn you, your father, Billy and the others have organised a bonfire party for tomorrow night on First beach." Emily divulged to Bella as they sat in her kitchen.

Jet was playing at Bella's feet with one of her favourite toys. Marlon was resting on Bella's lap. He was gripping one of her fingers and looking at it with interest. Bella was fascinated by the way he studied her finger as if it was the most marvellous thing on Earth. His whole attention was focused on it. Emily's words took her by surprise. "Seriously?" She frowned. After everything that had happened over the last few days she felt exhausted and not in the mood to socialise. She just longed for some quiet time with Jacob and the kids. "Perhaps it could be postponed or something. I don't think now is the right time."

Emily studied her for a moment. The scarred half of her face was well hidden behind a swathe of her long, silky black hair. She hadn't told anyone yet but she had just found out she was pregnant. She had been hoping to announce the good news at the bonfire party. "Come on, Bella. You need to mix with us more if you truly want to be part of our group and let me tell you the pack could do with a good chance to relax, me too." She rubbed her flat stomach absently.

"I didn't realise I needed to pass some sort of test to be allowed to join your exclusive group." Bella said sharply. She felt miffed at Emily's presumption that she had to try and make herself a part of the pack; she had assumed she already was.

Emily picked up on her steely tone immediately and sighed. "I didn't mean it like that, Bella. I was just trying to say that it would be good for you to get to know us all better in a more relaxed setting. Don't take offence."

Bella swallowed down her irritation. Perhaps she was being over sensitive. What with Elise's jibes and Rachel's standoffishness it had made her become a bit defensive. "I'm sorry." She apologised. "It's been a long few days."

"Exactly, that's why we all need a bit of fun." Emily smiled down at Marlon as he gurgled; he had managed to grab his foot and was now as fascinated by his toes as he had been with Bella's finger. In fact he was so flexible he managed to stuff his big toe in his mouth. "Oh my, I wonder if my little one will be able to do that." She laughed, inadvertently revealing she was pregnant.

"Are you having a baby?" Bella gasped. Emily was still so young, but then again she had been settled with Sam for a while now and was always more of a homemaker than anything.

"Yes, you're the first to know, apart from Sam of course. So don't tell." She put a finger to her lips.

"Congratulations." Bella lifted Marlon up and held him up to her face. "You will soon have a little playmate big boy." She kissed the top of his head. "I can't imagine being a mother so young." She continued as she cradled Marlon back in her arms and leaned down to stroke Jet's hair.

"Bella, you already are." Emily laughed at Bella's bewildered expression as she motioned toward the two children.

Bella was surprised when Jacob seemed all for the bonfire party. She assumed after everything that had happened with Rachel that he would be as exhausted as she felt. "I think it would be a good distraction for my dad. I'm worried about him. This whole thing with Rachel has hit him really had. You should have seen him when he practically banished her. It killed him to do that and he has been very low ever since." Jacob ran a hand through his hair as he worried about his dad. Billy seemed to have aged another ten years, the lines on his face were deeper, but it was the sadness in his eyes that was hard to take.

"What about you?" Bella asked him softly as she linked her fingers with his. "You're trying to keep strong for everybody else but I know that you must be really hurting too."

"It does hurt." Jacob confessed. "I just never expected this, not after Becca abandoned her own kids. I never expected Rachel to betray us all too."

"But she tore the cheque up right? That has to mean something." Bella said hopefully.

Jacob shrugged. "I don't know. I showed dad and he just pushed it away. I don't think he is ready to forgive Rach yet."

"Is she still staying at Paul's place?"

"Yeah, for now. It was hard for him to hold back and not comfort her. She was very distressed and he had to go to her. The imprint wouldn't let him do anything else." Jacob hugged Bella close and kissed her for a long time. He didn't know how he would have held it together without her by his side. She really had no idea how much she supported him just by being there. "Now we have Becca to worry about."

"She won't take the kids, Jake. She can't." Bella began to get distressed as she looked up at him anxiously. "I'm frightened."

"Hey, that won't happen. Becca has made it clear that she cannot handle being a mother. I doubt that has changed in the last few weeks. No, when she gets here, that is if she does show up, we'll handle her, I promise." Jacob kissed Bella again, trying to distract her from her worries. He felt her melt against him and he pulled her tighter to his body. "I love you. Everything will work out, okay."

Bella forced a smile onto her face. She wished she could feel as certain as he sounded, but something inside wouldn't let her rest. Emily pointing out that she was already a mother rang true in her heart. She may not have given birth to Jet and Marlon but she loved them just as fiercely as if she had. "I think the party will be a good distraction." She finally agreed. "God only knows we all need it."

Jacob smiled at her as he leaned in for another kiss.

Bella hadn't really had much of a chance to spend time with her dad. Charlie had been very busy at work and any free time had been spent with Sue or popping over to check on Bella and have some beers with Billy. After arranging the bonfire party with Sue he had made sure to take some proper time off, and the first thing he did was to go and spend some quality time with his daughter. Of course she had the children with her. Charlie was touched to see how much his daughter had bonded with Jet and Marlon. He heard the little girl call her mom, this took him by surprise but he refrained from saying anything. It wasn't like Bella could stop such a young child calling her that. In effect that was what Bella had become to her. She was amazing with the baby too; both of the children seemed settled and happy when they were around her.

"You look as if you are in your element, kiddo." Charlie said as he watched her feed Marlon. "You are a natural."

"I don't know, I think it's Jet and Marlon themselves, they make it easy." Bella smiled fondly at the children.

"No it's you, kiddo." Charlie stated proudly. "You have a natural affinity with them, unlike Renee." He sighed as he became lost in memories. "She always struggled with motherhood."

"I know." Bella didn't want to think about her peripatetic childhood. She knew Renee loved her of course, but more like a sister or a friend. She had been the adult in their relationship and had to learn to look after herself at a very young age. "But that's all in the past now."

"Yes, you're right." Charlie pulled himself out of his funk and picked up Jet, who was begging for attention too.

They were all quiet for a while as Bella finished feeding Marlon and then winded him before changing his diaper. Charlie kept Jet amused while she went through her tasks automatically. She didn't even have to think about it anymore, it all came easily. Eventually when Marlon was settled she sat down and studied her father. He kept darting thoughtful glances at her and she guessed he was building up to ask her something. "Out with it, dad." Bella said in amusement. "I know you want to tell me something."

Charlie laughed nervously. "Well um…you see…um…" He rubbed the back of his neck as his face flushed. "Sue and I…well me really…I was worried it was too soon…but then when you get to our age what's the point of waiting…you know. So I just did it." He beamed at her as if she was supposed to understand this chaotic explanation.

Bella tried to keep her expression serious. She had an inkling of what he meant, but his babbling was so sweet and she couldn't help but tease him a little. "I don't know what you mean, dad. You'll have to explain. What about Sue? You haven't had an argument have you? Oh, dad, you haven't driven her away by the smell of fish."

Charlie rubbed the back of his neck again as his face turned redder. "Fish? I don't smell of fi…." Charlie paused and rolled his eyes as he caught on to her joke. "Very funny, Bells. Cute, very cute. So what do you think?"

"About?" Bella raised her eyebrows expectantly.

"You know, me and Sue."

"You and Sue…what?" Bella bit down on her bottom lip to stop herself laughing.

"Getting married." Charlie huffed impatiently. "I asked her and she said yes."

Bella burst into a fits of laughter, which set Jet off. Even Marlon gurgled and waved his arms and legs wildly as he picked up on the jovial atmosphere. "Oh dad, you are a one off. I am delighted for you. Congratulations. This is the best news ever." She took him by surprise as she hugged him tightly and kissed him soundly on the cheek.

Charlie beamed at her; it lit up his whole face and made him appear years younger. "So you're okay with this?"

"Yes, very okay." Bella smiled widely as she watched Jet bounce up and down in excitement.

A/N-thanks for reading! Up next will be the bonfire party!