Babies, Babies, Babies

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

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

Part Thirty Seven

The night was so dark that Bella couldn't see, even the moon was hidden behind thick cloud. If she didn't have Jacob's hand to hold onto she knew she would have tumbled to the ground. She felt out of her depth being the only human amongst a bunch of supernatural creatures. Sam had accompanied Jacob as well as Embry. They were the most cool headed members of the pack; the others were on high alert and patrolling the boundaries. As Jacob led her toward the treaty line she finally saw the white faces of the Cullen's, their luminescent skin almost glowed in the dark. They were arrayed in a group; she noticed that Jasper and Alice were standing a little away from the others. All the way to the meeting everyone had been very tense, especially Jacob, he had held tightly onto Bella all the way there but now his grip loosened a little as if he was finally relaxing. Bella glanced at the others and noticed they too seemed less tense, then she felt her own anxiety drift away and it suddenly occurred to her who was behind it, Jasper!

"Thank you all for coming." Carlisle was the first to greet everyone. He was dressed casually in a sweater and jeans; his blonde hair was immaculately styled as always, even the light breeze did not seem to disturb it. He held out his hand toward Jacob, then Sam and finally Embry, who all shook it quickly before pulling away. They acted as if his touch burned them but perhaps it did. He then finally greeted Bella by pulling her into a gentle hug. She heard Jacob growl but she ignored him and hugged Carlisle back. He was soon replaced by Esme. The gentle strawberry blonde had a serene smile on her face as she whispered how much she had missed Bella. Bella felt tears prick at her eyes. Finally Rosalie approached. She looked stunning as always, her blonde hair was like a beacon in the dark night as it flowed around her shoulders and down her back. She flashed Bella a sardonic smile as she embraced her. Emmet bounded up then and ruffled Bella's hair playfully, making her laugh and easing the tension further.

"You called us here." Jacob said stiffly as he pulled Bella back to his side, well away from the Cullen's. It had been hard for him to tolerate them touching her, but he knew if he said anything Bella would have called him out on it. To her they would forever be her friends, especially the motherly Esme and the tall blonde. He had to remember to try and see them through her eyes. Alice and Jasper held back, the little pixie was dressed all in black, making her white skin stand out in stark relief. Her golden eyes were full of apprehension and fixed firmly on Bella.

"Yes, we did." Carlisle turned and glanced at Alice and Jasper, motioning them forward. When they didn't move his brow furrowed and he said something in a language that Jacob, Bella and the others didn't understand. His words seemed to hit home as Alice shuffled forward with Jasper firmly by his side. She stood on the opposite side of the treaty line to Bella and swallowed thickly. "Go on, Alice." Carlisle said firmly. His tone was brooking no argument.

"I can't tell you, Bella." Alice murmured. Her eyes darted to Jasper who put a comforting hand on her lower back. "I wish that I could but if I even interfere in the slightest it could make everything go completely wrong and place you in danger… "She paused a moment as she touched her head, rubbing it in circles with her small fingers as if she was trying to ease a bad headache. "I only see flashes; it's so hard to concentrate, the wolves are blocking me…." She looked so miserable for a moment that it took Bella's breath away.

"You had a vision the day you came uninvited to see Bella." Jacob interjected harshly. He was already tired of Alice's theatrics. He saw Jasper glare at him but he ignored him. "You lied that day, why would we believe you now?"

"I lied to protect her." Alice's hands curled into fists. Jasper leaned close and whispered to her, eventually her stiff posture relaxed as his charms worked on easing her tension. "I did have a vision, I thought if I could get her away from you and back into Edward's arms we could keep her safe. I so wanted her to step off the path she was choosing…but her feelings for you were too strong and it was all too late." She hung her head and avoided Bella's gaze. "You are my best friend, Bella. My sister, I would never wish any harm to come to you… and Edward, even though he is heartbroken beyond belief he still does nothing but try to keep you safe…."

"From what? From who?" Bella demanded. Jasper had to be losing his powers or her anxiety was so great that his powers couldn't stop her heart pounding in her chest and her body from perspiring with fear. "Where the hell is he? Your cryptic answers are driving me insane."

Alice hid her head in Jasper's chest as he put his arms around her. He looked directly at Bella with his stern gaze, it was obvious now he was using his power solely on his mate to keep her together, it was that action that convinced Bella that Alice was not lying now and that she really had seen something that pertained to her future and it wasn't good. Jet and Marlon came instantly to mind and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. "It's to do with the children, isn't it? When you came to see me that day you saw something happening to them? Was I with them?" Bella choked out. She heard Jacob inhale sharply. Sam and Embry lost their cool as they both growled. Rosalie and Esme looked stunned and even the normally unflappable Carlisle appeared flustered.

"Alice, is this true?" Carlisle demanded.

"It is." Jasper answered for his mate, Alice seemed incapable of speech. She was rubbing her forehead again as if it hurt her. "We cannot say anymore…things have been set in motion and need to play out, but rest assured we have not been idle. We have been doing our level best to make sure no harm comes to anybody. Do you understand? But if you press Alice anymore you only endanger yourselves and those children you love so much." His words were straight to the point. "You know that her visions fluctuate. If you were to know all one small change in decision could throw everything into chaos and the children will die."

"Nooooo….." Bella collapsed at once and it was only Jacob's quick actions that stopped her hitting the ground. He hauled her upright, cradling her body close to his.

"You lie….Cullen is involved in this." Jacob snapped. But even as he locked eyes with Jasper he knew that the vampire spoke the truth. He felt Sam and Embry surround him and Bella. Esme was very distressed; Carlisle was having trouble comforting her. Rosalie was gripping onto Emmet for dear life; her eyes were wild with a mixture of anger and heartbreak.

"You know I am not lying, Jacob Black." Jasper spoke to him directly. "That is not in my nature. Despite your hatred of him Edward is out there making certain that nothing goes awry. His one sole reason for existing now is keeping Bella safe, now that he has lost her love this is what he is holding onto. So it is down to you. We have been as direct as we can be without giving too much away. You either trust what I say or you don't."

Jacob was silent for a moment as he glanced at his brothers. They gazed back at him uncertainly, even Sam seemed unsure of how to proceed. The decision seemed down to him alone. Bella was too distraught to deal with anything; she was clinging to him and crying profusely. He felt his own eyes burn with tears at the thought of anything happening to the children. It tore his soul in half. "I have no choice but to trust you. But there must be something we can do." He ground out.

Jasper's expression softened. "No, there is not. You cannot step off of the path you are currently on. One small ripple could change everything. You have to let us do what we need to."

"What about us?" Rosalie demanded as she pushed Emmet away from her. "How can we protect the children? Tell me?"

"You can protect them by no longer meddling." Jasper was now literally holding Alice up. She seemed in immense pain. "You have to let us leave peacefully so we can continue to do what we need to. Carlisle?" He turned to the coven leader.

Carlisle rubbed soothing circles on Esme's back as he glanced sideways at Jacob. He saw him nod in confirmation and he sighed heavily. "Go, and do not let our trust in you be broken because if I find out that you have lied than I will kill you myself." Carlisle threatened.

Jasper was not fazed by this warning. In fact he seemed to understand. "I wouldn't expect otherwise." In a flash he and Alice melted into the night as if they had never been there.

When they had gone there was a long silence only broken by the sounds of Bella's sobbing. She was inconsolable. The two female Cullen's appeared just as upset as Bella was. Rosalie had her hand over her mouth and was gazing at Bella with a heartbroken expression. Esme had buried her head in Carlisle's chest and was actually shaking. Jacob didn't think he had ever seen a vampire do that before. He recalled Bella telling him how much Esme adored children; it had been her decision to gift Bella with the $500,000 dollars to secure Jet and Marlon's future welfare. His own emotions whirled chaotically as he tried to think about what to do. He was anxious about the decision he had made trusting the little pixie and Jasper, but he didn't really have another choice. Something about Jasper made him appear trustworthy.

It was Sam who broke the silence first after finally recovering from the shocking news. "The res is on lockdown from this moment onwards. The Black's house is to have four wolves guarding it at all times while the others patrol the boundaries." He glanced warily at Carlisle.

"Rest assured we will be doing our best to keep an eye on things from our end. Nothing will happen to those innocent babies or Bella." Carlisle stated firmly.

"I am so sorry, Bella. I never expected this, I really didn't." Rosalie was distraught. "I vow on everything that is dear to me that I will not let any harm come to them. I promise."

"We all do." Esme finally recovered her poise as she looked sadly in Bella's direction.

"We should go." Sam said quietly to Jacob.

"Okay." Jacob picked Bella up, there was no way she was in any condition to walk anywhere. He had never seen her so traumatised. He was having trouble keeping it together himself. Before he left he faced Carlisle and the others one last time. "Thank you for everything." He said with difficulty.

Carlisle nodded. "We will keep in touch." He promised before ushering the others away. Jacob, followed by Sam and Embry, headed off in the opposite direction as they began the short trek home.

A/N-thanks for reading!