Babies, Babies, Babies

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

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

Part Thirty Nine

Bella watched Paul as he raised Jet in the air and made aeroplane noises as he spun the little girl around. Jet giggled and flapped her arms like a bird. Paul smiled at her reaction. It was the first smile Bella had seen one on his face for a long time. It was amazing what being with the kids could do. They always pushed whatever anxieties or worries you had into the background with their antics. Bella found focusing on them instead of letting her mind get bogged down with what ifs made life so much easier. Jet began to babble loudly, only one or two words were coherent, but it was obvious she wanted Paul to spin faster.

Marlon was asleep in Bella's arms. He was dressed in a warm coat. His long lashes cast shadows on his chubby cheeks as he breathed. He looked so cute. Bella had almost forgotten about what was happening inside the house with Billy and Rachel and it was only when she heard the front door slam that she was reminded of it. She exchanged a worried glance with Paul. He had stopped spinning Jet, who was pouting and trying to get his attention again. "Rachel's left." He rested Jet on his hip as the smile left his face to be replaced with a frown.

"Do you need to go after her?" Bella asked cautiously.

"I don't want to." Paul muttered as he ran a hand through his hair. He was clearly agitated. Bella guessed he was fighting the imprint's pull to go and comfort Rachel.

"Maybe we should head inside…. "Bella stopped talking when her cell phone went off in her pocket. She adjusted a sleeping Marlon in her arms so she could dig around in her coat for it. The loud ringing sounded disturbing in the tense silence and it was with relief when she managed to answer it.

"Bella, it's Rose."

"Rose." Bella stiffened immediately. She watched Paul come protectively closer to her as he cradled a wriggling Jet on his hip. She knew he would be able to hear every word. "Has something happened?"

"Yes, Jasper contacted Carlisle a few moments ago. He said that the decision had been made and events set in motion. He and Alice are heading now to meet up with Edward so they can deal with the problem."

Bella felt as confused as Rosalie sounded. "What does that mean?"

"I'm not sure. He wouldn't say anything else only that things were proceeding as expected. They were waiting on the decision. I don't know who made it, what the decision is or anything. He was being very cryptic." Rosalie sighed heavily. "I'm sorry I can' tell you more. It is extremely frustrating. We are all coming apart here with the waiting. I cannot imagine how you must be feeling."

"I have the kids to focus on." Bella replied softly.

"Of course." Rosalie was silent for a few seconds. "How are they?"

"They're fine…."

"Good." Rosalie said wistfully. "I wish I could see them myself. I…"

Suddenly there was kerfuffle inside the house. Bella and Paul turned as they heard Billy's raised voice as well as Rachel's. Was that Embry shouting too? Paul immediately headed inside with Bella hot on his heels. "I'm sorry, Rose. Something is going on." Bella replied breathlessly as Marlon suddenly woke up and cried at all the noise. He set Jet off who began to wail too.

"Bella? Bella?" Rosalie questioned worriedly. "What is it? I can hear the children…"

"I'm not sure. Can you hang on?" Bella put her cell down as she began to rock a distressed Marlon. Paul was still holding Jet but his eyes were trained on his imprint who was kneeling in front of Billy, her hands wringing together. Embry and Quil, who looked extremely pissed, were standing behind her. "What the hell is going on?" Bella asked in confusion.

"We heard her plotting to take you and the kids to meet her sister so she could essentially force you to hand over the money and then take off." Embry seethed. It was rare that he showed anger, but his eyes were glowing fiercely and his hands were shaking.

"Is this true, Rachel?" Billy demanded. "Have you really sunk that low?"

"Yes, she has." Paul put Jet gently on the ground. She toddled to Bella's side mumbling mom. "I can feel the guilt coming from her, and the anger that she has been caught."

"Paul." Rachel cried out desperately. "Dad? You don't understand. I was…"

"There is no excuse, Rachel." Billy was gripping the armrests of his chair as he glared down at his daughter. His eyes were moist with tears but he tried to hold them back. He was devastated.

"Please….." Rachel begged again. Her dark eyes shot wildly around the room as she sought help from someone, anyone. They landed on Bella and the children. "I was doing it for them. I was….they need their mother."

"They have a mother…and it's not your sister." Paul stated coldly.

Rachel flinched at his words. "Becca loves them, she just couldn't cope that's all. But the money will make things easier, she may even settle here, dad." She turned to face Billy again. "Isn't that what you'd want, me and Becca here with your grandchildren surrounding you. Imagine that, I can make something out of my life with the money, the house could be improved, Becca could…"

"Shut up, Rachel, no more." Billy thundered. The tears he had held back thus far began to spill down his weathered cheeks. "You are delusional if you think that this pipe dream you're spinning will ever happen. Your sister is not fit to care for those children. You have to realise this. I know you've always been very close to Becca and tried to see through her flaws but she is ultimately selfish….as are you. If your mother were alive she would be ashamed of you."

Rachel fell back onto her haunches as if Billy had slapped her. "You don't mean that." She said in a small voice.

"I do mean it." Billy's hands shook as he twisted his chair around and turned away from his daughter. "I can no longer bear to look at you."

Tears pooled in Rachel's eyes as she scrambled back on to her feet. She looked toward Paul for help but he shook his head and stayed where he was. Rachel trembled from head to toe as her eyes finally rested on Bella. "You say you love them, so you know what I was trying to do. I was trying my best." She implored.

Bella didn't know what to say. She suddenly remembered Rosalie was still waiting on the other end of the phone. She must have heard everything. With her gaze still locked on Rachel, Bella retrieved her cell and placed it to her ear. "Rosalie?"

"I heard. It was her, she was the one Jasper and Alice were waiting for. She was the one who placed those children in danger." Rosalie's tone was ice cold.

Bella swallowed thickly. She had never heard the normally cool headed blonde sound so furious. Her voice was like steel. Bella sensed if Rosalie had been in the room right then Rachel would not be alive right now. "I need to go, Rose. Call me as soon as you hear more."

"You can count on it." Rosalie promised as Bella said a quick goodbye. "Who is Becca bringing with her?" She then asked Rachel.

"No one, she was going to meet me alone." Rachel shrank back as she felt all eyes turn her way. "I was doing it for the right reasons." She was still trying to justify her actions but she could see it wasn't working. "You don't understand…"

Suddenly Paul, Embry and Quil turned as a group and looked toward the front door. "Jake's coming." Embry muttered.

Seconds later Jacob himself appeared. He had seen through his brothers eyes exactly what his sister had put in motion. His whole body was taut with anger as he strode toward Rachel and grabbed hold of her arm, she began to try and fight him but his grip tightened and he wouldn't let go. "Get out." He yelled at her as he threw her onto the front porch. "Just get out of my sight." His arms shook as he watched Rachel struggle to find her footing.

Suddenly Paul pushed past him and ran to Rachel's side. His eyes were wild and he was breathing heavily. "I'm sorry." He choked out. "I have no choice."

Jacob's arms began to shake badly; he was on the verge of shifting. "Get her away from here." He seethed. He suddenly felt a light touch on his arm. Bella's sweet scent washed over him and that combined with her gentle touch pierced the red mist of his anger. It calmed him enough so he could think rationally. "Just keep her away from here, Paul." He said directly to his pack brother.

Paul nodded stiffly as he picked up a distraught Rachel and sprinted toward the trees. When they were out of sight Jacob gathered Bella's soft body into his arms and hugged her tight. "I nearly lost it." He whispered. "I was so angry that it was my own sister who was behind it all. I don't know what I would have done if you…."

"Hush." Bella soothed as she wrapped her own arms around him. "I'm fine, the children are fine and according to Rosalie, Jasper, Alice and Edward are now dealing with the problem."

Jacob raised his head. "The problem being Rebecca and whoever she brought with her." He said dubiously.

"It seems so." Bella's eyes roamed his face worriedly. "I have to wait for Rose to call me back before I know anymore."

"Then that's all we can do." Jacob put his arm around her shoulders and led her back inside so he could check on his father.

A/N-thanks for reading! Sorry for the short chapter but I didn't have time to edit the rest. Nikki