Bella's POV:
Well, technically, Jasper was kissing me. I really needed to overcome the shock and start kissing him back. Come on Bella snap out of it! Kiss the man you love already!
Just as Jasper started pulling away and tensing up I finally regained full control of my faculties and practically leaped into his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him tight to me.
After another couple of moments of kissing I pulled away slightly. Jasper had a huge goofy grin on his face when he whispered breathlessly "I've wanted to do that for years."
He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me tightly to his body and instinctively I knew that this was where I belonged, I could stay here forever.
"Really?" I asked suddenly shy. "I have too." I finally admitted avoiding his gaze.
He lifted my chin so we were looking in each other's eyes and I noted that his grin had widened even more and his eyes were sparkling happily.
"Bella," He laughed suddenly "Now I regret not telling you sooner, then we wouldn't have missed all this time together. This is going to sound like we're back in high school but Bella would you do me the honour of becoming my girlfriend?"
"Of course!" I tried to keep my excitement quiet so I wouldn't wake Charlotte and Jasper leaned forward and captured my lips under his again.
This time we just sat and kissed for awhile until Jasper sighed and said he had to go home because he worked in the morning.
"God, Bella I don't want to leave you now that you're mine," Jasper sighed quietly hugging me tightly as we stood near the door. He had crept in and gave a still sleeping Charlotte a kiss and now he was leaving for the night.
"I don't want you to leave either," I admitted reluctantly. It felt weird to be so attached to someone so suddenly. "But you have to work in the morning but maybe next time you could just stay over?" I suggested shyly. This was so unlike me and it was really throwing me off.
With another kiss that was very grudgingly broken Jasper left for the night and I sank against the door after closing it touching my lips with my fingertips in disbelief.
Thankfully I was quickly distracted by a suddenly awake Charlotte who was less than impressed about being alone.
J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B
The weekend passed by slowly, mostly with me worrying continuously about what the results of the paternity test would be. I was devastated to learn on Saturday that there was going to be one more paternity test performed on Monday as well.
A man named James was arrested for killing his wife Victoria after Victoria refused to tell him where their newborn was. He had a history of violence and I found myself secretly hoping that Jacob would be her father. Anything to keep her away from that monster.
We were testing him for Charlotte's paternity because all of the dates matched with Charlotte's abandonment.
Jasper stayed over on Sunday night after deciding to go to the testing center with me for moral support and I couldn't stop myself from imagining him as Charlotte's dad, of Charlotte being daddy's little princess and running to Jasper whenever she needed something.
He was so amazing with her and was obviously becoming more confident in his skills as a 'parent'.
As we laid in bed on that night Jasper suddenly spoke up "Bella," He started cautiousness in his voice "I was thinking that I'd really like it if I could be a father figure for Charlotte?"
"No," I said and then quickly amended when I saw the crestfallen look on his face highlighted by the moonlight filtering through the window "I don't want you to be her father figure I want you to be her father."
He kissed me passionately and pulled away saying "You have no idea how much that means to me. I didn't want to be presumptuous and get all heavy on you but ever since I saw her that first night I have seen her as my daughter."
I laughed quietly and snuggled into his chest "Jasper I saw how much you loved her that first day and I know how hard it is to not fall in love with her and I don't mean to be pessimistic but if our relationship doesn't work out I would never cut you off from seeing Charlotte and from being in her life. She deserves to have a father who is as great as you are."
He held me tightly against him and a little less worried, a little happier I nodded off.
J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B
"Come on Charlotte," I heard a voice whisper conspiratorially "Let's go wake mommy up!"
I continued to pretend to still be sleeping until I felt the bed sink with added weight and then I rolled over and said "Boo!"
Jasper looked surprised and said "I didn't know you were awake!"
I rolled my eyes and reached out taking Charlotte so Jasper could settle back on the bed and he pulled me so I was sitting up between his legs and his chin was resting on my shoulder.
"Let's just say I've heard elephants move quieter than you," I teased tickling Charlotte's side until she was giggling.
"I like this," I sighed leaning more into my partner's body. "It feels like we're a family."
"We are a family," Jasper breathed into my ear making me shiver.
"Jasper is it wrong to hope that neither James nor Jacob," I spat both names "Is Charlotte's father?"
"Of course not why would you think that?" He asked running a palm over my bare arm.
I didn't take my eyes off Charlotte who was playing with Jasper's finger when I answered "Because it's not fair to take away her chance of knowing her real family but I just don't want to lose Charlotte."
"Bella," Jasper comforted me "We will do everything we can to keep her with us or at least keep in touch with her. And Bella you are doing everything in your power to make sure she knows her biological family."
J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B
A few hours later and Jasper and I were sitting in the waiting room of a local lab waiting to be called back so they could take the samples they needed to do the tests when Jacob Black walked in.
Jasper completely ignored him concentrating solely on Charlotte who he was bouncing gently up and down on his knee while she giggled uncontrollably.
I tried not to look at him but I couldn't keep my gaze off the man who might have fathered my child, who might be taking her away from me in just a few days.
He looked exhausted and had clearly visible bags beneath his eyes. He was tall and I could pick out the features I recognized from when he was a child- from what I remembered anyways.
"Bella," A friendly voice said "You can bring Charlotte on back now."
I plucked her from Jasper's grasp, bent down and gave him a light kiss and headed on back.
"Is this going to hurt her?" I asked cradling her against my chest.
"Nope." The cheery blonde said enthusiastically "All we need to do is take a swab from her cheek and you can go!"
Of course getting the swab into Charlotte's mouth was easier said than done. Even without teeth that girl has one heck of a bite.
Finally after ten minutes of attempting in vain to get the swab in her mouth she decided to cooperate although it was accompanied by what I took to be a grunt of frustration and annoyance.
"Ok," I whispered into her ear bouncing her in my arm a little "Let's go see Jazz and get you a bottle!"
Jasper at first didn't notice us being that he was too busy glowering at Jacob- if looks could kill Jacob would be six feet under already.
Charlotte suddenly gurgled loudly and fidgeted in my arms, the sudden noise caused both men to jump to their feet but Jasper rushed towards me and kissed the top of Charlotte's head.
"That took a while!" He exclaimed roughing up Charlotte's hair.
"Well, someone," I said teasingly "Decided to be stubborn and that she didn't want the swab in her mouth."
"Come on," Jasper laughed "Let's go home."
It was then I noticed that Jacob had spent our entire conversation staring at us plaintively. We were just about out the clinic door when his deep voice rang out "Can I hold her?" He looked surprised that he had actually asked that and then followed it up with "I mean I understand if you won't let me."
I rolled my eyes slightly and after a brief moment of contemplation stepped back into the waiting room and handed Charlotte to him.
Jasper wrapped his arms around my waist and hugged me to him as we watched the baby we considered our daughter and the man who could possibly be her real father interact.
"Thank you," Jacob said after a few moments of just staring at Charlotte and taking her in and he handed her to Jasper who held her so she was leaned against his chest.
We all chuckled when she let out a quiet sigh and stuck one thumb in her mouth using the other hand she rubbed at her eye a little.
"I think someone is ready for a nap," Jasper teased trying to keep his own mood up.
I nodded in agreement and together we left. To a normal observer we looked like any other normal family- mom, dad, first born but we knew that tomorrows results could change that forever.
J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B
Jasper spent the night again and we stayed up talking most of the time about what we would do if neither men were Charlotte's father or if we lost her.
I nodded off just before the sun started rising and awoke a few hours later when Jasper kissed my forehead and whispered that he had to head off to work.
"I wish I could be with you today when you find out the results," He said.
"Me too," I sighed and yawned. I stretched a little and sat up so I could hug him goodbye.
"You'll call me as soon as you know the results right?" He asked smoothing back his curls unconsciously.
"The instant I know," I reassured him "You'll know." I looked at the clock which read 8:30 and stood to get up. Charlotte would need her bottle in the next few minutes and I'd better get up and shower.
"I already gave her this morning's bottle," He laughed "She was crying a little bit and I wanted you to sleep some more. You've been so restless all weekend."
I blushed faintly and murmured "Thanks Jasper."
I walked him to the door and hugged myself to him tightly, inhaling his scent deeply. He smelt like rain, old leather and chewing tobacco even though he didn't smoke and it was a comforting smell.
"Bella," He whispered "This might sound a little quick but I know it's true and I know I want to say it to you." He paused and a light blush coloured his cheeks "I love you."
I grinned widely and jumped up kissing him deeply. "I love you too." I murmured into his lips.
We said goodbye and I moved to watch him leave from my living room window.
I checked on Charlotte and saw that she was asleep again and as usual she would probably sleep for another hour which gave me enough time to have breakfast and shower.
Cereal for breakfast and a hot shower was a god send that woke me the rest of the way up. I was sitting at the table sipping my ritual cup of hot chocolate, since I don't drink coffee, and reading the newest Jeffery Deaver novel when my phone rang.
"Hello?" I said picking it up before the caller ID registered the number.
"Bella," a familiar voice said "It's Jenks- the results are in and I'm asking you to come down to my office say 11:30 and I can tell you what they are and where we go from here."