Bella's POV:
I had just hung up the phone when Charlotte started banging around in her crib.
"Hey my sweet girl," I cooed bending over to pick her up. She grinned her signature gummy grin at me and gurgled a response.
I changed her diaper and blew raspberries on her tummy, trying to savour every last moment we had together because I didn't know if I would be bringing her home with me much longer.
We got into my car and headed slowly towards Jenks office. I deliberately took the long way attempting to work up the courage to hear the news about Charlotte's father.
Carmine was waiting for me at the entrance of the building and standing next to her was Jacob.
Normally I would have been thrilled to see Carmine but I was too nervous. I felt sick to my stomach and felt as if I was going to be sick at any second.
Reluctantly, I parked the car and made my way to Carmine's side.
She gave me a small, sad smile and unhooked the diaper bag from my shoulder helping me slightly.
"Thanks," I whispered giving her an appreciative smile and then added quietly "Hi Jacob."
I wished so terribly that Jasper was here with me to help hold me together, when I was with him I felt like I could take on the world and that nothing would ever hurt me.
As a group we headed to Jenks office I held onto Charlotte's car seat so tightly my knuckles were white and I could hear that my breathing was shallow and anxious.
My dad and Emmett would have whispered to me "Lighten up toots, you'll get wrinkles before you're thirty if you worry too much." If they were here that is. And they weren't.
I was alone, facing one of the biggest moments in my life and I was scared shitless.
Dad was working overtime on a case and promised to try to come up next chance he got and Emmett and Rosalie were in the middle of their move. Jasper was of course working and quite honestly he was the only one I wished was here.
When the door to Jenks office opened and the portly, balding man appeared grim faced and sweaty I took a deep breath and moved forward.
"Bella," Jacob said reaching out "I'll take her in if that's easier for you."
He must have noticed my slight stumble as I stood yet I had kept my grip on Charlotte firm yet gentle. I glared at him.
"I'm fine," I hissed "Charlotte's fine. Just go into the office. The sooner we are done with this crap the better."
He looked a little hurt and I didn't feel the least bit remorseful "This isn't crap," he said insistently. "This is Charlotte's future."
I turned my heel to glare up at his tall, muscular form. "I am painfully aware of that fact." I grunted out "I am painfully aware that I didn't give birth to this beautiful little girl and that makes it that much harder for me to be allowed to love her and give her the care she deserves and yet her birth father if you happen to be it gets to take her away at the drop of a hat." I felt a stray tear inch down my cheek.
"If I am her father you can still see her," Jacob said glancing at his feet and not towards me.
"That's not the point," I said coldly "The point is that I won't be the one putting her to bed at night, kissing away her tears, worrying when she's sick. I won't have any right to be her mom."
"Then let's find out," Jacob finally sighed realizing that arguing with me was futile at this point and waved me into the office ahead of him.
Jenks sat behind a large mahogany desk that I admired every time I was in his office. I took the seat directly across from him and placed Charlotte's car seat at my feet before removing her and holding her in my lap.
Jacob sat beside me and another man, I assumed him to be James lawyer, stood next to Carmine who placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"Well, we all know why we're here," Jenks shifted his glasses on his nose and shuffled some papers. "I've got the results of the paternity test here but first we're going to review what will happen in each case."
He waited until everyone nodded and then continued "Mr. Black, if you happen to be Charlotte's biological father you will have to take some first aid courses and a parenting course and will undergo a few home visits, and supervised visits and while this is all occurring SCFS hopes that Miss. Swan will continue caring for Charlotte."
Jacob gave me a sideways glance and I couldn't stop my knee from bouncing slightly thanks to my nerves.
"If James Strauss is the father, we have agreed to go about terminating his rights and Bella you can continue on the path to adopting Charlotte." Jenks said and then smiled brightly at me "And of course if neither is the father we shall just keep all the plans the same as they were before all this mess."
I buried my nose in Charlotte's fine hair and inhaled deeply, Johnson's lavender baby wash.
"Let's get this moving Jenks," the extra man in the room lamented impatiently "I don't have all day to deal with this."
Jenks rolled his eyes slightly and grabbed a paper off the top of a pile. "Well, Mr. Blakely, you can congratulate your client- he's a father."
And as quickly as he started speaking he stopped and I felt myself release a large whoosh of air as I stopped holding my breath.
My grin spread quickly. Charlotte was mine. She was going to be my daughter and then no one and nothing could take her from me.
I hugged her closely to my body and heard a loud sob. I was shocked to turn and see Jacob in tears his head in his hands again.
J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B
Everyone had filed out of Jenks' office quickly, Carmine and Mr. Blakely had taken off, Carmine with kisses and 'good lucks' and Mr. Blakely in a huff.
Taking my time and basking in relief and happiness I made my way to the elevator. It just so happened to be the same elevator Jake was on but I'd been too distracted being excited about Charlotte to notice until Jacob spoke.
"I really thought she was mine," He said softly staring at Charlotte who was playing with the teething ring that was my car keys "I wanted so badly for her to be mine. I still don't know where my daughter is now."
Curiosity got the better of me and I asked "What happened Jake?"
"I, I just..." Jake stuttered slightly "About a year ago my girlfriend Vanessa got pregnant, I was thrilled- her not so much. I said I'd look after the baby myself and she agreed. She disappeared after that and I thought for sure she'd gotten rid of the baby but about a month and a half ago I got a letter from her in the mail."
The elevator dinged at the main floor and we took our conversation out to the lobby "It explained that she had been going to raise the baby but the baby came early. She delivered a little girl in a hotel room and after a couple of days of trying to go at it herself abandoned her in front of a hospital. All the information fit. She even looks like Ness; blonde hair, green eyes." He sighed and I could tell that he really loved this girl even after all the hell she put him through.
"Jake then you need to go and look for her." I said softly reaching out to pat his shoulder awkwardly trying to balance the car seat. "Both of them. Search public records, do everything you can to find your family."
"Thanks Bella," Jacob said giving me the first genuine smile since he'd reappeared in my life.
"Anytime Jake," I said sincerely "Give me a call when you're in town again- Charlotte could use an Uncle in her life."
"Good luck with her," Jake laughed as I headed out the door "She's a special girl."
"Don't I know it," I said softly as the door closed behind me. That chapter of our journey to being a family was finally over and it had a pretty happy ending.
I found myself thinking as I buckled Charlotte in and headed out of the parking lot. Charlotte's past really was screwed up but I was going to make damn sure her future was bright and hopefully I'd have Jasper by my side.
With that thought I pulled a u-turn at the next light and headed to where my heart was.
J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B
"Thanks Paul," I grinned widely at my boyfriend's partner and he gave me a mock salute and a chuckle as I raced as quickly as I dared with Charlotte in my arms towards the precinct's coffee room where Jasper was currently doing paperwork.
"Just behave," He behaved, catcalling as I walked "I don't want to have to explain that one to the Chief!"
I rolled my eyes but laughed raucously. I felt so light, and I realized how drained the worry had really made me.
"Hi daddy," I said softly and Jasper tore his eyes off a sheet of paper that he'd been staring intently at. "We were in the area and thought we'd come see you."
"Bell!" He said excitedly knocking a chair over as he stood and causing Charlotte to whimper "Char. How are my princesses? Did you see Jenks? You must have you look happy. It's good news right?" He rambled loudly. His blonde curls bounced slightly as he scooped Charlotte into his arms and nuzzled against her causing the infant to giggle happily.
"We are good," I laughed leaning up to kiss him before continuing "Yes we saw Jenks and yes it is good news. I can continue on the adoption road – James is her father and since he has been incarcerated for life they are making him give up all rights to her."
"Thank God." Jasper breathed and I knew how worried he'd been, not only about Charlotte but how I'd react if she was taken from me, from us.
"So I think I'm just going to take her home. It's almost time for medicine, lunch and naps." I ran my hand through his hair and kissed him again "You're coming over tonight right?"
"Of course," He smiled at me "I want to take you out tonight, just us. I'll get us a babysitter and we can just go relax and celebrate."
"Sounds like a plan to me." I smiled and took Charlotte back. She grinned up at me and reached for my necklace as Jasper bent down to kiss me one more time before playfully shooing me out the door.
J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B
The afternoon was filled with lots of giggles and smiles after Charlotte slept and I was very excited about my date night with Jasper- it was just the cherry on top of this fabulous day.
I had just laid Charlotte down for a second short nap when my buzzer rang and I raced to get it. It was too early for Jasper to be off but I thought that maybe Kate or Angela might have heard the news and be stopping over.
"Hello?" I said pressing the button.
"Sis you better buzz me up it's starting to rain and my hair's going to frizz," Rose's voice said and I squealed excitedly hitting the button to buzz her in instantly.
It took her less than three minutes to meet me at the top of the buildings stairwell and arm in arm we went back to my apartment.
"What are you doing here?" I asked as I shut the door behind us.
"Well," She waggled her eyebrows at me as her eyes shone with excitement "Your brother's best friend called and asked if I'd babysit. Since we are here a few days early what better way to spend it than with my niece!"
"I'm so glad you're here Rosie," I said moving to hug her tightly.
"Me too Bee, me too." She smiled "Now let's go and get you all guzzied up for your boy!"