Being There

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thanks once again for the lovely reviews on this story. Your support keeps me motivated.

Part Twenty

Bella was surprised when her dad pulled the curtain back and saw Billy beside him. She tried to muster up a smile although she was feeling annoyed at her dad for letting Jacob's father see her. "Hello, Billy," she greeted him politely.

"Good to see you, Bella," Billy replied cheerfully. He manoeuvred his chair into the small space by her bed. "I hope you don't mind if I visit with you for a moment."

"No, of course not," she said faintly. Charlie gave her a sheepish smile before leaving them alone to talk.

Bella sat up in her bed, adjusting the covers around her. "I suppose Jake asked you to see me."

"No, it was my idea. I can completely understand why you don't want to see my son right now. He's been an ass," Billy said bluntly.

Bella stared at him in shock. "Has he told you about what Leah said to me?" She couldn't bear to say the word imprinting.

Billy nodded. "He should have been upfront with you, Bella. All I can say in his defence was he was just worried about how you would react. He didn't want you fretting over something that he is adamant won't happen."

"Fretting? Won't happen?" Bella raised her voice unintentionally. "How can he even know? Look what happened to Leah. I'm sorry, Billy I don't think I can live with the uncertainty, let alone that he lied to me. He knows how I feel about that."

"Bella, I do understand that you feel hurt but I believe Jake when he says it won't happen to him. I've seen the way he is with you, he has loved you since he first laid eyes on you, did you know that? He has never looked at another girl in that way, ever, even when he thought you were never going to come back to Forks. When you did it was like all his birthdays had come at once. I've never seen Jake so happy. Now you're carrying his baby and I believe that fate didn't need to show Jake who his soul mate was, he already knew." Billy watched Bella's reaction carefully as he spoke.

"You think it won't happen because I got pregnant?" Bella bit her lip in trepidation. "Why would that make a difference."

Billy smiled at her kindly and patted her hand. "Imprinting was designed to make sure the pack mated with strong women in order to pass on the wolf gene through the generations. When the last pack was formed the tribe was somewhat scattered; they didn't have the luxury to date and get to know one another. Maybe imprinting occurred because it was a necessary tool to bring two people together who otherwise would not have been able to spend enough time in one place to form an attachment through the natural order of things. Life was hard back then."

"And today..." Bella prompted.

"Today life is still hard but the tribe is in close proximity to each other." Billy gave her a small smile.

"This still doesn't explain Leah and Sam or Jared and Kim for that matter," Bella's hope vanished as she recalled Leah's devastated face.

"In a way it does. No one knew that Leah Clearwater was going to phase. A female wolf has never been heard of before in the entire tribe's history. Whether she will ever be able to carry a child remains to be seen. Because Sam couldn't imprint on Leah fate presented him with an alternative mate from the same gene pool."

"Emily," Bella said flatly.

"Yes," Billy sighed. "What happened has been very unfortunate. I do believe that Sam has been unwittingly trying to fight the imprint pull this whole time and that is why he accidentally phased that day while Emily was near."

Bella felt sadness wash over her for Sam, Leah and even Emily. They had all been victims to the curse of imprinting. Her anger at Jacob began to fade away, she could see why he never wanted to talk to her about it. He must have been in agony debating whether to tell her the truth. "I don't know what to think." She admitted to Billy softly.

"It's okay, you have had one hell of a day, Bella. I am surprised you are still standing. That shows just how strong you are as a person." Billy said proudly.

"I'm not strong," Bella replied.

"Of course you are," Billy said dismissively. "You have faced death by vampire and found out that you are going to be a mother all within a few hours. Most people would have crumpled under that pressure but you have taken it all in your stride. Have faith in yourself, Bella."

"I couldn't have coped without, Jake." Bella confessed.

"And he couldn't have coped without you. Don't you see that's what love is all about? My son will never imprint because I believe he already did the first time he saw you when he was three years old. That boy was enchanted with you from the start," Billy chuckled. "But don't tell him I told you that."

Bella returned his smile; his words had eased her fears. "I won't." She promised.

"Good girl. I'll leave you to rest," Billy began to leave.

"Billy can you send Jake in please," Bella called out to him.

"Of course," Billy gave her a sly wink and left to get his son.

XXXXXX

Jacob approached the cubicle hesitantly. He pulled back the curtain and peered in. "Bells," he said softly. "My dad said you wanted to see me."

Bella gave him a mock glare. "Don't you ever lie to me again, Jacob Ephraim Black."

A sunny grin crossed Jacob's face as he ran to her side and engulfed her in a bear hug. "I love you," he whispered as he kissed her wildly all over her face.

Bella dropped her act and giggled. "I need to breathe, Jake."

"Sorry," he apologised. He loosened his hold and sat on the bed next to her. Bella gratefully sank into his arms and rested her head against his chest.

"I was so scared, Bells when I found out you were back in the hospital. Are you really okay?" Jacob checked her over looking for any sign of distress.

"I'm fine. It was just stress that's all. The doctor says I just need to rest." Bella snuggled against his warmth and sighed contentedly. "Stop worrying. For the first time we can relax. Victoria is gone and now I know about the imprinting, there are no more secrets."

Jacob winced. He held her close in his arms, stroking her hair back off of her face. He needed to tell her everything. "It's not quite that simple, honey."

Bella raised her head and looked at him questioningly. "What do you mean?"

Jacob sighed and proceeded to tell her about the tribal council's expectations and the fact that one day he would take over as Alpha of the pack because it was his birthright.

XXXXXX

Leah was waiting for them on the steps of the Swan house when they returned from the hospital. As soon as she saw Bella emerge from the cruiser she ran over to her and began to apologise. "I'm so sorry, Bella. I didn't know..."

"Lee give her some room," Jacob snapped. "She doesn't need you in her face."

Bella could feel Jacob's arm shaking as she leaned heavily on him. He was still riled up about Leah's part in revealing the truth about imprinting before he could himself. "Hush, Jake. It's fine..."

"I'm sorry, Bella," Leah said again, a forlorn look on her face. "I wish I could take it all back."

"I know, Leah. I'm fine really. Why don't you come in for a while?" She gave Leah a welcoming smile.

Leah's lips trembled as she returned it. "Thank you."

Jacob was not too happy, but if Bella was okay with it he wouldn't interfere. He helped her into the house with Charlie and Leah following behind. Billy had returned home as he was going to call a meeting with the elders to inform them about Bella's pregnancy. He wanted to tell the tribal council without the two youngsters being present. He didn't want Old Quil or any of the other old men upsetting Jacob or Bella with their old fashioned ideals. Billy wanted to smooth things over a bit before his son and Bella had to face them.

"Why don't I call for some pizza?" Charlie suggested as he looked around at them all.

"That would be awesome dad, thank you." Bella gave him a fond smile. He had been amazing since he had found out that she was pregnant.

Jacob nodded his agreement. "No pineapple on mine."

Charlie rolled his eyes. "What about you, Leah?"

Leah was perched on the edge of the couch in the living room. "Don't worry about me." She mumbled.

"Don't be silly. Pepperoni okay for you?" Charlie offered.

"Thanks," Leah gave him a small smile.

Charlie left the room to phone for the pizza. They were now all left alone. There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment before Leah finally spoke. "I want to say that I didn't mean to take my issues about imprinting out on you. Our circumstances are different. In a way I was just lashing out. I'm so sorry."

"You should have thought of that before you upset, Bells," Jacob said mulishly, still not in a forgiving mood.

Bella shook her head at him. "Maybe if you had told me yourself none of this would have happened. We've all made mistakes, Jake. I think we should let it drop and move on, don't you?" She eyed him speculatively until he shrugged.

"If that's what you want," he replied grudgingly.

"Good," Bella smiled at them both. "We all need to stick together. Right Leah?"

This time when Leah smiled it was genuine. "Right," she agreed.

XXXXXX

Jacob and Leah ploughed their way through the pizza's. Charlie watched them in fascination as they ate a large pizza each on their own. Jacob even finished Bella's off for her as she wasn't feeling very hungry. "How does Billy keep your stomach full?" He grouched as he cleared up the plates.

Bella laughed at her dad's grumblings. Leah looked a bit embarrassed but Bella quickly reached across and squeezed her hand and she relaxed. They all retired to the living room, except for Charlie who left to pop into the station for an hour to catch up on some paperwork. Jacob led Bella to the couch and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her. Bella snuggled into his embrace and relaxed for the first time that day.

Leah sat in Charlie's recliner, a thoughtful look on her face. "How many other's know that Bella is pregnant?"

"Only Sam," Jacob replied; he saw Leah grimace at the mention of his name. "Why?"

"Well I was thinking that maybe instead of just telling the rest of them individually we could have a get together on the beach. The weather is meant to be fairly warm, well for Washington anyway, over the next few days. It could be like a double celebration; we finally got rid of the red head and you and Bella are creating a new life. It's like a new beginning." Leah suggested.

Jacob and Bella glanced at each other. Leah was the last person they would have expected to make such a suggestion, but receiving Bella's forgiveness seemed to have made her open up a bit more. The bitterness she wore as a mask was missing when she was around them now.

"I think that's a lovely idea," Bella said enthusiastically. "I need some fun."

Jacob grinned at her happy expression. She was right; they all needed a chance to relax and what better way to announce the pregnancy then at a beach party. "You're on."

A/N-sorry the chapter is so short but I am feeling very tired today. The pack's reaction will definitely be in the next chapter! Thanks for reading.

Nikki :)