Being There

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thank you so much for the awesome reviews. I really appreciate it.

Part Forty

"Are you sure you're up for this, honey? I can tell them to stay away if you want." Jacob's face showed just how much he wished that the Cullen's would leave and never come back. He was just not comfortable around them, even though he was grateful for Carlisle's intervention.

Bella gave him a tired smile. "I'll be fine. I owe them my thanks."

"I can tell them on your behalf." Jacob suggested.

Bella laughed softly at his lack of enthusiasm. "Let them in, Jake. I want to see them."

"Okay."He said in resignation. "I'll stay outside, call if you need me."

Bella nodded. Jacob leaned down and kissed her, savouring the feel of her warm lips moving with his. He reluctantly pulled back and left to let Carlisle, Alice and Emmet into the room. "We won't take up too much of her time." Carlisle promised as he passed. Jacob gave him a curt nod before closing the door after him.

"Oh Bella, it's so good to see you." Alice skipped gracefully over to the bed and sat next to Bella, taking her hands in her cold ones.

"Hello, Alice. It's lovely to see you. I hear I have you to thank for Carlisle's timely intervention." She replied.

An uncharacteristic serious expression crossed Alice's face. "I have missed you, Bella. I am sorry that we never got to say goodbye."

"It's fine." Bella smiled at her reassuringly. "It all worked out for the best."

"Indeed." Carlisle joined in the conversation. "You are a mother now, Bella. Let me give you my heartiest congratulations."

"Thank you, Carlisle, for everything." Bella said sincerely.

"It was my pleasure." He returned her smile brightly. He really was dazzling. Being away from them had dimmed Bella's memory of how good looking all of the Cullen's were.

Emmet beamed at them all. "So what did you call the little sprog?" He asked.

"Emmet." Alice chided him.

"Oh come on, Bella doesn't mind, do you?" Emmet laughed boisterously. His good humour made them all smile.

"Brandon." Bella revealed.

Alice gasped. "That was my human surname."

"Yes, I know. It was also the name given to my mom's baby brother who passed away at a young age. I thought it was an apt choice. You saved me Alice, in so many ways. I will never be able to repay you or Carlisle." Bella felt tears wet her cheeks.

Alice gave her a gentle hug. "You will always be my sister, Bella."

"And you mine." Bella returned the hug fiercely.

"Aww this is making me all emotional." Emmet quipped. "Where's my hug?"

Bella laughed as she pulled back from Alice. "Come here you big bear." Emmet burst into laughter again as he strode over to her and embraced her, making sure to be careful.

After this they all chatted for a while longer. Alice and Carlisle filled her in on what they had been up to during their time apart. They had relocated to Hampshire and Carlisle was working the night shift at a hospital. Alice had taken up art and was surprised that she had a natural aptitude for it. She pulled a sketch out of her pocket. It was a pencil drawing of Bella and Jacob holding Brandon.

"This is beautiful, Alice." Bella stared at the drawing in wonder. She had captured them all to perfection.

"Thank you." Alice was pleased.

Emmet revealed that Rosalie had been dabbling in interior design along with Esme. The two of them had set up an internet site and were doing very well. Bella was pleased that they all seemed to have found something to occupy their time. Hampshire was working out well for them. Jasper and Emmet were still finding their footing, but as long as Rosalie and Alice were settled, that was enough for them.

"We never wanted to go." Alice said toward the end. "Edward just thought..."

Bella flinched at the reference to Edward. "I would rather not talk about him, Alice."

Alice exchanged a glance with Emmet and Carlisle. "Yes, maybe it's for the best."

"Agreed." Carlisle leaned down and gave Bella a quick hug. "I think it's time for us to go. It was good seeing you again, Bella."

"You too." Bella replied softly. "Thank you again for saving me and my son."

Carlisle gave her a kind smile. He handed her a piece of paper with a phone number scrawled across it. "If you ever need my assistance in the future I can always be reached on this number."

Bella nodded. Alice and Emmet both embraced her again before bidding her goodbye. They slipped quietly from the room. Jacob came back after they had left. The leech stink was strong and he had to open the window wide to air the room. He sat on Bella's bed and took her hands in his own.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. It was good seeing them again. It gave me closure in a way. It was nice to know that they were still thinking of me even though they had to go." A tear slid out of Bella's eye as she spoke. Even though Jacob would never understand her attachment to them he knew how much they meant to her. He wrapped his arms around her as she cried quietly against his chest.

XXXXX

Leah combed Bella's hair and tied it back off of her face. She watched as her friend bottle fed Brandon. She had tried fruitlessly to get him to breast feed but unfortunately the attempts had been too stressful. Bella was still weak and just not producing enough for Brandon's already hearty appetite. It had been upsetting for her as she was looking forward to building that bond with her son, but it was not to be.

"Are you okay, Bella?" Leah asked her gently.

Bella nodded. She was refusing to speak because she knew as soon as she did, Leah would realise she was far from fine. Instead she concentrated on Brandon's face as he sucked on the bottle, his brown eyes half open in contentment as he filled his stomach. Leah wasn't fooled, she studied Bella carefully, there was obviously something on her mind.

"Talk to me, Bella." Leah pressed. "Maybe I can help. Is it Jake?"

Bella shook her head.

"Brandon."

Bella shook her head again, the hand holding Brandon's bottle trembled. Leah noticed and she put a steadying hand over hers. "Is it saying goodbye to the Cullen's?"

"No." Bella finally spoke and she glanced up at Leah, a wary look in her eyes, as if she was assessing whether to tell her or not.

"Whatever it is I promise it will stay between us if that's what you want." Leah promised.

"What about when you're phased? Won't the others be able to read your thoughts?" Bella asked.

"I have the most control in the pack. All my thoughts are under lock and key. No one gets into this baby." Leah tapped her head, causing Bella to give her a wry smile.

"Have you seen Embry?" Bella asked her.

"Em? No, actually I haven't. Has he done something?" Leah narrowed her eyes.

Bella bit her bottom lip nervously as she jiggled Brandon when he let go of the teat and began to whimper. She managed to put it back in his mouth and he setted down again. "When I was still unconscious Embry was sitting with me while Jake took some air..." Her voice tailed off as she gazed at Leah worriedly.

"Go on." Leah urged her. "It's okay. Between us only I promise."

"He didn't know I had come round, he was holding my hand and I heard him admit...he admitted that he cared for me and had done since he had first met me." Bella blurted the last few words in a rush.

Leah stared at her for a moment in confusion. "I don't want to sound disbelieving, but are you sure you heard him right? I mean you had only just come around."

"Before he left my room to get Jake he asked me if I had heard what he had told me. I'm worried, Lee. He said he was thinking of leaving because he was having trouble being around me and Jake because of his feelings. You said you haven't seen him. I asked Jake earlier and he said Embry just took off after getting him when I woke up. What if he has taken off already?" Bella said worriedly.

"I can't believe he managed to keep something as huge as that hidden from us all this time. Jake will go nuts if he finds out." Leah surmised.

"Jake can't find out, Lee. He and Embry have been friends for years. I'm sure that if he just made the effort to go out and meet another girl then his feelings for me may just fade away." Bella suggested hopefully.

Leah looked at her with sympathy. "It's been a long time for just a simple crush, Bella. If that is all it was, his feelings would have faded by now. But you're right Jake can't find out. I'll find him and talk to him."

Bella stared back at her in alarm. "Is that a good idea? He might get spooked that you know and take off anyway."

"Bella put this all from your mind. You have to concentrate on you, Jake and little Brandon. I will handle Em. I can be subtle you know." Leah said firmly.

Bella tried to stop the smile from pulling her lips upwards. "You, subtle?"

Leah pretended to look offended. "Yes, me. I have my moments you know."

"Okay, I believe you." Bella glanced down at Brandon to see that he had finished the last of the milk. She put the bottle down and proceeded to wind him; rubbing his back gently until he let out a loud burp.

"He sounds just like Sethy after a curry." Leah wrinkled her nose making Bella giggle.

"Eww that's too much information, Lee." Bella grimaced as she patted Brandon's back. "I'll never be able to watch Seth eat again without that image entering my head."

Leah burst out laughing as Brandon let out some more wind.

XXXXXX

Jacob and Charlie stood back to admire their handiwork. They had spent the afternoon finishing painting up Brandon's nursery. They had painted it a light shade of blue and were now waiting for it to dry so they could add the border. Bella was not due out of the hospital until the end of the week, so it gave them time to add the finishing touches to the room.

Charlie stretched and held his back. "I'm getting too old for this."

Jacob laughed at him. "That's your usual cue to order a beer." He said in amusement.

A smile lit up Charlie's face. "You're learning son. You're learning."

The two of them made their way into the kitchen and Jacob opened the fridge and chucked a beer over to Charlie. He pulled out a can of soda for himself and leaned against the kitchen cupboards. There was something he was building up to ask Bella's father, and despite the fact that they got on so well, he was still nervous about it. Charlie took a long sip of his beer and smacked his lips together. "That's hit the right spot. Now Jake just ask me?"

Jacob looked at him in surprise. "How did you know I wanted to ask you something?"

Charlie laughed. "It's written all over your face. I can see the cogs turning in your brain. You take after your dad in that way."

Jacob gave Charlie a wry smile. He was a lot more astute than anyone gave him credit for. Taking a deep breath he stood up straight and looked Charlie in the eye. "I want your permission to ask Bells to marry me."

Charlie choked on his beer, the foam coating his moustache. "Are you serious?"

Jacob nodded. "Well yeah."

"Okay then." Charlie smiled widely and slapped Jacob on the back. "About time you made an honest woman of my little girl. You have my permission."

Jacob grinned. "Thanks. I'm planning a special meal for when she comes out of the hospital. Do you think you and Renee would mind..."

"Babysitting?" Charlie chuckled. "No. We'd love to." He raised his can. "Here's to you and Bells."

Jacob clinked his soda can with Charlie's. "To me and Bells." He repeated.

A/N-thanks for reading!