Being There

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thank you for the lovely reviews and all the support. It really motivates me to carry on writing. Nikki :)

Part Forty Four

Paul had headed out to lunch to meet Kirsty and tell her the good news, so Jacob was alone in the garage working when Embry turned up to see him. He slipped so silently through the large double doors that Jacob didn't hear him arrive, he was concentrating so hard on the job he was doing.

"Hey, Jake." Embry's voice startled him and he hit his head on the hood of the car he was working on.

"Some warning next time would be good, Em." Jacob muttered as he rubbed the top of his head.

"Sorry." Embry had his hands shoved in his pockets and he was rocking nervously on the balls of his feet.

Jacob nodded, the tension was already building up and there was awkwardness between them. He took a deep breath and forced his annoyance at Embry down. Even though he had promised Bella that he was not jealous of Embry's attraction to her, he wasn't being entirely honest. "Good to see you back. How was the trip away? Did it help?"

Embry ran a hand through his hair. "Yes and no."

"What does that mean?" Jacob said more sharply then he intended.

Embry gazed at him for a moment, a wry smile crossing his lips. "Bella was wrong, you are mad at me, aren't you?"

Jacob's eyes narrowed. "When did you see, Bells?"

"Just before I headed down here." Embry shrugged his shoulders. "She passed my house with Brandon, she was on her way to Leah's."

"And you happened to just be outside as she passed." Jacob retorted sarcastically.

"It wasn't like that." Embry's own irritation was surfacing. He hadn't expected Jacob to be okay with the news about his feelings for Bella but he had hoped that he would be more understanding than this. He must have put on a real good act for Bella. "Cool down, man."

Jacob dropped the wrench he was holding and it clattered to the floor, both men didn't move as they eyed each other angrily. "Don't tell me to calm down. How would you feel if I was caught lusting after your girlfriend? You're supposed to be my best friend."

"I am." Embry yelled at him. "I have kept these feelings hidden for years. You know I would never come between you and Bella, ever."

"Then why did you suddenly change your mind and tell her. Look what you've caused." Jacob's resentment poured out.

"I don't know. She was lying there in that hospital bed looking so fragile. I just couldn't hold it in anymore. You love her so you know how it feels to think you might lose her from your life, even if you were only ever a friend to her." Embry tried to explain his actions.

Jacob paused for a moment. He wanted to understand, he really did. Embry had been his best friend his whole life, but he couldn't get past his irrational jealousy to be understanding. He turned his back on Embry before speaking. "I want you to go. I can't deal with this shit right now and I want you to stay away from Bells too."

Embry stared at Jacob's back, shocked at what he had just proposed. "Come on man, don't be like this."

"I said go, Embry." Jacob used his Alpha voice to order him. Embry had no choice but to comply.

XXXXXX

Bella watched her son as he slept, his long dark eyelashes cast shadows on his cheeks as he breathed in and out softly. Leah looked at Brandon too and reached out to touch his hair. Brandon stirred a little before becoming still again.

"You're so lucky, Bella. He's lovely." There was a hint of sadness in Leah's voice as she spoke.

Bella looked at her in concern. "You'll have your own children one day, Lee." She said encouragingly.

Leah shook her head and sat back down on the couch, a devastated expression crossing her beautiful face. "I can't have children."

"What? When did you find this out?" Bella came and sat next to Leah so she could put her arms around her.

"I've known for a while. My mom arranged for me to have some tests done privately at the hospital. I stopped menstruating when I phased. There's nothing that can be done." Leah's voice held such despair that Bella felt a tear trickle down her own cheek.

"Oh Lee, I'm so very sorry." Bella held onto her friend tighter. "Surely there must be something that can be done. Your body was functioning normally before you phased so it must stand to reason that with time it will do so again if you stopped."

Leah pulled back and stared at her. "Stopped phasing? That's impossible."

"Why?" Bella questioned. "I presume the last pack must have managed it, I don't recall any of the legends stating that they kept phasing indefinitely."

A hint of hope flashed in Leah's dark eyes. "Do you really think there's a chance?"

"Yes." Bella stated adamantly. "Although I doubt it will be a simple process, but I've come to believe if you want something badly enough it will happen."

"I'll need to talk to Jake and Sam." Leah got up and began to pace as excitement began to build up in her. "As from today I am no longer going to phase." She declared.

"Lee, you have to take things slowly." Bella warned her.

"I'm sick of taking things slow. I can do this." Leah was determined. "Will you talk to Jake for me?"

Bella bit her lip and nodded, she was worried for her friend, but if this was the only way for Leah to have the family that she craved then she could think of no one else who would have the determination and self control to do it.

XXXXXX

Embry was waiting on the steps to his house, he knew that Bella would have to pass that way on her journey home. He spent the time wondering what to say to her, his talk with Jacob had gone horribly wrong. He was still smarting over the fact that his so called best friend had Alpha ordered him to leave. At least he hadn't added the stipulation not to see Bella to that command. He had only said that verbally. Eventually his patience was rewarded as he saw Bella, pushing Brandon in front of her, heading his way. He jumped down from the steps and went to meet her.

"Hey," he called out.

Bella was surprised to see him again so soon. She greeted him cautiously. "I thought you were going to see Jake."

"I did." Embry rubbed the back of his neck as he walked beside her. "It didn't go so well."

"Why?" Bella's shoulders slumped, how long was this issue going to divide everyone? She felt responsible even though it was not her fault.

"He hasn't forgiven me, Bella. He came across as a bit of a jealous ass actually." Embry couldn't hide his resentment.

Bella shook her head. "No, Jake has been very understanding about it." She said firmly.

"To you maybe." Embry disagreed. "He ordered me to stay away from you both."

Bella stopped walking. Brandon began to grumble when the motion of the pushchair stopped. She picked him up and held him in her arms tightly, using him as a distraction. She didn't know what to think, Jacob had assured her on countless occasions that he understood how Embry must be feeling and that he harboured no jealousy toward him. Usually she could read him easily, but if he really did feel this way, he had certainly fooled her.

"Bella, I'm sorry to put you through this." Embry apologised. "I didn't think he would overreact to this extent."

"Overreact?" Bella whispered fiercely. She jiggled Brandon in her arms as he became restless. "I'm tired of this."

"What can I do?" Embry put his hands on her shoulders as he looked into her eyes.

Bella shrugged off his hold. "Just give him time to calm down and perhaps you should do as he asked and keep your distance, from me anyway." She quickly put Brandon back in the pushchair.

"You really want me to do that? I thought we were friends." The hurt was clear in Embry's voice.

Bella hated hurting anyone, but her first loyalty was to Jake. "I'm going to be blunt, Embry because I think you need to hear it. I can see how you feel about me. You managed to hide it before but now I can see it written all over your face and the way you act around me. If I can see, Jake must have too. It makes me feel uncomfortable and I don't know the best way to handle this without hurting you or Jake. So until you get a better handle over yourself or meet someone else, then I think it best if we don't see each other alone like this unless others are there."

Embry felt like he had been punched in the gut. He stared at Bella sadly. "If that's what you want."

Bella bit her lip before nodding. "Yes. I have to go. Take care of yourself, Embry." She said quickly before walking away with Brandon.

XXXXXX

Jacob phased back into his human form and marched back to the house. He had taken a long run to burn off his anger at Embry. He was annoyed at himself too, he had overreacted and he knew it, but where Bella was concerned he couldn't help feeling territorial. Embry hadn't helped the situation by showing just how deep his feelings for Bella ran, it was in the way he acted and spoke about her.

As soon as Jacob entered the house he heard Brandon gurgling so he knew Bella was back from Leah's. He steeled himself to tell her what had happened. "Bells, I need to talk to you." He said as he went into their bedroom.

Bella was in the middle of changing Brandon's diaper. She glanced up at him. "I already know. I ran into Embry on the way back here."

Jacob's expression darkened. "It didn't take him long to go running to you again. I warned him to stay away."

"Oh yes I know you did." Bella replied sarcastically as she picked Brandon up and carried him over to his cot. She placed him down carefully and watched as his eyes fluttered shut. When she was sure he was soundly asleep she left the room, Jacob following behind.

"I suppose you're going to tell me I've been an idiot." Jacob said defensively.

"Jake you've been an idiot." Bella echoed him.

He threw his hands up in the air. "I know I have. Its just when he was there, talking about you. I could see it, Bells. For the first time I could see how much he cares for you and I just got jealous."

Bella gave him a wan smile. She came over and slipped her arms around his waist. "I know it's not easy, Jake. I understand, I do. I told him it's best if he keeps his distance from me. I'm hoping that his feelings will fade and he'll meet someone."

"You're an eternal optimist honey." Jacob wrapped her in his arms and lifted her up so that they were face to face. "I love you."

"I love you too." Bella smiled as he kissed her softly on the lips. "Promise me that you'll try and speak to him, properly this time. You have been friends for too long to let this come between you."

"I'll try." Jacob could never deny Bella anything. "And I'm sorry that I didn't tell you how I was really feeling."

"We're partners, Jake. I want you to be able to confide in me, even if it's something you think I don't want to hear." Bella kissed him again, pressing her mouth hard on his.

They were both panting when they pulled apart. "Brandon's asleep and my dad's out so..." Jacob left the rest unsaid as Bella laughed.

"That's just what I was thinking." She agreed. Jacob grinned at her as all the earlier tension drained away. He carried her bridal style toward their room.

A/N-thanks for reading!