I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT!
CHAPTER 6
(Charlie)
I stood there watching my daughter sleep, worry and sadness etched on her face. I wanted to help her, to fix everything that had gone so horribly wrong over the last few months, yet I couldn't and it hurt like hell. I hated Jacob, I was so angry at him for leaving her alone to raise his daughter. I hated him for leaving me to fix her and put her back together. No matter how old she got, she would always be my baby and my baby was hurting.
(FLASHBACK)
I pulled down my driveway and saw Jake's truck parked behind Sue's car. I took a deep breath and prayed that everything was okay. Bella usually didn't go over to the house unless I was there. She'd grown closer to Sue over the years, but she was still not her most favorite person.
"About time you got here!" Bella exclaimed hugging me tightly when I walked in the door.
"Sorry, duty calls," I said hanging up my gun belt.
"Hurry up we have something to tell you!" She giggled.
I followed her into the kitchen and found Sue and Jake involved in a deep conversation. "What's going on?" I asked.
"Welcome home," Sue said coming over and kissing me quickly. "Not sure, Bella and Jake just got here not that long ago."
I turned to my daughter and Jake. I knew they were getting married, so was a little curious as to what they wanted to tell us. "We wanted to tell you sooner, but decided to wait a bit," Jake said.
"What is it?" I asked eying Bella who was biting her lip, hard.
"Daddy, Sue, I'm pregnant," She said wrapping her arms around Jake's waist.
"Oh my God are you serious?" Sue asked.
"Yah," Bella said handing her over an ultrasound.
I looked over her shoulder, there were no words to describe how happy I was for the two of them. Yes, I wished they would have been married first, but I knew that Jake would never leave her and they were so happy. "Is that two babies?" I asked.
"No!" Bella exclaimed. "They said there was just one."
"Twins would have been awesome," Jake laughed moving quickly away from Bella's elbow.
"How far along are you? Are you showing?" Sue asked.
"I'm three months," Bella said pulling her shirt tight across her stomach showing off the slight bulge that was there.
"How wonderful!" Sue exclaimed gently touching her stomach. "That has to be the most amazing thing in the world to know that you have a baby growing."
"Thanks Sue, it really is." Bella said hugging her.
"Congratulations!" I said to Jake. "Now I must tell you, if you hurt her I know where to hide your body!"
"I'd never hurt her sir, I love her and this baby more than anything."
(END FLASHBACK)
Two weeks later that promise was broken. Losing someone was an unimaginable pain, one that I wouldn't wish on anyone. I sat down next to her on the bed and rubbed her back gently. "I'm so sorry Bella," I whispered.
"Daddy," She whispered.
"I'm right here baby."
"I guess I've slept all day."
"It's okay Bells, you've needed sleep."
She sat up and I could tell she was on the verge of tears, according to Sue all she had done was sleep and cry. "Oh Bella, how can I help you?" I asked her.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Bring him back to me."
"He's gone Bella."
"I need him, I can't do it without him!" She sobbed."It's not fair!" She screamed hitting me with her fists.
"No baby, it's not fair. I wish I could change it all for you, but I can't!" I said restraining her wrists.
"It's not fair daddy, he promised me!" She sobbed fighting to get away from my hold.
"Bella stop!" Sue demanded coming in and wrapping her arms around Bella from behind. "You have every right to feel everything you are feeling, but you can't stop living Bella. That precious little girl down there needs you."
"What did I ever do to deserve this?" She cried.
"Nothing Bella, that's just it. You are blaming yourself for something you didn't do or deserve." Sue said softly.
We held her until she calmed, both of us exhausted emotionally from watching her go through this. Sue got up and came back with a washcloth and washed her face. "Now, come downstairs and get something to eat."
"I'm not hungry," Bella said.
"I know you're not and I know the food will taste awful, but that little girl needs you to be strong, so you have to eat!" Sue said with a tone that meant she was done discussing it.
Bella nodded and stood up slowly stretching her legs and about that time, I heard Jaycie cry. "I'll get her, you get food."
"Well hello angel," I said picking her up. "Oh, you stink." I walked over and grabbed a diaper and wipes, then took her into mine and Sue's room. "Okay Jaycie, it's been a very long time since I've changed a diaper so please don't pee on me," She looked up at me sucking on her fist, she looked a lot like Jake, but she still reminded me of Bella as a baby.
I picked her up and placed her on my shoulder as she ran her face along mine. "Do I smell as good as you do?" I asked patting her back.
"Is she okay?" Bella asked from the doorway.
"She's great. I just changed her and now we are spending quality time together."
Bella came over and sat down beside us. "I don't know what I would do without her."
"Jake did leave you with a very precious gift Bella."
"I don't know if I can do it daddy. How can I be a mom and dad to her?"
"The same way I did Bells, it wasn't easy, but I did it. Think about it, I was a single dad raising his daughter through the horrible teenage years and the hormones. You have a daughter, I think it will be easier for you and I will be here when she needs a man around," Bella looked down at Jaycie and took her tiny hand. "And you never know, you might meet a guy one day who will love you both and will take her on as his daughter."
"I don't want anyone else," She said.
"I didn't either until I started dating Sue, give it time Bella it hasn't even been a year yet."
"Thanks daddy," She said resting her head on my shoulder.
"Your welcome honey, now lets go in the kitchen, Sue and I would like to talk to you."
(Bella)
Dad and I walked into the kitchen and sat with Sue. "Are you okay honey?"
I shrugged. "I'm trying."
"Lets talk," Sue said.
I glanced at the two of them nervously. "What?" I asked.
"Your dad and I have been talking and we want you and Jaycie to come live with us."
"What about my house?" I asked.
"It wouldn't have to be a permenant stay if you didn't want it to be, that will be up to you, we just feel like we can help you better if you both are here with us." Sue said.
I looked over at the tiny baby nestled in my dad's arms. I knew as tired as I was lately I wasn't taking the best care of her. Hell I was hardly able to take care of myself. Then I thought about the house, if I moved out I'd be giving up the last piece of Jake. "I, I don't know what to say."
"Say yes Bella, let us help you," Sue said.
"But you have already helped me so much," I said.
"No Bella, we haven't. Our biggest mistake was leaving you alone only a few days after coming home from the hospital, we should have just brought you here," Dad said.
"But she's my daughter I have to do this."
"Bella, she is your daughter we know that, but we are willing to help you. The first few weeks with a newborn can be crazy, please let us do this for you, for her." Sue was practically begging.
"I guess," I sighed.
Early the next morning, Jaycie woke me up screaming. I sat up trying to get my bearings, then stood up and picked her up. Her clothes were soaking wet. "Aw sweet girl, don't cry, I'll clean you up," I grabbed her a diaper and managed to find her another outfit. Once she was dressed I took her down to the kitchen to get her a bottle.
"Can I help?" Sue asked coming into the kitchen.
"I'm sorry we woke you up, she peed through everything and I'm trying to get a bottle ready for her and she wont stop crying," I felt utterly defeated, nothing I ever did seemed good enough.
Sue took the bottle from me and made it quickly. "Here, by the time she's finished her bed will be ready for her."
"Thanks," I yawned.
I sat down in the recliner as I began feeding her. I couldn't even keep my eyes open. "Bella, go to bed," Sue said shaking my shoulder.
"I'm fine," I slurred.
"No you aren't you are exhausted and going to end up sick if you don't get sleep." She said taking Jaycie out of my arms. Tears filled my eyes. "Bella, sleep will make all the difference in the world."
I stumbled back to my room and collapsed on the bed, the next thing I felt was the bed dip. "Sue?" I asked.
"Sh Bella, Jaycie's asleep, I'll get her when she wakes up," Sue wrapped her arms around me and for one of the first times in my life I felt like a little girl again who really needed her mom.
"Sue," I whispered.
"What Bella?"
"Thank you for being the mom to me that I haven't always deserved."
"Hush now Bella, sleep and know that I love you."
"Love you to," I slurred falling asleep.
I HAVE HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE WONDERING WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO JAKE, THAT WILL COME OUT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.
THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS, ADD and ALERTS! THE REVIEWS MAKE ME WANT TO UPDATE MORE.
