~I'm glad I've matured as a writer, because the ideas are already etched in my brain and I'm really enjoying these emotional reviews instead of stressing about them. Jake has some major hate coming his way and I wasn't exactly expecting that, but this is how this version of Jacob is. He's stubborn, troubled, possessive and not completely rational, but those are not always bad qualitites. He prematurely gave up the wolf and the beast is giving him hell for it.

Chapter 10: The Unnatural Path

Bella was trying to wrap her head around everything that was happening in her house at the present time. She knew she'd face Jacob this week, but she kind of imagined after his stubborn responses over the phone, she would have to go to him. When he showed up and she had no choice, but to lift Atticus out of the car in front of him, all her practiced scenarios flew out the window. He was pissed, but she saw his son change his attitude immediately. He seemed positively overjoyed to be Atticus's father. They sorted out a few things, but still had a mountain of issues. She absolutely couldn't imagine showing up at Jacob's with a baby and his wife not coming unglued. Jacob talked like Kaleigh was very kind, compassionate and understanding, but no way was this going to fly. No woman was that good and Bella couldn't blame her. If Jake was truly hers, she'd hang on for dear life. However, Jacob wouldn't be asking Kaleigh to accept her, he'd be asking for acceptance for his son. She still thought they were going to have to live with a little distance between them.

She kept assuming he would leave after their early dinner and a little playtime with their son. The night continued on. Jacob never mentioned going back to the hotel. He never even answered his phone which went off several times. She would see him glance at it and then slide it back in his pocket.

Barry offered to give him a ride, but he still didn't budge.

"So what happened to ugly blue car?"

"Oh, it died a quick, painless death. Barry traded his in for this family friendly one until I can afford something else."

Like a smartass, he replied, "Shocking, your ride didn't pull through."

Jacob thanked Barry again. Those two were getting along swimmingly despite they almost came to blows when Jacob first arrived and the name calling that came with the revelation. Bella guessed she deserved it, but she couldn't stop thinking about how much it hurt to hear it from his lips. He really changed abruptly in the hall after she got Atticus down for a nap. Now Bella was doing something she never planned to do, she was considering going back with him to Washington. She'd watched him with their son maybe four hours, and she didn't have the heart to separate them. If only they could be a family, but Jacob already had a family. A spouse was the first step to starting one's family. She couldn't hide from the mistake she made by not telling him the day she found out she was pregnant. She needed to go on with their routine and not dwell on the what ifs.

"So, I'm about to give Atticus a bath and put him to sleep. You can come over anytime you're free this week. We have more details to go over."

Jacob handed over the baby, but he stood up to follow her. "I, um... well, I'd like to see how you bathe him, if that's okay. You taught me to change a diaper. Might as well learn it all."

She smiled. He didn't have to learn everything all in one night, but he was so eager she couldn't turn him down. Bella walked him back to their room and asked him to watch the baby closely on the bed while she grabbed a few things. "He rolls sometimes. I usually only trust him in the crib if I'm by myself or his blanket on the floor. Your son is strong and determined, Jake."

She'd just gotten together the last couple of things she needed for his bath when she looked up to find Jacob with one hand on Atticus, but his eyes on her. "You sure that's from me? How could I have any sort of influence when I haven't been around?"

Bella pulled her lip in between her teeth. She paused. The guilty feelings weren't going to disappear anytime soon. She had a seat with them. She never would've imagined being on a bed with Jacob ever again, but their child was in between them, so she should be safe or Jacob should be safe, she meant. She covered his hand with hers. "Dad already commented he has your personality, not to mention he looks exactly like you, but I feel like many other traits are also genetic. You know the whole nature vs. nurture debate. Besides, you'll forever be an influence now. It's just... "

He interrupted her train of thought, "Bells, you have to be near me, so I can protect you and Ace."

"What about Dad's?"

"No, not close enough."

"Jacob, we're obviously going to have to make some compromises, like millions of other blended families. I'm sure your wife loves you very much, but she's not going to be okay with what you're proposing. No woman would."

"I'm aware, there are challenges, but I can't be separated from him. Dickward said Aro is more entranced with you than ever."

"I can't believe you two talked about me. What I really can't wrap my mind around is that Barry communicated with you behind my back."

"That guy's a vault, apparently."

"No kidding. If I go, I'm going to miss him so much, Monica too. They've been my family all this time."

"Bells, I'm trying to suppress all my dominate, asshole tendencies, but you have to go. I'm sorry to give you an ultimatum, but that's it. I've driven myself fucking crazy all year being stubborn and now, so much more is at stake."

"Maybe once Atticus is weaned, we could have a judge sort it out."

"Are you seriously threatening me with legal shit?" She wasn't threatening by any means. It was just so complicated, Bella thought a third party might be helpful.

"Not exactly and 'threat' is a terrible word."

"Well you're dead, aren't you? Seems like I'm the more responsible parent."

"Jake."

"You started it."

"Well, I'm stopping it. Fine, no lawyers, no judges, just me and Atticus in a weekly motel until your wife kicks you out on your ass and you're homeless, just like us."

He actually smiled. She didn't think it was funny at all. "Come on, it's getting late." Bella showed him how she filled the baby bathtub on the bathroom counter. She made him test the water with a thermometer because she felt like his high body temperature would keep him from gauging it accurately. She went through their whole routine step by step.

Jacob noticed how happy Atticus was every time he saw himself in the mirror. "You're a good looking kid. I think you like yourself a little too much." Bella looked up occasionally to see the three of them standing so close in the reflection of the mirror. Could this little family still exist in some fashion? She was almost believing it could after how things were all evening. "You really think he looks just like me?"

"Yeah, isn't it obvious? Dad knew at first glance and so did you."

"Actually, I knew as soon as I got a good whiff of him."

"Oh."

"I see you too, the eyes and nose. He'll be the best of both of us, hopefully."

"I like that." Bella had the baby rinsed off, so she asked him to hold out the baby towel so she could wrap him up and keep him warm. "Jake, I know you have a nice hotel room and all, but you can stay all night if you want. I'll take you back in the morning. Our couch is pretty comfy." She fully expected him to decline. It was crazy, him spending the night at her house, but he told her he'd actually planned on asking if it was alright as soon as they got the baby to sleep.

They got Atticus dressed in his pajamas. He kept looking around waiting for more directions, but she knew her boy was hungry and Bella was quite timid about her breastfeeding. She wasn't about to show him that, up close and personal. She stared, he didn't get the hint. "Um, he's hungry, then he'll probably knock out. We get up early, by 6 usually, then I can give you that ride, if that sounds okay."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry. Sure, sure. I need to make a call, then I guess I'll go find an extra pillow or something."

"Ask Barry, he'll give you everything you need. Thanks, for accepting it all so quickly, Jake. I know this was not the day you expected when you woke up this morning."

"Nope, it sure wasn't, but I'm so happy to be that boy's father, if you can't tell. I've been following you around like a real puppy the whole time. I just don't want to miss anything else. I'm already so proud of him and he doesn't even do much." They both giggled together.

He leaned over to kiss Atticus on the head. He was so close, she could smell his fresh clean, manly scent.

Bella made him a promise she intended to keep, "You won't miss anymore. Goodnight Jacob."

"Night Bells. Sweet dreams, Ace."

Jacob had actually gotten a few hours of sleep. He had a tiff on the phone outside on the porch which he figured was going to cause him some insomnia. After a brief pause outside Bella's door, listening to her and their son's even breathing, he calmed down some. They were both sound asleep. He felt exhausted, overwhelmed, but more than anything, content. They were safe and all under the same roof. It was crazy to think that he'd finally found what he was missing out on in life in order to finally feel such contentment. The wolf hadn't been at ease all year, and Jacob, the man wasn't much better. He tried so hard to be a good husband, the kind of partner his wife deserved, but something was always lacking.

He knew after the call with Kaleigh, he had a steep climb ahead. She knew something was wrong, different, or completely out of the ordinary. Mack told her he was MIA from the conference and the hotel and when he kept ignoring all her calls, she panicked. She'd issued some type of alert to everyone he knew.

Sam alerted him right before Ace's bath, You better answer Kaleigh. You're with Bella, aren't you?

Damn him. He told Jacob he'd cave into temptation once he got to California. He was pretty positive he'd stand his ground until she made contact. Her cryptic pleadings peaked his curiosity, concern... longing.

He tried to remain calm, but the lies had to stop somewhere. He told Kaleigh he was visiting a friend and would it explain it in more detail when he got home.

"Since when do you have a friend in California?"

"Kay, it's a long story. I didn't realize I did until... " he paused, not sure how much he should say over the phone.

"Until when, Jake?"

"Last year." There, he said it. That was the first step to admitting everything.

"Sure about that, because you've been weird for three years running, every time you go out of town."

"Yes, I'm sure I only found out about my friend last year. Look, I know I'm asking a lot of you to wait on an explanation, but I swear this time I'll explain everything. It's just not good enough to tell you over the phone. I'm fine, tell Mack everything's cool and that I'll be at all the meetings the rest of the week."

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you insinuating that I have my cousin spying on you?" She didn't give him a chance to answer before she disputed his suspicions even further. "Because you know I'm not like that. Mack and I are close. You know how we grew up like brother and sister. I have no idea why you're always so rude when it comes to him."

"You're right. I know Mack's just a go-getter and super loyal to you." He tried to hide the sarcasm in his voice. "I'm sorry, it took me so long to get back to you, but stop worrying, I'm fine. I promise, babe. We're going to work this out as soon as I get home."

"Okay, Jake. I believe you. I love you. I miss you so much. Do you at least miss me a little even though your friend has been monopolizing your day?"

"Yes, of course, I miss you, Kay. Love you too." They hung up, but Jacob didn't go back inside. He sat on the stoop for a good fifteen minutes. He noticed fewer lights were on in the house. He came back inside and found Barry wiping down the counter with only the stove light on. All the other lights had been extinguished. Monica had also disappeared. The house was dim and quiet.

"I made up the sofa for you."

"Thanks, man."

Jacob fixed a glass of water. It was obvious Barry was finding things to keep him busy in the already clean kitchen. Jacob finally asked, "Got something else you need to say?"

"Well, now that you mentioned it. She's still fragile and I have no idea how you plan to pull off the impossible scenario you're suggesting?"

"It's going to be complicated for awhile, but I'm determined to make it work. Don't you agree Ace needs both his parents?"

"I do, I have all along, but as you've probably guessed, I protect Bella first and foremost. It wasn't easy never telling you to get your ass back here whenever you asked how things were."

"I can understand that. I know how convincing Bells can be when she thinks she's right, but she's miserably wrong. I'm glad she had you guys, at least."

"She's a great mom, you're son is lucky to have her."

Jacob could already tell that was true. He really couldn't discuss it any further. He didn't want Barry to read too much into the conversation. He never knew Bella wanted kids or knew anything about taking care of a baby. He was thinking about his reluctance to starting a family so soon. He tried to tell himself, it had everything to do with timing, but the truth was every time Kaleigh mentioned children, it felt contrived. Now, he and Bella had a son and it felt genuine, like it was always meant to be.

He was trying to fall back to sleep after waking up and rethinking all his choices and decisions since finding out about his son. It was 2:45 in the morning. He needed to clear his mind soon or it was never going to shut down. Jacob heard a creak in the floor. Someone was walking around. He had to go check it out just to ease his overzealous wolf. He did something similar many nights at his own house. Kaleigh knew he had tons of peculiar qualities that she claimed were fairly new. The biggest problem he had to convince her of was that it was okay that he ran so hot, temperature wise. She wouldn't leave it alone for months after his so called illness.

He even faked a doctor's visit to prove he was fine. Their sex life had gone through some various ups and downs as well. Some things or lack of something didn't make sense to his wife. He was mid-twenties with a hot wife. It shouldn't be so difficult. Thankfully, after it was evident, Bella wasn't going to be in the picture, the wolf stopped fighting him so much against his chosen mate. It was a battle of wills, the man and wolf had chosen differently. However, the beast naturally craved touch and intimacy. Wolves were not accustomed to solitude and since he didn't have a pack, acceptance of Kaleigh was necessary.

Jacob knew for certain he couldn't be separated from his son. He made vows to Kaleigh, and he was a man of his word. He was going to beg her forgiveness, all the while asking for the impossible. He had his work cut out for him. For once, he hoped this week dragged on. He needed all the time and preparation he could get. If Kaleigh eventually agreed to giving Bella and Ace the garage apartment, then they all could start accepting the new norm. His man cave seemed like the best solution since he needed them to be near, but not exactly right under his wife's nose. Jacob was not naive though. The damn wolf was going to be an issue. He might have convinced him to grant some acceptance for his wife, because Bella was nowhere near them. He had no idea what would happen with both women in such close proximity. He liked to think he was in full control of his spirit animal, but his body had already started to betray him. He found his eyes drift towards her, every spot she moved. He still could get high off her scent alone and touching her earlier in the hallway felt euphoric. None of these renewed sensations were promising when he kept trying to convince himself, he could handle this new situation and way of life.

Jacob walked around to check that the house was secure, but he couldn't seem to break away from remaining outside Bella's bedroom door. She was the one that had gotten up and he could tell she was still awake. He wondered why, since his son was still sleeping sound. He leaned in to listen closer to the sounds she was making. He was pressed against the door frame contemplating his next move. He needed to get his ass back to the sofa and go to sleep, but what he really wanted to do was step inside her room and ask why she was awake in the middle of the night, but more importantly, he needed to know why Bella was crying.

~Thanks for reading.

If you need a break from the angst, I'm going to start posting in my Christmas one shots, Silver Bells again for the month of December.