Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters.

A/N: Thanks to katmom and Angelinia, who beta this story.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The Truth

Bella was now lying on her couch. She hated that even though she was finally out of the hospital Edward wouldn't let her even lift a finger, but she tried to be patient. She knew that it really had been hard on him when he saw the accident in Alice's mind and then he had to see her bruised and broken as she slowly healed. In fact, she still wore a boot on her ankle; her arm was in a cast though thankfully her finger was back to normal. She was also grateful that the bruises were gone and his worried expression seemed to leave with them.

Another thing she was grateful for was that Charlie had stopped hovering as much... he had been ridiculously attentive when she had first returned home, almost as if Edward was giving him pointers on just how to worry the right (or in her opinion wrong) way. But Charlie couldn't really stay off work for long and Bella was pleased about this because it meant she and Edward could be alone longer. Though it was true that Charlie's attitude towards Edward had become better since the accident, that didn't mean that he was going to let the boy stay late to all hours of the night.

"Ahhh..." Edward let out a breath and then frowned.

"What is it?" Bella questioned, looking at him warily.

"Nothing terrible," Edward chuckled at her expression, "but it seems that Jacob is here to visit you."

"Oh!" Bella said, not sure what to think about that. She had agreed that she would tell Jacob the whole truth about the imprinting thing, and this was the first time that she was going to be seeing him. He had not visited her in the hospital, which she had to admit hurt a little.

Jacob didn't even have to knock; Edward opened the door before he got there.

"Hey," Jacob said tentatively, "Can I come in?"

"Of course," Edward said.

"This isn't your house, Edward," Bella grumbled from the couch.

"Mm... I take that to mean that you're mad at me," Jacob frowned.

"Not really... I was just pointing out that I'm the one you should have asked," Bella shrugged.

"You look better," Jacob said with a smile and Bella raised an eyebrow at that. "I saw you before you woke up..." he tried to explain, at the same time trying not to think about how Bella looked, neither he nor Edward needed to see that again, "you look like Bella again now..."

"Thanks," Bella said. "But you know you could have come and seen me sooner... I've been looking like Bella for a while..."

"Sorry about that..." Jacob sighed. "But I knew when I saw you again... well, we have a lot to talk about... it's not something I wanted to say in the hospital."

"Oh... right," Bella said lamely, looking sad.

"Do you mind if I have some time to talk to Bella?" Jacob questioned Edward.

"Again... isn't that something you should ask me?" Bella grumbled.

"Sorry," Jacob chuckled. "I was just wondering... well..."

"If I was capable of leaving Bella," Edward said half smiling, but his eyes said that the truth was he really wasn't at this moment.

"Actually, I want Edward to stay," Bella said. "Because... well, there are some things we actually have to tell you. Something we probably should have told you before... but I hope you'll understand how we feel after we tell you."

"Hm..." Edward said not sure if they really should have told Jacob about this before or not. But he agreed that it was necessary. "You probably should sit down; this is a lot to take in."

"Um... okay?" Jacob said looking at them both confusedly as he sat in the chair that Charlie normally used. "I'm guessing this has something to do with the weird feelings I'm having for you, Bella?"

"Yes," Bella said.

Mm... I've been thinking about this for nearly three weeks and I still haven't come up with anything that's plausible... I don't understand though... they seem to be so sure about how I'm feeling? How the hell would they know that? Oh... it must have...

"And this has something to do with the last book, doesn't it?" Jacob said.

"Yes," Edward answered. "And yes..." at this Bella looked at him questioningly and he added, "He wanted to know if this is the reason why you didn't give him this book too."

"So, what is it?" Jacob asked, and then in an attempt to lighten the situation he added with a chuckle, "I don't imprint on your incredibly hot cousin or anything like that? Right?"

Bella just looked at Jacob, astonished that he would say that... that he would be so close, but completely wrong at the same time. Edward was shocked too at first, but went back to normal as he listened to Jacob's musing.

Wow, look at them, did I guess right? No that can't be, I don't think Bella would have minded if I liked her cousin. Besides, I don't even think she has a cousin, she hasn't mentioned one yet... Argh... that's so not important right now. Hm... Something tells me it does have something to do with imprinting...

"What would make you think this has anything to do with imprinting?" Bella questioned.

Now I'm sure it has something to do with it, Jacob thought before he said, "Well... I'm not sure really. All I know is that all my thoughts end up there. But I know that you're definitely not my imprint.

"Sam thought that it could be because you were actually supposed to be my imprint, but because you fell in love with Edward that it was impossible for me to imprint on you. I mean... it wouldn't really be good if we could imprint on someone that no matter how much we love them they can't return it..."

"That makes sense," Edward said and Jacob looked at him sadly, as if he was about to tell Jacob that was what was going on. Edward sighed, "I didn't mean it was the right theory, I was just saying that it makes sense that you couldn't imprint on someone that's already in love."

"Honestly, I'm not sure if that's even true," Jacob said. "I know that we could definitely imprint even if we're in love with someone else..." his tone became sad as he said that, "but of course you know that too."

"Are you in love with a girl now?" Bella questioned, wondering if his sad tone had anything to do with the way he feels.

"He was channeling Sam's feelings," Edward informed her as Jacob rolled his eyes.

"Okay, sorry," Bella said, and then she bit her lip.

"Just ask your question, Bella," Jacob said impatiently (and Edward seemed to be just as curious as him, his usual expression on his face whenever he wonders what she is thinking).

"Okay," Bella smiled at him sheepishly. "I was just wondering... why you thought that it would be my cousin that I don't even have?"

"Oh," Jacob said, looking a little confused; Okay so if imprinting is the problem... and it's not a cousin... or because she's in love with someone else... then who could it be?

"Please answer the question, Jacob, I promise that we will answer your questions in a minute," Edward said a little impatient and annoyed.

Hm... whoever it is he's obviously not happy about it, Jacob thought fleetingly before looking back towards Bella. "I suppose it's because I would be really annoyed if someone imprinted on one of my sisters... well, only Rachel really, seeing as Rebecca is already married and happy..."

"Oh... then maybe you don't want to read the next book..." Bella started to say.

"You're not serious!" Jacob exclaimed. Tell me she's joking!

"I'm afraid she's not," Edward said looking amused and Jacob narrowed his eyes at him.

"But it's... um... it's with someone that hasn't changed yet... like Seth or Embry... right?" Jacob said looking at them pleadingly, but he could tell that this was a no. He wouldn't say that he liked the idea of either Seth or Embry imprinting on his sister, but seeing as Sam and Jared had already imprinted that left Rachel with... he groaned. "PAUL!"

"I'm sorry," Edward said, almost looking sorry, but his eyes were still hard. Then he started smirking as Jacob plotted of ways to make sure that his sister never got anywhere near Paul.

"I don't see what's so damn funny!" Jacob huffed.

"It's not funny... just ironic," Edward admitted. "But you might want to remember what you're thinking now in a minute..."

"Fine! Now that you thoroughly ruined my day, what do you have to say?" Jacob grumbled.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said what I did about your sister," Bella sighed, "I didn't mean to work you up..."

"Don't worry about it, Bella... it's not like it's your fault," Jacob sighed and then grumbled, "It's our nature."

"I still could have..." Bella started to apologize again.

"Please, Bells, just tell me whatever it is you wanted to say," Jacob said.

"Well..." Bella said and then looked at Edward; she had no idea how to say this.

He sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Carlisle believes, and I tend to agree with him, that the reason that your feelings are so strong towards Bella is because she is the closest thing to your imprint that exists at this moment."

Jacob furrowed his eyebrows together, trying to understand what Edward was saying. What does he mean about closest to your imprint that exists... doesn't that mean that she has yet to be born? Hm... that would make sense and yet I'm not sure how that would even be possible. Maybe Bella's mom, Renee, is going to have a kid or something. Argh! Yeah Bella wouldn't really want me imprinting on her sister...especial since she would be a baby...

Edward laughed at that shaking his head.

"Hey! That's mean you know!" Jacob growled at him, who asked the stupid mind reader to listen to my thoughts...

"Sorry," Edward said, "It's just that you are so close to the truth it's almost painful."

"Why don't you just tell me the truth then?" Jacob hissed.

"I suppose that it is impossible for you to guess," Edward said. "It's not like even we knew that she was possible before the books..."

"What... what are you talking about?" Jacob said, an impossible conclusion dawning on him.

"Her name is Renesmee," Bella answered softly, a smile playing on her lips as she said the name, "and she is... will be our daughter."

Jacob eyes widened at that. No freaking way did I hear that right! Vampires can't have kids... Everyone knows that! But crap! They're serious... how could they freaking be serious!

"We were just as shocked when we learned it was possible, too," Edward said. "We had no idea that this was possible."

"How?" Jacob managed to choke out.

"She's only half vampire... half human," Edward said.

"Ah... that... what?" Jacob said, seeming unable to form words.

"What is he trying to say?" Bella asked Edward.

"His thoughts are just as jumbled as his words," Edward frowned and then he heard clearing in his head. What is she like? Edward's eyes softened completely and a smile like nothing that Jacob had ever seen before was now planted on his face.

"She is the most wonderful child that was ever born," Edward started and he started listing everything he could about the daughter he had never really met yet.

"Wow!" Jacob said when he finished. "Just... wow!"

"I know, I was amazed at first too," Bella smiled.

"And you didn't want me to know this..." Jacob said slowly.

"Because we weren't sure how we felt about you imprinting on her at such a young age," Bella answered his unfinished statement. "I'm still not sure... but I thought you should know."

"Why?" Jacob questioned. "Why are you telling me now?"

"Because Edward heard how confused you are about your feelings," Bella said. "I don't like to see or hear about you suffering."

"You don't like to see anyone suffering," Jacob corrected.

"That might be true, but it's especially hard to watch my friend suffer," Bella said. "How do you feel about this?"

"Confused," was Jacob's immediate answer. Then he looked thoughtful as he added, "part of me feels excited... I have an idea what it's like to imprint on someone from the other guys, but I know it's different... stronger when you actually are the one imprinting.

"Another part of me is a little worried about this. I don't particularly want to imprint on a baby... a child... And I know that you don't want that either... that's why you didn't tell me right?"

"Part of it," they answered together.

"It was really hard for me especially because well... I had to transform right after she was born and I didn't get to know her first two days and you'd already imprinted on her..."

Jacob made a face at that, "Yeah... I can see why you wouldn't want that."

"But you still want to meet her," Edward said, it wasn't a question of course.

"After your description of her, I doubt anyone wouldn't want to meet her," Jacob pointed out. "But I don't really want to out step my boundaries... but I really do want to see her..."

"We just made you more confused than ever, didn't we?" Edward sighed and chuckled at the same time.

"Yeah, you definitely did that," Jacob sighed. "But I'm still glad you told me... It's nice to understand what I've been feeling." Still, I've got a lot to think about now... how am I supposed to deal with this information anyway? I probably should talk to Sam... but hell, it's not like he's going to have any advice for this...

"Actually we were thinking that it would be beneficial to you if you actually read the last book," Edward said. "It probably would help you understand things better..."

"But just to warn you, there's a part of the book that's from your point of view," Bella added.

"Really?" Jacob was stunned, well that should be fun. "Bella... um... are we still friends?"

"Of course, Jake," Bella said in the 'I can't believe you have to ask that' voice. "Nothing changes that, not even me becoming a vampire."

"That's good to know," Jacob chuckled. "But I really was asking if I was still able to drop by now that we all know that I'm not going to be falling in love with you."

"Sure, Jake, you can come whenever you want," Bella chuckled.

"Oh... Jacob, one more thing," Edward said. "We know that you are going to share your thoughts with the other wolves, I just want to caution you not to do that at first... there are some things in this book that I'm not sure your pack brothers will like at first."

"Great," Jacob grumbled.

"Just remember that Renesmee is not a monster no matter what anyone thinks," Edward said, his eyes looked a little pained when he said that. "And... I wouldn't mind if you make it clear to your pack that Bella would not survive the pregnancy if she remained human, and seeing that she will give birth to your imprint that it would be... nice if you would officially let us turn her..."

"I'll see what I can do," Jacob sighed. "But I think it would be best if I asked Sam for a few nights off duty until I finished this book and get my thoughts in order... I don't want to start up any trouble. Especially not since Sam is starting to understand you better."

"I would appreciate that," Edward smiled and Jacob left.

O

Things went by as they normally did the next week, at least as normal as they could be with Bella stuck at home all the time. It had now been a month since the accident and she was starting to get extremely bored with not being able to do anything. She was finally well enough to go back to school. She had been keeping up with her homework over the last few weeks, but she couldn't help but worry that she would be behind when she got back to school. Though she definitely liked the private tutoring she got from Edward. Still, seeing as winter break was starting next week, it wasn't like she was going to be going there for very long anyway.

Jacob showed up at Bella's house on Saturday morning with plenty of news and looking pretty happy. He said that after reading the book he was able to talk with not only his pack brothers, but also the council. They all agreed to Edward's request, though obviously reluctantly, that Bella could be turned if, and only if, she gave birth to a child. Jacob even informed them (seeming a little reluctant himself) that it would be allowed if the child wasn't his imprint after all.

"They seemed to think that things might have changed, but that you should not have to pay for that," Jacob said. "It was clear that Renesmee was an innocent and they believed that any child born from you would be and they wouldn't deny Bella the chance to keep existing because of that. I don't think it hurt that you're such a mild mannered vampire from the beginning!" he added chuckling.

"I'll give you mild mannered," Bella nearly growled as she glared at Jacob.

"Did they say anything else of importance?" Edward questioned.

"Not really," Jacob said. "But Dad seemed to think as long as Bella and Renesmee aren't threatened so much I wouldn't be so... overbearing in concerns over Renesmee."

"Do you agree?" Edward asked.

"I want to, but I don't really know," Jacob sighed. "Reading these books makes me want to meet Renesmee more than ever, but I'm willing to wait a few months... even years... to get to meet her."

"We'll think of something, Jake," Bella said.

A/N: Well, I hope you like that chapter. I wasn't really expecting this conversation to go on for this long... I was thinking about adding something on at the end of this, but I think it's better that this is just a standalone chapter. Anyway, the next chapter will start the next turn in the story line that I've come up with.

Oh and I just want to say that I do read every review that I get, I'm just not really the best at responding to them. However, my point in saying this now is that I like the questions about the plot line I've been getting... it's interesting seeing what you think is going to happen, but there is no way that I'm going to answer them. I really don't want to give anything away.