"What is important is to spread confusion, not eliminate it."
― Salvador Dalí

AMOC: Chapter 20: Impractical Dreams

BPOV:

The police arrived and took notes, pictures and even possible fingerprints. I was relieved that Charlotte somehow managed to remain asleep throughout the ordeal. It took them a good two hours before the police finally left and we were able to lock up the house once again and go upstairs to bed.

When we reached Jake's room, I turned and saw that like me he seemed annoyed and perhaps even a bit scared.

"Do you feel safe enough to sleep alone tonight? I mean, you can always sleep in my room." He offered.

I was so relieved to hear him say that. If I was honest with myself, I was too scared to sleep at all but perhaps if I was in the same room with him I might be able to relax enough to get a few hours of sleep before morning.

"Actually that would be nice. If you really don't mind." I chewed nervously on the tip of my fingernail.

"I don't mind at all. I would sleep better knowing you guys were truly safe." He replied with a frown.

"Do you think we should bring Charlotte in the room with us?" I felt a surge of panic hit me hard.

"Uh...we could but I don't think the intruder was after any of us. If I were to take a guess I would say they were looking for something of mine. Why else would they go to my office? They didn't take any valuables that I could see."

"Oh. True. Okay." I followed him into his room and watched as he climbed into his bed.

Climbing underneath the bedding I rolled over onto my side leaving plenty of space between us. Jake's bed was large and far more comfortable than my old hand me down. No doubt he spent a ridiculous amount of money for this heavenly bed. Closing my eyes I tried to calm down and push all my worries away. It took me several minutes but eventually I got to a place in my mind where I finally felt relaxed enough to go to sleep.

XXX

The next morning I woke up feeling physically well but I was still a train wreck emotionally. Climbing out of the bed as quietly as possible I made my way to Charlotte's room. I needed to assure myself she was indeed safe in her room.

Opening Charlotte's door I peeked inside and was relieved to see she was still sleeping soundly. I closed the door and then found myself standing in the hallway staring back and forth between my room and Jake's. It was only seven o'clock in the morning and I didn't have to go into work today. Should I go to my room and finish sleeping or do I go back to Jake's room?

Jake kept to his side of the bed during the night. He was the perfect gentleman. How long would that last?

Since I couldn't seem to make up my mind whose bed to return too, I decided to go ahead and start my day. Taking a quick hot shower and getting dressed I went to the kitchen and prepared breakfast for everyone.

Charlotte came downstairs first. She appeared to be in good spirits although I could tell her arm was bothering her.

"Let's give you some medicine before I feed you." I picked her up, set her on the countertop and carefully gave her the correct dosage of medicine.

"Yuck." She grimaced.

I chuckled before safely taking her off the counter and setting her in her booster seat at the table. Sitting with her we shared a peaceful breakfast together before Jake woke up and joined us.

"Hey! Did you guys save me anything?" he asked as he made himself a cup of coffee before sitting down next to Charlotte.

"Yep." She pointed at the plate that still had several pieces of toast, bacon and pancakes.

"Good because I'm starving." He rubbed his belly playfully.

"Has anyone called this morning?" He asked as he fixed his plate.

"No." I replied.

"I need to check in with Dad and Rachel about Becca and let them know what happened last night."

"Do you want us to come with you?" I offered.

"Nah. I think little one here needs to just stay home and relax." He ruffled the top of Charlotte's head.

We finished breakfast as if nothing scary occurred last night. I knew Jake didn't want Charlotte to be aware of the break in so I didn't bring it up.

Once breakfast was done and my kitchen was clean,I went in search of Charlotte whom I found lying on the couch watching Disney channel on television. The medicine I gave her was starting to make her drowsy.

Jake came out of his study and made his way down the hallway toward me.

"I'm sure you two will be fine but if something should happen ,call the police and then me." Jake said.

"Okay."

Jake's hands surprised me as they cupped the sides of my face and I watched as his face drew closer to mine. Jake and I didn't just kiss for no reason. It was either for sex or for a public display to prove we were a loving couple. His lips brushed across mine and I felt my knees knocking together.

"Keep the house locked up until I get home." He whispered before placing a quick kiss on the tip of my nose.

I blinked a few times and realized I was still standing at the front door but Jake was no longer with me. My heart did a couple of flip flops before I managed to pull myself together. Jake was a complex man but also full of surprises. The kiss was probably just his way of making me feel safe and secure while he was away but I couldn't help but wonder if it also was his way of showing me that he cared. If Jake could care about me, could his feelings someday go deeper? Did I dare consider such a preposterous dream where Jake found himself madly in love with me? It was a ridiculous notion and I needed to shove all impractical thoughts out of my head once and for all.

XXX

JPOV:

Dad called me back on my way over to his house and warned me he wasn't home. I agreed to meet him and Paul over at Rachel's house. When I arrived I noticed a vehicle parked in the driveway that didn't belong to any of my family members. Paul and Lauren stepped out of the house as I walked up.

"Why is she here?" I glared uneasily at the woman who was a constant reminder of why I didn't fall in love.

"The police department leaked to the local paper that Rebecca is missing. They want to write an article in the paper that might help them gain some clues to who saw her last or possibly if they saw anything suspicious the night of her disappearance." Paul explained with an annoyed look that matched my own.

"That doesn't explain why she is here. She takes pictures." I commented drily.

"Excuse me I'm right here. I am capable of talking for myself." Lauren huffed followed by a very unladylike snort.

"Oh we both know how you use your mouth. "

Lauren's eyes widen with shock but her lips curled up in a devious smile.

"I see you still remember some of my better qualities." She smirked.

My stomach nearly hurled up the wonderful breakfast I consumed earlier. If she thought for even a second that I sat back and dreamed about our sex life she needed to be locked up for insanity.

"Uh? I can't recall one damn thing I liked about you." I snapped harshly and then pushed her aside as I made my way in the house to find my father.

I could hear her ranting about something while Paul just stood silently guarding the front door.

"Dad." I searched several rooms before I found him sitting on the end of Becca's bed. He was looking at the floor with tears trickling down his face.

"Sorry." I mumbled as he quickly wiped them away, lifted his head up and gave me a weak smile.

"It's okay son. I'm just tired today that's all." He gulped hard as he put on a brave face for me.

"We had a break in last night. I got a shot off but the intruder got away." I announced.

"What! How is that possible? I thought you were smart enough to put a good security system in that big fancy house of yours." He stood up and glared at me.

"I did. I paid top notch money for it but it looks like they somehow knew the code to get in which is weird cause only me and Bella had knowledge of it." I explained.

"Are you sure you or her didn't tell someone?"

"I'm positive."

"What about those workers you've had in your house? Could one of them had seen you put in the code?"

It struck me how damn smart my father was even with his health failing him. Not once did it occured to me to consider the contractors nor did the police ask about them.

"It's possible I suppose but I trust them." I scratched my head nervously.

"Don't assume that people you pay won't stab you in the back. Trust me." He sighed heavily.

"Okay. I will have the police look into it."

"Good. How are Bella and Charlotte?"

"They are fine. Luckily, Charlotte slept through the whole thing." I chuckled.

"That's a relief. I bet it won't take long before the Cullen's hear about it." He sighed with frustrated frown.

"Yeah." I agreed.

"Be careful Jake. I know that Carlisle and Esme are good people to this town but they are blinded by their love for their son and they will do whatever it takes to get that little girl. Watch your back." He warned me.

"I'm trying Dad. I really am."

"Good. Now can you go get rid of Lauren so I can get some of Bryce's things for him."

"Sure Dad."

I walked out of the house and found Lauren still reeling with anger when Paul refused to let her back in the house.

"What are you hiding Jacob Black?" She demanded as she crossed her arms around her chest.

"Excuse me? I'm not the one hiding shit from people. As I recall that was one of your flaws." I chuckled bitterly as we locked eyes.

"Flaws. You want to talk flaws. Let me tell you I'm not the only one who screwed up our relationship." She cried out.

Grabbing her elbow I dragged her away from the house so that my father and Paul couldn't hear our conversation any further. Paul nodded at me as he made his way back into the house, closing the door behind him.

"Look damn it! My sister is missing and I don't need to go down fucking memory lane with you. Our past relationship isn't exactly one of my top ten favorite moments of my life."

"I don't get you Jake. You were the one who chased after me, you're the one who swore you would love me forever and yet here you stand acting as if I somehow tricked you into loving me." Her voice faltered as tears gleamed in her eyes.

"You pretended to love me Lauren. How can I not hate you for that! You lied and cheated on me. Why would you think that now after all these years I would forget all that and want to act as if we were good old friends?"

"If you didn't still care about me then you wouldn't get so upset about our past." She stated with a smile that made my skin crawl.

"Oh honey I don't know which therapist told you that but I can honestly tell you that my feelings for you are of dislike. I don't love you anymore and if we are being honest I don't think I really ever did."

I watched as the smug smile she wore fell off of her face and the tears she held back were now escaping from the corners of her eyes. I thought I would feel some kind of satisfaction at watching her suffer but I didn't. It was a horrible act to hurt someone knowingly even if they deserved it. What was wrong with me? I used to be a heartless bastard and now I was looking at the woman who broke, no shattered, my heart and I actually felt sorry for her.

"So you lied to me, back then?" her voice crackled.

"I was a horny teenage boy, it's possible I would have said anything to get my cock sucked." I shrugged my shoulders casually and stared at her with a blank face.

"Youuuu...bastttard!"

Lauren's hand reached up and slammed against my cheek. I continued to stand there and not blink an eye. I knew I had it coming for being a prick but when her fists started to pummel my chest I grabbed both of her hands and gripped them tightly.

"Enough." I growled.

"I'm sorry if you can't understand why I did it but I'm tired of you making me pay for a mistake I made as a teenager. I was stupid and foolish." Lauren wept.

"How am I making you pay?" I frowned at her.

"YOU married Bella Swan. How could you? She isn't right for you. She wasn't even good enough for Edward." She snarled.

"Lauren, you better watch what you say about my wife. I don't care that Edward didn't want her because truthfully he wasn't good enough for her. You know it and so does the rest of this damn town. I didn't marry her to hurt you. I married her because I ...love her." I forced the last two words out of my mouth and hoped it sounded convincing enough for her to let go of me.

"You're lying!" Lauren shook her head as more tears poured out.

"I'm not lying. I love her and Charlotte very much."

"What about...our baby?" Lauren stared boldly at me as I felt a twitch growing in my jawline as she mentioned our unborn child.

"You killed it. Don't you remember you destroyed any chance we might have had of a future together." I answered with a venomous tone.

"I wasn't sure who the father was Jake. I didn't want to consider raising a child with Edward. He ….is cruel. I was underage Jake and my parents refused to let me have a bastard child, especially yours." Lauren wept but the anger she felt continue to shine in her eyes.

"So you left , had an abortion and then what?"

In the past I often wondered what happened to her following the planned abortion her parents forced on her.

"I stayed at a private boarding school until I graduated. I was so ashamed about what I had done and afraid of how much you would hate me when I returned. I went to college but I ended up getting drunk more than I attended classes. My parents lost everything to the IRS and so I had to give up that dream. I went to work at several places until eventually I came home to bury my mother a couple of years ago. While I was here I realized how much I missed this town and...you."

My head felt like someone had dropped a sledgehammer on top of it. She was convincing I had to admit, for a moment I actually felt her despair and almost believed that she really did care for me.

"It's too late for us. You need to get that idea out of your head." I warned her but my voice was softer than before.

"I know." She wiped away the tears and smiled weakly at me.

"Good. Now tell me why you are really here?"

"I really did come to find out what happened with your sister and take a few pictures. Our journalist who usually writes these stories is at home sick with the flu." She replied with a defeated sigh.

"What have you found out?"

"Nothing really. Your sister left the house at 8:15 pm and wasn't seen again. My sources tell me that someone saw a strange van parked down the road." Lauren pointed.

"What color was it?"

"They didn't say." she gave me a sympathetic smile that for just one second made me remember the girl she used to be before I fell in love with her and ruined everything in my life.

"I need you to tell me anything you hear." I demanded.

"Why would I do that? We aren't even friends." She pointed out with a pair of pouty lips that made my stomach sink.

God, I almost forgot how beautiful she really was and how incredibly funny she could be but I wasn't here to rekindle our past nor was I in a place in my life to forgive and forget what part she played in hurting me.

"Just do it." I sighed heavily.

"Fine but you owe me." She winked before walking away.

I watched as she got in her vehicle and drove away. I knew I just made an enormous mistake by allowing her to believe that we could let our past go and move forward with our lives. Lauren still had the beauty of an angel but I knew better than most that her soul was broken and cruel like that of the devils.

XXX

I returned home later to see another unknown vehicle parked but this time it was in my driveway. Walking up to the front of the house I discovered the owner of the car was none other than Esme Cullen. She was giving Bella a tongue lashing when I stepped up behind her.

"Excuse me. Why are you speaking to my wife like that?" I asked with a tone that warned her that I wasn't threatened by her.

"Oh!" Esme jumped slightly as she whipped her head around and stared at me with a mixture of fear and hatred.

"I asked you a question."

"I don't like hearing about my granddaughter's well being jeopardized while she lives under this roof. First she gets her arm hurt and then there was gun shots going off in the late hours of the night. How do you possibly think that you two can provide a stable and healthy home for her?" Esme tapped her four inch heel shoe on the concrete steps.

"Well, for one thing I know I won't be beating the shit out of her mother in front of her and secondly it's not our fault that people in this town are breaking into my home. You have some gaul lady to stand here and judge us. You know you shouldn't throw rocks at glass houses. I know quite a few secrets about your so called happy family." I warned her as I stepped up so that I towered over her.

"You are...ridiculously naive young man. My family isn't perfect but we can provide Charlotte with more love than either of you."

"Now who is naive?" I snorted loudly.

"I'm warning you Bella if you don't take the agreement that we offered you and you lose in court, we won't be offering it again." Esme looked over at Bella.

"I know." She mumbled.

"Good day."

Esme walked away with a haughty air that made me want to smack the back of her head. Instead, I turned and looked at Bella who was as white as a ghost.

"Honey, don't let her scare you like that."

Bella looked up at me and I saw the fear that she tried to hide from me and everyone else.

"I promise you, I won't let them have her. If we have too, we will flee the country." I vowed.

Bella chuckled but a tear still slipped out of the corner of her eye.

"I would. I mean it."

"I know you do. Thank you Jake."

I pulled her into my arms and held her firmly against me. Her pain and fears didn't worry me. Those were normal reactions to her situation but what did cause alarm in me was just how overly calm she seemed to be handling everything. She was on the verge of a break down and it was my job to keep her from falling apart when Charlotte and I needed her strong more than ever.

XXX