Change of Plans

JacobxBella; Edward

Rated M

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers

Change of Plans

Chapter XX

Bella was able to return to school Tuesday after her sick day due to her morning sickness. She had gotten her homework and class assignments from Angela, and was all caught up with her classes, not that she missed much anyway. Her life at school was going smoothly, as she went about her classes like a normal high school student, as well as hung out with her friends in between classes or during lunch. The one thing that she had noticed was that upon her return to school, there had been no interference or talking to from either Alice or Edward. For that, Bella was grateful because it meant they were complying to her wishes and leaving her alone at school; she wished they'd take heed of it outside of school, though. Even so, there was a voice in the back of her head telling her that something about their silence just wasn't right.

Tuesday passed by, as well as Wednesday, and now it was finally Thursday. Today would be just any other day for anyone else. But for Bella, it was the day that she would have her appointment with an OB/GYN and get an ultrasound of her baby. Gosh, she was so anxious and nervous about it, but was also excited at the same time. Jacob was going to pick her up from her house and take her to the appointment, as well as accompany her inside. He too was excited about the ultrasound. Seeing him be so excited for it made her feel happy, and she just knew she made the right choice in keeping their baby. It was strange how their relationship was still so new, and yet it felt like it wasn't. Jacob completed her in ways she had refused to acknowledge before, so much so that she fought against her feelings, but everything turned out the way it was supposed to in the end. She and Jacob were together and always would be, especially with a baby involved, but they were very much okay with that.

She was in her last class of the day and had spent most of her class period watching the clock tick closer and closer to the final bell. Bella didn't have to wait too much longer, as before she knew it, the bell ringing to signal the end of the school bell went off, and she and her fellow classmates gathered their belongings and headed out the door for the exit. As she walked, Jessica and Angela caught up with and fell in step with her, the three of them walking together as Jessica began to speak.

"So, I've been thinking," Jessica began. "and I think that the three of us should have a girls' night this weekend. You know, go out on the town or have a sleepover at one of ours' house, and just have fun."

Angela tilted her head in thought before saying, "I'll think about it."

"Well, what about you, Bella?"

Bella shrugged and responded, "I'm not sure. I mean, I'm not really the 'girls' night out' type; you know that, Jess."

Jessica considered what Bella said, knowing the brunette was right. After all, the last time she and Bella had gone out, Bella had gone on some joy ride with some rando on a motorcycle. She was positive Bella had lost her damn mind at the time and had made a point to never talk to her again, but now Bella was back to the one she had first met, and she preferred her more. Her friend being with her new boyfriend was doing her a world of good.

Getting back to the conversation, Jessica said, "I know that, but you don't have much freedom left. You've got to enjoy it now while you can."

"What are you talking about, Jessica?" Angela asked with a raised eyebrow, stepping outside of the school building with the others as they made it to the exit.

"Just think about it. Bella's free time is now on a ticking clock. The moment she has her baby and becomes a mother, her life of freedom is over. Therefore, she has to have some fun now while she still can before sporting a beachball and having a little mini Jacob sucking on her tit."

Bella couldn't help but flush at the image Jessica had put into her mind. Despite her crude way of stating her case, Bella could kind of see her point. And really, the only appealing part of her statement was her insinuating her baby was going to be a mini Jacob. As for Angela, she simply rolled her eyes at their friend's words before turning to Bella saying, "Don't listen to her, Bella. Motherhood is a wonderful thing—if you're maternal, I mean—and I'm positive it will look good on you. After all, you're already glowing."

Smiling up at her tall friend, Bella turned back to Jessica before finally saying, "I'll think about it and get back to you tomorrow. Okay, Jess?"

Nodding, Jessica replied, "Works for me. Angela?"

"Same here."

The three of them spoke a little longer before going their separate ways, Bella going to her beloved red truck and climbing inside. Cranking the beast up, she let it rumble for a bit before driving out of the parking lot on her way home. She needed to be there to wait for Jacob. A smile grew on her face as she thought of him and what they would do at four o' clock.

Later at the hospital, just a little after four, Bella sat waiting in a hospital room with Jacob. The nurse that led them to the room had told them to wait patiently for the doctor to come, who was to come shortly. Bella looked at the ultrasound machine that was already waiting to be used, knowing it wouldn't be long before it would be used to for her to see her baby. Looking at Jacob, she smiled at him, smiling more as he smiled back.

"How are you feeling, Bells?" Jacob asked her, taking her hand in his and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Bella squeezed his hand in return before answering, "I'm nervous, but also excited for this." She looked down at her stomach where their baby resided, growing steadily in her womb. Looking back up at her boyfriend, she asked him, "What about you? How are you feeling, Jake?"

"The same as you, honestly. I'm having those same feelings, but I know that regardless of them, everything will be okay. I have to believe that."

"Me too. And I've been thinking about something that Billy had said when we first found out about my being pregnant."

Jacob frowned before asking, "What was that?"

"That I'm possibly carrying the next leader of your tribe after you."

"I wouldn't worry about that right now, Bella. Besides, we don't even know if the baby will be a boy or girl."

"But if it is a boy-"

"Then we'll address it when the time comes. But I don't want him to take up being chief when his time comes if he isn't ready."

Bella couldn't help but give a soft smile. "Just like you when about becoming Alpha of the Pack."

Nodding, Jacob said, "Exactly. But for now, let's just focus on the baby's growth and health, and everything will fall into place when it needs to."

Agreeing with him, Bella lifted their joined hands and kissed Jacob's fingers, the simple, sweet action making Jacob grin. He then leant forward and pressed his lips against Bella's in a sweet kiss, the two of them sighing happily into it. The kiss however, ended much sooner than Bella would have liked, as Jacob suddenly tensed up and pulled away from her to look at the door. His eyes were focused on the door and a growl began to rumble in his chest as his nostrils flared from the scent he was smelling. Bella didn't have to ask why he was reacting the way he was because she already knew. A vampire was outside of the hospital room.

A knock sounded on the door before it opened and Carlisle stepped inside. Looking at the couple, he greeted them with a kind smile and said, "Hello again, Bella. Hello Jacob."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jacob asked immediately.

Putting a soothing hand on Jacob's arm, Bella looked at the blond vampire doctor and said, "You're not the OB/GYN I was told was going to be my doctor. Where is she? Why isn't she here?"

Carlisle went about turning the sonogram machine on and pulling out the tube of gel to use for it, replying without disrupting his work, "I told Dr. Stewart that I would handle this first appointment, but only this one. After all, it is only a sonogram. I promise Dr. Stewart will handle you from now on; she's just letting me handle this one considering our history. That, and I wanted to see how you were doing health-wise."

"I'm fine, I just want to see how the baby is doing."

Bella and Jacob didn't like this arrangement at all, and Jacob couldn't help but think that the doctor leech being here doing Bella's ultrasound was a conflict of interest or something. After all, their relationship had stepped over into personal territory when Bella had been dating his "son". He was positive there was some sort of violation here, as well as an ulterior motive. However, of all the Cullens, the doc was the most reasonable one and didn't let his emotions sway his decisions, so he had to give him some credit. Therefore, he and Bella allowed him to perform the ultrasound, Carlisle telling Bella to raise her shirt and unzip her jeans so he had better access to her womb. Once Bella had done that, she laid back on the bed and let Carlisle do his work.

She flinched at the coldness of the gel as it was pressed against her skin, the wand of the ultrasound machine moving back and forth on her lower stomach. Carlisle's golden eyes were concentrated firmly on the screen before finally stopping the wand on her. Pointing to the black and white screen, Carlisle pointed to a little white spot within the blackness and said, "There it is. That's your baby, Bella."

Gasping softly as she looked at the slightly moving image, Bella couldn't help but be in awe and elation. Right there, that was her baby. She vaguely heard Carlisle say that the fetus was growing as it should and everything looked good so far. She was just in so much awe at the little life that was growing inside of her. Suddenly, the room was filled with what sounded like a fast beating drum, bringing her out of her thoughts. Blinking, she asked in a whisper, "Is that its heartbeat?"

"Yes, and it's a strong one, too," Carlisle answered.

Tears began to well up in Bella's eyes, and a few slipped out onto her cheeks as she let out a small laugh. She turned to Jacob who also had a look of absolute wonder on his face as he stared at the screen and listened to the heartbeat, his own eyes filled with tears. Noticing her looking at him, he chuckled and squeezed her hand saying, "That's our baby, honey."

Bella simply laughed again, more tears spilling as Jacob kissed her forehead. Gosh, she had no idea that she could feel so much joy from an experience like this. Finding out she was pregnant, that she was going to have a baby, had been scary and damn near horrifying. And yet, it seemed like one of the best things to happen to her, right up with meeting and reconnecting with Jacob, as well as becoming his girlfriend. She couldn't believe that she had even considered not giving this baby a chance, and now she couldn't imagine her life without it, without being able to one day hold it in her arms, take care of and watch it grow into the person it will be one day. Was this how Renee felt when she found out she was pregnant with her? Was this what Rosalie had hoped to feel one day, only for that dream to be dashed? If so, she was glad that she changed her mind and wouldn't have any regrets.

As Carlisle cleaned Bella's stomach off and turned off the machine, making sure to print copies of the sonogram for her, he watched her and Jacob out of the corner of his eye. He took in their expressions of joy and happiness, of excitement and love for the fetus that they had created together. He mostly focused on Bella and found that she looked the happiest he had ever seen her. Even when she had been with Edward and happy with him and their relationship, happy to be around his family, she had never looked this happy or had as big a smile on her face as she did now. Carlisle could tell that Bella was genuinely happy and excited for this baby, and his non-beating heart melted in his chest for her.

He had planned on talking with her—and Jacob if he was willing to listen—about the Volturi and the promise she had made them, but he couldn't bring himself to bring it up to her right now, not after taking in both hers and Jacob's expressions of joy. In fact, he didn't have it in him to talk to Bella at all about it. What Bella was feeling and going to experience, he couldn't take that away from her. He couldn't take the chance of motherhood away from her. He had even spoken with Esme about it one day when the children had been out of the house hunting, and even his beautiful mate had mentioned that Bella should be able to have the chance she didn't, which was raise and take care of a child. She had said that if she could have that chance, she would take it in a heartbeat, especially if it brought forth some emotion of happiness. And seeing Bella now, he knew there was no way he would interfere with her pregnancy.

Giving them the picture of the sonogram, as well as a list of prenatal vitamins and everything else Bella needed, he bid them 'goodbye' and escorted them to the checkout desk. Carlisle stood in the hallway as he watched Bella and Jacob leave, the love between them radiating off them, palpable to everyone. Once they were out of sight, he turned to head to his office, a smile on his face as he wished the brunette happiness.

Edward walked up to the door of Carlisle's office in the hospital, knocking on it needlessly before opening the door and stepping inside. Looking at his sire who was busy doing paperwork at his desk, he asked, "Did you speak to Bella? How did it go?"

Per his request, Carlisle was supposed to talk to Bella during her appointment today, as well as convince her to give up the baby and proceed with her promise to the Volturi. Usually he would have his answer by now, or rather not ask at all, but Carlisle was shielding his thoughts from him. He had cut his mind off from him, and when the blond vampire looked up at him from his paperwork, his expression was unreadable.

"Carlisle?" Edward asked, a frown marring his face. "How did your talk with Bella go? Did something happen? What's wrong?"

Instead of answering, Carlisle put down his pen and simply looked his son in the eyes saying, "Edward, we need to talk."