CHAPTER TWELVE

(JPOV)

Billy stayed for the rest of the day and it did his heart good to be able to see Sarah and spend time with her. Sarah loved all the attention she was getting and by the time the evening rolled around, and my dad had gone home with Sue, she was ready to settle in for bed.

Bella had ordered a few pizzas and it felt just like old times again when she chose a Christmas movie playing on the Hallmark Chanel as a special. I didn't complain at the film being a chic flick cause I was too damn happy to be where I was to really even care what was playing on the big flat screen in Charlie's living room right now.

"I'll be home for Christmas sounds like a good one?" Bella mentioned as she stopped flipping through the many random selections and looked my way. "Unless you'd rather not watch it?"

"I'm good with anything, Bells."

"Oh Jeez, Jake. Don't let her pick the movie. We'll be stuck watching a sappy one."

I chuckled at this and simply shrugged as Sarah came running out from the guest bedroom now fully dressed in her red pajamas for bed.

"Mama, I want a tubby with bubbles? Does grandpa Charlie have any bubbles here?"

Bella paused in thought then and glanced Charlie's way.

"You know, I'm not sure if he does, but come with me and I'm sure we can find something okay?"

The two of them headed for the bathroom together and Charlie used this opportunity to finally speak his mind on some things.

"So, Jake- how does it feel to find out you're a dad?"

"Awesome and scary as hell- all at the same time." I admitted.

"You'll make a great one. No worries there." He sighed. "It's all in the heart and you have a pretty big one."

"Thanks, Charlie."

"You're welcome."

"This Christmas has definitely been a lot different from any other." I hedged.

"Yes, you can say that again."

"Got any advice for me, Charlie?"

"On being a parent?" He balked. "Oh, well, if I could offer you any sort of words of wisdom, it would be to always led by example and never stop believing in yourself as a dad."

I pondered this and offered him half a smile in return.

"That's pretty solid advice, Charlie. Thanks."

"I wish someone had told me that a long time ago. I think it's really true that we are our own worst critics sometimes. When Bella was young, we screwed up so much, her mother and I. I would go back and change it if I could, but unfortunately life doesn't work that way does it?"

"No, it doesn't. You're a damn good father, Charlie. I know Bella loves you very much."

Charlie went quiet then, his eyes softening some as he thought about my comment.

"Thing is son, everyone makes their fair share of mistakes. We wouldn't be human and normal if we didn't. Some mistakes are much bigger than others but we all learn a valuable lesson from them either way I suppose. He sighed. "I think my biggest regret would be not giving more to my marriage with Renee. I look back on that time and know I could have done more to save it. She's happy now according to Bella, so I can't say too much. Phil seems like a good man to her and that's all that matters."

"Do you know if Bella has talked to her mother recently?" I questioned, wondering if that was yet another line of communication taken away from her over the last three plus year from the Cullens.

"I think, if my memory serves me correct, she sends her regular emails every month."

"That's good. Family is so important."

"Sure is." He readily agreed. "Sure is."

"I hope I can be what Sarah needs." I voiced then.

"I have no doubt that you will be, Jake. No doubt at all. Just remember that things take time and be patient with yourself and my daughter. You know how Bella is, she gets wrapped up in her own head sometimes. She comes well by it, too. Renee was always that way. Just means when she loves, she loves with all her heart and she loves hard. Plain to see she still loves you. Written all over her face."

I held his gaze and saw the conviction there.

"I love her too, Charlie."

Sarah was still wet from her bath when she came bounding out of the bathroom with her pajamas back on and her favorite yellow blanket in hand. She jumped on the couch and brushed her dripping locks away from her face with a grin to me.

"Ready for the movie with us, Jake!?"

"Guess so, kiddo. Feel better after your bath?"

"Yep, I do! I love tubby time! Mama always lets me have as many bubbles and rubber duckies as I want in there, but she tells me not to splash." Sarah giggled. "Splashing is fun! Did you like baths when you were my age!?"

"I sure did. My mama used to give us bubbles, too." I replied, as she moved over closer to me with a shiver. "Are you cold?"

"A little." She admitted, her teeth chattering as she nestled into my side. "Can I sit with you during the movie?"

"You sure can." I told her.

"Wow, Jake. You're really warm. Do you have a fever?" Sarah observed, her tiny hands soon reaching up to spay across my cheeks with peaked curiosity. "Do you feel sick? Mama takes good care of me whenever I'm sick. I can go get her for you, too."

"I feel okay, Sarah. I'm just a bit warm."

What she said next made my eyes sting with emotion from the memory it brought along with it.

"Okay, Jake. You're like the sun? Warm and bright?"

Bella had caught this too, her brown eyes catching mine as she rejoined us there with a few more slices of pizza.

"Yeah, baby. That's exactly right. Jake is just like the sun. He's his own sun. Warm and bright. Just like what you said."

"Mama you need the sun. You're always cold." Sarah added next, as she found her comfortable spot in between Bella and I on the sofa. "Can I have more pizza please?"

"Here you go." Bella replied, sharing her slice with her before kissing her cheek and pressing play for the movie to start.

To our surprise, Sarah didn't fall asleep until near the end, her head coming to rest on my chest as she dreamed all curled up in her blanket.

Charlie crashed before she had and when the end credits for the Christmas movie rolled across the screen, Bella turned off the TV so that only the lights from the tall Christmas tree glowed in the living room. A brief silence fell as I glanced down at the sleeping angel curled into me, as if that was where she was meant to be all along.

I carefully moved a stray lock of her rich curly hair out of her sweet face while she slept and Bella caught my hand in hers before I could drop it.

"She's not wrong, you know?"

"About what?" I whispered back.

"I do need my personal sun back."

The quavering in Bella's voice made it hard to look away from her.

"I need you, too."

"We all need each other."

"We do." I hedged in agreement. "We always have, Bella."

"It was nice of Sam to come here and apologize the way he did." Bella stated. "Think it's a start?"

"I do."

"You have to forgive him, too. In your own time, of course. But please, remember how much family has always meant to you, and that's just what you share with Sam and the pack. It's family."

"I need a few weeks to get my head straight with everything. Find a way for us to be able to remain friends and leaders. Been hard not stepping into my rightful place as it is, and this just makes it worse."

"You've been thinking about becoming Alpha?" Bella asked, her tone filled with pride in a way that made me crack half a smile to her.

"Over the last year...-"

"I believe in you, Jake. Just may have to start calling you chief after all."

"I don't know about that."

"I do." She sighed in return. "You were born a leader. It's who you are. Who you were always meant to be."

I stared back at her, remembering how she used to say that before she left and wishing I could somehow rewind time.

"Did you mean what you said before?"

"Which part?" She asked.

"The part about you not leaving Washington again, cause I really don't want to give you my heart all over again for you to return it and run like before." I honestly told her, seeing her face fall some at this. "It's just my truth, Bells."

She didn't answer me at first, her eyes rimming with unshed tears as she moved herself closer to me, careful not to disturb Sarah when she leaned in, placing her lips a mere breath from mine.

"My place is here. My home is here. My heart is here. It's with you, Jake."

I felt her trembling fingertips touch my chin as her thumb soothingly caressed my bottom lip.

A/N: Second chapter update of the day! Hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thank you for all your wonderful reviews! Till next time guys! Please stay safe and be well!