A/N: Thank you to everyone who favorited and followed my story. I felt like I should give insight into who and what Lilana is. Any way I hope you all enjoy it.

Disclaimer: Everything Twilight belongs to Stephanie Meyer

Disclaimer: Punctuation is my enemy! And I am working it on

Bella Pov

Today was D-Day. The day I finally clawed my way back from the emotional abyss and started wresting control of my life. It wasn't going to be easy. But staring at my reflection in the chipped bathroom mirror, surrounded by the familiar clutter of my childhood bedroom, a spark of defiance ignited within me. I wouldn't be a pawn in anyone's game anymore. Not Edward's, not fate's, not even Jacob's, as much as that pained me to admit.

My gaze drifted to the dusty phone on the nightstand. It felt like a betrayal, reaching for it. Each ring on the other end was an agonizing tick of the clock, hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Edward's voice filled the receiver, smooth as velvet, laced with a hint of barely contained urgency.

"Love," he breathed, the sound sending a familiar tremor through me. "I'm so glad you finally called. I tried to give you space, but it was…excruciating."

The pet name, once a comfort, now grated on my nerves. "Edward," I began, my voice shaky but firm. "There's no easy way to say this."

A heavy silence descended, thick and suffocating. My stomach churned, a cocktail of nausea and nervous anticipation.

"I… I've figured things out," I stammered, willing myself to continue. "And it's… it's not what you think."

"What do you mean?" His voice sharpened, a hint of steel beneath the velvet.

Taking a deep breath, I plunged forward. "I'm not in love with you anymore, Edward. Not the way I used to be." The words tasted foreign on my tongue, a bitter truth I had to swallow.

There was a beat of stunned silence, then a rush of words tumbled out of him. Explanations, justifications, promises – a desperate attempt to rewind time, to salvage what was irrevocably broken. But I tuned him out, focusing on the knot of emotions twisting in my gut.

"You deserve someone who can be that perfect, flawless creature you crave," I finally managed to interject, my voice thick with unshed tears. "Someone who can offer you the eternity you deserve. I'm not that person, Edward. I'm just Bella Swan, a mess of contradictions and insecurities."

A low growl rumbled through the receiver. "Don't say that. You're extraordinary, Bella. You always have been."

The familiar possessiveness in his voice sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through me. "You always made choices for me, Edward," I spat, the words sharper than I intended. "Always convinced you knew what was best. But it was never about me, was it? It was about what fit into your perfect, immortal life."

Silence. A heavy, suffocating silence that stretched on for an eternity.

"I'm not giving up on you, Bella," he finally stated, his voice tight with control.

"Maybe you should," I countered, my voice surprisingly steady. "Because it's over, Edward. We're over."

With a final click, I slammed the phone down, the harsh sound echoing in the small room. Relief washed over me, mingled with a deep ache that settled in my bones. Letting go of Edward, even on my terms, was a heart-wrenching act. But clinging to a broken dream would only prolong the inevitable.

Now, the real challenge loomed. Jacob. The thought of him, his warm smile and infectious laughter, sent a jolt of conflicting emotions through me. Relief, because he was my anchor, the one person who had always seen me, truly me. But also, a gnawing fear. The imprinting. How could I face him, knowing the bond he shared with Ana would forever alter our relationship?

Pushing those anxieties aside for now, I reached for my phone, a small flicker of hope igniting in my chest. I had a lot to explain, a lot to apologize for. But most importantly, I needed to tell Jacob the truth. About the baby. About my love for him.

The dial tone droned on, each beep echoing the frantic rhythm of my heart. Would he even answer? What would he say? The unanswered questions gnawed at me, leaving me suspended in a state of agonizing uncertainty.

As the final ring echoed in the silence, a wave of despair threatened to engulf me. Voicemail. Just like every other time I'd tried to reach him in the past few weeks.

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision A choked sob escaped my lips, shattering the fragile control I'd managed to maintain. Tears streamed down my face, blurring the already dusty phone screen. The silence mocked me, a deafening scream of rejection. Every unanswered call, every ignored text message, replayed in my mind like a cruel movie on repeat.

But giving up wasn't an option. Not anymore. The tiny spark of life growing inside me demanded strength, demanded a fight. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, drawing a shaky breath. Jacob might be imprinted on Ana, but that didn't erase the bond we shared, the love we nurtured. He deserved the chance to know. Our baby deserved the chance to know its father.

Determined, I grabbed my worn-out backpack, shoving in a change of clothes, a granola bar – the only "healthy" option I could stomach lately – and Edward's old Volvo keys. It was time for a different approach.

The drive to La Push was shrouded in a veil of apprehension. The familiar route, once a source of comfort, now felt foreign, laden with the weight of unspoken truths. The crisp ocean breeze, usually invigorating, seemed to hold its breath, mirroring my own nervous anticipation.

Pulling into the familiar clearing near the Black house, I felt a surge of defiance. This was my life now, and I wouldn't let the werewolves, or imprinting, dictate my every move. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and headed towards the porch, every step a battle against my trembling legs.

Embry answered the knock. His surprised expression quickly morphed into something akin to pity when he saw me. "Bella?" he stammered; his voice laced with uncertainty. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to see Jacob," I blurted out, ignoring the way my voice cracked under the pressure. "It's urgent." Embry hesitated for a moment, his eyes flitting nervously to the house before pulling the door open wider. "He's… he's not alone," he warned softly.

I nodded, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. "I don't care."

The living room was bathed in a warm, golden light spilling in from the setting sun. Jacob sat on the floor; a small figure nestled comfortably in his arms. Ana. My breath caught in my throat. They looked… perfect. A picture of idyllic happiness that stabbed at the raw ache in my chest.

Jacob looked up, startled, his eyes widening in disbelief. The warmth in his gaze instantly turned to confusion. Then suspicion. "Bella?"

Ana stirred in his arms, blinking owlishly at me. "Bella?" she echoed, her voice a melodic whisper.

The sight of them together, this new family unit, sent a fresh wave of despair crashing down on me. How could I compete with this? But before the tears could rise again, I forced myself to speak.

"Jacob," I began, my voice rough with emotion. "I… I need to talk to you. It's important."

He didn't move, his gaze locked on mine, taking a deep breath, I pushed forward, my voice gaining a newfound strength. "It's about the baby, Jacob. I'm pregnant."

The room seemed to freeze. Jacob's eyes widened further, his jaw clenching tight. Ana, startled by the sudden shift in atmosphere, moved her position on the couch.

Embry gasped, his hand flying to his mouth.

The weight of my words hung heavy in the air, shattering the fragile peace that had momentarily settled. Tears welled up in my eyes again, but this time, they were laced with fierce determination. It was time to face the consequences, to fight for my truth, for our future.

Jacob POV

The room spun. Pregnant. Ours. The words echoed in my head, each syllable a sonic boom shattering the carefully constructed world I'd built in Bella's absence. My gaze darted between Bella's tear-streaked face and Embry, who looked like he might faint. My arms tightened around Ana instinctively, who whimpered softly, confused by the sudden tension.

"Jacob?" Bella's voice was barely a whisper, laced with a vulnerability that ripped through the fog of my shock.

"Yeah," I croaked, still struggling to find my voice. My mind raced a million miles a minute, piecing together fragments of stolen glances, awkward silences.

"Can we… can we talk privately?" Bella pleaded, her eyes searching mine.

I nodded numbly, the enormity of the situation settling in. Leading Bella outside onto the porch, the cool evening air did little to soothe the turmoil within.

"Are you sure, Bella?" The words tumbled out, rough and raw. The implications were staggering.

"Yes, Jacob," she said, her voice gaining a tremor of defiance. "I'm about twelve weeks."

Twelve weeks. My heart pounded in my chest; a trapped bird desperate to escape. The anger flared, hot and fierce. All this time, she carried this secret, this piece of me, while I… while I clung to the ghost of a relationship with Ana.

"Why didn't you tell me, Bella?" The words were laced with hurt, a sharp sting that surprised even me.

Shame clouded her features. "I… I wanted to end things with Edward properly. I didn't want to… to mess up your life with your imprint."

"Imprint?" I scoffed, a humorless laugh escaping my lips. "Bella, there was no imprinting."

"What?" Her confusion mirrored my own dawning realization. "But… but I saw you and Ana. You kissed, you said…"

"She was there, Bella," I interjected, my voice softening. "After you left. She was… a friend. Someone who made me laugh, who helped me through the pain."

"But you love her," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Ana?" I stared at her, incredulous.

A flicker of understanding dawned in her eyes. "You… you don't love her?"

"Love?" I shook my head, the weight of the word settling on my tongue for the first time with Bella. "I care about her, Bella. She helped, but… it wasn't like this." My gaze swept over her face, taking in the vulnerability etched there. "It never could be."

The dam broke in her eyes, tears cascading down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Jacob. I made you feel second best, didn't I?"

"Bella," I cupped her face in my hands, wiping away the tears with my thumbs. "You were never second best. You were always…" I hesitated, searching for the right words. "You were always the only one."

A shy smile peeked through her tears. "Even when I was a mess chasing after Edward?"

"Especially then," I admitted, a warmth spreading through my chest. The past few weeks, filled with the ache of her absence, seemed to melt away. "It just took me a while to realize it. But Bella," I added, my voice firm, "you're not just carrying a baby. You're carrying my heart."

A sob escaped her lips, but this time, it was laced with relief. As she leaned into me, her arms wrapping around my waist, the world around us faded away. It was just Bella, Jacob, and the promise of a new beginning, a future we would write about together, one heartbeat, one stolen kiss at a time. Relief washed over me as Bella nestled closer, her trembling subsiding into a quiet embrace. But the joy of the moment was tinged with a lingering question. Where did this leave us?

Pulling back slightly, I cupped her face in my hands, forcing myself to meet her tear-filled gaze. "So, Bella," I began, my voice rough but gentle. "Where do we go from here?"

The uncertainty in her eyes mirrored my own. "I… I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I just needed you to know. The baby… our baby. It's important to me that you're a part of this."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," I reassured her, squeezing her hand. "But this is… a big change, Bella. And I wouldn't want to rush you into anything."

A small smile curved her lips. "I understand. Taking things slow is fine with me, Jacob. As long as you're… open to it."

A surge of protectiveness washed over me. Open to it? I would move mountains for this woman, for this child we created together. "Always," I promised, my voice thick with emotion.

This newfound reality demanded practicality. "When's the baby due, Bella?"

"November 21st," she mumbled, blushing slightly. "We… we conceived that night in your car, on your birthday."

The memory sent a jolt through me. That night, fueled by raw emotions and the undeniable pull between us, had led to this. A life, a future we could build together.

"It was a great birthday gift," I admitted, a grin tugging at the corner of my lips.

"Definitely a night to remember," she confessed, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink.

A thought struck me. "Did you tell Charlie?"

She shook her head. "I… I wanted to tell you first. I know it's a lot to take in."

I chuckled, picturing Charlie's gruff reaction. "Hopefully, he doesn't reach for his shotgun."

There was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "That's a very real possibility."

Then, a more serious question clouded her features. "Jacob, there's something else…"

"What is it?"

"Your scent… it was different, stronger, after that night. But I just thought it was… well, you being a werewolf and all."

A sheepish grin spread across my face. "Guilty. I knew something was different with you too, Bella. A subtle sweetness to your scent… but I never connected the dots to you being pregnant."

We both erupted into laughter, the sound a balm to the tension that had gripped us. This new path was uncertain, filled with challenges, but laughter felt good. It felt like hope.