A Floating Life
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
Like Father, Like Daughter
It was quite a while later that Jacob reminded Bella of their priorities.
It took just one word.
"Charlotte…"
Bella sighed. She was loathe to leave the sanctuary of their little love nest, but knew that they couldn't linger there for much longer. It was getting very late and their fathers must be wondering what the delay was. Or maybe not. Bella had a feeling that both men knew exactly what they were up to.
But it was the thought of Charlotte missing her that propelled her out of the safety of Jacob's warm arms. Abruptly, she rolled out of the bed and reached for her abandoned clothing.
Jacob felt the total distraction of her stress. "It's alright, honey. We'll be back in La Push within fifteen minutes."
Bella knew she was overreacting, but it was the first time she had been away from Charlotte for any given length of time. She knew she must look faintly ridiculous, hopping around the room on one leg as she hastily tugged on her jeans.
Jacob smiled, but didn't laugh, managing to stifle his amusement behind a fake yawn.
"Its all about balance, Bells. You need to take some time for yourself, too. Charlotte understands that. And she loves getting spoiled rotten by her grandpas. You just need to put things into perspective."
"I know." Bella agreed, finally yanking the jeans up to her waist and zipping them up. She paused, shooting a coy smile in his direction. "And we have all the time in the world to do this again, right?"
Jacob smiled wider. "Do you think that I could bear to let you get dressed now if that wasn't the case?"
That would have to be enough to get her through the daylight hours, Bella lied to herself. She would…no she could…. balance this overwhelming, devastating desire she felt for Jacob so that she could be a good – it was still hard to think of the word. Though Charlotte was very real and vital in her life, it was still difficult to think of herself as a mother. She supposed anyone would have felt the same, though, without nine months to get used to the idea. And with a child that changed so drastically from day to day. So much had changed in her life in such a short space of time. If her friends could see her now their minds would be blown.
The thought of Charlotte's speeding life had her stressed out again in an instant. She didn't even pause to catch her breath as she grabbed the rest of her clothes and pulled them on.
Jacob was slower to move, reluctant to put an official end to the fun time they were having and go back to the real world of responsibility. With a resigned sigh, he yanked his black T-shirt over his head and stepped into his jeans, pulling them up. Once they were buttoned, he combed his fingers through his shaggy hair and he was good to go.
"Ready?" He asked.
Bella looked him up and down admiringly. How did he manage to look like a walking male model while she remained all disheveled? She gave up on trying to tame her tangled hair. All her grooming accessories were at the Clearwaters. Instead, she grabbed the long, brunette strands and tied them up in a messy bun on top of her head.
"You look beautiful." Jacob complimented her with soft eyes as he embraced her from behind.
"You're biased." Bella gazed at her reflection in the wardrobe mirror with little pleasure.
Jacob kissed the base of her neck, nipping the skin lightly, then licking it with his tongue to soothe the mild sting. "When will you learn to accept a compliment, honey? I am telling you the truth. You are absolutely gorgeous. I'm ready and willing to drag you back to this bed and worship your body all over again if that's what it takes to convince you."
A slight moan built up in the back of Bella's throat. "Don't tempt me, Jacob."
"I will continue to tempt you forever." Jacob teased, spinning her around in his arms and planting a heated kiss on her all too willing lips. "That's just a reminder of what's to come." He said, enjoying the sight of her flushed cheeks and pouty lips when the kiss was over.
"Wow, Jake, you are really making this hard." Bella said breathlessly.
"Good." Jacob responded with a smug grin.
With great reluctance Jacob and Bella locked up the Swan house, gazing wistfully up at their little love nest as they bid it a final goodbye. Holding hands, they darted toward the VW Rabbit which was parked in the driveway.
"I have never felt so sad to leave my father's house." Bella sighed as Jacob helped her into the passenger seat of the car.
"Look at you – getting all nostalgic." Jacob leaned in to give her another lingering kiss on the lips, before running around to the other side of the car, and sliding gracefully into the driver's seat. He glanced Bella's way as he watched her click the seat belt in place. "I feel the same, Bells." He admitted. "I'll always have fond memories of this place, but its not like we'll never see the house again."
"I don't know." Bella murmured thoughtfully. "With how tight Sue and my dad have become lately, it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't decide to finally make a move."
"Is that such a bad thing?" Jacob asked quietly, his warm fingers stroking the back of her hand.
Bella shook her head, her chocolate brown eyes reflective. "No, I think it's been a long time coming."
"It has." Jacob was pleased to see that Bella was comfortable with the idea of Charlie and Sue becoming a couple. He knew his dad still struggled with the idea that anything romantic was happening between his best friend and Harry's widow, but after what had happened with Charlotte, he was finally beginning to reach a place of acceptance.
Secretly Jacob hoped that now Billy was healed, he might find the strength of will to dip his own toes in the dating pool. He had been in mourning for Sarah for far too long. Jacob knew his mother wouldn't have wanted him grieving forever.
As Jacob turned on the engine, Bella glanced one last time at the small, two-bedroomed house where she had born. Feeling oddly maudlin, she turned away, determined to look forward and not back as the Rabbit pulled out of the drive and onto the road leading back to La Push.
Charlotte was wide awake and sitting up on the floor with Charlie and Billy hovering over her, playing with a little pile of twisted silverware. She had a mangled spoon in her right hand. As soon as she spied Jacob and Bella entering the house, she chucked the spoon on the floor – where it left a divot in the wood – and pointed in their direction eagerly. Her audience laughed: Sue from the couch where she was watching the little girl as if she was the most engrossing film, and Charlie and Billy, who both reached to pick Charlotte up at the same time.
"Careful." Sue warned, rolling her eyes at them.
Charlie and Billy exchanged a baleful glance, both feeling slightly idiotic. Their blushes were saved by Bella, who came bounding into the front room and scooped Charlotte off the floor in one second. Charlotte smiled widely at her. Bella beamed right back, delighted to be reunited with her precious little girl again.
Bella was relieved to see that Charlotte didn't look that much different from when she had left her. Her hair might have been slightly longer, it was hard to tell, it was so long already. The red curls bounced like springs with every move that Charlotte made. Bella had let her imagination run wild on the trip back, and she castigated herself internally for freaking herself out unnecessarily. Even without Sue's measurements, she was sure that the changes in Charlotte were slower than previous days.
Charlotte patted her cheek to get Bella's attention. She was hungry again. Like Jacob and the other wolves, she had a very healthy appetite.
"How long has she been up?" Bella asked Charlie. She thought that Charlotte would still be napping. Jacob had already disappeared into the kitchen to get Charlotte (and himself) some food.
"Just a few minutes." Charlie said. "We were just about to call you. She's been asking for you – demanding might be a better description." He laughed indulgently as Charlotte pouted in his direction. "She fell asleep as soon as the game finished, but when she woke up nothing could entertain her."
"And we didn't want to er…bother you." Billy added with a knowing smile.
Charlie shot him a sour glance as Bella kept her chin held up high. So, they did know. "Let's get some food inside you, baby girl." She said stiffly to Charlotte.
"Ignore them." Sue came to stand beside Bella, shaking her head at the two men. "You and Jacob deserved some time alone."
Billy snickered and quickly put a hand over his mouth, while Charlie punched him hard on the shoulder in annoyance.
"I heard Granpa Billy say to Grandpa Charlie that you and daddy broke the house, Mommy." Charlotte chirped innocently. "Did you break it into rubble, Mommy? Where will Grandpa Charlie live?"
So, they knew the why, the when, and the where. And they had been discussing it within earshot of her daughter.
Bella gritted her teeth as she swallowed the fire seed of her anger down. "You are unbelievable." She said to the two shamefaced men.
"It wasn't me, Bells." Charlie grimaced. "It was all him." He elbowed Billy in the side roughly.
"Oh, be quiet." Bella felt the familiar burn coat her cheeks. "Just drop it will you!" She hissed, before returning her attention back to her curious daughter. "Don't worry, sweetie. I can assure you that Grandpa Charlie's house is still standing."
Jacob emerged from the kitchen; his mouth working as he chewed, and carrying a tray filled with all kinds of snacks. "Take your pick, kid." He encouraged Charlotte with a big grin. He had overheard the whole conversation. Where Bella was mortified, he was amused.
"Jake, couldn't you have at least put a few healthy treats in there?" Bella chided him as Charlotte made a grab for one of the chocolate chip cookies.
"Aww, Bells, Charlotte has a wolf's stomach. We thrive on sugar as well as everything else."
Charlotte giggled as she tried to shove the cookie in whole in her mouth like Jacob. It didn't quite fit, and she ended up snapping it in half, impatiently cramming the rest into her mouth before she had even swallowed the first portion.
"Oh, god, she really is taking after you in every way possible." Bella complained as she dabbed at the crumbs on her daughter's chin with the sleeve of her shirt.
Jacob just smiled.
A/N-thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the more light-hearted chapters before the drama kicks back in.