Bella was sat on the couch of the Cullen's home with Rosalie and Evie by her side. After their heated conversation, they had all decided to follow Bella's wish to keep the baby. But of course, Carlisle and the rest of them would still keep looking for a solution for Bella to not die. Until them, the human had to rest. She couldn't really do anything else.
Evie understood their fear. They all cared for Bella. She was officially one of them and a death threat was already above her head. One more person would be frenetic in a bad way about the news. Jacob cared for Bella and Evie knew he would not take it well. A part of Evie was still scared he would forget about her and focus on Bella. But the major part of her was now convinced it wouldn't be the case. She hoped so at least.
"I was not expecting you to be on my side," Bella said to Evie, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"There was no desicions making process here," Evie said. "I am no one to decide for you. The obvious answer to me was to support you,"
"Thank you... really...," Bella genuinely added. She seemed very moved. What it because of the pregnancy? Or was she really touched? "You're closer to Edward than you are with me. And after everything that happened because of me between you and Jacob, I thought...,"
"That I would want you to die?" Evie understood. She couldn't help but chuckle at how stupid the assumption was. Bella surely was feeling guilty for causing so much trouble in Evie's relationship with Jacob. And she must have considered the fact that Evie could side with Edward and Alice for revenge. But Evie was not like that. "Come on, Bella, I'm not that petty and bitter. And you're still my friend,"
Bella softly smiled at her. She felt lucky to have Evie by her side. And Rosalie couldn't help but to feel some kind of pride seeing how mature the Clearwater girl was.
"Besides, I know how... having no choice, or seeing your ability to choose being taken away feels like," Evie continued. "You feel like you cannot do anything, that all you can do is just endure, and watching things hopelessly, powerlessly... I wish that on no one,"
"Let me guess... Jacob?" Rosalie asked.
"And Embry," Evie added.
"Embry?" Bella repeated, shocked. Only Alice, Rosalie, and possibly Edward, knew about what happened between Embry and she.
"Oh, right, you don't know," Evie remembered. "Well... we kissed,"
"You kissed?" Bella repeated again, shocked. "And what about Jake? Isnât he your imprintee?"
"Yeah, but when it happened, Jake was away," Evie told her. "Then he found out, they argued, and I talked to both of them. Jacob decided to stay away because he thought he was only hurting me and Embry knew he came back once for me but told me nothing. Both made a decision where it wasn't their place to make. And you know how it ended,"
"And now? What will you do?" Bella asked. She was genuinely interested in the situation but gossiping also gave her a sense of... normality. As if she was not going to die in any second. Evie didn't mind. It allowed her to let go of what she had on the mind.
"I don't know...," Evie muttered.
"Jacob obviously loves you," Rose said. "He had always did or he wouldn't have been so jealous of you getting close to Edward. And he values your happiness so much he wouldn't mind letting you ending up with Embry. He is aware of the pain he caused you and was willing to let you go for you to find happiness. That is how much he loves you. But the internal conflict he is having makes everything more complicated than it should be. You should let him come to term and peace with himself first. Because then, he would have his mind clear and he would be able to truly decide what to do,"
The shifter stayed quiet a bit and reflect on what her friend just told her. Rosalie was right. If Jacob doesn't find peace with himself, he would always be biased by his desire. He would never be able to make a clear decision.
"Embry is a really good guy," Bella added. "But...,"
"He is not my imprintee," Evie finished her sentence.
Evie really cared about the Call boy. But was it really love? Or was it just a strong bond she mistaken for love? Before this summer, she had never seen Embry in a romantic way. But her view on him changed when Jacob left. Maybe, she unconsciously changed her view of him because of the pain and loneliness. Seeing all her friends happy with their significant other knowing her own was nowhere to be seen, she felt so alone that she maybe wanted to be love. Embry was there for her. Evie wanted to be loved. But it was different than loving someone. So what did Evie was truly feeling for Embry?
But her thoughts came to an end when the rest of the Olympic coven was back back in the living room in a blink of an eye. Evie wondered why but when she smelled a familiar scent coming their way, she straightened up.
"What is going on?" Bella asked, confused.
"Jacob's here," Evie informed.
"Charlie was at Billy's place. He told Jacob you got sick during the honey moon," Edward explained. He must have read his mind. "Jacob knows it's something more so he decided to crash by,"
And once the Cullen boy finished his sentence, the Black kid entered the house. He stopped at the frame of the living room door and briefly looked at Evie then look at Bella. He frowned. He noticed how sick she looked.
"I'm glad you came," Bella softly smiled.
"You look terrible," he chuckled.
"Yeah. Itâs nice to see you too," she chuckled.
"So are you going to tell me whatâs wrong with you?" Jacob asked as he walked closer.
"Rose, do you wanna help me up?" Bella asked.
Evie exchanged a look with Edward. She was apprehending the way Jacob would take the news. He wasn't the best at controlling his anger. So there was a room for worry.
Rosalie stood up and extended a hand to the human. Bella took it and stood up, allowing Jacob to see her huge pregnant belly.
Silence.
There was no sound.
Evie swallowed the lump in her throat as she watched the color on Jacob's face disappearing.
Jacob was at lost of words. A look of shock passed in his eyes, then sadness, then sorrow, then anger, then worry, then sadness again. Jacob then looked at Edward, but the Cullen couldn't hold the gaze. He just looked away. This reaction was enough of a confirmation for the Black kid. But he still needed to hear it.
"What is it?" Jacob managed to ask.
"Iâm not sure," Carlisle said. "We have no way to know. Nothing won't penetrate the embryonic sack. Alice can't even see anything concerning both Bella and the baby,"
"They found nothing in legends either," Evie added.
"Can't we do something?" Jacob asked, stressing out. Major knowledge in science was not needed to see that Bella wouldn't make it after the birthing. It wasn't even sure she would make it to the birthing. And it was freaking him out.
"This is none of your business!" Rosalie snapped.
"Rosalie," Evie warned. Even though things weren't all solved between Evie and Jacob, she still wasn't liking how it was starting to escalate. Rosalie took a deep breath. Jacob was Evie's imprintee. She was willing to contain herself. "All this fighting isnât good for Bella,"
"The fetus isnât good for Bella!" Alice shot back.
"Say the word, Alice," Rose countered too. "Baby! Itâs just a little baby!"
"Possibly," Jasper stepped in, siding with Alice.
Jacob kept quiet. He just observed them argueing. He then turned his gaze to Evie who was by Bellaâs side. And then he realized.
His choice was made. It was obvious. No need to argue.
"Do you want to keep the baby?" He asked Bella. Everyone stopped and looked at him.
"What?" Bella asked, quite surprised. She wasn't expecting him to ask this. No one was expecting him to be so calm. They expected shouts of anger but not this. He was upset indeed, but calm and contained.
"The baby. Do you want to keep it?" Jacob asked again.
"Yes. Yes, I want to keep him," Bella answered white hesitation.
"So itâs a bouncing baby boy," Jacob chuckled. "Iâm sorry I didnât know. I should have brought some blue balloons," he joked. Both Bella and Evie smiled.
"Itâs just a guess," Bella said. "When I picture him I see a boy. Weâll see,"
"And you will," Jacob said, shocking everyone.
He was not against the pregnancy.
Jacob was siding with Bella. Knowing the highly risks of death. He was still siding with Bella. He was for her to keep the baby.
"There must be a way for both to live," he added.
"And if there's none?" Edward finally stepped in.
"Then it's Bellaâs choice," Jacob said. "And we must respect it,"
Evie stared at Jacob, shocked. Did she hear right? He was siding with Bella? He was okay with her keeping the baby knowing she could die? It was against he had did before. He had always wanted her to live and remain human. He had always protected her no matter what, even if it meant ignored what she wanted. But now, he listened.
"Thank you, Jake," Bella smiled.
Jacob smiled. A sad one. But then, he turned to Evie.
"Sam asked for the pack to meet," he told her. Evie face was now coven by a serious expression.
"He knows?" She asked.
"Not yet. But it's just a matter of time," he said.
"How do you think Sam would reac to news of a vampire baby arriving?" Bella asked.
"Not well, I fear," Evie said as she stood up. "We'll do our best to talk it out with him," she added. Bella nodded and the two shifters left. They knew better than to make their alpha wait.
The first half of the walk was silent. Evie kept glancing curiously at Jacob. She was genuinely wondering if he was really siding with Bella. It was so different than the Jacob he was months ago. Did he have a sudden realization?
"Are you really on Bellaâs side? I thought you would be against it," Evie asked.
Jacob looked at her surprised. He wasn't expecting her to talk to him. She wanted space so he wasn't expecting her to even acknowledge him. He didn't answer immediately, as if he was looking for the right words to use.
"I got time to think," he responded. "About everything you told me. About the Cullens. About Bella. And seeing her like that, so sick and yet wanting to keep the vampire baby... it made me realised. Bella chose to be a vampire. And there's no going back. She let go of her human life already. And seeing how everything turned out, how hurt you were. Because of me... it's time for me to stop being childish, to stop chasing and trying to regain something I've lost long ago,"
"You're still human," Evie said. "You are still you,"
"Me but with more anger issues," he joked even though it was true. Evie chuckled. "It will never be the same anymore. I cannot change who I am. I am a shifter and I must accept it. Or else I'll keep hurting you. The time when I was just a reckless teenager with long, well taken care of I must say, hair is over... But it's okay. I know it will be okay because you are here. You are all I need. You are my life, Evie. Wherever you go, I'll follow,"
"I'm sorry I made one hell of mess figuring this out,"
"What matters is that your mind is cleared now. You know what you want," Evie smiled. She was happy he had found his peace.
Jacob softly smiled at her, which made her quite flustered. The Clearwater girl cleared her throat and looked away. She tried to ignored how much effect he had on her. She hated it.
"You know Quil's brother will phase soon," Jacob suddenly said, trying to brush away the awkward silence that was setting. "He's in transition,"
"You mean Jay?" Evie asked, shocked. "He's only fourteen!"
"Yep," he nodded. "The youngest shifter,"
"Talking about the pack, I doubt Sam will be please at the idea of a vampire baby. What do we do? We cannot let a war happen,"
"We'll see," Jacob said, but he had no idea of what could happen. "We'll do what is necessary,"