Beautiful Hitchhiker

Chapter Twenty-Two—Aftermath

Bella tossed the gun on the bed and started toward me. I slid the gun away from me just before she scrambled onto my lap. Her mouth was on mine, her hands grasping my face with such ferocity that I winced. However, it didn't matter I needed her closer.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Jasper walk over to Laurent's body, checking for a pulse. "He's dead."

Bella whimpered, but her mouth was still urgent on mine. "You're alright," she whispered. "You didn't get shot?"

"No, ba—by," I chocked out, holding her as close as possible. I heard Jasper and Sam talking just outside the room. They were calling for an ambulance, and I could hear sirens and the sound of more pounding feet outside.

"Baby," I said as I tightened my hold on her. "Your ass is kind of hanging out for all those boys in blue to see."

I heard her snicker against the crook of my neck, the breath from her lips adds a calming effect to the adrenaline pumping through my body.

"You got big hands, use them," she grumbled, her lips pressing over my Adam's apple. I laughed gently so that it was something only between us.

Much too soon our little bubble that went up the moment she dropped into my lap would pop, and the world will step in. With a gentle touch, my hands swept the cotton dress over her cute little bottom, my hands splayed over her curves.

I had to make sure it stayed in place after all.

A few hours later, Bella and I were clothed in scrubs from the hospital, sitting in my hospital bed. Bella had refused to leave me once her doctor said her and the baby were fine. They insisted she had to stay overnight as a precaution; she insisted that the only way she would, was if she could stay with me.

It was a good thing my Dad was on staff. My body suffered some bruises, raw skin from the rope and duct tape and the bullet that pierced through me was just a flesh wound. Still hurt like a bitch though.

Bella's jaw was bruised and a knot formed over her brow from the head butting she'd given her assailant. Both of her wrists were bandaged from the handcuffs that cut into her skin.

Most of all her body shuddered with unrestrained sobs while I held her. Her body finally caught up with her mind. She had killed someone, and despite the fact that the asshole deserved it, it was something she'd have to live with her entire life.

Staff and family came in and out of the room. Some offering teary hugs and sobs of guilt. Others offered support both professional and personal. Her father broke down beside our bed, his hands clasped around Bella's hand.

"Baby girl," he whispered, looking at us, at her. "I'm so fucking glad Jasper had insisted on getting you out on that shooting range all those years ago."

Bella shrugged. "A girl isn't about to forget something her daddy taught her."

He sobbed, dropping his head onto their clasped hands. "Damn right you wouldn't. Any chance we can see if your fishing skills are still as good?"

"First chance we get, Dad," she whispered as she gently weaved the fingers of her free hand through his hair.

Sue Clearwater, friend of the family patted Charlie's shoulder. "We should get you back to your room."

Her father was exhausted, and I could see it in his eyes. Though we had witnessed a minor breakdown, I knew there was a storm raging inside him. One he wouldn't want Bella to see, not after all she'd been through.

After a few whispered words between father and daughter, he left with a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"He'll be alright, won't he?"

"He will," I said. "He's got good friends and us, so yeah, he'll get through this."

She nuzzled her face against my chest with my arm draped over her waist. "Shouldn't we have heard something by now?"

I looked up at the clock and my vision blurred with tears. It'd been three hours since they'd taken Jacob up to surgery.

It was determined that somehow, Laurent managed to lace a large container of chocolate mousse at the shop Bella and I frequented with sleeping pills. Thankfully, it seemed no one had adverse affects to the laced chocolate besides drowsiness.

We also found out that Embry Call was dead, with a bullet to his head. From what the detectives could see, Laurent snuck up to the car and fired twice with a silencer. One bullet hit Embry the other hit Jacob in the abdomen. Laurent disabled the radio so that Jacob would suffer and wouldn't be able to call for help.

However, Jacob prevailed. He managed to climb out of the car and get to his trunk to grab his second cell phone. It had taken time but it was why help had arrived five minutes early.

Bella started to hum softly, a song I didn't recognize. The vibrations of her melody were felt down to my heart. Tears fell from my eyes when the realization hit that we wouldn't be here if it weren't for her determination, her love for our baby and me.

"What're you singing, baby?" I kissed the top of her head, my arms tightened around her for a moment.

She laughed a bit. "Sex on Fire." She giggled this time. "Sorry, my mind is all scrambled and that song popped in."

"No problem. It's nice to know that your mind still goes in that direction." My thumb accidently brushed the underside of her breast, earning a breathy gasp.

"Even laid up in a hospital bed you'd do me," she mumbled.

"Of course," I said with a laugh. God, I was so happy that somehow at the end of all of this, we'd still be us. "Can't help it."

"Good," she said firmly. Just as she brushed her lips over mine, someone cleared their throat. Bella's head snapped to our visitor. Her lip trembled as she looked at Jasper's disheveled state.

"He's in recovery," he said, a trembling hand running over his hair. "The damage was extensive. Ruptured spleen, they managed to save his pancreas but his small intestine—"

"Just tell me," she sobbed, tears ran down her cheek. "He's in that bed because of that damn monster. He's my best friend after Edward. You tell me right now." Her body trembled and flushed from her words.

"The next few days will determine if he'll make it."

"And if he does," she said, her eyes still locked with Jasper's.

"They said he'll have a rough road of recovery, months maybe as much as a year."

Bella gasped and shook her head. "Leah?"

"She's with him now," Jasper said taking another step closer toward us. "Seth and their mother are with her."

Bella nodded, turning to lay her head on my chest again.

"It's my fault," Jasper said roughly. "It should've been me."

"Don't fucking start with that shit," Bella said with a glare. "You can 'what if' until eternity and it wouldn't change anything."

Jasper shook his head and continued as if Bella hadn't said anything. "It was supposed to be my watch, but Alice called agreeing to dinner. Jacob told me to go."

"So what, you're saying it's Alice's fault," Bella said flatly. My hands gripped her harshly. What the hell was she doing?

"No! God no!" Jasper started to pace.

"Well, we can point fingers here all day. As I said before, it won't change anything."

"Bella," Jasper said exasperated.

"Jasper," I interrupted. "Save it. You and I both know you won't change her mind. It's no one's doing besides that asshole in the morgue."

"Yeah." Jasper's lips twitched to a half smile. "Sorry, B."

"You'll keep us informed," she said softly.

He nodded and took our hands. "I never met two people more right for each other."

Bella smiled beautifully. "Damn right," she said then slapped her hand over her mouth. "Darn, I wanted to try to stop cussing."

Jasper and I snorted. "Fat chance," we said in unison.

She grumbled turning her flushed face into the crook of my arm. "Buttballs," she said, sinking further into her embarrassment.

Jasper and I started laughing. "Buttballs!"

"Shut up!"

"You two are going to be fine," Jasper said. "And I think that's my queue to leave." He leaned down kissed Bella's rosy cheek. Our eyes met. "Take care of her."

I nodded and squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

When he left, I adjusted Bella against my side. "I love you," I said softly against her cheek.

"Love you," she returned. "I'm tired."

"Sleep then." I kissed her lips softly. "I'll be here when you wake."

"You better be."

"Always."

"Any chance for some nookie in the morning?"

I laughed and kissed her mouth again, a deep all-consuming kiss. "Have we failed once to have morning sex?"

She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Oh you're right. Superman is always ready in the morning."

"Did you name my penis Superman?"

"Yep."

I snorted. "So your—" I touched her briefly over the cotton of her panties "is Lois?"

"You're not naming my girly bits," she said with a giggle.

"And why not?"

"'Cus to you I'm just your Bella."

"Yeah you are."

"And you're my Superman. You saved me that day on the road."

"You saved me, too."

"Yeah but you can't name my parts after Supergirl. They're cousins and that would be weird."

I roared in laughter, moaning when I realized it hurt to laugh. "You're going to keep me on my toes aren't you?"

"You bet your as—butt I will."

I held her closer, tucking her head under my chin. "You're going to be a wonderful mother."

She kissed the underside of my chin, lingering there before speaking. "You're going to be a great dad. But—"

"We can't stay in Seattle." I knew it was coming, I knew it because I felt the same way.

"I don't think I can go back to school for psychology any longer," she said, her arms tightening around my chest.

"I think you should consider art school."

"That's exactly what I was thinking," she murmured. "After the baby is born, I can look for a school somewhere."

"I want to do something else, too," I said after a few minutes of silence. "I want to write."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I used to write when I was younger. Won a few short story contests my mom sent in for me."

"Will you—tell our story," she said softly.

"I have it in me, so yes, but not yet."

I felt her nod against my chest. "Where do you want to go?"

"My home is wherever you and our baby will be. So maybe we should just get an R.V. and travel."

"You gonna get one of those fancy ones?"

"All the amenities, baby. I'll even spring for the toilet not to be in the shower."

She giggled, yawning suddenly.

"Go to sleep we'll talk more in the morning."

"K."

"Love you," I whispered.

"You do know it's creepy when you watch me sleep."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I turned her head into my chest to muffle what I was sure would be a clever retort. In a few moments, her breathing had evened out and her eyes fluttered closed.

Then I settled in to watch my wife sleep.

~oOo~

I sat in the doctor's office behind the window where patients signed their names in and gave me a smile. I had to be here, though I wanted to be at home. I looked up from behind the computer when two figures came up. I forced a smile and opened the glass partition.

"Hey, Bella," I said a little too brightly. I snuffed that shit and managed not to show too much teeth.

"Hey," she said sweetly. "I didn't know this was where you were going to work."

"They gave me the hours I needed to pay the bills and still be home when I can," I said with a forced grin.

"That's great," she said as Edward wrapped his arms around her. His hands ran over her small bump there, lovingly.

"Are you here to find out what you're having?" I asked, looking up their appointment time.

"Yes," they said in unison, making me want to gag.

"Did you drink the required thirty-two ounces?"

"Yes," Edward said with a crooked smile. "She's dying to go to the bathroom though." He laughed, still rubbing her belly.

"Have a seat and a technician will be out for you shortly," I said. They nodded and turned to sit in the only loveseat in the waiting room. They picked up one of the baby magazines and started to flip through it. My eyes couldn't leave their faces, because they looked fucking happy. While inside I was burning with anger. She sat by her rich husband, pregnant and so in love. All the while people's lives were ruined because of her.

Lives were lost and disrupted. Embry would never again hold Claire in his arms at night. Jacob has suffered for the past three months, and would likely suffer for many more. I might have lost my chance to have a baby the day I saved her from that van.

I met her first.

I loved her first.

I kissed her first.

She broke my heart first.

She had everything she'd never knew she'd want. I fucking hated it, worse I hated her because I still loved her. Turning my attention from them, I noticed that I had broken the pen in my hand. I shook my head to dispel all the emotions that coursed through me since I'd met her.

Twenty minutes later, they walked hand in hand out of the room. I smiled and raised a questioning eyebrow.

"It's a girl," Edward blurted out. I could see how happy he was to know that he'd soon be carrying a sweet baby girl. Bella laughed and wrapped her arms around her husband. My smile fell.

"Leah," I heard someone say as I came to the realization that she had everything I wanted.

Bella's small hand waved in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Edward and I were talking and we're thinking that you and Jacob can be godparents?"

"Bella," Edward said, laughing. "You're supposed to ask them when they're together."

"Oh," she gasped but grinned. "Sorry, I just got overexcited."

"Why don't you come over for dinner tomorrow?" I asked, wondering how I managed the words through my clenched teeth. How dare she ask that of me?

"Sounds good," Bella said leaning down to kiss my forehead. "See you tomorrow. We going to tell the family. Alice is going to be so happy."

"So is Jasper. Didn't he say something about winning a bet," Edward said taking a hold of Bella's hand."

"He did, everyone said I was having a boy. But he and Edward said it was a girl."

"Then maybe dinner should be on you two," I teased as they turned toward the exit.

"Of course!" Bella said over her shoulder. "Bye, Lbean. Love you."

"Love you, too, B," I said softly.

The other pen in my hand buckled under the strain.

~oOo~

I walked with Bella's hand in mine, holding the door of the open for her. I looked over my shoulder and noticed Leah's eyes on us. I shuddered.

Bella pulled me through the door and looked up at me. "I feel it, too."

"You can't—" I started and shook my head to understand the anxiety I felt. "I don't think it'd be a good idea for you two to ever be alone."

"I know."

"You're upset," I whispered as I led her to the car.

"I am but somehow I know we'll be okay."

I knew we'd have to talk to Jasper about this new development. Since I'd met Leah, I had felt the hostility from her. I just never understood who it was toward, Bella or me.

I patted Bella's bottom before she slipped into her seat. I walked over to my side and started the car. She pulled out bottle of water from her battered green backpack.

"Why do you insist on carrying that thing?" I said as I pulled out of the parking lot.

"It's my lucky bag," she said with a shrug.

I thought about it a moment that she was right. "It is a lucky pack."

She looked at me, confused. I took her hand in mine, bringing it to my lips.

"It's lucky for us both. If I hadn't seen it beside James's car then I wouldn't have stopped to save a beautiful hitchhiker."

The End

AN: I'd like to thank all you for sticking with this story until the very end. Those that recommended it, those that pre-read it and those that held my hand through it. I know that I left at a spot that would leave most of you scratching your heads, but this is the end I've always had in mind. Plus I'm evil ;)

Lots of things in the works, get ready.

Erica