Chapter Eleven — 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐨 𝐖𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧

It's never the differences between people that surprise us. It's the things that, against all odds, we have in common.
—Jodi Picoult, House Rules

"Charlie, you can't take or keep away your married daughter from her husband especially since she's pregnant with something that could possibly be dangerous to us." Billy said.

Bella, Leah, Janiva and I were sitting on the couch as Charlie and the elders argued about Bella and the possible dangers that her unborn child could bring to the tribe.

"I honestly think Charlie was pretty badasss for facing a bunch of vampires." Leah said.

I nodded.

"If it wasn't the fact that I was more focused on Charlie not getting himself hurt, I would say the same. I've never seen him act like that." Bella said.

I looked at Bella.

"Bella, why did you marry Edward?" I asked.

She looked down at her belly and rubbed it.

"Because I love him." She answered.

"You're willing to throw away your youth and be a soulless blood drinking monster because it's your first time falling in love." Janiva said.

"I could see how from your perspective that it looks horrible but Edward truly understands me." She said.

"Nah, I think he got tired of being alone and Alice claiming she saw you a part of their family, just made it easy for him to feel less guilty about you being one of them." Leah said.

"Did you tell them everything?" She asked me.

"Bella, Of course, I need other people to help me judge your horrible decision making skills." I answered.

She rolled her eyes.

"And what about yours?" She asked.

"I made them on my own without others' influences." I replied.

"You think I didn't make my own decisions because I did." She said.

"So you didn't do it out of fear?" Janiva asked.

"What? No." She answered.

"You're lying." Leah said.

Bella sighed.

"Okay, remember when I went to save Edward after Jacob told him that I had died." Bella said.

Leah rolled her eyes.

"The most dramatic mess I've ever witnessed." Leah said.

"Yeah, so I went with Alice to save him and we got caught by the Volturi who wanted to kill me for knowing about their existence but Alice convinced that I would be one of them so there was no reason to kill me." Bella said.

"So you only married Edward because he's old fashion and that you could be turned into a vampire?" Charlie asked.

We looked up at Charlie and the others, not knowing they had stopped talking and were listening in on our conversation.

"Dad, I really do love Edward but yes that was a part of the reason." Bella said.

I shook my head.

"What the fuck is wrong with the Cullens? Who takes a human to go save a vampire around a bunch of vampires? Idiots. I knew I didn't like them for a reason. They're all idiots." I said.

"Althea, you don't like anyone." Janiva said.

"So when are you guys letting me go back?" Bella asked.

Charlie was about to answer when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Charlie exclaimed.

The front door opened and Lape walked in with a suitcase in his hand.

I stood up.

"Lape, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"He's the one that sent me the letter." Charlie answered.

Bella glared at Lape.

"Why would you do that?" Bella asked.

I was shocked. I had no idea Lape knew about vampires and the wolves.

"I'm just doing as I told to do. I'm sorry for keeping a secret from you, Althea. Charlie, I got everything." Lape said as he shook hands with Charlie.

"Are you sure this will make her better?" Charlie asked.

Lape nodded.

"Yes, it will." Lape answered.

"Okay, the kitchen is through that door." Charlie said, pointing to the door that leds to the kitchen.

Lape nodded and walked towards the door.

"What is he going to do?" Leah asked.

"He's going to feed Bella some blood to help her gain her strength back and hopefully stop this baby from killing her." Charlie answered.

—— 🕊——

"You know what you actually look so much better." Jacob said, looking at Bella after she had two cups of blood.

Bella smiled.

"You think so?" Bella asked.

"Yeah, you do but Leah is the definitely the most beautiful pregnant woman ever." Collin answered.

"Back off, she's mine." Quil said, playfully growling at Collin.

Leah rolled her eyes.

Sam, Paul, and Jared kept glancing at Bella and her stomach.

"What?" I asked them.

"Lape thinks the baby needs to be removed soon." Sam answered.

Bella placed her hands on her stomach.

"I won't let you guys kill my baby." Bella said.

Jared shook his head.

"Originally, we wanted to but Lape said your child won't do us any harm since he is familiar with its kind." Jared said.

"Bella, for your sake, it's best to remove the thing before it tears it's way out of you." Sam said.

Bella was shocked.

"You mean I'm not having the first hybrid baby." Bella said.

"No, you're not." Lape said, walking into the room.

"How could you be so sure?" Bella asked.

"Because I know several hybrids." Lape answered.

I closed my eyes.

"Please don't tell me, you're one of them." I said.

"Okay, I won't tell you." Lape said with a chuckle.

"No way you don't even smell like you could be half bloodsucker." Embry said, sniffing Lape.

Lape laughed.

"I know I grew up more on human food than blood so I blend in more." Lape said.

Bella smiled.

"Okay, you're the first sign of hope I had this whole pregnancy so if you think it's best remove the baby then you can do it. Oddly enough I trust you and I feel somewhat connected to you." Bella said.

Jacob looked at her and placed a hand over her forehead.

"Are you okay?" Jacob asked.

Bella nodded.

"Yeah, why?" She answered.

"You just agreed to have your baby cut off of your stomach." Jacob said.

I laughed.

"It's Bella, Jacob, you know she down for all the not normal things but I feel like an idiot for not noticing how different you are from humans, Lape." I said.

"It's okay, I've had a long time to get this right." Lape said.

"How long?" Seth asked.

"I'm ninty years old." Lape replied.

"So your father was a vampire and your mother was human?" Sam asked.

"Yes, my mother had runaway with my father from her hometown and they had me." Lape answered.

"Did your mother survive having you?" Bella asked.

"Yes, because my father removed from the womb early." Lape answered.

"Okay, then let's do it." Bella said.

—— 🕊——

"We should probably feed it." Jacob said, holding the hybrid baby in his arms.

I walked in with a bottle of blood and handed it to Jacob.

"No, give it to Embry, he should definitely be practicing for when you guys have your baby." Jacob said as he handed the baby to Embry, who quickly grabbed her and pulled her to his chest.

Embry stared at the baby, who raised her hand and placed it on his cheek.

Embry gasped.

"She's showing me things." Embry said.

"Of course, she's gifted." Jacob said.

Lape walked out, carrying Bella in his arms.

Bella smiled as soon as she saw the baby.

"I can't believe I have a daughter. Did you guys tell the Cullens about the baby?" Bella asked as Lape put her down on the couch.

"No, we didn't tell them about Nessie." Jacob answered.

"I can't you nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness Monster." Bella said.

Everyone laughed.

"Well, Renesmee isn't a cute name." Paul said.

The phone started ringing. Everyone looked at the phone.

"It's probably the Cullens, they haven't stopped calling since Bella got here. It's annoying." I said.

"Well it's been five days since I've been here." Bella said.

I answered the phone.

"She's sleeping." I said.

"Just please bring her back." Edward said.

"Sorry, can't do that. Charlie has some serious supernatural power guarding Bella." I said.

"What do you mean?" Edward asked.

"Turns out you guys really don't know nothing about the world you're living in." I answered.

Bella sighed and grabbed the phone from me.

"Hello, Edward." Bella said.

"Bella? Are you okay? How's the baby?" Edward asked.

"We're prefect, turns out the baby just needed blood." Bella answered.

"Really? Why didn't I think of that?" Edward asked.

I rolled my eyes.

"Because you weren't thinking." I answered.

"Bella, please come back. We'll take better care of the baby and you." Edward said.

"No, sorry we'll come back soon but for now there's some things I need to learn." Bella said.

Everyone was confused. We thought Bella would be pleading for Edward to come get her or at least tell him that she had the baby.

"What are you doing?" Jacob asked Bella.

Bella held her finger up to silence Jacob.

"Okay, I'll give you more time but we're worried about you." Edward said.

"I know but there's nothing to worry about." Bella said, ending the call.

She handed me back the phone.

"What was that about?" Seth asked.

"Lape told me his mother's story and it sounded so similar to mine that it made me realize that I don't want to be a vampire anymore." Bella answered.

"Bella, are you sure?" I asked.

"I love Edward but realized that I need to love myself even more." Bella replied.

I looked at Lape and he nodded at me.

"I'll be back." I said, getting up.