Chapter 11 ~ Pic and Chapter Teasers!

Chapter 11

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He dropped to his knees in front of Jack and reached out slowly to cup his face. She watched as two tears dripped down the man's face as he tenderly stroked the boy's face. Bella glanced down at her son and saw that he was grinning widely and his eyes were transfixed on his father's face. A smile broke out on Edward's face and gently pulled Jack into his arms.

"Jackson," Edward sobbed and he clutched his son to him tightly.

"Daddy," Jack cried into his father's shoulder. "I missed you."

Chapter 10 - Pic Tease & Chapter Teaser

Chapter 10 

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"Mrs. Cullen?" Bella asked. The woman's smile became unfathomably larger.

"Isabella Swan, it's a pleasure to meet you! To what do I owe this honor?" her lilting voice responded.

Bella's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in shock.

"Ho-how do you know who I am?" she asked, in complete confusion.

Esme tilted her head slightly to one side, confusion also settling upon her face.

"I do work with the Chicago branch of Lost Treasures. I recognize you from the literature that the foundation gives out during charity events. I lost my own grandson a few years back, so it's a cause close to my heart," she smiled sadly at her.

"No effing way," Bella whispered, her jaw still hanging open.

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Chapter 8 - Pic Tease & Chapter Teaser

Chapter 8

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She heard a noise and flashed her eyes towards the door. A tall woman with deep red hair stood there, staring at her. Bella felt a chill run down her spine as the woman's cold blue eyes bored into hers.

"He'll never be yours," she spoke in a beautiful, lilting voice as she took a step towards Bella.

Bella's heart started hammering in her chest and she felt sweat break out on her forehead.

"You can't have him back. You left him!" Bella yelled at the woman. "Get out of my house!"

She caught a movement out of the corner of her eye and saw Jack standing in the corner of the room. The woman followed Bella's gaze and cocked her head to the side.

"Jackson?" she called and held her hand out. Jack walked obediently over to her, without sparing Bella another glance. They turned and started to walk out of the room.

"NO!" Bella screamed. "Victoria, no! Don't take my son!"

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Chapter 7 - Pic Tease & Chapter Teaser

Chapter 7

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When Jack walked into the last room in the hallway, his eyes lit up. There were two nice sized windows that over looked the yard. A bed was nestled in a corner underneath one of them. A dresser sat next to the bed and a small desk was situated in the other corner or the room, in front of the second window. There were shelves that completely encircled the room at around six feet high.

He walked over to one of the shelves and reached up to touch it reverently. Bella had come to adore that Jack had an appetite for books that was as voracious as hers. It was one of the many things that made her feel like he was truly her son.

Jack walked over to the window by the desk and gazed outside. He turned to her with his eyes ablaze.

"When can we move in?"

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Chapter 6 - Pic Tease & Chapter Teaser

Chapter 6

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The bell over the cafe door chimed and Bella looked up. A woman in a black skirt and a deep purple blouse enters and looks around the room. When her eyes settled on Bella, she started to stride over confidently. She was breathtakingly beautiful with waist long strawberry blonde hair and violet blue eyes. Bella swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to settle her nerves. The woman stopped at her table and sat her briefcase on the empty chair.

"Ms. Denali?" Bella asked as she stood to greet her. The woman nodded, offering Bella her hand.

"Ms. Swan, let's cut the introductory bullshit and cut right to the chase."

Tanya Denali smirked as she watched Bella's eyes widen in surprise. This was going to be fun.

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Chapter 5 - Pic Tease & Chapter Teaser

Chapter 5 

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Bella set the bowl of pancake batter down on the counter and spun around to pick up Jack, just as the song's chorus came on.

"Cherish the thought

Of always having you here by my side

Oh baby, I cherish the joy

You keep bringing into my life

I'm always singing it

Cherish the strength

You got the power to make me feel good

Oh baby, I perish the thought

Of ever leaving, I never would"

Singing, she danced around the kitchen while he laughed and squealed. Making a turn just a little too fast, the ended up sprawled on the floor, still giggling.

"I love you, Mommy," he sighed happily.

Bella's eyes shot to his in surprise. She sat motionless in shock while Jack looked at her with nothing but love and hope.

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Chapter 4 - Pic Tease & Chapter Teaser

Chapter 4

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"Get your hands off of me, Jake," Bella told him in a quiet, calm voice that was the complete opposite of her racing heart.

"No, you need to learn your place. You belong to me and I won't deal with this bullshit anymore," he said coldly.

Bella gave him a confused look.

"What bullshit are you talking about, dude?"

He narrowed his eyes and tightened his hold on her arm painfully.

"I'm not sharing you with that brat anymore."

She gasped, the slight fear she felt at his actions turning swiftly into blind rage.

"H-h-how dare you!" she sputtered angrily. "That little boy is more of a man than you'll ever be."

"We'll see about that, " he responded as he pulled her towards him roughly.

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Chapter 3 - Pic Tease & Chapter Teaser

Chapter 3

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Weeks went by with still no word about Jack's family. Bella and Charlie went to court in Seattle and were granted official temporary custody. In mid-October, Alice designed Bella and Jack matching costumes for Halloween. Apparently, the idea had been all Jack's and Bella was kept in the dark. When October 31st arrived, Alice came over with the costumes. She laid a bag on Bella's bed, before going into Jack's room to help him get into his outfit. Jack was so excited and bouncing off the walls all day in excitement for Trick or Treating.

Bella walked over to the garment bag on her bed and took a deep breath, not knowing what to expect as she unzipped it. Looking down at the items in front of her, Bella cocked her her to the side, trying to figure out what it was supposed to be.

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Chapter 2 - Pic Tease & Chapter Teaser

Chapter 2

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About an hour later, Bella felt a nudge on her shoulder and realized that she must have fallen asleep. She blinked her eyes and saw her father's face.

"Dad?" she asked. He smiled kindly at her.

"Come on, baby girl, let's get out of here."

She felt her chest tighten and started to panic.

"But what about Jack?" she asked, tearing up once again. "I can't leave him!"

Charlie shook his head. "It's okay, sweetheart, he's coming with us."

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Chapter 1 - Pic Tease & Chapter Teaser

Chapter 1

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She reached out and touched the child's dirty hair softly. Their head jerked up and she found herself staring into the greenest eyes that she had ever seen. They were staring back at her, wide with fear.

"Pp-ple-ease, don't hurt me," a tiny voice asked. Bella felt her heart break and tears sting her eyes.

"I'm not going to hurt you, sweetheart," she said as calmly and gently as she could. "I want to help you. Are you hurt? Where are your parents?"

The child started to sob again and threw themselves into her arms. Bella was startled and fell back on her behind. She wrapped her arms around the kid and felt something burn in her chest. In that instant, she felt something shift. She knew right then and there that nothing would stop her from helping this little one. She ran her fingers through their crusty hair and wondered again how a child could just be all alone like this.

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