`THE THINGS WE DON'T KNOW

Standard Disclaimer: All characters herein belong to Stephenie Meyer unless otherwise stated and are merely borrowed for the continuation of the fandom. All music referenced in the clip or as part of the 'soundtrack' will be credited in authors note.

Story Synopsis: Bella is a freshman in her first year of college who unexpectedly gives birth to a baby she didn't realise she was carrying.

Authors Notes: The previous version I uploaded was actually the wrong version - I know! I tend to write different version's exploring different directions. Stupid e labeled it wrong. 99% is the same. The main difference is the change in time frame. This chapter takes place one month after the previous.

CHAPTER TWO

"Mom I've told you the same thing every week for the last month," I begged pushing the trolley in front of me slowly as Alyssa lay asleep, blissfully unaware of the craziness that was my mother. "Anything is fine."

"Selection is always better," Renee pouted picking up a box of Pop Tarts and Corn Flakes. I snatched the box of Pop Tarts from her and put it back on the shelf.

"You don't need to buy one of every animal Mom, if I want something else I can always come back and get it."

With a sad smile my mother put the Corn Flakes back and we moved to the next isle. While my mother had readily accepted what I had told her, my father was a totally different story. Four weeks it had been since I returned to Forks with my daughter. Daughter that was still going to take a while to get used too. It was four weeks of adapting to everything, four weeks of getting back on my feet and back into my studies – or at least trying, time wasn't exactly in my control lately. I had usually been pretty good at adapting, but Alyssa was a whole different ball game.

"Oh shit," Renee answered quickly covering her mouth when she realised what she had said. My usually straight edged mother still trying to maintain her innocence, with a roll of my eyes she told me she forgot something from the last isle and raced back leaving me staring at what felt like a million different pasta sauces.

"For such a small town they sure have a big choice for pasta sauces," I thought aloud.

"Most of the items stocked in this store are produced locally Bella," a deep voice piped up from beside me. "Surely you haven't forgotten that already."

"You know it's rude to-"I stopped right there and instead through my most playful punch at the man. "Jacob!"

"How long have you've been in town? What's new?" Jacob grinned feigning pain at the mild punch I had thrown at him. Everything about it just resonated familiarity and calmness, his tan was as golden as ever – a strange thing in itself in a place like Forks. But he was longer the tall lanky man I hadn't seen in over a year.

"Nothing really," I smiled at him, seeing a familiar face was reassuring and suddenly I felt guilty for not making the effort when I returned to town to visit him.

"This looks new," he pointed to the trolley where Alyssa was sleeping.

"What are you doing here Jake?" I teased changing the subject while pointing to the jar of peanut butter and bag of Doritos in his hands. "Aren't you afraid that will mess with your macronutrient diet?"

"This handsome body just comes naturally."

"We've got a lot of catching up to do Bells, what do you say about coming over tonight for dinner? Dad's having a bonfire party for the locals."

"I don't know Jake," I whispered, "I don't like being away from Alyssa, it's too soon."

"I'll watch her," Renee appeared between us. "Hi Jacob."

"Mom? Really?" I asked, but my mother just cut me off and told him I would be ready at five. After our goodbye's I glared at her moving to the final isle before hitting the checkout. It didn't long before we got home, I pulled out the car seat holding it in one arm as I reached into the boot to pick up a couple of bags to help my mother.

"Are you sure about watching her tonight?"

"Yes Bella," Renee frowned. "Don't you trust me with her?"

"I know it's been a month, but I'm still getting used to this you know?"

"That doesn't mean you can't let us help you sweetie," Renee said putting away the last of the cold items and taking a seat next to her daughter. "What are you so scared of?"

"Everything," I whispered fighting to hold back my tears, my grasp tightening on my daughter's tiny frame. I felt my mother's arm drape around me as she scooted her chair closer.

"Oh Bella," Renee answered sympathetically. "When you're ready to talk about it all you know I'm here."

"Dad's not though."

"Yes he is, he's accepted all of this Bella," Renee admitted pulling back as I bounced Alyssa on my knee at the table, her giggles filling the air. "This was just a shock for us."

"And you think it wasn't for me?" I demanded with more bitterness than I had originally expected. "I was just a normal college student a month ago."

"Look, relax and be a normal teenager with Jacob tonight," Renee said sweetly. "I think you'll find he could use a friend right now as much as you could."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Without an answer Renee just got up and busied herself with the groceries she hadn't put away.

"Are you really not going to tell me?" Renee shook her head. "Fine, I'll be upstairs putting Alyssa to sleep."

Alyssa took a bit before she fell asleep after I fed her, the whole breastfeeding thing was not a favorite of mine. It was weird, and generally uncomfortable. I longed for the time when I could bottle feed her, but Renee insisted it was better for her and would get better with time.

Before I knew it I was being woke up by Renee who held clothes in her hand and forcibly took the child from my arms pushing me into the bathroom.

I played with my hair a little and applied the little make up I had before grabbing my jacket and finding Jacob at the bottom of the stairs. Renee smiled cradling Alyssa and waved me off.

"I get the feeling she was trying to get rid of you," Jacob teased opening the door to his rabbit. I laughed.

"You finally finished fixing her up?" I beamed taking in his red Volkswagen that he had been driving since he got his permit in high school. "Lulu is looking great, much better than she did by the beach in senior year."

"Hey now," Jacob pretended he was offended letting me sit in the passenger seat. "Lulu took us on many wild adventures in senior year."

"Never said she didn't, she just needed a makeover."

He laughed climbing into the driver's seat pulling out of the driveway, the conversation went mostly to high school and the things we remembered doing not that long ago. The reservation came into view and a wave of calmness spread through me as the feeling of my second home hit me. Smoke from the fire that was lit could be smelt from not too far away when I got out of the car.

"Welcome home Bella," he was at my side quickly pulling me into a hug. "I've missed you short stuff."

"I missed you too Jake," I whispered into him, "but what do you say we get the elephant out of the room before we head to the party?"

Jacob laughed, "You say party like we run rampant or something."

"If Quil and Embry are involved it wouldn't surprise me."

We both laughed knowing those two so well, leaning against the door of the car I looked up at Jacob. "You can ask Jake, it's okay."

"What happened Bella?" Jacob asked after a few moments of silence. "Dad says you've been in town a while." I nodded slowly, "Why didn't you come see me sooner?"

"You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you," I admitted watching him carefully.

"You could try me?"

Biting my lip I studied him as he leaned back matching my position on the side of the car. I grew up with Jacob, through the horrible elementary years through to graduation last year. He was the one I went to when I had my first kiss, my first boyfriend and he was even there when I had my first break up. Although Jacob denied it to this day, my first boyfriend mysteriously ended up on the flag pole at Forks High taped with nothing but his underwear. He always had my back and I trusted him with everything.

"Alyssa is my daughter," I whispered.

"I thought that much was obvious," Jacob frowned. "I didn't even know you had a boyfriend."

"I don't."

His eyes went big. "Was it consensual?" His voice pitched as he asked the question, almost like he was afraid of the answer.

"God yes, Jake, you know I'd-not after-"

"Fucking Tyler," he hissed. Tyler was a whole other part of my past I had pushed to the far back of my mind.

"She's perfect though," I admitted trying to change the direction the conversation was going. "It's a weird feeling really, I didn't know I was pregnant."

"How does that happen?"

He didn't say anything instead just listened as I recounted my experience with labour and how I wound up back in town. "The doctors put it down to stress and hormones, my body didn't release the usual hormones it usually does during pregnancy. But I'm just glad she's okay."

"How are you handling all that?"

"As best as I can, Charlie isn't too happy obviously," I wasn't sure if I was very convincing to him but I hardly had myself convinced. "It's a weird feeling to have something mean so much you didn't even know you wanted you know?"

"As weird as it may sound I do."

"What's that about? Renee told me something was up but she was quiet on the whole issue." His gaze met mine as he pulled himself off the car so he was standing upright, he reached for my hand dragging me to the front door of the little home behind us.

The house was just as I remembered, the kitchen had a few empty cases of beer which I imagined were for the nights festivities but apart from that was immaculate. Jacob came to a halt outside a door down the hallway opposite his bedroom.

"We haven't really told anyone yet, we need some time before we announce anything." He opened the door cautiously slowing stepping into the room. The room was dark with very little light, but it was the sound of machines beeping that caught my attention. My eye's darted around the room as I got my bearings and realised we were in his sister Rachel's room. Rachel was as still as the machine's beeped around her.

While Rachel was four years older than me, we weren't the best of friends but we were on good terms. Jacob closed the door behind us before going to the side of the bed and taking his sisters hand in his.

"Hey Rachel," I heard him whisper so gently. "Bella's back, she's got a daughter, can you believe it?" He looked back at me catching me staring as he traced her hand so tenderly.

"What happened Jake? Is she okay?"

"They had to put her in an induced coma," he choked as he spoke. "She was on her way home from work in Port Angeles when she was caught in a car accident.

We were able to cover the hospital fees for the first few weeks, but there isn't anything they can really do until she wakes up."

"Why so many machines?" I asked softly, there were more machines than I expected in the room. Jacob took a deep breath and pulled back the blanket covering his sleeping sister. My mouth gaped open as I stared at her expanded belly. There was no doubt that she was pregnant. "She's at least several months Jacob. Does Paul know?" Paul and Rachel had been together for almost five years.

He shook his head. "Not yet, we haven't been able to contact him since he was assigned to some secret mission or something." Right, he was in the Army.

"Why didn't you call me?" I asked, "I know we've both been busy." I paused knowing the answer to the question, I didn't exactly call him either. "I would have been here Jake."

"I know, but there was no use getting everyone worked up until we knew what was happening. We didn't even know she was pregnant, she hadn't told anyone," Jacob frowned getting to his feet, "I'll be back I think I heard the front door."

"Sure, no problem." I sat in the seat he had been occupying watching her carefully. "Come on Rachel, you're stronger than this." I took her hand in mine suddenly regretting never having made more of an effort to know this girl. "Jake told you I have a daughter, it's a little weird but I love her with everything in me. This little one will need you so much, don't give up."

"Bella?" a surprised voice spoke, dropping Rachel's hand I turned around in the chair and came face to face with a pair of familiar green eyes. Green eyes that had not left my thoughts in a long time.