The next day is spent fixing their previous plan. They'd gotten so excited at possibly having allies that they hadn't taken into account that they didn't have the space to house said allies. After about five vetoed suggestions, Esme wanders downstairs after checking on Jacob.
"We could move him to the island." She suggests, coming over to stand next to Carlisle.
"But that's how long of a boat ride?" Edward asks, and he can feel the rest of the group watching him. Again. He was the one shooting down all of the ideas. Excuse him for bringing Jacob's comfort into the equation.
"Honey, he might have to be a little uncomfortable, but at least he'll be alive." She says bluntly before taking the tray she'd retrieved from their bedroom into the kitchen.
She seemed to have voiced what everyone was thinking as they started shrugging or nodding ever so slightly.
He doesn't say much after that, instead seemingly folding in on himself.
He was off lately. Clearly, he couldn't get into the groove of making a good decision even if his life depended on it. He doesn't know what he's been thinking lately. Honestly, the thoughts don't even feel like they belong to him. He'd never willingly make a plan that would hurt their baby. This idea of Bella seeing their baby had really thrown him for a fucking loop, so he lets everyone else make the decisions. He's not even sure why he'd thought about it, but once he had, he'd convinced himself that it was a reasonable conclusion to come to.
After they decide on the island, he lets Carlisle and Esme set up the transportation and packing. He just sort of floats around them.
"Hey, I thought we were all good." Seth says eventually. Embry's standing next to him like he's waiting to put in his two cents.
"We are."
"So, why are you moping?" Seth follows up, tugging a bag further up on his shoulder.
"Nothing, just hanging back." Edward supplies, watching as Alice lugs two giant suitcases out of the door.
"New dads make mistakes." Embry supplies before he's grabbing for a couple of bags at the bottom of the staircase.
"Yeah, that's what you have us for." Seth says, punching him in the shoulder playfully before making his way out of the door.
Yeah, but most new dads can afford to.
He turns to head upstairs.
"You can bring Jake down now." Leah calls after him.
Jacob's hot. He's also nauseous as the boat rocks from side to side. It's a big boat. A big boat that has rooms down below for them to sleep in, but he doubts he'll sleep tonight as he lies on this dinky mattress trying to get comfortable. He's never been a fan of anything water related unless he was actually swimming, but carrying extra weight was a different beast of its own.
Edward's propped up next to him and, surprisingly, he hasn't said much. He's done the extra work and tried to get Jacob something to cool him down, but he hasn't started any lighthearted banter or tried to entertain Jacob. He just sits there, staring out at the ocean.
It's like this for most of the boat ride, but about five hours in, Jacob can't take it anymore.
"What's wrong?" He finally asks after rearranging the pillows for the eighth time to get more comfortable.
He's expecting a tug-o-war. He's expecting to have to pry whatever it is out of Edward.
"Scared," Edward mumbles, staring out at the ocean, "I might make a mistake." He confesses.
"That's bound to happen, Ed." Jacob tries to reassure him while grabbing for the discarded fan placed next to the lamp on the makeshift nightstand. He fans vigorously trying to fight the muggy air.
"Yeah, but it could cost me you and this baby if I'm not careful."
Don't get Jacob wrong, he's used to Edward being a bit more open. He's confessed all types of things; fear wasn't really one of them...ever. Concern, love, and joy, but not fear.
"We'll be fine." Jacob tries again, giving up on the fan. "If I can make it through this damn boat ride, I can make it through anything."
That finally gets him a chuckle.
They arrive about an hour later and their first goal is to get Jacob into an actual house with air and real food. The rest of the crew also seem to make the collective decision that he should stay with Jacob and that they would handle bringing up the bags, so that's how they end up cooped up in a shower together.
"I'm way too big for this, Ed." Jacob announces lazily over his shoulder.
"Can't a man kiss his lover's neck without wanting much more?" Edward asks, nuzzling further into the skin at the crook of his neck and shoulder, breathing in Jacob's scent.
"Not if he also has grabby hands." Jacob informs him as he swats Edward's hands away from his chest.
Jacob starts to wash the smell of salt water and fish out of his hair and it brings Edward's attention to the fact that it was now waist length.
Seth's bet rings in his ears.
"Can you pass me a comb?" Jacob asks without opening his eyes and Edward gets a comb out of one of the toiletry bags that Alice had packed. He watches Jacob slowly detangle his hair. It's almost pitch black against his brown skin.
For once, Edward hopes Seth is right on this one.
Jacob doesn't even wait until he's fully dry to throw a shirt over his head.
"You know, most people like to cover their junk first." Edward mumbles, visibly disappointed that even on a hot ass almost seven-hour boat ride, he hadn't gotten to see Jacob shirtless. He'd gotten a glimpse of him in the shower, but Jacob always kept his back turned and his arms spread. While Edward did have a height advantage, seeing his belly from over his shoulder just was not the same.
Jacob ignores his comment and tugs on a loose pair of boxers before carefully making his way back to bed.
Jacob's libido was up but his energy was down, so their sex life was on this bumpy path of Edward getting whatever he could whenever he could. Mix that with a long ass boat ride and he was just going to count his blessings. Point being, no naked Jacob for him.
However, right now, he just wanted him to be comfortable. Even with the AC being turned on so that the house was good and cold before he'd stepped inside, Edward could tell that he didn't want to drown in a t-shirt fresh out a hot shower.
"They aren't coming upstairs, baby. You can take off the hammock." Edward teases playfully. He's pretty sure Jacob's moved on to wearing Emmett's shirts. When Emmett wasn't trying to show off his physique, the man wore baggy clothes, baggy clothes that were far too big for Jacob even when he was pregnant.
Jacob gives him a halfhearted glare.
Edward gives it a bit of time, not wanting to rush him or push him to do anything. Eventually, Jacob wrenches off the shirt before sliding underneath the sheets. Edward's about to suggest a glass of water, but Jacob's heavy, even breathing meets him before he can even open his mouth.
He heads downstairs to see how the unpacking is going only to see that they'd already gotten food in the fridge and in the cabinets. They'd also started unpacking trivial things and bags, that Edward guessed contained his and Jacob's clothes, were sitting at the bottom of the staircase. The rest of the family would be their neighbors and there was a specific unit where Bella was staying. Carlisle had briefly mentioned speaking with some doctors on the island who would take care of her for the time being.
Edward wasn't sure he even wanted her alive. In fact, having her dead would be a lot more convenient to be honest.
"Shouldn't you be christening the place or something." Seth teases as soon as he steps inside causing Edward to roll his eyes.
"He's sleeping. I'm cooking. You aren't getting any." Edward fills him in and Seth only huffs and sits on whatever seat he can find.
"Fine, be selfish. I can fend for myself." Seth laments dramatically.
"What? Embry isn't feeding you?" Edward asks casually, but can feel, even with his back turned, Seth go beet red.
"Why would he be f-feeding me?" Seth stutters out, before trying to go back to the illusion of being relaxed.
"You haven't told him about your little crush?" Edward teases, rummaging through the fridge to find something that didn't take much effort. He goes with spaghetti.
"I don't have a crush." Seth snips out, but there isn't a lot venom behind it.
"Right, right." Edward says unconvinced, before turning to put water in his pot.
"I just - He doesn't like me like that, okay?" Seth explains. Edward's not buying it.
"Then, why does he keep cooking for you?" Edward asks, taking out the noodles and laying them next to the pot.
"'Cause I'm part of the pack." Seth quickly answers.
"Oh, does he cook for Leah every time she says she's hungry? Quil?" He watches Seth's face become even redder as he grapples for an explanation.
"They know how to cook!"
"So do you," Edward reminds him, dropping the noodles into the boiling water, "Jacob knows how to cook. Do you see him down here?"
Seth's flustered. He looks like he's started to sweat even with the AC blasting. Edward almost contemplates giving him a break.
"Well, that's not the same. I'm not - He's just being nice." Seth finishes lamely.
"You're not pregnant so he's just being nice. Got it." Seth looks like his head is about to explode.
"No!" He exclaims.
"You are pregnant?" Edward teases which gets Seth up from his seat.
"Stop it!" He almost sounds like a kid again with the way he yells it, voice shrill and cracking with emotion.
"You keep this up, you're going to be too worked up for lunch." Edward continues to taunt. Seth lets out a really loud sigh and Edward can hear him pacing as he stirs the softening noodles before rummaging for a pan.
"We're not like you two." Seth says, and Edward can hear him working himself up.
"No, you're not like us." Edward admits and he can hear Seth slow down. The nervous energy doesn't subside though, and he can feel Seth waiting for something else. Edward lets the moment drag out as he starts browning the beef.
"Well, what is that supposed to mean?" Seth finally asks over the sizzle of the meat in the pan. Edward takes his time answering.
"Everyone here knows that we're well aware that they know what we're up to," He answers casually, "We're not getting each other off in the middle of the forest." He explains and he can see Seth pale.
"I - We -" Edward doesn't even bother waiting for a coherent sentence as he nudges at the meat in the pan and listens as it loudly sizzles.
"You should get going before that Salisbury steak gets cold." Edward informs Seth as he drains the oil from the meat. Seth turns on his heels without another word.
"Oh, and congratulations!"
Seth responds by flipping Edward off over his shoulder.