Chapter Four

"OH MY GOD! OH MY FUCKING GOD!"

"Just breathe, Niki... it's almost over..." Jacob was almost in tears, but he somehow found the strength to try and soothe his young wife.

"GO TO HELL, JACOB!" she screamed. "DON'T TELL ME TO BREATHE! I AM BREATHING! THERE'S A HUMAN BEING RIPPING THROUGH MY UTERUS, BUT I'M BREATHING! DON'T YOU TELL ME TO FUCKING BREATHE!"

Edward put his arm around Jacob's shoulders. "She's in a lot of pain," he reminded the werewolf. "She doesn't mean that."

"I know. I know." Jacob squeezed Niki's hand and bit his lip so hard that it bled.

She screamed again.

"Oh, here it comes!" Gracie was acting in the place of midwife, since she and Carlisle were the only two with a proper resistance to the smell of blood. She crouched by the end of the bed, where they were birthing Niki's first child, and helped to slide the child out. "Oh, Niki, she's gorgeous!"

"FUCKIN' HELL!"

At the baby's first cry, everyone fell silent.

"Niki." Gracie's face was glowing. "Look at your daughter."

Niki pushed herself up on her elbows to get a better view at the small, bloody bundle that Gracie was offering to her. "Oh my God," she whispered.

A solid thump was heard as Jacob fainted to the floor. Edward covered his mouth with one hand, trying not to laugh.

When Jacob came to, he was lying on the couch in his living room. Seth was lounging in a chair beside him.

"Good, you're awake," the newest pack member said with a grin. "I wanted to hang out with the baby, but they told me to come down here and wait until you woke up."

"How's Niki?" Jacob demanded at once. "And the baby? How's the baby? Are they both...?"

"Chill out, Dad. They're fine. Go upstairs and see 'em, why don't you?"

He did just that. When he entered the bedroom and looked around at the crowd of new arrivals gathered there, he realized with some indignation that he was going to be the last to be introduced to his baby.

Paul whirled on him as he entered. "YOU DIDN'T EVEN FUCKING TELL ME THAT TINKERBELLE WAS PREGNANT!" he roared. "WHY DOESN'T ANYONE TELL ME THESE THINGS?!?!"

"Shut up, Paul." Jacob breezed past him, slipping between Rosalie and Sam to get to the bed. He stopped to get a good look at the scene before him.

On one side of the bed, Gracie leaned into Edward's arms, positively glowing. On the other side, Quil stood straight and proud, beaming at everyone around. Between them, propped up by pillows, was Niki—weary but happy—cradling the new baby.

Jacob moved slowly to Quil's side, bending over Niki to study his daughter. She was tiny and delicate, serene in sleep; her full head of dark hair and her creamy brown skin could have belonged to either of her parents, but her pixielike features were Niki's.

"She's beautiful," he said softly. He kissed the top of Niki's head. "And so are you."

Niki was all business. "What are we going to name her?"

"Did you have anything in mind?" Gracie asked them both.

Niki and Jacob exchanged a look. "No," they said simultaneously.

She chuckled. "Well, I suggest you think something up. Quickly."

"Can we name her 'Get Everyone the Hell Out of My Room So I Can Sleep'?" Niki wanted to know.

Jacob laughed a little. "I'll kick everyone out once we've announced our name."

"How about Emily?" Gracie suggested. "You know, for your Wolf-Girl friend?"

"What if we named her Emily Grace?" Niki said thoughtfully.

There was a pause as everyone considered that suggestion. "I like it," Jacob proclaimed. He turned to make the announcement, but Niki stopped him.

"Wait. There's something else I've been thinking about." She turned to Gracie and Edward, took a deep breath, and spoke. "Gracie, you've been my best friend ever since we met. Edward, you've never treated me with anything other than kindness and respect. I hope that you will both do the same toward my daughter, and now I'd like to ask... will you be her godparents?"

"Oh!" Gracie's hand flew up to cover her mouth. She stared, wide-eyed, at Niki, then turned to Jacob. "Are you alright with this?" she asked cautiously.

He nodded at once. "Whatever our past differences," he said quietly, "I know that you'll take care of my daughter."

Edward wrapped one arm around Gracie's shoulders. "We will indeed," he said gravely. "We are honored to accept, Niki."

Niki glowed.

"Now we'll get everyone the hell out of your room so you can sleep," Jacob chuckled.