Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is a genius and she owns just about everything related to Twilight! (In other words...I'm not and I don't!)

Chapter Six: "In the Wake of the Rain" Bella's POV

After the funeral, the entire La Push population (and a good portion of the Forks population) filled my house to express their condolences. The women brought food so everyone could eat together and remember Jacob.

As much as I appreciated every kind word and gesture, I was so relieved when my house emptied out. Alice and Rosalie spent the night with me in my living room floor. Rosalie had wisely brought three pints of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream. We were all tearful messes as we sat in our pajamas in dim light, chugging ice cream, and lamenting on my new life.

"So what are you going to do about the baby?" Rosalie asked me around two AM.

For the first time in days, I smiled. "I'm keeping him. He's not just my baby--he's Jacob's baby." Although I was smiling at the thought of my new little treasure, the tears trailed down my cheeks. "It's like Alice said--this baby is my hope."

I looked up and noticed that they were both crying into their ice cream. I put my half-eaten pint down and pulled them both into a group hug. As we cried in each other's arms, I felt little Jacob Jr. kick inside of me.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, pulling my t-shirt up to reveal my slightly-swollen belly. "He loves his aunts already."

"May I?" Rosalie asked, holding her hands up.

I nodded. "Yeah, go ahead."

Tenderly, she placed her hands on my belly. "Hi, there," she choked through her tears. "I'm your Aunt Rose. You better get used to hearing my voice!"

I actually laughed, amazed at how much joy this child was already bringing me. My little rainbow in the wake of the rain. "He likes your voice. He's a kicker already! I wonder if that's normal."

"He's probably tall like his daddy," Alice murmured, "so he doesn't have much room. Even though you're small for at least three months."

"How have you not noticed this little miracle?" Rosalie asked me softly.

I shrugged. "I actually just talked to Emily in my bedroom. You know she works at the OB/GYN clinic in Forks, right? We scheduled an ultrasound appointment for tomorrow. She said that some women's natural signs show up much later than other's. Since I've been under so much stress over the past few months, my period has been crazy. Of course, now I know that spotting is actually common in the first trimester. And I've been to distracted to notice my weight gain. Of course, I definitely notice it now." I poked my stomach. "It's all that steak he has been craving."

"Why do you keep saying he?" Alice asked.

I smiled sadly. "I'm hoping for a boy so he can carry on Jacob's name. Jake always wanted a son."

Suddenly, it hit me that Jacob would never see his already-beloved son. I would be the only parent that little Jake Jr. would ever know.

I fell to pieces.

See that button below? Click it...and then type a review. I'll love you forever!