Jennifer closed the phone that Carlisle had given her with a snap. She went through the house on the beach one more time, checking every closet and space. It took her three seconds at vampire speed. There was no sign of a struggle; the house was neat as always. The refrigerator was completely empty, but that was not unusual. Unless Huilen was expecting company, she had no need for food.

Now it was time to talk to her sisters. Jennifer sighed, dreading the inevitable confrontation with Serena and Maysun. Still, she traveled quickly through miles of thick forest until she came to a large clearing that contained the house her father had built.

Of course he hadn't done the actual building - and the natives hired to erect it had not lived to tell the tale. The superstitious locals had been too terrified of Joham to refuse the offer of work. They somehow knew that the closer they were to finishing the large house, the more danger they were in. With all but the finishing touches completed, they fled into the forest and were picked off, one by one, by Joham and his two elder daughters. Jennifer had been visiting her brother at the time, but her sisters gleefully related the story when she returned.

Maysun looked up from their chess game as Jennifer approached. "Where is she?" Jennifer demanded.

All the sisters could pass for human. They were beautiful, with deep brown eyes, flawless bronzed skin, and long, thick hair that was almost black. It was Serena who answered. "Who are you talking about, Jennifer? We can't read your mind." She turned back to the board.

Jennifer sighed. "Huilen." Her voice was tight. "Nahuel will kill you if you've harmed her."

Maysun looked at Serena, her brow creased. "Hmmm...Huilen. She's that girl who lived with Nahuel, right? I haven't seen her. Have you, Serena?"

"No, I haven't seen anyone," Serena replied with a shrug. "In fact, I thought maybe you'd decided to move to the states," she added with a grin.

Jennifer opened her mouth to speak, then thought better of it. They didn't need to know about Leah or the baby. She turned and glided up the stairs to her room. Serena whispered to Maysun, "Should we put her out of her misery and tell her the truth? I have no earthly idea where Auntie Huilen is, and I don't particularly care."

Maysun smiled at her sister and spoke softly. "Nah, let's let her stew for a while. See if our baby brother hops on a plane to come kick our asses." Jennifer heard their laughter and shivered.

Huilen stepped off the commercial airliner in Seattle. Carlisle had left her an open ticket, and she had decided that Leah might need her help with the baby coming. She bypassed the line of taxis and continued walking, across the multiple lanes of traffic toward the forest in the distance. Once there, she knew she could find Nahuel.

"Hey, lady, where the hell are you going?" a red-faced man yelled out the window of a large black SUV as she stepped off the curb directly in front of him. She turned and gazed at him, and the words died on his lips. The first thing he noticed was her exquisite beauty, and then he looked into her eyes. He rolled up his window and quickly wove his way to the other side of the traffic jam, horns blaring in his wake. When he dared to turn and look back, she had disappeared.

Huilen walked into the cool, dark forest and sniffed delicately. She chose a direction and ran effortlessly, leaping gracefully over rivers and roads as she zeroed in on Nahuel. She moved too fast to be seen by human eyes, but animals scrambled in confusion in the wake of a malevolent breeze that fluttered the leaves above them.

Nahuel was pacing, cell phone in hand. "Okay, Carlisle, just do the best you can. And thanks for your help." His eyes widened. "Wait..." He dropped the phone on the table and opened the door, gathering Huilen in his arms. He spoke to her in rapid Spanish and she answered calmly.

Nahuel released her and picked up the phone. "Carlisle...never mind. She just walked in the door. I don't know, but I'll call you back. Would you let Jennifer know? Thanks...yes, I'll talk to you later."

Leah walked into the kitchen and stopped in her tracks. "Huilen?" she whispered.

Nahuel grinned. "She just walked in the door," he explained. "She thought we might need some extra help with the baby coming." He translated the conversation quickly for Huilen.

Leah smiled. "That sounds like a great idea, but it's four months away. I don't feel right sitting around eating bonbons while Huilen does the laundry and cooking...even though she's a better cook than I am."

Right on cue, Seth walked in. "I vote yes," he offered, smiling at Huilen. "That's all the endorsement I need! We feed most of the pack, most of the time, and it's gonna be a lot for you to handle, Leah."

Leah smiled. "No reflection on my cooking, right Seth?"

"Of course not, Sis." He chuckled.

Huilen settled in as a member of the family, and Seth volunteered to help her with her English. It was the least he could do, he explained, in exchange for the delicious meals she provided for the family and the pack.

Huilen was a dynamo. She painted the baby's room a sunny yellow, and she helped Sue make curtains and a matching quilt. She quickly mastered the washer and dryer but refused to use the dishwasher, preferring to wash and dry dishes by hand. Best of all, she was an excellent cook. And with Seth's help, her English was improving daily.

Carlisle's smile was ear to ear. "Any last minute guesses?"

Leah and Nahuel looked at the ultrasound screen in confusion. "I don't know how you can see anything," Leah complained. "I wouldn't even know it was a baby if you didn't tell me."

Carlisle chuckled. "Well, then, you'll just have to take my word for it. From my point of view, it looks like she's perfect!"

Leah blinked. "You said SHE," she breathed, clutching Nahuel's hand. "It's a girl? For sure?"

Carlisle nodded. "Everything looks fine," he smiled at both of them. "In another three months, you'll be Mom and Dad."

Leah looked at Nahuel with tears in her eyes. He looked shell shocked as he placed his hand carefully on Leah's belly. "Our daughter," he whispered, his interest in the grainy picture suddenly renewed. The picture flickered, and they suddenly realized the little foot had moved.
"She kicked me!" Nahuel exclaimed, his eyes wide.

Leah carried the baby gracefully. She was in excellent physical condition, and she'd never felt better. Of course, everyone would be a little nervous (though none of them would admit it) until the time when the baby was born, checked out by Dr. Cullen, and delivered safely to her mother's arms. Leah and Nahuel took a long walk most days, weather permitting. They chatted or strolled in companionable silence, always holding hands.

The members of both packs managed to surprise Leah with a baby shower. The youngest pack members didn't even pretend to be interested in the gifts, but they thoroughly enjoyed the food that Huilen and Sue had prepared. When David came back for a third helping, he grinned at Sue. "You guys should start a catering business."

Sue smiled. "Thanks, David, but I'm not looking for a job. Besides, it takes all my energy to keep this pack fed!"

"Where'd the cake go?" Seth growled. It was a three tiered chocolate confection, decorated with pink and white frosting. It disappeared in six minutes. To Seth's delight, Huilen had proven to be a magician with anything chocolate, and he was hoping for seconds. Huilen smiled and motioned to the pantry, where she had stashed a generous slice for him as well as one for Nahuel, who was working. He kissed her cool cheek before he retrieved his cake.

Nahuel walked in the living room and whistled. "How many babies are we expecting?" he asked Leah.

She smiled and reached for his hand. "Only one! Please!" she assured him. She showed him the gifts, most of them pink. There were diapers, undershirts, sleepers, bottles, toys, two diaper bags, and a car seat from Sam's pack.

Moki stayed and helped Sue and Huilen clean up. They made Leah a cup of tea and she sat in the kitchen chatting with them while they packed up the leftovers and washed and dried the endless stack of dishes. As they folded the towels and stacked them on the counter, Nahuel took Leah's hand. "It's been a long day, Leah. Time for you to get some rest."

Leah stood, then dropped back into the chair with a muttered "Oh." Everyone looked at her, and they noticed a puddle of water under her chair. "I think my water broke," she stated calmly.

Nahuel scooped her up in his arms. "Call Carlisle, please, Sue. Tell him we're on our way over," he spoke over his shoulder. Huilen threw an afghan over Leah, and Nahuel hurried her out to the car. He set her gently in the front seat and jumped in behind the wheel. Gravel sprayed out from under the wheels as he backed out.

"Take it easy, Nahuel," Leah begged. "I want to get there in one piece!" She laid a hand on his arm. "I'm fine. Really." She winced suddenly. "My back's been bothering me all day, but I figured I strained it. I guess it was the beginning of labor and I didn't realize it."

Carlisle was waiting at the door as Nahuel carried Leah up the stairs. "I can walk!" she protested. "Why is everybody looking so grim?"

Nahuel helped her change into a gown and got her settled before calling Carlisle in. "You know, all this fuss is unnecessary, guys. I wanted to have my baby at home...OW!" Leah leaned back against the pillow and panted. "Good one!"

Carlisle smiled tersely. "We've been over this, Leah. You know your baby is unique, and we just don't know what to expect. My office is well equipped to handle any problem that might arise, but of course we're all hoping for a perfectly normal birth."

"Yeah, right," Leah muttered. She gripped Nahuel's hand and bit her lip as another pain ripped through her. "Ummm...these are getting worse, more quickly than I...DAMN!" she gasped.

Carlisle shot a glance at Nahuel, then spoke to Leah. "I don't think it's going to be long at all, Leah. Just try to relax between contractions, okay?" He was bustling around the room as he spoke, arranging scary looking tools and implements on a tray while Esme rolled in a small bassinet.

Leah grinned briefly. "Thanks for the pink sheet, Esme. Nice touch." Nahuel maintained his grip on her hand and bathed her face with a damp cloth.

Carlisle examined his patient, nodding mutely. When he was finished, he looked at Nahuel. "Are you planning to stay with Leah? You don't have to, Nahuel. Childbirth isn't for everybody."

Leah tightened her grip on his hand. "Of course I'll stay," Nahuel assured them. "Just make sure nothing happens to my wife," he whispered, kissing her hand.

"Your wife," Leah murmured. "I like the sound of that. I still haven't..." Her thought was interrupted by a pain so sharp it took her breath away.

Finally, Carlisle nodded to Nahuel. "It's time for you to push, Leah, and Nahuel is going to hold you." He motioned Nahuel to sit on the bed and cradle Leah in his arms. "Keep holding his hands, and when I tell you to push, give it all you've got. Okay?"

Leah nodded, not trusting her voice. She clung to Nahuel, gripping his hands, and pushed. She growled in frustration when nothing happened.

"Okay, rest for a couple of beats and try again," Carlisle instructed. She gathered her strength and squeezed Nahuel's hands until she felt a couple of small bones snap. He winced but held fast to her.

The only sound in the crowded room was Leah's loud groan, followed by Carlisle's uttered exclamation, then silence as the tiny baby girl slid silently into his waiting hands. Leah and Nahuel were holding their breath as Carlisle quickly wiped the baby's red face, her expression almost comical as she reacted to the sudden light, noise, and lack of warmth. She howled her disapproval, and everyone relaxed. She was quickly wrapped in a warm blanket and handed over to her mother, who smiled at her and whispered sounds of comfort, kissing her perfect face.