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"Mommy, I don' wanna go to school! I wanna stay wiff you and Daddy!" Noah cried, clinging to my legs. I smiled softly and crouched down to hug my little boy. Today was his and Jade's first day of school. They were starting kindergarten at La Push Elementary, and while I was excited yet sentimental to see my children growing up and starting school, Jade and Jacob were terrified.
"Yeah, what if the od'er kids are mean to us?" Jade asked, hugging Jacob around the neck. Jacob was holding her up, one hand on her back and the other under her bottom, rubbing her back up and down.
It amazed me that a little over five years ago, I had brought these two into the world. They never cried too much and always stuck to the routine Jacob and I put them on. They were very happy babies, always smiling and cooing and giggling. We got their pictures taken every month so we could see the changes month by month. We figured out early on that Noah was a Momma's boy, and Jade a Daddy's girl.
At ten months, they started walking. Noah had pulled himself up on the side of the couch, and Jade, being the one who followed her brother around and copied anything he did, did as well. Then Noah let go and started walking towards Jacob and I on wobbly legs, where we were sitting on the other end of the couch, watching them and now coaxing them towards us, and Jade followed. They fell a few times, but they'd get right back up and walk some more until they made it over.
For their first birthday, we had a barbeque in the backyard with the pack and our families, with mini-hot dogs for the kids and a small birthday cake for each of them.
We told them this summer that they were going to start school in the fall, and they had been very excited at first. They got put in the same class thankfully, so they'd have each other for support. When we took them school supply shopping, they ran up and down the aisles, picking out things I told them were on their lists. Jade had picked out a Princess Jasmine backpack and lunchbox, and Noah a Spongebob set. I'd made sure to make them their favorite lunch, peanut butter and banana sandwiches with juice boxes and cookies. But now that we'd driven up to the school and walked them to their classroom, they immediately turned around and clung to us.
"It'll be okay, sweetie," I told him, pulling back to smile at him, but still holding him in my arms. "Daddy and I will pick you up right after school, okay?" Noah sniffled and wiped his eyes, nodding.
"And if anyone's mean to you, you just tell Mrs. Craig, alright Jade?" Jacob told her, smiling the smile he only reserved for his two girls now. Jade nodded solemnly, looking down at Jacob's chest. "Do I have to tickle you?"
"No, Daddy! No!" Jade cried, smiling and giggling as Jacob tickled her tummy. He laughed and blew a raspberry on her cheek, causing her to laugh even louder.
"You two have a good day at school. Look out for each other, and be nice to everyone," he said, placing Jade on the ground next to her brother. Her hand immediately went out for Noah's, and he clung to it. There was no doubt in my mind that these two would be best friends for life. Ever since I could remember, they always looked out for each other.
"O'tay, Daddy," Noah said, smiling. He looked just like Jacob when he did. Jake crouched down next to me and held out his arms.
"Family hug," he said, and I opened my arms too. Jade and Noah threw their arms around us, and we hugged them tightly, as well as each other.
"We love you both so much," I told them, kissing their cheeks.
"I love you too, Mommy," Jade said, kissing my cheek back.
"I love you the mostest!" Noah grinned, kissing my other cheek. Jade just stuck her tongue out at him.
"Hey, what about Daddy?" Jacob laughed, turning his cheek to them and tapping it. They both leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"I love you, Daddy," they said in unison.
"I love you too, puppies," Jacob said, using his nickname for the two of them. "Now go on, class is about to start." They nodded and turned around, facing Mrs. Craig, who was standing in the door way.
"You must be Jade and Noah Black," she said, smiling at them. "Are you ready to have some fun in kindergarten today?" They nodded eagerly, and she ushered them inside, smiling at us as she closed the door. I leaned against Jacob's shoulder, and he put his arm around me.
"You think they'll be okay?" I whispered, watching them through the window in the door as they put their backpacks in their cubbies.
"Of course," Jacob said, rubbing my arm up and down. "They're our kids! Nothing goes wrong for the Black family!" I laughed lightly. He always seemed to know how to make me feel better even when I was stressed.
"Thanks Jake," I said, turning my head to smile at him. He smiled back and kissed my cheek.
"No problem, Bells. Now come on, we have to get to work." We walked out of the school building and got into the van, and I dropped Jake off at the garage before parking behind the book store. All day, I thought about my little babies and wondered if they were doing alright. Did they get lost on their way to the bathroom? Had they made any friends? Was their teacher nice to them? By the time I looked at the clock and saw it was almost three o'clock, I bolted out the door and picked Jake up so we could go get the kids. We found them on the playground, where they had the kids play until their parents picked them up, swinging on the swings.
"Jade! Noah!" I cried, waving my hands in the air. I saw their little heads turn towards the sound of my voice, then their faces broke into grins and they jumped off the swings, running towards us.
"Mommy! Daddy!" they cried, crashing into us as they hugged us.
"How was school?" Jacob asked, grabbing their backpacks off the fence and taking Jade's hand, leading us towards the car.
"It was gweat!" Jade cried, jumping up and down. "I maded a friend, her name is Kimmy!"
"What about you, Noah?" I asked, looking down at him.
"I maded a friend too, his name is Dan! We learneded about the…the…alferbet?"
"Alphabet, sweetie," I corrected him.
"Yeah, that! I can spell my name now! It goes 'N' then 'O' then 'A' then 'H'! Noah!" he giggled as I strapped him into his car seat.
"That's great!"
"Mine is spelleded 'J' then 'A' then 'D' then 'E'!" Jade said proudly, pulling a spelling worksheet out of her backpack and showing it to me. At the top was her sloppily written name, but I was so happy they were learning how to spell.
"Good job, honey," I smiled, handing back her paper before I closed the van door and got in the passenger side since Jacob was driving. On the way home, they told us all about the rest of their day at school, what they learned, what they did, and their opinions on the kids in their class. After dinner, we helped them with their homework, which was just a simple spelling worksheet. Then I gave them their baths and had them change into their pj's, and we let them watch TV for a little longer until bedtime at eight-thirty. We tucked them in and read them a story, and by nine, they were both sound asleep. I flicked on their night light and stood in the door way with Jacob, watching them sleep for a few minutes before shutting their door, leaving it open just a crack.
"Just think," Jake said as we climbed into bed ourselves and turned out the light. "Today starts thirteen years of school for them."
"Before we know it, they'll be graduating high school," I said sleepily. Jake pulled my back against his chest, wrapping an arm around my waist as he nodded and yawned.
"I love you, Bells."
"I love you too, Jake."
FIVE YEARS LATER
"Mommy!" Jade cried from the bathroom. It was now summertime. Jade and Noah had just finished elementary school and were now moving on to middle school at La Push Middle. I quickly walked to the door and knocked.
"Jade, honey, what's wrong?" I asked.
"Can you come in please?" I slowly opened the door and found Jade huddled in the corner by the bathtub, tears dripping down her face.
"What's wrong?" I asked, my eyebrows scrunched together in worry. She pointed to the toilet, her lip trembling.
"I was going pee, and when I wiped, there was blood on the toilet paper. Then I looked in my underwear, and there was blood in there too."
"Oh, sweetie, you're okay," I said, smiling softly at her. "That just means you started your period."
"That's it?" she asked, looking up at me in surprise. "Like they taught us in school?"
"Yes, Jade," I laughed. "What did you think it was?"
"I don't know, I thought maybe I was dying or something." I shook my head and bent down to pull some pads from underneath the counter.
"No, you're not dying. It's something every girl goes through when she hits puberty. It's your body's way of telling you you're not pregnant with a baby."
"Oh, okay," Jade said, standing up and wiping her eyes. "What are those?"
"These are pads," I said, handing her one. "You stick it in your underwear, and every other time you go to the bathroom, you change it out and put a new one in. It catches the blood so it doesn't stain your underwear."
"Okay," she said, placing it on the counter by the toilet, then gave me a hug. "Thanks, Mommy."
"No problem, sweetie. I'll leave now so you can put it in." I went out the door and shut it behind me, walking down the hall to the back door. As I stepped out onto the porch, I saw Jacob chasing Noah around the yard, trying to grab the football from him. Noah was laughing, as was Jacob. I smiled as he caught him and flipped him upside down, then threw him on his shoulder.
"Jacob, can you come here for a minute please?" Jacob laughed again, then placed Noah on the ground and ruffled his hair.
"I'll be right back, bud, you keep practicing." Jacob was already starting on training him for football when he got to high school. "What's up?" he asked as he stepped up on the porch.
"I just wanted you to know that Jade started her period," I whispered, turning him away from Noah so we could talk privately. Jake's eyebrows shot up to his hairline.
"She did? When?"
"Just now. She called me into the bathroom, and I got a pad for her." Jake sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "What's wrong?"
"Well now she's gonna wanna start dating," Jake said, winking at me. I laughed – always leave it to Jake to break the tension with something funny. "I'll have to tell her any boy she wants to date has to pass my test before they go out."
"Oh, Jake, don't scare her!" I laughed, slapping his chest. At that moment, Jade walked out the back door, a scared look on her face.
"Hey, honey," Jacob said, picking her up and hugging her. "You okay?"
"Yes, Daddy," she mumbled into his shoulder.
"Don't worry, every girl goes through it. Even Mommy." I nodded reassuringly as he put her down. "I'll tell you what, why don't we do pizza and ice cream for dinner tonight? Sound good?" Jade smiled and nodded eagerly. "Alright! Now come on, let's go help your brother practice. Then we'll help you practice for soccer." He ran off down the porch steps, and Jade followed, laughing and smiling. If there was one thing Jake knew how to do, it was make our kids feel better. When Noah broke his arm when he was eight, Jacob took him to the hospital for his cast, then to the ice cream shop. When Jade's best friend Kimmy moved away, he set them both up with a Skype account so they could video chat each other after school. He was a great dad. He also turned them both into sports lovers, and was helping them practice for football and soccer, sports they were both interested in playing in high school. I couldn't believe that five years had gone by, and now they were starting middle school. Time was moving too fast.
EIGHT YEARS LATER
"Jacob Noah Black, Magna Cum Laude." Jacob, Charlie, Renee, Phil, Rachel, Rebecca, Billy, the pack, and I screamed and cheered as my son walked across the stage and shook hands with his principal, taking the diploma from his outstretched hand.
"Jade Autumn Black, Magna Cum Laude." We did the same for Jade, and ignored the rest of the procession as we took pictures of Noah and Jade walking back to their seats, showing each other their diplomas, smiling and talking excitedly. Noah saw us and pointed us out to Jade, and they both waved. We waved back, smiling and giving them thumbs up, which they returned.
Today was Jade and Noah's high school graduation. When they started, both of them immediately tried out for sports. Noah made varsity football and Jade made varsity volleyball, both as freshmen, something that most freshmen don't really achieve. Noah played different positions for a while; he went wherever his coach told him to, and learned how to play every position so he was ready. Jade was one of the best players on her volleyball team – she was even the local newspaper's player of the week after she scored the winning point at a game. But that was just in the fall. When winter sports rolled around, Noah tried out for basketball, and Jade tried out for soccer. They both made varsity, again as freshmen. Noah scored the most points for his team that season, and Jade scored the most goals. And then, of course, when spring rolled around, Noah tried out for baseball, and made varsity, and Jade tried out for flag football, and made varsity. Noah learned how to play every position on the baseball team, much like he did for football, and for his freshmen and sophomore year, he was their catcher. Jade scored the most touchdowns for her team that year, and also pulled the most flags off the opposing players.
Then their junior year rolled around, and things changed a bit. Noah and Jade learned how to drive, and Jake bought them a car and fixed it up for them to use. Noah became the football, basketball, and baseball team captain. He was also promoted to quarterback on the football team, and became a pitcher on the baseball team. Jade became the captain for her volleyball, soccer, and flag football teams. In their senior year, Noah led the football team to the championship, which they won, and Jade led the soccer team to the championship, which they won. The newspaper called it "The Year of the Black Siblings."
In addition to our children being star athletes, they were also brilliant. They made good grades every time on their report cards, and were on honor roll. Jade's best subjects were English and Psychology, and Noah's were Math and Science.
The two of them didn't like to brag about it, but they were also excellent singers. Noah even taught himself how to play guitar. Jade convinced him to try out for Mr. La Push High School, and he won. Noah wanted her to try out for Miss. LPHS, but she really didn't want to, so he settled for the school talent show. She sang in the show, with him playing the guitar for her, and she ended up winning first place.
Aside from athletics and academics, they were involved in clubs as well. Noah was a part of SGA, and Jade was Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook. They both won the superlative "Most Likely To Succeed," since they were involved in sports, academics, music, and other school events. They got full-rides to Washington State, where Noah would be studying Sports Management with a minor in Theatre Arts, as well as play for the football team. Jade would be studying Business Management with a minor in Creative Writing and play for the soccer team.
Best of all, because the Cullens had left, Noah never turned into a werewolf. We of course told him about the possibility, which he was fine with, but it never happened. In addition to that, Jade was dating Sam and Emily's son, Christopher, and Noah was dating Jared and Kim's daughter, Hailey.
Pretty soon, the ceremony was over, and we scrambled outside to meet the kids at the other side of the stadium. Soon, we saw them approaching, dressed in their black graduation robes and caps with red tassels, diplomas in hands.
"Noah! Jade! Over here!" Jake called, waving his hand. They smiled at us and pushed their way through the crowd.
"Congratulations kids!" I said, hugging Noah, then Jade.
"Thanks, Mom," they said in unison, laughing after they did.
"How's it feel to officially graduate high school?" Jacob asked, giving them each a hug.
"Weird," Noah chuckled. "School's been my life for thirteen years, and now I'm kinda done."
"That is until college starts," Jade pointed out.
"Don't spoil the moment," Noah joked, poking her in the stomach. She jerked away, laughing. We took a couple pictures with the kids, some with their friends and some with family members. Once we were done, we all got into our respective cars and drove to Outback Steakhouse for a celebration dinner. After that, we all went home and had cake and cookies.
Now that they were out of school and it was summer, Jade and Noah began packing up their rooms for college. After Jade started her period, we worked on turning our home office into another bedroom. She kept the nursery room and changed it a bit to fit her style, but still kept the tree Seth had painted, and Noah moved into the former office, covering it in sports memorabilia.
But now they were packing their clothes, supplies, sports gear, and whatever else they needed into spare boxes from mine and Jake's shops. As the days went by, their rooms became more barren, and it started to dawn on me that my babies were leaving to start their own lives. Eighteen years had come and gone, and they seemed to grow up right before my eyes. I could still remember when they were born and when I got to hold them together. I never knew looking at them then that their lives would turn out how they had. I felt tears prick my eyes as I stood in the doorway of Noah's room, looking at the faded spots on the walls where his framed jerseys and trophy shelves hung.
"Mom?" Noah's deep voice said. I felt his hands on my shoulders and turned my head to look up at him. He was so tall now, and his voice was deeper, almost like Jacob's. I could remember when he was five years old, starting kindergarten, and couldn't say his 'th''s. I bit my lip and blinked rapidly to stop the tears flowing.
"Hey honey," I whispered, but it came out more like a crack. He turned me around and hugged me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.
"What's wrong?"
"You and your sister are growing up so fast," I choked into his chest. "I remember when you two were born like it was yesterday. I almost lost you in that accident, and I'm forever grateful that I didn't. But now you're going to college and starting your own lives, and I'm just sad that I won't get to see you every day, and hug you every morning before school, and cook you dinner, and all that stuff that you enjoy." I buried my face in his chest as the tears spilled over. He brushed my hair and kissed the top of my head – just like his father.
"Mom, it'll be okay," he whispered. "Look, I'll promise you this. I'll call you every week when I can. I'll come home when I can on weekends and breaks, and you can cook for me all you want, and I'll give you as many hugs as you want. We can even Skype if you want. Okay?" I looked up at him and smiled, nodding.
"Okay," I said. Then I chuckled lightly. "You're a lot like your dad in that way. You'll do anything to make the women you love happy."
"Hey, I'm a Momma's Boy," he half-grinned. "Why wouldn't I treat my mom right?" I laughed and hugged him again. Just another way he was like Jake – he could always make me laugh.
"I love you, Noah."
"I love you too, Mom," he said, leaning down and kissing my cheek. As the next few weeks went by, it was easier for me to cope with them leaving, especially after I talked with Noah and he promised he would stay in contact with me and come home often. I had a similar conversation with Jade when we were cooking dinner, when I brought up the first time she helped me cook dinner when she was little.
"I remember that," she laughed. "Didn't I end up spilling water all over myself?"
"You did," I laughed. Then I turned to her and smile. "I'm really going to miss you, Jade. I know you're a Daddy's Girl, but you're my only daughter, and I love you a lot."
"I love you too, Mom," Jade said, smiling at me.
"Will you do me a favor?"
"Sure, anything."
"Your brother promised me that he could call and visit when he can. Will you do the same?"
"Of course!" She put down the knife she was using to chop the carrots for the salad and hugged me. "I love you so much, Mom. You're the woman who gave me life and raised me. You mean the world to me as much as Dad and Noah do. I'll call you every night if I can."
"Thank you, sweetie," I said, hugging her back. "That means a lot to me."
"No problem."
Then the week following up to them leaving came. And then the day before they would be leaving came. And then, it was here. We helped them pack their boxes into their cars (they each had a car now), and some into our van (which turned out to be very useful when I helped transport Jade's soccer friends or Noah's football buddies). We followed them to the college, waited for them to check in, and then helped them to their dorms and unpack. They ended up in the same building, just on different floors.
"Well, that's the last box," Jacob said, heaving it onto the sidewalk and closing the trunk. "You two gonna be alright unpacking the rest of your stuff?"
"Yeah, I'll help Jade if she'll help me, and our roommates can help too," Noah said, throwing an arm around his sister's shoulder. I momentarily flashbacked to their first day of kindergarten, when they held hands as they walked into the room. They really had stayed best friends for life.
"Of course, big brother," Jade laughed. He always teased her about he was older because he was born five minutes before her.
"Alright, well, we're gonna head back home then," I sighed, grabbing Jake's hand and squeezing it. Jacob lifted his arms, and I caught on, lifting mine too.
"Family hug," he said. Jade and Noah came forward and threw their arms around our necks, and we hugged each other really tight.
"We love you," Jacob and I said together.
"We love you too," they said in reply. I kissed each of their cheeks, and Jacob kissed Jade's, and then we climbed into the van, pulled out, and waved goodbye. The first few minutes were quiet as we traveled through the roads back to La Push.
"Bells?" Jacob whispered. "You're crying." I touched my face and felt the tears dripping on my cheeks.
"Oh, I'm sorry," I said, wiping them on my jacket sleeve.
"Don't be sorry, Bells, I miss them already too," he said, reaching over and grabbing my hand, squeezing it. "But just think about it this way: we brought our two kids into this world and raised them to be the best people they could be. They're leading happy lives, and that's all we want for them, right?" I nodded, and he smiled at me. "Good. Now turn that frown upside down, they promised they'd call and visit, so we'll see and hear from them."
"You're right," I said, smiling softly. Then a thought occurred to me, and I laughed. "To think, of all this craziness we went through to be together, and then there was a baby on board for the ride too."
"And then it turned out to be two babies," he laughed.
"Our lives turned out pretty great though, didn't they?" We stopped at a stop sign, and he leaned over to kiss me.
"They sure did, Bells."
And that's it! Baby On Board is done! I know, so sad :'( But don't worry, I'll write more fanfiction concerning Bella and Jacob (that is if you want me too!). But I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it for you! :)
*Karen*