Chapter Twelve

I sit in Billy's house on his couch with him, Sue, Emily, and Sam sitting around us. Embry is sitting next to me and he is holding my hand tightly. We are to tell everyone the good news of the baby, but I am suddenly feeling like it is a bad idea. Sam has his arms crossed as he looks between me and Embry. Billy is patient as we all sit in silence and wait for Embry's mother to arrive. The front door opens and Allison comes in like a whirlwind.

"I am sorry that I am late," Allison says apologetically. She sits next to Sue in one of the kitchen chairs and smiles at everyone.

"Now that everyone is here, we can start with the big news that we have to share. Marinna went to the doctor's some time back in thoughts of an illness we all believed she had, but instead we found something else," Embry says, as confidently as he can. "Marinna and I found out that we are going to having a baby of our own. It was a big surprise for both of us, but we have thought about it and we want to keep the baby and raise it on our own. We both would like to have everyone's support with our decision and your input on this."

"That is a very big decision for you two, to raise a child when you are both children of your own. I may not be happy that it was this early, but I am glad that you two have decided to be responsible in caring for the child on your own. You have my full support," Billy is the first to say. Tears fill my eyes as I look at my father with a big smile. He smiles back at me and blows me a small kiss.

"I agree with Billy," Sue says happily. "Besides, we need more little ones around here anyways."

"I completely agree with Sue and I am excited to being a grandma really soon. I am proud of both of you for taking the first steps in being adults by caring for this little one at this young age," Allison says with little laugh. My eyes wander to Emily and Sam slowly, only to find my dearest cousin not happy like everyone else.

"Sammy?" I ask softly. Sam recoils at the name and looks away from me.

"I give you my support and will help when I can to give this baby a happy life as well," Emily says. Sam shakes his head and walks out of the room. I get up quickly and run after him. He makes it out the front door before I can grab him.

"Sam, please do not be angry at me. I am so sorry for disappointing you, but you knew I would settle down and have children of my own soon. We did not know it was possible and now we do. I want a baby and to a mother just like my mama was, the aunt you loved dearly," I say. Sam stops and turns to look at me.

"No, I lost Matthew and your mother to the vampires. Your mother is dead because of them and your brother is becoming one of them. Now, you are here and having a baby we have no idea what it will do to you because you are a unique person and so will your baby. I cannot lose you and if you die while the child lives, I will never be the same or look at that child. I am sure Embry feels the same about it, but will not say it because he wants you to be happy. I do not give my blessing nor do I give my support for something that could take my precious baby cousin away from me," Sam says before turning back around and running to the trees. My hand reflexively goes to my tummy that has grown a bit since we learned of the child's existence. Embry walks outside and he watches me stand in the yard. I walk back to the house and hug him around the waist as tightly as I can. My body feels numb from the words that Sam said to me, but it will not keep me from keeping my baby. Everyone leaves us and Billy goes to Sue's to get a few things ready for supper. Embry and I are left alone in the house to sit on the couch and watch a movie quietly. I smile at Embry as he lays with me and kisses my tummy a few times while muttering a few things to the baby.

"You ar going to be a great daddy to this little one," I giggle. Embry smiles and shifts to kiss my lips softly.

"And you, my darling, will be a great mother. Our child will love you and want to be like you. I hope we are having a little girl," Embry says. I shake my head and snuggle against him while rubbing my tummy.

"No, I do want our child to want to be like me and I do not want to have a little girl," I say softly. Embry kisses the top of my head and holds me close, as we look at the movie on the screen. "Do you want to know if it is a boy or a girl?"

"Not yet and only if you want to. I just want a healthy baby and one that looks as beautiful as you do. I love you and want us to be a happy family forever," Embry says. I smile and move his hand on top of mine and we lay on the couch together, holding our baby to keep it protected and loved even now.


Billy smiles when he sees me come out of my room with a big smile. I kiss his cheek and begin to gather the things I need to make his breakfast and get Jake's lunch for school ready. Embry and Jacob walk into the kitchen with big smiles and laughing about something. Jacob kisses my cheek and rubs my shoulders after a quick hug.

"Doesn't Allison wonder where you are when you spend most nights at my house?" Billy asks over his papers. I swat his shoulder playfully with the dish towel and he smiles at me.

"She knows I am here with Marinna and you guys. Plus, she is working extra shifts to help with the baby," Embry says. I put a few things out to start breakfast and start on making the main course. Something shifts with the baby and I gasp a little. The boys freeze and stare at me in case they have to quickly react.

"It is okay, the baby is moving around a little," I say calmly. The boys do not say anything and they start a conversation to make me feel a little more at easy. "I need to run something to Charlie for Sue, so I might go out shopping for a few things while I am out. Do you boys need anything while I am out?"

"Marinna, we can do it," Billy says. I put the plates before them and sit down for a little bit. Embry kisses my hand and starts to eat his breakfast.

"Dad, I am capable of doing the shopping. Besides, you and Quil's grandfather need to get together today to talk about the next council meeting, no?" I say. Billy blushes a little and looks at his plate. "I will drop you off, take the boys to school and then run by Sue's to get what she also needs me to take to Charlie's. I will be back to get dinner ready for you boys. It is our turn to have the pack over anyways."

"You sound like a mother already, Marinna," Jacob teases across from me. I throw the towel at his face and laugh at him. Billy smiles at us as he looks at our happiness and picks at his food. We are there for thirty minutes before we all take off. Sue walks out of her front door when I pull up into her driveway. She has a big smile on her face when she watches me walk up the font steps.

"Hello, Marinna, how are you feeling?" Sue asks when she gives me a small hug.

"I am fine, just trying not to kill the boys from being overprotective of me. Do you have the tings that you wish to be taken to Charlie?" I say with a small laugh.

"Oh, yes, it is in the house. Let me go grab it," Sue says before walking back inside for a minute. I close my eyes and take small breathes with my hand on the tummy. The baby is moving around and is really strong with its kicks and punches. Suecomes back outside and she blinks when she sees my face.

"You feel okay?" Sue asks quickly. I look at her and smile widely.

"Yes, just the baby moving around a little too much. Oh, I was hoping to do something special with everyone in the pack for the holidays. Would you like to help me plan it out?" I say.

"Of course, be safe on your drive," Sue says. She hands me the bags and then waves when I walk to the truck and pull out of the driveway. Is this going to keep going on for the next few months? I am not crippled, I am just pregnant with a strong baby. This is going to be fun.