Chapter 20
"Hey, Ail. Wake up. We're at the airport."
"No, cheese doesn't talk!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Hmm?" I realized I said something that made no sense at all, and abruptly sat up. "Oh! Sorry."
"What the hell were you dreaming about?"
I scratched my head, "I'm not really sure."
Taylor guffawed very loudly and picked me up out of the limo and carried me all the way into the airport. Sometime between that I fell asleep, again, and I woke up waiting for the plane to take off. I rubbed my eyes sleepily and regretted it immediately as I felt a stinging in my eyes. "Aw, shit!" I yelled. Everyone looked back at me, including Taylor, and I gave all of them a timid smile.
"What was that for?" Taylor chuckled and kissed my forehead.
I held my eyes open in pain without blinking. "I forgot I had makeup on and I rubbed it into my eyes."
"And you cried out from that?" His lips were twitching at the ends.
"Yes! Have you ever rubbed makeup in your eyes? It's not pleasant."
"Haha alright, sorry. Now get some sleep—we've got a big day ahead of us." Taylor looked at me seductively, and I knew to what he was referring. I blushed, and he lightly stroked my cheek. I snuggled into his chest and fell fast asleep.
"Hello, passengers. We are right about to land so keep your seatbelts safely fastened and stay in your seats. Thank you." The intercom went off and I looked to Taylor. He was laying his head on mine and softly snoring in my ear. I giggled, and just that sound woke him up. I laughed wondering how I woke him up and the intercom didn't.
"Hey sleepy head." He smiled slowly at me.
"Hey yourself." I hugged myself to Taylor's abs again as the plane roughly landed.
We were waiting for people to pass us up, extremely scared, like we would come up and hit them. People were bringing their carry-on items with them and practically ran past the seats that Taylor and I were sitting at.
All in all, it took us thirty minutes to wait for everyone to receive their carry-on items, run past our seats, through the doors. Taylor and I just held onto each other chuckling at every single person; we were in no hurry—especially me. I was worried about what it felt like. I admitted it: I was scared. But I wondered why. Taylor would never hurt me, so why was I so nervous? I guess beginners luck said it all…I would have bad luck, knowing me. I blushed silently as we walked past the seats wondering if Taylor had ever done it before. I really hoped I was his first.
The pilot tipped his hat off to us as we left the doors to the inside of the airport. I was sure glad that Taylor took Italian when he was in high school because I couldn't understand any sign that popped out at me except one: Gabinetti.
"Taylor, I need to use the restroom."
"Alright, take your time."
I walked slowly to the restroom and cupped cold water into my hands and splashed it on my face. I needed to take a few deep breaths without anyone near me. I locked the bathroom door, knowing that nobody else was in the stalls and sat in a small corner. I placed my head on my knees and just took deep breaths. I couldn't quite understand why I was so nervous. I guess it was because I knew what would happen tonight and I didn't know what to expect. Of course I didn't doubt Taylor and I, I was just nervous. But why? Arg, this question just wouldn't resolve.
I swiftly got to my feet when I heard someone try to open the door. I could smell Taylor's unique musky scent through the door and opened it to his concerned face.
"What's wrong? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Don't worry—it's nothing."
His brows furrowed. "Doesn't look like nothing." I bit my lip and turned away. He immediately turned my face back to his and laid his forehead on mine. "You know you can tell me anything. Right?"
"Of course." I was too preoccupied with his intoxicating scent that I could barely think straight. Taylor leaned towards me. Taylor was leaning down towards me, on the floor and his lips were an inch from mine.
"Ahem!" I jumped back from Taylor and he did the same to see an old woman staring at us sternly. "Spero che lei sa che questo è la stanza di signora, il giovane! [I hope that you know this is a lady's room, young man!]"
"Sì. Sono spiacente. [Yes. I'm sorry ma'm.]" The old woman took her reddish brown handbag and hit him in the gut with it. Taylor didn't move an inch from where he was standing and just looked down at the woman. Boy, did she have some nerve! If he wasn't such a sweet person then I think she would be in trouble. She dropped the bag and clutched her arms. Aw, poor lady. I forgot how strong we were built. "Oh! Sono così spiacente! , Mi ha lasciato qui l'aiuta su. [Oh ma'm! I'm so sorry! Here, lemme help you up.]" Taylor reached his hand out to help her up, but she smacked him away.
"Lei ha fatto abbastanza! [You've done enough!]" She walked away muttering something else that I couldn't understand.
"Ugh, what was she saying? And what were you saying?"
"She was just mumbling about how this is a lady's room. Blah, blah, blah. People are so grumpy!"
I laughed out loud. "You know you sound like an irritated five-year-old, right?"
"Sure, sure." Taylor kissed my forehead and lifted me up lightly. He had our carry-on and suitcases outside the door. He managed to carry me outside with all of our bags. I kissed his neck while we were on the escalator, and he dropped all of the bags. They went tumbling down and hit a few people on their way down. Taylor and I looked at one another, both with large openings in our mouths.
"Oops." I mumbled. Taylor quickly set me down and ran down the escalator, fumbling for the rolling suitcases. I was laughing hysterically the entire time,
while people glared at me. I finally reached the bottom, with a frantic looking Taylor waiting for me. As every person who got hit by the falling suitcases walked past us, Taylor would say "Sono così spiacente!" which I was assuming meant 'sorry,' or something like that anyway.
I was still giggling when Taylor turned to me. "Alright. Can we finally go?" It was killing both of us being in this stuffy airport, with hundreds of people surrounding us.
We found the limo driver holding up a sign that had 'Saux' written on the front in big, black letters. In Forks, it was eight a.m., but here in Italy it was eleven p.m.
--I wasn't tired at all, even though most people here would be in bed sleeping—Taylor and I would be doing something else to occupy that time…
"Ailish!"
"Huh? What?"
"You spaced out on me again." He snickered lightly.
"Ugh. Sorry." I snuggled into his chest and arrived around twelve o'clock at our rented beach-house.
"Ringraziarla molto, il signore." [Thank you very much, sir.]
"Nessuno problema. Ora, ciò sarà dieci euro." [No problem. Now, that will be ten euros.] Taylor handed the limo driver over our money and we quietly went out into the cool, winter night.
I gasped in shock, awe and wonder at looking at the very beautiful beach house. It had the most amazing porch surrounding the house—the ones you only saw in catalogs and older houses. The house was an off white that matched almost perfectly with the color of the smooth sand. There were many windows with light brown shutters covering them—the light brown wood of the front porch matched with the shutters. On the porch, there were two wooden rocking chairs, along with a khaki green hammock, overlooking the ocean. It was such a serene sight that I was speechless.
"You like it?" Taylor whispered seductively in my ear, biting the tip of it.
I giggled. "Yes, of course."
"Well let's go inside—see what the bedroom has in store for us."
"Sounds good to me." Taylor swiftly picked me up and lead me to the back of the house, all the way, stripping both of our clothes off and kissing passionately.
"Ethan! Come back!" I yelled out and jumped to a sitting position, breathing heavily.
Taylor ran at inhuman speed onto the bed and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "Ail, honey! What's wrong? What happened? Did you have a bad dream? A good dream? Tell me!"
I laughed, a nervous laugh, and replied. "Calm down! I'm okay; I just had a dream, that's all."
"I'm sorry, you just scared me. Do you want to talk about it?"
"No. Maybe later, though."
"Alright. You want some breakfast? I made pancakes!"
"Wow. You actually made something? Nah, I'm not really hungry right now."
"Okay. I'll be in, in a second. I have to…" I grabbed my wrist and outstretched my arms forward. I felt smaller somehow…I heard a loud beeping noise, so loud that I had to cover my ears, and Taylor had to do the same.
"You idiot! That's the fire alarm! You burned the pancakes!" I screamed at him.
"Shit!" I laughed as Taylor ran back into the kitchen. I got up and walked slowly into the bathroom. I felt weak, somehow. I took in my reflection and gasped, shocked. My hair had gotten lighter—almost the same golden color I had before I turned into a werewolf. My eyes had always been a green color, even when I was a werewolf, but now they were the same color they were before I turned. My skin was a partially lighter tone; I wasn't as tall as I
usually was; my arms and legs were smaller proportioned than they were yesterday. What was going on? Was I actually turning back into—I screamed. I couldn't believe what was before my eyes. In my underwear was a streak of red. My period! I started to cry from the happiness I was feeling—of all the months I was trying not to phase, it finally paid off. Finally.
The door burst open and a frantic Taylor stood in the way. "What is going…oh my god!" His eyes popped out of his head. "Oh honey! I'm so happy for you!" I cried into his shoulder and he smoothed out my hair soothingly.
"I can't believe it! Finally!" I cried a while more and wiped away my tears—I had another idea. "Why don't we celebrate?" I smiled crookedly and seductively.
"Why don't we?" Déjà vu occurred. Again, Taylor carried me at inhuman speed to our bedroom, kissing me and stripping our clothes all at once.
The rest of the honeymoon included Taylor and I just eating all of the delicious Italian food in sight, sightseeing all of the beautiful and historic buildings, visiting museums, and relaxing at the ocean. The scenery was magnificently beautiful and we couldn't seem to see enough of it.
It was now three months past the honeymoon, and we were relaxing at our home one-day when I started getting worried: I hadn't had my period this month—I was praying to god that I wasn't turning back again. I was taking yoga classes, and Taylor was, also, so we could control our anger, so I could continue being a human and Taylor could stop phasing to age with me.
Lately I had been feeling extraordinarily hungry and nauseated. I wasn't worried about being nauseated, really, just being hungry. What was I doing wrong? Why was I turning back?
I called up my sister and she didn't understand why either—something was in her voice, though. I couldn't place it exactly, was it excitement? But I thought we were over this…her being jealous. Why was she excited for me to turn back? I immediately hung up the phone when she said she was coming over ASAP.
Thirty minutes later, the doorbell rang. I didn't bother answering it—I was
still too pissed. Unfortunately, she knew where the spare key was.
"Hey! What the hell? I say I'm coming over and you hang up on me! What's that about?"
"Just leave me alone."
"Hell no I'm not leaving you alone! I'm too excited. I think I know what's going on!"
"What? That I'm turning back into a wolf! Yeah, thanks for telling me that. I already know!"
"NO! Gah! You're such an idiot, Ail! Listen to me!"
"WHAT?!" Now I was getting angry.
"I think you're pregnant." What did she just say?
"What?"
"I said I think you're…"
"I heard what you said, dammit!"
"Then why did you say…"
"I'm in shock!"
"Happy? Or bad shock?"
"Of course happy shock!" Tears welled up in my eyes as I ran into my sister's arms. "I'm pregnant! How could I not have noticed?"
"You were too preoccupied with turning back that you didn't even realize it." She squeezed me then let go. She rummaged through her purse, looking for something.
"Aha!" She pulled out a little brown bag.
"What's that?"
"You didn't think I would come here, unprepared, would you?"
I snatched the bag from her hands and ran into the bathroom as fast as my legs would push me. I waited anxiously in anticipation for five minutes for the word to pop up on the little stick that would make my life complete.
Waiting…
Waiting…
Waiting…
Yes.
I squealed in joy and ran back out to my sister's arms. I bawled into her arms. I noticed that my life was going all too fast: three months ago, I married Taylor. We went on the honeymoon; we came back to La Push. I got pregnant. I loved how everything was turning out absolutely perfect, but why couldn't everything slow down to a halt? Life was speeding away from me at a reckless pace and I didn't have the power to stop it.
Olivia let go of me as we heard a car pulling into the driveway.
"It's him. I can't wait to…"
"Ssshhh! He can hear us!"
"Oh. Right."
"I'll be going now to tell Brady the news. I'm so happy for you, little sis." She kissed my cheek and headed out the door, right when Taylor was heading in.
"Hey, Liv. What are you doing here?"
"You'll see." She smirked and headed towards her car.
"I'll see what?!" He yelled back at her; she just giggled. "What's going on?"
"Sheesh. Why so serious?"
"Because nobody's telling me what's going on!"
"Oh, calm down. You're so damn high-strung."
"I wouldn't be if you just told me…"
"I'm pregnant." I interrupted. Taylor's eyes got wide and his mouth dropped.
"Y-You're what?"
"I'm pregnant." He stared at me a few seconds more. I was worried he was unhappy about the ordeal. I was going to say something before he burst out laughing.
He ran to me and picked me up gently, but swiftly, and twirled me around. I started laughing along with him.
"Oh my god! This is wonderful!" He set me down and kissed me briefly on the cheek, before setting me down on the couch.
"Do you need anything? Are you hurting? How do you know? When did this happen? How did this happen?" He started throwing all these questions at me at once, and I thought my head would explode.
"Woah. Calm down. You just gave me a headache."
"I'm sorry! Here! You should be in bed. Let me…" I started to lift me up but I smacked his hands away.
"Gosh. If you're going to be this way then I might as well kick you out for the next nine months." I snickered.
"Not funny." The ends of Taylor's mouth were twitching. I rolled my eyes at him.
"Well, to answer your last question, this happens when a man and a woman love each other and decide to—" Taylor started laughing extremely hard. His eyes watered and he held his sides.
"Okay. Enough humoring me. What do you really need?"
"All I want is for you to lay with me." I patted the side of the couch that was open.
"Er, I don't think that's enough space for me." He chuckled and lifted me off the couch, laid underneath me, and placed me on top of him.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
I snuggled into his chest, like I always did, and fell asleep, dreaming of a baby with Taylor's warm, chocolate brown eyes and bronze colored skin.