Something Good Between Us

21. More baby news

Natahlia and I potted around the house cleaning. Quil's parents had arrived back from their holiday and the house wasn't in its best order. I felt bad so I started to clean, of course Natahlia wouldn't let me do it by myself. She tried to get me to sit down, saying I was too pregnant to bend over and stuff. Of course I wasn't. I was only four months and one week. My stomach was about the size of my boobs, which were a little bigger. I could still hide it with baggy clothes but it was getting harder. Anyway, Quil Snr. was in the kitchen cooking dinner. It was only for him and Natahlia. Quil and I had been invited to the Cullens' house for dinner. Renesmee had said it was a special event and that she wanted me and Quil there. We gladly accepting, not having been very social lately. I was always tired and Quil had been working a lot. He did hours of overtime, hoping to get enough money for a house and baby supplies before the baby actually arrived. We were doing okay. Although if we were going to get a house, we would need some help. Quil and I had had that awkward conversation with his parents and they said they were glad to help.

"Babe, are you almost ready? Jake said dinner started at six-thirty," Quil said lightly through the bathroom door.

"Sorry. Uh… yeah… I'm almost… ready. I'm… trying to fit into… these clothes," I said breathlessly. All my clothes were becoming smaller and smaller. While the baby keep growing and growing. I was trying to squeeze into one of my favourite pair of pants and a nice (yet baggy) jumper.

"Here, let me in. Maybe I can help," Quil said. I unlocked the door. (In case you are wondering why I was getting dressed in the bathroom instead of our room, I'd just got out of the shower). I unlocked the door. "Gee Claire, honey. I think you are dreaming when you think of getting into those pants. You'll squash our poor baby".

I sighed, "Yeah I know. It's just that… well these are my favourite."

Quil chuckled. I glared at him. He 'coughed', "Sorry. Really, I am. If I could trade places with you I would." He kissed the top of my head.

"Ohh. Will you still love me when we have a screaming baby and I'm all fat?"

"Claire, that's so stupid I'm not even going to answer"

"Hm…"

"Want me to get some pants you'll fit into?" he asked, sweetly.

"Yeah… Oh on top of our cardboard is a suitcase kind of thing. Can you go into it and get me the jeans in it. I remember I brought a bigger size once maybe I'll fit those." Quil left and I chucked my jumper over my head. I did my hair, kinda lazily. I put on some foundation. That should do for tonight, I thought to myself. Quil came back with my pants. I put them on, we said goodbye and then we headed for the Cullens' in Quils' car. When we arrived we were greeted by every Cullen, the pack (minus Brady, Colin, Angus, Sean, Jaiden, and Noah), and their families. When we walked inside, the delicious smell of the food was unbelievable. We all commented. The table was covered with food. And the table was huge! It had to fit five werewolves, two ex-werewolves, eight vampires, one half-vampire half-human, and four humans. Sam, Quil had both officially retired for the life of werewolves. Jake was Alpha now. He would never retire because he wanted to be with Renesmee forever. Moving on… I had honestly never seen so much food at one gathering. Luke and Aiden where in Luke's room that he had at his great-grandparents. Anyway, we all sat down.

"Dig in," Esme said. Obviously the vamps didn't eat. I was sitting next to Ellie (Seth's' imprint) and Quil.

"Congratulations," she said.

"Thanks," I said.

"When are you due?" Ellie asked.

"Uh," I said. I hadn't figured out the exact date, so I told her a roundabout time, "On the 1st of May".

"Oh how exciting. You and Quil must be stoked," Ellie said.

"Yeah we are. We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. Don't tell Quil but," I lowered my voice, "I'm hoping to found out the sex. My doctor told me by sixteen weeks he could maybe tell. And I'm seventeen weeks."

Ellie's face became excited. She looked like she wanted to screech. I'm glad she didn't. I wanted to surprise Quil. We had spoken about finding out about the gender, and we both wanted to. Quil would be at work the next day. Natahlia and Natalee were coming with me to the doctors and I was planning on asking Renesmee that night. I planned to tell Quil myself. I wanted him to hear it from me. "Oh Claire, that is wonderful! Do you think you could call me and tell me, when you find out?"

"Of course. I'd be glad, too," I smiled warmly at her. Ellie had a big heart. I could tell she would be one to do anything for someone, just out of the kindness of her heart. By the point we had all finished eating, I heard someone tapping on their glass. So did Ellie. We looked up and saw Renesmee standing up with her glass in her hand. She smiled around the table. "Hi, everybody. Uh… Jake and I have some news," Renesmee was beaming, "Jacob and I are going to have another baby!"

Noise erupted around the table. Everybody except the Cullens' looked surprised. We all got up and congratulated Renesmee and Jacob. "That's wonderful, Nessie," I said, kissing her on both cheeks. "Congratulations, Jake." I kissed him, too.

"Thanks, Claire," they both replied. I was secretly confused. I knew that they had only started trying two weeks ago. I wanted to ask but I felt uncomfortable doing it in front of everybody. Over Renesmee's shoulder I saw Edward smiled wickedly, yet uncomfortably, at me. Ahh… don't mention that to anyone Edward, I said mentally. Lucky I was used to Edward and his mind reading because I used to come over Renesmee's all the time before she and Jacob got together. It was strange to know that she was really only fifteen.

Everybody stayed at the Cullens for a while. The 'men' when into the lounge room and watched a game of baseball; whilst us 'women' went into the Dining Room (which had been cleaned up).

"I can't believe I'm going to have another niece or nephew," gushed Rachel. We all smiled at her.

"Are you and Paul going to have a child, Rachel?" Esme asked. Rachel went silent and looked down at her hands.

"Well… um… Paul and I – Er – can't… we can't have children," she finally said. We all looked at her sympathetically and tried to hide our shock. I'm pretty sure only Renesmee knew that. We all said sorry in a different kind of way.

"It's fine really. None of you did anything. Besides, Renesmee and Claire are pregnant. Now that's exciting; let's talk about that," Rachel smiled. I could not stand to be her. I never thought of having kids much; well I was only sixteen. But I was sure that when I was older I would want some. Now, I could not stand being anyway for my unborn child. And it was still unborn.

"Hay that's cool. You two can press your bellies up next to one another when you both get big. That'd be funny," as Ellie said this Renesmee and I smiled widely at each other. Then all of us cracked up.

"Aunt Em, are you and Sam having another kid?" I asked Emily teasingly.

"No. Aiden is more than enough," she chuckled. "What about Ellie?"

"I'd like to get married first. Then have two kids; hopefully two girls. I think there are enough little boys around here," Ellie joked. "Imagine," she continued, "if both Nessie and Claire have boys. That's five boys in this whole family thing. That's Luke, Aiden, Kyle, Nessie and Jakes next child, and Claire and Quils child. I heard a rumor about Brady and Lily trying, too. That could be six!"

"Really?!" we all exclaimed.

"Yeah well Lily doesn't want a kid but Brady does so they are going to try to have one. Lily told me."

I laughed, "It's a werewolf baby boom." The vampire girls had disappeared by this point.

We chatted all night about lots of stuff but mostly Nessie's baby and mine.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" I asked Renesmee when we were saying goodbye.

"Nothing… I think. Why?"

"Well I have a doctor's appointment. My doctor told me he might be able to tell the sex of the baby so I was wondering if you wanted to come," I said to her. Quil was already outside with Jake looking at the car (I don't know why. They've looked at it a million times).

"Oh my god, Claire, are you serious!? Of course I'll come, I'd never miss that," Renesmee was as excited as Natahlia had been.

"Okay, madd. But Quil can't find out, so that means only telling Jake that I have an appointment. Not that we are finding out. It's at 11 tomorrow. Natahlia and Natalee are coming. Okay? Get all that?"

"Okay, I won't tell him the whole story. I'll get Aunt Rose to look after Luke," Nessie said.

"Claire!" I heard Quil calling.

"Okay, I have to go. Pick you up at ten to! 'Bye!" I kissed her on the cheek and darted outside.

"Ready?" Quil asked. I nodded and smiled. "Cya, Jake"

"'Bye, Quil. 'Bye, Claire"

"Good-night Jake."

Quil drove home slowly. It was 9:00 and I was already starting to get tired so it was relaxing just to look out the window seeing the scenery pass calmly and slowly. After I while Quil put his arm around me and I let my head rest on his shoulder. "I love you, Quil," I whispered.

"I love you, too, Claire" He gave me a quick peck the forehead and quickly looked back at the road. It was 9:15 when we arrived home and Quil's parents were asleep. "Do you want to have a bath before you go to bed?" Quil asked.

"Will you have one with me?" I pretty much yawned.

"Yeah," he chuckled. Once we were in the bath I asked Quil to wash my back for me. While he was doing that I rubbed my belly.

"What you prefer, Quil, a boy or a girl?" I asked in what I hoped was a nonchalant voice.

"A little girl," he replied simply and almost immediately. "Because," he continued, knowing I would ask, "I trust she would be just as outstandingly beautiful as her mother. Hopefully, she will be almost the exact same. And she wouldn't have her father's horrible trade. I mean as much as I loved being a werewolf, I'd never want that for my children. How about you? What sex would you like?"

"Hm…" I said, wanting to but some serious thought into my answer. "A boy," I finally said. "Because I don't think anyone in this world would have a problem with a mini Quil, no matter how wolfy he is. Plus I want to have a boy, then another boy, then finally a little girl". I turned and smiled cheekily Quil. "I guess I'll be happy either way."

"Why's that?" Quil asked me, bewildered.

"Well, if it's a boy, I'm happy. If it's a girl, you're happy, which would make me happy," I said. I felt a little nudge in my stomach. I didn't think anything of it until it happened again. "Wow!" I exclaimed.

"What?" Quil said, alarmed.

"The baby! I think it just kicked!" I squealed. It happened again. "Quick! Feel it!" I grabbed Quils hand and placed it to my stomach where I felt the nudge. It kicked again.

"Oh my god!" Quil cried out. He turned me around to face him. He put both his hands to my stomach. The baby kicked more and more.

"It feels so weird!" I said, ecstatic. "Oh I think it likes you," I giggled to Quil, "it's kicking heaps." All of a sudden the baby stopped kicking. "Oh. Damn," I said, disappointed. Quil just sat there grinning widely. We finished our bath and we went bed, feeling better than ever.

**

I woke up the next day not realize how big of a day it was going to be. Quil left for work early, as usual. Natahlia was going to pick me and Natalee up from school. We couldn't afford to have the day off, the workload was heavy. Being in year eleven was hard. I was secretly glad to not be going to year twelve although I'd never admit it. I, however, was not prepared for what happened to me at school that day. I didn't want my pregnancy getting out; I'd only told Natalee and Keeleigh. But when I got to school, everybody was giving me dirty looks. The minute someone looked at my stomach, I knew. Everybody knew I was pregnant.

"How the fuck does everybody know?" I whispered furiously to Natalee in Form.

"I don't know. I got to school today and everybody was talking about it. I was fuming. I swear the minute I heard people talking about it, I'd tell them it's not true. I swear. But… Claire, everybody is going to know now. I mean you wear baggy clothes and it's kind of a given. I'm sorry". She had a point. With that in peoples mind, and me wearing my new 'style', people could only put two and two together. When the bell went for the end of Form went, I walked out of the room, with my head down and Natalee at my side.

"Oi Claire!" I heard the horribly familiar voice call. Natalee and I walked faster. I heard Logan Thomas easily catch up with us. "Is it true?"

"Piss off, Logan," Natalee hissed.

"Hay babe," he said.

"Don't call me that! Piss off!" she snarled.

"Oh. So it is true. I never thought you as that kind of girl, Claire. Nice… well you know where I live. Ever get lonely; you know where to find me." That stopped me dead in my tracks. I felt as if I'd been slapped or even punched. I wanted to say something back to him but I just stuttered.

"You are a dickhead! Fuck off and leave Claire alone!" Natalee yelled at him. He laughed and when back to his fuck head friends. "Holy shit! Are you okay?" I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. As I walked to English by myself (Natalee had woodwork) I got every kind of insult but mostly 'slut' from the girls.

I didn't stay in English long because five minutes into the lesson, the phone rang and after a serious conversation the teacher hung up, look at me and said "Claire, the principal wants to see you". When I was walking out of the classroom I saw her looking at me. Checking I was sure. I felt everybody's eyes on me as I left that classroom for what I was sure would be the last time. The receptionist told me to straight into the principal's office.

He smiled at me when I walked in. I was sure it was phony. He motioned for me to sit down. I did; trying not to look pregnant, not that you do when you sit down, but, you know, yet incase.

"Claire," he said, "I've heard rumors. Not that I usually listen to rumors but this one I must investigate. It has come to my attention that students have been saying you are pregnant. Is this true?"

I sighed inwardly. I thought (for as long as I could get without being totally silent) about whether I should lie or tell the true. "Yes," I finally breathed.

My principal, Mr. Gates, sighed. He sat there for a while. I could tell he was trying to figure out how to 'deal' with me. He must have decided to wait because he said, "How are you dealing with it?" His question surprised me. I didn't expect him ask any questions just… deal with me by expelling me. I didn't know if it where legal or not and I didn't really care.

"Uh. It's hard I guess but I'm fine," I said. It was already a very awkward conversation and neither of us had said much.

"Do you have much support?" Mr. Gates asked.

"Well yes. I live with my boyfriend and his parents. I have lots of support from them and all of my friends and their families. My brother is very good, too. Although he lives in Los Angeles," while I said this Mr. Gates nodded.

"What about your parents?" Mr. Gates asked. He was getting very personal and I didn't really like it.

"They kicked me out. Listen, Sir, are you going to expel me?" I didn't want him to ask the questions, let alone know the answers. He sensed my discomfort and dropped it.

"Listen, Claire. I think that for your best interests you can finish your eleven. But going on to year twelve will most likely be too stressful. It's stressful by itself but with a new baby. It's all a really bad idea if you did that. Plus you'd have to miss most of the year," my principal looked at me sympathetically. "Listen pregnancy is stressful. School – year twelve – is stressful. Parenthood is stressful. Claire, all that stress isn't good for you or for your baby for that matter."

"Sir, I wasn't planning on going onto year twelve. I know how stressful it is. I just need to know if I can continue the rest of this year. It's already November, and there is only a couple of weeks of school left. Please let me finish, Sir," I begged him.

"Claire, considering it is the end of the year – and in your best interest – I will you finish. But! If this gets too be all too much, I need you to tell me. Okay Claire?" Mr. Gates looked at me firmly.

"Of course, Sir. Thank you."

"Off to class. This period is almost over. Take it easy."

I nodded and left the office in a hurry.

"What? So he is going to let you finish?" asked Natalee when I told her the story.

"Yeah, I guess. All I got to do now is ignore all the gawking and muttering, then I'll be right," I tried to shrug it off.

"I have no idea how people found out -" Natalee started but I cut her off.

"Maybe someone over heard"

"I mean you only told Keeleigh and me," she continued, "and neither of us would say something. Hell you know me. And Keeleigh is in Europe, how would she spread it? Not that she even would." I could tell me Natalee was upset about this. I was, too but I knew I'd probably never find out who did it and I had better things on my mind.

"It's fine, Natalee, I can put up with it," I tried to tell her. At that time it was morning break and I practically wanted to scream. I was so excited. Natalee was nervous for me I think.

Finally it was 10:30 and Natalee and I were called up to Admin (we were in Math together). "Ready?" Natahlia asked when I got in the car.

"No. Let's go," I said, laughing from the nerves. I mean I was going to find out if I was going to have a little girl or boy! It was a fact that would change my life. Natalee smiled at me. When we arrived at the Blacks house, Lucus answered the door.

"Hello, Claire," he said softly.

"Lucus Jacob Black! I told you not to answer the door by yourself!" Renesmee's voice rang throw the house. "Hi, Claire," she called.

"Hay, are you almost ready? It starts in fifteen minutes," I picked up Luke and walked inside, to Renesmees' and Jacobs' room – where I'd heard Nessie's voice venture out from.

"You have a bump like mama will," Lucus said pointing to my stomach. My shirt was pulled tight because I was carrying him.

"Yeah, I'm ready. Rose should be here any second," Renesmee said. I knew she meant literally. Half a minute later Rosalie walked in.

"Aunty Rose, Aunty Rose," the three-year-old screamed.

"Lucus no yelling the house," Nessie and Rosalie scolded him. He wasn't fazed. He wrapped his arms around Rosalie. "Okay, Lukey boy, mummy has to go. Give me a kiss," he ran up and picked Renesmee on the cheek and then we left. I was jumping out of my seat the whole way there and the wait in the waiting room was almost unbearable.

But finally someone called out, "Claire Pike". I got up as did the others. The doctor lady smiled at us as we walked into the ultrasound room. I knew what to do – I'd had about seven ultrasounds since the first. I plonked myself down on the table. She put the goo on and etc. We all waiting anxiously; Natahlia held my hand and Renesmee and Natalee smiled at me.

"Your baby is perfectly healthy," the doctor stated.

"Is it too early to tell the sex?" I couldn't help but blur out, "My doctor said you may be able to, that's all," I said, a bit embarrassed by my outburst. We all chuckled lightly. The lady study studied the screen.

"Yes... I can tell. Would you like to know?" she asked.

"Yes!" I exclaimed. My anxiety and suspense shot through the roof.

"It's a girl," she smiled at me. I beamed. Natahlia, Renesmee and Natalee screamed.

"A little girl!" we kept cheering.

"I will give you four a minute," the ultrasound lady laughed.

"I'm going to have a granddaughter!" Natahlia exclaimed.

"Congratulations Claire," Natalee and Renesmee both hugged me.

"Oh. We can dress her up and stuff!"

"Think of all the cute things we can buy!"

We went on like that for a while. I was so excited, though, I knew I wouldn't be enjoying it fully until I told Quil. But I was still excited. I was going to have a baby girl! I didn't care about anything else. I know I wanted a boy, but to be honest I didn't really care. The girls were right; I'd get to dress her up all cute. We all talked and screeched till the nurse came back – I won't bore you with the details. We had to drop Natalee back off at school – I decided not to go back (I didn't want to deal with all the stares). I was going to Renesmee's for a while. Natalee told me to come over later that afternoon because she wanted me to be there when she told her family my news. I told her I would be there; Quil didn't finish until six that night. We drove back to Natahlia's and mine (she tells me I have to think of it as my house) after we dropped Natalee off. Natahlia had to shop so she just dropped me and Nessie off.

"How exciting is it Claire!?" she smiled at me.

"I reckon, aye. Nessie, I'm going to have a baby girl!" I felt my eyes light up and my cheeks rise. Hers did too. She hugged me fiercely. "Oh I hope you do!" I said, suddenly realizing it.

"Aw… that would be awesome!" Nessie exclaimed. I felt tears in my eyes. We hadn't been this excited together in years. I felt good to have it back. At that point I felt closer to Renesmee then ever. I started crying, then Renesmee did, too. We laughed and cried (happy tears… I think) together for a while.

"Oh! I almost forgot to ask. How are you pregnant?" I asked Renesmee. She just looked at me, bewildered. I laughed. "You only decided to start trying two weeks ago," I explained myself.

"Oh," Nessie laughed. "Well, I'm pretty sure this bub is more me than Jake, unfortunately. Or should I say more vampire then werewolf or human."

"Uh... So you could have your baby before me?" I frowned.

"Yeah. Most likely. Grandpa said around March. This, unfortunately, means only five months pregnancy"

"I don't whether to be jealous or glad."

"Bit of both would be nice," Nessie poked her tongue at me. We giggled. Renesmee laughed a lot that day. It felt so good; like the old days. I caught the bus to Natalees' later that day. Callum answered the door.

"Hi-hi Claire," Callum hugged me. I stood there shocked, he'd never hugged my before. I patted his back.

"Hay Mate," I smiled down at him. Natalee came to the door. "Hay," I said. Callum ran off.

"Hi. Mum and everyone have been pressuring me to tell them but I managed to hold my tongue," laughed Natalee. We walked into the kitchen, Jennifer was there with Calain. They where cooking.

"Mum, Claire's here," Natalee said walking to the pot of food and taking a bite.

"Oh Claire! Tell me, tell me," Jennifer said excitably.

"It's a girl!" I squealed back, more excited.

"Oh my goodness," she hugged me tightly. "That's great," she continued.

"Congratulations," said Calian, hugging me too.

"Thanks, CK. Thanks, Jennifer," I said.

We spoke for a while, and then Natalee and I went into her room. We were interrupted by every one of her siblings. I didn't mind though. They had to be the best working family ever. I was highly jealous. Natahlia called at five-thirty to tell me she was coming to get me. I was getting nervous but that point. I was going home to tell my boyfriend that we were going to have a little baby girl.

"Calm down, sweetie," soothed Natahlia.

I laughed nervously. "I'm trying"

"It's okay, Claire." Natahlia smiled at me reassuringly. I smiled back.

When we arrived at the house, I had a nice hot shower to calm myself. By the time I got out Quil had arrived home.

"Hay babe," he greeted me, when I had joined him and his mother in the kitchen. The shower didn't calm my nerves; but seeing his smile soothed everything. I knew everything would be okay.

"Hay honey," I said.

"I'm going for a shower," Natahlia said, walking away from the kitchen. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her wink at me.

"Come with me," I said to Quil, taking his hand and pulling him into the lounge.

"What is it Claire?" asked Quil. I just smiled mysteriously at him. "Oh, you are playing that game. I see," he laughed. I pulled him next to me on the lounge.

"Okay… Well today I went to the doctors for a checkup -"

"Is everything okay?"

"At the last checkup," I continued, ignoring him, "my doctor told me I might be able to tell the sex of the baby -" Quil eyes widened "- and when I went today I asked if she could tell." Quil nodded, eager to hear more – I could tell the suspense was killing him. "And… she could!"

"Oh my god! What is it?!"

"Quil we are going to have a little baby… girl!" I screamed, louder then I had all day.

"YES! OH MY GOD CLAIRE! WE ARE HAVING A BABY GIRL!" Quil jumped out of the chair and ran around the house like a little child. I laughed so hard. He pulled me up from the chair and spun me around. I knew at that point that I was happiest than I had been when I first found out. I'm sure it was the fact that I was enjoying the experience with Quil. I felt as if I had climbed the tallest tree in the world. Now I was enjoying the view. I felt pride, happiness, relief, and lots of other great emotions.

As Quil was passionately kissing me, the phone rang. Quil kept kissing me ignoring it. I laughed and regrettably had to push him away.

"Sorry, honey, don't want to annoy your mum," I smiled widely at him. He pouted jokingly as I went to get the phone.

"Hello?" I said cheerfully into the phone.

"Cl-cl-claire?" a voice sobbed into the phone.

"Yes. Who is speaking?" I asked.

"Anna-Annabelle," wept the voice. My heart kind of leapt.

"Sweetie, are you okay?"

"N-n-no. Cl-claire there h-h-has been an-an ac-accident," Annabelle's voice died at the last word. My heart was in my throat as I feel out of my tree; my paradise.

8