- - PAUL POV ;
I looked around the beach at the sad, tear stained faces of my pack and other people of the reservation. Today was Billy Black's funeral, he died two days ago in his sleep. It was all so strange, the previous day we had all gathered and had a bonfire celebrating Leah, Bella, Embry, and my induction of being god fathers and god mothers. It was a happy event, everybody was laughing or smiling and joking, Billy being one of those people. He told jokes of Leah and Bella dressing Seth and Jake in girls clothing when they were little and sending them off to school.
Now he's gone. He seemed fine, in good health, minus his legs not working. But he just went to sleep and didn't ever wake up. Bella and Emily had been the ones to find him. It was horrible. They were taking him and the twins to do a little shopping, but when they got in the house, the girls were sitting in the living room watching cartoons in the small TV, and hushed the girls.
" Shhh, Daddy's sleeping." Beka whispered to Bella.
Emily and Bella looked at each other, then told them to stay in the living room. Bella entered first followed by Emily's belly then Emily.
Bella knew right away what happened and broke into sobs, followed by Emily. They called the pack over right away and asked Leah to take the twins to Charlie and Renee's.
Now by tribal tradition, we're having his funeral on first beach and then rowing him out to the council island where all council members and Chief's were buried.
I tucked Bella's small shaking form even farther into my body and looked next to me at Jake who had the girls clutched to his legs. He look lost and he let his tears run freely. He had already spoken his words to everybody and even the twins added their two cents in. Soon it would be Bella's turn right after Charlie and Harry finish out their shared speech.
" My daughter Isabella would like to say some words as well. " Harry finished off and stepped down from the small stand that had been carried out from the Council Hall.
Bella's body shook harshly before she calmed herself down. She gave me a squeeze and then started walking up to the stand. Her shoulders hunched slightly, showing everybody her loss, which she usually covers.
She stood up looking out running her eyes over every person before she took a heavy breath and locked eyes with Jake.
" I don't have speech wrote on what I'd like to say, because lets face it who wants to write something planned at a time like this? Billy was a second father to me like my God- Father Charlie. He use to tell me stories and act them out with my Barbie dolls and even use to force Jake to help. Billy has always been a strong man, strong leader. He loves openly and strongly, he always pushed forward even in bad times, encouraging people when they were down. When Billy lost his ability to walk, everybody cried for him, when he didn't cry for himself.
" What the hell are you crying for, I may not be able to walk, but I sure as hell can still kick your ass in this wheel chair if you step out of line." He told us all when cried for him.
Like I said he's always been strong, he raised his children alone after Sarah died. He made sure the girls were taken care of and had mother figures in his life. He gave me the privilege to be that motherly role when the girls asked. Not many of you know, but I'm not able to have children, and when I pitied myself he stepped up to set me straight. He told me that I may not have the ability in me to have a child, but there are two little girls who look up to me, and young boy who does as well. Don't let that get in your way of taking care of them when the time comes, Isabella Clearwater. He will be greatly missed, but we shall remember him for how strong he was for all of us when we needed it. He was beyond a great father, a great friend, a great brother, and above all a great leader. Forever his memory will stand strong and his presence is always going to be around us. His spirit will live on and his life will live on, through his son, and his two little girls, and all of us who were his family." Bella started out in a weak voice but her voice finished strong and her eyes never left Jake's as she spoke her words.
I could tell by the hushed murmurs of the pack that they were surprised she gave away that information about herself, about us.
She stepped down and walked towards us again, only to stop in front of Jake and the twins, who honestly didn't understand much.
" You aren't alone, you have me, the girls, and all of us. Grieve as you must, but just remember he's with your mother now, and he's really not gone. He's still in your heart just as Sarah always has been. I love you Jake." She cried out as she hugged him tightly to her and he in returned did the same.
Soon Billy was buried next to his wife and the rest of his passed family. We all went back to the Clearwater's and decided to have a huge family dinner with each other.
The twins and Jake gravitated towards Bella the whole night, not really allowing me much contact with her but I understood that they needed her. It seemed that Jake's imprint noticed that he needed Bella as well. Because when Bella looked at Lindsay, Lindsay smiled at her a teary smile and mouthed she was sorry. Bella nodded and went back to rubbing Jake's back.
Everybody was telling stories about Billy. Most of them funny ones. Charlie and Harry went around telling stories of their high school days and when they were younger. It seemed Billy was a bit of a rebel. Doesn't really fit right with him as he grew older, but it sort of made sense in a way.
All the laughing was stopped when the childish voice of Rachal.
" Emily wet herself." Rachal said looking sad for Emily.
Everybody gasped and Emily blushed and looked embarrassed.
" Don't worry, I still wet the bed sometimes too. " Beka assured Emily.
" Um, I don't think she wet herself, I think her water broke, dude." Jared said scratching the back of his neck looking scared.
Sam bolted out of his seat and started to frantically yell numerous things. Most of which I didn't completely understand. We kept telling him to calm down but it wouldn't work.
Bella helped Emily up and they both stood next to Sam, and each slapped him on both sides of his face. His franticness stopped and he looked down in surprise at our imprints.
" Well, now that your in the now again. You obviously are in no state to drive. Everybody in your car's. Paul you drive the twins and Jake, everybody I don't care who you take or what cars you drive. I'll drive Sam and Emily to the hospital." Bella said calmly
Nobody moved a muscle even Sam.
" NOW DAMN WE HAVE A BABY TO DELIVER." She all but screamed
Everybody scrambled and got to yelling at who was going to ride with who. Bella and Sam escorted Emily out the door into her car. Then Bella freaked out and said no way, so now they are taking her car, just for Emily's 'pregnantness' ruined her leather.
Finally once everybody was at the hospital, we had gathered in the delivery room, before Emily goes into labor. She was doing well so far, besides when a contraction would hit and she would be so angry with Sam that she would actually ask Leah or Bella to hit him for causing her to be pregnant.
The sad thing is that Bella and Leah actually did it with evil grins on their faces. Poor Sam, the bastard was getting picked on by his wife, his ex-girlfriend, and my tiny mate from hell. I had to chuck to myself at that thought, but it frantically went away when I realized I chuckled out loud.
Emily's glare was staring at me, as well as the trouble some twins. I was worried about the problematic pregnant woman who was allowing her mate to be abused, nor was I worried about the taller twin. The small twin, my mate, she is what scared me.
Her nostrils were flared and she looked like she was ready to explode any second now. She looked so scary that even her parents stepped away from her.
" What is so funny? She's in pain you jackass!" Bella bellowed
After she screamed, a nurse popped her head in the door and looked around frantically till she spotted Bella. It just so happened to be the same nurse that tried to refuse Bella into seeing Harry.
" Ma'am, either calm down or I'm going to have to ask you to leave." She said with a shaken voice.
My mate's glare was off me in a second, and I exhaled my fear. Don't judge me, she's scary, for a small person.
" I suggest you leave this room before your next." Bella whispered menacingly towards the nurse.
The nurse's eyes went wide with fear and she popped her head out faster than she popped her head in. Bella's eyes went back to mine and I stood up straighter waiting for her attack. Inside I was frantic but on the outside I stood strong staring down at her as she stared up at me. She gave me a quick glare before turning around as if nothing had happened.
Sam looked up at me as well as the others in the room with wide eyes, almost in awe. I shook my head and twirled my finger in the air near my hear and mouthed ' insane'. Jared laughed followed by Quil. Those two idiots were never good at keeping it in.
Bella decided to ignore them I'm guessing, before she went in front of where Emily's legs were resting up in a comfortable position. Just as another contraction hit, Bella lifted the end of the blanket almost as if she were trying to get a peek at Emily's goodies.
" STAY UP THERE, WHERE NOT READY FOR YOU YET!" Bella yelled into the … I honestly don't or don't want to really think about it.
The room had gone completely silent at that moment and that's when she looked up and realized she really did what she just did. She looked embarrassed and smiled a small smile and with my enhanced sight as well as everybody else, we could see her blush slightly.
It was adorable, my girl blushing.
Everybody went back to talking and doing their own thing. Bella sat on my lap and snuggled into my resting her face into the crook of my neck as I buried my face into her hair.
" It's sort of amazing how you went into labor tonight, after laying my dad to rest." Jake said quietly from across the room.
The room got quiet again, and Sue and Bella went to comfort him, but he shook his head no and waved them to sit back down. Bella's feelings look sort of hurt, but I could understand why he did it.
" I'm not pushing you away Bells, its just I'm not gonna break. I believe in reincarnation and all of that. I think as buried Dad, that his soul or part of it some how is now being recreated into this baby here." He explained
She nodded slowly and smiled at him. He smiled back and rolled his eyes ushering him towards her. She giggled and ran to him and squeezed him almost to death.
Once again she sat on my lap and relaxed, I almost thought she was asleep but she was just sitting there with a dazed look in her eyes. She was somewhere else far away and I knew it had to be something. I shook her slightly but she didn't focus back to me. I Patently waited and just talked to the guys.
Sam and Emily were still over by the delivery bed, Emily's contractions were coming and going getting closer together. Every time somebody would move to try to jerk Bella out of her daze, Old Quil would slap who ever in the wrist with his cane. The old bastard really was tough, he whacked me hard enough for me to slightly feel it.
" We mustn't touch her. She's speaking with the spirits." He said in his weird wise voice.
Harry just looked at his daughter with worry in his eyes.
" Why do you look worried?" I asked him squeezing Bella closer to me
" When the spirits contact her while she's awake, it's important. From the old testimonies and journal's from the Great Warrior Protector in the past they come in two different ways for communications. In their sleep, usually to answer questions as good as they can with out revealing to much to cause a change in what is to happen. Or while your awake, while awake it's usually a warning, or information concerning a warning." Old Quil answered for Harry.
The room gone silent again and Emily started worrying if it was the baby they were warning her about. I doubt it. It has to do with the pack more than likely. With her being so different and her different abilities it usually has something to do with the pack.
Her visions are stronger now, they come better than Alice's even. She's always seen things that involve the pack or the Cullen's since her life and ours are involved with theirs and vice versa.
Emily's contracts were coming closer and the nurse and doctor came in and checked on her. He said something like she was dilated 10 centimeters and that she was ready to push when she felt the urge to do so.
We all started filing out but Sam and Emily insisted on leaving Bella there because they wanted her and Leah to part of the birth. I was going to protest but Sam practically begged with his eyes. I think that many be feels some sort of comfort with Bella being there.
Their Alpha to Alpha connection was weird, but well respected. I nodded and kissed Bella's forehead and looked at her eyes one more time. They were slightly dazed still and her breathing was picking up.
I hated to leave her there, but the nurse kept bitching that I couldn't stay. I left the room calmly and went out to the waiting room to join the others.
" You left her in there?" Sue asked shocked.
" There wasn't nothing else to do. Emily and Sam wanted Bella there, even if she's not there exactly. She would have wanted to be there for Emily too. I don't think the spirits could keep her away from catching the actual birth." I said shrugging and rubbing the back of my neck.
Harry chuckled and we all looked at him.
" They would feel her wrath if she missed out on that." He turned towards the other girls, Kim, Kelsey and Lindsay. " She wouldn't miss the birth of your children either." He whispered with a nod.
Kim and Lindsay looked like they were about to protest, but Jared helped Harry out with this one.
" Bella is still upset with you all, because what you said. She let you in and accepted you but what you did was wrong. She will forgive you but not forget. Also, she takes the birth of children seriously and now that we know her condition, she will take it even more seriously. She's the pack mother, OUR protector as we protect you all. She wouldn't miss anything for the world." He said strongly.
They nodded with tear's in their eyes. Lindsay and Kim walked up to me and I just looked at them confused. What they had to say to me was useless. I didn't want to hear what they had to say, they needed to say it to Bella. They hurt her, which causes me pain and angers me.
" We just wanted to say, that we were sorry for how we hurt Bella. We know we need to say it to her, but we realized we needed to say it to you as well." Kim said softly
I frowned and Looked confused.
" We need to say sorry to you as well because whatever she feels, you feel. Not to mention, we disrespected your imprint." Lindsay finished
I told them that I didn't accept until my imprint and mate accepted, because then they would fully forgiven. They nodded and hugged me and went back to Jake and Jared. The guys nodded in appreciation and I nodded in return.
To be honest, since Bella hasn't been phasing with many people, usually only me, Leah, Seth, and Sam. She hasn't seen Jared and Jakes memories of the girls frantically worrying over Bella. Not to mention their fear for her. Kim actually thought a tree branch outside of her window was Bella coming to finish her off once time.
I howled in laughter after that.
An hour later A smiley Sam ran out of the delivery room, his presence just radiated happiness.
" Do you guys want to come meet my son?" He shouted
Everybody got up and laughed hugging him and congratulating him. All of us guys howled out obnoxiously loud, showing our Alpha our congratulations towards him. We received glares from people around the waiting area but Jared, Quil and Embry decided that we might as well scared them as well.
The three stepped forward and growled lowly causing people to move away. I burst out laughing followed by Sam and we made our way back towards the room they moved Emily in.
My beautiful girl was awake and functioning, cooing along with the other girls at the baby.
I felt myself tear up, seeing her that way towards the baby. It was beautiful. She sensed me, and looked up with tears of her own in her eyes. I smiled a small smile letting her know it was alright, that we were alright. She winked causing the tear in her left eye to drop down her cheek.
" What did you name him?" Somebody asked
I didn't really pay attention because I was staring at Bella and Emily. They came along way. I was proud of her and it made me love her even more. To see her support Emily made me swell with pride.
Emily is special to the pack. She's taken care of us the best she could when Bella was gone. She always let us vent our feelings freely to her, and she didn't even mind the vulgar thoughts or stories we all told her. She was a shy sweet down to earth girl. No matter how harsh somebody was towards her, she always was the kindest and was the first to make sure you were alright if you were upset. Regardless if you were horrible to her in the past.
So seeing Emily and Bella's relationship fixed and mended. It was beautiful. It was nice seeing them together along with Leah. They were like sister's again.
I watched as the protective side of Leah and Bella come out as they walked around the bed and stood in front of Emily out if sight from the two imprints who hurt my mate.
To them, the two girls were a danger to the infant and Emily.
" They wont do anything. " Emily's whisper was almost un heard but we wolves heard it.
Leah nodded and Stepped aside but Bella stood her ground and crossed her arms over her chest shaking her head. Not allowing them near her or the baby.
" Bells, just let them see him. They wont try anything, I also believe they have something they been meaning or trying to say to you but you wont listen." Sam asked giving the imprints a meaningful look
Five minutes later after hugs, the girls were allowed to pass. It was hilarious to be honest. Emily was just grateful there wasn't an attack breaking out in her hospital room, and we all were just grateful that we weren't kicked out.
" Again what's his name!" Sue and Renee said at the same then giggled together.
" We realized that giving birth tonight was a blessing and a sign. We wanted to honor Billy but not take away the honor of letting Jake name his son after him if he so decided. So we would like to introduce you all to Avery William Uley." Sam said proudly
Bella's nose scrunched up and Leah looked at her evilly with glee.
" Not only that, but Bella and I made a bet." Leah said and the whole room groaned.
Their betting was worse than the Cullen's Emmett and Jasper.
We've all been caught in the middle of their betting wars. Who ever one it didn't matter, the outcome of whatever the other person had to do, wear, or eat. We all got caught in the middle.
" EMILY LET US!" They both shouted at their mother who looked ashamed of them and slightly embarrassed that they were her children.
Sue looked at Emily and Emily just smiled and shrugged.
" Bella bet that the baby was girl, I of course bet it was a boy. I'm right, she's wrong!" Leah gloated happily.
Bella growled loudly at her causing the humans in the room to jump.
Eventually we all left, minus Sam and Emily. He opted to stay the night with her until she was allowed to go home, along with little Avery.
Bella and I were laying down in my bed, my mother was out of town on business. I had her body pressed close to mine and we were talking about the baby. I was worried she would go back to being depressed but it didn't happen. She was happy for Emily and Sam. She understood.
" Tell me about you dazing out earlier, that shit is weird." I muttered as I nuzzled my nose in her hair, smelling her.
Bella looked at me through her eye lashes and frowned deeply. She scooted up the bed and sat up with her body leaning against the headboard of our bed.
" There will be a fight, a huge one." Bella informed me
I tried to get more information from her but she wasn't allowed to give all of it away. She just said there will be a huge fight and some lives will be lost, and that she wasn't sure what lives would be. I asked her if she was serious and she said by the tone that the spirits were talking it she only guest lives would be lost but she wasn't certain. She also said that she couldn't reveal much because it would mess with the future and if anybody tried to change fate, there would be harsher consequences.
I decided not to worry about it right now. I'd worry about it later when the time came, because something told me that when the time comes, we will have a warning. Not only one from the Spirits but some other source.