The Ties that Bind
Disclaimer: I don't own the Twilight universe. All recognisable characters, content or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter Twenty:
Growing up, I'd always told myself I would never have children of my own. Having to raise myself, it had never been something I'd ever been inclined to do. As the weeks rolled by though, and my and Paul's baby grew within my womb, I found myself getting excited. I'd ask myself questions like "Would it be a girL? A boy? Would she have my hair and Paul's eyes? Maybe he'd have my nose and Paul's ears? I wasn't sure if it was the wolf effecting my human mentality or if it was some sort of latent maternal instinct finally taking effect. If I were to be entirely honest with myself, I didn't much care either.
Paul, too, seemed to have been struck by this peculiar baby bug. I'd often catch him eyeing my stomach, contented smile on his face and a peaceful expression in his eyes that I couldn't quite decipher. In the nights I'd spend wrapped up in his arms, he'd rub my barely there baby bump and whisper sweet nothings and secret promises that would never fail to bring tears to my eyes. In those moments, gone was the quiet Paul who only showed his emotions through physical, kind hearted gestures. In his place, there was this soft, sweet man with no barriers or walls he'd hidden himself behind. I found I liked this new vulnerability Paul had. It fascinated me to know there were so many different aspects of Paul's personality. In truth, I found I loved him more for it.
Yes. I could finally admit it to myself. Somewhere along the way, I'd fallen for Paul Lahote. I couldn't recall when, though I knew how I felt. Paul was my other half in every single way. I was certain that if I were to ever lose him, I'd lose myself as well. It went without saying that I'd have felt the same way even without the imprint tying us together.
It was three days before Christmas and I was stretched out along Paul's bed. When Collin and Brady moved into Renee's house, I'd made the executive decision to move into Paul's - at least for the weekends. The transition had been seamless, no one even batting an eye, hence my current situation.
Paul lay between my legs, his upper body weight rested on his elbows. His hands were splayed across my abdomen, seeming to be listening intently to the baby's heartbeat. If I listened hard enough, I could hear it too. He was endlessly fascinated by the sound and I couldn't really blame him. The idea that something of my and Paul's creation was growing inside me was a trip in and of itself. That it was another human being was another thing entirely.
As we lay, comfortable in our quiet, our peace was shattered by the distinct sound of heavy paws. We both turned our heads in the direction of the woods behind Paul's house, curious. Sunday mornings had been deemed private time for the two imprinted pairs, so the interruption was something of a surprise.
Paul and I got to our feet and headed out to the kitchen. From the window there, we could see Jared tug on a pair of cut offs, wild eyed and pale. I wondered what was wrong and it seemed Paul had the same concern. He'd already opened the back door and was tugging Jared in by the hair. Both settled down at the table and with nothing better to do, I set to preparing a hearty breakfast for the three of us. Behind me, Paul and Jared began to talk.
"Do you remember Kimberly Rockwell?" Jared asked Paul.
From my vantage point, I could see Paul nod his head. "Brainy. Never gave you the time of day."
Jared nodded. "Yeah. Her. She just graduated - did some sort of intensive summer program. I ran into her this morning at the gas station."
"So?" Paul queried. He looked bored, as if he'd heard it all before.
"I guess I was onto something in school. I imprinted on her this morning." The mention of it made Jared - previously calmed - go pale.
I set down my mixing bowl and turned, surprised. Paul, who'd arched an eyebrow, quirked a smile. "Did you?"
"What are you smiling about?" Jared demanded. "I just imprinted on Kimberly Rockwell. Fuck."
"Calm down," Paul instructed, "Have you told Sam yet?"
"And have him go all anal-retentive about disturbing his Emily time? I don't think so."
"So you thought it was alright to disturb my Bella time?" Paul asked, inordinately amused. I cracked a smile.
"Stop fucking around, Paul. I'm freaking out."
Paul's expression turned stoic. I returned to my mixing bowl, deciding to give them a modicum of privacy. "First, tell Sam. Then the council. Then go tell brains, yeah?"
When Jared left, Paul began helping me with the food. The silence was companionable, but something was nagging at me. "I thought imprinting was rare?"
Paul shrugged, apparently indifferent about the entire thing. "We're a fairly large pack. The biggest on record, I've been told."
I nodded slowly, accepting that truth and returned to my cooking. Still, I wondered: why such a large pack? Why female wolves?
Later that day, I found myself sitting next to Leah in Emily's kitchen. THe tension was thick enough to be cut with a knife and already, I'd begun contemplating on the most-subtle way of getting the fuck out of there as soon as humanly possible. Unfortunately, the male wolves were in the midst of some male bonding time and therefore, Leah and I were asked to spend some quality time with Emily while we waited for Jared to bring over his imprint. Evidently, Sam had lost his mind.
"So," I began, "Come around here often?"
Leah gave me a sideways glance with 'what the fuck are you doing?' written all over her face. I shrugged.
"I'd like to think so - given that I live here," Emily replied, smiling slightly. Her scars pulled at the muscles in her cheek, so it was more a half smile, half macabre imitation of one.
"Yeah," I acknowledged, "I imagine so."
"And how are things with Paul?" Emily inquired, though most of her attention was on the massive pot of stew boiling on her stove.
Beside me, Leah groaned. I sympathised. I despised gossiping as much as Leah did. I had no desire to start liking it now.
"Things are fine," I shrugged. I wouldn't divulge any of my and Paul's private business to Emily, no matter how nice she was. We weren't friends and I wasn't about to try being friends with her now, regardless of the fact that she was pack. She was Sam's imprint, after all. Not mine.
"And the baby?"
Unbidden, my hand travelled to rest on my barely there baby bump. I smiled softly. "The baby's good."
The news of my pregnancy had been told to the pack after many of them had questioned why the Cullens were still hanging around. I had been pleased to find that Renee had taken the news remarkably well. Being that she had still been in her bad place when I told her, I had been afraid she'd react badly. In contrast, it seemed to have given her a new lease on life, for which I was pleased.
I was broken out of my reverie with the sound of an engine coming up Sam and Emily's drive. The pack usually just walked or ran to Sam's and given that they were all here anyway, it could only mean that Jared and his imprint had arrived.
We all joined the pack in the living room, Emily leaving the stew to simmer. I settled into Paul's embrace, Emily sat at Sam's side and Leah squeezed herself between Jacob and Seth. Paul held me close, nose buried in my hair and silently, we all waited.
The girl who walked in behind Jared could honestly have passed for another female wolf. Tall and leggy, with dark hair and darker eyes, she had a pretty face, slim physique and a quietly confident demeanour.
"Kim," Jared began, "You remember Paul Lahote and Leah Clearwater?" Jared began the introductions. "Paul's holding Bella - his girl. Next to Leah are Seth and Jacob. Across from them are Sam and his girl - Emily." Her brow crinkled in confusion, looking between Sam, Leah and Emily. From my place in Paul's lap, I shook my head quickly, silently instructing her not to comment. Fortunately, she saw me and nodded her understanding. "On the floor are Embry, Quil, Collin and Brady."
Once introductions had been made, everyone dispersed into smaller groups. While Sam, Jared and Paul talked work by the grill, Embry, Jacob and Quil had taken to throwing a football around the back yard. Seth, Collin and Brady had settled down in front of the T.V with the XBOX, leaving us four girls in the kitchen in an awkward silence.
"So," I began, "You were studying, I hear?"
Kim nodded in confirmation. "Nursing. I'll start my residency at the hospital in Forks."
"That's exciting," I commented, "Are you looking forward to it?"
She shrugged. "Work's work, I suppose. It will be nice to put what I learnt into practise though. What about you? What is it that you're doing?"
I smiled, feeling suddenly awkward. It had just occurred to me that I was the youngest female in the pack and the only one pregnant. "Um… I'm a senior in high school."
"Really? You look so much older though…"
"Jared hasn't told you anything, has he?" Leah queried, "He's such a shit."
"What do you mean?" Kim asked, confused.
"As La Push 'protectors'," I began, "We're not allowed to leave the reservation."
"But what about school? Careers?" Kim asked, suitably horrified.
"You didn't think this shit was all rainbows and sunflowers, I hope," Leah commented, "Scholarships were given up for this fuckery. It's not at all noble and heroic or whatever other shit the council has been spewing."
"I'm not sure about everyone else," I began, "Though I suppose it doesn't matter with me being the only one graduating this year, but I'm doing an online business degree. I hope to open a bakery."
"Sam hates it," Emily commented, "He hates that none of the wolves can further their education - can do something with their lives."
"I would too," Kim acknowledged. She righted the thin wire framed glasses she wore and shrugged. "What can you do though?"
I agreed. At the moment, nothing at all could be done.
-!- -#-
Author's Note: Huge apology for the ridiculously long wait. Life, an M.I.A muse, things like that. FYI, I still haven't the foggiest idea of where this story is going but for the most basic of plots. Bare (bear?) with me. Hope you enjoyed. Drop me a review, if you please.
Until next time
-t