Chapter 21

Disclaimer: This world is Stephenie Meyer's. Live with it.

Blake's POV

"My stomach is sweating by now," I sighed and fell back against the bed. "I don't care about your 'more attentive touch.' Paul, you can't feel it."

"He," Paul chastised and pressed further against my stomach. He insisted the baby was a boy.

"You are going to make me pee." A grin appeared on his lips and he finally released the pressure. Then he climbed over top of me while pulling my shirt up further.

"I love you so much," Paul laughed with a smirk, his face hovering inches over mine.

"I know. I love you too," a smile tugged at my lips. He was so happy about having a child while I was terrified. I hated the idea of giving up the rest of my life, of my career. "I'm scared, Paul."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure I want this as much as I should," I admitted guiltily. What mother didn't want her child? How could I be so horrible? My own mother wanted me but my father surely didn't.

"Think of all the positive things. We get to teach him to read, watch his baseball games, and so much more. We made a human being! We'll go to her dance recitals and clap even when she sucks. You can braid her hair and I'll beat up the boys chasing after her," Paul's eyes pled mine earnestly. He tried to convey how much fun it would be but I just couldn't see it. The years of my life wasted. The sleepless nights would tear into my soul. It all weighed too deeply on my shoulders. "You raised Theo so far. Besides, I'll be here with you whenever it gets overwhelming."

"It's a baby, Paul! They aren't indestructible. They are picky and whiney and always getting hurt and sick. I'm almost out a job," I cried in exhaustion. "You won't ever be home to do those things. I'll clean up the puke, I'll wash the laundry, and I'll be the one slowly losing my mind!"

Paul's eyes turned a darker shade of brown, the caramel speck eyeing me carefully. When he spoke, he spoke with such grief and seriousness that I couldn't stand to look away. "Blake, I spent three years taking care of my little sister. I have enough experience to know that they only get sick so rarely you don't notice it. I know they will be the ones knocking on your door asking to cuddle with you. And I know that I make enough time to take care of a child on my own so I'm sure together we can do just fine," he growled, taking his hand and pulling me closer. I fell limp in shock. He had never once mentioned of a little sister. I knew his parents got divorced but where did the sister go? His hand grew clammy on my back. It was obviously a touchy subject but one that should have been breached long ago. I could almost imagine Paul's little sister having his eyes and nose, with much rounder, innocent eyes than he. I could picture Paul picking her up when she cried over a scraped knee or giving her a bath. It gave me hope.

"You have a sister?" I repeated. Paul sighed and nodded his head. "Where-?"

"Dead." Paul said, his eyes turning stone cold. He clenched my hand so hard it hurt but I didn't scream out. Dead. My imaginary baby's face turned pale and motionless, the smile falling off her beautiful face. My heart clenched for Paul, for the baby girl. "Mom put vodka instead of water in Lucy's cup. Died of alcohol poison that night."

"So when you said you moved here with your father...?" I sat up, leveling my eyes with his. They told of a far worse story than he gave me, but he didn't need my compassion anymore. Something told me he moved on without my help. He was Paul, for crying out loud, I was pretty sure nothing could break his frame. Injure it could but Paul would never break.

"I mean Dad came home from the army for her service and moved so I didn't keep trying to 'break into prison' and kill my mom," Paul summed up. I began to ask a question but he answered before. "I was only nine."

"Paul, why didn't you tell me?" My hands clambered and pulled him against my body, his head resting against my chest while I clung to his hair. His arms weakly wrapped around my waist.

"It's the past," he declared, tilting his brown eyes to meet my matching ones. "Please Blake, believe me when I say taking care of a baby is so much better than you can imagine. Everything little thing they do is like winning a Nobel Prize. And I won't miss a damn thing. I'll fucking stop phasing if I have to."

I thought about his promises. I knew it was a struggle to stop or he would have already. He did know what he talked about. He went through the first three years. Why would they be the hardest? We were the perfect first parents. I took care of a teenager and he a baby. We'd master the in between with ease.

Finally, I cleared my throat and leaned over, pressing my lips to his forehead where his hair normally covered. "Shut up then," I murmured slowly, eyes closing. "No damn cussing around our baby."

He chuckled, his hands reaching up under my shirt to rub circles on my back. "Our baby," he sighed. Maybe there would be the outnumbered good days, but with Paul, I decided I would do anything to hear his laugh.

"Hey Paul?" I whispered. He threw his head back lazily to peer up.

"Hmm?"

"When can you remind me how we made our baby?" I strummed through his fluffy hair. He smelled so good, so warm and inviting. Paul winked, turning his head face first against my chest and rubbing his nose back and forth with laughter.

"Soon, babe, soon," Paul promised. I'd hold him to it. "I'm definitely going to take advantage of our time that we don't have to use a condom."

"Really?" I giggled, feeling more heated than before. He nodded and trailed a hand up my thigh as we talked. Soon he found my panties.

"A thong? Just for me, Princess?" Paul kissed my chest with little pecks. His hands fiddled with my underwear, searching their way under. When they did, I gasped.

"Come here," I hissed and tangled my hands in his shirt, pulling him down on top of me. His lips smashed against mine, moving and taking control. Normally I would but he was just so good at it. While my tongue ran along his lips, his hands teased me. This time, I spread my legs to wrap around his waist at the same time as giving his hands room.

As his fingers plunged into me, a loud knock sounded on the door. I moaned and tried to ignore it by increasing our kissing speed. It came again.

"What do you want?" Paul growled as I kissed along his glorious jaw line. I held my concentration even though I wanted to fall back and feel the full force of his fingers.

"Is Prego in there? I need her advice," Theo pounded on the door again.

"He's my little brother. If he really needs the help he'll have to come in here," I mumbled against Paul's skin. He nodded and continued his exploration.

"You asked for it," Theo shouted before jiggling with the locked knob. I didn't think he could pick the locks but he did. I stilled and peered over Paul's shoulder. He didn't move…or take his fingers out of me. "Are you-? Gross." He walked around so that there wasn't a chance he could accidentally look up my skirt. I kicked Paul, conveying my need to separate but he didn't move, only gained a devious smirk. "What does this mean?" Theo held up black panties.

"It means you've been doing laundry?" I breathed deeply through my words, still trying to concentrate. It didn't help that Paul's warm breath was against my neck, body pressing onto mine, or that his fingers in my vagina slowly started to move in and out. Oh I'd kill him once Theo left.

"No. Johanna slipped this in my pocket. Why?"

"She wants to fuck, something we are trying to do. Leave," Paul groaned, finally pulling his fingers out. I sighed in relief. The tension in my stomach didn't lessen even as he finally rolled off me.

"What size?" I peered.

"Medium..."

"Good," that was my size. "She obviously wants me to have them." He scoffed.

"You don't want to wear them. They are very much used," he smiled to himself.

"That's a girls way of saying to meet up with her and fuck." I cocked an eyebrow. "What about her sister?"

"I'm not sure but...I need to end it," Theo groaned, already pulling out his phone to dial Seth's number.

"Thanks for ruining the mood bro," Paul yelled. "See how you like it when I walk in on you and Johanna!" I giggled and wrapped his heavy arm around my shoulders, snuggling into his warm arms. It was so warm I got chills on parts of my legs that didn't have contact with him.

I decided to kiss up to him. "Why are you so grumpy?" I frowned playfully. Paul's lips inched towards a smile.

"Why are you adorable?" He countered with chortles. I frowned. "You know, with mine and your looks, we'll have the hottest baby alive."

"Hmm," I rolled on his chest, resting my chin on my hands. "Boys will be chasing after our little girl."

"To hell they are," Paul snorted. "If I'm one thing, I'm protective: of you first but my kids will be next."

"Next?" I snorted. "I thought all parents think of their kids first."

"I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm a selfish person and I couldn't go on without you. Kids will be a part of both of us so it will be…interesting," Paul rested his hands over my butt, under my skirt, and pulled me up closer to him. He whispered teasingly, "You know, when I do this, it almost looks like you have boobs."

I smirked and squeezed his biceps with a little too much nail usage. "You know, when I do this, I can almost hear you scream like a girl!"

"Touché," Paul kissed me sloppily and grinned. "It's okay baby, your flat chest makes it easier for me to pull you close."

"I'm going to take that as a compliment." I laughed. Paul knew how to insult a person yet also make her day.

We stayed like that for a while. Neither of us wanted to move but something pulled at my mind. Two things became clear to me while I lied on the surgical bed with my brain wide open. We knew Theo was actually my brother. But something else had drifted into my mind, something that brought up memories.

"Do you remember the day we went cliff diving?" I whispered, my cheek pressed to his heated chest. Paul's hands gripped tighter around my back.

"Yes." His voice was rough and cracked. That turned out to be a very unpleasant day for both of us.

"Do you remember what I told you I saw?"

"Yes."

He didn't sound scared of the topic. He sounded sure, more sure than I was. I took a deep breath. It was one of the reasons I didn't like being knocked out for so long that day. Talking to Paul normally helped, I reminded myself.

"I saw that again in the hospital, but I remembered it this time. I – I think it really happened," I craned my neck to look up at him. He stared coldly at the ceiling. His hands clenched even harder on my back. It would be sore the next day but I was thankful of them now. They reminded me that he was there, right with me.

"I was afraid of that." He admitted. My eyebrows rose but I didn't ask a question. Paul would speak when he was ready. He obviously had some choice words about it. It puzzled me that he wasn't so surprised. "Theo remembered the same story about his sister. I had only guessed before, but when we found out about the two of you…"

"You didn't tell me?" I asked.

"No." Paul cleared his throat and looked to me. "You needed to open up about it. It helps to forget."

"Is that what you did with your family?" I cocked an eyebrow. He smiled faintly.

"No. Jared forced it out of me," Paul shook his head. "Are you okay?"

"I am. Thanks to you," I squeezed my arms around him. "You taught me to get over it without even knowing what was wrong. I can't thank you enough."

"Don't." Paul pressed his lips to my forehead. "Don't."

Whenever a person finds out a medical diagnosis they immediately notice the symptoms...ten times worse than they were before. Think about it. The person is always looking out for the symptoms to be prepared so it's natural to make yourself believe you feel them just to end your wait, subconsciously of course. Basically, the person becomes a hypochondriac.

That is almost always the case for pregnant women. "She's peeing...again." Theo yelled to Paul. I came out swatting his shoulder. "I thought that only happens when Bellamy's big enough to squish your bladder."

"That's right," I hopped in the truck beside Paul and Theo. "First I puked, then I puked again, then I peed, like every human being does."

"I hate this crap," Paul sighed. "When do you get horny?" I flipped him off.

"I always am but somebody is too busy," I rolled my eyes. I had been out of the hospital for a week now. All my stuff from the hospital was in a box in the corner of my room. "Who said his name is Bellamy?"

"Who said she is a he?" Paul snorted. Paul was the only one who thought the baby would be a girl. He desperately wanted one because 'he couldn't spoil me enough but he could her.'

"Bellamy sounds cool. If I have a nephew, there's no way I'm allowing you two to name him something like William," Theo's hands drummed on the window. Paul pulled in a parking spot and we began walking out. Sue Clearwater was having the Pratt's and we over for dinner. Seth and Theo decided now would be the best time to come clean. Johanna had been dropping hints for a while. Theo just had to ask her and he was sure she'd say. "Are you all going to say you are married?"

"Wasn't planning on it," Paul shrugged. "Why?"

"Her parents are very strict. Can we not tell them about Blake being pregnant?" Theo asked. "Joy and Johanna know but they haven't told."

I shrugged though Paul looked unsettled about it. "It's fine," I assured, nudging Paul who finally agreed. "They'll notice eventually and we don't have any wedding plans."

"Their son is going to phase soon," Paul informed me. "By then, the parents will be far too connected to still be in the dark. Hopefully, they'll see imprinting like most of us see it: a less strict marriage contract, ultimately."

I still had trouble understanding how it all worked. Love never was simple to me. This was very intense but I was beginning to grasp. Only Seth's family was there with Sue cooking in the kitchen. I all but moaned at the smell. Finally something smelled delicious enough that I wasn't upchucking. Paul's hand slipped into mine and squeezed, sharing my love for food.

"Tell me the game plan," Paul grinned like a child while sitting in the last chair of the living room. I plopped myself on his lap and stretched out while they talked.

"First we'll show everyone the house. Johanna and Theo will stay back talking a bit," Seth began with a grin. I waved to Leah who was in the kitchen. I knew I should have offered to help, but I was absolutely no help. We wanted it to be edible right?

"I'll tell her my suspicions and she'll confirm it. Then Seth and I will get into a 'fight.'" Theo grinned.

"It's all planned out. After that it will fall into place."

"Are you sure you want to do this in front of everyone?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Paul wouldn't be there of course but that was still a lot of people. He would leave for 'work' in a couple minutes. It turned out that his work actually was what they called patrol.

Sue came dashing in the living room while Leah held down the fort. "Blake Raine, come here this instant!" She commanded but I could hear her excitement in the words. I glanced between the guys and got up. She pulled me into a hug the moment I got near her. "Is it true? You are pregnant?"

"Yes, but-," I cringed. Women of LaPush families were much like my mom: personally pushy.

"That's wonderful! Congratulations. I never knew you were looking to have a baby," Sue hugged the life out of me again. I locked eyes over her shoulder with Paul, willing him to save me again. He chuckled and trotted over.

"That wasn't the plan," I mumbled, glaring at Paul. "I still blame him."

"His balls work too well, Blake. That's why all his past girlfriends used birth control pills and used condoms!" Leah shouted with laughter. I grinned. Even though tension between us would always be high, I respected Leah enough to call her an acquaintance and almost friend. At the least, we still teased each other.

"What can I say?" Paul pulled me to his chest and hugged me from behind. "It's working out well, don't you think, Sue?" She nodded with a smile.

"Hypocrite!" Seth yelled from the living room. I forgot. Sue was a strong woman with sturdy opinions. If she saw Seth smooching on the couch she'd go by and smack him upside the head, let alone let him have premarital sex like we did.

"You hush up. They are adults, unlike you," Sue rolled her eyes. "You will be lovely parents."

"That's a first," I snorted and thanked her.

Paul tilted his head to the side and sighed. "They are coming. I'd better go before Sam comes knocking down the door. Save some food for me, Sue!"

"Of course, Paul."

I spun in his arms, leaning against his strong hands. He winked and pressed his lips to mine. I ran a hand through his hair and finally pulled away. "Love you." For a response, I kissed his cheek and shoved him towards the door. When he left, things became more boring to me, but I remembered that this would be an interesting dinner and I needed to be there for Theo at the very least. Also, I was starving.

The doorbell rang, causing the two boys to race towards the door. I beat them to it with laughter and pulled it open while they wrestled playfully to get closer to the girls. There stood a picture perfect family.

I was kidding, obviously.

Joy was lovely as ever in her Lily Pulitzer green and pink sundress. Her brown hair and brown eyes made her seem so innocent. She wore wedges. Immediately, I gave her a hug. Then I looked to her side.

Twins. They were totally identical yet utterly opposite. Their faces matched up perfectly. Johanna however stood with an edge to her stance. She had a leather black jacket on over a white shirt with dark ripped jeans. Her hair was died a beach blonde - something I envied. Very few could pull off that look. It made her look saucy and racy, a girl you would see in a porn magazine, though I didn't associate her actions with theirs. Her make up was perfection. She took the stormy eye shadow to a new level. That along with her long lashes made her the younger version of me, though I never had the materials she had. Try thinking of me like that with cheaper clothes.

Behind her stood their parents. They eyed me suspiciously, like I was too young to be a parent. I was, but that didn't matter for the moment. Off to the side stood the boy around the age of fourteen. He was a male version of Johanna. Whatever sparked these two, it didn't affect Joy.

"You must be Johanna. It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you," I shook her hand. She smiled curtly and walked inside. "Hello, I'm Theo's foster mom, Blake Raine."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Diane Pratt and this is Jim Pratt," the woman spoke with a criticizing tone.

"Sue is finishing up dinner. Right this way," I pulled them along. "Who is this?" I asked.

"I'm Jason," the kid said. He was what I pictured Embry was like as a child: a little lost but still cheery enough to go on. He had a plain white shirt on with jeans while his hair was combed back messily, most likely a result of Diane pestering him to 'clean up a bit.'

Sue came around the corner with a warmer smile than I pulled. Show off. "Welcome. Dinner is running a bit late. Seth can show you a tour of the house if you'd like," she offered.

So began the plan.

. . .

I grew exhausted of spying on conversations while also keeping up with the group. Though there wasn't much to be seen, Seth often backtracked in order to make sure there was time for Theo and Johanna to talk. "Don't be so rude, Jo. Theo, if you don't want to answer questions I'm going up with Seth," Joy sighed in annoyance. Seth's beaming smile shone ready to answer any question about the design of the house. Sue was a true Native American and had every detail of the house in their traditions.

"Jo?" Theo asked, nudging Johanna.

"Our nickname. We call the other Jo since it works for both," Johanna bit her lip like she was hiding something she hated. It was clear despite their differences the girls loved each other. It was actually kind of cute.

I fell in step beside her parents. It was a long journey and her parents were considerate but I could see them judging most items. Eventually, we made it to the table after a long, long tour. "So, Blake, you are dating Paul?" Diane asked. Somehow I felt like they were tying to approve of me for their daughters.

"Yes," I cleared my throat and smiled.

"Is it serious?" I stared back at them in a warning. People couldn't just pick into my personal life without my knowing them. It irked me. Joy sat with a curious expression like nothing was wrong. I knew it now. She was the daddy's girl, the sweetheart. If they only knew what she has done...

"Mom, stop it," Johanna startled me. There was where the difference was made. Joy was their perfect child while these two struggled and failed to compete with her. I hated that because it seemed like Johanna was the better of the twins at the moment, no offense.

"Don't speak like that to your mother," Jim scolded. He looked to Theo again. "Theo, how have you been son?" So he liked Theo.

"Peachy," his smile was tight. He was a good actor. Johanna sat on his left side while Joy on his right, with Seth next to her. As we began to eat, I, being the spy that I was, saw Johanna toss Theo a piece of paper. They silently had a conversation while simultaneously drawing the attention of everyone. Joy cleared her throat.

"Is everything okay?" she gulped. Anxiety pulsed within her eyes.

"Seth, a word," Theo growled. Acting: on point. They both stepped into the living room, which was only separated by a glass door that kept us from hearing their words. It was a sight to see, both of them shouting and shoving each other.

"Don't you think you should do something?" Johanna stood in concern.

"They do this a lot," Sue sighed. It made us look like terrible parents but it had to be done. "How about some more chicken? Anyone?" She hurried into the kitchen leaving me stranded. I glanced over in time to see Theo throw the first punch.

"I really think they need stopped," Joy stood now, too.

"Boy will be boys," I cringed. The girls looked appalled and dashed towards the room. When they opened the door, we heard what they were shouting about.

"How could you do that? Joy is my girlfriend!" Theo tackled him to the floor. They kept wrestling.

"You always spend more time with Johanna anyways. It just happened," Seth snapped towards him. There was no winning side.

Joy was crying into Johanna's side, aware that her secret was out. Johanna held her stiffly, like she also blamed her. I watched numbly while they fought. Suddenly, Seth snapped to attention and looked up, an expression of terror on his face. Theo punched him too hard due to the distraction.

"Dude," Seth groaned. "Dude stop. Listen." Theo took a few seconds to listen and then froze. The boys rolled off each other, scrambling to their feet.

Theo cursed and ran towards me, "Blake, you need to leave. Now."

"Why?" I asked, unsure why they suddenly stopped.

"What just happened?" Johanna stomped in her black boots towards Theo.

"Don't you owe him an apology?" I didn't know whom Diane was talking to but nobody listened to her. Leah burst into the room, grabbing me by the arm.

"Let's go," she pulled me unwillingly towards the door. "They are coming."

"Who?"

"Cops. And not Charlie," Leah thrust the door open. I stumbled down the stairs towards the cars. All of ours were blocked in. There was a fire burning somewhere near. The smell drifted in my nose. "Come on! We'll hot wire a car." I tried following but my stomach heaved and I puked in the bushes. Leah backtracked and tapped her foot impatiently while I continued hacking up every piece of food I consumed earlier. "Blake!"

I stood and wiped my mouth, running two steps before more vomit came up. Leah halted when I was done. "They are here." She growled.

"We don't know they are after me," I coughed. Theo and Seth ran out the door.

"What did you do?" Seth gaped at the line of swat team vans lining the street.

My face paled. "I - I think they found the papers," I gulped, turning to Theo.

"Agent Andromeda Raine, you are under arrest for withholding information from the state," they yelled into a bullhorn. I cursed under my breath. My papers explaining every detail of the wolves were still in my pack of supplies from the hospital. I didn't send them, I was sure, but if they found those...

"What did you do?" Theo grabbed my arm. I cringed and looked down.

"They wouldn't be here if they had found it all. They somehow got a glimpse of a paper I wrote about you all..." I trailed off when a line of men broke off and made their way towards us. Guns cocked. They wanted me at no cost.

"Theo, go get those papers," Leah commanded. He protested. "We'll protect her as much as we can, but there will be nobody left to protect Johanna if they get those papers." Theo glanced wistfully back towards me. He hugged me, whispered I love you into my ear, and kissed my cheek before leading a large group of men off into the woods, where they would try to follow him. Hopefully they weren't as fast. Within a minute, popping of gunshots came. I cringed but something was off about those noises. That bullet couldn't be meant to kill. It was too soft, but why?

"Why would you write it down?" Seth cursed, looking at the many groups of threatening men.

"To clear my head, I swear I never sent it in," I felt for my gun and gripped its cool barrel. I gasped. The cameras. They caught something on camera, blew it up, and read it. That or they had a nurse working for them. I thought back on the sweet nurses that smiled too large at me. I flinched when a large howl filled the air. For once, they didn't howl due to vampires.

Slowly, the air filled with a grey, smoky cloud. "Tear gas," I choked out, yanking the two Clearwater's back. We were too late. Soon none of us could see or breathe. "Phase!" I pled but was answered with silence. I felt the air around me and came up with nothing until I fell over what I thought was a log. When my hands found it, I realized it was a body.

I clung to the neck of Seth and pried out the four tranquilizer darts. Still he moaned and tried to move. Another dart shot inches from my hand. Two feet away laid Leah. Grinding my teeth, I whipped out my gun. I wasn't going down without a fight. I had myself and a baby to protect and dammit I was going to live.

I crawled behind a car and shot blindly. Then a stinging pain filled through my neck. My energy drained out of me. Exhaustion coursed through me. Seconds later another dart hit my neck. Even though I picked them out seconds after I was hit, I was out like a light within a minute. My head fell against the rocks silently.

From there I didn't wake.

A/N: That was the last prewritten chapter. I don't have much times these days so I need a lot of motivation (reviews). How was that for a cliff hanger?