*A huge thank you to whoever nominated me, jacobiterose, for this year's Energize WIP Awards! If you enjoy this story, than please vote for "Just As I Am", at the following link. I love you all so very much and am so honored by the thought!

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*I in no way shape or form, own these characters, or any rights to the unbelievable fortune that Stephenie Meyer is surely raking in due to the invention of these characters.

*Thanks to all of the very kind reviews and critical, that I have received. You are the reason that I find the inspiration to continue to watch this world play out in my mind. I love each and every one of you dearly.

*I in no way shape or form, own these characters, or any rights to the unbelievable fortune that Stephenie Meyer is surely raking in due to the invention of these characters.

Chapter 25

Happiness Comes In Small Packages

A very frustrated and very pregnant Bella, was on the last of her midterms. Knowing that she was going to miss the next semester, made her work all the harder. She was frustrated with the constant need to pee, the constant pain in her lower back, and the current and overwhelming need to attack her husband and shag him like there was no tomorrow.

She had been so busy studying for midterms and Jake at the garage, that they hadn't gone to the bed at the same time in nearly a month. The sexual frustration alone, was about to kill her, not to mention that she was almost, but just not quite done with testing. She was near the top of the mountain of midterms, tired and beat up by the climb, just out of sight of the finish line. She decided in her head, while she should have been writing an essay portion of her test that when she was going to finish this test, that she was going to drive from Port Angeles to Old Quil's garage and kidnap her husband with less than honorable intentions, no matter that he liked it or not. She smiled to herself as she tapped her pen against her teeth. Jake would probably be more than willing, if she knew him. Quietly, she sighed and applied herself to finish the exam.

Forty five minutes and one bathroom trip later, she hoisted her round self out to her truck and turned over the engine, heading straight toward the garage. It was unusually cold for December 15th, so she pulled over and buttoned up her maternity wool, charcoal gray pea coat, that Alice had bought for her and pulled gloves out of the glove box, pulling on her knitted snow hat and whipped the truck into first and quickly climbed the gears.

Arriving at Quil's garage, she awkwardly maneuvered herself out of the truck with a one track mind. Spotting Jake talking to Embry, near an Audi, up on a lift, she ignored Embry's "Hey, Bella!" and looked at Jake, crooking her finger in his face.

"You! Get into the truck!" Jake had to smile at the round form of his gloriously pregnant wife.

"What do you mean, Bells, I still have two hours to go here." Embry silently looked from Bella to Jake and back again.

"I just finished midterms, I'm horny as hell and you're coming with me now, or so help me, I'll take you right here on this sidewalk!" Embry whistled and headed off in the opposite direction. Bella's cheeks were pink with cold and with hormones, but she meant business and Jake could see that.

"Well, you don't have to twist my arm! I'll just let the boys know that I'm heading home early to attend to some family business."

Bella stood, her belly protruding and her hands on her hips and just stared at him, tapping her foot. She looked a fearsome creature to behold. Round, recently dropped belly, enlarged breasts pushing against the fabric of her pea coat and a face that made no threat, but only promises, Jake decided that he had never seen her more beautiful in her life. Just as he realized that they had been staring at each other for a moment, he took off jogging into the garage. Bella saw him talk to a couple of guys in the pit and nodded. As he approached again, he grinned widely at her, making her toes curl and said. "Take me home and make me yours, baby! But we're not taking your truck, we're taking mine.

"Fine, I can hardly fit behind the steering wheel of mine, anyhow. Jake helped her into her side of his truck, but not before she wrapped her arms around him and passionately explored the inside of his mouth, hungry for him and making him stiff as a board, did he finally get her loaded and buckled in. They drove as fast as they could in silence. Each one had a need, an itch that needed to be scratched and simply looking at one another, would have them pulling over to the side of the road and scratching it right there.

Reaching their driveway, Jake rushed around to her side of the truck and picked her up into his arms and carried her bridal style up into the house, up the stairs, and into the bedroom. Once there, they locked eyes and tore each article of clothing off. Staring at Jake for just a second, Bella launched herself at him, pinning him on the bed and taking him into her with one thrust of her hips. Jake moaned, his eyes rolling back into his head. She was so tight from so long without sex and so, so, slippery wet for him. She pumped up and down quickly, seeking her much needed release, finally finding it, her walls convulsing around him, causing him to lose all control. They came together, both screaming out in their unbridled pleasure. Bella immediately rolled to the side and pressed her back into Jake as he rubbed her beautiful belly.

"Where did that come from, sexy Bells?"

"I don't know, but you're all that I could think about during midterms. Let's just hope that I didn't subconsciously reflect that in the essay portion. They both giggled at the thought of this.

"Jake?

"Yeah?"

"I love you, so much."

Jake kissed the back of her neck, her ear and her hair. "I love you, too, my Bells."

"Jake?"

"Yeah?"

"I think that my water just broke."

Jake lay there for a moment. Then it registered. "What?"

"My water just broke, honey." Bella's voice was calm.

Jake jumped out of bed. "Oh my God, Bella! You say that as if you just finished the laundry or something. We have to call Carlisle. We have to call Dad and Lois. We have to call Charlie! Sam and Emily will want to know, too!" Jake was talking a mile an hour just as Bella's first contraction hit her.

"Jake?"

"What is it, baby? What can I do?" You can calm down and call Carlisle right now. He'll meet us at the hospital. On the way out, we can knock on Billy and Lois' door. We have time. On the way to the hospital, I'll call Charlie, Sam and Emily. My mother would probably like to know as well, but I'm fine right now. I just feel a little squeeze about every ten minutes. I've got a long time to go, so I need you to slow down."

"Okay. I'm sorry." Bella motioned for him to come to her and he did. Placing her arms around him she put her forehead on his. "Jacob Black? Bella Swan-Black is about to have our baby." She smiled at him calmly. Jake teared up and hugged her tightly to him. "I know, baby. Isn't it amazing?"

"Yes it is. Now let's give Carlisle a call, shall we?" Bella remained calm, cool, and collective.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Four hours later, it began to snow. Thick feathery flakes fell outside of Bella's delivery suite. According to Carlisle, she was five centimeters and coming along nicely. Jake and Bella had decided not to find out the sex of the baby and let it be a surprise, just as the baby was. Bella tried to concentrate on who this new person in their lives would be, as another contraction began to tighten down on her like a vice. "Breathe, Bella. Imagine each of those snowflakes as an individual. There is no other like them, no matter how hard they fall." Emily gently smoothed her hair back from her face as Jake held her hand.

Just then, in walked Carlisle Cullen. Walking straight over to the paper feed, he studied Bella's contractions and the baby's heartbeat. Looking up at Bella with a smile, he assured her that all was well. "You're doing great, Bella. You know, you have quite a fanfare out in that waiting room. Both the Black's, Charlie, Sam, Emily and all of the Cullen's are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Baby Black." Carlisle gave Jake a slap on the back. "You're holding up well, too, Dad." Jake gave him a nervous smile.

Just as Carlisle turned to leave, Bella stopped him. "Carlisle?"

"Yes, Bella, what can I get for you?" A contraction started and she began to breathe harder, but continued her speech. "I just finished midterms today. That gives me six weeks to recover. Couldn't I go back for next semester and graduate on time?" Bella blew out breaths, suddenly, the contraction getting the best of her.

Carlisle tried to take on a reproachful look, but just couldn't. He began to laugh. "Bella Black, you are having a baby. What do you say to us talking this over after the baby comes?"

"I'm sure that I can get someone to watch the baby only when I'm in classes. I would be home with him or her after. I promise that the baby will get all of the love in the world and that I'll get my homework done."

Emily quickly jumped at this chance. "I'll watch the baby for her!" Auntie Emily couldn't resist the idea of taking care of the new baby.

Carlisle shook his head. "Bella, you are something else. We'll talk about it after you give birth and get a bit of rest. I'll consider it." And with that, he left the room and any chance of any more arguments. He knew that soon, Bella would be in no condition to talk, much less argue at the rate that she was progressing.

By one o'clock in the morning, the snow was coming down fast and furious and Bella's contractions were matching the ferocity of the snow. She barely had time to catch her breath between the indescribably painful contractions. As the last one hit her, she could see dark creeping in from the edges of her vision. She barely saw Carlisle come in, but moaned, leaning back on Jacob, while Carlisle checked her once more. Looking up from the end of the bed, he nodded to Jake. "It's time." Carlisle arose from his stool and called for a team of delivery nurses who seemed to file in like a group of busy ants, anticipating and knowing exactly how to prepare. They were rolling in trays of instruments, turning on the baby warmer, and turning on the overhead, oversized light that hung over Carlisle's head. Then, everyone waited in place as Carlisle checked once more. "I'm feeling the top of a head in there. Bella, you're ready to push, so when you feel your next contraction, just give in to the urge and focus on putting pressure right where you feel my hand, okay?"

Bella nodded. Jake slung his leg around the other side of her and held her up, sitting behind her and propping her on his chest. "I'm right here, Bells. You can do this."

"What's that smell, Jake?"

Jake smelled it too and tears welled up in his eyes, knowing exactly what it was. "It's wild strawberries and honeysuckle. It's my mother, Bella. She's come to be with us. She's come to see her first grandchild be born. In Bella's present state of half blacking out, she nodded, feeling the slight and sudden breeze in the room, caressing her face as in a comforting motion. It shored her and made her feel a strength to move on, that was quickly dissipating.

"Okay, I feel one coming!" Suddenly Bella had her war paint on. "Help me out here, Sarah." Bella mumbled, causing Carlisle to look at her, concerned for a moment, but Jake just held her tighter, smiling at the presence of his mother, there to comfort Bella.

The contraction knocked her off kilter with its full force and she pushed back against it with all of her strength. It seemed as if she pushed for hours, but it had only been thirty minutes.

"Keep strong, Bella. This is a big baby and you're a small woman, but you can do this. I'm going to perform a cut on your perineum, called episiotomy. You're going to feel some burning, but I've given you some topical anesthetic. This is going to help this big little guy or gal get out, before you're too exhausted , okay?" Bella nodded, half way coherently.

"Wait a second, you're going to cut her?" Jake held onto her protectively and supportively from behind.

"It's to give more room for the baby to come out, Jake. The baby's head is just a tad large for Bella to deliver and I don't want to use suction or forceps. This is a much safer alternative. I'll stitch her up afterward and she'll be right as rain in six weeks." Jacob looked nervous, scared, and emotionally exhausted, having watched Bella go through this.

"Trust me Jacob. You know that I wouldn't hurt Bella and besides, this certainly wouldn't be the first time that I had to give her stitches." Carlisle smiled at Jacob. Jake couldn't help but flash a nervous smile, then hugged Bella to him.

"Ten blade." Carlisle called, and the room paused while he made the incision. Bella barely winced as he made it. "Okay, Bella, now, with the next contraction, give me the best that you've got and let's get this baby out of there." Watching the monitor, Carlisle saw a contraction building. Here comes one, Bella.

"No, Shit!" Bella screamed.

"That's right, Bella, get mad at me and push this baby out!" It was the first time that Jake had ever seen Carlisle shout before, but before a minute had passed, Carlisle's expression changed to a smile. "The baby is crowning! Good Bella!"

"Oh look at that head of hair." A nurse smiled.

This made Bella curious and so, she began to put her all into bearing down. Three pushes later, the baby's head appeared. Bella was breathing as if she had just run a marathon. She looked at the night snow falling, for comfort and strength.

She leaned back against Jake, drawing from his strength.

"Okay, Bella. That was the hard part, kiddo. One more good push for me!" Carlisle was focused now on the baby. As the next contraction wrenched her body, she bore down, with a keening wail and found that her own was matched by a tiny, more high pitched one. "The baby?" Bella was suddenly full of energy. "What is it, Carlisle?" Jake held her from behind and she relaxed into his solid comfort. The contractions had stopped.

"Jacob, Bella, it's a girl!" Carlisle suddenly held up a beautiful, pink, squawling little person. Bella's eyes grew wide and she grabbed Jake's arms, wrapping them around her and they wept together. Cutting the cord, a nurse took their little baby girl to the warming table, taking it's vitals as she cried with all of her might. It was a beautiful melodic sound. Suddenly the essence of Sarah Black reached a crescendo and wrapped Jacob and Bella in warmth. The nurse at the warming table seemed to smell the delightful smell for a moment, then looking around her, it was gone.

As the baby was proclaimed strong and healthy, she was handed to Bella and she and Jake looked down into their new daughter's face with wonderment as Carlisle stitched Bella up.

"Hello, there." Tears slid down Jake's suddenly love stricken face as he gently touched the her face and little fingers, as they wrapped around one of his own. "What are we going to call you?"

There was no question for Bella, she looked up into Jake's face. "Sarah. Sarah Wilde Black." Jacob smiled at this.

"I love it!" Hello, Sarah. Your grandmother would love you so much! Emily, who had been standing out of the way, spoke up. "Would you like for me to let everyone know the good news?"

"Yes, thank you Emily." Jacob looked up only for a moment, wrapped up in the gaze of the second love of his life. Bella cuddled her close and smelled the smell of baby hair, making her feel intoxicated. "Welcome, Sarah." Bella smiled as tears rolled down her face. She brought her baby up to her lips and placed a gentle kiss on that head full of black hair.

Emily appeared around the corner of the waiting room as it fell silent.

She waited, just for a dramatic pause. "It's a girl!" A cheer went up that nearly rattled the windows of the waiting area.

"Momma, Daddy and Baby are just fine. Their cleaning up the baby and finishing up some things with Bella and then Carlisle will come and get you."

Charlie gave Emily a hug. "Thank you, Emily!" Emily just smiled, returning the hug. They all rejoiced until Carlisle appeared. "Charlie, Billy, Lois, you can come and see your new granddaughter. The baby is in wonderful health and so is Bella." Turning to Charlie, he praised Bella. "She's a tough one, Charlie." Charlie smiled on with pride. "Follow me. Bella has been taken to a Mother-Baby room and is ready to receive you.

The trio followed, antsy with anticipation. Reaching her room they all came in and got their first glimpse of their now sleeping granddaughter. Bella handed her to Billy. Jacob choked up as he spoke to his Father.

"Dad, I'd like you to meet your granddaughter, Sarah Wilde Black." Billy broke down, holding baby Sarah close to him. Charlie even had tears in his eyes. He knew that somewhere, Sarah was watching and smiling.

Baby Sarah was passed around and met her grandparents and then in two's and threes, she was introduced to the Cullen's and then the pack. By the time that everyone had seen Bella and Jacob's new little miracle, Bella felt her eyelids growing heavy, which didn't escaped Carlisle's notice.

"Okay everyone", he announced. "Visitation is over. Mommy needs some sleep now." He gently took Sarah from Emily and placed her in her bassinette. "She really is perfect." Carlisle smiled at Bella and Jacob. Sarah is going to go to the nursery now and I want a full night of rest out of you, young lady. If you want to return to your classes second semester, then you'd best get to mending, now."

Bella smiled up at him. "I'm not in as much as a hurry to leave her as I was a while ago, but I promise to get plenty of rest. Her mommy needs to finish out her school and kick some butt, so that she can spend even more time with Sarah." Bella looked at her adoringly.

"Well, then, sleep tonight and we'll get you walking around a bit tomorrow, but tonight you rest."

Saying their goodnights to Sarah, Jake folded out the chair bed next to Bella and they both slept as they had never slept before. It was the sleep of the emotionally and physically drained, but the peaceful and happy as well. Sarah was here and their world had tilted on its axis as she worked her way within seconds, into the heart of their family.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jacob and Bella came home from the hospital on December, 17th and were quickly inducted into what is the sleepless parent society. Jake had definitely become a hands on Dad. He and Bella would switch shifts during the night. Little Sarah had not been so little, being nine pounds and thirteen ounces at birth and she had an appetite to match. They took turns on a two hour schedule for the first week, for middle of the night feedings. Even when Jacob returned to work after a week, he still took his shifts, recognizing that Bella worked just as hard, caring for Sarah all day long as he did at the shop.

Carlisle had reluctantly, but finally given Bella the go ahead to attend second semester classes, to Emily's delight. Lois was kind enough to enroll Bella in her second semester classes, due to the fact that Bella was supposed to manage as little activity as possible during the first two weeks. This turned out to be quite an oversight, as caring for a newborn didn't look like rest in the least bit. Bella laughed at the advice to sleep when her newborn slept, from the book that she was reading, due to the fact that it was only in these two to three hour intervals that she had to shower, clean, or cook. She cherished these early days with baby Sarah, but fully admitted that she didn't have what it took to be a domestic engineer. She desperately wanted to get out of the house, but she was on a no drive rule until six weeks post-partum and found that she was stuck inside, due to the fact that it was either freezing rain or snowing outside at all times. Typical Northwest Washington weather.

When baby Sarah was ten days old, however, things began to look up. Jake and Alice had cooked up a plan to cheer Bella up. After Jake had gotten off of work, he when to a nearby Christmas Tree Farm and picked out the tallest and most full fir tree that he could find and cut it. The Cullen's met him in Bella and Jake's driveway, with two carloads of greenery and an Alice sized order of Christmas lights. In no time at all, the halls were decked and a big Christmas tree filled the large living room, reminding Bella of her wedding day. Twinkling colored lights and her special hand blown ornaments decorated the tree. Garlands strung with white lights, swaged gracefully in windows and doorways and Icicle Lights twinkled from the roofline of their house, thanks to Emmet, Jasper and Carlisle. Snow fell in thick, wide flakes and suddenly, Bella's life was alight with Christmas cheer. It was announced that Christmas Day this year, was going to be baby Sarah's special day, courtesy of Emily and the Cullen's. Emily would be preparing a sumptuous Christmas dinner and Alice, Rosalie, and Esme, would be planning a drop by shower for, who they now knew, was baby Sarah Black. Bella had asked that they hold off on a shower until after Sarah was born so that they didn't end up with all green and yellow clothing. The date was set, Bella's house was alight with festivity and she enjoyed baby Sarah's eyes wide, propped up in her infant seat, seeing for the first time, lights hung on a Christmas tree. Her little face was full of awe and wonder. Bella never would have guessed that she would be here with her new precious baby, this time last year, but now she thanked her oversight on antibiotics mixed with birth control pills, for the precious little wonder, who shared the joys of the season with her and Jake, for the first time.