AN: My thanks go to each and every one of you, for your patience.

Is everyone happy with two-weekly posting? I'd rather do that and stick to a schedule than to run out of chapters and make you wait months again.

Thank you as always to the talented MeteroOnAMoonlessNight for her help, advice and beta skills, at the same time as she's writing, beta'ing for others, and publishing Jack & Crush. If you haven't read it go to her blog and get a copy from there - it's a great story and I can't wait to read the published version when it goes on sale on october 17th.

She's a busy lady!

My thanks also go out to my reviews, readers, followers and favoriters, without whom none of this would be possible.

Disclaimer: Stepehenie Meyer had a dream and gave us Twilight and we'll all be eternally grateful, and jealous. I don't own anything, not even one hair on Edward's head.

Now to continue onto the story, please review if you've a mind to do so.

Chapter 25

Bella

Life Goes On

The weeks following the deaths of Nancy and Mark were quiet ones while we all got on with the business of living. I became paranoid, constantly watching everyone, and I took to checking every single person over every day, making sure that I'd never miss anything again. Edward and Felix spent more time together now that Mark was gone, and they proved to be every bit as successful as Felix and Mark had been in making our lives easier.

Together, they managed to redirect the flow from the waterfall by using the remaining sections of the raft to create shower cubicles so keeping clean took up less time than before. Since we had no idea when—or even if—we would be rescued, everyone joined in with the task of making the shelters waterproof and adding privacy. With the skills Shelly had imparted, many of the group were now adept at weaving, and made panels that were used to create privacy both at the latrines and for the shelters, where they were able to be rolled up or down according to the wishes of the inhabitants and the weather.

James had taken it on himself to keep track of the days, and as Thanksgiving drew near, Charlotte, Siobhan, and Chelsea set about creating a feast. Seth and Sam had provided wild chickens, and Felix and Edward had built a barbeque out of large flat stones they had fished out of the lagoon, the griddle from the abandoned ones we'd used aboard the life raft and when we first arrived. Of course, the wood we burned wasn't as hot as coals would have been, but we managed to grill the fish that had been caught earlier that day.

Without the trappings of civilization, the day went back to its roots, with each of us giving thanks for our survival and for the presence of each of us. Many of us would have spent the day around the television watching sports or movies, and in its absence we finished the day by telling stories of our lives well into the night.

Unfortunately, real life bit again the next day with Alice rushing into our shelter. Initially, I was furious that she had overstepped the boundaries of privacy and was thankful that Edward and I had only been talking. She talked over my angry words, babbling on almost hysterically, the only clear words being Emily and feverish.

Leaping from our bed, I pulled on my shorts and picked up my almost useless medical bag, following a frantic Alice across the clearing to the shelter shared by Emily and Sam. Bursting through the entrance, I fell to my knees beside Emily. Opening her eyes, she gave me a faint smile and murmured a 'good morning' before closing them again, and slipping into what I hoped was sleep. My mind immediately flew to Mark and how he had looked, but I quickly shook those thoughts from my head, not wanting to acknowledge that Emily might be as badly off as he was.

"Where's Sam, Alice?" I didn't take my eyes from Emily as I fumbled in my bag for a thermometer.

"He went hunting with Seth this morning. He asked me to stay with her, and I didn't realize until Claire started crying and Emily didn't move that anything was wrong. I'm sorry."

I looked around at Alice, who was silently crying. "Hey, Alice. It's not your fault at all, you mustn't blame yourself. Believe me, I know all about blaming yourself. Can you go and get some water from the lake while I take Emily's temperature and examine her? Can you also bring some fresh water from the kitchen? I'm going to try and get her to take some Tylenol."

Before Alice had even gotten to her feet, I turned back to Emily and called her name, shaking her slightly. I breathed a sigh of relief when she opened her eyes again; thankfully, she had only been sleeping. Taking her temperature, the thermometer showed just under a hundred degrees, this, although higher than normal, wasn't too bad, and should respond to normal medication.

"Hi, Bella," she murmured quietly. "I don't feel well."

"I know," I soothed. "We'll get you feeling well again soon. Do you have any pain?"

Emily blushed a little and waved her hand for me to come a little closer. "My breasts hurt," she whispered. My mind cleared; mastitis, which I could deal with, and it didn't need fancy meds, it would respond to natural methods. Warm compresses, feeding baby Claire as often as possible, followed by cold compresses and massage. I quickly examined her and confirmed my thoughts, relieved that for once this was something I could treat successfully.

At that moment Alice appeared in the entrance with a bowl of cool lake water and a bottle filled with fresh water. "Is she going to be okay?" she whispered fearfully.

Sighing with relief, I smiled at her. "She is, don't worry. It's mastitis, and I can treat it with natural remedies and plain old Tylenol to bring down her temperature and ease the initial soreness."

Turning back to Emily, I gave her two tablets and a drink of fresh water, and then explained to both her and Alice what needed to be done. "Okay, Alice, sorry to send you on another errand, but can you get a bowl of hot water this time?"

"Of course, Bella, I'll be back in a second." Alice left almost at a run and was back within minutes carrying a bowl of hot water. Alice helped Emily to sit and lean against the central tree, while I wrung out a cloth. Alice brought Claire over, encouraging the baby to feed; not that she needed a lot of encouragement. Over the next hour, I alternately massaged and used cold compresses while the Tylenol did its work of bringing down Emily's temperature and easing residual pain.

By lunchtime, Emily was feeling a lot better and Sam had returned from his hunt. He looked fearful at my presence for a second until I assured him that everything was going to be fine. "It's a simple infection," I explained. "And it's easily treated."

Sam's relief mirrored mine of a couple of hours ago, and he took his place beside Emily while I explained what we had already done and how it should be continued. "I'm sure Alice will be happy to help where she can, Sam." Alice nodded, assuring them both that she would be there for anything they needed.

Standing and stretching, I could feel the life coming back to my legs, which had fallen asleep from sitting too long on the ground. At that moment, to my embarrassment, my stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn't eaten yet today either, and nor had I taken a shower. As Emily and Sam both laughed at me, I felt a wash of relief knowing that they and baby Claire would be okay.

"Let's go and get some lunch," I suggested to Alice, saying goodbye to the new family and stepping outside the shelter. To my surprise, Edward was waiting just outside, seated on an old log, and the whole camp was wandering back and forth. It was obvious that they were all waiting for bad news.

I grinned and looked around. "Emily's going to be just fine." A cheer went up from everyone, and Edward rose from his position and folded me into his arms.

"I'm so glad, Bella, I was worried there for a minute that more bad luck was going to visit us, and if it had been Claire, I don't think we would have recovered from that."

"Claire is absolutely great; nothing wrong with her." I beamed at Edward just as my stomach growled loudly once again.

Laughing, he pulled back and grabbed my hand, leading me over to the kitchen where I was handed a bowl of stew with the usual chicken and some vegetables, and a hunk of flatbread we had found we could make from ground down coconut flesh.

"Hey, Alice, come and sit with us?" I called out as she, too, was handed a bowl of the same stew. Shyly, she beamed from ear to ear and sat beside me. Edward smiled at me, nodding his head, both of us thinking the same thing; Alice was redeemable after all.

Things seemed to pick up after that, the mood in the camp almost buoyant. People laughed a lot more and we were all becoming adept at our new lives with civilization left way behind us. A pit was dug to get us ready for Christmas, and Sam, Seth, and Jasper spent hours combing the island for signs of other wildlife. They eventually caught sight of a group of wild pigs and made plans to serve one for Christmas dinner.

I still kept up with my rounds, not finding anything other than various aches and pains. We were all getting a little thinner, but mostly we were healthy enough. One morning after I had finished checking everyone, Angela approached me nervously, which would have worried me a few short weeks ago when everything seemed to be going wrong.

"Bella," she said softly. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course, Angela." I made room for her on the log that someone in the camp had placed outside our shelter. "What can I do for you?"

"Hmm, I think I'm pregnant." She shook her head. "No, I know I'm pregnant. I have all the signs, and I haven't had a period for over six weeks."

"Are you sure?" I questioned, although I could see by her face that she believed it one hundred percent.

"I had the shot two months before we left the US, and by my count, we are now a week away from Christmas." She looked down at her hands, which she was twisting nervously in her lap. "Believe me, Ben and I have been ultra careful once I knew my birth control had expired. It wasn't planned, but you know …"

"I know, it's not the safest method, but what else have we got? If we ever had any condoms, they're long gone," I said wryly. "It's the best we can do." I stood and invited her into our shelter, knowing that with the front panel rolled down, Edward wouldn't intrude.

"Okay, I'll check you out as best I can, which isn't a lot, and I'll make some notes so we can keep track of the milestones."

Angela nodded and a smile formed on her face. "I can see you're happy about it, and please try not to worry. The majority of babies come without any assistance from us 'medical people', and even if we aren't rescued by the time your baby is due to put in appearance, I'm sure everything will be just fine. I'll be there for you every step of the way." I placed my hand on hers, stilling their nervous movements, reassuring her.

After a short examination, I confirmed that, although we didn't have the normal tests, she was indeed pregnant. "Now, when are you telling everyone? Good news will be very welcome." I got to my feet and held my hand out to help her up, the huge smile on my face mirroring the one on hers. "That's the second piece of good news now that Emily is well again, and I'm happy for you, I really am."

"It'll make a great Christmas present, don't you think? I'll tell Ben first and give everyone else the news when we do the present giving."

Everyone had been very busy and secretive in the last month and even before that, and although we didn't have much, I had no doubt that this would be a good Christmas.

Christmas Eve dawned without the usual rain shower and mugginess, and I could almost believe that someone up there was looking out for us. I hoped it would continue into tomorrow.

The large pit the 'boys' had dug the previous week had been lined with flat stones that had been pulled from the bottom of the lagoon. I was glad that Jasper, Seth, and Sam had butchered the pig they caught well away from the camp because, although I wasn't a vegetarian by any means, that didn't mean I wanted to know what they had done in fine detail.

Both Sam and Seth had done this before, and yesterday they'd filled the pit with wood from the hardest, densest trees, allowing it to burn slow and hot. I had helped Chelsea, Siobhan, and Charlotte to smother the pig carcass with wild garlic and herbs we'd found and cultivated, and then tied it with woven ropes. Edward and Felix had lowered it into the pit and then covered it with the soil they'd removed from the pit.

A fishing trip had produced a real treasure; a large dogfish tuna, which needed very little preparation. We were planning to wrap it in leaves and place it in the top of the pit the following day, and between the two there would be enough meat to last through the Christmas festivities.

Our luck held, and Christmas Day was identical to the previous day. Almost everyone was up with the birds, enjoying the sounds of laughter and children shouting in excitement as Jared and Bree chased each other and were told many times to get out from under foot.

The clearing slowly filled with the delicious smells of the pork, making everyone's mouth water, while every member of the group hovered around the pit. Angela and I spent a few hours assisting with the preparation of the vegetables while batches of coconut bread were made, and Emily, who was now fighting fit, came to sit with us. Baby Claire was passed from hand to hand as soon as each of us was free to take her. She was taking much more notice of everything around her, and even graced us with what I insisted was a smile.

As soon as the meal preparation was complete, everyone gathered around the central fire-pit for present giving. We had no wrapping paper, ribbons, tags, or cards, but every single person had a smile on their face as the efforts of the others were produced as welcome gifts.

Emily had spent the hours while she rested picking apart the clothes that had been salvaged from the luggage, Alice had washed it carefully, and between them they had made clothes for the others and the children, using the sewing kits found in some of the suitcases. Alice had even made some for Claire without Emily knowing, which brought tears to her eyes at Alice's thoughtfulness.

There were bedding materials and mats woven from grasses in intricate patterns, dishes made from coconut shells and wood, carved with decorative panels. Jared and Bree received a set of chess pieces that Jasper had carved from some of the harder wood, while James had found a large flat stone, the spaces carefully chipped out to create a chess board. Jasper had promised to teach them to play, and had added carved checkers pieces to his gift.

It seemed Jasper had used his carving skills for everyone, producing beautiful figurines, while the girls had melted down soap, mixing it with beeswax from a nest that had been found on a trip to the other end of the island and coconut oil. With it, they'd made candles, their aroma sweetened with flowers. The luggage that had followed the disaster had certainly been used efficiently, and everyone received at least one gift; an embroidered blanket for Claire, a bow and arrows, water bottles decorated with shells and handpainted, handmade photo frames, which we hoped would be filled in the future, and many more.

Mid-afternoon found everyone full to the brim and content. People sat around in groups talking quietly, and I joined the girls around the fire while the men cleaned up. Maggie and her sister Siobhan said it had always been like that in her family, and she didn't see why we couldn't continue it. The men, all good sports, agreed and gathered in the 'kitchen'.

I joined Chelsea, Charlotte, and Siobhan, who had done the lion's share of the preparation and cooking. "Hmm," I started, smiling slyly at Chelsea. "A little bird told me that you and Seth—"

"Shhh, Bella. "Chelsea colored immediately. "We haven't discussed anything," she whispered.

My smile grew wider. "He's a great catch, Chelsea, and young and hot," I added. I knew I shouldn't be teasing her; my face would have colored the same as hers if I'd been the one in the hot seat, but I couldn't resist.

"How did you know?"

"He sorta mentioned when he sat with Mark, before he died, that he'd been at your shelter since the previous day, and I've seen him sneak in a couple of times, too." My thoughts sobered a little when I thought about Mark, but I brushed them off, remembering that he had told me not to dwell on it.

"Well, I like, like him. He's fun, and as you say, very easy on the eyes, but it's early days yet, so my lips are sealed." She mimed zipping her mouth and throwing the key over her shoulder.

We dissolved into laughter at Chelsea's expense and the conversation turned to what our families would be doing in what I had labeled 'the real world'. Bree, who had been playing checkers with Jared, flung herself down beside Chelsea. "What are we talking about?" She looked expectantly at each of us, while we all dissolved into laughter again when Chelsea's face bloomed again.

"Nothing for you to worry about, sweetie" Chelsea lifted her arm so that Bree could tuck herself into her embrace. Most of the other women in the group ended up sitting with us, except of course Irina, who was, predictably, hanging around with the men. Even Alice quietly took a space between me and Emily. I smiled at her, deciding that she had changed a huge amount in the last six weeks since Claire had been born, and that she was actually nice, if a little over the top. Bree eventually got bored with the adult chat and went back to find Jasper so he could teach her and Jared to play chess.

The conversation about families resumed, with Maggie asking Chelsea, "You and Bree have the same surname. Is that just a coincidence?"

"No coincidence at all," she answered, a huge smile appearing on her face. "Bree and I are actually related; I think she would be a second cousin or something like that. It's pretty confusing, and I've managed to sort of patch the story together from what Bree has been told. When we get to Australia, I'll be able to confirm it all.

"Bree's mom is Maria Tanner, who was married to my Uncle Colin—my dad's brother. They divorced a long time ago, before Bree was conceived. Maria met and married a guy called Andrew, and then a month later decided she didn't love him and walked out, returning to Los Angeles. She changed her name back to Tanner and then found out that she was pregnant. She never bothered to tell Andrew—she just divorced him before Bree was born."

"That's fucked up," Maggie said. "I assume this Andrew knows about her now?"

"Yeah, he does. Maria met someone and they lived together for a number of years. When Maria died from cancer, her will named her partner, Sarah, as Bree's guardian. At the time, Sarah wanted Bree, and the courts agreed. The kicker is that when Sarah met someone else, who didn't want children, she just decided she didn't want Bree anymore."

"That's even more fucked up," Maggie repeated. "How could someone do that to a little girl?"

Chelsea scowled. "She just gave Bree up like she meant nothing, but at least when Sarah contacted Child Protection Services, she gave them Andrew's name. CPS managed to find him, and I guess he was pretty shocked, but he immediately agreed to a DNA test to prove he was her father. It would have been so much better for Bree if Sarah had given them those details at the beginning, but it's my good fortune, because if she had, Bree and I might never have met. So here we are, travelling separately to Australia; he wanted her straight away."

"Wow, that's some story," Angela said. "Fate must have been looking out for Bree. Why were you on the flight? Did you know any of this?"

"I knew nothing about it at all—I never even knew about Maria. I think the family sort of cut her out when she divorced my uncle. When I was laid off from my job, I decided to blow all of my savings on a spectacular holiday and visit my sister, so it's a win-win situation. I've not seen Audrey for about fifteen years, ever since she left California with Will, and you'll never guess the next bit."

"What? Come on, tell us!" A chorus of voices urged to spill the rest.

"Andrew—Bree's father—is Will's brother, who is my brother-in-law! So whatever happens, Bree will always be family."

The conversation drifted as the men finished up their tasks and joined us around the fire as dusk fell. Garrett and Liam had teamed up, finding a way to ferment sweet potatoes into alcohol, and although there wasn't much, it was definitely enough for us to be a little 'merrier' than usual. Eventually, couples split away from the group and made their way to bed, with optimism at an all-time high. There was a feeling of hope that the New Year would bring rescue, and even if it took a long time, we would not only survive; we would thrive.

** Skyjacked **