CH.30 Pack Baby
Paul's Pov
I woke up and made my way downstairs, to make Bella breakfast. Today we were going to find out if we were having a son or daughter.
"Hey man." Embry said walking into the kitchen, still half-asleep.
"So how does it feel to be engaged?" I asked laughing at the goofy grin that spread across his face.
"Awesome." He said shaking his head.
"I'm happy for you." I told him thinking of how unbelievable it felt to know that upstairs my pregnant wife slept, and sound asleep down the hall, was my daughter. I was happy to know Embry would feel that way one day too.
"So today is the day huh?" He asked shaking his head.
"Yea, man I just want the baby to be ok." I told him feeling my nerves rise up again.
"Relax this is only to find out what color we're painting the nursery." Em laughed, noticing my worry.
"Pink if Aubrey has anything to say about it." I laughed.
"Did you decide whether or not you're taking Aubrey?"
"No Seth is going to pick her up and take her to get ice cream." I told him, not caring that it was irrational to be unhappy about it.
"Morning Angela, or should I say sister to be."
"Morning brother." She said kissing my cheek.
"Hey I know Aubrey put you on the spot last night, but we really don't want you to move out." I told them.
"Even with the new baby, I mean it's going to be a full house." Em said worriedly.
"Honest, Bella just found you, hell you know I didn't have any family growing up. We want you here, both of you."
"Thanks man." Em said.
"Uncy Emby!" We heard Aubrey yell.
"Dude you are never going to sleep past 8 if you don't stop jumping every time she calls you." I laughed, as Em sprinted up the stairs.
"I'm a sucker, what can I say." He laughed.
"You are so screwed if you have daughters." I told Angela.
"Oh yea."
"We honestly want you both to live here." I told Angela. I wanted them to know we meant it.
"Please Embry's not leaving Aubrey." She laughed.
"You're good with that."
"Of course, she's our doodlebug."
"I'm glad Em found you." I told her as I picked up the tray with Bella's breakfast.
I could hear Aubrey chatting away as I walked down the hall to Bella's bedroom and mine.
"I have date with Prince Seth." She told him.
Oh man, that kid better imprint before Aubrey turns of age. I thought.
"Morning baby." I whispered in Bella's ear.
"Bell rise and shine, we have a Dr.'s appointment today." I told her watching as she stretched and opened her eyes.
"Hungry?"
"I'm growing a wolf, I'm starving." She said laughing.
After breakfast and a shower, Bella and I headed downstairs to find the entire pack sitting in our living room. "Uh Good Morning." Bella said looking at everyone.
"What time will you be back from the Dr.'s appointment?" Quil asked.
"I don't know around noon."
"Ok we'll be here. Think blue."
"Seth do you have Aubrey's bag?" Bella asked him.
"Yea and I have extra food for Fred."
"Why do you need food for Fred?" Bella asked.
"Look."
Aubrey stood with poor Fred strapped into her baby doll stroller. "Oh man, that's worse than pink hair bows." Quil said laughing.
"It's just a cat." Seth shrugged.
"Ready Princess Meraz?" Seth asked.
"Yep, bye mommy, daddy, Uncy Emby, Aunt Angie, Aunt Kim, Aunt Emily, Uncly Jake, Uncly Jawod,
Uncly Quil, and Aawon." Aubrey said kissing each one of them. That's why they brush their teeth with light up Barbie toothbrushes, I laughed.
"Uncly?" Bella asked when Seth and Aubrey were gone.
"Uh yea…I might have tried to get her to say Hunky Uncy and it came out Uncly. It's cute." Quil said shrugging.
"See you guys later."
The pack chanted BLUE, BLUE, BLUE as we made our way outside. "Think they want a boy?" Bella laughed.
"Just a little."
"Hunky Uncy?" Bella said when we were in the car.
"Quil."
We made the quick drive to the clinic, and made our way inside checking in and taking a seat in the waiting room.
"Paul, relax." Bella said putting her hand on my leg to stop my bouncing.
"I'm just nervous."
"Honey this is a fun appointment. We get to see and hear our baby and hopefully find out if we're having a son or a daughter." Bella told me, pecking my lips.
"I love you Bell."
"Isabella Meraz." A nurse called.
"Ready?" Bella asked me standing up.
"Yes."
The rez only did ultrasounds twice during your pregnancy unless something was wrong. We had the first one done at 12 weeks, but there was nothing but a bubble to see. The heartbeat echoing through the room was incredible, and with my hearing, I get to listen to the baby all the time. Today we would see our baby, and I was nervous as shit.
"Mrs. Meraz, change into the gown and we'll be with you in a moment." The nurse told Bella.
I still loved hearing people address Bella as Mrs. Meraz; I don't think I will ever get tired of it.
Bella changed and sat on the table to wait for Sue. "What's the pool up to?" Bella asked.
"How did you know?"
"Please I'm a mom, we know everything." Bella laughed.
"Jake's taking the wages, I'm not sure." I grinned.
"Bella, Paul are you ready to see your baby?" Sue asked walking in.
"Yes."
"Ok, Bella just lye back. I'm going to put this gel on your stomach, I'm sorry but it's going to be cold.
Remember Paul it's harmless." Sue told me, laughing as she remembered my very small freak out when she put the gel on Bella's stomach the first time.
"Ha-Ha." I laughed.
"Ok, heartbeat is strong and steady. All the measurements look good. Ah here we go. See right here."
"I'll print you some pictures." Sue told us as I stared at the screen looking at my new baby.
"That's us, you, and me."
"It is." Bella said, squeezing my hand.
"I'll give you a couple of minutes." Sue said leaving us.
"Bell, I…nothing could be as incredible as seeing our baby inside you." I told her feeling my eyes get teary. "I missed everything with Aubrey, to get to see this and experience it all. It's…everything."
"I love you Paul."
"I love you too."
Sue walked back in, handed us our photos and gave Bella her appointment card.
"I'll see you in a month." She said leaving Bella to get dressed.
I was half-aware of the drive to the diner. I just kept picturing our baby moving around on the screen arms, legs, heart beating strong.
I helped Bella out of the car and made our way into the diner, Embry and Angela were already waiting for us.
"Do you know?" Angela asked excited.
"We do."
"First we want to talk to the two of you." I said looking at Embry who sat up.
"Em I'm so thankful I found you. I always wanted a brother and I can't imagine having one better than you, and now I get to have Angela as my sister." Bella said but had to stop because she got too emotional.
"Stupid hormones." She mumbled making us laugh.
"What Bella was getting at, you're both so wonderful with Aubrey, Bella, and I want you to be the God parents of both Aubrey and this new baby." I explained.
"Of course." Angela squealed launching herself over the table to hug us both.
"You know I'll protect them with my life." Embry whispered in Bella's ear hugging her tight.
"We're lucky to have you and Angela, we love you both." I told Em giving him a hug.
"All right, tell us." Angela said grinning.
"Here." Bella said handing them a print out of the sonogram.
"Wow!" Angela sighed looking at the photo.
"This is cool, you can see everything. Sis, you have a tiny person inside you." Embry said looking from the photo to Bella.
"Let's go tell the pack." Bella said laughing.
Pulling into the driveway, the entire pack came rushing out the door. Aubrey was sitting on Quil's shoulders, her melting Popsicle dripping into his hair, Fred hissing at his feet. "We need to carry a camera at all times." Bella laughed, shaking her head.
Embry and Angela pulled up behind us, and all four of us made our way to the door. "Tell us." Kim shrieked, jumping up and down. Jared wrapped his arms around her waist in an effort to keep her calm.
"So tell us already." Jake said grinning.
"Well we're going to name the new baby Charlie." I announced.
"You were going to do that whether it was a boy or girl, that doesn't tell us anything." Jake huffed.
"Charles Mathew Meraz." I told them feeling my face break out in a huge grin.
"It's a boy." Quil shouted pumping his fist in the air as the rest of the guys threw up thanks to Taha Aki. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Quil chanted.
"You not like girls, Uncly Quil?" Aubrey said looking at him from where he set her down a minute ago.
"Shit." He mumbled before turning to face a lip quivering Aubrey.
"Now he's done it." Jared whispered.
"You Princess Meraz are my favorite girl." Quil told Aubrey lifting her in his arms and kissing her cheek.
"Really?" She asked him and I could see the smirk at the edges of her lips. She knew exactly how to play the pack.
"Really." He told her.
"Yay, I love you Uncly Quil, we watch Ariel." She told him smiling.
"Damn it." He grumbled too low for her to hear.
"Yea we can watch the Mermaid." He said walking over to the TV.
"Bro I'm so happy you are having a boy, I dreamed of Malibu Barbie last night and not the real life one, the plastic one who dates Ken." Quil said shaking his head as he sat down with Aubrey to watch Ariel for the millionth time.
The girls started putting together all the fixings for a BBQ as us guys minus Quil walked outside. "Dude!" Jared grinned.
I passed around the sonogram photos, smiling the entire time. "Are you happy Aaron, you're getting a boy cousin." Jake cooed to an always-drooling Aaron.
"So who's going to ask?" Em asked in a low tone standing next to me.
"I'll do it." Quil said walking out.
"How'd you get out of the Mermaid?" Embry asked laughing.
"Aubrey's helping the girls bake a cake."
"You mean she's licking the batter from the spoons." I said knowing exactly how Aubrey helped bake cakes.
"Yep, big chocolate grin." Quil laughed.
"Jake, man so what's up?" Quil asked smirking.
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, you're always with Aaron constantly helping Emily. Tell us what's going on."
"Nothing." Jake said a little too quick.
"Uh huh, come on we see the way you look at her." Jared said.
"We're friends. She's been through a lot, and it's not like that." Jake told us, sounding less and less sure of his answers.
"Look man, we all think you two would be good together." I told him, and it was true, we did.
"Whatever let's light the grill." He said throwing Aaron into the air and catching him.