*Bella's POV*
When I woke up I was still on Christina's bed. She was still fast asleep, her hand still in mine. I carefully slipped my hand out of hers. She groaned and breathed in deeply, but her eyes never opened. It was still dark outside and the house was quiet, so I figured it was late.
I peeked into the living room and saw Emily and Kim asleep on the pull out couch, Seth, Quil, and Embry were propped up against the wall by the front door sleeping. Charlie and Billy were in the corner on blow up mattresses. I skimmed the room once more and realized there was a light on in the kitchen.
"Hey." I said softly as I saw Rachel sitting at the table. Her head in her hands.
"Hi." She sighed. Her voice mumbled against her hands.
"Why are you up so late?"
"Couldn't sleep, and it's early now." She said as she looked up at the clock on the stove. It was 3am.
"Worried about Paul?" I asked, realizing Paul wasn't in the living room. That meant he was out running. Which reminded me that I didn't see Jacob either.
"That and… Christina." Rachel breathed in an unsteady breath.
"She'll be fine." I assured her.
"I know, but," Rachel reached across the table and laid her hands on mine. "I don't know how you're handling this. I'm scared to death to have children. I look at my niece and see what could… will happen to my children."
"You don't know that. They might not. You and Rebecca are not werewolves while your brother is. Then again both Seth and Leah are werewolves…" I let my voice trail off as I thought about that. Why didn't they become werewolves?
"I asked my dad about that when I found out about Paul and Jake. He said we're probably going to pass on the gene to our children. Bella, if I have a baby with Paul our child will most likely become one of them. Look at what it did to Chrissy. The poor thing never got a childhood."
"Yes she did. It was short lived," I pointed to the pictures on the fridge from the day Christina was born to a few days ago. The scattered pictures made her look like she lived a full 16 years instead of a few months. I continued without pausing, "but we made sure she was happy."
Rachel smiled and reached over, taking the picture of Christina when she looked about 4 years old. She was standing on Jacob's lap kissing his cheek. "He really does love that little girl." She sighed. Her fingers swiped over Christina then moved over Jacob's smiling lips. "I never thought of him as a family man, but she means the world to him. You both do."
I nodded. "Your child wont grow as fast as Chrissy did. Her wolf gene was triggered so early because I was so close to the Cullen's. I wish Jake had more time with her at that age, but Rach, that doesn't mean Paul wont. You're not close to any vampires." I laughed lightly.
Rachel shrugged. "True."
"Trust me, no matter what your child is, you'll love them just the same."
Rachel nodded in agreement. "Jacob's in bed sleeping. He didn't want to take you out of Chrissy's room."
"He's home?"
"He got home a few hours ago. The three by the door are next to go."
"How long have you been up?"
"I never went to sleep."
"Rachel, you need to sleep."
"Paul will be back soon, I'll go to sleep when he gets in."
I sighed. I knew there was no arguing with her about that.
"You go on. I don't think you and Jacob have spent more than 5 minutes alone. Not counting yesterday when you were in that room for almost 2 hours." Rachel winked at me.
"We weren't doing anything." I said quickly.
"I know, I know." Rachel chuckled. "I could hear you crying from the living room. That time alone doesn't count when your desperately trying to calm the other down. Go and actually sleep in the same bed together for a night."
I leaned over the table and kissed her cheek. "Night Rach."
"See ya." She said as I walked out of the kitchen. I peeked into Christina's room once more, she was still asleep. As soon as I walked into my bedroom I couldn't help but laugh. Jacob was, of course in nothing but shorts. He was sprawled diagonally across the bed. Because he was so tall his feet hung off the edge. I decided not to wake him, so I changed into pajamas and wiggled myself into bed.
"Bella?" Jacob whispered as his arms tightened around me.
"No, it's your other girlfriend." I said sarcastically.
Jacob chuckled and kissed my neck. He moved both our bodies to lay normally on the bed. "I believe the correct term is Fiancé." He said and took my left hand, kissing the ring on my finger.
"Oh, right." I yawned.
"Hey, you were the one that agreed to marry me." Jacob mumbled against my neck.
"I did." I sighed.
His hand moved under my shirt, playing with the string on my shorts.
"Jake." I mumbled.
"Hmm?"
"House full of people."
"So, You're the loud one, keep it down."
"Am not!" I hissed. "Besides there are 3 werewolves in the living room who have excellent hearing."
Jacob huffed and let go of the string on my shorts. "I miss you." His voice was deep and he clasped his hand on my hip, holding me close to him.
"I know." I sighed. "It's not the time." I couldn't believe how hard it was for me to say that.
"I guess this is good enough." He said as his arms tightened around me.
"Mmhmm." I mumbled, settling into his warm chest.
The next day I woke to an empty bed. My heart stopped beating as I looked around the empty room.
"It's ok Bells, in here." Jacob's voice came from down the hall. I jumped out of bed and grabbed my bathrobe.
"How did you know?" I asked as I walked into the kitchen where I found Emily and Rachel making breakfast for whoever wasn't out running.
"Your heartbeat always gives you away." Jacob chuckled with his mouth full of eggs. "Plus it doesn't help that I'm always listening to it."
"That's freaky." Charlie mumbled.
I decided to ignore him. "How's Chrissy?"
"She woke up an hour ago, but she was still in pain. Carlisle gave her some more morphine to help her go back to sleep. Edward's in there with her now." Jacob informed me.
"I'm going to check on her."
"No you're not." He said sternly. "When's the last time you ate?"
I shrugged. I really had no idea when I ate last.
"Well you're going to eat something." Rachel chimed in. She placed a plate of eggs and pancakes on the table next to Jacob at the same time Jacob's arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me onto his lap. Since there were no chairs left and half of the people in the kitchen were either standing up eating, or sitting on the counters.
As soon as I took my first bite I realized I was hungry. I ate silently as I listened to Jacob's orders for the day.
"Paul we're going back out with Leah in a few hours. Seth, you can go wake your sister up. I like to keep my head."
Seth laughed and nodded. "I'm used to it."
"Where is she? I didn't see her in the living room." I said with my mouth full.
Jacob rubbed my back. "No, she's outside staying connected to Quil, Embry and Jared."
I nodded and took another bite.
After breakfast I helped Emily and Rachel clean up the kitchen. Kim went home for a little while to be with her family. Jared was out running so he stayed close to her house. I walked into Christina's bedroom just as Edward moved off the bed.
"It's ok," I smiled. "You don't have to get up because of me."
Edward smiled, embarrassed.
"How is she?"
"Back to sleep. She said the pain is less in her arms and legs. Her muscles are just sore."
"That's a relief."
Edward nodded, agreeing with me.
"So a wedding huh?" Edward sat back down on the bed and reclaimed Christina's good hand.
I walked over to the other side of the bed and sat down. "Yeah, I figured it was time." I said nonchalantly.
"I'm very happy for the both of you."
"Thank you."
"Where will it be? I can't see you as the big elegant wedding type." Edward chuckled.
I shook my head. "Definitely not. Maybe something down at the beach."
"Sounds romantic."
I nodded and looked down at my sleeping daughter. My eyes suddenly shot up to Edward. "But please don't tell her. We want to."
"You have my word." Edward promised.
"Thanks."
"Bells, I'm leaving." Jacob whispered as he walked into the bedroom.
"Already?"
He nodded and walked over to me. His hands moved to cup my face and his lips met mine.
"Please be careful." I whispered as soon as his lips left mine.
"Of course." He breathed. His warm breath swept across my face.
"Come home to me."
"Always," Jacob kissed me once more then turned to Edward who's eyes were locked on Christina's face, giving us as much privacy that the small room would allow. "Edward, three hours and I'd like you back out. If that's ok."
Edward looked at Jacob and nodded. "I'm leaving soon to go hunting anyway. I'll start as soon as I'm done. Emmett and Jasper are already out running with Alice."
I knew Rosalie wanted nothing to do with us, so I wasn't expecting her to help out now. I wonder how Edward felt about his sister not helping to protect someone he loved.
"She's not stepping in until we find out more about the rest that might or might not be coming. Alice is looking for anything that might be coming." Edward must have read the suspicion on my face.
"I-I didn't mean to-" I stammered, but he held up a hand to stop me.
"Rosalie and I are not on good terms right now, but she's softening up. Carlisle and Esme will only take so much from her."
I nodded and my face flushed red. I was embarrassed because his problems at home were none of my business. Although they did involve my child, so I did have some right to know, right?
"Ok, honey." Jacob pulled me from my thoughts with another quick kiss. He let me go and walked over to kiss Christina on her forehead. His lips lowered to her ear and he whispered something.
I caught Edward smile. "What did he say?" I whispered.
Edward shrugged. "That he loves her."
"I love you too." Jacob said as he crushed me against him. I knew he was having a hard time leaving, so it was up to me to be the strong one.
"I love you," I pushed against his bare chest. Even though I wanted him to stay right here with his arms around me. "Go. We'll be fine."
Jacob seemed to believe me, so he let me go and with one last glance at Christina, he touched my face lightly and ran out the door.
"You want me to stay?" Edward asked as soon as Jacob was gone.
I clearly saw that he needed to hunt, so I shook my head. "No, there's plenty of wolves around here to keep us safe. Go hunt."
"You know, you don't always have to be the strong one."
"Sometimes, I have no choice." I sighed.
Edward kissed Christina's cheek and disappeared.
I decided to go back out into the living room and help Rachel and Emily to start lunch for when the guys got back from running.
