All characters that are from the TWILIGHT saga by Stephanie Meyer belong to Stephanie Meyer. All others belong to me. I do not receive profit for these stories except for the joyous enjoyment of reviews.

This story follows right after When I'm Gone: Third Installment to GONE Saga, so if you haven't read that one or the two before, please do.

The timeline of the story will coincide with Gabriel Michael Laskaris' growing up years, starting at Seth and Rosa's wedding day, April 12th and will progress from there.

AN: Another chapter! This one's shorter than usual but not unusually short. For those missing a certain vampire couple of mine -a brief visit from them!

Gaby -I love you.

Ses -I'll always miss you and I hope I didn't loose you the way I lost hilja and Lynn

chelsea, lette, moani, Gianna, Brazilian -y'all make my day whenever you review.

As always, enjoy as you read and remember, for my sake, to review...the more reviews, the faster I update (I already have the next two chapters completed!)

Chapter Twenty-Five
February 13th
Forks Memorial Hospital

The metal doors slid open, the only two occupants stepping out onto the fourth floor of the small town hospital.

Being the middle of the day, there were quite a few people milling about in the open waiting areas on either side of the elevator, family and friends talking and laughing, sharing in the joy of new life.

As the new arrivals walked by them towards the nurse's station, silence followed like a wave after them as people turned to stare, some of them actually showing open mouthed awe.

The entire situation would have been humorous were it not a constant occurrence for their kind.

Stopping at the front desk, the nurse looked up, her eyes going wide as she stood, her mouth opening but words failing to come out.

"I'm looking for Rachel Black Lahote."

She nodded, her fingers tripping over the keyboard in search of the mouse, not once looking down to see where it was.

Stepping out from behind him, the petite brunette with him tilted her head to the side, the look in her eyes making the nurse blush as she looked at the computer screen, her words coming out in a stutter, "S-she's in room f-four forty six. Ar-are you family?"

He knew why she was nervous and he found it amusing, giving her a smile that had her blinking, a dazed look crossing her oval face, "She's my sister."

Annabelle rolled her eyes as she pulled him away from the desk, giving his hand a squeeze as she looked sideways at him, "You shouldn't do that. It's not fair to them."

Jacob laughed, amused as a doctor tripped over his own feet coming out of a patient's room, his bug-out eyes on Annabelle, "Not my fault I was beautiful to begin with."

Annabelle's laughter spilled forth like vibrating harp music, her long blue-black hair tumbling around her shoulders as she shook her head at him, "Having an overinflated ego is, though."

Jacob chuckled as he pulled her into his side, letting go of her hand to wrap his arm around her back, his hand on her hip as he leaned down to whisper into her ear, neither one missing a stride, "I blame you for that…and it's not like you're not getting attention yourself."

"It's the only reason I don't get jealous," she gave him a teasing wink, kissing the corner of his mouth as they stopped outside the closed door to the room, "I'll wait for you here."

"Why," Jacob knocked softly against the wood, squeezing her waist as he looked down into her butterscotch eyes, "You're with me –besides, my sister want to meet you."

"But your brother-in-law hates –"

"I knew I smelled something disgusting," Paul held the door open, his large body blocking the entrance as he glared at them, the slight quiver of his muscles letting them know he was barely holding on to himself.

"Hello Paul. I came to see my sister and meet my nieces."

Paul scoffed as he looked from Jacob's odd colored eyes to Annabelle, "There's no way I'm letting you or your…imprint anywhere near –"

"Is that Jacob," Rachel's voice interrupted, the sound of someone moving in the room clear to all three, "Paul, let him in."

"Are you insane," Paul looked over his shoulder at his wife, still blocking Jacob and Annabelle from looking or walking into the room, "They're –"

"I know what they are," Rachel interrupted him again, rolling her eyes at him as she smoothed the blanket over her lap, finally feeling human after several hours of sleep and a shower, "He's my brother and I haven't seen him in years. Now let him in…and I'm not insane."

"But the babies –"

"The babies are in the nursery," she arched an eyebrow at him, the look in her dark brown eyes letting him know she wasn't willing to deal with him, "And even if they weren't, he's their uncle. Now let him in."

Jacob bit back a smile at the low growl coming from Paul, arching an eyebrow as the big guy grudgingly stepped aside to let them in, his eyes locked on them as they moved into the room, "I should have told you you'd be letting us in. You've always been Rachel's bitch."

"Don't antagonize him," Annabelle gave him a warning look as she lightly slapped his upper arm, shaking her head when he just laughed.

"I'd go over there and hug you," Jacob grinned at his sister as they stopped a couple of feet away from the foot of the hospital bed, "But your husband will probably lose it."

Rachel chuckled, studying his face for a few seconds before giving him a smile, "You're looking good, Jake…"

She swung her eyes towards Annabelle, studying the small girl for a few seconds before looking at her brother with a pointed look that would have had him blushing were he able too, "Sorry. This is Annabelle –she's my girl."

Rachel nodded, biting her lip as she looked over at Annabelle again, "You're…beautiful."

Annabelle's full lips twitched into a smile, her big eyes bright as she responded, "So are you."

Rachel smiled, wishing she could say some pleasant banality about being a pleasure to meet her and such but Jacob had warned her, had told her Annabelle would be able to see through the lies –because in all reality, it wasn't a pleasure to meet her…it wasn't a pleasure to see her brother this way…

She loved him and for that reason, she tolerated what her brother had become but it still bothered her…it probably always will.

Blinking quickly to keep from crying, she reached to take Paul's hand –he was standing next to her by the head of the bed, "You should go by the nursery. Paul can point out the girls to you."

"That would probably be for the best," Jacob gave her a smile, letting her know he understood their caution, "What did you name them?"

"Marilynn Sarah," she let out a tired sigh, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear, "Kaitlynn Skye was born two minutes after."

"Nice," Jacob dropped his arm, taking Annabelle's hand in his, their fingers interlocking, "You used mom's name."

She nodded, reaching up to cover a yawn, "I'm sorry –I'm exhausted."

"You should be," Jacob moved forward to squeeze her toes but stopped at the rumbling growl coming from Paul, moving back with an amused smile on his face, "You just had twins this morning. We'll go to the nursery to see them –I don't think Paul would handle it very well if they're in the same room with us."

"Damn right I won't," Paul's scowl melted into a tender smile as he looked into Rachel's eyes, reaching to cup her face, his thumb stroking her cheek, "I'll be back as soon as they leave."

Rachel reached up to grasp his wrist, closing her eyes when he pressed a kiss against her forehead before looking at Jacob, "Make sure you see Dad."

"I called to let him know I was coming," Jacob moved towards the door, Annabelle staying by his side, "We're meeting him later today at the Lodge."

"Good," Rachel let out another yawn, reaching up to rub her eyes before looking at him again, "Rebecca's flying in tomorrow."

"That's great," Jacob grinned as he looked down at Annabelle, "I haven't seen her in a long time."

"Will you be able to stay for the naming ceremony?"

He looked over at his sister then at Paul, his face impassive as he neutrally answered, "I'll talk to Sam –see if he'll let us come."

Rachel nodded, moving to get more comfortable, a slight wince crossing her face, "I understand."

"Love you sis."

She smiled at him, letting out a soft sigh filled with so much emotion, "Love you too Jake."

The silence was tense as Paul led them down the hall, turning a corner to stop before a wall to wall window, the nursery filled with an equal amount of occupied and empty cribs.

Stopping at the other end of the window, Paul pointed towards two cribs, side by side, a proud smile spreading across his face, "Those are my girls."

Jacob smiled as he studied the small bundles, their sleeping faces the only visible part of them, "They're beautiful."

"Yeah," Paul nodded, keeping his eyes on his newborn daughters as he flattened his hand against the glass, "They look like Rachel."

"Of course they do," Jacob slid his hand into his jeans' pocket, the other one still holding Annabelle's smaller hand, "They wouldn't be beautiful if they looked like you."

Paul's lips quirked into a smile, a soft chuckle escaping him before looking away from the swaddled infants, "Billy will be glad to see you."

"It'll be good to see him too," Jacob's face showed a bit of wistfulness and regret that Annabelle missed as she watched the babies, her big eyes moving from one to the other.

Jacob watched her, seeing an avid interest in her eyes as she studied a nurse swaddling a crying baby.

Paul straightened as a nurse approached him, "Mr. Lahote?"

"Yes."

"I'm going to be bringing your babies into the room. Would you like to meet me there?"

His eyes swung over to Jacob and Annabelle, jaw tight as he told the nurse, "I'll wait to go with you."

She nodded before going into the nursery, hitting her shoulder against the doorframe –she had been staring at Jacob.

Paul would have laughed except for one thing, "She drops one of my babies because of you and I'll dismember you."

Jacob's mouth tilted into a smile as he pulled at Annabelle's hand, "We'll leave. Congratulations, man. You're gonna be a good dad."

Paul nodded, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jeans, "I hope."

"There is no I hope," Jacob pointed at him, the seriousness of his words written all over his face, "You screw up and I'll be the one dismembering you."

Paul let out a soft scoff, keeping his eyes on them until they rounded the corner.

They didn't speak until the elevator doors closed, once again the only ones in there.

"You seemed rather interested in the babies."

Annabelle looked up into his face, giving his a hand a squeeze as she smiled, "They're really small. I've never seen anything so small."

"I haven't either," he pulled her into his arms, letting go of her hand to hold her close to him, "Did you ever want kids?"

She chuckled, spreading her hands against his chest, "It was the nineteen hundreds, Jacob. It was just assumed…I was sixteen when Edward proposed –I really didn't think much past that."

He didn't say anything, simply pressing a kiss against her smooth forehead, letting her go when the doors slid open.

Walking out the main entrance hand in hand, Annabelle looked up at him as they walked through the parking lot towards their rental car, "I'm sorry you couldn't hold your nieces."

Jacob stopped, letting go of her hand to cup her face, "I would have loved getting to hold those little girls…but not if it meant not having you."

Annabelle blinked a few times before reaching up to pull his head down, her lips smooth against his as she whispered, "I love you."

He smiled before tilting his head to the side, the kiss soft and slow, unhurried as the world continued to move around them.

Neither one cared, though, because time for them was no longer an issue.

Forever was a present day thing for both of them.


March 6th

Marc didn't want to celebrate his ninth birthday. Despite his Tia's reassurance on his innocence, that dark night five years ago still hurt too much to celebrate his life when it had cost his mother hers.

For that reason, he refused a birthday party but insisted on one for Vivi. His sister deserved to celebrate her life, to enjoy the coming of another year –she was the reason he carried so much guilt inside him, guilt he didn't hold against her because to him, it was a sacrifice worth making.

She had deserved to live and he had made sure of that, didn't regret that…his regret was the sacrifice his mother made for him.

That morning started off with a family breakfast, just them four, with Tia Rosa insisting on putting candles on both their waffles as they sang happy birthday, Vivi holding his hand the entire time.

She knew how difficult this day was for him and did everything possible to make it easier to handle –everything except pretend it didn't exist.

The gifts had been wonderful and even Marc didn't frown at getting his, glad Tia had let everyone else know there would be no party for him –seemed like they dropped off gifts the night before or something.

Soon after breakfast, Granma Sue showed up, handing him a wrapped box after giving him a hug and a kiss then taking off with Vivi for a girl day in Port Angeles.

As soon as Vivi left with Grandma Sue, they had gotten to work on preparing the house for a surprise birthday party completely dedicated to a princess ballerina.

Pink and silver balloons were everywhere, white and pink streamers twisted and looped all along the banister, over the archway between the living room and kitchen.

The couch and armchairs were moved into the office, the coffee table up against the wall beside the fireplace –they would put all the gifts there.

Uncle Seth set out tables and chairs, Tia Rosa placing the specially made centerpieces –a white plastic ballerina rising in the middle of a bouquet of miniature pink roses –on every table.

Halfway through their preparations, Emily showed up with her kids in tow, a pink birthday cake in her hands, a plastic silver tiara in the center.

Bailey wrinkled her nose as she looked around the room, a small gift box in one hand, the other in the pocket of her jeans, "There's a lot of pink in here."

"It's Vivi's favorite color," Marc answered as he finished taping streamers to the corner of a table, "And it's her party so…"

"Yeah, got it," Bailey walked past him, dropping the gift on the coffee table before moving into the kitchen, Bradley rolling his eyes as he moved to help Marc with the next table, "She didn't want to come."

"She doesn't like my sister," Marc said without any outward emotion as he and Bradley worked together to twirl the pink and white streamers before taping it to the corners of the table.

"She doesn't like anybody," Brad caught the tape Marc tossed his way, tearing off a piece and taping the streamers to his corner of the table, "Sometimes I think she doesn't like me."

"She doesn't," Marc grinned at him as they moved on to another table, "Especially when you beat her time by thirty seconds."

Brad laughed, their conversation centered on bike racing as they continued to work on the tables, finishing long before they ran out of things to talk about.

The ice cream was in the freezer, strawberry punch in the big crystal bowl on the kitchen table along with white plates and cups, white napkins with pink ballerinas stamped on the corners, and pink plastic ware –everything was in place and ready.

Thirty minutes before Granma Sue was to return with Vivi, guests started arriving, including Vivi's third grade classmates.

Marc was excited over this party in a way he wouldn't have been had it been his own. He was looking forward to seeing the look on his sister's face when the door opened and they all yelled surprise.


"They're so sparkly," Vivi wiggled her small fingers, enthralled with her sparkling nails, the polish clear with pink, white and silver glitter in it, "And pretty!"

Granma laughed as she drove down the one o one towards La Push, the outside air ruffling her newly cut hair, the ends tickling her neck, "I'm glad you like them."

Vivi giggled as she moved in the seat, reaching up to tug at the seat belt stretched across her small chest, "Do you like the color I picked for you?"

Her smile was instantaneous as she spread her fingers, the sunlight bringing out a rainbow shimmer from the champagne color of her carefully manicured nails, "I like it very much. You have a good eye for color."

The pleasure Vivi felt at her words had her kick her feet, watching the way her new pink shoes sparkled in the slanted ray of sun coming from the side window, her legs warm thanks to the opaque white tights she wore with a heavy denim pink skirt ending at the top of her knees.

She had paired it with a white sweater that had silver threads weaved through it, a wide stripe, the exact pink shade of her skirt, cutting horizontally across the sleeves and torso.

"Do you think Grampa Charlie will like them," Vivi looked up at the woman she had called Granma for over a year now, liking the way her dark hair moved, the sun making her copper tone skin shimmer, the lashes around her brown-green eyes long and dark –she was so pretty!

"I doubt he'll even notice."

Vivi's eyebrows lowered as she tilted her head to the side, a sparkly pink headband keeping her long gold-red curls from her face as they tumbled over her shoulder, "Why not? It took a lot of time and they look really pretty."

She smiled as Granma laughed, the car turning into the second street entering the reservation, "Men don't notice things like nails, hair or clothes."

"They don't," Vivi's surprise sounded in her voice, her gold-brown eyes guileless as she waited for an explanation.

It didn't make send why, if it was important enough for her to take time and money to make herself pretty, Grampa Charlie wouldn't even notice.

Was Gabriel going to be the same way?

"One thing you'll learn real quick, Vivi," Granma Sue smiled down at her as she turned into their street, "Is that boys don't think the same way girls do. What's important to girls doesn't matter much to boys and vice versa. It doesn't mean you shouldn't take the time and effort to look pretty just because they won't notice. It just means that when you do something, you do it for yourself and no one else. Do you understand what I mean?"

Vivi nodded as she gnawed on her bottom lip, looking out the side window to see if Aunt Leah's van was there but the only cars were Uncle Seth's Mustang parked behind Tia Rosa's Audi in the driveway, "The choices we make are because we want to make them and not because someone else wants us to make them."

"Exactly," Granma smiled at her as she set the car in park, turning the ignition off, "If you live your life making decisions based on someone else, you'll never get to find out who you really are and what you're capable of."

Vivi undid her seat belt, turning sideways on her booster seat to look into Granma Sue's eyes, "The school suggested I get skipped a grade –again. I don't want too, though."

"Is it because of Gabriel?"

Vivi bit her lip as she gave a shy nod, "He's my best friend…but he's not the only reason. I like my friends. Miriam, Kirsten…Beth is my best girl friend in Forks and she's going into fourth grade with the others. I don't want to skip to fifth grade –I would have to make new friends...and let's face it, Marc wouldn't let anyone come near me long enough for me to befriend them."

A smile tugged at Granma's lips as she reached out to push Vivi's long hair over her shoulder, "Vivi…I'm not going to tell you what to do…even at your age, you're smart enough to know what's best for you, but don't let others make your choices. Okay?"

Vivi nodded, giving her a small smile before moving onto her knees to hug her neck, "Okay. Thank you Granma."

"Always, sweetie," Granma kissed her cheek before pulling back, her bright eyes dancing, "Let's go inside and show your Tia Rosa how nice your nails turned out."

Vivi giggled as she hopped out onto the curb before pushing the heavy car door shut.

Skipping up the walkway, she jumped up the three porch steps as Granma opened the front door.

"SURPRISE!"

Vivi let out a small scream, her hands flying up to cover her mouth, eyes wide as the people filling the living room laughed at her response.

"Happy birthday sister," Marc stepped forward, pulling her into a hug as she let out a sniff, blinking fast to keep from crying, "Was this your idea?"

He nodded, "Tia Rosa and Uncle Seth helped me."

She threw her arms around his neck, having to rise up on her toes a bit, "Thank you."

After hugging Tia Rosa and Uncle Seth, Vivi was surrounded by her friends, both from school and La Push.

Nika's shyness didn't last long with Vivi tugging her along to join her and the other girls from Forks Elementary, the little group chattering excitedly as they played the games Leah had helped plan.

Vivi was enjoying herself, playing with abandonment, her school friends exclaiming over the playground in her backyard.

Bailey watched from the top of the monkey bar dome, wrinkling her nose at their silly giggles and high pitched voices.

"Why aren't you playing with them," Gabe asked as he climbed the last few bars to where she was.

Bailey rolled her eyes at him, thinking the answer obvious, "They're girls."

Gabe laughed as he flipped, hanging upside down on the bar, his feet hooked onto the side bars to keep himself from slipping, "You're a girl."

"Shut up," Bailey followed after her cousin, both of them hanging upside down as they talked, "Nika and Vivi are girly girls. They like dolls and glitter and the color pink. Not me."

Gabe laughed as he began to swing to and fro, grabbing a bar overhead before kicking his legs free, hanging there until his hands slipped and landing in a crouch as someone called out from the opened back door, "Time for cake!"

"That's why you'll never be pretty," Gabe said to his cousin as he crawled out of the dome, "'Cause you won't wear pink."

Bailey pulled herself up, her face flushed as she scrambled down as fast as she could, yelling over her shoulder at Gabe, "I don't care!"

And she didn't because pretty girls didn't race their bikes or climbed trees and Bailey loved nothing more than how it felt when she pedaled her bike for all she was worth or climbed higher up the tree than the boys.

Vivi's eyes were bright as she sat at the head of the table, avidly watching as Tia Rosa lit the eight candles on the cake.

They all started singing happy birthday as the kitchen lights dimmed, a flash letting her know Tia was taking pictures –like she always did.

"Okay Ladybug," Seth leaned over the back of her chair to kiss her smooth cheek, "Make a wish and blow out your candles."

Vivi closed her eyes, concentrating really hard before taking a deep breath and blowing out all eight candles.

Applause, more flashes then Aunt Leah turned on the lights, "Okay kids. Go find yourself a table and we'll bring out the cake and ice cream."

"Yay!"

All the kids ran out to the living room, the sound of chairs dragging against the wooden floor making Tia flinch.

Vivi stayed in her chair, hands on her lap as she watched Granma cut the cake while Tia scooped the ice cream and Aunt Leah filled the cups halfway with strawberry punch.

"What did you wish for?"

Vivi turned to look into Gabriel's blue eyes –he had come back into the kitchen when he didn't see her in the living room with her friends.

"I can't say," Vivi reached up to fix the birthday crown Uncle Seth had put on her before they sung happy birthday, "It won't come true."

"You can't keep it a secret," Gabe frowned at her as he tilted his head to the side, "Married people don't keep secrets."

"We're not married yet."

"But we will be," he gave her that 'duh' look that she knew so well.

Looking down at her hands, she realized he was right. Her porcelain skin turned a bright pink as she whispered, "I wished you would kiss me some day."

A combination of shock and disgust crossed his face as he wrinkled his nose, "Eww. Why would I want to do that?"

Vivi blinked in surprise, Gabe's name coming from the living room. She watched him run off, blinking fast but a tear still managed to escape.

Sniffing, she looked down at her hands, working hard not to make a sound as more tears marked a path down her cheeks.

"Vivi," Marc came into the kitchen, "Why are you in here?"

Vivi sniffed as she got down from the chair, reaching up to wipe away the tears.

"What's wrong," Marc reached out to touch her cheek, eyebrows lowering over dark eyes as he pointed behind him, "Did he make you cry?"

"No," Vivi shook her head, feeling bad about lying but she knew if she told Marc the truth, he would go pick a fight with Gabriel, "He didn't do anything…I'm just…really happy."

Marc gave her a dubious look, still certain Gabe had something to do with her crying.

"Really," she took his hand in hers, giving him a bright smile, "They're happy tears."

His doubtful look morphed into confusion as he arched an eyebrow at her, "Girls are weird. Come on; let's go open your gifts."

Rubbing her hand over her face, she kept her smile big and bright.

She didn't want him to know he made her cry.


May 7th

"Happy birthday to you!"

"Make a wish Gabe," Emmie leaned over the table, scrambling to sit on her bottom when she saw Daddy giving her the look.

Gabe stared hard at the eight candles on his birthday cake, thinking what would be good to wish for.

An airplane of his own…

A new racing bike…

Or…

Taking in a deep breath, he blew out all eight candles, laughing at the twins as they clapped their hands, letting out high pitched giggles as they jockeyed against each other for Uncle Seth's lap.

"Okay," Leah took the cake from the table to go inside, "Everyone go play while I cut the cake."

The twins scrambled off Uncle Seth and headed to the sandbox, Patrick Roy right behind them.

Emmie dragged Embry to the dollhouse, Lili at her other side, the flowers on the small garden beside the little house pushing up and blooming.

Gabe clambered off the chair to join his cousins by the monkey bars, Vivi looking up from watching Tyra toddling around Daddy's legs, a little hand holding on to his jeans, "What did you wish for, Gabriel?"

Gabe stood still as he stared at her, his blue eyes wide as he wondered if he should tell her or not.

"You can't keep secrets," Vivi moved closer as she pointed a finger at him, "You said so yourself."

Gabe looked away from her gold-brown eyes, watching Tyra as she giggled, letting go of Daddy's pants' leg to tuck her hands under chin, bending her knees before popping up as she stretched her arms to be picked up, her laugh high as Daddy swung her up into his arms and talked to her.

Looking back at Vivi, a few seconds passed before he answered, his voice so low only she heard him.

"I wished that I would want to kiss you some day."